UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013
OR
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 000-12536
China Recycling Energy Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Nevada | 90-0093373 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
12/F, Tower A Chang An International Building No. 88 Nan Guan Zheng Jie Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code) |
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: + 86-29-8769-1097
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ¨ No x
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, as of May 9, 2013 was 50,224,350.
INDEX
Page No. | ||
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||
Item 1. | Financial Statements | 3 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2013 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2012 | 3 | |
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) – Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012 | 4 | |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) – Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012 | 5 | |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) | 6 | |
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 29 |
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 43 |
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 43 |
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION | ||
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 44 |
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 44 |
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 44 |
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 45 |
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 45 |
Item 5. | Other Information | 45 |
Item 6. | Exhibits | 45 |
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CHINA RECYCLING ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
MARCH 31, 2013 AND DECEMBER 31, 2012
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
(UNAUDITED) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||
Cash & equivalents | $ | 44,849,549 | $ | 45,004,304 | ||||
Restricted cash | 1,036,865 | 2,725,002 | ||||||
Notes receivable | 638,070 | - | ||||||
Accounts receivable | 55,921 | 81,819 | ||||||
Current portion of investment in sales type leases, net | 11,029,700 | 10,389,028 | ||||||
Interest receivable on sales type leases | 63,162 | 912,467 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | 53,467 | 49,581 | ||||||
Other receivables | 200,297 | 121,109 | ||||||
Advance to related party | - | 440,987 | ||||||
Prepaid interest on trust loans | 818,325 | 816,164 | ||||||
Prepaid loan fees - current | 81,354 | 81,139 | ||||||
Total current assets | 58,826,710 | 60,621,600 | ||||||
NON-CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||
Prepaid loan fees - noncurrent | 183,046 | 202,848 | ||||||
Investment in sales type leases, net | 129,639,111 | 118,021,435 | ||||||
Long term deposit | 389,537 | 388,508 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 61,589 | 68,305 | ||||||
Construction in progress | 21,396,379 | 22,993,905 | ||||||
Total non-current assets | 151,669,662 | 141,675,001 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 210,496,372 | $ | 202,296,601 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 6,589,158 | $ | 239,722 | ||||
Notes payable - bank acceptances | 1,595,176 | 3,659,216 | ||||||
Taxes payable | 1,505,023 | 1,372,535 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities and other payables | 1,808,605 | 1,534,829 | ||||||
Advance from related parties | 40,751 | - | ||||||
Deferred tax liability | 2,652,145 | 2,471,925 | ||||||
Bank loans payable - current | 13,558,998 | 13,523,188 | ||||||
Trust loans payable | 31,504,730 | 31,421,526 | ||||||
Interest payable on trust loans | 1,295,745 | 317,962 | ||||||
Convertible note | 3,766,694 | 3,766,694 | ||||||
Accrued interest on convertible note | 563,112 | 383,929 | ||||||
Current portion of long term payable | 1,321,309 | 1,292,185 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 66,201,446 | 59,983,711 | ||||||
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Deferred tax liability, net | 7,161,882 | 6,565,618 | ||||||
Refundable deposit from customers for systems leasing | 590,215 | 588,656 | ||||||
Long term payable | 3,381,363 | 3,711,658 | ||||||
Bank loans payable | 10,049,610 | 12,091,321 | ||||||
Total noncurrent liabilities | 21,183,070 | 22,957,253 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 87,384,516 | 82,940,964 | ||||||
CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS | - | - | ||||||
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 50,224,350 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 | 50,225 | 50,225 | ||||||
Additional paid in capital | 58,501,642 | 58,501,642 | ||||||
Statutory reserve | 8,185,866 | 7,766,002 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 11,879,559 | 11,554,225 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 39,985,433 | 37,107,107 | ||||||
Total Company stockholders' equity | 118,602,725 | 114,979,201 | ||||||
Noncontrolling interest | 4,509,131 | 4,376,436 | ||||||
Total equity | 123,111,856 | 119,355,637 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 210,496,372 | $ | 202,296,601 |
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CHINA RECYCLING ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, | ||||||||
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Revenue | ||||||||
Sales of systems | $ | 14,079,796 | $ | - | ||||
Contingent rental income | 260,775 | 147,553 | ||||||
Total revenue | 14,340,571 | 147,553 | ||||||
Cost of sales | ||||||||
Cost of systems | 10,900,912 | 14,383 | ||||||
Total cost of sales | 10,900,912 | 14,383 | ||||||
Gross profit | 3,439,659 | 133,170 | ||||||
Interest income on sales-type leases | 3,824,840 | 4,814,250 | ||||||
Total operating income | 7,264,499 | 4,947,420 | ||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
General and administrative | 1,082,446 | 779,555 | ||||||
Income from operations | 6,182,053 | 4,167,865 | ||||||
Non-operating income (expenses) | ||||||||
Interest income | 92,588 | 26,906 | ||||||
Interest expense | (1,494,496 | ) | (2,601,234 | ) | ||||
Changes in fair value of conversion feature liability | - | 1,127,400 | ||||||
Other expenses | (980 | ) | (92,046 | ) | ||||
Total non-operating expenses net | (1,402,888 | ) | (1,538,974 | ) | ||||
Income before income tax | 4,779,165 | 2,628,891 | ||||||
Income tax expense | 1,360,054 | 487,392 | ||||||
Income before noncontrolling interest | 3,419,111 | 2,141,499 | ||||||
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 120,921 | 118,934 | ||||||
Net income attributable to China Recycling Energy Corp | 3,298,190 | 2,022,565 | ||||||
Other comprehensive items | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation gain attributable to China Recycling Energy Corp | 325,334 | 122,886 | ||||||
Foreign currency translation gain attributable to noncontrolling interest | 11,774 | 5,019 | ||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to China Recycling Energy Corp | $ | 3,623,524 | $ | 2,145,451 | ||||
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest | $ | 132,695 | $ | 123,953 | ||||
Basic weighted average shares outstanding | 50,224,350 | 46,474,350 | ||||||
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding * | 50,945,906 | 53,009,813 | ||||||
Basic earnings per share | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.04 | ||||
Diluted earnings per share * | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.04 |
* | Interest expense accrued on convertible notes is added back to net income for the computation of diluted EPS. |
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CHINA RECYCLING ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 | ||||||||
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
Income including noncontrolling interest | $ | 3,419,111 | $ | 2,141,499 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile income including noncontrolling | ||||||||
interest to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Changes in sales type leases receivables | (14,079,796 | ) | - | |||||
Depreciation and amortization | 11,305 | 14,210 | ||||||
Amortization of prepaid loan fees | 20,307 | 20,214 | ||||||
Amortization of discount related to conversion feature of convertible note | - | 583,650 | ||||||
Changes in fair value of conversion feature liability | - | (1,127,400 | ) | |||||
Stock options and warrants expenses | - | 25,784 | ||||||
Changes in deferred tax | 751,402 | 227,293 | ||||||
(Increase) decrease in current assets: | ||||||||
Interest receivable on sales type lease | 850,419 | 1,189,067 | ||||||
Collection of principal on sales type leases | 2,179,702 | 2,296,217 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | (3,749 | ) | 470 | |||||
Account receivables | 26,074 | 5,744,801 | ||||||
Other receivables | (78,746 | ) | 418,660 | |||||
Construction in progress | 1,655,880 | (15,835 | ) | |||||
Increase (decrease) in current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | 4,268,535 | (1,199,993 | ) | |||||
Taxes payable | 128,657 | (1,615,487 | ) | |||||
Interest payable | 975,447 | 1,071,156 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities and other payables | 271,341 | 25,953 | ||||||
Accrued interest on convertible notes | 179,183 | 238,362 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 575,072 | 10,038,621 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
Changes of restricted cash | 1,692,761 | (475,632 | ) | |||||
Acquisition of property & equipment | (4,420 | ) | (262 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 1,688,341 | (475,894 | ) | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
Notes receivable - bank acceptances | (637,095 | ) | 15,854 | |||||
Notes payable - bank acceptances | - | 792,720 | ||||||
Proceeds from loans | 4,778,211 | 4,756,318 | ||||||
Repayment of loans | (6,848,770 | ) | (951,264 | ) | ||||
Convertible note | (313,941 | ) | (288,888 | ) | ||||
Advance from (to) related parties | 482,283 | (2,407,334 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (2,539,312 | ) | 1,917,406 | |||||
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGE ON CASH & EQUIVALENTS | 121,144 | 38,619 | ||||||
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH & EQUIVALENTS | (154,755 | ) | 11,518,752 | |||||
CASH & EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 45,004,304 | 14,949,253 | ||||||
CASH & EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD | $ | 44,849,549 | $ | 26,468,005 | ||||
Supplemental Cash flow data: | ||||||||
Income tax paid | $ | 481,732 | $ | 1,824,958 | ||||
Interest paid | $ | 513,574 | $ | 556,805 |
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CHINA RECYCLING ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2013 (UNAUDITED) AND DECEMBER 31, 2012
1. ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
China Recycling Energy Corporation (the “Company” or “CREG”) was incorporated on May 8, 1980, under the laws of the State of Colorado. On September 6, 2001, the Company re-domiciled its state of incorporation to Nevada. The Company, through its subsidiaries, Shanghai TCH Energy Technology Co., Ltd (“Shanghai TCH”) and Huahong New Energy Technology Co, Ltd (Huahong), provides energy saving solution and services, including selling and leasing energy saving systems and equipment to customers. On March 8, 2007, the Company changed its name to “China Recycling Energy Corporation” from “China Digital Wireless, Inc.”
On February 1, 2007, the Company’s subsidiary, Shanghai TCH, conditionally entered into two top gas recovery turbine systems (the “TRT”) projects, each evidenced by a joint-operation agreement, with Xi’an Yingfeng Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (the “Yingfeng”). TRT is an electricity generating system that utilizes exhaust pressure and heat produced in the blast furnace of a steel mill to generate electricity.
Under these two Joint-Operation Agreements, Shanghai TCH and Yingfeng jointly pursued a top gas recovery turbine project (the "TRT Project") that was to design, construct, install and operate a TRT Project for Zhangzhi Iron and Steel Holdings Ltd. (the “Zhangzhi") and Xingtai Iron and Steel Company, Ltd. (the “Xingtai”), respectively. These two projects were completed and put into operation in February and August 2007, respectively. Xingtai power generation system reached maturity of the lease in January 2012, and the system was transferred to Xingtai.
On October 31, 2007, Shanghai TCH entered an asset-transfer agreement with Yingfeng. The terms and conditions of this agreement required the transfer of all electricity-generating related assets owned by Yingfeng to Shanghai TCH. As a result, the contractual relationships between Shanghai TCH and Yingfeng under the TRT Project Joint-Operation Agreement on April 8, 2007 were terminated.
In November 2007, Shanghai TCH signed a cooperative agreement with Shengwei Group to build two sets of 12MW pure low temperature cement waste heat powered generator systems (“CHPG”) for Shengwei’s two 2,500-tons-per-day cement manufacturing lines in Jing Yang and for a 5,000-tons-per-day cement manufacturing line in Tong Chuan. At the end of 2008, construction of the CHPG in Tong Chuan was completed and put into operation. On June 29, 2009, construction of the CHPG in Jing Yang was completed and put into operation.
On April 14, 2009, the Company incorporated a joint venture (the “JV”) with Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd. (the “Erdos”) to recycle waste heat from Erdos’ metal refining plants to generate power and steam, which will then be sold back to Erdos. The name of the JV is Inner Mongolia Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd (the “Erdos TCH”) with a term of 20 years. Total investment for the project is estimated at $79 million (RMB 500 million) with an initial investment of $17.55 million (RMB 120,000,000). As of March 31, 2013, Erdos had contributed 7% of the total investment of the project, and Xi’an TCH had contributed 93%. According to Xi’an TCH and Erdos’ agreement on profit distribution, Xi’an TCH and Erdos will receive 80% and 20% of the profit from the JV, respectively, until Xi’an TCH receives the complete return of its investment. Xi’an TCH and Erdos will then receive 60% and 40% of the profit from the JV, respectively. When the JV expires, Xi’an TCH will transfer its equity in the JV to Erdos at no cost.
On April 18, 2009, Erdos TCH signed a Cooperation Agreement with Erdos to recycle heat from a variety furnaces of Erdos Metallurgy’s metal refining plants to generate power and steam, which will then be sold back to Erdos Metallurgy. According to the contract, Erdos TCH will install a group of power generation projects with a total of 70MW power capacity, which may expand up to 120MW, and 30-ton steam per hour. The construction of the projects was split into three phases, two power generation systems in Phase I with a total of 18MW power capacity, three power generation systems in Phase II with a total of 27MW power capacity and one power generation system in Phase III with 25MW power capacity.
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At the end of 2009, Erdos TCH completed the first 9MW power station of Phase I of the project and put it into operation. Phase I includes two 9MW units for a combined 18MW power capacity. In March of 2010, the Company completed the second 9MW capacity power station and put it into operation. Pursuant to the Co-operation Agreement and the supplement agreements signed between Erdos and Erdos TCH, Erdos shall purchase all the electricity and steam to be generated from the JV’s power generation projects.
On December 10, 2010, Erdos TCH entered into a supplementary agreement with Xi’an Huaxin Energy Tech Co., Ltd (the construction contractor) to change the Erdos Phase II project of four 9MW waste heat generation systems to three 9MW systems, and to move the fourth 9MW waste heat generation system into Phase III of the project; as a result of entering into this supplementary agreement, the construction costs decreased from $37.4 million (RMB248 million) to $28.1 million (RMB186 million) for Phase II. In the first quarter of 2011, the Company completed all three 9MW power stations of Phase II and put them into operation. On September 13, 2012, the Company terminated the Phase III power generation system construction due to termination of refining plant construction by Erdos as a result of changing business development strategy.
On September 30, 2009, Xi’an TCH delivered three 6MW capacity Waste Gas Power Generation (“WGPG”) systems to Shenmu County Jiujiang Trading Co., Ltd. (“Shenmu”) pursuant to a Cooperative Contract on Coke-oven Gas Power Generation Project (including its Supplementary Agreement) (“Cooperative Agreement”) and a Gas Supply Contract for Coke-oven Gas Power Generation Project. The terms of these contracts are for 10 years, and state Xi’an TCH will recycle coke furnace gas from the coke-oven plant of Shenmu to generate power, which will be supplied back to Shenmu.
On December 31, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into a Repurchase Agreement for the Coke-Oven Gas Power Generation Project (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with Shenmu. Under the Repurchase Agreement, Shenmu will purchase the set of 18MW capacity power generating systems (the “Systems”) from Xi’an TCH and pay outstanding energy saving service fees of $3.08 million (RMB 19.44 million) to Xi’an TCH within three working days from the date of the Repurchase Agreement. Xi’an TCH will transfer the Systems to Shenmu for $18.75 million (RMB 120 million) (the “Repurchase Price”) to be paid in three installments within 180 days. In June 2012, the Company received the full payment of outstanding energy saving service fees and system repurchase price, and, as a result, ownership of the Systems was transferred to Shenmu and the Cooperative Contract was terminated.
On January 20, 2010, Xi’an TCH entered into a Technical Reconstruction Letter of Intent with Xueyi Dong (“Dong”) a natural person with Chinese citizenship for Xi’an TCH reconstructing and transforming a Thermal Power Generation Systems owned by Dong into a 12MW Biomass Power Generation System (the “Biomass Systems” or “BMPG”) for $2.2 million (RMB 15 million), which was paid by Xi’an TCH to Dong. After the transformation of the system, Xi’an TCH entered into a Biomass Power Generation Asset Transfer Agreement with Dong on June 29, 2010. Under the Transfer Agreement, Dong transferred the Biomass Systems to Xi’an TCH, and Xi’an TCH was to pay Dong $14,705,900 (RMB 100,000,000) for the systems, including RMB 20,000,000 in cash and RMB 80,000,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock. The exchange rate between U.S. Dollar and Chinese RMB in connection with the stock issuance was 1:6.8. During 2011, the Company paid the cash portion and issued 2,941,176 shares of common stock for payment of RMB 80,000,000 in shares; in connection with this transaction, the Company also recorded a gain of $8.3 million as a result of the change in fair value of liability, which was marked to market.
On June 29, 2010, Xi’an TCH entered into a Biomass Power Generation Project Lease Agreement with Pucheng XinHengYuan Biomass Power Generation Co., Ltd. (“XHY”). Under this lease agreement, Xi’an TCH leased this same set of 12MW biomass power generation systems to XHY at a minimum of $279,400 (RMB 1,900,000) per month for 15 years.
On September 30, 2010, Xi’an TCH delivered to Zhongbao Binhai Nickel Co., Ltd. (“Zhongbao”) a 7MW capacity Waste Heat Power Generation (“WHPG”) system, an integral part of the facilities designed to produce 80,000 tons of nickel-alloy per year according to the recovery and power generation of waste heat agreement with Zhongbao, a nickel-alloy manufacturing joint venture between Zhonggang and Shanghai Baoshan Steel Group established in June 2009. Total investment in this project was $7.8 million (RMB 55 million). The waste heat agreement with Zhongbao has a term of nine years and provides that Xi’an TCH will recycle waste heat from the nickel-alloy rotary kilns of Zhongbao to generate power and steam, which will be supplied back to Zhongbao. In addition, Xi’an TCH is responsible for applying for the Clean Development Mechanism (“CDM”) under the Kyoto Protocol. Net proceeds from any CDM credit will be distributed between Zhongbao and Xi’an TCH at 60% and 40%, respectively. As of March 31, 2013, Xi’an TCH had not yet commenced the CDM application process.
