F-1/A: Registration statement for securities of certain foreign private issuers

PUBLIC OFFERING PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our Class A Ordinary Shares. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto, in each case included in this prospectus. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed in the section of this prospectus titled “Business” before making an investment decision. This prospectus contains information from an industry report commissioned by us and prepared by Frost & Sullivan, an independent research firm, to provide information regarding our industry. We refer to this report as the Frost & Sullivan Report.

Our Mission

Our mission is to inspire others to enjoy cooking as part of a quality lifestyle and culture. We are driven to improve lives by creating easy-to-cook, delicious, and healthy meal solutions. It is our vision to create fun experiences and inspirations in every kitchen.

Overview

We are a leading content driven (i.e. using content to reach and engage target customers) consumer brand offering easy, convenient ready-to-heat (“RTH”), ready-to-cook (“RTC”), ready-to-eat (“RTE”) and Plant-based meal products (i.e. meal products consisting largely or solely of vegetables, fruits, grains and other foods derived from plant-based protein, rather than animal protein) while promoting healthier lifestyle choices to our predominately Millennial and Generation Z (“GenZ”) customer-base. We are also engaged in the provision of advertising services.

We were founded in Hong Kong in 2012 by Ms. Norma Ka Yin Chu, a highly regarded entrepreneur and a true cooking enthusiast, as an online platform which distributed food recipes and culinary content. Subsequently, we further expanded our business to provide advertising services to brands that wish to place advertisements on our platform or video content. In 2015, we entered the Mainland China market through the establishment of Shanghai DayDayCook Information Technology Co., Ltd (“SH DDC”) to engage in technology development of computer software, food circulation and advertising production in China. In 2017, we started expanded our business from content creation to content commerce. Later in 2019, we extened our business to include the production and sale of, among others, own-branded RTH, RTC convenient meal solution products.

As of June 30, 2023, our main product categories include (i) own-branded RTH products — typically semi-cooked meals with some but minimal preparation required ahead of serving, (ii) own-branded RTC products — ready to be consumed within 8 to 15 minutes with some additional cooking preparation, (iii) own-branded RTE products — typically pre -cooked meals that are ready to serve with minimal level of additional preparation, which includes our plant-based meal products localized for the palate of an Asian consumer, and (iv) private label products (i.e. third-party branded food products).

Business Model

Our omni-channel (online and offline) sales, end-to-end (“E2E”) product development and distribution strategy, and data analytics capabilities enable us to successfully identify, assess, and pivot to cater to changing consumer preferences and trends across multiple customer segments and price-points. From a product distribution standpoint, we have created a network of direct-to-customer (“D2C”), retailer, and wholesaler sale options.

•        We leverage (i) large China-based e-commerce platforms e.g., Tmall, JD.com, Pinduoduo, (ii) leading livestreaming, video-sharing, content-marketing platforms e.g., ByteDance (TikTok and sister-app Douyin), Bilibili, Weibo, Little Red Book (小红书), Kuaishou etc., and (iii) online-merged-offline (OmO) group-buy platforms e.g., Meituan-Dianping to drive online sales. We would cooperate with third-party online distributors on these e-commerce platforms to promote and sell our products.

•        We have access to a network of offline point-of-sales (“POS”) through partnerships with (i) convenience stores e.g., 7/11, Lawson etc., (ii) multi-national retail corporations e.g., Carrefour, Hema etc., (iii) boutique supermarket chains e.g., Ole’, G-Super etc., and (iv) various corporate partnerships e.g., Towngas to distribute and sell our products.

•        We operate in the Mainland China market but are actively expanding into international markets including but not limited to the United States and Canada.

•        We own multiple brands in our portfolio that provide convenient meal solution products to a wide range of consumers. We are actively looking for acquitision opportunities in complimentary brands in the Asian food and cooking categories as well as targets that can strengthen the company’s network of sales distribution.

As of June 30, 2023, we had 24.5 million paid customers. Around 69% of our followers on social media & video platforms are GenZ. 50% of customers are from the Eastern & Southern parts of China, and 86% are female. In particular, we believe that our products appeal to GenZ because (1) when compared to older age groups, GenZ generally do not want to spend a long time cooking at home and they value cost effective options like RTC, RTH and RTE meals due to the ease of cooking that RTC, RTH and RTE products provide; (2) we promote our products mainly through social media, the audience of which are mainly the GenZ population; (3) we mainly sell our products through e-commerce platforms, including livestreaming e-commerce, the customers demographics of which are dominated by GenZ; (4) plant-based diets have progressed from a food trend to a globally recognized lifestyle which GenZ is more willing to embrace. The average age of a viewer engaging with our products or marketplace is younger than 30 years old. From 2018 to June 2023, we have a content library with more than 247,874 minutes of in-house created content.

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, we recorded RMB89.4 million (or US$12.3 million) in total revenue compared to RMB66.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, representing a 33.9% increase. Subsequent to June 30, 2023, we completed two acquisitions. Assuming these two acquisitions had taken place on 1 January 2023, the unaudited pro forma revenue of the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2023 would be RMB123.6 million (or US$17.0 million). For the six months ended June 30, 2023, our gross margin increased to 26.2% versus 20.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded RMB179.6 million (or US$24.8 million) in total revenue. This drop in revenue was largely a result of negative impact from extended zero-covid policy in China which led to massive disruptions in the company’s e-commerce operations. In the face of this challenge, we completed four acquisitions in 2022 to speed up the diversification of revenue streams as well as aggressive improvement on overall cost structure. Assuming these four acquisitions had taken place on 1 January 2022, the unaudited pro forma revenue of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022 will be RMB231.9 million (or US$32.0 million). Equally important, our focus has been on improving the overall cost structure of the business when facing Covid and inflation challenges. For the year ended December 31, 2022, our gross profit margin increased to 24.5% versus 17.8% for the year ended December 31, 2021.

As the company continues to execute on its M&A strategy, which primarily focuses on the acquisition of complimentary brands in the Asian food and cooking categories as well as sales channel access, in April 2023, we entered into a purchase agreement to acquire 51% equity interest of Shanghai Yuli Development Limited (“Yuli”), to add new sales channels in Ready-To-Cook and Ready-To-Eat product categories; also in May 2023, we entered into a purchase agreement to acquire “Nona Lim”, an Asian food brand based in San Francisco, USA. The brand sells Ready-To-Cook Asian noodle meal kits and a variety of soup bases to its customers through an established distribution network in the United States, including major retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Target, and Kroger. The acquisitions of Yuli and Nona Lim were completed in the third quarter of 2023.

We have incurred a loss from operations, had net cash used in operating activities, net current liabilities and an accumulated deficit. In addition, our auditor’s report includes an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Our Industry

We compete primarily in the convenient meal solutions market providing RTE, RTC and RTH products to our customers. With (i) the proliferation of food delivery service options, (ii) a shift in customer preference and behavior away from home-cooked to convenience, and (iii) an increase in GDP per capita/overall disposable income (both in our target demographic and in-general) the demand for convenient meal solution products including RTC/RTE products has increased significantly. Customers have also become more discerning and expect RTC/RTH/RTE products to be of a high quality, have a higher nutritional value, and taste better when compared with other processed or semi-processed food product categories. Typically, RTC and RTE meals are made using high-quality and seasonal ingredients with full traceability at every stage of the food chain and a focus on nutritional value and maintaining a balanced diet is factored into the recipe and product R&D process.

COVID-19 has accelerated the shift to e-commerce and the need to develop and professionalize China’s cold chain transport infrastructure. The logistics industry is benefiting from the proliferation of professional third-party logistics service providers as well as improvements in preservation/storage, information logistics, analysis, and distribution technology. As a result of improvements in logistical infrastructure and the scale of the distribution network, the RTC and RTE industry has been able to expand its geographical reach, improve product delivery efficiency, and guarantee food safety and maintain quality over larger distances.

Internationally, the development history of mature overseas RTC and RTE markets nurtures an extensive customer base of RTC and RTE products. The COVID-19 pandemic further stimulates such demands in overseas markets as it alters people’s lifestyle and increases health consciousness, especially in Southeast Asia. In addition, with the development of those mature RTC markets, an increasing number of customers are in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle and start to favor healthier ready-to-cook products instead of RTC products of high calories as well as healthier ready-to-eat products instead of junk food. Chinese companies in the RTC and RTE industry, because of their well-established value chains, are able to offer RTC and RTE products of competitive prices in markets like North America and Europe despite the additional logistic expenses. Thus, Chinese companies that are actively seeking international expansion opportunities are well positioned to gain share in the global RTC and RTE market.

