Annual Statements Open main menu

CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC - Quarter Report: 2005 September (Form 10-Q)


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x

QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2005

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the transition period from ________ to _________

Commission file number: 000-33123

China Automotive Systems, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware

 

33-0885775

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

No. 1 Henglong Road,
Yu Qiao Development Zone Shashi District,
Jing Zhou City,
Hubei Province
People’s Republic of China
(Address of principal executive offices)

Issuer’s telephone number: (86) 716- 832- 9196

 

Issuer’s fax number: (86) 716- 832- 9298

Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the 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   o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes   o

No   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes   o

No   x

As of September 30, 2005, the Company had 22,574,542 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.



CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.

 

INDEX

 

 

 

Page
Number

 

 


PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

3

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

3

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - September 30, 2005 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2004

3

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004

5

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) - Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004

7

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004

8

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) - Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004

12

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion And Analysis of Financial Condition And Results of Operations

31

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

59

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

60

 

 

 

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

60

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

60

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

61

2



PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

September 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

14,027,722

 

$

11,164,639

 

Pledged cash deposits

 

 

2,514,370

 

 

1,842,536

 

Accounts and notes receivable, including $1,593,485 and $982,722 from related parties at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,990,465 and $2,944,990 at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively

 

 

33,995,992

 

 

37,632,603

 

Advance payments, including $830,550 and $433,724 to related parties at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively

 

 

7,578,737

 

 

3,886,406

 

Inventories

 

 

15,119,737

 

 

12,507,910

 

 

 



 



 

Total current assets

 

 

73,236,558

 

 

67,034,094

 

 

 



 



 

Long-term Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

47,789,335

 

 

43,552,725

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(11,154,068

)

 

(7,609,101

)

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

36,635,267

 

 

35,943,624

 

 

 



 



 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

474,658

 

 

392,552

 

Other receivables, including $2,337,611 and $974,815 from related parties at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $977,896 and $930,425 at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively

 

 

3,530,005

 

 

2,044,086

 

Long-term investments

 

 

74,074

 

 

72,289

 

 

 



 



 

Total assets

 

$

113,950,562

 

$

105,486,645

 

 

 



 



 

3



China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)

 

 

September 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank loans

 

$

14,814,815

 

$

13,614,458

 

Accounts and notes payable, including $267,706 and $522,754 to related parties at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively

 

 

29,783,611

 

 

28,518,720

 

Customer deposits

 

 

122,195

 

 

227,389

 

Accrued payroll and related costs

 

 

1,490,947

 

 

1,370,576

 

Accrued expenses and other payables

 

 

4,396,532

 

 

5,005,525

 

Accrued pension costs

 

 

3,140,054

 

 

2,438,971

 

Taxes payable

 

 

4,162,506

 

 

3,814,746

 

Amounts due to shareholders/directors

 

 

667,851

 

 

589,594

 

 

 



 



 

Total current liabilities

 

 

58,578,511

 

 

55,579,979

 

 

 



 



 

Long-term liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances payable

 

 

201,067

 

 

196,378

 

 

 



 



 

Minority interests

 

 

19,188,911

 

 

17,571,838

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized - 20,000,000 shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued and outstanding - None

 

 

—  

 

 

—  

 

Common stock, $0.0001 par value-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized - 80,000,000 shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued and Outstanding-22,574,542 shares at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004

 

 

2,257

 

 

2,257

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

18,072,018

 

 

18,003,168

 

Retained earnings-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appropriated

 

 

4,396,339

 

 

4,396,339

 

Unappropriated

 

 

12,178,775

 

 

9,733,626

 

Foreign currency translation gain

 

 

1,332,684

 

 

3,060

 

 

 



 



 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

35,982,073

 

 

32,138,450

 

 

 



 



 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

113,950,562

 

$

105,486,645

 

 

 



 



 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4



China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

Net sales, including $360,433 and $372,454 to related parties in 2005 and 2004, respectively

 

$

14,262,933

 

$

14,218,829

 

Cost of sales, including $337,108 and $362,182 purchased from related parties in 2005 and 2004, respectively

 

 

8,754,017

 

 

8,568,811

 

 

 



 



 

Gross profit

 

 

5,508,916

 

 

5,650,018

 

 

 



 



 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling

 

 

1,023,272

 

 

647,720

 

General and administrative

 

 

1,601,248

 

 

1,443,004

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

242,459

 

 

136,840

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

—  

 

 

55,125

 

 

 



 



 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

2,866,979

 

 

2,282,689

 

 

 



 



 

Income from operations

 

 

2,641,937

 

 

3,367,329

 

 

 



 



 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-operating income

 

 

170,675

 

 

223,303

 

Financial expenses

 

 

(333,885

)

 

(204,871

)

 

 



 



 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

(163,210

)

 

18,432

 

 

 



 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

2,478,727

 

 

3,385,761

 

Income taxes

 

 

597,427

 

 

376,730

 

 

 



 



 

Income before minority interests

 

 

1,881,300

 

 

3,009,031

 

Minority interests

 

 

804,388

 

 

1,048,625

 

 

 



 



 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

1,076,912

 

 

1,960,406

 

Income from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

14,067

 

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

$

1,076,912

 

$

1,974,473

 

 

 



 



 

Net income per common share  -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted from continuing Operations

 

$

0.05

 

$

0.09

 

Basic and diluted from discontinued Operations

 

$

(0.00

)

$

(0.00

)

 

 



 



 

Basic

 

$

0.05

 

$

0.09

 

 

 



 



 

Diluted

 

$

0.05

 

$

0.09

 

 

 



 



 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

22,574,542

 

 

22,574,542

 

Diluted

 

 

22,575,207

 

 

22,575,637

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

5



China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

Net sales from continued operations including $1,360,293 and $657,523 to related parties in 2005 and 2004, respectively

 

$

45,002,692

 

$

40,935,891

 

Cost of sales, including $1,232,897 and $756,358 purchased from related parties in 2005 and 2004, respectively

 

 

28,496,684

 

 

23,988,081

 

 

 



 



 

Gross profit

 

 

16,506,008

 

 

16,947,810

 

 

 



 



 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling

 

 

3,413,645

 

 

1,923,888

 

General and administrative

 

 

6,501,002

 

 

5,981,536

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

595,749

 

 

383,725

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

68,850

 

 

55,125

 

 

 



 



 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

10,579,246

 

 

8,344,274

 

 

 



 



 

Income from operations

 

 

5,926,762

 

 

8,603,536

 

 

 



 



 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-operating income

 

 

227,696

 

 

650,131

 

Financial expenses

 

 

(941,486

)

 

(540,751

)

 

 



 



 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

(713,790

)

 

109,380

 

 

 



 



 

Income before income taxes

 

 

5,212,972

 

 

8,712,916

 

Income taxes

 

 

1,150,750

 

 

1,142,118

 

 

 



 



 

Income before minority interests

 

 

4,062,222

 

 

7,570,798

 

Minority interests

 

 

1,617,073

 

 

2,755,586

 

 

 



 



 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

2,445,149

 

 

4,815,212

 

Loss from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

(21,592

)

 

 



 



 

Net income

 

$

2,445,149

 

$

4,793,620

 

 

 



 



 

Net income per common share  -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted from continuing Operations

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.21

 

Basic and diluted from discontinued Operations

 

$

(0.00

)

$

(0.00

)

 

 



 



 

Basic

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.21

 

 

 



 



 

Diluted

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.21

 

 

 



 



 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

22,574,542

 

 

22,574,542

 

Diluted

 

 

22,585,732

 

 

22,574,907

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

6



China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

Net income

 

$

1,076,912

 

$

1,974,473

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation gain

 

 

1,329,624

 

 

—  

 

 

 



 



 

Comprehensive income

 

$

2,406,536

 

$

1,974,473

 

 

 



 



 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

Net income

 

$

2,445,149

 

$

4,793,620

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation gain

 

 

1,329,624

 

 

7,119

 

 

 



 



 

Comprehensive income

 

$

3,774,773

 

$

4,800,739

 

 

 



 



 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

7



China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,076,912

 

$

1,960,406

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority interests

 

 

804,388

 

 

1,048,625

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

1,369,361

 

 

804,117

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

(200,064

)

 

(17,319

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

—  

 

 

55,125

 

Foreign currency translation gain

 

 

730,895

 

 

—  

 

Other operating adjustments

 

 

—  

 

 

3,854

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pledged deposits

 

 

351,506

 

 

(149,040

)

Accounts and notes receivable

 

 

(210,405

)

 

(4,564,473

)

Advance payments

 

 

(1,184,031

)

 

843,433

 

Inventories

 

 

(582,850

)

 

(225,519

)

Increase (decrease) in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes payable

 

 

(506,416

)

 

1,540,841

 

Customer deposits

 

 

(30,844

)

 

(994,342

)

Accrued payroll and related costs

 

 

98,878

 

 

(319,549

)

Accrued expenses and other payables

 

 

490,683

 

 

(1,354,322

)

Accrued pension costs

 

 

46,947

 

 

219,060

 

Taxes payable

 

 

548,184

 

 

(22,983

)

Advances payable

 

 

4,845

 

 

—  

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations

 

 

2,807,989

 

 

(1,172,086

)

Net cash (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

108,896

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

2,807,989

 

 

(1,063,190

)

 

 



 



 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in other receivables

 

 

(244,453

)

 

(1,297,449

)

Cash paid to acquire property, plant and equipment

 

 

(2,009,678

)

 

(1,983,659

)

Cash paid to acquire intangible assets

 

 

(4,794

)

 

—  

 

(Increase) decrease in investments

 

 

—  

 

 

(578,313

)

Foreign currency translation gain

 

 

947,661

 

 

—  

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations

 

 

(1,311,264

)

 

(3,859,421

)

Net cash (used in) investing activities from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

322,654

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(1,311,264

)

 

(3,536,767

)

 

 



 



 

8



China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from bank loans, net minority interests

 

 

1,802,767

 

 

(963,856

)

Increase in amounts due to shareholders/directors

 

 

23,712

 

 

33,832

 