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On May 25, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into a Letter of Intent with Shenqiu YuNeng Thermal Power Co., Ltd. (“Shenqiu”) for Xi’an TCH to reconstruct and transform a Thermal Power Generation System owned by Shenqiu into a 75T/H Biomass Power Generation System for $3.5 million (RMB 22.5 million). The project commenced in June 2011, and was completed in the third quarter of 2011. On September 28, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into a Biomass Power Generation Asset Transfer Agreement with Shenqiu. Per the Transfer Agreement, Shenqiu sold to Xi’an TCH a set of 12MW biomass power generation systems, effectuation of such sale occurring after Xi’an TCH converted the system for biomass power generation purposes. As consideration for the biomass power generation system, Xi’an TCH agreed to pay Shenqiu $10,937,500 (RMB 70 million) in cash in three installments within six months upon the transfer of ownership of the system. The consideration was paid in full in 2012. On September 28, 2011, Xi’an TCH and Shenqiu also entered into a Biomass Power Generation Project Lease Agreement (the “Lease Agreement”). Under the Lease Agreement, Xi’an TCH agreed to lease the set of 12MW biomass power generation systems to Shenqiu for $286,000 (RMB 1,800,000) per month for 11 years. Upon completion of the Lease Agreement, ownership of this system will be transferred from Xi’an TCH to Shenqiu at no cost.
On October 8, 2012, Xi’an TCH entered into a Letter of Intent for Technical Reformation of Shenqiu Project Phase II with Shenqiu for technical reformation to enlarge the capacity of the Shenqiu Project Phase I. The technical reformation involved the construction of another 12MW biomass power generation system. After the reformation, the generation capacity of the power plant increased to 24MW. The project commenced on October 25, 2012 and was completed during the first quarter of 2013. The total cost of the project was $10.83 million (RMB 68 million). On March 30, 2013, Xi’an TCH and Shenqiu also entered into a Biomass Power Generation Project Lease Agreement (the “Lease Agreement”). Under the Lease Agreement, Xi’an TCH agreed to lease the second set of 12MW biomass power generation systems to Shenqiu for $239,000 (RMB 1,500,000) per month for 9.5years. Upon completion of the Lease Agreement, ownership of this system will be transferred from Xi’an TCH to Shenqiu at no cost. During the construction period, from November 2012 to March 2013, Xi'an TCH stopped charging Shenqiu Phase I rental fees.
On June 13, 2012, Huahong, a subsidiary of the Company, obtained preliminary approval from Department of Commerce of Shaanxi Province to reduce its investment from $10 million to $5 million and its registered capital from $10 million to $2.5 million.
In October 2012, the Company deregistered its subsidiary Huaxin due to its inactivity.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The unaudited financial statements included herein were prepared by the Company, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals and adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the operating results for the respective periods. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally present in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) were omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s 2012 audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year ending December 31, 2013.
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Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CREG and, its subsidiary, Sifang Holdings, its wholly owned subsidiaries, Huahong New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (“Huahong”) and Shanghai TCH, Shanghai TCH’s subsidiary Xi’an TCH Energy Tech Co., Ltd. (“Xi’an TCH”) and Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd (“Erdos TCH”), in which 93% of the investment is from Xi’an TCH. Substantially all of the Company’s revenues are derived from the operations of Shanghai TCH and its subsidiaries, which represent substantially all of the Company’s consolidated assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
In preparing these consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the balance sheets as well as revenues and expenses during the period reported. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Sales-type Leasing and Related Revenue Recognition
The Company constructs and leases waste energy recycling power generating projects to our customers. The Company usually transfers ownership of the waste energy recycling power generating projects to its customers at the end of the lease. The investment in these projects is recorded as investment in sales-type leases in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 13, “Accounting for Leases” (codified in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 840) and its various amendments and interpretations. The Company finances construction of waste energy recycling power generating. The sales and cost of sales are recognized at the inception of lease. The investment in sales-type leases consists of the sum of the minimum lease payments receivable less unearned interest income and estimated executory cost. Minimum lease payments are part of the lease agreement between the Company (lessor) and the customer (lessee). The discount rate implicit in the lease is used to calculate the present value of minimum lease payments. The minimum lease payment consists of the gross lease payments net of executory costs and contingent rentals, if any. Unearned interest income is amortized to income over the lease term to produce a constant periodic rate of return on net investment in the lease. While revenue is recognized at the inception of the lease, the cash flow from the sales-type lease occurs over the course of the lease, which results in interest income and reduction of receivables. Revenue is recognized net of sales tax.
Contingent Rental Income
The Company records income from actual electricity usage in addition to minimum lease payments of each project as contingent rental income in the period contingent rental income is earned. Contingent rent is not part of minimum lease payments. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the contingent rental income was $260,775 and $147,553, respectively.
Cash and Equivalents
Cash and equivalents includes cash on hand, demand deposits placed with banks or other financial institutions and all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less as of the purchase date of such investments.
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Accounts Receivable
As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had accounts receivable of $55,921 and $81,819 from sales of extra electricity, respectively, representing the outstanding receivables for contingent rental income.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Cash includes cash on hand and demand deposits in accounts maintained within China. Balances at financial institutions within China are not covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.
Certain other financial instruments, which subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, consist of accounts and other receivables. The Company does not require collateral or other security to support these receivables. The Company conducts periodic reviews of its customers’ financial condition and customer payment practices to minimize collection risk on accounts receivable.
The operations of the Company are located in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environments in the PRC.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred; additions, renewals and betterments are capitalized. When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is included in operations. Depreciation of property and equipment is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated lives as follows:
Building | 20 years |
Vehicle | 2 - 5 years |
Office and Other Equipment | 2 - 5 years |
Software | 2 - 3 years |
Impairment of Long-life Assets
In accordance with SFAS 144 (codified in FASB ASC Topic 360), the Company reviews its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be fully recoverable. If the total expected undiscounted future net cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and carrying amount of the asset. There was no impairment as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales consists primarily of the direct material of the power generating system and expenses incurred directly for project construction for sales-type leasing.
Income Taxes
The Company utilizes SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” (codified in FASB ASC Topic 740), which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each period end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
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The Company follows FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, (“FIN 48”), codified in FASB ASC Topic 740. When tax returns are filed, it is likely some positions taken would be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, while others are subject to uncertainty about the merits of the position taken or the amount of the position that would be ultimately sustained. The benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, management believes it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions. Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefits associated with tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above is reflected as a liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying balance sheets along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination. Interest associated with unrecognized tax benefits is classified as interest expense and penalties are classified in selling, general and administrative expenses in the statements of income. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had not taken any uncertain positions that would necessitate recording of tax related liability.
Non-Controlling Interest
The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 810, “Consolidation,” which established new standards governing the accounting for and reporting of non-controlling interests (NCIs) in partially owned consolidated subsidiaries and the loss of control of subsidiaries. Certain provisions of this standard indicate, among other things, that NCIs (previously referred to as minority interests) be treated as a separate component of equity, not as a liability (as was previously the case), that increases and decreases in the parent’s ownership interest that leave control intact be treated as equity transactions rather than as step acquisitions or dilution gains or losses, and that losses of a partially owned consolidated subsidiary be allocated to the NCI even when such allocation might result in a deficit balance.
The net income (loss) attributed to the NCI was separately designated in the accompanying statements of income and other comprehensive income. Losses attributable to the NCI in a subsidiary may exceed the NCI’s interests in the subsidiary’s equity. The excess attributable to the NCI is attributed to those interests. The NCI shall continue to be attributed its share of losses even if that attribution results in a deficit NCI balance.
Statement of Cash Flows
In accordance with SFAS No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows” (codified in FASB ASC Topic 230), cash flows from the Company’s operations are calculated based upon the local currencies. As a result, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statement of cash flows may not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheet.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
For certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other receivables, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and short-term debt, the carrying amounts approximate their fair values due to their short maturities. Receivables on sales-type leases are based on interest rates implicit in the lease.
ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” requires disclosure of the fair value (“FV”) of financial instruments held by the Company. ASC Topic 825, “Financial Instruments,” defines FV, and establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosures of FV measurement that enhances disclosure requirements for FV measures. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for receivables and current liabilities each qualify as financial instruments and are a reasonable estimate of their FV because of the short period of time between the origination of such instruments and their expected realization and their current market rate of interest. The three levels of valuation hierarchy are defined as follows:
· | Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. |
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· | Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. |
· | Level 3 inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the FV measurement. |
The Company analyzes all financial instruments with features of both liabilities and equity under ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity,” and ASC 815.
The following are the considerations with respect to disclosures of FV of long-term debt obligations:
As of March 31, 2013, the Company’s long term debt obligations consisted of the following: (i) bank loans payable of $10.05 million, (ii) a long term payable for a sale-leaseback transaction of $3.38 million.
FV measurements / approximations, for certain financial instruments, are based on what a reporting entity would likely have to pay to transfer the financial obligation to an entity with a comparable credit rating. The Company’s bank loans and trust loans payable are privately held (i.e., nonpublic) debt; therefore, pricing inputs are not observable. For this reason, the Company classified bank loans and trust loans payable as a Level 3 FV measurement in the valuation hierarchy.
For each of the Company’s long term debt obligations noted above, the Company believes the carrying amounts approximate their FV. The following reasons support this determination.
Bank Loans Payables of $10.05 Million (noncurrent portion)
As of March 31, 2013, the Company had two loans with the same Chinese commercial bank with terms of three and four years, respectively. Each loan was for the subsidiary’s (Xi’an TCH’s) energy saving and emission reduction projects and had a floating interest rate that both reset at the beginning of each quarter at 115%, of the national base interest rate for the same term and same level loan. Each of these loans was guaranteed by Xi’an TCH (along with a pledge of its accounts receivables) and by certain executive officers of the Company, and a pledge of certain BMPG (Biomass Power Generation) systems. Based on the Company’s understanding of the credit markets, the Company’s business is in a sector (energy-saving green) that is supported by the PRC government and the lending bank, the Company believes it could have obtained similar loans on similar terms and interest rates. In addition, in connection with the FV measurement, the Company considered nonperformance risk (including credit risk) relating to the debt obligations, including the following: (i) the Company is considered a low credit risk customer to the lending bank and its creditors; (ii) the Company has a good history of making timely payments and have never defaulted on any loans; and (iii) the Company has a stable and continuous cash inflow from collections from its sales-type lease of energy saving projects.
Sale-Leaseback Transaction of $3.38 Million
The Company recorded the sale-lease back transaction at FV, which is the present value of the total future cash outflow including principal and interest payments.
As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company did not identify any assets and liabilities that are required to be presented on the balance sheet at FV other than the sale-lease back transaction of $3.38 million described above.
Stock Based Compensation
The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment, an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123” (codified in FASB ASC Topic 718 and 505). The Company recognizes in its statement of operations the grant-date FV of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees and non-employees.
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Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share
The Company presents net income (loss) per share (“EPS”) in accordance with SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share” (codified in FASB ASC Topic 740). Accordingly, basic income (loss) per share is computed by dividing income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing the net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding as well as common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method for stock options and warrants and the if-converted method for convertible notes. The Company made an accounting policy election to use the if-converted method for convertible securities that are eligible to receive common stock dividends, if declared. Diluted EPS reflect the potential dilution that could occur based on the exercise of stock options or warrants or conversion of convertible securities using the if-converted method. The following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted EPS:
The following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Net income for common shares | $ | 3,298,190 | $ | 2,022,565 | ||||
Interest accrued on convertible notes* | 179,183 | 238,362 | ||||||
Net income for diluted shares | $ | 3,477,373 | $ | 2,260,927 | ||||
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic | 50,224,350 | 46,474,350 | ||||||
Effect of dilutive securities: | ||||||||
Convertible notes | 5,641,969 | |||||||
Options granted | 721,556 | 893,494 | ||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted | 50,945,906 | 53,009,813 | ||||||
Earnings (loss) per share – basic | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.04 | ||||
Earnings (loss) per share – diluted | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.04 |
* | Interest expense on convertible notes was added back to net income for the computation of diluted EPS. |
Foreign Currency Translation and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The Company’s functional currency is the Renminbi (“RMB”). For financial reporting purposes, RMB were translated into United States Dollars (“USD” or “$”) as the reporting currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the reporting period. Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a component of stockholders’ equity as “Accumulated other comprehensive income.” Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in income. There was no significant fluctuation in the exchange rate for the conversion of RMB to USD after the balance sheet date.
The Company uses SFAS 130 “Reporting Comprehensive Income” (codified in FASB ASC Topic 220). Comprehensive income is comprised of net income and all changes to the statements of stockholders’ equity, except those due to investments by stockholders, changes in paid-in capital and distributions to stockholders.
Segment Reporting
SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” (codified in FASB ASC Topic 280) requires use of the “management approach” model for segment reporting. The management approach model is based on the way a company’s management organizes segments within the company for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Reportable segments are based on products and services, geography, legal structure, management structure, or any other manner in which management disaggregates a company. SFAS 131 has no effect on the Company’s financial statements as substantially all of the Company’s operations are conducted in one industry segment. All of the Company’s assets are located in the PRC.
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New Accounting Pronouncements
As of March 31, 2013, there were no recently issued accounting standards not yet adopted by the Company that would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
3. NET INVESTMENT IN SALES-TYPE LEASES
Under sales-type leases, Xi’an TCH leased TRT systems to Zhangzhi with terms of 5 and 13 years, respectively; and leased CHPG systems to Tong Chuan, Shengwei, and Jing Yang Shengwei respectively for 5 years, BMPG systems to Pucheng for 15 years, BMPG systems to Shenqiu Phase I for 11 years, Shenqiu Phase II for 9.5 years, and a power and steam generating system from waste heat from metal refining to Erdos (five projects) for 20 years. The components of the net investment in sales-type leases as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are as follows:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Total future minimum lease payments receivable | $ | 399,987,266 | $ | 380,608,263 | ||||
Less: Executory cost | (113,338,304 | ) | (113,529,216 | ) | ||||
Less: Unearned interest income | (145,980,151 | ) | (138,668,584 | ) | ||||
Net investment in sales - type leases | 140,668,811 | 128,410,463 | ||||||
Current portion | 11,029,700 | 10,389,028 | ||||||
Noncurrent portion | $ | 129,639,111 | $ | 118,021,435 |
As of March 31, 2013, the future minimum rentals to be received on non-cancelable sales-type leases by years are as follows:
2014 | $ | 38,539,638 | ||
2015 | 30,459,497 | |||
2016 | 29,326,592 | |||
2017 | 29,326,592 | |||
2018 | 29,326,592 | |||
Thereafter | 243,008,355 | |||
Total | $ | 399,987,266 |
4. RESTRICTED CASH, NOTES PAYABLE – BANK ACCEPTANCES
Restricted cash as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $1,036,865 and $2,725,002 (of which, $954,578 was deposited as a principal-guaranteed financial investment product with a term of six months at December 31, 2012), respectively, held by the bank as collateral to issue bank acceptances. The Company endorses bank acceptances to vendors as payment of its own obligations. Most of the bank acceptances have maturities of less than six months.
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5. PREPAID EXPENSES
Prepaid expenses mainly consisted of prepayment for supplies, office rental, parking space, insurance and legal fees.
6. CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS
Construction in progress was for constructing power generation systems. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had construction in progress of $21.40 million for the Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation project. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had construction in progress of $19.27 million for the Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation project and $3.72 million for the Shenqiu Project Phase II. Shenqiu Project Phase II was completed at the end of March 2013. As of March 31, 2013, the Company was committed to pay an additional $7.89 million for the Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation project.
In September 2012, Erdos TCH, Erdos and general contractor Xianyang Hengfeng Energy Engineering Co., Ltd (“Hengfeng”) terminated the construction of Phase III of the power generation system projects due to Erdos stopping construction of the refining plant as a result of a change in business strategy. Cost of construction in progress which Erdos TCH paid for Phase III of the project was $19.86 million (RMB 125.44 million) as of the termination date; Hengfeng returned $13.72 million (RMB 86.70 million) to Erdos TCH for construction in progress payments made by Erdos TCH; and Erdos compensated $3.58 million (RMB 22.04 million) to Erdos TCH for the loss, Erdos TCH in turn paid $0.32 million (RMB 2.0 million) to Hengfeng for the loss from the project termination; accordingly, Erdos incurred a net loss of $2.96 million (RMB 18.74 million) from termination of this project.