Plant-based products are a nascent Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (“FMCG”) category in China. Some Chinese brands have recently emerged as strong competitors to international incumbents. Younger individuals are the target demographic of companies offering plant-based substitutes/alternatives. Many new brands have been able to penetrate the younger customer segment by adopting an omnichannel strategy and by offering good quality, varied product offerings at a reasonable price-point.

Around the globe, the public has been paying more attention to environmental and natural resources protection over the past decades. The technology and production of plant-based meat has also experienced rapid development. Benefiting from the mature production technology of plant-based meat, foreign brands, when compared with Chinese brands, have obvious advantages in imitation of meat flavor and texture. However, limiting to product categories, flavor localization, stock-keeping unit (“SKU”) quantity, and high price, it is difficult for them to seize significant business opportunities in Chinese market. Compared to foreign brands, domestic brands pay more attention to recipe R&D and introduce various plant-based meat food products into the market, ranging from Western cuisine to Chinese cuisine, including but not limited to Panini, pizza, hamburgers, braised rice, pies, noodles, and other products. Finally, the processed volume of soybean protein and pea protein in China contributes nearly half of the global volume every year, which provides a significant advantage in raw materials for domestic plant-based meat food products companies.

Our Competitive Strengths

We believe the following competitive strengths differentiate us from our competitors and will continue to contribute to our success:

Leading Content Driven Consumer Brand in China that Possess a Loyal Customer Base, and Clear Alignment with Consumer Trends

We are a leading content-driven lifestyle brand for young food lovers, especially GenZ customers in China. We believe that our RTH, RTC, RTE, and plant-based meal products portfolio aligns with broader Fast-Moving-Consumer-Goods trends and shifts in consumer behavior. Our products, brand, and mission resonate strongly with our GenZ customer base who seek high quality and nutritional food products that are sustainably and ethically sourced. As of June 30, 2023, more than 24.5 million consumers had purchased our products via one or more e-commerce platforms.

Track Record of Innovation

We allocated and will continue to allocate significant resources to product innovation for our RTC and RTE products. We typically launch new products on a quarterly basis. To position us as a leader in the convenient RTC and RTE categories, we partnered with PFI Foods in the third quarter of 2020, cooperated with Meta Meat in 2021, both companies being leading plant-based meat manufacturers in mainland China, to develop a line of plant-based food products. In 2023, we have also launched a partnership with Nestle China using their Harvest Gourmet brand of plant based meat to bring the first-ever RTC products to market.

In addition, the company is building a library of new product concepts and recipes, ready for further development and testing. We believe that we excel at identifying ingredient combinations, and flavor profiles that appeal to the palate of young Asian consumers. Leveraging our innovation capabilities, our experience in the Chinese markets and our deep understanding of the palate of Asian consumers, we are confident that when executing our international market expansion plan, we can introduce new product innovation and develop food products that appeal to other Asian communities and potentially an even wider audience on the global stage.

Omni-Channel and Multi-Faceted Sales & Distribution Strategy

The Company’s core distribution strategy is to balance the revenue mix of online sales and offline sales. By leveraging the power of e-commerce, we tap into the growing digital market while providing various meal solutions to our consumers all around China. Simultaneously, we maintain a strong presence in physical retail through distributors, ensuring accessibility and brand visibility. This balanced distribution strategy enables us to capture diverse customer segments, optimize sales channels, and mitigate risks associated with concentration on a single distribution channel. In 2022, due to the impact of Covid outbreak in mainland China, we encountered difficult meeting our customers’ need online. As a result, about 81% and 61% of our revenue came from Offline consumer product sales for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 respectively.

Our omni-channel (both offline and online) strategy spans (i) popular e-commerce channels e.g., Taobao and JD.com, (ii) social and content platforms e.g., TikTok, Kuaishou, Bilibili, and WeChat, and (iii) community group buying platforms e.g., Meituan-Dianping. From 2019 to March 2023, our online sales network including, among others, Tmall, JD.com, and China Pinduoduo have attracted 107.18 million visitors and for the six months ended June 30, 2023, and for the year ended December 31, 2022, generated online consumer product sales of RMB16.4 million (or US$2.3 million) and RMB67.0 million (or US$9.2 million) respectively. In 2023, we increased our offline retail distribution network and have worked with 709 distributing partners.

We will continue to focus on bringing our customers the best quality Asian meal solution, by implementing a balanced distributing strategy. In 2023, the company’s forecasted online sales will account for 50% of total sales, while offline sales will account for the remaining half.

Customer Engagement Analytics, Customer Service, and Real-Time (“RT”) Feedback Capabilities

We analyze transaction data, collect customer feedbacks through one or more channels, and engage in customer engagement analytics. This helps to (i) streamline the product development lifecycle and reduce the risk of a customer-product mismatch, (ii) uncover new (sub) product categories and/or potential bundling and/or up and cross-sell opportunities within the existing product portfolio, (iii) strengthen our brand image, and (iv) improve customer “stickiness” by providing customers with a forum.

E2E Supply Chain Visibility, Agile Product Development and Go-to-Market (“GTM”) Capabilities

On average, we can deliver a new product to-market within 8 weeks. Our E2E supply chain visibility and strong product execution i.e., product concept, prototyping, product validation and recalibration, commercial manufacturing, product marketing and placement capabilities mean we can react in almost real-time to changes in customer needs and preferences. As part of our more proactive new product development strategy, we leverage our deep industry and cross-disciplinary expertise to uncover potential market and product opportunities. We have an in-house content development team which focuses on building interest and demand pre product launch. They will keep abreast of the latest market developments and identify potential trends and consumers interests. To promote our new products, we also collaborate with key opinion leaders (“KOLs” or “KOL”). We are well placed to continue to grow our market share and become the dominant player in the RTH, RTC, RTE, and plant-based meal products industry in mainland China.

Experienced Management Team, Board of Directors, and Advisory Network

We have an experienced management team. Members of our management team have significant experience across the FMCG, e-commerce, and IT services/technology, media, and telecommunications industries/sectors. More importantly, our management team comprises of a few selected individuals that offer strong understanding of the Chinese market as well as have extensive experiences in operating and expanding FMCG businesses in international markets.

In particular, our founder, Ms. Norma Ka Yin Chu, is a highly regarded entrepreneur and a true cooking enthusiast who has won numerous awards as a visionary entrepreneur in the cooking and lifestyle community. She was named as China New Media Top 100 people in 2016, and one of CY Zone’s Most Notable Female Entrepreneurs for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019. In 2020, she was awarded the Outstanding ICT Women Awards 2020: Women Entrepreneur Category, Harper’s Bazaar The Visionary Woman 2020 and JESSICA Most Successful Women Award 2020 — Digital Women. Prior to founding our group, Norma was the Head of Research of HSBC Private Bank in Hong Kong. Therefore, not only does Ms. Chu have rich experience in the cooking and food products industry, she also has extensive experience in private equity, which together enable her to lead our group’s drive to become a leader in the market.

We further augmented the management team with a Board of Directors and an advisory network with significant operator expertise and experience spanning PepsiCo, General Mills, Danone and Meitu.

Our Strategies

International market expansion

Internationally, the development history of mature overseas RTC and RTE markets nurtures an extensive customer base of RTC and RTE products. The COVID-19 pandemic further stimulates such demands in overseas markets as it alters people’s lifestyle and increases health consciousness, especially in Southeast Asia,. Chinese companies in the RTC and RTE industry, attributable to their well-established value chains, are able to offer RTC and RTE products of competitive prices in markets like North America and Europe despite the additional logistic expenses. Thus, Chinese companies that are actively seeking international expansion opportunities are well positioned to further gain share in the global RTC and RTE market.

Moreover, around the globe, the public has been paying more attention to environmental and natural resources protection over the past decades. Compared to foreign brands, domestic Chinese brands pay more attention to the recipe R&D and introduce various plant-based meat food products into the market, covering from Western cuisine to Chinese cuisine, including but not limited to Panini, pizza, hamburgers, braised rice, pies, noodles, and other products to cater consumers. The processed volume of soybean protein and pea protein in China contributes nearly half of the global volume every year, which provides a significant advantage in raw materials for Chinese plant-based meat food products companies.