Contributions to capital by minority interest holders of joint-ventures

 

 

—  

 

 

578,313

 

Foreign currency translation loss (gain)

 

 

(350,717

)

 

—  

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities from continuing operations

 

 

1,475,762

 

 

(351,711

)

Net cash (used in) financing activities from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

(578,313

)

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

1,475,762

 

 

(930,024

)

 

 



 



 

Net (decrease) of cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

(146,763

)

Net increase (decrease) of cash and cash equivalents from continued operations

 

 

2,972,487

 

 

(5,383,218

)

 

 



 



 

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

 

 

2,972,487

 

 

(5,383,218

)

At beginning of period

 

 

11,055,235

 

 

16,395,411

 

 

 



 



 

At end of period

 

$

14,027,722

 

$

11,012,193

 

 

 



 



 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

268,141

 

$

148,146

 

 

 



 



 

Cash paid for income taxes

 

$

116,192

 

$

403,950

 

 

 



 



 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

9



China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

2,445,149

 

$

4,815,212

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority interests

 

 

1,617,073

 

 

2,755,586

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

3,661,800

 

 

1,956,612

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

(2,743

)

 

426,267

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

68,850

 

 

55,125

 

Foreign currency translation gain

 

 

730,895

 

 

—  

 

Other operating adjustments

 

 

—  

 

 

13,767

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pledged deposits

 

 

(671,834

)

 

(427,428

)

Accounts and notes receivable

 

 

3,663,852

 

 

4,207,747

 

Advance payments

 

 

(3,692,331

)

 

76,648

 

Inventories

 

 

(2,611,827

)

 

(4,782,731

)

Increase (decrease) in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes payable

 

 

1,264,891

 

 

5,658,939

 

Customer deposits

 

 

(105,194

)

 

(471,878

)

Accrued payroll and related costs

 

 

120,371

 

 

(239,085

)

Accrued expenses and other payables

 

 

178,328

 

 

631,626

 

Accrued pension costs

 

 

701,083

 

 

687,234

 

Taxes payable

 

 

347,760

 

 

(1,565,136

)

Advances payable

 

 

4,689

 

 

—  

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations

 

 

7,720,812

 

 

13,798,505

 

Net cash (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

(149,687

)

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

7,720,812

 

 

13,648,818

 

 

 



 



 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in other receivables

 

 

(1,510,417

)

 

(1,309,826

)

Cash paid to acquire property, plant and equipment

 

 

(4,236,610

)

 

(6,704,439

)

Cash paid to acquire intangible assets

 

 

(198,939

)

 

—  

 

(Increase) decrease in investments

 

 

—  

 

 

(1,204,819

)

Foreign currency translation gain

 

 

947,661

 

 

—  

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash (used in) investing activities from continuing operations

 

 

(4,998,305

)

 

(9,219,084

)

Net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

700,082

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash (used in) investing activities

 

 

(4,998,305

)

 

(8,519,002

)

 

 



 



 

10



China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from bank loans, net

 

 

1,200,357

 

 

3,012,048

 

Dividends paid to minority interests holders of joint-ventures

 

 

(787,321

)

 

(4,469,379

)

Increase in amounts due to shareholders/directors

 

 

78,257

 

 

(4,630,537

)

Contributions to capital by minority interests holders of joint-ventures

 

 

—  

 

 

1,841,772

 

Foreign currency translation loss (gain)

 

 

(350,717

)

 

—  

 

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities from continuing operations

 

 

140,576

 

 

(4,246,096

)

Net cash (used in) financing activities from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

(602,409

)

 

 



 



 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

140,576

 

 

(4,848,505

)

 

 



 



 

Net increase (decrease) of cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations (Note 15)

 

 

—  

 

 

(52,014

)

Net increase (decrease) of cash and cash equivalents from continued operations

 

 

2,863,083

 

 

333,325

 

 

 



 



 

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

 

 

2,863,083

 

 

333,325

 

At beginning of period

 

 

11,164,639

 

 

10,678,868

 

 

 



 



 

At end of period

 

$

14,027,722

 

$

11,012,193

 

 

 



 



 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 


 


 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

649,424

 

$

437,660

 

 

 



 



 

Cash paid for income taxes

 

$

789,537

 

$

1,275,047

 

 

 



 



 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

11



China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Three Months and Nine Months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004

1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Organization - Effective March 5, 2003, Visions-In-Glass, Inc., a United States company incorporated in the State of Delaware (“Visions”), entered into a Share Exchange Agreement to acquire 100% of the shareholder interest in Great Genesis Holding Limited, a company incorporated on January 3, 2003 under the Companies Ordinance in Hong Kong as a limited liability company (“Great Genesis”), as a result of which Great Genesis became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Visions. At the closing, the former directors and officers of Visions resigned, and new directors and officers were appointed. Visions subsequently changed its name to China Automotive Systems, Inc.

China Automotive Systems, Inc., including, when the context so requires, its subsidiaries and the subsidiaries’ interests in the Sino-foreign joint ventures described below, is referred to herein as the “Company”. The Company, through its Sino-foreign joint ventures described below, is engaged in the manufacture and sale of automotive systems and components in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”) as described below.

Ji Long Enterprise Investment Limited was incorporated on October 8, 1992 under the Companies Ordinance in Hong Kong as a limited liability company (“Ji Long”). Ji Long is an investment holding company. Effective March 4, 2003, all of the shareholders of Ji Long exchanged their 100% shareholder interest for a 100% shareholder interest in Great Genesis, as a result of which Ji Long became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Genesis.

In exchange for the acquisition of 100% of the shareholder interest in Great Genesis, the shareholders of Great Genesis were issued 20,914,250 shares of common stock of Visions. In addition, the shareholders of Great Genesis paid $250,000 and $70,000 to the former officer, director and controlling shareholder of Visions for the cancellation of 17,424,750 shares of common stock in 2003 and 2004, respectively, for a total amount of $320,000.

The acquisition of Great Genesis by the Company was accounted for as a recapitalization of Great Genesis, pursuant to which the accounting basis of Great Genesis remained unchanged subsequent to the transaction date. Accordingly, the pre-transaction financial statements of Great Genesis are the historical financial statements of the Company.

12



Great Genesis owns the following aggregate net interests in five Sino-foreign joint ventures (Jingzhou Henglong Fulida Textile Co., Ltd. (“Jingzhou”), discussed below, was sold in August 2004) organized in the PRC:

 

 

Percentage Interest

 

 

 


 

Name of Entity

 

September 30,
2005

 

September 30,
2004

 


 


 


 

Jingzhou Henglong Automotive Parts Co. Limited (“Henglong”)

 

 

44.5

%

 

44.5

%

Shashi Jiulong Power Steering Co. Limited (“Jiulong”)

 

 

81.0

%

 

81.0

%

Shenyang Jinbei Henglong Automotive Steering System Co. Limited (“Shenyang”)

 

 

70.0

%

 

55.0

%

Zhejiang Henglong & Vie Pump-Manu Co. Limited (“Zhejiang”)

 

 

51.0

%

 

51.0

%

Universal Sensor Application, Inc. (“USAI”)

 

 

60.0

%

 

—  

 

On December 31, 2003, the Company owned 55% of Shenyang. On April 8, 2004, the board of directors approved an increase in Shenyang’s registered capital and total capital from $5,421,687 (RMB45,000,000) to $8,132,530 (RMB67,500,000); the Chinese investor was changed from Shenyang Jinbei Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. to Shenyang Jinbei Automotive Company Limited. The shareholder transfer and capital increase, along with the newly signed Joint Venture Agreement and Articles of Incorporation, were approved by the applicable PRC authorities. Accordingly, Shenyang’s registered capital is now $8,132,530 (RMB67,500,000), including $5,692,771 (RMB47,250,000) from the Company, which is 70% of the total registered capital, and $2,439,759 (RMB20,250,000) from Shenyang Jinbei Automotive Company Limited, which is 30% of the total registered capital. The increase in capital of $2,710,843 (RMB22,500,000) has been contributed to Shenyang.

Effective August 31, 2004, in order to concentrate on its main products, namely steering and automotive parts, the Company disposed of a 51% interest in Jingzhou owned by Ji Long by entering into an equity exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with Hubei Wanlong Investment Co., Ltd. (“HBWL”) controlled by Mr. Hanlin Chen, the Company’s Chairman. Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the 51% equity interest in Jingzhou owned by Ji Long was exchanged for 2.5% of HBWL’s equity interest in Henglong based on their respective fair market values as determined by an independent appraisal firm. The difference between the fair value and the book value resulting from the disposition of the joint venture interest in Jingzhou was debited to additional paid-in capital. With respect to consideration paid by the Company in excess of its Chairman’s basis for his investment, such excess has been charged to additional paid-in capital as a distribution to the Chairman, resulting in the acquired 2.5% equity interest in Henglong being recorded by the Company at the Chairman’s original cost basis. The Company paid approximately $90,000 to HBWL in conjunction with this transaction.

The divested non-core business of Jingzhou has been treated as a discontinued operation under SFAS No. 144. Jingzhou’s results of operation and related charges have been reclassified as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s prior financial statements have been restated to reflect the discontinued operation of Jingzhou (see Note 15).

13



Henglong, established in 1997, and Jiulong, established in 1993, are mainly engaged in the production of rack and pinion power steering gears and integral ball and nut power steering gears for cars, light and heavy-duty vehicles. Shenyang and Zhejiang were established in 2002 and are focused on power steering parts and power steering pumps.

On April 12, 2005, one of the subsidiary companies, Great Genesis entered into a joint-venture agreement with Shanghai Hongxi Investment Inc. (“Hongxi”), and Sensor System Solution Inc. (“Sensor”) to establish a joint venture - Universal Sensor Application Inc. (“USAI”) in the Wuhan East Lake development zone. USAI will produce and sell sensor modules. The registered capital of the joint venture is $ 10 million. Great Genesis and Hongxi will invest $ 6 million and 1 million, respectively, with cash and land and building, which will account for 60% and 10% of the total registered capital, respectively. Sensor will invest $ 3 million in technology, accounting for 30% of the total registered capital. The registered capital is required to be paid in three installments within one year after signing of the joint venture agreement (April 12, 2005). As of September 30, 2005, USAI has not conducted any business since its registered capital has not been contributed.