7. TAXES PAYABLE
Taxes payable consisted of the following as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Income | $ | 827,496 | $ | 689,532 | ||||
Business | 260,076 | 257,378 | ||||||
VAT arising from transfer WGPG to Shenmu | 382,842 | 381,832 | ||||||
Other | 34,609 | 34,793 | ||||||
$ | 1,505,023 | $ | 1,372,535 |
8. ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER PAYABLES
Accrued liabilities and other payables consisted of the following as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Employee training, labor union expenditure and social insurance payable | $ | 373,507 | $ | 372,521 | ||||
Consulting, auditing, and legal expenses | 784,668 | 618,957 | ||||||
Accrued payroll and welfare | 365,236 | 291,310 | ||||||
Accrued system maintenance expense | 47,855 | 47,729 | ||||||
Other | 237,339 | 204,312 | ||||||
Total | $ | 1,808,605 | $ | 1,534,829 |
9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
As of March 31, 2013, advances from related parties totaled $40,751, which were advanced by the Company’s management, bore no interest, and are payable on demand.
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As of December 31, 2012, advances to related parties totaled $440,987, including $481,863 to Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd. (the minority shareholder of Erdos TCH), as a receivable for maintenance fee and tax expense, and net of a $40,876 advanced by the Company’s management, which bore no interest, and were payable on demand.
Erdos TCH sold all power generation stations through sales type leases to Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd., the non-controlling interest holder. Total sales and interest income for this non-controlling interest was $0.2 million and $1.83 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, and $0.1 million and $1.86 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, respectively.
10. NONCONTROLLING INTEREST
“Non-controlling interest” is a 7% equity interest of Erdos TCH owned by Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd. According to Xi’an TCH and Erdos’ agreement on profit distribution, Xi’an TCH and Erdos will receive 80% and 20% of the profit from the JV, respectively, until Xi’an TCH has received the complete return of its investment. Xi’an TCH and Erdos will then receive 60% and 40% of the profit from the JV, respectively.
As of March 31, 2013, the total registered capital of Erdos TCH was $17.55 million (RMB 120,000,000), of which, $16.37 million (RMB 112 million) was contributed by Xi’an TCH, and $1.18 million (RMB 8 million) was from Erdos. Erdos TCH engages in a business similar to that of Xi’an TCH.
Erdos TCH allocates its income to Xi’an TCH and Erdos at a proportion of 80% and 20% based on net income calculated under PRC GAAP. The main difference between US GAAP and PRC GAAP with respect to Erdos TCH is that the Erdos agreement is treated as a sales-type lease under US GAAP and as an operating lease under PRC GAAP. The following is an unaudited profit and loss statement of Erdos TCH, prepared under PRC GAAP for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 (note: Erdos TCH’s US GAAP basis financial statements are part of the Company’s consolidated financial statements discussed in Note 2 – Basis for Consolidation):
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Net Revenue | $ | 3,758,993 | $ | 3,711,425 | ||||
Cost of Revenue | (2,116,686 | ) | (2,105,057 | ) | ||||
Gross Profit | 1,642,307 | 1,606,368 | ||||||
Operating expenses | 37,977 | 15,506 | ||||||
Income from operations | 1,604,330 | 1,590,862 | ||||||
Non-operating income (expense) | (1,085,990 | ) | - | |||||
Income tax expense | (129,585 | ) | (397,716 | ) | ||||
Net Income (loss) | $ | 388,755 | $ | 1,193,146 |
The following is a reconciliation of net income per PRC GAAP to net income per US GAAP for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Net income per PRC GAAP | $ | 388,755 | $ | 1,193,146 | ||||
Adjustments under US GAAP: | ||||||||
Revenue per sales-type lease | (3,583,659 | ) | (3,567,238 | ) | ||||
Cost of revenue | 2,055,270 | 2,095,199 | ||||||
Loss from operations | (1,528,389 | ) | (1,472,039 | ) | ||||
Operating income (expense) | (44 | ) | 137 | |||||
Interest income | 1,832,757 | 673,934 | ||||||
Income (loss) before income tax | 304,324 | (797,968 | ) | |||||
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) | (88,474 | ) | 199,492 | |||||
Net adjustments | 215,850 | (598,476 | ) | |||||
Net income per US GAAP | $ | 604,605 | $ | 594,670 |
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The following is an unaudited balance sheet of Erdos TCH, prepared under PRC GAAP as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Cash and equivalents | $ | 10,529 | $ | 12,411 | ||||
Other current assets | 15,390,766 | 12,774,129 | ||||||
Property and equipment | 46,071,286 | 46,558,041 | ||||||
Construction in process | - | - | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 61,472,581 | $ | 59,344,581 | ||||
Liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | - | $ | 39,774 | ||||
Other current liabilities | 1,999,030 | 376,649 | ||||||
Long term loan | 38,882,420 | 38,779,731 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 40,881,450 | 39,196,154 | ||||||
Equity | ||||||||
Paid in capital | 17,573,578 | 17,573,578 | ||||||
Statutory reserve | 570,094 | 570,094 | ||||||
Other comprehensive income | 1,807,908 | 1,753,959 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 639,551 | 250,796 | ||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 20,591,131 | 20,148,427 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 61,472,581 | $ | 59,344,581 |
11. DEFERRED TAX
Deferred tax asset resulted from accrued maintenance cost on power generation systems that can be deducted for tax purposes in the future; and difference between tax and accounting basis of cost of fixed assets which was capitalized for tax purposes and expensed as part of cost of systems in accordance with US GAAP. Deferred tax liability arose from the difference between tax and accounting basis of net investment in sales-type leases.
As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, deferred tax liability consisted of the following:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Deferred tax asset — noncurrent (accrual of system maintenance cost) | $ | 80,968 | $ | 48,453 | ||||
Deferred tax asset — noncurrent (depreciation of fixed assets) | 25,319,299 | 22,933,886 | ||||||
Deferred tax liability — noncurrent (net investment in sales-type leases) | (32,562,149 | ) | (29,547,957 | ) | ||||
Deferred tax liability, net of deferred tax asset – noncurrent | $ | (7,161,882 | ) | $ | (6,565,618 | ) | ||
Deferred tax liability — current (net investment in sales-type leases) | $ | (2,652,145 | ) | $ | (2,471,925 | ) |
12. INCOME TAX
The Company’s Chinese subsidiaries are governed by the Income Tax Law of the PRC concerning privately-run enterprises, which are generally subject to tax at 25% on income reported in the statutory financial statements after appropriate tax adjustments. Under the Chinese tax law, the tax treatment of finance and sales-type leases is similar to US GAAP. However, the local tax bureau continues to treat CREG sales-type leases as operating leases. Accordingly, the Company recorded deferred income taxes.
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The Company’s subsidiaries generate all of their net income from their PRC operations. Shanghai TCH’s effective income tax rate for 2013 and 2012 is 25%. Xi’an TCH’s effective income tax rate in 2012 until August was 15% as a result of its high tech enterprise status that was approved by the taxing authority. The 15% rate expired in August 2012, and Xi’an TCH’s effective income tax rate became 25%. Xingtai Huaxin’s effective income tax rate for 2012 was 25% (deregistered in October 2012). Huahong and Erdos TCH’s effective income tax rate for 2013 and 2012 is 25%. Shanghai TCH, Xi’an TCH, Huahong, and Erdos TCH file separate income tax returns.
There is no income tax for companies domiciled in the Cayman Islands. Accordingly, the Company’s consolidated financial statements do not present any income tax provisions related to Cayman Islands tax jurisdiction where Sifang Holding is domiciled.
The parent company, China Recycling Energy Corporation, is taxed in the U.S. and, as of March 31, 2013, had net operating loss (“NOL”) carry forwards for income taxes of $11.04 million, which may be available to reduce future years’ taxable income as NOLs can be carried forward up to 20 years from the year the loss is incurred. Our management believes the realization of benefits from these losses may be uncertain due to the Company’s limited operating history and continuing operating losses. Accordingly, a 100% deferred tax asset valuation allowance was provided.
As of March 31, 2013, a total of $73.0 million, of our non-US subsidiaries’ accumulated undistributed earnings, has been indefinitely invested. At the existing U.S. federal income tax rate, additional taxes of approximately $13.7 million would have been owed if such earnings were currently remitted.
The following table reconciles the U.S. statutory rates to the Company’s effective tax rate for three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
U.S. statutory rates | 34.0 | % | 34.0 | % | ||||
Tax rate difference – current provision | (10.5 | )% | (9.3 | )% | ||||
Effective tax holiday | - | % | (7.3 | )% | ||||
Non tax-deductible expense | - | % | (7.0 | )% | ||||
Other | (0.5 | )% | - | % | ||||
Valuation allowance on US NOL | 5.5 | % | 8.1 | % | ||||
Tax per financial statements | 28.5 | % | 18.5 | % |
Non-tax deductible expenses represented permanent non-tax deductible interest expense resulting from an amortization of a beneficial conversion feature for a convertible note and changes in FV of conversion feature liability.
The provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 consisted of the following:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Income tax expense - current | $ | 608,652 | $ | 198,223 | ||||
Income tax expense - deferred | 751,402 | 289,169 | ||||||
Total income tax expenses | $ | 1,360,054 | $ | 487,392 |
13. LOANS PAYABLE
Collective Capital Trust Plan
On December 3, 2009, the Company and Beijing International Trust Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Trust”) formed a Low Carbon Fortune-Energy Recycling No. 1 Collective Capital Trust Plan (“Plan”) pursuant to the Capital Trust Loan Agreement (the “Agreement”) entered into by Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd and Beijing Trust dated November 19, 2009. All amounts raised under the Plan were loaned to Erdos TCH in connection with its waste heat power generation projects Phase II and Phase III construction and operation.
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Under the Agreement, the annual base interest rate was 9.94% for A1 preferred trust fund units with a term of two years, 11% for A2 preferred trust fund units with a term of three years, 12.05% for A3 preferred trust fund units and 8.35% for the category B secondary trust fund units, each with a term of four years. Erdos TCH provided a lien on its equipment, assets and accounts receivable to guarantee the loans under the Agreement. Xi’an TCH and Mr. Guohua Ku, the CEO, the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors and a major shareholder, provided unconditional and irrevocable joint liability guarantees to Beijing Trust for Erdos TCH’s performance under the Agreement. Erdos (the minority shareholder and customer of Erdos TCH) provided a commitment letter on minimum power purchase from Erdos TCH.
The Trust Plan raised $44.1 million (RMB 300,000,000) through a series of capital raises in 2009 and 2010, of which, 13,750,000 B1 units ($2.0 million) were purchased by the management of Erdos TCH; 1,600,000 ($235,600) A1 units and 46,250,000 B2 units ($7.4 million) were purchased by Xi’an TCH, the amount was considered an investment by Xi’an TCH into Erdos TCH and, accordingly, was eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Portion of category A units (RMB 35,250,000) were due and paid in full on December 3, 2011, of which, RMB 1,600,000 was purchased by Xi’an TCH. As of December 31, 2012, the entire outstanding trust loan was due within one year. The net loan payable under this trust plan was $31.5 million and $31.4 million (RMB 197,500,000) as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
In addition to the above, under the Loan Agreement, Erdos TCH must pay a management incentive benefit to Beijing Trust upon maturity of the category A3 and category B trust units in December 2013 if the ratio of Erdos TCH’s profit to its registered capital exceeds a base amount. If this criterion is met, the amount of the management incentive benefit is calculated based on a formula tied to Erdos TCH’s net profit and the average registered capital for the 2012 fiscal year. Under this formula the management incentive benefit could range between 0% and 100% of the net profit of Erdos TCH in the 2012 fiscal year.
The management incentive benefit was structured to provide an incentive to management to make the joint venture profitable. Under the Plan, Beijing Trust will distribute the entire amount of the management incentive benefit it receives to the holders of the category B trust units. As previously disclosed, the holders of the category B trust units are the management of Erdos TCH and Xi’an TCH. Category B trust units receive a lower base interest rate than the category A trust units but the economic return to the holders of category B trust units will be enhanced by any management incentive benefit.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, Erdos TCH incurred a net loss under both PRC GAAP and US GAAP.
Erdos TCH also will share the benefits from Clean Development Mechanism ("CDM") under the Kyoto Protocol equally with Beijing Trust during the term of the loan. Any benefit received from CDM will be paid to Erdos Metallurgy first. Under the agreement with Xi’an TCH, Erdos Metallurgy agrees to deliver to Xi’an TCH 50% of the benefit Erdos Metallurgy receives. Xi’an TCH agrees to share 50% of the benefit it receives from Erdos Metallurgy with Erdos TCH. Under the Capital Trust Loan Agreement between Erdos TCH and Beijing Trust, Erdos TCH agrees that 50% of any benefit it receives will be delivered to Beijing Trust. Pursuant to the Plan, Beijing Trust will distribute 70% of the CDM benefit it receives to the holders of the category B trust units. The receipt of any CDM benefit is subject to a process of evaluation and certification of the project by the CDM Executive Board and is under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The first stages of the certification process have been completed successfully.
Bank Long Term Loans - Industrial Bank
Xi’an TCH entered into an agreement with Industrial Bank Co., Ltd., Xi’an Branch (the “Lender”) for a loan designed for energy saving and emission reduction projects, whereby the Lender agreed to loan $4.79 million (RMB 30,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for three years from April 6, 2010 to April 6, 2013. The proceeds of the loan are required to be used in payment for equipment for Xi’an TCH’s energy saving and emission reduction projects. The loan has a floating interest rate that resets at the beginning of each quarter at 110% of the national base interest rate for the same term and same level loan (then 6.77%). Under the loan, Xi’an TCH is required to make quarterly interest payments and, beginning six months after the date of the release of the funds, to make minimum quarterly principal payments of $478,000 (RMB 3,000,000). The loan agreement contained standard representations, warranties and covenants, and is guaranteed by Xi’an TCH, Shaanxi Shengwei Construction Material Group and Mr. Guohua Ku. As of March 31, 2013, this loan had outstanding balance of $0.48 million which was to be repaid within one year, and was classified as a current liability. The principal was paid in full on the maturity date, April 6, 2013.
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The loan had the following covenants: (i) maintain the current assets and net assets at not less than $79 million (RMB 500 million); (ii) assets to liability ratio must not be less than 80%; and (iii) the current ratio must not be less than 2.5. On March 28, 2011, the Company received a waiver letter from the Lender waiving all covenants.
Xi’an TCH entered into another loan agreement with the same Industrial Bank for energy saving and emission reduction projects, whereby the Lender agreed to loan $4.79 million (RMB 30,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for three years to March 30, 2014. The proceeds of the loan are required to be used in payment for construction and equipment purchase for Xi’an TCH’s energy saving and emission reduction projects. The loan agreement has a floating interest rate that resets at the beginning of each quarter at 115% of the national base interest rate for the same term and same level loan (then 7.07%). Under the loan, Xi’an TCH is required to make quarterly interest payments and, beginning six months after the date of the release of the funds, to make minimum quarterly principal payments of $478,000 (RMB 3,000,000). The loan agreement contains standard representations, warranties and covenants, and the loan is guaranteed by Xi’an TCH, Mr. Guohua Ku and Ms. Chaoying Zhang. As of March 31, 2013, this loan had an outstanding balance of $2.39 million, which is to be repaid within one year.
The loan was originally pledged with the system and revenue of the project ZhongBao. In June 2011, the system of the project ZhongBao was sold to and leased back from Cinda Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (the “Cinda Financial”), the Company engaged a third party guarantee company as the guarantor for the loan, which was approved by the Industrial Bank in July 1, 2011. The loan had the following covenants: (i) maintain the current assets and net assets not less than $79 million (RMB 500 million); (ii) assets to liability ratio not less than 80%; and (iii) the current ratio not less than 1. In the first quarter of 2011, the Company received a waiver letter from the Lender waiving all covenants.
On November 8, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered the third loan agreement with the same Industrial Bank for energy saving and emission reduction projects, whereby the Lender agreed to loan $20.74 million (RMB 130,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for four years to November 27, 2015. The proceeds of the loan are required to be used for construction and equipment purchases for Xi’an TCH’s energy saving and emission reduction projects. The loan agreement has a floating interest rate that resets at the beginning of each quarter at 115% of the national base interest rate for the same term and same level loan (then 7.36%). Under the loan, Xi’an TCH is required to make quarterly interest payments and, beginning nine months after the date of the release of the funds, to make minimum quarterly principal payments of $1,595,176 (RMB 10,000,000). For the first nine months, the loan was in a grace period and there was no repayment requirement. The loan is guaranteed by accounts receivable of Xi’an TCH, Pucheng and Shenqiu BMPG systems and Mr. Guohua Ku. As of March 31, 2013, this loan had outstanding balance of $15.95 million, of which, $6.38 million was to be repaid within one year and was classified as current liability, and $9.57 million will be repaid after one year and was classified as noncurrent liability.
Bank Loan – Bank of Xi’an
During the first quarter of 2012, Xi’an TCH entered into an agreement with Bank of Xi’an, whereby Bank of Xi’an agreed to loan $4.79 million (RMB 30,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for one year with maturity on March 1, 2013. The proceeds of the loan are required to be used in payment for power generation equipment purchases. The monthly interest rate of the Loan was 0.60133%. Under the terms of the loan, Xi’an TCH was required to make monthly interest payments and the principal was to be repaid at maturity. The loan was guaranteed by a third party guarantee company and Mr. Guohua Ku. The Company paid the third party guarantee company $119,322 (RMB 750,000) as a re-guarantee service fee. This loan was repaid at maturity.