In view of the above and to the extent permitted due to our recurring losses from operations and an accumulated deficit, we are raising funds from investors for the purpose of expanding our business in the U.S. and Southeast Asia in hope of widening our customer base.

For the U.S., we have devised a three-fold strategy: (1) to launch our products through major Asian-focused online and offline sales channels, (2) to launch our direct-to-consumer stores on Amazon and our U.S. website, and (3) to grow through acquisitions. Since July 2022, we have successfully gained access to the U.S. market through sales on Yamibuy.com, one of the largest Asia food e-commerce platforms headquartered in the U.S.. In May 2023, we entered into a purchase agreement to acquire “Nona Lim”, an Asian food brand based in San Francisco, USA. The brand sells Ready-To-Cook Asian noodle meal kits and a variety of soup bases to its customers through an established distribution network in the United States, including major retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Target, and Kroger.

The acquisition of Nona Lim was completed in July 2023. This acquisition enables us to expand our customer base into the US market. As for the Southeast Asian market, we are currently negotiating with local companies that would give us instant access to a growing customer base in the RTC and RTE meal markets.

Enhance our sales and marketing capabilities, as well as our sphere of influence

We will continue to monitor the performance of our e-commerce partners and platforms, adapt our product pricing strategy and offerings, and expand our fulfilment capabilities to support our revenue targets. We are raising funds from investors to deepen and broaden our existing partnerships and continue to expand cooperation with a wider network of influencers and KOLs to build our brand awareness. Also, we plan to engage more up-and-coming social e-commerce platforms to (i) drive higher traffic to our stores through more and closer collaborations; (ii) improve our ability to aggressively penetrate non-tier 1 cities and (iii) accelerate the growth of our paid customer base. In addition, we will continue to improve our sales and marketing capabilities and leverage the internet and various social media platforms to build brand awareness in non-Tier 1 cities in China. We will also engage content and social media marketing providers and platforms to drive an increase in average order value (“AOV”), repeat purchases, and to attract net-new users to our platform.

As of June 30, 2023, we had 24.5 million paid customers.

Continue to innovate and expand product offerings

We expect consumer demand for RTH, RTC, RTE and plant-based meal products to not only persist, but to grow at an accelerated rate. We plan to leverage our deep industry expertise, data-informed consumer insights, and predictive analytics to identify meaningful consumer trends and then partner with and solicit product feedback from our customers to optimize and expand on our existing product portfolio. We are committed to strengthening our R&D and product development capabilities to improve our ability to innovate more effectively within our core product categories.

Mergers and Acquisitions (“M&A”) Rollup

M&A is a key growth strategy going forward for the company in order for us to execute on the multi-brand strategy and also further diversify away from brand concentration risks and into markets outside of China. Historically, virtually all of our sales have been in China. For example, our international (meaning outside of China) sales were zero in 2022 and accounted for 0.17% of our total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023. M&A is an important part of our strategy to establish our footprint and sales channel internationally. We are actively looking at potential targets with revenues in the US, Europe, Australia, SE Asia, and Middle East. As a group, we are targeting to have international sales to account for 20 – 30% of total revenue in 2024 and around 50% in 2025. We have already identified several targets but to the extent permitted due to our recurring losses from operations and an accumulated deficit, we will evaluate and opportunistically execute on strategic joint ventures (JV), potential investments and acquisition opportunities across the value-chain with a focus on supplementing and/or complementing our existing products, sales channels, customer-base and/or allow us to optimize our existing brand marketing and sales channel management capabilities. There can be no assurances that we will be successful in generating revenues internationally. For example, our M&A strategy may not identify M&A candidates and acquisitions that are completed may not be successfully integrated into our operations and may not produce significant international revenues. Apart from executing acquisitions with considerations paid through share exchanges, we are also raising funds from investors to have an option to acquire companies through a mixture of cash and shares.

Corporate History and Structure

DDC Enterprise Limited (“DDC Cayman”) is a Cayman Islands holding company and conducts its operations primarily in China through its wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries. We were founded in Hong Kong in 2012 by Ms. Norma Ka Yin Chu as an online platform which distributed food recipes and culinary content. Subsequently, we further expanded its business to provide advertising services to brands that wish to place advertisements on our platform or video content. In 2015, we entered the Mainland China market through the establishment of Shanghai DayDayCook Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“SH DDC”) and Shanghai Weishi Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Weishi”). In 2017, we expanded our business from content creation to content commerce. Later in 2019, we extended our business to include the production and sale of, among others, own-branded RTH, RTC convenient meal solution products.

During the periods covered by the financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, SH DDC had entered into a series of contractual arrangement with Weishi and Shanghai City Modern Agriculture Development Co., Ltd. (“City Modern”), in 2016 and 2019 respectively, which allows SH DDC to exercise effective control over Weishi and City Modern and receive substantially all the economic benefits of Weishi, City Modern and their consolidated entities (collectively, the “Weishi and City Modern VIEs”) via variable interest entity structures. As of the date of this prospectus, such contractual arrangements with the Weishi and City Modern VIEs have been terminated. After the termination of the contractual arrangements with Weishi, we will continue cooperation with it in certain online service areas. For instance, Weishi will develop and maintain the WeChat mini-program related to our business, ensure the ordinary operation of our official websites, make sure the cyber security of the systems and maintain our IT systems and servers. As advised by the PRC legal adviser, our continue cooperation with Weishi does not constitute a VIE because that, since the termination of the contractual arrangements with Weishi, (i) we have no longer enjoyed any controlling rights or decision-making power over the operation of Weishi; (ii) Weishi has independently operated its assets and properties and conducted its businesses, and its shareholder, instead of us, has enjoyed its residual interests and born the loss (if any); (iii) we and Weishi have no contractual relations other than the service contract to be signed between SH DDC and Weishi; and (iv) we have not enjoyed any interests or benefits, or any other transfers, contributed by Weishi, or offered any financial assistance for Weishi.

DDC Cayman directly and wholly owns (a) DDC OpenStudio Limited (“DDC OpenStudio”), a Cayman Islands company incorporated in May 2017, (b) Perfect Foods Inc. (“Perfect Foods Inc.”), a Cayman Islands company incorporated in September 2019 and (c) Grand Leader Technology Limited (“Grand Leader”), a Hong Kong company incorporated

in January 2011. DDC OpenStudio in turn holds all the share capital of DDC OpenStudio Media Limited (“DDC OpenStudio Media”), which was incorporated in July 2018 in Hong Kong. Perfect Foods Inc. in turns holds all the share capital of Good Foods HK Limited (“Good Foods HK”), which was incorporated in September 2019 in Hong Kong.

Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Grand Leader, which was incorporated for the purpose of handling advertising, business-to-consumer e-commerce and cooking classes in Hong Kong, DDC Cayman owns a direct equity interest in SH DDC and Shanghai Lashu Import and Export Trading Co., Ltd. (“SH Lashu”). SH DDC was established in January 2015 in China for the purpose of engaging in technology development of computer hardware and software, food circulation and advertising production in China, whilst SH Lashu was established in August 2017 in China as an import and export vehicle in China.

As of December, 2017, Shanghai Youlong Industrial Co., Ltd. (“SH Youlong”), a wholly owned subsidiary of SH DDC, was established for the purpose of engaging in cooking class services, food and beverage and retail business in China. SH Youlong owns a direct equity interest in Guangzhou Youlong DayDayCook Food and Beverage Co., Ltd., which was established in March 2018 with its main business of engaging in cooking class services, food and beverage and retail business in China.

As of June 2019, Shanghai Juxiang Culture Media Co., Ltd. (“SH Juxiang”), a wholly owned subsidiary of SH DDC, was established for the purpose of engaging in e-commerce business in China.

In January 2019, SH DDC acquired 60% equity interest in Fujian Jinjiang Yunmao Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd. (“Yunmao”), a limited liability company incorporated under the Laws of the PRC, for a combination of a share option consideration equivalent to a value of RMB10.2 million, and a cash consideration of RMB10.2 million, to engage in food and beverage retail and e-commerce. Yunmao owns a direct equity interest in Hangzhou Damao Technology Co., Ltd., which was established in June 2020 with a main business of e-commerce.