Basis of Presentation - The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries and Sino-foreign joint ventures for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Foreign Currencies - The Company maintains its books and records in Renminbi (“RMB”), the currency of the PRC, its functional currency. Foreign currency transactions are reflected using the temporal method. Under this method, all monetary items are translated into the functional currency at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary items are translated at historical rates. Income and expenses are translated at the rate in effect on the transaction dates. Transaction gains and losses, if any, are included in the determination of net income (loss) for the period.

In translating the financial statements of the Company from its functional currency into its reporting currency in United States dollars, balance sheet accounts are translated using the closing exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date and income and expense accounts are translated using an average exchange rate prevailing during the reporting period. Adjustments resulting from the translation, if any, are included in cumulative other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity.

14



On July 21, 2005, the Central Bank of China announced that it will allow the Yuan (Renminbi) to move from its previous fixed exchange rate of approximately 8.28 RMB to 1 USD to a flexible exchange rate with a maximum daily variance against the US dollar of 0.3%.

Comments - The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited, but in the opinion of management of the Company, contain all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position, the results of operations and cash flows for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004.

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004 is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, although the Company’s management believes that the disclosures contained in these financial statements are adequate to make the information presented therein not misleading. For further information, refer to the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSBA, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2005.

Income Per Share - Basic income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share is calculated assuming the issuance of common shares, if dilutive, resulting from the exercise of warrants. The Company had 45,000 shares of potentially dilutive securities consisting of options to purchase 22,500 shares of common stock to three independent directors at $6.83 per share, which were granted on June 28, 2005 and options to purchase 22,500 shares of common stock to three independent directors at $4.50 per share, which were granted on July 21, 2004.

15



Stock-Based Compensation - The Company had approved the adoption of the 2004 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) in the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 28 2005. Subject to the Plan, the Company will authorize up to maximum 2,200,000 shares of common stock for issuance to selected employees, consultants and directors of the Company.

The exercise price for ISOs granted under the Plan may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The exercise price of NQO's granted under the Plan may not be less than 85% of the fair market value on the date the option is granted. In the case of an ISO granted to a person who at the time of the grant owns stock representing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary, the option exercise price for each share covered by such option may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of such option.

The term of an option is determined by the specific option agreement. No option granted under the Plan may have a term of more than 10 years. Furthermore, the maximum term for an ISO granted to an optionee who immediately before the grant of such option owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary is five years. No option may be exercised by any person after its term expires.

The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, which establishes a fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation plans.

The provisions of SFAS No. 123 allow companies to either record an expense in the financial statements to reflect the estimated fair value of stock options or warrants to employees, or to continue to follow the intrinsic value method set forth in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, but to disclose on an annual basis the pro forma effect on net income (loss) and net income (loss) per common share had the fair value of the stock options and warrants been recorded in the financial statements. SFAS No. 123 was amended by SFAS No. 148, which now requires companies to disclose in interim financial statements the pro forma effect on net income (loss) and net income (loss) per common share of the estimated fair market value of stock options or warrants issued to employees. The Company has elected to continue to account for stock-based compensation plans utilizing the intrinsic value method. Accordingly, compensation cost for stock options and warrants is measured as the excess, if any, of the fair market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant above the amount an employee must pay to acquire the common stock.

16



In accordance with SFAS No. 123, the cost of stock options and warrants issued to non-employees is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. The fair value of the stock-based award is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The resulting amount is charged to expense on the straight-line basis over the period in which the Company expects to receive benefit, which is generally the vesting period.

Comprehensive Income - The Company has adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income” (“SFAS No. 130”). SFAS No. 130 establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income, its components and accumulated balances in a full set of general purpose financial statements. SFAS No. 130 defines comprehensive income to include all changes in equity except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, including adjustments to minimum pension liabilities, accumulated foreign currency translation, and unrealized gains or losses on marketable securities.

For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company’s only component of other comprehensive income is foreign currency translation gain of $1,329,624. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company’s only component of other comprehensive income is foreign currency translation gain of $ 0 and $7,119. These amounts have been recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

Restatement - Certain restatement has been made to the financial statements for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2004 to reflect the discontinued operation of Jingzhou (see Note 15).

2. CERTAIN SIGNIFICANT RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The Company is subject to the consideration and risks of operating in the PRC. These include risks associated with the political and economic environment, foreign currency exchange and the legal system in the PRC.

The economy of the PRC differs significantly from the economies of the “western” industrialized nations in structure, level of development, gross national product, growth rate, capital reinvestment, resource allocation, self-sufficiency, rate of inflation and balance of payments position, among others. Only recently has the PRC government encouraged substantial private economic activities. The Chinese economy has experienced significant growth in the past several years, but such growth has been uneven among various sectors of the economy and geographic regions. Actions by the PRC government to control inflation have significantly restrained economic expansion in the recent past. Similar actions by the PRC government in the future could have a significant adverse effect on economic conditions in the PRC.

17



Many laws and regulations dealing with economic matters in general and foreign investment in particular have been enacted in the PRC. However, the PRC still does not have a comprehensive system of laws, and enforcement of existing laws may be uncertain and sporadic.

The Company’s operating assets and primary sources of income and cash flows are the interests of its subsidiaries in Sino-foreign joint ventures in the PRC. The PRC economy has, for many years, been a centrally-planned economy, operating on the basis of annual, five-year and ten-year state plans adopted by central PRC governmental authorities, which set out national production and development targets. The PRC government has been pursuing economic reforms since it first adopted its “open-door” policy in 1978. There is no assurance that the PRC government will continue to pursue economic reforms or that there will not be any significant change in its economic or other policies, particularly in the event of any change in the political leadership of, or the political, economic or social conditions in the PRC. There is also no assurance that the Company will not be adversely affected by any such change in governmental policies or any unfavorable change in the political, economic or social conditions, the laws or regulations, or the rate or method of taxation in the PRC.

As many of the economic reforms, which have been or are being implemented by the PRC government, are unprecedented or experimental, they may be subject to adjustment or refinement, which may have adverse effects on the Company. Further, through state plans and other economic and fiscal measures such as the level of exchange rate, it remains possible for the PRC government to exert significant influence on the PRC economy.

The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, and accounts receivable from customers. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained with major banks in the PRC. The Company’s business activity is with customers in the PRC. The Company periodically performs credit analysis and monitors the financial condition of its clients in order to minimize credit risk.

Any devaluation of the RMB against the United States dollar would have adverse effects on the Company’s financial performance and asset values when measured in terms of the United States dollar. Should the RMB significantly devalue against the United States dollar, such devaluation could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s earnings and the foreign currency equivalent of such earnings. The Company does not hedge its RMB - United States dollar exchange rate exposure.

18



On July 21, 2005, the Central Bank of China announced that it will allow the Yuan (Renminbi) to move from its previous fixed exchange rate of approximately 8.28 RMB to 1 USD to a flexible exchange rate with a maximum daily variance against the US dollar of 0.3%.

No representation is made that the RMB amounts have been, or could be, converted into US$ at that rate. This quotation of exchange rates does not imply free convertibility of RMB to other foreign currencies. All foreign exchange transactions continue to take place either through the Bank of China or other banks authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rate quoted by the People’s Bank of China. Approval of foreign currency payments by the People’s Bank of China or other institutions requires submission of a payment application form together with suppliers’ invoices, shipping documents and signed contracts.

3. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In March 2004, the FASB issued EITF Issue No. 03-1 (“EITF 03-1”), “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments” which provided new guidance for assessing impairment losses on investments. Additionally, EITF 03-1 includes new disclosure requirements for investments that are deemed to be temporarily impaired. In September 2004, the FASB delayed the accounting provisions of EITF 03-1; however the disclosure requirements remain effective for annual periods ending after June 15, 2004. The Company will evaluate the impact of EITF 03-1 once final guidance is issued.

In June 2004, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 02-14 (“EITF 02-14”), “Whether an Investor Should Apply the Equity Method of Accounting to Investments Other Than Common Stock.” EITF 02-14 addresses whether the equity method of accounting applies when an investor does not have an investment in voting common stock of an investee but exercises significant influence through other means. EITF 02-14 states that an investor should only apply the equity method of accounting when it has investments in either common stock or in-substance common stock of a corporation, provided that the investor has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee. The accounting provisions of EITF 02-14 are effective for reporting periods beginning after September 15, 2004. The Company does not expect the adoption of EITF 02-14 to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

19



In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs - an Amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4.” This statement amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, Chapter 4, to clarify those abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight handling costs and materials (spoilage) should be recognized as current period charges. In addition, this statement requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The provisions of this statement are effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. Earlier application is permitted for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after November 23,2004. The provision of Statement No. 151 should be applied prospectively. The adoption of this accounting principle is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment (Revised 2004).” This statement replaces FAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” This statement focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. The adoption of the statement will result in the expensing of the fair value of stock options granted to employees in the basic financial statements. Previously, the Company elected to only disclose the impact of expensing the fair value of stock options in the notes of the financial statements. The statement is effective for annual periods commencing after June 15, 2005.

The statement applies to new equity awards and to equity awards modified, repurchased, or canceled after the effective date. Additionally, compensation cost for the portion of awards for which the requisite service has not been rendered that are outstanding as of the effective date shall be recognized as the requisite service is rendered on or after the effective date. The compensation cost for that portion of awards shall be based on the grant-date fair value of those awards as calculated from the pro forma disclosures under Statement No. 123. Charges to the grant-date fair value of equity awards granted before the effective date of this statement are precluded. The compensation cost of those earlier awards shall be attributed to periods beginning on or after the effective date of this statement using the attribution method that was used under Statement No. 123, except that the method of recognizing forfeitures only as they occur shall not be continued. Any unearned or deferred compensation (contra-equity accounts) related to those earlier awards shall be eliminated against the appropriate equity accounts. Additionally, common stock purchased pursuant to stock options granted under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan will be expensed based upon the fair market value of the stock option. The statement also allows for a modified version of retrospective application to periods before the effective date. Modified retrospective application may be applied either (a) to all prior years for which Statement No. 123 was effective or (b) only to prior interim periods in the year of initial adoption. An entity that chooses to apply the modified retrospective method to all prior years for which Statement No. 123 was effective shall adjust financial statements for prior periods to give effect to the fair-value-based method of accounting for awards granted, modified, or settled in cash in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1994, on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required for those periods by Statement No. 123. Accordingly, compensation cost and the related tax effects will be recognized in those financial statements as though they had been accounted for under Statement No. 123. Changes to amounts as originally measured on a pro forma basis are precluded. The adoption of FAS No. 123R is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operation.