On March 28, 2013, Xi’an TCH entered into another agreement with Bank of Xi’an, whereby Bank of Xi’an agreed to loan $4.79 million (RMB 30,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for one year with maturity on March 27, 2014. The proceeds of the loan are required to be used in payment for power generation equipment purchases. The monthly interest rate of the Loan is 0.575%. Under the terms of the loan, Xi’an TCH is required to make monthly interest payments and the principal is to be repaid at maturity. The loan is guaranteed by a third party guarantee company and Mr. Guohua Ku. The Company paid a third party $113,483 (RMB 712,500) as a re-guarantee service fee.
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As of March 31, 2013, the future minimum repayment of all the bank loans to be made by years was as follows:
2014 | $ | 14,037,550 | ||
2015 | 6,380,706 | |||
2016 | 3,190,352 | |||
Total | $ | 23,608,608 |
Financing Agreement- - Sale Lease-Back Transaction (Long Term Payable)
On June 28, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into a Financing Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Cinda Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (the “Cinda Financial”), an affiliate of China Cinda (HK) Asset Management Co., Ltd. (the “Cinda HK”).
Under the Agreement, Xi’an TCH transferred its ownership of a set of 7MW steam turbine waste heat power generation system (the “WHPG system currently used by Zhongbao”) and four furnaces and ancillary apparatus (the “Assets”) to Cinda Financial for $6.72 million (RMB 42.50 million), and Cinda Financial leased the Assets to Xi’an TCH for 5 years for $8.15 million (RMB 51.54 million) based upon the transfer cost and the benchmark interest rate for five year loans by People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) (then 6.65%) plus 15% of that rate (7.6475%). The interest rate will increase if the five-year benchmark interest rate of PBOC increases but will remain the same if the benchmark rate decreases in the future. Xi’an TCH shall make pro rata quarterly payments to Cinda Financial for the leasing fees. Upon the completion of the lease term and full payment of all leasing fees and other fees, Xi’an TCH can pay $676 (RMB 4,250) to acquire the ownership of the Assets from Cinda Financial. The quarterly minimum leasing payment to Cinda Financial is $412,855 (RMB 2,594,998).
In addition to the leasing fees, Xi’an TCH prepaid a one-time non-refundable leasing service charge of $405,696 (RMB 2,550,000) and a refundable security deposit of $338,079 (RMB 2,125,000) to Cinda Financial. The prepaid leasing service fee: amortized over five years. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, $20,307 (RMB 127,500) and $20,214 (RMB 127,500) was amortized. The unamortized portion was recorded as prepaid loan fees of $81,354 and $183,046 into current and non-current portions, respectively, as of March 31, 2013.
In accordance with ASC 840-10-25-4, since CREG retains substantially all of the benefits and risks relating to the property, this transaction was a financing and was recorded as such. The proceeds of this financing were not received prior to June 30, 2011; therefore, this transaction was recorded in the third quarter of 2011. As of March 31, 2013, the Company made repayments of $2,897,334 to Cinda Financial.
As of March 31, 2013, the future minimum payment to be made by years was as follows:
2013 | $ | 1,655,792 | ||
2014 | 1,655,792 | |||
2015 | 1,655,792 | |||
2016 | 413,947 | |||
Total | $ | 5,381,323 | ||
Unamortized interest | (678,651 | ) | ||
Total long term payable | 4,702,672 | |||
Current portion | 1,321,309 | |||
Noncurrent portion | $ | 3,381,363 |
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14. CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE AND REVOLVING FINANCING AGREEMENT
Convertible Notes from Carlyle
On April 29, 2009, CREG issued an 8% Secured Convertible Promissory Note of $3 million to CAGP with an original maturity date of April 29, 2012. The note holder had the right to convert all or any part of the outstanding principal amount of this note, together with interest, if any, into shares of the Company’s common stock, at any time on or after March 30, 2010 (or such earlier date if the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009 are available on a date prior to March 30, 2010) and prior to the maturity date (or such later date on which this note is paid in full) at $0.80 per share.
On May 11, 2012, Carlyle, Great Essential Investment, Ltd., (“Great Essential”) and the Company entered into a Convertible Promissory Note Transfer Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated April 28, 2012, in which Great Essential agreed to pay $3 million to Carlyle for its entire right, title and interest in the Note. All interest due and payable on the Note as of April 29, 2012 was paid by the Company to Carlyle. The transfer of the Note took effect after the payment of the $3 million transfer price and interest accrued after April 29, 2012 was paid in full by the Great Essential. In the Agreement, Carlyle and Great Essential extended the maturity date on the Note for 60 days following the effective date of the transfer. On July 24, 2012, Carlyle, Great Essential and the Company entered into a First Amendment to Convertible Promissory Note Transfer Agreement, effective June 30, 2012, in which all parties extended the termination date of the Agreement from June 30, 2012 to August 30, 2012, and the maturity date of the 8% Secured Promissory Note of $3,000,000, from July 28, 2012 to September 26, 2012. In September 2012, Great Essential paid Carlyle in full for the note, including accrued interest and, after the note was transferred to Great Essential, Great Essential converted the note into 3,750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.80 per share in accordance with the terms of the transfer agreement.
Convertible Note and Loan Agreement with China Cinda and its Affiliate
On August 18, 2010, the “Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Sifang, Shanghai TCH and Xi’an TCH entered into a Notes Purchase Agreement (the “Note Agreement”) with China Cinda (HK) Asset Management Co., Ltd, a company organized under the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (“Cinda”). Under the terms of the Note Agreement, the Company will issue Cinda two tranches of convertible notes (the “Notes”), each having a principal amount equal to the US Dollar equivalent of RMB 50 million.
Under the Note Agreement, the Notes shall be issued before August 18, 2011. The Notes have a three-year maturity date from the date of the issuance of the first tranche. The exchange rate between RMB and US Dollar for each issue of Notes is the middle rate published by the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”) for the second business day prior to each issuance. Each Note bears interest at a rate equal to that of PBOC base interest rate for the relevant interest period (the period commencing on and including January 1 of each year and ending on and including December 31 of such year) plus 2%. If Cinda does not convert or fully convert the Notes to shares prior to maturity, the Company will pay the difference between the interest rate described above and 18% on the outstanding amount. As collateral for the notes, Mr. Ku, CEO of the Company entered into a Share Pledge Agreement with Cinda on August 18, 2010, to pledge each 4,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock held by him to secure the first Note and the second note before its issuance, respectively.
Each Note had a conversion price at the lower of (i) $2.46 per share or (ii) an amount equal to the Company’s EPS based upon the consolidated earnings of the Company for 2010 on a weighted average fully diluted basis, multiplied by seven. The Notes had a contingent BCF which will be recorded when the contingency is resolved.
Also on August 18, 2010, Xi’an TCH and China Jingu International Trust Co. Ltd. (“Jingu”), an affiliate of Cinda entered into a Capital Trust Loan Agreement (“Trust Loan Agreement”), in which Jingu would raise 100 million RMB ($16 million) under a Jingu CREG Recycling Economy No. 1 Collective Fund Trust Plan (“Trust Plan”) and lend such amount under the Trust Plan to Xi’an TCH (the “Loans”). If the Loans under the Trust Loan Agreement did not occur, then under the Note Agreement the principal amount of the Notes to be issued in each tranche would be the US dollar equivalent of RMB 100 million. In connection with the Trust Loan Agreement, the Company also entered into an Exchange Rights Agreement pursuant to which the Loans could be exchanged (on the same terms as the Notes can be converted) for shares of the Company’s common stock which can in turn be registered under the Registration Rights Agreement. All proceeds from the Notes and the Loans were to be used to complete the Phases IV and V of the Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd. (“Erdos TCH”) project.
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The term of the Loans was for three years from the date of the first draw. The interest rate for the Loans is the People’s Bank of China’s (“PBOC”) three year loan base interest rate plus two percent (2%). If the Loans were not exchanged for shares of the Common Stock of the Company as described below prior to maturity, Xi’an TCH will pay the difference between the interest rate described above and 18% on the outstanding amount. Under the Trust Loan Agreement and separate agreements entered by Jingu, Erdos TCH, Shanghai TCH, Xi’an TCH and Mr. Guohua Ku on August 18, 2010, Erdos TCH was to pledge the accounts receivable, equipment and assets of its Phases IV and V projects to Jingu as a guarantee to the Loans, Xi’an TCH pledged its 80% equity in Erdos TCH to Jingu as a guarantee to the Loans, Shanghai TCH provided a joint liability guarantee to Jingu for the Loans, and Mr. Guohua Ku was to provide his personal joint liability to Jingu for the Loans.
On December 30, 2010, the Company received $7,533,391 (RMB 50,000,000) from the first tranche of the Loans. On January 30, 2011, the Company received another $7,533,391 (RMB 50,000,000) from the first tranche convertible Note. Under ASC 815 – Derivatives and Hedging, the FV of the conversion option was a derivative that was bifurcated and treated as liability at the date of inception. The conversion feature was accounted for at December 31, 2011 and 2010 using the conversion price of $2.46. The conversion feature was akin to a call option, therefore, the Black-Scholes option pricing model was used by using the maximum conversion price of $2.46 as the strike price. Since the conversion option was an embedded derivative and was bifurcated from the host contact, BCF analysis was not required. The FV of the conversion feature was recorded as a liability and was marked to market until the conversion rate was set. As the loan had a reset clause in the event the Company issued shares below the conversion price, it was to be treated as a liability as long as the loan was outstanding. The unamortized discount due to conversion feature continued to be amortized over the term of the loan; during the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company amortized $10,747,493 due to BCF including the remaining unamortized portion as a result of repayment of the loans as described below.
On December 9, 2011, the Company, Cinda and Mr. Guohua Ku, the Chairman, CEO and a major shareholder of the Company entered into a Supplemental Agreement (the “Supplemental Agreement”) to the Notes Purchase Agreement which was dated August 18, 2010. Pursuant to the terms of the Supplemental Agreement, the Company and Cinda terminated the transaction of the second tranche of RMB 50 million of the convertible note under the Note Agreement. The Company and Cinda also agreed that the Company would redeem the outstanding convertible note at the U.S. Dollar amount equivalent to RMB 25 million each on December 30, 2011 and November 30, 2012, respectively, plus accrued interest at 18% (the "Redemption Interest Rate") up to the applicable Redemption Date, minus any interest already accrued and paid (together with the Redemption Principal Amount, the "Redemption Price"). There was an additional 5% interest rate on any default in payment of the Redemption Price and due on demand. The interest on the Redemption Principal Amount due on November 30, 2012 (the "Second Redemption Principal Amount") accrued at 18%. Half of the amount owed was paid by the Company on June 20, 2012 and the remaining half was due on November 30, 2012; however, upon request from Cinda, the November 30, 2012 date was extended to a future date.
Xi’an TCH redeemed $3.97 million (RMB 25 million) and interest of $1.13 million (RMB 7.14 million) on December 30, 2011 per the Supplemental Agreement described above. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company amortized $2,140,050 from the unamortized discount due to the conversion feature of the remaining RMB 25 million. As of December 31, 2012, there was no derivative liability as the Company redeemed half of the outstanding convertible notes at December 30, 2011 and will redeem the remaining half at a future date, plus accrued interest at 18%. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company recorded interest expense of $179,183 on the $3.76 million (the remaining RMB 25 million) of Cinda loan at 18%. The repayment of the Cinda loan for the remaining $3.76 million and unpaid interest of $563,112 was, upon request from Cinda and per an oral agreement, extended from November 30, 2012 to a future date.
On December 9, 2011, Mr. Ku executed a Certificate for additional collateral to pledge an additional 1.5 million shares of common stock of the Company that he owns as collateral to Cinda to secure the unpaid note. In addition, on December 9, 2011, Xi’an TCH and Jingu, an affiliate of Cinda also entered into a Supplemental Agreement (the “Jingu Agreement”) to the Capital Trust Loan Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Jingu Agreement, Xi’an TCH repaid $7.94 million (RMB 50 million) and interest of $1.00 million (RMB 6.45 million) to Jingu on December 16, 2011.
As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had principal of $3.77 million under China Cinda Note with accrued interest of $0.56 million.
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15. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLAN
Options to Employees
On August 4, 2008, the Company granted certain employees stock options under the Company’s 2007 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan, which was later amended and restated in 2010, to acquire 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001, at $0.80 per share. The options vest over three years and have a life of five years.
Based on the FV method under SFAS No. 123 (Revised) “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”), codified in FASB ASC Topic 718, the FV of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“BSOPM”). The BSOPM has assumptions for risk free interest rates, dividends, stock volatility and expected life of an option grant. The risk free interest rate is based upon market yields for United States Treasury debt securities at a maturity near the term remaining on the option. Dividend rates are based on the Company’s dividend history. The stock volatility factor is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price. The expected life of an option grant is based on management’s estimate as no options have been exercised in the Plan to date. The FV of each option granted to employees is recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period of each stock option award. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions, estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 2.76%, and dividend yield of 0%. No estimate of forfeitures was made as the Company has a short history of granting options. The options were accounted for as a modification of the options cancelled on June 25, 2008. The grant date FV of options was $5.04 million.
On November 9 and 11, 2009, the Company and three option holders agreed to cancel vested but unexercised options for 87,000 vested but unexercised shares and forfeit unvested options for 203,000 unvested shares. On November 11, 2009, the Company granted options to two other employees for 290,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $2.35 per share. The options vest over three years and have a life of 5 years. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions, estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 3.84%, and dividend yield of 0%. The grant date FV of options was $518,513.
On August 13, 2010, the Company granted 2,200,000 options to acquire the Company’s common stock at $3.05 per share to 36 managerial and non-managerial employees as new equity awards pursuant to the Corporation’s Amended and Restated 2007 plan. According to the vesting terms, the options granted were divided into three tranches, (i) 1/3 (one third) of the total number of shares subject to the options shall vest and become exercisable if the Company meets its minimum revenue and earnings goals in the Company’s guidance for 2010 as delivered in its earnings releases and/or conference calls in the first quarter of 2010, such vesting to occur immediately upon completion of the annual audit confirming the financial results for 2010; and (ii) an additional 1/3 (one third) of the total number of shares subject to the options shall vest and become exercisable if the Company meets certain financial goals of 2011 which will be set out and decided by the Compensation Committee, such vesting to occur immediately upon Compensation Committee’s determination that the Company has met such goals for 2011; and (iii) the remaining 1/3 (one third) of the total number of shares subject to the options shall vest and become exercisable if the Company meets certain financial goals of 2012 which is set out and decided by the Compensation Committee, such vesting is to occur immediately upon Compensation Committee’s determination that the Company has met such goals for 2012. The Option may only be exercised to the extent that the Option has become vested and exercisable. The management used its estimates for determining the probability of achieving each year’s financial goals; these goals were 100%, 50% and 50% for 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.
As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company did not meet the financial goals of 2012 and 2011; accordingly, the second and third tranche (two thirds of the total number of 2,200,000 options) was forfeited.
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The options have a life of five years. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions; estimated life of five years, volatility of 92%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%. Each tranche of the options is deemed to be independent of the others. Therefore, the fair value of the first tranche options was fully expensed during fiscal year 2011; the second and third tranche of options were forfeited due to the non-achievement of established financial benchmarks.
The following table summarizes activity for employees in the Company’s Plan:
Number of Shares | Average Exercise Price per Share | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years | ||||||||||
Outstanding at January 1, 2013 | 3,733,333 | 1.36 | 1.09 | |||||||||
Exercisable at January 1, 2013 | 3,733,333 | $ | 1.36 | 1.09 | ||||||||
Granted | - | - | - | |||||||||
Exercised | - | - | - | |||||||||
Forfeited | - | - | - | |||||||||
Outstanding at March 31, 2013 | 3,733,333 | 1.36 | 0.84 | |||||||||
Exercisable at March 31, 2013 | 3,733,333 | $ | 1.36 | 0.84 |
In July 2011, the Compensation Committee approved and provided the employees cashless exercise elections to the stock Options granted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") on August 4, 2008.
The Company recorded $0 and $25,784 compensation expense for stock options to employees during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. There were no options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Options to Independent Directors
On October 30, 2009, the Company granted stock options for 130,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at $1.85 per share to three independent directors. The options vested and became exercisable on the six-month anniversary of the grant date with a life of five years. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%. The grant date FV of options was $183,000.
On January 20, 2010, the Company granted stock options for 40,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at $4.68 per share to another independent director. The options vested and became exercisable on the six-month anniversary of the grant date with a life of five years. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%. The grant date FV of options was $142,000.
On October 7, 2010, our Board approved the increase in its size from seven to nine members as a result of entering the Loan and Note agreements with China Cinda and its affiliate on August 18, 2010. At the same time, our Board appointed Mr. Yilin Ma and Mr. Chungui Shi as new members of the Board to fill the director vacancies until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. In connection with their appointment, the Board authorized the Company to provide Mr. Shi with (i) compensation of $2,000 per month and (ii) the grant of an option to purchase 40,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, at an exercise price equal to the closing price per share of the Company's Common Stock on October 7, 2010. The options vested and became exercisable on the six-month anniversary of the grant date with a life of 5 years. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of five years, volatility of 87%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%. The grant date FV of options was $83,000.