In January 2021, SH DDC acquired a number of online stores from Chongqing Mengwei Technology Co., Ltd. (“CQ MW”), Liao Xuefeng, Chongqing Changshou District Weibang Network Co., Ltd. (“Weibang”) and Chongqing Yizhichan Snack Food Electronic Commerce Service Department (“Yizhichan”) (the “Transferors”). In July 2021, SH DDC and Chongqing Mengwei Technology Co., Ltd. set up a joint venture named Chongqing DayDayCook E-commerce Co., Ltd. (“CQ DDC”), which is established for accepting the online stores acquired and operating newly set-up online stores, in which, SH DDC holds 51% equity interest. CQ DDC was established for the purpose of engaging in online food retail business in China. However, due to certain limitations from the policies of third-party online platforms, the titles of such online stores currently could not be transferred to CQ DDC and the operation of such online stores were delegated to the Transferors through relevant contractual arrangements to enable us to have the ability to control such online stores. In April 2023, SH DDC acquired more Pinduoduo online stores from CQ MW, Weibang, Yizhichan and Chongqing Ningqi E-commerce Co. Ltd. (“Ningqi”), and operated these online stores in the same way. Therefore, these online stores were considered VIEs and SH DDC was the primary beneficiary. We refer to these online stores the “Mengwei VIE” throughout this prospectus.

On July 1, 2021, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, SH DDC, entered into a purchase agreement (“the SPA”) with Mr. Zheng Dongfang and Mr. Han Min (“collectively the YJW Seller”), the shareholders of Fujian Yujiaweng Food Co., Ltd. (“Yujiaweng”) to acquire 60% interests of Yujiaweng’s product sales business, primarily including distribution contracts, the sales and marketing team, procurement team and other supporting function personnel (“the YJW Target Assets”). Yujiaweng is principally engaged in manufacturing and the distribution of snack foods. SH DDC and Mr. Zheng Dongfang agreed to form an entity (“YJW Newco”) with the Company holding 60% equity interest and Mr. Zheng Dongfang holding 40% equity interests. According to the SPA, during the period from July 1, 2021 until the date when YJW Newco is formed (“the transition period”), the Company manages and operates the Target Assets and is entitled to 60% of the net profit arising from the operation of the Target Assets.

On July 1, 2021, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, SH DDC, entered into a purchase agreement (“the SPA”) with Mr. Xu Fuyi, (“the KeKe Seller”), the shareholder of Fujian Keke Food Co., Ltd. (“KeKe”) and Mr. Zheng Dongfang, the president of KeKe, to acquire a 60% interest in KeKe’s product sales business, primarily including distribution contracts, the sales and marketing team, procurement team and other supporting function personnel (“the KeKe Target Assets”). KeKe is principally engaged in manufacturing and distribution of candy products. SH DDC and Mr. Zheng Dongfang agreed to form an entity (“KeKe Newco”) with the Company holding

60% equity interest and Mr. Zheng Dongfang holding 40% equity interests. According to the SPA, during the period from July 1, 2021 and the date when KeKe Newco is formed (“the transition period”), the Company manages and operates the Target Assets and is entitled to 60% of the net profit arising from the operation of the Target Assets.

On February 1, 2022, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a purchase agreement with Mr. LIN Kai Hang, Mr. SIO Leng Kit and Mr. Tang Wai Cheung, to acquire 51% shares of Lin’s Group Limited (“Lin’s Group”). Lin’s Group have its own brand “Deliverz” and principally engaged in manufacturing and distribution of RTC products with its major online sales channel. This was an upstream integration where Lin’s Group is the major supplier of RTC meal kits for the company’s Hong Kong operations. This acquisition allows the company to optimize cost structure for the RTC meal kits in the Hong Kong market. It also enables the company to expand its product offerings with its own production facility.

As of April 1, 2022, all contractual arrangements with Weishi and City Modern, have been terminated. As a result of the termination of the contractual arrangements with the Weishi and City Modern VIEs, we expect to be able to focus our capital and efforts on selling our products through online e-commerce platforms and offline distributors and retailers. We intend for the termination and discontinuation of business streams to reduce the company’s overall net losses, and free up capital to be allocated into our other fast growing RTH, RTC, RTE and plant based product businesses.

On May 1, 2022, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a purchase agreement with Mr. Gao Xiaomin, Mr. Zhang Yi and Ms Chen Di, to acquire 51% shares of Shanghai Lishang Trading Ltd, (“Lishang”). Lishang is principally engaged in distribution of private label products. This acquisition was completed during the nation-wide lock down when the company expedited its strategy to diversify revenue streams and improve overall margin structure. Lishang has strong sales channel access into the corporate gifting channel which carries higher margin compared to the company’s existing e-commerce and offline distribution channels. By acquiring Lishang, the Company now has healthier gross margins as well as access to sales and distribution partnerships with global FMCG brands such as Pepsi Co (Lays brand.) These partnerships in turn can help the company secure better traffic and overall sales conversion on social commerce platforms to drive higher sales for its own branded product business.

On June 17, 2022, the “YJW Newco”, Quanzhou DayDayCook Food Co., Limited (“Quanzhou DDC”) was formed. As part of the transaction dated July 1, 2021, the YJW Target Assets and Keke Target Assets from the acquisition were transferred into Quanzhou DDC. And on the same day, SH DDC has obtained control over the YJW Target Assets and Keke Target Assets, and the results were consolidated into the Group.

On June 17, 2022, the “KeKe Newco”, Quanzhou Weishi Food Co., Limited was formed. The company does not hold any assets or operations.

As of August 19, 2023, all contractual arrangements with regard to Mengwei VIE have been terminated. As a result of the termination of the contractual arrangements of the Mengwei VIE, we expect to be able to focus our capital and efforts on selling our products through online e-commerce platforms and offline distributors and retailers to overseas markets. We intend for the termination and discontinuation of business streams to reduce the company’s overall net losses, and free up capital to be allocated into our other fast growing RTC, RTE and plant based product businesses.

The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure as of the date of this prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, equity interests depicted in this diagram are held 100%.

Immediately upon consummation of this offering, our ordinary shares will be classified into Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares. In respect of matters requiring shareholders’ vote, each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to [thirty] votes.

Government Regulations and Approvals for this Offering

As our operations are currently conducted through our operating entities established in Hong Kong and mainland China, we are potentially subject to significant regulations by various agencies of the Chinese government. The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, require an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC and Ministry of Commerce of the PRC (“MOFCOM”), prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. Substantial uncertainty remains regarding the scope and applicability of the M&A Rules to offshore special purpose vehicles. As at the date of this prospectus, we have been advised by Grandall Law Firm (Shanghai) that CSRC’s approval under the M&A Rules is not required for the listing and trading of our Class A Ordinary Shares on the NYSE Group in the context of this offering given that (i) our PRC subsidiaries were incorporated as wholly foreign-owned enterprises by means of direct investment rather than by merger or acquisition of equity interest or assets of a PRC domestic company owned by PRC companies or individuals as defined under the M&A Rules that are DDC Cayman’s beneficial owners; (ii) we are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands controlled by non-PRC citizens and we do not fit into the definition of “overseas special purpose vehicle” under the M&A Regulations; and (iii) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours under this prospectus are subject to the M&A Rules. As such, we have never conducted any mergers or acquisitions of any PRC domestic companies with a related party relationship. MOFCOM’s approval under the M&A Rules is also not required as we have never conducted any mergers or acquisitions of any PRC domestic companies with a related party relationship. We cannot assure you that relevant PRC governmental agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as we do.

On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law (the “Opinions”), which called for strengthened regulation over illegal securities activities and supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies and propose to take effective measures. As at the date of this prospectus, no official guidance or related implementation rules have been issued in relation to the Opinions, and the interpretation and implementation of the Opinions also remain unclear to some extent at this stage. Based on our understanding of the current PRC laws and regulations in effect at the time of this prospectus, except for the CSRC filing procedure which we need to complete according to the Trial Measures as described below, no prior permission is required under the M&A Rules, the Opinions or other PRC laws and regulations from any PRC governmental authorities for consummating this offering by our company, as advised by our PRC legal adviser, Grandall Law Firm (Shanghai). However, there can be no assurance that the relevant PRC governmental authorities, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as us, or that the CSRC or any other PRC governmental authorities would not promulgate new rules or new interpretation of current rules (with retrospective effect) to require us to obtain the CSRC or other PRC governmental approvals for this offering. If we or our subsidiaries inadvertently conclude that such permission is not required, our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Ordinary Shares to investors could be significantly limited or completed hindered, which could cause the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or become worthless. Our Group may also face sanctions by the CSRC, the CAC or other PRC regulatory agencies. These regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operations in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our securities.