20



In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets, an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29, The guidance in APB Option No. 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions”, is based on the principle that exchanges of nonmonetary assets should be measured based on the fair value of the assets exchanged. The guidance in that opinion, however, included certain exceptions to that principle. This statement amends APB Opinion No. 29 to eliminate the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets to nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance. The provisions of this Statement are effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. The adoption of the provisions of FAS 153 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In October 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “AJCA”) was passed. The AJCA provides a deduction for income from qualified domestic production activities which will be phased in from 2005 through 2010. In return, the AJCA also provides for a two-year phase-out of the existing extra-territorial income exclusion for foreign sales that was viewed to be inconsistent with international trade protocols by the European Union.

In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 109-1 (“FAS 109-1”), “Application of FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” to the Tax Deduction on Qualified Production Activities Provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.” The AJCA introduces a special tax deduction on qualified production activities. FAS 109-1 clarifies that this tax deduction should be accounted for as a special tax deduction in accordance with Statement 109. As such, the special deduction has no effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities existing at the enactment date. Rather, the impact of this deduction will be reported in the same period in which the deduction is claimed in the Company’s tax return. The adoption of AJCA is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operation.

In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 109-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Guidance for the Foreign Earnings Repatriation Provision within the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004” (“FSB FAS 109-2”). The American Jobs Creation Act introduces a special one-time dividends received deduction on the repatriation of certain foreign earnings to a U.S. taxpayer (repatriation provision), provided certain criteria are met. The Company currently has no plans to avail itself of these provision.

21



In June 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement of APB Opinion NO. 20, Accounting Changes, and FASB Statement applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle, and changes the requirements for accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. SFAS 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statement of a voluntary change in accounting principle unless it is impracticable. SFAS 154 requires that a change in method of depreciation, amortization, or depletion for long-lived, non financial assets be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate that is affected by a change in accounting principle. Opinion 20 previously required that such a change be reported as a change in accounting principle. SFAS 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not believe this pronouncement will have a material impact in its financial results.

In June 2005, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issued No. 05-6, “Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold Improvements” (“EITF 05-6”). The pronouncement requires that leasehold improvements acquired in a business combination or purchase subsequent to the inception of the lease should be amortized over the lesser of the useful life of the asset or the lease term that includes reasonably assured lease renewals as determined on the date of the acquisition of the leasehold improvement. This pronouncement should be applied prospectively and the Company will adopt it during the first quarter of fiscal 2006. The company does not have unamortized leasehold improvements from acquisitions or business combinations and therefore, does not believe this pronouncement will have an impact in its financial result.

4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

The Company’s accounts receivable at September 30, 2005 (unaudited) and December 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:

 

 

September 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 



 



 

Accounts receivable

 

$

28,825,256

 

$

28,440,608

 

Bills receivable

 

 

8,161,200

 

 

12,136,985

 

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

(2,990,464

)

 

(2,944,990

)

 

 



 



 

 

 

$

33,995,992

 

$

37,632,603

 

 

 



 



 

22



5. OTHER RECEIVABLES

Other receivables consist of amounts advanced to both related and unrelated parties, primarily as unsecured demand loans, with no stated interest rate or due date. At September 30, 2005, other receivables totaled $3,530,005, including $2,337,611 to related parties, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $977,896. The allowance for doubtful accounts included $353,837 made to an investee of Jiulong.

At December 31, 2004, other receivables totaled $2,044,086, including $974,815 to related parties, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $930,425. The allowance for doubtful accounts included $472,843 made to an investee of Jiulong.

In 1997, Jiulong, one of the Company’s Sino-foreign joint ventures, made an investment to establish an auto sales company named Jingzhou Jiulong Machinery and Electronic Material Co., Ltd. (“JL Material”) together with a partner, Jingzhou Jiulong Machinery and Electronic Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Jiulong contributed and owned 20% of JL Material’s total registered capital of $1,204,819 (the equivalent of RMB10,000,000). During the six-year period from 1997 through 2002, Jiulong sold vehicles to JL Material on credit and JL Material made the payments to Jiulong according to the terms of their agreement.

Since JL Material was experiencing financial difficulties, the Company recorded in 2004 a full allowance of $472,843 to the account due from JL Material. During nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company collected receivable from JL Material of $119,006 and recorded a decrease in allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company terminated the above-mentioned agreement with JL Material during 2003. With the exception of other receivables from JL Material, the Company believes that all other receivables are collectible, as the related parties are in good financial conditions and are paying their payables to the Company pursuant to the terms of their respective contracts.

6. INVENTORIES

Inventories at September 30, 2005 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2004 consisted of the following:

 

 

September 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 



 



 

Raw materials

 

$

4,103,995

 

$

3,868,859

 

Work-in-process

 

 

2,650,644

 

 

2,049,963

 

Finished goods

 

 

8,830,475

 

 

6,817,372

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

15,585,114

 

 

12,736,194

 

Less: provision for loss

 

 

(465,377

)

 

(228,284

)

 

 



 



 

 

 

$

15,119,737

 

$

12,507,910

 

 

 



 



 

23



7. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment at September 30, 2005 (unaudited) and December 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:

 

 

September 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 



 



 

Land use rights and buildings

 

$

19,699,014

 

$

13,232,650

 

Machinery and equipment

 

 

24,135,210

 

 

20,425,269

 

Electronic equipment

 

 

1,691,160

 

 

1,694,587

 

Motor vehicles

 

 

2,230,058

 

 

2,083,578

 

Construction in progress

 

 

33,893

 

 

6,116,641

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

47,789,335

 

 

43,552,725

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(11,154,068

)

 

(7,609,101

)

 

 



 



 

 

 

$

36,635,267

 

$

35,943,624

 

 

 



 



 

8. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The activities in the Company’s intangible asset account at September 30, 2005 (unaudited) and December 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:

 

 

September 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 



 



 

Balance at beginning of year,

 

$

392,552

 

$

218,639

 

Add: Additions during the year -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management software license

 

 

—  

 

 

158,159

 

Mapping design software license

 

 

—  

 

 

72,289

 

Information system software

 

 

198,939

 

 

—  

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

591,491

 

 

449,087

 

Less: Amortization for the year

 

 

(116,833

)

 

(56,535

)

 

 



 



 

Balance at end of year

 

$

474,658

 

$

392,552

 

 

 



 



 

24



9. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Accounts payable at September 30, 2005 (unaudited) and December 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:

 

 

September 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 



 



 

Accounts payable

 

$

16,410,894

 

$

15,358,250

 

Notes payable

 

 

13,372,717

 

 

13,160,470

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

$

29,783,611

 

$

28,518,720

 

 

 



 



 

Notes payable represent accounts payable in the form of bills of exchange whose acceptances and settlements are handled by banks.

The Company has pledged cash deposits, notes receivable and certain plant and machinery to secure trade financing granted by banks.

10. BANK LOANS

At September 30, 2005, the Company through its Sino-foreign joint ventures had outstanding fixed-rate short-term bank loans of $14,814,815, consisting of $6,790,123 guaranteed mutually by the Sino-foreign joint ventures and $8,024,691 mortgaged with some of the plant and equipment of the Company. The weighted average interest rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was 5.99% per annum.

At December 31, 2004, the Company through its Sino-foreign joint ventures had outstanding fixed-rate short-term bank loans of $13,614,458. The weighted average interest rate for the year ended December 31, 2004 was 4.98% per annum. Jiulong, one of the Company’s joint ventures, provided Henglong, another of the Company’s joint ventures, with loan guarantees covering bank loans of $3,012,000. Henglong provided Jiulong with loan guarantees covering bank loans of $6,627,000. The remaining balance of the bank loan of $3,976,000 was mortgaged with some of the plant and equipment of the Company.

25



11. AMOUNTS DUE TO SHAREHOLDERS/DIRECTORS

The activities in the amounts due to shareholders/directors for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 (unaudited) is as follows:

Balance, December 31, 2004

 

$

589,594

 

Cash advances from shareholders

 

 

78,257

 

 

 



 

Balance, September 30, 2005

 

$

667,851

 

 

 



 

At September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the amounts due to shareholders/directors were unsecured, interest-free and repayable on demand.

12. MINORITY INTERESTS

The activities in respect of the amounts of the minority interests’ equity during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 (unaudited) are summarized as follows:

Balance, December 31, 2004

 

$

17,571,838

 

Minority interests’ equity income

 

 

1,617,073

 

 

 



 

Balance, September 30, 2005

 

$

19,188,911

 

 

 



 

13. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

During March 2003, in exchange for the acquisition of 100% of the shareholder interest in Great Genesis, the shareholders of Great Genesis were issued 20,914,250 shares of common stock of Visions.

26



During March 2003, in connection with the transaction with Great Genesis described at Note 1, the Company effected a 3.5 to 1 forward split of its outstanding shares of common stock, thus increased 5,293,000 shares of common stock outstanding at that time to 18,525,500 shares, of which 17,424,750 shares were then returned to the Company and cancelled.

During March 2003, the Company issued common stock purchase warrants to three consultants to acquire an aggregate of 550,375 shares of common stock, exercisable for a period of one year at $1.20 per share. Effective December 31, 2003, these warrants were exercised on a cashless basis, resulting in the issuance of 509,856 shares of common stock.

During September 2003, the Company sold 49,686 shares of common stock in a private transaction to three investors at approximate fair value of $3.20 per share for net proceeds of $159,000.