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The following table summarizes option activity with respect to the independent directors:
Number of Shares | Average Exercise Price per Share | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years | ||||||||||
Outstanding at January 1, 2013 | 210,000 | 2.60 | 2.05 | |||||||||
Exercisable at January 1, 2013 | 210,000 | $ | 2.60 | 2.05 | ||||||||
Granted | - | - | - | |||||||||
Exercised | - | - | - | |||||||||
Forfeited | - | - | - | |||||||||
Outstanding at March 31, 2013 | 210,000 | 2.60 | 1.80 | |||||||||
Exercisable at March 31, 2013 | 210,000 | $ | 2.60 | 1.80 |
No options were exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2013 or 2012.
Warrants to Investor Relation Firms
On October 1, 2009, the Company granted warrants to acquire 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at $1.50 per share to certain investor relations firms. The warrants are exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time from July 1, 2010 (the “Vesting Date”) to October 1, 2014 (the “Expiration Date”). The Company accounted for warrants issued to investor relations firms based on ASC 505-50 at each balance sheet and expense recorded based on the period elapsed at each balance sheet date, which is the date at which the counterparty’s performance is deemed to be completed for the period. The FV of each warrant granted is estimated on the date of the grant using the BSOPM under ASC 505-30-11 and is recognized as compensation expense over the service term of the investor relations agreement as it is a better matching of cost with services received. Under that Agreement, the issuance of the warrants was irrevocable and the Company agreed to take no action to cause the warrants to be void or revoked or their issuance to be otherwise terminated. The warrants are classified as equity instruments and are exercisable into a fixed number of common shares. There is no commitment or requirement to change the quantity or terms based on conditions to the counterparty’s performance or market conditions. The FV of the warrants was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%.
The following table summarizes activity for the warrants to certain investor relations IR firms:
Number of Shares | Average Exercise Price per Share | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years | ||||||||||
Outstanding at January 1, 2013 | 50,000 | 1.50 | 1.75 | |||||||||
Exercisable at January 1, 2013 | 50,000 | $ | 1.50 | 1.75 | ||||||||
Granted | - | - | - | |||||||||
Exercised | - | - | - | |||||||||
Forfeited | - | - | - | |||||||||
Outstanding at March 31, 2013 | 50,000 | 1.50 | 1.50 | |||||||||
Exercisable at March 31, 2013 | 50,000 | $ | 1.50 | 1.50 |
There were no warrants exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2013 or 2012.
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16. STATUTORY RESERVES
Pursuant to the corporate law of the PRC effective January 1, 2006, the Company is only required to maintain one statutory reserve by appropriating from its after-tax profit before declaration or payment of dividends. The statutory reserve represents restricted retained earnings.
Surplus Reserve Fund
The Company’s Chinese subsidiaries are required to transfer 10% of their net income, as determined under PRC accounting rules and regulations, to a statutory surplus reserve fund until such reserve balance reaches 50% of the Company’s registered capital. The Company’s Chinese subsidiaries are not required to make appropriation to other reserve funds and do not have any intentions to make appropriations to any other reserve funds. There are no legal requirements in the PRC to fund these reserves by transfer of cash to restricted accounts, and the Company’s Chinese subsidiaries do not intend to do so.
The surplus reserve fund is non-distributable other than during liquidation and can be used to fund previous years’ losses, if any, and may be utilized for business expansion or converted into share capital by issuing new shares to existing shareholders in proportion to their shareholding or by increasing the par value of the shares currently held by them, provided that the remaining reserve balance after such issue is not less than 25% of the registered capital.
Common Welfare Fund
The common welfare fund is a voluntary fund to which the Company can transfer 5% to 10% of its net income. This fund can only be utilized on capital items for the collective benefit of the Company’s employees, such as construction of dormitories, cafeteria facilities, and other staff welfare facilities. This fund is non-distributable other than upon liquidation. The Company does not participate in this fund.
17. CONTINGENCIES
The Company’s operations in the PRC are subject to specific considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in North America and Western Europe. These include risks associated with, among others, the political, economic and legal environments and foreign currency exchange. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion and remittance abroad, and rates and methods of taxation, among other things.
The Company’s sales, purchases and expense transactions are denominated in RMB and all of the Company’s assets and liabilities are also denominated in RMB. The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies under the current law. In China, foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions. Remittances in currencies other than RMB may require certain supporting documentation in order to make the remittance.
The Company sells electricity to its customers and receives commercial notes (bank acceptance) from them in lieu of payments for accounts receivable. The Company discounts the commercial notes with the bank or endorses the commercial notes to vendors for payment of their own obligations or to get cash from third parties. Most of the commercial notes have a maturity of less than six months. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Xi’an TCH had notes receivable of $1.11 million and $0, respectively, that are endorsed to third parties as payment for its own obligation, the Company was contingently liable for these notes in the event the issuing bank refusing to redeem the notes.
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Xi’an TCH was granted a subsidy by Xi’an City Science and Technology Bureau and Xi’an City Finance Bureau under Xi'an Hi-Tech Industry Development Special Project Fund. The special project fund for Xi'an TCH is for a three years period, from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014, with two criteria established to measure the performance of Xi'an TCH: (i) total accumulated sales in three years should be RMB 320 million ($50.8 million), and (ii) total accumulated taxable income should be RMB 56.9 million ($ 9.0 million). In 2012, Xi'an TCH’s total sales were RMB 129 million ($20.5 million) and total taxable income was RMB 59.8 million ($9.5 million) under PRC GAAP. Xian TCH achieved total accumulated taxable income target of RMB 56.9 ($9.0 million) in 2012 under PRC GAAP. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, Xi’an TCH’s total sales were RMB 27.24 million ($ 4.34 million) under PRC GAAP. The probability of achieving total accumulated sales of RMB 320 million ($50.8 million) for the three years period was evaluated by the management. Based on management’s evaluation, Xi’an TCH had six projects in operation with minimum monthly lease payments of RMB 9.3 million ($1.5 million) under PRC GAAP; as a result, management believes that achieving total accumulated sales target of RMB 320 million ($50.8 million) over a period of three years is probable and therefore recognized the subsidy income in 2012. Total subsidy income for 3 years was $499,000 (RMB 3,150,000) and Xi’an TCH paid third party consulting company fees of $149,700 (RMB 945,000), for services relating to project evaluation and audit, application document preparation, assembling and compiling and net subsidy received was $349,300 (RMB 2,205,000), which was recorded as part of other income. Xi’an TCH will return the funds to the authority if it does not meet the sales target.
18. COMMITMENTS
Lease Commitment
On March 5, 2010, Xi’an TCH leased its office under a two year operating lease that expired March 4, 2012. The Company renewed the lease for two years until March 4, 2014, and it can be renewed with the monthly payment increasing by 8% after March 5, 2014. Currently, the monthly rental payment is $18,000. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the rental expense was $54,502 and $50,250, respectively.
ShangHai TCH entered into a one-year renewable rental agreement to lease a virtual office effective April 1, 2011. The lease will be automatically renewed when expires. The monthly payment is $260. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the rental expense was $2,136 and $780, respectively.
In November 2012, Sifang Holding renewed its office in Beijing for monthly rent of $1,900 expiring on December 18, 2013. Sifang was required to pay in advance for the first six months rent for $11,450 at the beginning of the lease. The lease will be automatically renewed when it expires.
Future minimum annual rental payments required under operating leases as of March 31, 2013 were as below (by year):
2014 | $ | 242,000 | ||
2015 | 256,000 | |||
2016 | 275,000 | |||
2017 | 295,000 | |||
2018 | $ | 316,000 | ||
Total | $ | 1,384,000 |
Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation Projects
In February 2011, Xi’an TCH signed a contract with Shanxi Datong Coal Group Steel Co., Ltd (the “Shanxi Datong”) to recycle gas and steam from groups of blast-furnaces and converter of Shanxi Datong’s metal refining plants to generate power. According to the contract, Xi’an TCH will install two 3MW TRT, one 15MW WGPG and two 1MW steam power generation systems, with a total of 23MW power capacity for an estimated total investment of $27.45 million (RMB 180 million). The lease term is 30 years. During the term of the lease, Shanxi Datong will be responsible for operating the projects and pay service fee to Xi’an TCH. The service fee is based on an average of 8,000 electricity-generating hours per year and $0.05 (RMB 0.33) per kilowatt hour (“kWh”) for the first 5 years from the completion of each power generation station. For each of the leases, at the 6th year, 11th year and 21st year thereafter, the rate will be RMB 0.3 kWh, 0.27 kWh and 0.25 kWh, respectively. After 30 years, the units will be transferred to Shanxi Datong without any charge.
On February 28, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into an agreement with Xi’an Huaxin Energy Tech Co., Ltd (the contractor for construction) for Shanxi Datong Coal projects of two 3MW TRT and one 15 MW WGPG systems described above. The project was scheduled to be completed 12 months from construction commencement.
As of March 31, 2013, the Company had paid $21.40 million for Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation project. The Company is committed to pay an additional $7.89 million for the Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation project. This project was previously halted due to business reorganization of Shanxi Datong and a renegotiation of one of the power stations with Xi’an TCH to amend certain construction plans. The Company resumed construction in April 2012 and expects to complete the project by the middle of 2013.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q and other reports filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC (collectively the “Filings”) contain or may contain forward-looking statements and information that are based upon beliefs of, and information currently available to, Company’s management as well as estimates and assumptions made by Company’s management. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. When used in the filings, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “future”, “intend”, “plan”, or the negative of these terms and similar expressions as they relate to Company or Company’s management identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of Company with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors (including the statements in the section “results of operations” below), and any businesses that Company may acquire. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended, or planned.
Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, the Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made throughout the entirety of this report, which attempts to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
Our financial statements are prepared in US Dollars and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. See “Foreign Currency Translation and Comprehensive Income (Loss)” below for information concerning the exchange rates at which Renminbi (“RMB”) were translated into US Dollars (“USD”) at various pertinent dates and for pertinent periods.
OVERVIEW OF BUSINESS BACKGROUND
The Company was incorporated on May 8, 1980 as “Boulder Brewing,” under the laws of the State of Colorado. On September 6, 2001, the Company re-domiciled its state of incorporation from Colorado to Nevada. On March 8, 2007, the Company changed its name to “China Recycling Energy Corporation.” The Company, through its subsidiaries Shanghai TCH Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai TCH”) and Huahong New Energy Technology Co, Ltd, sells and leases energy saving systems and equipment to its customers.
Historical Overview
In September 2001, Boulder Brewing changed its state of incorporation from Colorado to Nevada and its name to Boulder Acquisitions, Inc., or Boulder Acquisitions. From the date of reincorporation until June 23, 2004, Boulder Acquisitions had no material operations or assets.
On June 23, 2004, Boulder Acquisitions completed a stock exchange with the stockholders of Sifang Holdings Co., Ltd. (“Sifang Holdings”). The exchange was consummated under Nevada and Cayman Islands law pursuant to the terms of a Securities Exchange Agreement, dated June 23, 2004 by and among Boulder Acquisitions, Sifang Holdings and the stockholders of Sifang Holdings. Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Agreement, Boulder Acquisitions issued 13,782,636 shares of its common stock to the stockholders of Sifang Holdings, 89.7% of its post-exchange issued and outstanding common stock, for 100% of the outstanding capital stock of Sifang Holdings.
Effective August 6, 2004, we changed our name from Boulder Acquisitions, Inc. to China Digital Wireless, Inc. From August 2004 to December 2006, we primarily engaged in pager and mobile phone distribution and provided value added information services to the customers in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). We phased out and scaled down our operations in the mobile phone distribution business and the pager and mobile phone value-added information services, and, on May 10, 2007, the Company approved and announced it discontinued these businesses.
In December 2006, we began to conduct business in the energy saving and recycling industry, including purchasing equipment, devices, hardware and software for the construction and installation of TRT systems and other renewable energy products. TRT is an electricity generating system that utilizes the exhaust pressure and heat produced in the blast furnace of steel mills to generate electricity. TRT has commercial value, because TRT allows steel mills to use waste heat and steam to produce electricity for the operation of the mills.
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Current Business
Our current business is primarily conducted through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Sifang Holdings, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Huahong New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (“Huahong”) and Shanghai TCH, Shanghai TCH’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Xi’an TCH Energy Technology Company, Ltd (“Xi’an TCH”), and Xi’an TCH’s subsidiary Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd (“Erdos TCH”), in which 93% of the investment will be from Xi’an TCH, a joint venture between Xi’an TCH and Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd. Shanghai TCH was established as a foreign investment enterprise in Shanghai under the laws of the PRC on May 25, 2004, currently with registered capital of $29.80 million. Xi’an TCH was incorporated in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province under the laws of the PRC on November 8, 2007. Erdos TCH was incorporated in April 2009. Huahong was incorporated in February 2009.
Hebei Xingtai Steel Group Project
On April 8, 2007, our Board of Directors approved and made effective a TRT Project Joint-Operation Agreement (“Joint-Operation Agreement”) which was conditionally entered into on February 1, 2007 between Shanghai TCH and Xi’an Yingfeng Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (“Yingfeng”). Under the Joint-Operation Agreement, Shanghai TCH and Yingfeng jointly pursued a project to design, construct, install and operate two TRT systems for Xingtai Iron and Steel Company, Ltd. (“Xingtai”). These two projects were completed and put into operation in February and August 2007, respectively. On October 31, 2007, Shanghai TCH entered an asset-transfer agreement with Yingfeng. The terms and conditions of this agreement required the transfer of all electricity-generating related assets owned by Yingfeng to Shanghai TCH. As a result, the contractual relationship between Shanghai TCH and Yingfeng under the TRT Project Joint-Operation Agreement was terminated. Xingtai power generation system lease term ended in January 2012, and, as a result, the system was subsequently transferred to Xingtai.
Shanxi Zhangzhi Steel Group Project
Under the Joint-Operation Agreement discussed above, Shanghai TCH and Yingfeng also jointly pursued a project, which was entered into between Yingfeng and Zhangzhi Iron and Steel Company, Ltd. (“Zhangzhi”) on June 22, 2006, to design, construct, install and operate a TRT system for Zhangzhi. Shanghai TCH contributed various investments and properties to the project, including cash, hardware, software, equipment, major components and devices. In return, Shanghai TCH obtained all the rights, titles, benefits and interests that Yingfeng originally had under the Project Contract, including but not limited to, the regular cash payments made by Xingtai and other property rights and interests. On October 31, 2007, Shanghai TCH acquired this contract as part of its asset-transfer agreement with Yingfeng discussed above. Per the transferred contracts, Shanghai TCH installed and owns the TRT system and leases it to Zhangzhi for 13 years, from July 25, 2007 to July 25, 2020. During the term of the lease, Zhangzhi will pay Shanghai TCH a monthly rent of $0.16 million (RMB 1.1 million). After the lease expires and all rents owed are paid, Shanghai TCH will transfer the title of the system to Zhangzhi free of charge.
Shengwei Group – Tong Chuan
In November 2007, Shanghai TCH signed a cooperative agreement with Shengwei Group to build two sets of 12MW cement low temperature heat power generation systems for Shengwei’s two 2,500-tons-per-day cement manufacturing lines in Jing Yang and for a 5,000-tons-per-day cement manufacturing line in Tong Chuan. At the end of 2008, construction of the cement low temperature heat power generation in Tong Chuan was completed at a cost of $6,191,000 (RMB 43,000,000) and put into operation. Under the original agreement, the ownership of the cement low temperature heat power generation systems would have belonged to Shengwei starting from the date the projects were put into service. On May 20, 2009, Shanghai TCH entered into a supplementary agreement with Shengwei Group to change the timing of title transfer to Shengwei from the date the projects put into operation to the end of the lease term. Shanghai TCH is responsible for the daily maintenance and repair of the projects, and charges Shengwei a monthly electricity fee based on the actual power generated by the projects at 0.4116 RMB per kWh for an operating period of five years, from the date that the project is put in service for power generation or eleven (11) months after the agreement date whichever comes first, with assurances from Shengwei of a properly functioning 5,000-tons-per-day cement manufacturing line and not less than 7,440 heat hours per year for the electricity generator system. Shengwei Group collateralized the cement manufacturing line in Tong Chuan to guarantee its obligations to provide the minimum electricity income from the power generator system under the agreement during the operating period. At the end of the five-year operating period, Shanghai TCH will have no further obligations under the cooperative agreement. On November 11, 2008, Shanghai TCH transferred all of its rights and obligations under the agreement to Xi’an TCH. In addition, the supplementary agreement entered into on May 20, 2009 provided that Xi’an TCH will charge Shengwei based on actual power usage subject to a minimum of $0.31 million (RMB 2.1 million) per month during the operating period (lease term).