The PRC Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021, imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals that carry out data activities, provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information. On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or the SCNPC, promulgated the PRC Personal Information Protection Law (the “PIPL”), which took effect on November 1, 2021. The PIPL sets out the regulatory framework for handling and protection of personal information and transmission of personal information to overseas. The PRC regulatory requirements regarding cybersecurity are constantly evolving. For instance, various regulatory bodies in China, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Public Security and State Administration for Market Regulation, or the SAMR, have enforced data privacy and protection laws and regulations with varying and evolving standards and interpretations. On November 14, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, issued the Draft Cyber Data Security Regulations for public comments, pursuant to which, data processors carrying out the following activities must, in accordance with the relevant national regulations, apply for a cybersecurity review: (i) the merger, reorganization or spin-off of internet platform operators that possess a large number of data resources related to national security, economic development and public interests that affects or may affect national security; (ii) listing in a foreign country of data processors that process the personal information of more than one million users; (iii) listing in Hong Kong of data processors that affects or may affect national security; and (iv) other data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. The scope of and threshold for determining what “affects or may affect national security” is still subject to uncertainty and further elaboration by the CAC. 

On December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”), and 12 other relevant PRC government authorities published the amended Cybersecurity Review Measures, which came into effect on February 15, 2022. The final Cybersecurity Review Measures provide that a “network platform operator” that possesses personal information of more than one million users and seeks a listing in a foreign country must apply for a cybersecurity review. Further, the relevant PRC governmental authorities may initiate a cybersecurity review against any company if they determine certain network products, services or data processing activities of such company affect or may affect national security. Through the contractual arrangements with Weishi, DDC SH had collected and possessed personal information of more than one million users. After the contractual arrangements with Weishi were terminated in April 2022, DDC SH still have been possessing this amount of personal information which are stored in mainland China. For purposes of the Cybersecurity Review Measures, we have applied for and completed the cybersecurity review with respect to our proposed overseas listing pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures. As there remains significant uncertainty in the interpretation and enforcement of relevant PRC cybersecurity laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that we would not become subject to enhanced cybersecurity review or investigations launched by PRC regulators in the future. Any failure or delay in the completion of the cybersecurity review procedures or any other non-compliance with the related laws and regulations may result in rectification, fines or other penalties, including

suspension of business, website closure, removal of our app from the relevant app stores, and revocation of prerequisite licenses, as well as reputational damage or legal proceedings or actions against us, which may have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — We may be liable for improper collection, use or appropriation of personal information provided by our customers.”

On February 17, 2023, CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Enterprises (the “Trial Measures”), which became effective on March 31, 2023. On the same date, the CSRC circulated Supporting Guidance Rules No. 1 through No. 5, Notes on the Trial Measures, Notice on Administration Arrangements for the Filing of Overseas Listings by Domestic Enterprises and relevant CSRC Answers to Reporter Questions (collectively, the “Guidance Rules and Notice”) on the CSRC’s official website. Under the Trial Measures, either direct or indirect overseas offering and listing by domestic companies shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC with submitting relevant materials. Any overseas offering and listing made by an issuer that meets both the following conditions will be determined as indirect: (1) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic companies; and (2) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in the Chinese Mainland, or its main places of business are located in the Chinese Mainland, or the senior managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in the Chinese Mainland. The determination as to whether or not an overseas offering and listing by domestic companies is indirect, shall be made on a substance over form basis. When certain circumstances happen, overseas offering and listing shall not be made. And If the intended overseas offering and listing necessitates a national security review, relevant security review procedures shall be completed according to law before the application for such offering and listing is submitted to any overseas parties such as securities regulatory agencies and trading venues. Pursuant to the Trial Measures and the Guidance Rules and Notice, initial public offerings or listings in overseas markets shall be filed with the CSRC within 3 working days after the relevant application is submitted overseas, while PRC domestic enterprises that have submitted valid applications for overseas offerings and listing but have not obtained the approval from the relevant overseas regulatory authority or overseas stock exchanges shall complete filings with the CSRC prior to their overseas offerings and listings. We have submitted the filing materials with the CSRC to fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC as per requirement of the Trial Measures, but we cannot predict whether or how soon it will be able to complete such proceeding. If we fail to comply with the Trial Measures, we will be required to correct our behaviors, facing warnings and fines which amount will range from RMB1,000,000 to RMB10,000,000, and directly responsible personnel will also be warned and fined which amount will range from RMB500,000 to RMB5,000,000. Any failure of us to obtain the relevant approval or complete the filings and other relevant regulatory procedures in a timely manner will completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Ordinary Shares, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our Class A Ordinary Shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless. See “Risk Factors — The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and other PRC governmental authorities provided under the M&A rules are not required in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. Except for the CSRC filing for this issuance and listing, we are not required to obtain any permission or approval from any Chinese authority to issue securities to foreign investors or in connection with this offering, which, we cannot predict, whether or how soon will be completed.”

On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with the MOF, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China, revised the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration for Overseas Securities Offering and Listing, which were issued by the CSRC and National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China in 2009, or the “Provisions.” The revised Provisions were issued under the title the “Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies”, and came into effect on March 31, 2023, together with the Trial Measures. One of the major revisions to the revised Provisions is expanding their application to cover indirect overseas offering and listing, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, among other things, (a) a domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies,

securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level; and (b) a domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals and entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any other documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental to national security or public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations. Any failure or perceived failure by our Company or our PRC subsidiaries to comply with the above confidentiality and archives administration requirements under the revised Provisions and other PRC laws and regulations may result in the relevant entities being held legally liable by competent authorities and referred to the judicial organ to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime.

Requisite Licenses and Approvals for Our Operations

Our business is subject to governmental supervision and regulation by the relevant PRC governmental authorities, including but not limited to the State Council, the SAMR, the Ministry of Commerce (the “MOFCOM”), the State Internet Information Office, the General Administration of Customs and other governmental authorities in charge of the relevant services provided by us. These government authorities promulgate and enforce regulations that cover various aspects of the operation of food products and e-commerce, including entry into these industries, scope of permitted business activities, licenses and permits for various business activities.

To operate our general business activities currently conducted in China, we are required and has obtained business licenses and food operation licenses, except for Quanzhou Weishi Food Co., Limited which does not hold any assets or operations for now and we are in the process of applying for relevant food operation licenses for it. In addition, SH Lashu have been filed for record as consignee or consignor of import and export goods. However, we cannot assure you that we can successfully renew these licenses in a timely manner. No application for any such licenses have been denied.

See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — If we fail to obtain and maintain the requisite licenses and approvals required under the complex regulatory environment applicable to our businesses in China, or if we are required to take compliance actions that are time-consuming or costly, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.”

The following tables present the Company’s condensed consolidating schedules depicting the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the six months ended June 30, 2022 (comprising the Weishi and City Modern VIEs, and the Mengwei VIE) and 2023 (comprising the Mengwei VIE), and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 of the Company, its subsidiaries, the VIEs (comprising the Weishi and City Modern VIEs, and the Mengwei VIE) and the corresponding eliminating adjustments separately.

____________

(1)      To eliminate the Company’s share of loss of its subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs.

(2)      To eliminate the related party transactions between subsidiaries of the Company and consolidated VIEs

The following tables present the Company’s condensed consolidating schedules depicting the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2022 (comprising the Weishi and City Modern VIEs, and the Mengwei VIE), June 30, 2023 (comprising the Mengwei VIE), December 31, 2021 and 2022 of the Company, its subsidiaries, the VIEs (comprising the Weishi and City Modern VIEs, and the Mengwei VIE) and corresponding eliminating adjustments separately.

____________

(1)      Being elimination of balances resulted from amounts paid/received by VIEs on behalf of the Company’s subsidiaries.