In July 2004, the Company adopted a stock option plan subject to shareholders approval, which was approved at the Company’s annual general meeting on June 28, 2005. The stock option plan provides for the issuance to the Company’s officers, directors, management and employees of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. On July 21, 2004, the Company issued options to purchase 7,500 shares of common stock to each of its three independent directors. Such stock options vest immediately upon grant and are exercisable at $4.50 per share over a period of two years. The exercise price represents an 11.11% premium from the fair market value based on the grant date of the stock options. On June 28, 2005, the Company issued additional options to purchase 7,500 shares of common stock to each of its three independent directors. Such stock options vest immediately upon grant and are exercisable at $6.83 per share over a period of five years. The exercise price represents the fair market value based on the grant date of the stock options.

14. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s Sino-foreign joint ventures are subject to PRC state and local income taxes at the applicable tax rate on the taxable income as reported in their PRC statutory financial statements in accordance with the relevant income tax laws applicable to foreign invested enterprises. In accordance with the Income Tax Law of the PRC for Enterprises with Foreign Investments and Foreign Enterprises, enterprises with foreign investments and foreign enterprises meeting certain criteria are entitled to full exemption from income tax for the first two years and a 50% reduction for the next three years, commencing from the first profit-making year after offsetting all tax losses carried forward from the previous five years. Two of the Company’s Sino-foreign joint ventures, Henglong and Jiulong, were subject to a tax rate of 15% during 2004 and 2005. Shenyang was entitled to and was certified for a two-year tax holiday commencing in 2003, the first profit-making year. Therefore, Shenyang was income tax exempted in 2004 and is subject to a tax rate of 7.5% in 2005. The tax rate for Zhejiang has not yet been approved by tax authorities, but in accordance with the relevant income tax laws as mentioned above, Zhejiang is also entitled to two-year tax exemption in 2004, its first profit-making year, and 2005, its second profit-making year.

27



No provision for Hong Kong profits tax has been made as Ji Long and Great Genesis are investment holding companies and did not have any assessable profits in Hong Kong during three months and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004.

15. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

Effective August 31, 2004, in order to concentrate on its main products, namely steering and automotive parts, the Company disposed of its 51% interest in Jingzhou by entering into an equity exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with Hubei Wanlong Investment Co., Ltd (“HBWL”), which is controlled by Mr. Chen Hanlin, the Chairman of the Company. Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the 51% equity interest in Jingzhou owned by Ji Long was exchanged for 2.5% of HBWL’s equity interests in Henglong based on their respective fair market values as determined by an independent appraisal firm. Accordingly, effective August 31, 2004, the Company did not own any of Jingzhou’s equity.

The disposal of Jingzhou was accounted for as discontinued operations according to SFAS No. 144. Financial statements of prior periods have been changed to reflect the discontinued operation of Jingzhou. For the financial position and operating results of Jingzhou for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2004, refer to the financial statements and notes thereto included in the form 10-KSB/A for the year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

16. SIGNIFICANT CONCENTRATIONS

The Company grants credit to its customers, generally on an open account basis. The Company’s customers are all located in the PRC.

During the three months ended September 30, 2005, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for 68.3% of the Company’s consolidated net sales, with each of three customers individually accounting for more than 10% of consolidated net sales, i.e. 16.3%, 14.9%, and 10.6% individually, or an aggregate of 41.8%. At September 30, 2005, approximately 26.0% of accounts receivable were from trade transactions with the aforementioned three customers.

28



During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for an aggregate of 72.4% of its consolidated net sales, with each of four customers individually accounting for more than 10% of consolidated net sales, i.e. 15.0%, 11.3%, 10.9% and 10.7% individually, or an aggregate of 47.9%. At September 30, 2005, approximately 26.0% of accounts receivable were from trade transactions with the aforementioned four customers.

During the three months ended September 30, 2004, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for 72.3% of the Company’s consolidated net sales, with each of three customers individually accounting for more than 10% of consolidated net sales, i.e. 19.0%, 11.9% and 11.5% of consolidated net sales, or an aggregate of 42.4%. At September 30, 2004, approximately 33.0% of accounts receivable were from trade transactions with the aforementioned three customers.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for 65.7% of the Company’s consolidated net sales, with each of two customers individually accounting for more than 10% of consolidated net sales, i.e. 19.8% and 14.2% of consolidated net sales, or an aggregate of 34.0%. At September 30, 2004, approximately 22.0% of accounts receivable were from trade transactions with the aforementioned two customers.

17. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, sales to related parties aggregated to $360,433 and $488,083, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, sales to related parties aggregated to $1,360,293 and $1,145,606, respectively.

During the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, purchases from related parties aggregated to $337,108 and $412,390, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, purchases from related parties aggregated to $1,232,897 and $1,168,748, respectively.

29



During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, the joint ventures entered into related party transactions with companies with common directors as shown below:

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 



 



 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- received

 

$

—  

 

$

—  

 

- receivable

 

 

360,433

 

 

488,083

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- paid

 

 

69,403

 

 

—  

 

- payable

 

 

267,706

 

 

412,390

 


 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 



 



 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- received

 

$

—  

 

$

—  

 

- receivable

 

 

1,360,293

 

 

1,145,606

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- paid

 

 

965,191

 

 

541,223

 

- payable

 

 

267,706

 

 

627,525

 

30



ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Cautionary Statement Pursuant to Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2005 contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Generally, the words “believes”, “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” and similar expressions or the negative thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company’s expectations regarding its working capital requirements, financing requirements, business prospects, and other statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the matters set forth in this Quarterly Report or other reports or documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those projected. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2005 involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Please see the discussion on risk factors. 

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

Organization - Effective March 5, 2003, Visions-In-Glass, Inc., a United States company incorporated in the State of Delaware (“Visions”), entered into a Share Exchange Agreement to acquire 100% of the shareholder interest in Great Genesis Holding Limited, a company incorporated on January 3, 2003 under the Companies Ordinance in Hong Kong as a limited liability company (“Great Genesis”), as a result of which Great Genesis became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Visions. At the closing, the old directors and officers of Visions resigned, and new directors and officers were appointed. Visions subsequently changed its name to China Automotive Systems, Inc.

China Automotive Systems, Inc., including, when the context so requires, its subsidiaries and the subsidiaries’ interests in the Sino-foreign joint ventures described below, is referred to herein as the “Company”. The Company, through its Sino-foreign joint ventures described below, is engaged in the manufacture and sale of automotive systems and components in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”) as described below.

Ji Long Enterprise Investment Limited was incorporated on October 8, 1992 under the Companies Ordinance in Hong Kong as a limited liability company (“Ji Long”). Ji Long is an investment holding company. Effective March 4, 2003, all of the shareholders of Ji Long exchanged their 100% shareholder interest for a 100% shareholder interest in Great Genesis, as a result of which Ji Long became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Genesis.

31



In exchange for the acquisition of 100% of the shareholder interest in Great Genesis, the shareholders of Great Genesis were issued 20,914,250 shares of common stock of Visions. In addition, the shareholders of Great Genesis paid $250,000 and $70,000 to the former officer, director and controlling shareholder of Visions for the cancellation of 17,424,750 shares of common stock in 2003 and 2004, respectively, for a total amount of $320,000.

The acquisition of Great Genesis by the Company was accounted for as a recapitalization of Great Genesis, pursuant to which the accounting basis of Great Genesis continued unchanged subsequent to the transaction date. Accordingly, the pre-transaction financial statements of Great Genesis are the historical financial statements of the Company.

Great Genesis owns the following aggregate net interests in five Sino-foreign joint ventures (Jingzhou Henglong Fulida Textile Co., Ltd. (“Jingzhou”), discussed below, was sold in August 2004) organized in the PRC:

 

 

Percentage Interest
September 30,

 

 

 


 

Name of Entity

 

2005

 

2004

 


 



 



 

Jingzhou Henglong Automotive Parts Co. Limited (“Henglong”)

 

 

44.5

%

 

44.5

%

Shashi Jiulong Power Steering Co. Limited (“Jiulong”)

 

 

81.0

%

 

81.0

%

Shenyang Jinbei Henglong Automotive Steering System Co. Limited (“Shenyang”)

 

 

70.0

%

 

55.0

%

Zhejiang Henglong & Vie Pump-Manu Co. Limited (“Zhejiang”)

 

 

51.0

%

 

51.0

%

Universal Sensor Application, Inc. (“USAI”)

 

 

60.0

%

 

—  

 

32



On December 31, 2003, the Company owned 55% of Shenyang. On April 8, 2004, the board of directors approved an increase in Shenyang’s registered capital and total capital from $5,421,687 (RMB45,000,000) to $8,132,530 (RMB67,500,000); the Chinese investor was changed from Shenyang Jinbei Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. to Shenyang Jinbei Automotive Company Limited. The shareholder transfer and capital increase, along with the newly signed Joint Venture Agreement and Articles of Incorporation, were approved by the applicable PRC authorities. Accordingly, Shenyang’s registered capital is now $8,132,530 (RMB67,500,000), including $5,692,771 (RMB47,250,000) from the Company, which is 70% of the total registered capital, and $2,439,759 (RMB20,250,000) from Shenyang Jinbei Automotive Company Limited, which is 30% of the total registered capital. The increase in capital of $2,710,843 (RMB22,500,000) has been contributed to Shenyang.

Effective August 31, 2004, in order to concentrate on its main products, namely steering and automotive parts, the Company disposed of a 51% interest in Jingzhou owned by Ji Long by entering into an equity exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with Hubei Wanlong Investment Co., Ltd. (“HBWL”), controlled by Mr. Hanlin Chen, the Company’s Chairman. Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the 51% equity interest in Jingzhou owned by Ji Long was exchanged for 2.5% of HBWL’s equity interest in Henglong based on their respective fair market values as determined by an independent appraisal firm. The difference between the fair value and the book value resulting from the disposition of the joint venture interest in Jingzhou was debited to additional paid-in capital. With respect to consideration paid by the Company in excess of its Chairman’s basis for his investment, such excess has been charged to additional paid-in capital as a distribution to the Chairman, resulting in the acquired 2.5% equity interest in Henglong being recorded by the Company at the Chairman’s original cost basis. The Company paid approximately $90,000 to HBWL in conjunction with this transaction.