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Shengwei Group – Jing Yang Project
On June 29, 2009, construction of the cement low temperature heat power generation system in Jing Yang was completed at a cost of $7,318,000 (RMB 50,000,000) and put into operation pursuant to a waste heat power generation cooperative agreement entered into in November 2007. Shanghai TCH charges Shengwei a monthly technical service fee of $336,600 (RMB 2,300,000) for the 60 months of the lease, starting from the date that the project is put into service for power generation or 11 months after the date of the agreement whichever comes first. Shengwei has the right to purchase the cement low temperature heat power generation system for $29,000 (RMB 200,000) at the end of the lease. Shengwei is required to provide assurances of properly functioning two 2,500-tons-per-day cement manufacturing lines and not less than 7,440 heat hours per year for the cement low temperature heat power generation. Shengwei Group collateralized the cement manufacturing lines in Jing Yang to guarantee its obligations to provide the minimum electricity income from the waste energy power generator system under the agreement during the operating period. On November 11, 2008, Shanghai TCH transferred all of its rights and obligations under the agreement to Xi’an TCH. Effective July 1, 2009, Xi’an TCH started outsourcing the operation and maintenance of the cement low temperature heat power generation systems in Tong Chuan and JingYang to a third party for $732,000 (RMB 5,000,000) per year.
Shenmu Project
On September 30, 2009, Xi’an TCH delivered to Shenmu County Jiujiang Trading Co., Ltd. (“Shenmu”) a set of three 6MW capacity waste gas power generation systems pursuant to a Cooperative Contract on Coke-oven Gas Power Generation Project (including its Supplementary Agreement) and a Gas Supply Contract for Coke-oven Gas Power Generation Project (the “Contracts”). The Contracts are for 10 years and state Xi’an TCH will recycle coke furnace gas from the coke-oven plant of Shenmu to generate power, which will be supplied back to Shenmu. Shenmu agreed to supply Xi’an TCH the coke-oven gas free of charge. Under the Contracts, Shenmu will pay Xi’an TCH an annual “energy-saving service fee” of approximately $5.6 million in equal monthly installments for the life of the Contracts, as well as such additional amounts as may result from the supply of power to Shenmu in excess of 10.8 million kilowatt hours per month. Xi’an TCH is responsible for operating the projects, which it does through an unrelated third party. Shenmu guarantees that monthly gas supply will not be less than 21.6 million standard cubic meters. If gas supply is less, Shenmu agrees to pay Xi’an TCH the energy-saving service fee described above for up to 10.8 million kilowatt-hours per month. Xi’an TCH maintains ownership of the project throughout the term of the contracts, including the already completed investment, design, equipment, construction and installation as well as the operation and maintenance of the project. At the end of the 10-year term, ownership of the projects will be transferred to Shenmu at no charge. Shenmu provided a lien on its production line to guarantee its performance under the Contracts. Shenmu’s three major stockholders provided an unlimited joint liability guarantee to Xi’an TCH guaranteeing Shenmu’s performance under the Contracts and the Yulin Huiyuan Group, an independent third party, provides a guarantee to Xi’an TCH for Shenmu’s performance under the Contracts.
On December 31, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into a Repurchase Agreement for the Coke-Oven Gas Power Generation Project (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with Shenmu. Under the Repurchase Agreement, Shenmu purchased the set of 18MW capacity power generating systems (the “Systems”) from Xi’an TCH and paid outstanding energy saving service fees of $3.08 million (RMB 19.44 million) to Xi’an TCH within three working days from the date of the Repurchase Agreement. Xi’an TCH transferred the Systems to Shenmu for $18.75 million (RMB 120 million) (the “Repurchase Price”), which was paid in three installments within 180 days. In June 2012, the Company received the full payment of the outstanding energy saving service fees and system repurchase price, and, as a result, ownership of the Systems was transferred to Shenmu and the Cooperative Contract was terminated.
Erdos Projects
On April 14, 2009, the Company incorporated a joint venture (“JV”) with Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd. (“Erdos”) to recycle waste heat from Erdos' metal refining plants to generate power and steam, which will then be sold back to Erdos. The name of the JV is Inner Mongolia Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd (“Erdos TCH”) with a term of 20 years, and initial registered capital of $2,635,000 (RMB 18,000,000). As of March 31, 2013, total registered capital was increased to $17.55 million (RMB 120 million), of which $16.37 million (RMB 112 million) was contributed by Xi’an TCH and $1.18 million (RMB 8 million) was from Erdos Metallurgy. Total investment for the project is estimated at $79 million (RMB 500 million) with an initial investment of $17.55 million (RMB 120,000,000). As of March 31, 2013, Erdos contributed 7% of the total investment of the project, and Xi’an TCH contributed 93%. With respect to profit distribution, Xi’an TCH and Erdos will receive 80% and 20% of the profit from the JV, respectively, until Xi’an TCH has received the complete return of its investment. Xi’an TCH and Erdos will then receive 60% and 40% of the profit from the JV, respectively. The profits to be distributed will be computed based on Chinese generally accepted accounting principles. The principal difference between US GAAP and Chinese GAAP, with regards to the Erdos TCH project, is that a sales-type lease under US GAAP is treated as an operating lease under Chinese GAAP. When the term of the JV expires, Xi’an TCH will transfer its equity in the JV to Erdos at no cost.
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On April 18, 2009, Erdos TCH signed a Cooperation Agreement with Erdos to recycle heat from a variety of furnaces of Erdos Metallurgy’s metal refining plants to generate power and steam, which will then be sold back to Erdos Metallurgy. According to the contract, Erdos TCH will install a group of power generation projects with a total of 70MW power capacity, which may expand up to 120MW, and 30-ton steam per hour, with an estimated total investment in excess of $79 million (RMB 500 million). The construction of the projects was split into three phases, two power generation systems in Phase I with a total of 18MW power capacity, three power generation systems in Phase II with a total of 27MW power capacity and one power generation system in Phase III with 25MW power capacity.
At the end of 2009, Erdos TCH completed the first 9MW power station of Phase I of the project and put it into operation. At the end of March 2010, Erdos TCH completed the construction of Phase I through completion of the second 9MW power station and delivery of the units for operation. Phase I includes two 9MW systems for a combined 18MW power capacity. Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement and the supplement agreements signed between Erdos and Erdos TCH, Erdos shall purchase all the electricity and steam to be generated from the JV’s power generation systems. Erdos TCH leased the two 9MW systems to Erdos and is responsible for their operation and maintenance. For each phase of the project, the lease term is 20 years starting from the date of completion of the phase. Erdos agreed to pay a fixed minimum of $0.24 million (RMB 1.5 million) per month for each 9MW capacity power generation system. In addition Erdos will pay the actual amount if the actual sale of the electricity generated is more than $0.24 million (RMB 1.5 million) monthly per unit. Effective January 2010 and April 2010 respectively, Erdos TCH outsourced to an independent third party the operation and maintenance of the two 9MW power generation projects for $995,000 (RMB 6.27 million) each per year. After 20 years, the units will be transferred to Erdos without charge. During the fourth quarter of 2010, Erdos power generation system Phase II, two 9MW capacity electricity power generation system, was completed and put into operation. During the first quarter of 2011, Erdos power generation system Phase II, the 3rd 9MW capacity electricity power generation system, was completed and put into operation through a sales type lease with terms similar to the Phase I project.
In September 2012, Erdos TCH, Erdos and the general contractor, Xianyang Hengfeng Energy Engineering Co., Ltd (“Hengfeng”), terminated the construction of the Phase III power generation system projects due to the fact that Erdos, as a result of a change in its business strategy, stopped construction of the refining plant. As of the termination date, Erdos TCH incurred construction costs of $19.86 million (RMB 125.44 million). Of this amount, Hengfeng returned $13.72 million (RMB 86.70 million) to Erdos TCH towards payments for construction in progress and Erdos paid $3.58 million (RMB 22.04 million) to Erdos TCH for the loss. Erdos TCH, in turn, paid $0.32 million (RMB 2.0 million) to Hengfeng for losses resulting from the project’s termination. Erdos incurred a net loss of $2.96 million (RMB 18.74 million) from the termination of this project.
Pucheng Biomass Project
On January 20, 2010, Xi’an TCH entered into a Technical Reconstruction Letter of Intent with Xueyi Dong (“Dong”), a natural person with Chinese citizenship, for Xi’an TCH reconstructing and transforming a Thermal Power Generation System owned by Dong into a 12MW Biomass Power Generation Systems (“Biomass Systems” or “BMPG”) for $2.2 million (RMB 15 million); of which, $1.03 million (RMB 7 million) was payable to Dong, and $1.18 million (RMB 8 million) to one of the Company’s shareholders, who had previously paid that amount to Dong on behalf of the Company.
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After the successful transformation of the systems, Xi’an TCH entered into a Biomass Power Generation Asset Transfer Agreement (the “Transfer Agreement”) with Dong on June 29, 2010. Under the Transfer Agreement, Dong transferred the Biomass Systems to Xi’an TCH, and Xi’an TCH agreed to pay Dong $14,705,900 (RMB 100,000,000) for the systems, including RMB 20,000,000 in cash and RMB 80,000,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company has paid the consideration (including the cash portion) in full. On November 22, 2011, our Board of Directors approved the issuance of 2,941,176 shares of the Company’s common stock to Dong at $4 per share pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The Company recorded a gain of $8.3 million as a result of a change in fair value of liability, which was marked to market. These shares have piggy back registration rights and were subject to a one year lock-up period. The shares issued to Dong were included in a Form S-3 Registration Statement, as amended, that we initially filed with the SEC on February 22, 2012 and amended on April 12, 2012 and May 7, 2012. The resale Form S-3 Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on May 18, 2012.
On June 29, 2010, Xi’an TCH entered into a Biomass Power Generation Project Lease Agreement with Pucheng XinHengYuan Biomass Power Generation Co., Ltd., (“XHY”). Under this lease, Xi’an TCH leased this same set of 12MW biomass power generation systems to XHY at a minimum of $279,400 (RMB 1,900,000) per month for 15 years. The leasing fee will increase proportionately with the biomass generated electricity fee in China during the term of this lease agreement.
Zhongbao Project
On September 30, 2010, Xi’an TCH delivered to Zhongbao Binhai Nickel Co., Ltd. (“Zhongbao”) a set of 7MW capacity Waste Heat Power Generation (“WHPG”) systems, which are integral parts of the facilities designed to produce 80,000 tons of nickel-alloy per year according to the recovery and power generation of the waste heat agreement with Zhongbao, an agreement that was transferred from China Zhonggang Binhai Enterprise Ltd. (“Zhonggang”) in July 2009. Zhongbao is a nickel-alloy manufacturing joint venture between Zhonggang and Shanghai Baoshan Steel Group established in June 2009. Total investment in this project was approximately $7.8 million (RMB 55 million). The Contract is for nine years and states that Xi’an TCH will recycle waste heat from the nickel-alloy rotary kilns of Zhongbao to generate power and steam, which will be supplied back to Zhongbao, and help to reduce over 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. By the end of the term, the system shall be transferred to Zhongbao at RMB 1. Under the Contracts, Zhongbao will pay the Company a monthly “energy-saving service fee” based on the volume of the electricity and steam generated from the WHPG system in the prior month within the first five days of each month at a pre-agreed price, but no less than the minimum monthly payment of $238,000 (RMB 1.5 million). Zhongbao agreed to supply Xi’an TCH the nickel-alloy rotary kilns gas, non-salty water and compressed air free of charge and brine at $1.00 (RMB 6.3) per ton. Zhongbao also guarantees to continuously supply not less than 6,800 heat hours per year for the WHPG, or the operating term will be extended accordingly. Xi’an TCH outsources its operation and maintenance obligations to a third party for annual payments of $380,000 (RMB 2.4 million). In addition, Xi’an TCH is responsible for applying the Clean Development Mechanism (“CDM”) and the net proceeds from CDM will be distributed between Zhongbao and Xi’an TCH at 60% and 40%, respectively. As of March 31, 2013, Xi’an TCH had not yet commenced the CDM application process.
In June 2011, the ZhongBao system was sold to and leased back from Cinda Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (the “Cinda Financial”); the Company engaged a third party guarantee company to serve as guarantor for the loan, which was approved by the Industrial Bank on July 1, 2011.
Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation Projects
In February 2011, Xi’an TCH signed a contract with Shanxi Datong Coal Group Steel Co., Ltd (the “Shanxi Datong”) to recycle gas and steam from groups of blast-furnaces and converter of Shanxi Datong’s metal refining plants to generate power. According to the contract, Xi’an TCH will install two 3MW TRT, one 15MW WGPG and two 1MW steam power generation systems, with a total of 23MW power capacity for an estimated total investment of $28.6 million (RMB 180 million). The lease term is 30 years. During the lease term, Shanxi Datong will be responsible for operating the projects and pay service fee to Xi’an TCH. The service fee is based on an average of 8,000 electricity-generating hours per year and $0.05 (RMB 0.33) per kilowatt hour (“kWh”) for the first five years from the completion of each power generation station. For each of the leases, at the 6th year, 11th year and 21st year thereafter, the rate will be RMB 0.3 kWh, 0.27 kWh and 0.25 kWh, respectively. After 30 years, the units will be transferred to Shanxi Datong without charge.
On February 28, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into an agreement with Xi’an Huaxin Energy Tech Co., Ltd (the contractor for construction) for Shanxi Datong Coal projects of two 3MW TRT and one 15MW WGPG systems described above.
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As of March 31, 2013, the Company had paid $21.40 million for the Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation project and is committed to paying an additional $7.89 million. The project was previously halted due to a business reorganization of Shanxi Datong and a renegotiation of one of the power stations with Xi’an TCH to amend certain construction plans. The construction of this project was resumed in April 2012 and the Company expects to complete the project by the middle of 2013.
Shenqiu Yuneng Biomass Power Generation Projects
On May 25, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into a Letter of Intent with Shenqiu YuNeng Thermal Power Co., Ltd. (the “Shenqiu”) for Xi’an TCH to reconstruct and transform a Thermal Power Generation System owned by Shenqiu into a 75T/H Biomass Power Generation System for $3.57 million (RMB 22.5 million). The project commenced in June 2011, and was completed in the third quarter of 2011. On September 28, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into a Biomass Power Generation Asset Transfer Agreement with Shenqiu. Per the Transfer Agreement, Shenqiu sold to Xi’an TCH a set of 12 MW biomass power generation systems, effectuation of such sale occurring after Xi’an TCH converted the system for biomass power generation purposes. As consideration for the biomass power generation system, Xi’an TCH agreed to pay Shenqiu $10,937,500 (RMB 70 million) in cash in three installments within six months upon the transfer of ownership of the system. By the end of fiscal year 2012, all of the consideration was paid in full. On September 28, 2011, Xi’an TCH and Shenqiu also entered into a Biomass Power Generation Project Lease Agreement (the “Lease Agreement”). Under the Lease Agreement, Xi’an TCH agreed to lease a set of 12MW biomass power generation systems to Shenqiu for $286,000 (RMB 1,800,000) per month for 11 years. Upon completion of the Lease Agreement, ownership of this system will be transferred from Xi’an TCH to Shenqiu at no cost. Shenqiu provided one month leasing fee as security deposit to Xi’an TCH as well as personal guarantees from its legal representative.
On October 8, 2012, Xi’an TCH entered into a Letter of Intent for Technical Reformation of Shenqiu Project Phase II with Shenqiu for technical reformation to enlarge the capacity of the Shenqiu Project Phase I. The technical reformation involved the construction of another 12MW biomass power generation system. After the reformation, the generation capacity of the power plant increased to 24MW. The project commenced on October 25, 2012 and was completed during the first quarter of 2013. During the construction period, from November 2012 to March 2013, Xi'an TCH agreed to stop charging Shenqiu Phase I rental fees. On March 30, 2013, Xi’an TCH and Shenqiu entered into a Biomass Power Generation Project Lease Agreement (the “Lease Agreement”). Under the Lease Agreement, Xi’an TCH agreed to lease the second set of 12MW biomass power generation systems to Shenqiu for $239,000 (RMB 1,500,000) per month for 9.5 years. Upon completion of the Lease Agreement, ownership of this system will be transferred from Xi’an TCH to Shenqiu at no cost.
Related Party Transactions
Erdos TCH sold all power generation stations through sales type leases to Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd., the non-controlling interest holder. Total sales and interest income for this non-controlling interest was $0.2 million and $1.83 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, and $0.1 million and $1.86 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, respectively.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which were prepared in accordance with US GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported net sales and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements, we believe the following accounting policies are the most critical to aid you in fully understanding and evaluating this management discussion and analysis.
Basis of Presentation
These accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with US GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for financial statements.
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Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CREG and, its subsidiary, Sifang Holdings; Sifang Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiaries, Huahong and Shanghai TCH; Shanghai TCH’s subsidiary Xi’an TCH; and Erdos TCH, in which 93% of Erdos TCH’s investment is from Xi’an TCH. Substantially all of the Company’s revenues are derived from the operations of Shanghai TCH and its subsidiaries, which represent substantially all of the Company’s consolidated assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the balance sheets as well as revenues and expenses during the year reported. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Cash includes cash on hand and demand deposits in accounts maintained within China. Balances at financial institutions within China are not covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.