(2)      To eliminate the loans provided by the Shanghai DayDayCook Information Technology Co., Ltd. to the VIE.

(3)      To eliminate the Company’s share of loss of its subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs.

The following tables present the Company’s condensed consolidating schedules depicting the consolidated cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2022 (comprising the Weishi and City Modern VIEs, and the Mengwei VIE) and 2023 (comprising the Mengwei VIE), and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 of the Company, its subsidiaries, the VIEs (comprising the Weishi and City Modern VIEs, and the Mengwei VIE), and corresponding eliminating adjustments separately.

____________

(1)      Being elimination of cash contributions from the Company to its subsidiary.

Transfer of Cash Through our Organization

Currently, DDC Cayman is incorporated in Cayman Islands to be the ultimate parent company of the Group. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, DDC Cayman conduct our operations through our operating subsidiaries established in Hong Kong and mainland China. DDC Cayman is permitted under the laws of Cayman Islands to provide funding to our subsidiaries in Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and mainland China through loans or capital contributions on the amount of the funds. DDC Cayman can distribute earnings from its businesses, including subsidiaries, to the U.S. investors as well as the ability to settle amounts owed under intercompany agreements.

Our operating subsidiaries are permitted under the laws of the PRC and Hong Kong, respectively, to provide funding to DDC Cayman, the holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands through dividend distributions. Our Group currently intend to retain all available funds and future earnings, if any, for the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently do not have any dividend policy, and we do not anticipate declaring or paying dividends in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and expansion of our business. However, to the extent cash and assets in our business are in the PRC or our PRC entities, the funds/assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries, by the PRC government. If our subsidiaries incur debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. Other than cash transferred in the ordinary course of business among our subsidiaries, there were no other significant cash transfers and transfers of other assets among DDC Cayman and its subsidiaries to date. Moreover, to the extent cash and assets in our business are in the PRC or our PRC entities, the funds/assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries, by the PRC government.

Currently, our operations are currently conducted through our operating entities established in Hong Kong and mainland China. During the two years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, we had conducted part of our operations in China through contractual arrangements with the Weishi and City Modern VIEs (namely, Shanghai Weishi Information Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai City Modern Agriculture Development Co., Ltd., Shanghai City Vegetable Production and Distribution Co-op, Shanghai Jiapin Vegetable Planting Co-op, Shanghai Jiapin Ecological Agriculture Co-op). Through such contractual arrangements, we, through our indirect wholly-owned PRC subsidiary SH DDC, control and receive the economic benefits of the Weishi and City Modern VIEs without owning any direct equity interest in them. As of April 2022, such contractual arrangements with the Weishi and City Modern VIEs have been terminated. During the two years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, and ended August 19, 2023, we had the contractual arrangements with Chongqing Mengwei Technology Co., Ltd., Liao Xuefeng, Chongqing Changshou District Weibang Network Co., Ltd., Chongqing Yizhichan Snack Food Electronic Commerce Service Department and Chongqing Ningqi E-commerce Co. Ltd. to enable us to have the ability to control a number of online stores purchased from them since the titles of such online stores cannot be transferred to us due to the limitations from the policies of certain online platforms. These online stores which we refer to collectively as the Mengwei VIE, are considered VIEs and SH DDC was the primary beneficiary. The contractual arrangements for the Mengwei VIE were not designed to create any ownership over the Mengwei VIE but were designed to provide SH DDC with the power, rights, and obligations equivalent in all material respects to those it would possess as the principal asset-holder of the Mengwei VIE. Neither DDC Cayman nor any of its subsidiaries has an equity ownership or direct foreign investment in, or control of, through such ownership or investment, the Mengwei VIE. Consolidated VIEs were the assets in which our PRC subsidiary SH DDC, through contractual arrangements, exercised effective control over the operating activities that most impact the economic performance, bore the risks of, and enjoyed the rewards normally associated with ownership of the assets, and therefore SH DDC was the primary beneficiary of the Mengwei VIE and had, for accounting purposes, consolidated their financial results in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In this prospectus, any description of control over the Mengwei VIE or benefits from the Mengwei VIE that accrue to us is made based on the assumption that we had met all the conditions for consolidation under U.S. GAAP. As of August 2023, such contractual arrangements with regard to the Mengwei VIE have been terminated.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the PRC and the basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong are reflected in the Basic Law, providing Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy and executive, legislative and independent judicial powers, including that of final adjudication under the principle of “one country, two systems”. Under Hong Kong law, dividends could only be paid out of distributable profits (that is, accumulated realized profits less accumulated realized losses) or other distributable reserves. Dividends cannot be paid out of share capital. 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.

We may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries subject to the approval or registration from governmental authorities and limitation of amount, or we may make additional capital contributions to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China. Any loans to our subsidiaries in China are subject to foreign debt registrations. In addition, a foreign-invested enterprise, or FIE, shall use its capital pursuant to the principle of authenticity and self-use within its business scope. And the capital shall not be used for the purposes prohibited by law. Non-investing foreign-invested enterprises are permitted to make equity investments in the PRC with their capital funds in accordance with applicable PRC laws and regulations under the premise that the domestic investment projects are true and in compliance with applicable PRC laws and regulations. As the relevant government authorities have broad discretion in interpreting the regulation, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital funds to be used for equity investments in the PRC in actual practice.

Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payment of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulations, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from, or registration with, appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. As of the date of this prospectus, there are no restrictions or limitations imposed by the Hong Kong government on the transfer of capital within, into and out of Hong Kong (including funds from Hong Kong to the PRC), except for transfer of funds involving money laundering and criminal activities.

To address persistent capital outflows and the RMB’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter of 2016, the People’s Bank of China and SAFE have implemented a series of capital control measures in the subsequent months, including stricter vetting procedures for China-based companies to remit foreign currency for overseas acquisitions, dividend payments and shareholder loan repayments. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls and our PRC subsidiaries’ dividends and other distributions may be subject to tightened scrutiny in the future. The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. Furthermore, if our subsidiaries in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we or our subsidiaries are unable to receive all of the revenues from our operations, we may be unable to pay dividends on our ordinary shares.

Further, the PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. The dividends and distributions from our PRC subsidiaries are subject to relevant regulations and restrictions on dividends and payment to parties outside of China. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay us from using part of the proceeds of this offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business” and “Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively” for more information on the risk of PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion with respect to part of the proceeds of this offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively with respect to our operations. Further, investment in Chinese companies, which are governed by the Foreign Investment Law and Company Law, and the dividends and distributions from our PRC subsidiaries are subject to relevant regulations and restrictions on dividends and payment to parties outside of China. Applicable PRC law permits payment of dividends to DDC Cayman by our PRC subsidiaries only out of its net income, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Each of our PRC subsidiaries required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation. A PRC company is not permitted to distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years

have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year. In addition, registered share capital and capital reserve accounts are also restricted from withdrawal in the PRC, up to the amount of net assets held in each operating subsidiary.

Cash dividends, if any, on our ordinary shares will be paid in U.S. dollars. If we are considered a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. A 10% PRC withholding tax is applicable to dividends payable to investors that are non-resident enterprises. Any gain realized on the transfer of ordinary shares by such investors is also subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 10% which in the case of dividends will be withheld at source if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within the PRC.

Within the organization, investor cash inflows have all been received by DDC Cayman. Cash to fund DDC Cayman’s operations is transferred from DDC Cayman down through our Hong Kong and Cayman entities and then into our Chinese entities through capital contributions and loans. Transfers among our Hong Kong entities are not restricted. Furthermore, subject to payment of withholding taxes, there are no restrictions and limitations on our ability to distribute earnings from our subsidiaries to DDC Cayman and U.S. investors as well as the ability to settle amounts owed under any agreements.

In the reporting periods presented in this prospectus and up to the date of this prospectus, save for (i) cash transfers among entities of our Group that are made in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) cash transfers described in the table below, no material cash and other asset transfers have occurred among DDC Cayman, its subsidiaries and the VIEs, or from DDC Cayman and its subsidiaries to investors; and no dividends or distributions from any of the subsidiaries and the VIEs has been made to DDC Cayman or to investors, or from DDC Cayman to any of the subsidiaries and the VIEs or to investors.

The following are the material intra-group cash transfers for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022:

The following are the material intra-group cash transfers for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:

See “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. We currently intend to retain all available funds and future earnings, if any, for the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.