The divested non-core business of Jingzhou has been treated as a discontinued operation under SFAS No. 144. Jingzhou’s results of operation and related charges have been reclassified as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s prior financial statements have been restated to reflect the discontinued operation of Jingzhou (see Note 15).

Henglong and Jiulong are mainly engaged in the production of rack and pinion power steering gears and integral ball and nut power steering gears for cars, light and heavy-duty vehicles. Shenyang and Zhejiang were established in 2002 and are focused on power steering parts and power steering pumps.

33



CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

The Company prepares its condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the use of 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 and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management periodically evaluates the estimates and judgments made. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates as a result of different assumptions or conditions.

Minority interests refer to the percentage of the owner’s equity of a subsidiary owned by those investors other than the parent company. Minority interests in the condensed consolidated financial statements means the percentage of the Company’s net assets owned by shareholders of the Company’s Sino-foreign joint ventures other than the Company, according to their respective investment ratios.

The following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

REVENUES:

The Company recognizes revenue when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the customer pursuant to PRC law, including factors such as when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, sales and value added tax laws have been complied with, and collectibility is probable. The Company recognizes product sales generally at the time the product is shipped. Concurrent with the recognition of revenue, the Company reduces revenue for estimated product returns. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold. Revenue is presented net of any sales tax and value added tax.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:

In order to determine the value of the Company’s accounts receivable, the Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts to cover estimated credit losses. Management reviews and adjusts this allowance periodically based on historical experience and its evaluation of the collectibility of outstanding accounts receivable. The Company evaluates the credit risk of its customers utilizing historical data and estimates of future performance.

34



INVENTORIES:

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is calculated on the moving-average basis and includes all costs to acquire and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. The Company evaluates the net realizable value of its inventories on a regular basis and records a provision for loss to reduce the computed moving-average cost if it exceeds the net realizable value.

INCOME TAXES:

The Company records a tax provision to reflect the expected tax payable on taxable income for the period, using tax rates enacted or substantially enacted at the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous periods.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS:

The Company’s long-lived assets consist of property and equipment and certain intangible assets. In assessing the impairment of such assets, the Company periodically makes assumptions regarding the estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets. If these estimates or the related assumptions indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable, the Company records impairment charges for these assets at such time.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FROM CONTINUED OPERATIONS:

THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 AND 2004:

NET SALES:

Net sales were $14,262,933 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $14,218,829 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of $44,104 or 0.3%. The increase in net sales in 2005 as compared to 2004 was a result of the following factors:

(1) Primarily, the increase in net sales was due to an increase in sales of light-duty vehicles and cars. In the third quarter of 2005, the unfavorable conditions of price decline and sales turndown for light-duty vehicles and cars which commenced in 2004 have further improved. Therefore, the Company has adjusted its marketing strategies accordingly and concentrated on manufacturing and selling of steering gears for light-duty vehicles/cars and steering pumps, which led to sales from steering gears and pumps for the three months ended September 30, 2005 to increase 21% and 6.3% over the same period of 2004, respectively.

35



(2) In the third quarter of 2005, the market price of gasoline has increased 37% compared with the same period of last year. The operating cost of trucks consuming fuel has sharply increased which resulted in a decline in sales. As a supplier of steering gears to heavy-duty vehicles, the Company recorded a decrease of 27% in sale in the heavy-duty truck market during the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared with the same period of last year.

GROSS PROFIT

For the three months ended September 30, 2005, the gross profit was $5,508,916, as compared to $5,650,018 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $141,102 or 2.5%. An increase in sales contributed to an increase of $41,225 in gross profit, a decrease in unit cost resulted in an increase of $2,011,853 in gross profit, which was partially offset by a decrease in selling prices which resulted in a decrease of $2,194,181 in gross profit.

Gross margin was 38.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2005, a decrease of 1.1% from 39.7% for the same period of 2004. The decrease reflects a decrease in selling prices which was partially offset by a cost decrease during the third quarter of 2005. The Company plans to take the following measures in the remaining three months of 2005 to reduce costs and to meet its yearly gross margin target of not less than 35%.

1. Reduce the labor cost. The advanced production equipment which the Company purchased in 2003 performed well for nearly a year in 2004 and the first three quarters of 2005. In the last three months of 2005, the Company will continue to modify the standard labor hours based on the new equipment to reduce labor cost. The Company estimates that with the application of new equipment and reasonable modified standard labor hours, the labor cost for the last three months of 2005 will be reduced by 2% as compared to the same periods of 2004.

2. Reduce the cost of raw materials. In 2005, the Company plans to control cost of raw materials in two ways: First, volume purchase of major raw materials will be made through a bidding process, and for purchases of other smaller quantities of non major materials, “target price” will be set to guide such purchases. Second, the technology department was asked to re-evaluate the product structure and production techniques, so as to optimize product design, reduce the weight of component parts and wastage in the process of production, and eventually reduce the utilization cost of raw materials. It is estimated that these measures will reduce the cost of materials by 4%.

36



3. Reduce manufacturing expenses. The Company will examine the headcount of non-operative employees in workshops and lay off 20% of them gradually in 2005. At the same time, the Company will set “targets” to control manufacturing overhead. It is estimated that manufacturing overhead will be reduced by 2% through these measures.

SELLING EXPENSES:

Selling expenses were $1,023,272 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $647,720 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $375,552 or 58.0%. The increase in the third quarter of 2005 was mainly due to the following factors:

(1)   Increased provision for market development: At the beginning of 2005, the Company began to strengthen its market development and instituted a policy on the establishment of a fund for market development expenditures. The Company recorded $198,795 of provision for market development expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2005, while there was no such item for the same period of 2004.

(2)   Increased after-sales expenses. The Company recorded $488,711 of after-sales expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $183,201 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $305,510 or 166.8%, because virtually all automobile manufacturers introduced a policy requiring automotive parts suppliers to pay a “three warranties” service charge (for compensation, exchange and withdrawal) in an amount equal to one percent of the total amount of parts supplied during 2005, while the service charge had not been generally introduced in 2004. The substantial increase in after-sales service expenses require the Company’s management to strengthen its control both on manufacturing cost as well as after-sales service cost.

(3)   Decreased transportation expenses. The Company recorded $150,629 of transportation expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $270,517 for the same period of 2004, a decrease of $119,888 or 44.3%, as a result of decreased sales of Jiulong, one of the Joint-Venture, which led to lesser volume in transportation.

37



GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

General and administrative expenses were $1,601,248 for the three months ended September 30,2005, as compared to $1,443,004 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $158,244 or 11.0%.

Significant expense items that had increased on a comparable basis were supplies, fixed assets devaluate reserve, R&D expenses and warranty. Significant expense items that had decreased on a comparable basis were labor insurance and inventory loss. They are explained as follows:

(1)   Supplies expense was $59,656 in the third quarter of 2005, as compared to $10,447 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $49,209 or 471.0%. The increase is due to increased use of imported equipment in the third quarter of 2005, which led to increase in consumption of supplies and special tools.

(2)   Fixed assets devaluate reserve was $314,950 in the third quarter of 2005, as compared to $106,020 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $208,930 or 197.1%.  The Company’s management anticipated the price of import equipment will drop, which will have an increased risk for depreciation as more imported equipment was used for manufacturing automotive steering gears.

(3)   Warranty provision was $128,366 in the third quarter of 2005, as compared to $29,137 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $99,229 or 340.6%. Based on its assessment, the Company increased the rate of warranty provision to 0.9% of the net sales in the third quarter of 2005, as compared to 0.2% for the same period of 2004, because virtually all vehicle manufacturers required suppliers to pay a “three warranties” service charge (for compensation, exchange and withdrawal) in an amount equal to one percent of the total amount of parts supplied.

(4)   Research and development expenses was $261,711 in the third quarter of 2005, as compared to $184,405 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $77,307 or 41.9%, as a result of the Company’s  establishment of a project team to develop new sedan steering gear for FAW-Volkswagen.

(5)   Labor insurance was $48,887 in the third quarter of 2005, as compared to $262,566 for the same period of 2004, a decrease of $213,679 or 81.4%, primarily due to the over recorded labor insurance expenses in the first and second quarters, which was offset in the third quarters of 2005.

(6)   During the third quarter of 2004, the Company recorded an inventory loss of $58,003, while there was no such item for the same period of 2005.

38



DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE.

For the three months ended September 30, 2005, the depreciation and amortization expenses excluding those recorded in cost of sales were $242,459, as compared to $136,840 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of $105,619 or 77.2%, as a result of addition of property, plant and equipment after the third quarter of 2004.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

For the three months ended September 30, 2005, the Company neither issued any stock option, nor recorded any stock-based compensation expense.

As of July 21, 2004, the Company issued common stock options to three independent directors to purchase 22,500 shares of common stock at $4.50 per share over a period of two years. The aggregated fair value of these options, calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was estimated to be $55,125, which was charged to operations during the three months ended September 30, 2004.

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

Income from operations was $2,641,937 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $3,367,329 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $725,393, as a result of a decrease of $141,103 or 2.5% in gross profit and an increase of $584,291 or 25.6% in operating expenses.

OTHER NON-OPERATING INCOME

Other non-operating income was $170,675 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $223,303 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $52,628 or 23.6%, as a result of decreased materials sold in the third quarter of 2005.

FINANCIAL EXPENSES

Financial expenses were $333,885 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $204,871 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of $129,014 or 63.0%, primarily as a result of an increase of interest payment of $61,342 due to increased bank loan interest rate, and $67,672 due to increased note discount expenses.

39



INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

Income before income taxes was $2,478,727 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $3,385,761 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $907,034 or 26.8%, as a result of a decrease in income from operations of $725,394 or 21.5%, a decrease in other non-operating income of $52,628 or 23.6%, and an increase in financial expenses of $129,014 or 63.0%.