Certain other financial instruments, which subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, consist of accounts and other receivables. The Company does not require collateral or other security to support these receivables. The Company conducts periodic reviews of its customers’ financial condition and customer payment practices to minimize collection risk on accounts receivable.
The operations of the Company are located in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environments in the PRC.
Revenue Recognition
Sales-type Leasing and Related Revenue Recognition
The Company constructs and then leases waste energy recycling power generating projects to its customers. The Company usually transfers ownership of the waste energy recycling power generating projects to its customers at the end of each lease. Investment in these projects is recorded as investment in sales-type leases in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 13, “Accounting for Leases” (codified in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 840) and its various amendments and interpretations. The Company manufactures and constructs the waste energy recycling power generating projects and finances its customers for the price of the projects. The sales and cost of sales are recognized at the time of sale or inception of the lease. The investment in sales-type leases consists of the sum of the total minimum lease payments receivable less unearned interest income and estimated executory cost. Unearned interest income is amortized to income over the lease term so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the lease. While a portion of revenue is recognized at the inception of the lease, the cash flow from the sales-type lease occurs over the course of the lease. Revenue is net of the Value Added Tax.
Contingent Rental Income
The Company records the income from actual electricity usage in addition to minimum lease payment of each project as contingent rental income in the period earned. Contingent rent is not part of minimum lease payments.
Foreign Currency Translation and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The Company’s functional currency is the Renminbi (“RMB”). For financial reporting purposes, RMB were translated into United States dollars (“USD”) as the reporting currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the reporting period. Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a component of stockholders’ equity as “Accumulated other comprehensive income”. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in income. There has been no significant fluctuation in exchange rate for the conversion of RMB to USD after the balance sheet date.
The Company uses SFAS 130 “Reporting Comprehensive Income.” Comprehensive income is comprised of net income and all changes to the statements of stockholders’ equity, except those due to investments by stockholders, changes in paid-in capital and distributions to stockholders.
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
As of March 31, 2013, there were no recently issued accounting standards not yet adopted by the Company that would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012
The following table sets forth the results of our operations for the periods indicated as a percentage of net sales:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||
$ | % of Sales | $ | % of Sales | |||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 14,340,571 | 100 | % | $ | 147,553 | 100 | % | ||||||||
Sales of systems | 14,079,796 | 98 | % | - | % | |||||||||||
Contingent rental income | 260,775 | 2 | % | 147,553 | 100 | % | ||||||||||
Cost of sales | 10,900,912 | 76 | % | - | - | % | ||||||||||
Cost of systems | 10,900,912 | 76 | % | (14,383 | ) | 10 | % | |||||||||
Gross profit | 3,439,659 | 24 | % | 133,170 | 90 | % | ||||||||||
Interest income on sales-type lease | 3,824,840 | 27 | % | 4,814,250 | 3263 | % | ||||||||||
Total operating income | 7,264,499 | 51 | % | 4,947,420 | 3353 | % | ||||||||||
Total operating expenses | (1,082,446 | ) | (8 | )% | (779,555 | ) | 528 | % | ||||||||
Income from operations | 6,182,053 | 43 | % | 4,167,865 | 2825 | % | ||||||||||
Total non-operating expenses, net | (1,402,888 | ) | (10 | )% | (1,538,974 | ) | (1043 | )% | ||||||||
Income before income tax | 4,779,165 | 33 | % | 2,628,891 | 1782 | % | ||||||||||
Income tax expense | 1,360,054 | 9 | % | 487,392 | 330 | % | ||||||||||
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 120,921 | 1 | % | 118,934 | 81 | % | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to China Recycling Energy Corp | $ | 3,298,190 | 23 | % | $ | 2,022,565 | 1371 | % |
SALES. Total sales, including system sales and contingent rental income, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $14.34 million while the total sales for the comparable period of 2012 was $0.15 million, an increase of $14.19 million as a result of increases in system sales and in contingent rental income. Of the total sales, sales of systems for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $14.08 million, as compared to $0 for the comparable period of 2012, an increase of $14.08 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, Shenqiu Phase II project was completed and sold. In comparison, in the same period of 2012, none of the Company’s power stations had been completed and sold. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company received contingent rental income of $0.26 million from actual usage of the electricity in addition to the minimum lease payments, compared to $0.15 million for the comparable period in year 2012. For the sales-type lease, sales and cost of sales (“COS”) are recorded at the time of leases; interest income from the sales-type leases is our other major revenue source in addition to sales revenue.
COST OF SALES. COS for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $10.90 million while our COS for the comparable period of 2012 was $14,383, an increase of $10.89 million which was mainly due to the fact that the Shenqiu Phase II power generation was completed and sold during the three months ended March 31, 2013, while no project was sold during the comparable period of 2012.
GROSS PROFIT. Gross profit was $3.44 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to $0.13 million for the comparable period of 2012, a gross margin of 24% and 90% for the comparable period of 2013 and 2012, respectively. The lower margin was the result of a power station that was completed and sold, with a 30% markup, during the three months ended Mach 31, 2013. Compared to the margin of the comparable period of 2012, contingent rental income, for the three months ended March 31, 2013, had a lower cost.
INTEREST INCOME ON SALES TYPE LEASES. Interest income on sales-type leases for the three months ended 2013 was $3.82 million, a $0.99 million decrease from $4.81 million for the comparable period of 2012. During the first quarter of 2013, interest income was derived from 11 systems: one TRT system, two CHPG systems, two systems with Erdos Phase I project and three systems of Erdos Phase II project, the Pucheng biomass power generation system, Shenqiu biomass power generation system and Zhongbao WHPG system. The Company sold Shenqiu Phase II project on March 30, 2013 and started collecting payments in April. In comparison, during the first quarter of 2012, interest income was derived from 11 systems: one TRT system, two CHPG systems, two systems with Erdos Phase I project and three systems of Erdos Phase II project, the Pucheng biomass power generation system, Shenqiu biomass power generation system and Zhongbao WHPG system.
OPERATING EXPENSES. Operating expenses consisted of selling, general and administrative expenses totaling $1.08 for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to $0.78 million for the comparable period of 2012, an increase of $0.30 million or 39%. The increase was mainly due to increased legal expense of $0.2 million and increased auditing fee of $0.06 million compared to the same period of last year.
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NON-OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSES). Non-operating expenses consisted of non sales-type lease interest income, interest expense, bank charges and some miscellaneous expenses. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, net non-operating expense was $1.40 million compared to net non-operating expense of $1.54 million for the comparable period of 2012. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, we had $1.49 million interest expense on loans, which was offset by $0.09 million interest income. For the comparable period of 2012, we had $1.78 million interest expense on loans, $0.82 million interest expense arising from the conversion feature of the convertible note from Carlyle and China Cinda, which was offset by $1.13 million from changes in fair value of conversion feature liability of the convertible note from China Cinda.
INCOME TAX EXPENSE. Income tax expense was $1.36 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, an increase of $0.87 million from $0.49 million for the comparable period of 2012. The increase was mainly due to increased sales and taxable income. The consolidated effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 was 28.5% and 18.5%, respectively. The income tax rate for Shanghai TCH was 25% for 2013 and 2012. Xi’an TCH’s effective income tax rate for 2013 and 2012 is 25% and 15%, respectively, as a result of its high tech enterprise status that was approved by the taxing authority in 2012, but pending in 2013 which is assessed annually. Huahong and Erdos TCH effective income tax rate for 2013 and 2012 is 25%.
NET INCOME. Our net income for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $3.30 million compared to $2.02 million for the comparable period of 2012, an increase of $1.28 million. This increase in net income was mainly due to the increased total sales compared with the comparable period of 2012.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012
As of March 31, 2013, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $44.85 million, other current assets of $13.98 million, current liabilities of $66.2 million, a working capital deficit of $(7.4) million, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53:1.
The following is a summary of cash provided by or used in each of the indicated types of activities during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Cash provided by (used in): | ||||||||
Operating Activities | $ | 575,072 | $ | 10,038,621 | ||||
Investing Activities | 1,688,341 | (475,894 | ) | |||||
Financing Activities | (2,539,312 | ) | 1,917,406 |
Net cash provided by operating activities was $0.58 million during the three months ended March 31, 2013, as compared to $10.04 million provided by operating activities in the comparable period of 2012. The decrease in net cash inflow was mainly from increases in sales type lease receivables from the sale of Shenqiu Phase II system; however, this decrease was partially offset by the increased net income and accounts payable outstanding. The Shenqiu Phase II project commenced construction in October 2012 and was completed at the end of the first quarter of 2013, which resulted in cash inflow of $3.73 million from construction in progress in 2013, but was partially offset by payments of $2.07 million for construction related to the Shannxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation Projects. The construction was considered an operating activity due to the similar nature of producing inventory for sale.
Net cash provided by investing activities was $1.69 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to $0.48 million outflow in the comparable period of 2012. The increase of net cash provided by investing activities was mainly due to the release of $1.69 million in restricted cash. In the comparable period of 2012, the cash inflow was due to the deposit of $0.48 million into a bank as restricted cash.
Net cash used in financing activities was $2.54 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $1.92 million for the comparable period of 2012. The cash outflow in the three months ended March 31, 2013 included $6.85 million repayment of bank loans and $0.64 million increased notes receivable, which was partially offset by the $4.78 million in proceeds from bank loans. In comparison, for the comparable period of 2012, we had $4.76 million in proceeds from a bank loan, which was offset by the repayment of a bank loan of $0.95 million and $2.41 million in repayment to related parties.
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We believe we have sufficient cash to continue our current business through 2013 due to recurring receipts from sales-type leases in place. As of March 31, 2013, we have one TRT system, two CHPG systems, five recycling waste heat power generating systems from the Erdos projects, three BMPG systems and one WHPG system of Zhongbao generating net cash inflow. In addition, we have access to bank loans in case of an immediate need for working capital. We believe we have sufficient cash resources to cover our anticipated capital expenditures in 2013.
On May 25, 2011, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended, with the SEC to register an indeterminate number of shares of common stock with an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $200,000,000. The registration statement went effective on November 10, 2011; however, the Company has not yet determined the size or timing of any potential future offering. We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares of our common stock for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, repayment of debt, repurchases of common stock, capital expenditures, the financing of possible acquisitions or business expansions, increasing our working capital and/or the financing of ongoing operating expenses and overhead.
We do not believe inflation has had a significant negative impact on our results of operations in 2013.
Transfers of Cash To and From our Subsidiaries
The Company is able to transfer cash (U.S. dollars) to its PRC subsidiaries by: (i) investment – increasing the Company’s registered capital in a PRC subsidiary or (ii) a shareholder loan. Other than as follows, to date, its PRC subsidiaries have not transferred any earnings / cash to the Company. The Company’s business is primarily conducted through its subsidiaries. The Company is a holding company and its material assets consist solely of the ownership interests held in its PRC subsidiaries. The Company relies on dividends paid by its subsidiaries for its working capital / cash needs, including: (i) the funds necessary to pay dividends/cash distributions to its shareholders, (ii) to service any debt obligations and (iii) to pay operating expenses. As a result of PRC laws and regulations (noted below) that require annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income to be set aside in a general reserve fund prior to payment of dividends, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted to that extent, as well as the others noted below, in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company as a dividend.
The PRC has currency and capital transfer regulations that require us to comply with regulations for the movement of capital.
With respect to transferring cash from the Company to its subsidiaries, increasing the Company’s registered capital in a PRC subsidiary requires the pre-approval of the local commerce department, and a shareholder loan requires a filing with the state administration of foreign exchange or its local bureau.
With respect to the payment of dividends:
1. | PRC regulations currently permit the payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits, as determined in accordance with accounting standards and PRC regulations (an in-depth description of the PRC regulations is set forth below); |
2. | our PRC subsidiaries are required to set aside, at a minimum, 10% of their net income after taxes, based on PRC accounting standards, each year as statutory surplus reserves until the cumulative amount of such reserves reaches 50% of their registered capital; |
3. | these reserves may not be distributed as cash dividends; |
4. | our PRC subsidiaries may also allocate a portion of their after-tax profits to fund their staff welfare and bonus funds; except in the event of a liquidation, these funds may also not be distributed to shareholders; as disclosed in Note 18, the Company does not participate in a Common Welfare Fund; and |
5. | the incurrence of debt, specifically the instruments governing such debt, may restrict a subsidiary’s ability to pay shareholder dividends or make other cash distributions; the Company is subject to covenants and consent requirements (presently, the Company has all consents necessary). |
If, for the reasons noted above, our subsidiaries are unable to pay shareholder dividends and/or make other cash payments to the Company when needed, the Company’s ability to conduct operations, make investments and/or acquisitions, or undertake other activities requiring working capital may be materially and adversely affected. However, our operations and business, including investment and/or acquisitions by our subsidiaries within China, will not be affected as long as the capital is not transferred in or out of the PRC.
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PRC Regulations
In accordance with PRC regulations on Enterprises with Foreign Investment and their articles of association, a foreign-invested enterprise (“FIE”) established in the PRC is required to provide statutory reserves, which are appropriated from net profit, as reported in the FIE’s PRC statutory accounts. FIEs are required to allocate at least 10% of its annual after-tax profit to the surplus reserve until such reserve has reached 50% of its respective registered capital (based on the FIE’s PRC statutory accounts). The aforementioned reserves may only be used for specific purposes and may not be distributed as cash dividends. In the event that the FIE’s statutory accounts are insufficient to satisfy this requirement, the FIE’s shareholders are required to contribute capital required to satisfy the registered capital requirement. Until such contribution of capital is satisfied, the FIE is not allowed to repatriate profits to its shareholders, unless approved by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. After satisfaction of this requirement, the remaining funds may be appropriated at the discretion of the FIE’s board of directors. Our subsidiary, Shanghai TCH, qualifies as an FIE and is therefore subject to the above-mandated regulations on distributable profits.
Additionally, in accordance with PRC Company Law, a domestic enterprise is required to maintain a surplus reserve of at least 10% of its annual after-tax profit until such reserve has reached 50% of its respective registered capital based on the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A domestic enterprise is also required to provide discretionary surplus reserve, at the discretion of the board of directors, from the profits determined in accordance with the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. The aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes and may not be distributed as cash dividends. Xi’an TCH, Huahong, and Erdos TCH were established as domestic enterprises; therefore, each is subject to the above-mentioned restrictions on distributable profits.
As a result of PRC laws and regulations that require annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income to be set aside, prior to payment of dividends, in a general reserve fund, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company as a dividend or otherwise.
Chart of the Company’s Statutory Reserve
Pursuant to PRC corporate law, effective on January 1, 2006, the Company is now required to maintain a statutory reserve by appropriating from its after-tax profit before declaration or payment of dividends. The statutory reserve represents restricted retained earnings. Our restricted and unrestricted retained earnings under US GAAP are set forth below:
As at | ||||||||
March 31, 2013 | December 31, 2012 | |||||||
Unrestricted retained earnings | $ | 39,985,433 | $ | 37,107,107 | ||||
Restricted retained earnings (surplus reserve fund) | 8,185,866 | 7,766,002 | ||||||
Retained earnings (including surplus reserve fund) | $ | 48,171,299 | $ | 44,873,109 |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. We have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as stockholders’ equity or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with us.
Contractual Obligations
Loan Payable – Collective Capital Trust Plan
On December 3, 2009, the Company and Beijing International Trust Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Trust”) formed a Low Carbon Fortune-Energy Recycling No. 1 Collective Capital Trust Plan (“Plan”) pursuant to the Capital Trust Loan Agreement (the “Agreement”) entered into by Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd and Beijing Trust dated November 19, 2009. All amounts raised under the Plan were loaned to Erdos TCH in connection with its waste heat power generation projects Phase II and Phase III construction and operation.
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Under the Agreement, the annual base interest rate was 9.94% for A1 preferred trust fund units with a term of two years, 11% for A2 preferred trust fund units with a term of three years, 12.05% for A3 preferred trust fund units and 8.35% for the category B secondary trust fund units, each with a term of four years. Erdos TCH provided a lien on its equipment, assets and accounts receivable to guarantee the loans under the Agreement. Xi’an TCH and Mr. Guohua Ku, the CEO, the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors and a major shareholder, provided unconditional and irrevocable joint liability guarantees to Beijing Trust for Erdos TCH’s performance under the Agreement. Erdos (the minority shareholder and customer of Erdos TCH) provided a commitment letter on minimum power purchase from Erdos TCH.
The Trust Plan raised $44.1 million (RMB 300,000,000) through a series of capital raises in 2009 and 2010, of which, 13,750,000 B1 units ($2.0 million) were purchased by the management of Erdos TCH; 1,600,000 ($235,600) A1 units and 46,250,000 B2 units ($7.4 million) were purchased by Xi’an TCH, the amount was considered as an investment by Xi’an TCH into Erdos TCH and, accordingly, was eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Portion of category A units (RMB 35,250,000) were due and paid in full on December 3, 2011, of which, RMB 1,600,000 was purchased by Xi’an TCH. As of March 31, 2013, the net loan payable under this trust plan was $31.5 million (RMB 197,500,000) and will be due within one year.