Transferring cash through our subsidiaries is subject to risks due to the uncertainty of the interpretation and application of the PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to regulatory review of oversea listing of PRC companies through a special purpose vehicle. Moreover, the Chinese government has significant oversight and

discretion over the conduct of SH DDC’s business and may intervene or influence SH DDC’s operations at any time with little advance notice, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the cash flow through our subsidiaries.

As an offshore holding company, we are permitted under PRC laws and regulations to provide funding from the proceeds of our offshore fund-raising activities to SH DDC and our subsidiaries only through loans or capital contributions, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable government registration and approval requirements. Before providing loans to SH DDC and our subsidiaries, we will be required to make filings with details of the loans with the SAFE in accordance with relevant PRC laws and regulations. SH DDC and our subsidiaries that receive the loans are only allowed to use the loans for the purposes set forth in these laws and regulations. Under regulations of the SAFE, Renminbi is not convertible into foreign currencies for capital account items, such as loans, repatriation of investments and investments outside of China, unless the prior approval of the SAFE is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made.

Further, subject to the Companies Act and our Tenth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association which will take effect immediately prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors may authorize and declare a dividend to shareholders from time to time out of the profits from DDC Cayman, realized or unrealized, or out of the share premium account, provided that DDC Cayman will remain solvent, meaning DDC Cayman is able to pay its debts as they come due in the ordinary course of business. There is no further Cayman Islands statutory restriction on the amount of funds which may be distributed by us in the form of dividends.

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. The laws and regulations of the PRC do not currently have any material impact on transfer of cash from DDC Cayman to our Hong Kong subsidiaries or from our Hong Kong subsidiaries to DDC Cayman. There are no restrictions or limitation under the laws of Hong Kong imposed on the conversion of HK dollar into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of Hong Kong or across borders and to U.S investors.

Currently, we do not have specific cash management policies and procedures in place that dictate how funds are transferred through our organization, however, we have been closely monitoring our transfer of funds and will adopt relevant policies and procedures if necessary.

See “Risk Factors — Risk Related to Our Corporate Structure — We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.” for more information.

Risk Factor Summary  

Our business and our offering are subject to a number of risks, including risks that may prevent us from achieving our business objectives or may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects that you should consider before making a decision to invest in our Class A Ordinary Shares. These risks are discussed more fully in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 39. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry

•        Our business and future growth prospects rely on consumer demand for our products. Any shift in consumer demand, or any unexpected situation with a negative impact on consumer demand may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

•        If we fail to retain existing customers, derive revenue from existing customers consistent with historical performance or acquire new customers cost-effectively, our business could be adversely affected.

•        The market for RTH, RTC, RTE, plant-based meal products and private-label in China is continuously evolving and may not grow as quickly as expected, or at all, which could negatively affect our business and prospects.

•        We are actively expanding our business outside the PRC, where we may be subject to increased business, regulatory, and economic risks that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. A severe or prolonged downturn in the PRC or global economy could also materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

•        If we are unable to expand our business to international markets successfully, our business and results of operations would be adversely affected.

•        Changes to the pricing of our products could adversely affect our results of operations.

•        Our business and prospects depend on our ability to build our brands and reputation, which could be harmed by negative publicity with respect to us, our products and operations, our management, brand ambassadors, key opinion leaders (“KOLs”), or other business partners.

•        Our products are subject to food safety standards and the failure to satisfy such mandated food safety standards would have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and prospects.

•        We may be subject to claims under consumer protection laws, including health and safety claims and product liability claims, if people are harmed by the products sold by us.

•        We face risks related to instances of food-borne illnesses, health epidemics, natural disasters and other catastrophic events. The outbreak of any severe contagious diseases, if uncontrolled, could adversely affect our business and results of operation.

•        We may be liable for improper collection, use or appropriation of personal information provided by our customers.

•        If the content we produce and distribute through online social and content platforms, or content available on our website, is deemed to violate PRC laws or regulations, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

•        We currently utilize third-party suppliers for our products. Loss of these suppliers could harm our business and impede growth.

•        Our growth may be limited if we are unable to expand our distribution channels and secure additional retail space for its products.

•        We rely in part on third-party distributors to place our products into the market and we may not be able to control our distributors.

•        Adverse publicity involving us, our products, our raw materials, our directors, our management team, our competitors or our industry could materially and adversely impact our business and results of operations.

•        We operate in a highly competitive industry. Failure to compete effectively could adversely affect our market share, growth and profitability.

•        We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy.

•        We may be unable to manage our growth effectively or efficiently.

•        We have incurred net loss in the past, and we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability in the future.

•        Our historical financial conditions and results of operations are not representative of our future performance. We may be unable to effectively manage our future growth and expansion, and may not achieve growth in revenue and profit. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, we may not be able to capitalize on new business opportunities and our business and financial results may be materially and adversely affected.

•        We depend on a stable and adequate supply of raw materials which are subject to price volatility and other risks. Inadequate or interrupted supply and price fluctuation for raw materials and packaging materials could adversely affect our profitability.

•        The development of online sales network and marketing activities may not meet expectations, or we may fail to manage the coordination of our offline and online sales channels, which may adversely affect our operation results.

•        Our online sales depend on the proper operation of third-party online platforms and any serious interruptions of these platforms could adversely affect our operations.

•        Our operating results depend on the effectiveness of our marketing and promotional programs. Improper marketing activities may adversely affect our brand image.

•        If we fail to obtain and maintain the requisite licenses and approvals required under the complex regulatory environment applicable to our businesses in China, or if we are required to take compliance actions that are time-consuming or costly, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.

•        We are subject to PRC Advertising Law and related regulations, rules and measures applicable to advertising.

•        Our acquisition activities and other strategic transactions may present managerial, integration, operational and financial risks, which may prevent us from realizing the full intended benefit of the acquisitions we undertake.

•        We rely on third-party logistics companies to deliver our products. Any delivery delay, improper handling of goods or increase in transportation costs of our logistic service providers could adversely affect our business and results of operations. If the third-party logistics business is interrupted, we may not have sufficient resources to support our product transportation and face the risk of rising transportation prices.

•        We may face the risk of inventory obsolescence.

•        We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property, which could adversely affect our business and operations.

•        We may be accused of infringing intellectual property rights of others and content restrictions of relevant laws.

•        Failure to successfully operate our information systems and implement new technology effectively could disrupt our business or reduce our profitability.

•        Our success depends on the continuing efforts of our senior management team and key personnel and our business may be harmed if we lose their services and cannot timely find proper candidates for substitution.

•        Our performance depends on favorable labor relations with our employees, and any deterioration in labor relations, shortage of labor or material increase in wages may have an adverse effect on our results of operation.

•        We may not be able to detect or prevent fraud, bribery, or other misconduct committed by our employees, customers or other third parties.

•        We may be subject to legal proceedings in the ordinary course of our business. Any adverse outcome of these legal proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

•        We have limited insurance to cover our potential losses and claims.

•        We may require additional financing to achieve its goals, and a failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, may force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate its product manufacturing and development, and other operations.

Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure

•        We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure — We may rely on dividends and other

distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.” on page 59.

•        PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure — PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.” on page 59.

•        If the chops of our PRC subsidiaries are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure — If the chops of our PRC subsidiaries are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised.” on page 60.

•        We face uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure — We face uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.” on page 60.

Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong

•        A downturn in the Hong Kong, China or global economy, and economic and political policies of China could materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — A downturn in the Hong Kong, China or global economy, and economic and political policies of China could materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.” on page 60.

•        The Hong Kong legal system embodies uncertainties which could limit the legal protections available to us. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — The Hong Kong legal system embodies uncertainties which could limit the legal protections available to us.” on page 61.

•        Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes in laws and regulations in China could adversely affect us. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes in laws and regulations in China could adversely affect us.” on page 61.

•        The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities, and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, or may exert more oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas. 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 our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Ordinary Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or become worthless. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities, and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, or may exert more oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas. 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 our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A Ordinary Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or become worthless.” on page 63.

•        There are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — There are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities.” on page 64.

•        PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiary to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiary to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us.” on page 65.

•        We may be exposed to liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Chinese anti-corruption law. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — We may be exposed to liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Chinese anti-corruption law.” on page 66.