INCOME TAXES

Income taxes expense was $597,427 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $376,730 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of $220,697 or 58.6%, as a result of a decrease in income before income taxes of $37,303, and a decrease in income tax refund of $258,000 from the Chinese government for domestic equipment purchased.

INCOME BEFORE MINORITY INTERESTS

Income before minority interests was $1,881,300 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $3,009,031 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $1,127,731 or 37.5%, as a result of a decrease in income before income taxes of $907,035 or 26.8%, and an increase in income taxes of $220,697 or 58.6%.

MINORITY INTERESTS

Minority interests in the earnings of the Sino-foreign joint ventures amount to $804,388 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $1,048,625 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $244,237 or 23.3%.

The Company owns different equity interests in five Sino-foreign joint ventures through which it conducts its operations, all of which were consolidated in 2005 and 2004. The Company records the minority interests’ share in the earnings of the respective Sino-foreign joint ventures for each period. The decrease of minority interests in the earnings of the Sino-foreign joint ventures in 2005 as compared to 2004 is primarily due to decreased net incomes from the Sino-foreign joint ventures.

40



NET INCOME

Net income was $1,076,912 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to a net income of $1,960,406 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $883,494 or 45.1%, as a result of a decrease in income before minority interests of $1,127,732 or 37.5%, and a decrease in minority interests of $244,237 or 23.3%.

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 AND 2004:

NET SALES:

Net sales were $45,002,692 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $40,935,891 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of $4,066,801 or 9.9%. The increase in net sales in 2005 as compared to 2004 was a result of the following factors:

(1)   Primarily, the increase in net sales was due to an increase in sales of light-duty vehicles and cars. During 2005, the unfavorable conditions of price decline and sales turndown for light-duty vehicles and cars which commenced in 2004 have improved. Therefore, the Company has adjusted its marketing strategies accordingly and concentrated on manufacturing and selling of steering gears for light-duty vehicles/cars and steering pumps, which led to sales from steering gears and pumps for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 to increase 16% and 1.9% over the same period of 2004, respectively.

(2)   During the nine months ended September 2005, the market price of gasoline has increased 29% compared with the same period of last year. The operating cost of trucks consuming fuel has sharply increased which resulted in a decline in sales. As a supplier of steering gears to heavy-duty vehicles, the Company recorded a decrease of 8% in sale in the heavy-duty truck market during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared with the same period last year.

GROSS PROFIT

For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the gross profit was $16,506,008, as compared to $16,947,810 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $441,802 or 2.6%. The increase in gross profit was a result of increased sales of $1,733,178, deceased cost of $3,488,556, which was partially offset by the price decline, and decreased selling prices of $5,663,536.

41



Gross margin was 36.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, a decrease of 4.7% from 41.4% for the same period of 2004. The decrease reflects a decrease in selling prices which was partially offset by a cost decrease in 2005.

SELLING EXPENSES:

Selling expenses were $3,413,645 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $1,923,888 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $1,489,757 or 77.4%. The increase in 2005 was mainly due to the following factors:

(1)     Increased provision for market development: At the beginning of 2005, the Company began to strengthen its market development and instituted a policy on the establishment of a fund for market development expenditures. The Company recorded $596,385 of provision for market development expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, while there was no such item for the same period of 2004.

(2)     Increased after-sales expenses. The Company recorded $1,521,747 of after-sales expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $749,289 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $772,458 or 103.1%, because virtually all automobile manufacturers introduced a policy requiring automotive parts suppliers to pay a “three warranties” service charge (for compensation, exchange and withdrawal) in an amount equal to one percent of the total amount of parts supplied during 2005, while the service charge had not been generally introduced in 2004. The substantial increase in after-sales service expenses requires the Company’s management to strengthen its control both on manufacturing cost as well as after-sales service cost.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

General and administrative expenses were $6,501,002 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $5,981,536 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $519,466 or 8.7%.

Significant expense items that had increased on a comparable basis were supplies, fixed assets devaluate reserve and warranty. Significant expense items that had decreased on a comparable basis were R&D expenses and provision for bad debts. They are explained as follows:

(1)     Supplies expense was $464,134 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $121,778 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $342,356 or 281.1%. The increase is due to increased use of imported equipment in 2005, which led to increase in consumption of supplies and special tools.

42



(2)     Fixed assets devaluate reserve was $1,111,908 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $442,376 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $669,532 or 151.3%.  The Company’s management anticipated the price of import equipment will drop, which will have an increased risk for depreciation as more imported equipment was used for manufacturing automotive steering gears.

(3)     Warranty provision was $405,024 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $87,304 for the same period of 2004, an increase of $317,720 or 363.9%. Based on its assessment, the Company increased the rate of warranty provision to 0.9% of the net sales during 2005, as compared to 0.2% for the same period of 2004.

(4)     Research and development expenses was $757,659 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $870,530 for the same period of 2004, a decrease of $112,871 or 13.0%, as a result of the Company’s R&D department focusing on applications of prior purchased technologies and hence reduced the R&D expenses in 2005.

(5)     Bad debt expense recovery totaled approximately $(2,743) for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $426,267 for the same period of 2004, a decrease of $429,010, as a result of recovery during 2005 of certain special provision for bad debts for accounts receivable in 2004.

DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the depreciation and amortization expenses excluding those recorded in cost of sales were $595,749, as compared to $383,725 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of $212,024 or 55.3%, as a result of addition of property, plant and equipment during 2005.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

As of June 28, 2005, the Company issued common stock options to three independent directors to purchase 22,500 shares of common stock at $6.83 per share over a period of five years. The aggregated fair value of these options, calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was estimated to be $68,850, which was charged to operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

43



As of July 21, 2004, the Company issued common stock options to three independent directors to purchase 22,500 shares of common stock at $4.50 per share over a period of two years. The aggregated fair value of these options, calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was estimated to be $55,125, which was charged to operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

Income from operations was $5,926,762 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $8,603,536 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $2,676,774 or 31.1%, primarily as a result of a decrease in gross profit of $441,803 or 2.6%, and an increase in operating expenses of $2,234,972 or 26.8%.

Other Non-Operating Income

Other non-operating income was $227,696 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $650,131 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $422,435 or 65.0%, as result of decreased materials sold during 2005.

FINANCIAL EXPENSES

Financial expenses were $941,486 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $540,751 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of $400,735 or 74.1%, as a result of increased note discount expenses during 2005.

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

Income before income taxes was $5,212,972 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $8,712,916 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $3,499,944 or 40.2%, as a result of a decrease in income from operations of $2,676,775 or 31.1%, a decrease in other non-operating income of $422,435 or 65.0%, and an increase in financial expenses of $400,735 or 74.1%.

44



INCOME TAXES

Income taxes expense was $1,150,750 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $1,142,118 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of $8,632 or 0.8%, as a result of a decrease in income before income taxes of $249,368, and a decrease in income tax refund of $258,000 from the Chinese government for domestic equipment purchased.

INCOME BEFORE MINORITY INTERESTS

Income before minority interests was $4,062,222 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $7,570,798 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $3,508,576 or 46.3%, as a result of a decrease in income before income taxes of $3,499,945 or 40.2%, and an increase in income taxes of $8,632 or 0.8%.

MINORITY INTERESTS

Minority interests in the earnings of the Sino-foreign joint ventures amount to $1,617,073 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to $2,755,586 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $1,138,513 or 41.3%.

The Company owns different equity interests in five Sino-foreign joint ventures through which it conducts its operations, all of which were consolidated in 2005 and 2004. The Company records the minority interests’ share in the earnings of the respective Sino-foreign joint ventures for each period. The decrease of minority interests in the earnings of the Sino-foreign joint ventures in 2005 as compared to 2004 is primarily due to decreased net incomes from the Sino-foreign joint ventures.

NET INCOME

Net income was $2,445,149 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to a net income of $4,815,212 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $2,370,063 or 49.1%, as a result of a decrease in income before minority interests of $3,508,577 or 46.3%, and a decrease in minority interests of $1,138,513 or 41.3%.

45



FINANCIAL CONDITIONS FROM CONTINUED OPERATIONS – AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES:

The Company has relied primarily on cash flow from operation, bank loans, advances and investments from shareholders for its capital requirements.

THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 AND 2004

OPERATIONS

Net cash provided by operating activities was $2,807,989 for the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to net cash used in operating activities of $1,172,086 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of cash inflow of $3,980,075, primarily as a result of the following:

For the three months ended September 30, 2005, cash flow provided by sales of products was $3,781,492, as compared to $3,854,808 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $73,316 as a result of decreased gross profit of $804,211 and increased foreign currency translation gain of $730,895 due to changed exchange rate.

During the three months ended September 30, 2005, the difference of timing of receipts and/or payments of various operating assets and liabilities resulted in the increase of cash inflows of $4,053,391 as compared to the same period of 2004.

As of September 30, 2005, cash and cash equivalents were $14,027,722, and working capital was $14,658,047. As of December 31, 2004, cash and cash equivalents were $11,164,639, and working capital were $11,454,115, reflecting a current ratio of 1.25:1 and 1.21:1 at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.

The Company intends to finance its operating costs and expenses for the remaining period of 2005 by the following ways.

1. The Company is currently exploring financing opportunities for additional working capital in 2005. There are several options open and while the Company cannot guarantee that these options will be successful, it is making a great effort to exercise such options.

46



2.  Loans by banks. The Company’s Sino-foreign joint-ventures have good credit records with Chinese banks. In 2005, the Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China Huaxia Bank and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank have approved lines of credit of $12,048,192 (equivalent of RMB100,000,000), $8,433,735 (equivalent of RMB70,000,000), $2,409,639 (equivalent of RMB20,000,000) and $3,614,458 (equivalent of RMB30,000,000), respectively to the Company.

3.  Reduce capital investment activities to meet working capital requirements. The Company has invested $27,274,000 from the beginning of 2003 to March 31,2005 to enlarge its production lines. The current production capacity has reached the objective of annual production of 600,000 sets of automotive steering gears. During the remaining period of 2005, the Company will reduce its investment activities appropriately to meet its working capital requirements.

INVESTING.