In addition to the above, under the Loan Agreement, Erdos TCH must pay a management incentive benefit to Beijing Trust upon maturity of the category A3 and category B trust units in December 2013 if the ratio of Erdos TCH’s profit to its registered capital exceeds a base amount. If this criterion is met, the amount of the management incentive benefit is calculated based on a formula tied to Erdos TCH’s net profit and the average registered capital for the 2012 fiscal year. Under this formula the management incentive benefit could range between 0% and 100% of the net profit of Erdos TCH in the 2012 fiscal year.
The management incentive benefit was structured to provide an incentive to management to make the joint venture profitable. Under the Plan, Beijing Trust will distribute the entire management incentive benefit it receives to the holders of the category B trust units. As previously disclosed, the holders of the category B trust units are the management of Erdos TCH and Xi’an TCH. Category B trust units receive a lower base interest rate than the category A trust units but the economic return to the holders of category B trust units will be enhanced by any management incentive benefit.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, Erdos TCH incurred a net loss under both PRC GAAP and US GAAP.
Erdos TCH also will share the benefits from Clean Development Mechanism ("CDM") under the Kyoto Protocol equally with Beijing Trust during the term of the loan. Any benefit received from CDM will be paid to Erdos Metallurgy first. Under the agreement with Xi’an TCH, Erdos Metallurgy agrees to deliver to Xi’an TCH 50% of the benefit Erdos Metallurgy receives. Xi’an TCH agrees to share 50% of the benefit it receives from Erdos Metallurgy with Erdos TCH. Under the Capital Trust Loan Agreement between Erdos TCH and Beijing Trust, Erdos TCH agrees that 50% of any benefit it receives will be delivered to Beijing Trust. Pursuant to the Plan, Beijing Trust will distribute 70% of the CDM benefit it receives to the holders of the category B trust units. The receipt of any CDM benefit is subject to a process of evaluation and certification of the project by the CDM Executive Board and is under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The first stages of the certification process have been completed successfully.
Bank Loans – Industrial Bank
Xi’an TCH entered an agreement with Industrial Bank Co., Ltd., Xi’an Branch (the “Lender”) for a loan designed for energy saving and emission reduction projects, whereby the Lender agreed to loan $4.79 million (RMB 30,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for three years from April 6, 2010 to April 6, 2013. The proceeds of the loan were required to be used in payment for equipment for Xi’an TCH’s energy saving and emission reduction projects. The loan had a floating interest rate that resets at the beginning of each quarter at 110% of the national base interest rate for the same term and same level loan (then 6.77%). As of March 31, 2013, this loan had an outstanding balance of $0.48 million. This loan was repaid in full on the maturity date, April 6, 2013.
Xi’an TCH entered into another loan agreement with the same Industrial Bank for energy saving and emission reduction projects, whereby the Lender agreed to loan $4.79 million (RMB 30,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for three years to March 30, 2014. The proceeds of the loan were required to be used in payment for construction and equipment purchase for Xi’an TCH’s energy saving and emission reduction projects. The loan agreement had a floating interest rate that resets at the beginning of each quarter at 115% of the national base interest rate for the same term and same level loan (then 7.07%). Under the loan, Xi’an TCH is required to make quarterly interest payments and, beginning six months after the date of the release of the funds, to make minimum quarterly principal payments of $474,000 (RMB 3,000,000). The loan agreement contained standard representations, warranties and covenants, and the loan is guaranteed by Xi’an TCH, Mr. Guohua Ku and Ms. Chaoying Zhang. As of March 31, 2013, this loan had an outstanding balance of $2.39 million that is to be repaid within one year.
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On November 8, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered the third loan agreement with the same Industrial Bank, for its energy saving and emission reduction projects, whereby the Lender agreed to loan $20.74 million (RMB 130,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for a term of four years, ending on November 27, 2015. The proceeds of the loan are required to be used to make payments on construction and equipment purchases relating to Xi’an TCH’s energy saving and emission reduction projects. The loan agreement has a floating interest rate that resets at the beginning of each quarter at 115% of the national base interest rate for the same term and same level loan (then 7.36%). Under the loan, Xi’an TCH is required to make quarterly interest payments and, beginning nine months after the date of the release of the funds, to make minimum quarterly principal payments of $1.59 million (RMB 10,000,000). For the first nine months, the loan was in a grace period and there were no repayment requirements. The loan is guaranteed by the accounts receivable of Xi’an TCH, Pucheng and Shenqiu BMPG systems and Mr. Guohua Ku, individually. As of March 31, 2013, this loan had outstanding balance of $15.95 million, of which, $6.38 million is to be repaid within one year, and $9.57 million is to be repaid after one year.
Bank Loans – Bank of Xi’an
During the first quarter of 2012, Xi’an TCH entered into an agreement with Bank of Xi’an, whereby the Lender agreed to loan $4,743,158 (RMB 30,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for one year with maturity on March 1, 2013. The proceeds of the loan were required to be used in payment for power generation equipment purchases. The monthly interest rate of the Loan is 0.60133%. The Company paid a third party $119,322 (RMB 750,000) as a re-guarantee service fee. This loan was repaid at maturity.
On March 28, 2013, Xi’an TCH entered into another agreement with Bank of Xi’an, whereby Bank of Xi’an agreed to loan $4.79 million (RMB 30,000,000) to Xi’an TCH for one year with maturity on March 27, 2014. The proceeds of the loan are required to be used in payment for power generation equipment purchases. The monthly interest rate of the Loan is 0.575%. Under the terms of the loan, Xi’an TCH is required to make monthly interest payments and the principal is to be repaid at maturity. The loan is guaranteed by a third party guarantee company and Mr. Guohua Ku. The Company paid a third party $113,483 (RMB 712,500) as a re-guarantee service fee.
Convertible note agreement with China Cinda and its affiliate
On August 18, 2010, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Sifang, Shanghai TCH and Xi’an TCH entered into a Notes Purchase Agreement (the “Note Agreement”) with China Cinda (HK) Asset Management Co., Ltd, a company organized under the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (the “Cinda”). Under the terms of the Note Agreement, the Company issued to Cinda two tranches of convertible notes (the “Notes”), each having a principal amount equal to the US Dollar equivalent of $7.8 million (RMB 50 million). Also on August 18, 2010, Xi’an TCH and China Jingu International Trust Co. Ltd. (“Jingu”), an affiliate of Cinda, entered into a Capital Trust Loan Agreement (the “Trust Loan Agreement”), in which Jingu raised $15.5 million (RMB100 million) under a Jingu CREG Recycling Economy No. 1 Collective Fund Trust Plan (the “Trust Plan”) and lend such amount under the Trust Plan to Xi’an TCH (the “Loans”). If the Loans under the Trust Loan Agreement do not occur, then under the Note Agreement the principal amount of the Notes to be issued in each tranche will be the US dollar equivalent of $15.5 million (RMB 100 million). All proceeds from the Notes and the Loans will be used to complete Phases IV and V of the Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd. (the “Erdos TCH”) project, a joint venture between Xi’an TCH and Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd. to recycle waste heat from Erdos Metallurgy’s refining plants to generate power and steam and sell them back to Erdos Metallurgy, as well as other working capital needs.
The term of the Loans with Jingu was for three years from the date of the first draw. The interest rate for the Loans is the People’s Bank of China’s (“PBOC”) three year loan base interest rate plus 2%. If the Loans are not exchanged for shares of the Common Stock of the Company as described below prior to maturity, Xi’an TCH will pay the difference between the interest rate described above and 18% on the outstanding amount. Under the Trust Loan Agreement and separate agreements entered by Jingu, Erdos TCH, Shanghai TCH, Xi’an TCH and Mr. Guohua Ku on August 18, 2010, Erdos TCH shall pledge the accounts receivable, equipment and assets of its Phases IV and V projects to Jingu as a guarantee to the Loans, Xi’an TCH shall pledge its 80% equity in Erdos TCH to Jingu as a guarantee to the Loans, Shanghai TCH provided a joint liability guarantee to Jingu for the Loans, and Mr. Guohua Ku provided his personal joint liability to Jingu for the Loans.
Under the Note Agreement with Cinda, the Notes were issued on or before August 18, 2011. The Notes have a three year maturity date from the date of the issuance of the first tranche. The exchange rate between RMB and US Dollar for each issue of Notes is the middle rate published by the PBOC for the second business day prior to each issuance. Each Note bears interest at a rate equal to that of PBOC base interest rate for the relevant interest period (the period commencing on and including January 1 of each year and ending on and including December 31 of such year) plus two percent (2%). If Cinda does not convert or fully convert the Notes to shares prior to maturity, the Company will pay the difference between the interest rate described above and 18% on the outstanding amount.
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As collateral for the Notes, Mr. Guohua Ku, the Chairman, CEO and a major shareholder of the Company, entered into a Share Pledge Agreement with Cinda, on August 18, 2010, to pledge 4,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock held by him to secure the first Note. The Agreement also calls for an additional 4,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock held by Mr. Ku to secure the second Note before its issuance. On December 30, 2010, the Company received $7,533,391 (RMB 50,000,000) from the first tranche of the Jingu Loans. On January 30, 2011, the Company received another $7,533,391 (RMB 50,000,000) from the first tranche convertible Note of Cinda.
On December 9, 2011, the Company, Cinda and Mr. Guohua Ku, the Chairman, CEO and a major shareholder of the Company entered into a Supplemental Agreement (the “Supplemental Agreement”). Under the terms of the Supplemental Agreement, the Company and Cinda terminated their respective obligations to sell and purchase the second tranche of convertible note under the Note Agreement which has a principal amount equal to the US Dollar equivalent of RMB 50 million. The Company and Cinda also agreed that the Company would redeem the outstanding convertible notes at the amount equivalent to RMB 25 million each on December 30, 2011 and November 30, 2012, respectively, plus accrued interest at 18% (the "Redemption Interest Rate") up to the applicable Redemption Date, minus any interest already accrued and paid (together with the Redemption Principal Amount, the "Redemption Price"). For any default in payment of the Redemption Price, the interest rate on the Redemption Principal Amount was the Redemption Interest Rate plus an additional 5% due on demand. The interest on the Redemption Principal Amount due on November 30, 2012 (the "Second Redemption Principal Amount") accrued at 18%. Half of the amount owed was paid by the Company on June 20, 2012 and the remaining half was due on November 30, 2012; however, upon request from Cinda, the November 30, 2012 date was extended to a future date. Xi’an TCH redeemed $3.97 million (RMB 25 million) and paid interest of $1.13 million (RMB 7.14 million) on December 30, 2011. As of March 31, 2013, the repayment of the Cinda loan for the remaining $3.76 million and unpaid interest of $563,112 was, upon request from Cinda and per an oral agreement, extended from November 30, 2012 to a future date.
On December 9, 2011, Mr. Ku executed a Certificate for additional collateral to pledge an additional 1.5 million shares of the common stock of the Company that he owns as collateral to Cinda to secure the unpaid note. In addition, on December 9, 2011, Xi’an TCH and China Jingu International Trust Co. Ltd. (“Jingu”), also entered into a Supplemental Agreement (the “Jingu Agreement”) to the Capital Trust Loan Agreement. Under the terms of the Jingu Agreement, Xi’an TCH agreed to repay the entire outstanding RMB 50 million loan principal amount plus interests at 18% and related fees.
Financial Leasing
Financing Agreement- - Sale Lease-back transaction
On June 28, 2011, Xi’an TCH” entered into a Financing Agreement with Cinda Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (the “Cinda Financial”), an affiliate of China Cinda (HK) Asset Management Co., Ltd. (the “Cinda HK”).
Under the Agreement, Xi’an TCH transferred its ownership of a set of 7MW steam turbine waste heat power generation systems (the “WHPG system currently used by Zhongbao”) and four furnaces and ancillary apparatus (the “Assets”) to Cinda Financial for $6.72 million (RMB 42.50 million), and Cinda Financial, in turn, leased the Assets to Xi’an TCH for five years with an overall leasing fee of $8.15 million (RMB 51.54 million), which is based upon the transfer cost and the benchmark interest rate for a five-year loan made by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) (then 6.65%) plus 15% of that rate (which was 7.6475%). The interest rate will increase if the PBOC five-year benchmark interest rate increases but will remain the same if the benchmark rate decreases in the future. Xi’an TCH shall make pro rata quarterly payments to Cinda Financial for the leasing fees. Upon the completion of the leasing term, and the full payment of all leasing fees and other fees, Xi’an TCH can pay $676 (RMB 4,250) to acquire ownership of the Assets. The quarterly minimum payment is $0.41 million (RMB 2,594,998). In addition to the leasing fees, Xi’an TCH prepaid a one-time non-refundable leasing service charge of $0.40 million (RMB 2,550,000), which was amortized over five years, and a refundable security deposit of $0.34 million (RMB 2,125,000) to Cinda Financial. As of March 31, 2013, the Company made repayments of $2,897,334 to Cinda Financial.
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Commitments
Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation Projects
In February 2011, Xi’an TCH signed a contract with Shanxi Datong Coal Group Steel Co., Ltd (the “Shanxi Datong”) to recycle gas and steam from groups of blast-furnaces and converter of Shanxi Datong’s metal refining plants to generate power. According to the contract, Xi’an TCH will install two 3MW TRT, one 15MW WGPG and two 1MW steam power generation systems, with a total of 23MW power capacity for an estimated total investment of $27.45 million (RMB 180 million). The lease term is 30 years. During the lease, Shanxi Datong will be responsible for operating the projects and pay service fee to Xi’an TCH. The service fee is based on an average of 8,000 electricity-generating hours per year and $0.05 (RMB 0.33) per kilowatt hour (“kWh”) for the first five years from the completion of each power generation station. For each of the leases, at the 6th year, 11th year and 21st year thereafter, the rate will be RMB 0.3 kWh, 0.27 kWh and 0.25 kWh, respectively. After 30 years, the units will be transferred to Shanxi Datong without any charge.
On February 28,2011, Xi’an TCH entered into an agreement with Xi’an Huaxin Energy Tech Co., Ltd (the contractor for construction) for the Shanxi Datong Coal projects of two 3MW TRT systems and one 15 MW WGPG systems as described above. The project was scheduled to be completed 12 months after construction commencement.
As of March 31, 2013, the Company has paid $21.40 million for the Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation project. The Company is committed to pay an additional $7.89 million for the Shanxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation project. This project was previously halted due to a business reorganization of Shanxi Datong and a renegotiation of the power stations with Xi’an TCH to amend certain construction plans. The construction was resumed in April 2012 and the Company expects to complete this project by the middle of 2013.
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. |
Exchange Rate Risk
Our operations are conducted mainly in the PRC. As such, our earnings are subject to movements in foreign currency exchange rates when transactions are denominated in RMB, which is our functional currency. Accordingly, our operating results are affected by changes in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and those currencies.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures. |
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures which are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s periodic SEC reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rules 13a – 15(e) and 15d – 15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) at the end of the period covered by the report.
Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of as of March 31, 2013, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that (i) the information required to be disclosed by us in this Report was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
With the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company also conducted an evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the Company’s fiscal quarter ended as of March 31, 2013, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Based on such evaluation, management concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, there have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings |
The Company is not currently involved in any material pending legal proceedings.
Item 1A. | Risk Factors |
Other than as set forth below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012. An investment in our common stock involves various risks. When considering an investment in our company, you should consider carefully all of the risk factors described below and in our most recent Form 10-K. If any of those risks, incorporated by reference in this Form 10-Q, occur, the market price of our shares of common stock could decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones facing us and there may be additional matters that we are unaware of or that we currently consider immaterial. All of these could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and, thus, the value of an investment in our company.
Risks Related to Our Business Operations
In recent years, the economy of China has experienced unprecedented growth. As a result of the global financial crisis, this growth has slowed in the last year, and if the growth of the economy continues to slow or if the economy contracts, our financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
The rapid growth of the PRC economy has historically resulted in widespread growth opportunities in industries across China. As a result of the global financial crisis and the inability of enterprises to gain comparable access to the same amounts of capital available in past years, there may be an adverse effect on the business climate and growth of private enterprise in the PRC. An economic slowdown could have an adverse effect on our financial condition. Further, if economic growth slows, and if, in conjunction, inflation is allowed to proceed unchecked, our costs would likely increase, and there can be no assurance that we would be able to increase our prices to an extent that would offset the increase in our expenses.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
None.
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Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
None.
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures. |
None
Item 5. | Other Information |
None
Item 6. | Exhibits |
Exhibit |
Description |
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).* |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).* |
32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.* |
32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.* |
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document.** |
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.** |
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.** |
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.** |
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.** |
101.DEF |
XBRL Taxonomy Definitions Linkbase Document.** |
* | Filed herewith |
** | Furnished with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2013 |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
CHINA RECYCLING ENERGY CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: May 15, 2013 | /s/ Guohua Ku | |
Guohua Ku Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
Date: May 15, 2013 | /s/ David Chong | |
David Chong Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Secretary |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number |
Description |
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).* |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).* |
32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.* |
32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.* |
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document.** |
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.** |
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.** |
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.** |
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.** |
101.DEF |
XBRL Taxonomy Definitions Linkbase Document.** |
* | Filed herewith |
** | Furnished with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2013 |
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