•        Enhanced scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursue in the future. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Enhanced scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursue in the future.” on page 66.

•        PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC — PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.” on page 67.

•        The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and other PRC governmental authorities provided under the M&A rules are not required in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. Except for the CSRC filing for this issuance and listing, we are not required to obtain any permission or approval from any Chinese authority to issue securities to foreign investors or in connection with this offering, which, we cannot predict, whether or how soon will be completed. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and other PRC governmental authorities provided under the M&A rules are not required in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. Except for the CSRC filing for this issuance and listing, we are not required to obtain any permission or approval from any Chinese authority to issue securities to foreign investors or in connection with this offering, which, we cannot predict, whether or how soon will be completed.” on page 67.

•        Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our Company’s business and results of operations we may pursue in the future. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our Company’s business and results of operations we may pursue in the future.” on page 70.

•        PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay us from using part of the proceeds of this offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay us from using part of the proceeds of this offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.” on page 70.

•        Our business may be materially and adversely affected if any of our PRC subsidiaries declare bankruptcy or become subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Our business may be materially and adversely affected if any of our PRC subsidiaries declare bankruptcy or become subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding.” on page 71.

•        Fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect our business and the value of our securities. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect our business and the value of our securities.” on page 72.

•        Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively.” on page 72.

•        Dividends paid to our foreign investors and gains on the sale of the Class A Ordinary Shares by our foreign investors may become subject to PRC tax. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Dividends paid to our foreign investors and gains on the sale of the Class A Ordinary Shares by our foreign investors may become subject to PRC tax.” on page 72.

•        We are a holding company and we rely on our subsidiaries for funding dividend payments, which are subject to restrictions under PRC laws. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — We are a holding company and we rely on our subsidiaries for funding dividend payments, which are subject to restrictions under PRC laws.” on page 73.

•        Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations.” on page 73.

•        We are a Cayman Islands corporation and all of our business is conducted in the PRC. Moreover, all of our directors and officers are located outside of the United States and except for Mr. Matthew Gene Mouw, are all nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States, and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal or state courts may be limited. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — We are a Cayman Islands corporation and all of our business is conducted in the PRC. Moreover, all of our directors and officers are located outside of the United States and except for Mr. Matthew Gene Mouw, are all nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States, and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal or state courts may be limited.” on page 73.

•        Given the rapidly expanding nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and because most of our business operations and our workforce are concentrated in China, we believe there is a risk that our business, results of operations, and financial condition will be adversely affected. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Given the rapidly expanding nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and because most of our business operations and our workforce are concentrated in China, we believe there is a risk that our business, results of operations, and financial condition will be adversely affected.” on page 74.

•        Our legal rights to lease certain properties could be challenged, which could prevent us from continuing to use these leased properties or increase the costs for relocating our business premises. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — Our legal rights to lease certain properties could be challenged, which could prevent us from continuing to use these leased properties or increase the costs for relocating our business premises.” on page 75.

•        The recent enactment of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act may result in de-listing of our securities. See “Risk Factors Risks Relating to Doing Business in China and Hong Kong — The recent enactment of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act may result in de-listing of our securities.” on page 76.

Risks Related to Our Securities

•        There has been no prior public market for our Ordinary Shares and an active trading market may never develop or be sustained.

•        Our share is expected to initially trade under $5.00 per Class A ordinary share and thus could be known as a penny stock, subject to certain exceptions. Trading in penny stocks has certain restrictions and these restrictions could negatively affect the price and liquidity of our Class A ordinary shares.

•        Our share price may be volatile and may fluctuate.

•        We intend to grant employee share options and other share-based awards in the future. We will recognize any share-based compensation expenses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Any additional grant of employee share options and other share-based awards in the future may have a material adverse effect on our results of operation.

•        If we fail to meet applicable listing requirements, the NYSE Group may delist our Class A Ordinary Shares from trading, in which case the liquidity and market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares could decline.

•        We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our Class A Ordinary Shares in the foreseeable future.

•        We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act and may take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements.

•        We qualify as a foreign private issuer and, as a result, we will not be subject to U.S. proxy rules and will be subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that permit less detailed and less frequent reporting than that of a U.S. domestic public company.

•        As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from NYSE corporate governance listing standards. These practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with corporate governance listing standards.

•        There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of our Class A Ordinary Shares.

•        We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional costs and expenses.

•        We will have broad discretion in the use of proceeds of this offering designated for working capital and general corporate purposes.

•        Our pre-IPO shareholders will be able to sell their shares after the completion of this offering subject to restrictions under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which could impact the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares.

•        Failure to comply with anticorruption and anti-money laundering laws, including the FCPA and similar laws associated with activities outside of the United States, could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.

•        We expect to incur significant additional costs as a result of being a public company, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

•        Securities analysts may not publish favorable research or reports about our business or may publish no information at all, which could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

•        Recently introduced economic substance legislation of the Cayman Islands may impact us and our operations.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Foreign Private Issuer

Emerging Growth Company

As a company with less than $1.07 billion in revenue during our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS Act, enacted in April 2012, and may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:

•        being permitted to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our filings with the SEC;

•        not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting;

•        reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements; and

•        exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

We may take advantage of these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to this offering. However, if certain events occur before the end of such five-year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,” our annual gross revenues exceed $1.07 billion or we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company before the end of such five-year period.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. We have elected to take advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards and acknowledge such election is irrevocable pursuant to Section 107 of the JOBS Act.

Foreign Private Issuer

We are a “foreign private issuer,” as defined by the SEC. As a result, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, we may comply with home country governance requirements and certain exemptions thereunder rather than complying with NYSE corporate governance standards. We may choose to take advantage of the following exemptions afforded to foreign private issuers:

•        Exemption from filing quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or provide current reports on Form 8-K disclosing significant events within four (4) days of their occurrence.

•        Exemption from Section 16 rules regarding sales of Class A Ordinary Shares by insiders, which will provide less data in this regard than shareholders of U.S. companies that are subject to the Exchange Act.

•        Exemption from the NYSE rules applicable to domestic issuers requiring disclosure within four (4) business days of any determination to grant a waiver of the code of business conduct and ethics to directors and officers. Although we will require board approval of any such waiver, we may choose not to disclose the waiver in the manner set forth in the NYSE rules, as permitted by the foreign private issuer exemption.

•        Exemption from the requirement that our board of directors have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities.

•        Exemption from the requirements that director nominees are selected, or recommended for selection by our board of directors, either by (i) independent directors constituting a majority of our board of directors’ independent directors in a vote in which only independent directors participate, or (ii) a committee comprised solely of independent directors, and that a formal written charter or board resolution, as applicable, addressing the nominations process is adopted.

If we rely on our home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain of the rules of NYSE, our shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of NYSE. If we choose to do so, we may utilize these exemptions for as long as we continue to qualify as a foreign private issuer.

Although we are permitted to follow certain corporate governance rules that conform to Cayman Islands requirements in lieu of many of the NYSE corporate governance rules, we intend to comply with the NYSE corporate governance rules applicable to foreign private issuers.

Corporate Information

Our principal executive office is located at Room 1601-1602, 16/F, Hollywood Centre, 233 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Our telephone number is +852-2803-0688. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the office of International Corporation Services Ltd., P.O. Box 472, 2nd Floor, Harbour Place, 103 South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1106, Cayman Islands.

Our agent for service of process in the United States is Cogency Global Inc., located at 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10168. Our principal website is located at https://www.daydaycook.com.cn/daydaycook. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of, and shall not be incorporated by reference into, this prospectus.

The Offering(1)

____________

(1)      Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option or the Underwriter Warrants and is based on [___________] Ordinary Shares outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.

Summary Consolidated Financial Data

The consolidated statements of comprehensive loss data (other than US$ data) and consolidated statements of cash flows data (other than US$ data) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 and the consolidated balance sheets data (other than US$ data) as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The consolidated statements of comprehensive loss data (other than US$ data) and consolidated statements of cash flows data (other than US$ data) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2023, and the consolidated balance sheets data (other than US$ data) as of June 30, 2022 and 2023 are derived from unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP and are prepared on the same basis as the annual audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Results from interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. DDC’s historical results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any future period.

The information below is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements, condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto, all of which are included elsewhere in this prospectus.