During the three months ended September 30, 2005, the Company expended $1,311,264 in investment activities, consisting of foreign currency translation gain of $947,661, an increase in other receivables of $244,453, payment of $2,009,678 to acquire property, plant and equipment, and payment of $4,794 to acquire intangible assets.

During the three months ended September 30, 2004, the Company expended $3,536,767 in investment activities, including an increase in other receivables of $1,297,449, contributions to capital in joint-ventures of $578,313, and payments of $1,983,659 to acquire property, plant and equipment.

FINANCING.

During the three months ended September 30, 2005, the Company generated $1,475,762 in financing activities, consisting of bank loans of $1,802,767, and advances from shareholders/directors of $23,712, less the foreign currency translation loss of $350,717.

During the three months ended September 30, 2004, the Company expended $351,711 in financing activities, consisting of a repayment of bank loans of $963,856, advances from shareholder/directors of $33,832, and contributions to capital by minority interests holders in joint-ventures of $578,313.

47



NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 AND 2004

OPERATIONS

Net cash provided by operating activities was $7,720,812 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $13,798,505 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of cash inflow of $6,077,693.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, cash flow provided by sales of products was $8,521,024, as compared to $10,022,569 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $1,501,545 as a result of decreased gross profit of $2,232,440 and increased foreign currency translation gain of $730,895 due to changed exchange rate.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the difference of timing of receipts and/or payments of various operating assets and liabilities resulted in the decrease of cash inflows of $4,576,148 as compared to the same period of 2004.

INVESTING.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company expended $4,998,305 in investment activities, consisting of foreign currency translation gain of $947,661, an increase in other receivables of $1,510,417, payment of $4,236,610 to acquire property, plant and equipment, and $198,939 to acquire intangible assets.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company expended $9,219,084 in investment activities, consisting of an increase in other receivables of $1,309,826, payment of $6,704,439 to acquire property, plant and equipment, and contributions to capital in joint-ventures of $1,204,819.

FINANCING.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company generated $140,576 in financing activities, consisted of the proceeds from bank loans of $1,200,357, advances from shareholders/directors of $78,257, less the foreign currency translation loss of $350,717, and dividends paid to minority interests holders of joint-ventures of $787,321.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company expended $4,246,096 in financing activities, consisted of the proceeds from bank loans of $3,012,048, dividends paid to minority interests holders of joint-ventures of $4,469,379, decrease of advances from shareholders/directors of $4,630,537 and contributions to capital by minority interests holders of $1,841,772.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

Effective August 31, 2004, in order to concentrate on its main products, namely steering and automotive parts, the Company disposed of its 51% interest in Jingzhou by entering into an equity exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with Hubei Wanlong Investment Co., Ltd (“HBWL”), which is controlled by Mr. Chen Hanlin, the Chairman of the Company. Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the 51% equity interest in Jingzhou owned by Ji Long was exchanged for 2.5% of HBWL’s equity interests in Henglong based on their respective fair market values as determined by an independent appraisal firm. Accordingly, effective August 31, 2004, the Company did not own any of Jingzhou’s equity.

48



The disposal of Jingzhou was accounted for as discontinued operations according to SFAS No. 144. Financial statements of prior periods have been changed to reflect the discontinued operation of Jingzhou. For the financial position and operating results of Jingzhou for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2004, refer to the financial statements and notes thereto included in the form 10-KSB/A for the year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

At September 30, 2005 and 2004, the Company did not have any transactions, obligations or relationships that could be considered off-balance sheet arrangements.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

The Company has the following material contractual obligations and capital expenditure commitments:

Date

 

Parties involved

 

Description of Commitments and Contingencies


 


 


October 30, 2001

 

Henglong & Bishop Steering Technology Limited (“Bishop”), an Australian company

 

Ten year license agreement for the design of power steering systems. Henglong is obligated to pay Bishop technical assistance fee of approximately $200,000 per year during the first two years and $110,000 per year during the remaining eight years of the agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

July 21, 2003

 

Henglong & Namyang Industrial Co. Ltd. (“Namyang”), a Korean manufacturer of steering assemblies for automobiles

 

Five year license and technical assistance agreement. Henglong paid Namyang an initial payment of $100,000 and is further obligated to pay a royalty of 3% of the sales price of products sold, which includes the licensed columns and universal joint technology.

49



Date

 

Parties involved

 

Description of Commitments and Contingencies


 


 


October 2003

 

Henglong & Wuhu Science and Technology Zone

 

Invest $10,000,000 to develop an industrial enterprise to carry out automobile component projects related to power steering systems. The agreement does not specify a time limit. The Company plans to invest in phases over a five year period.  The Company plans to invest approximately $870,000 in the first phase to acquire land use rights. The Company advanced approximately $435,000 during 2003 pursuant to the agreement under the first phase. The second phase of investment was delayed because the local Government did not complete its water and electricity supply system on time. This new plant is expected to service a large vehicle manufacturer in Wuhu at reduced transportation and storage costs.

March to December, 2004

 

Henglong & some equipment manufacturers

 

Entered into some equipment contracts with total value approximately $4,720,000. Henglong paid $1,740,000 during 2004. In 2005 the Company has paid $2,280,000 and $700,000 remains outstanding. The Company will pay $650,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2005 and $50,000 during 2006, respectively.

March to December 2004

 

Jiulong & some equipment manufacturers

 

Entered into some equipment contracts with total value of approximately $2,750,000. Jiulong paid $1,020,000 during 2004. In 2005 the Company has paid $1,085,000 and $645,000 remains outstanding. The Company will pay $328,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2005 and $317,000 during 2006, respectively,

April to June, 2005

 

Henglong & some equipment manufacturers

 

Entered into some equipment contracts with total value approximately $1,163,650. Henglong has paid $118,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, and will pay off the remaining $1,045,650 during 2006.

INFLATION AND CURRENCY MATTERS:

In the most recent decade, the Chinese economy has experienced periods of rapid economic growth as well as relatively high rates of inflation, which in turn has resulted in the periodic adoption by the Chinese government of various corrective measures designed to regulate growth and contain inflation.

50



Foreign operations are subject to certain risks inherent in conducting business abroad, including price and currency exchange controls, and fluctuations in the relative value of currencies. The Company conducts virtually all of its business in China and, accordingly, the sale of its products is settled primarily in RMB. As a result, devaluation or currency fluctuation of the RMB against the US$ would adversely affect the Company’s financial performance when measured in US$.

Until 1994, the Renminbi experienced a gradual but significant devaluation against most major currencies, including U.S. dollars, and there was a significant devaluation of the Renminbi on January 1, 1994 in connection with the replacement of the dual exchange rate system with a unified managed floating rate foreign exchange system. Since 1994, the value of the Renminbi relative to the U.S. Dollar has remained stable and has appreciated slightly against the U.S. dollar. Countries, including the United States, have argued that the Renminbi is artificially undervalued due to China’s current monetary policies and have pressured China to allow the Renminbi to float freely in world markets. Recently, China revalued its currency higher against the dollar and indicated that the Renminbi would no longer be tied to a fixed rate against the U.S. dollar.

If any devaluation of the Renminbi were to occur in the future, returns on our operations in China, which are expected to be denominated in Renminbi, will be negatively affected upon conversion to U.S. dollars. Although we attempt to have most future payments, mainly repayments of loans and capital contributions, denominated in U.S. dollars, if any increase in the value of the Renminbi were to occur in the future, our product sales in China and in other countries may be negatively affected.

Risks Factors that May Affect Our Results

The Company’s businesses, financial conditions and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by many risk factors.  Because of these risk factors, actual results might differ significantly from those projected in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that might cause such differences include, among others, the following:

Risks Related to the Company’s Business and Industry

The Company is a holding company with substantially all of its operations conducted through its subsidiaries. 

The Company has no operations independent of those of Great Genesis and its subsidiaries, and its principal assets are its investments in Great Genesis and its subsidiaries. As a result, the Company is dependent upon the performance of Great Genesis and its subsidiaries and will be subject to the financial, business and other factors affecting Great Genesis as well as general economic and financial conditions.

51



As substantially all of the Company’s operations are and will be conducted through its subsidiaries, it will be dependent on the cash flow of its subsidiaries to meet its obligations. Because virtually all of the Company’s assets are and will be held by operating subsidiaries, the claims of its stockholders will be structurally subordinate to all existing and future liabilities and obligations, and trade payables of such subsidiaries. In the event of the Company’s bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization, the Company’s assets and those of its subsidiaries will be available to satisfy the claims of its stockholders only after all of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ liabilities and obligations have been paid in full.

The automobile parts markets are highly competitive and many of the Company’s competitors have greater resources than it does.

The automobile parts industry is a highly competitive business. Criteria for the Company’s customers include:

quality;

 

 

price/cost competitiveness;

 

 

system and product performance;

 

 

reliability and timeliness of delivery;

 

 

new product and technology development capability;

 

 

excellence and flexibility in operations;

 

 

degree of global and local presence;

 

 

effectiveness of customer service; and

 

 

and overall management capability.

The Company’s competitors include independent suppliers of parts, as well as suppliers formed by spin-offs from its customers, who are becoming more aggressive in selling parts to other vehicle manufacturers. Depending on the particular product, the number of the Company’s competitors varies significantly.  Many of the Company’s competitors have substantially greater revenues and financial resources than it does, as well as stronger brand names, consumer recognition, business relationships with vehicle manufacturers, and geographic presence than it has. The Company may not be able to compete favorably and increased competition may substantially harm its business.

Internationally, the Company faces different market dynamics and competition. The Company may not be as successful as its competitors in generating revenues in international markets due to the lack of recognition of its products or other factors. Developing product recognition overseas is expensive and time-consuming and the Company’s international expansion efforts may be more costly and less profitable than it expects. If the Company is not successful in its target markets, its sales could decline, its margins could be negatively impacted and the Company could lose market share, any of which could materially harm the Company’s business.

52



Automotive production and sales are cyclical, which could adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company’s business relies on automotive vehicle production and sales by its customers, which are highly cyclical and depend on general economic conditions and other factors, including consumer spending and preferences. They also can be affected by labor relations issues, regulatory requirements, and other factors. In addition, in the last two years, the price of automobiles in China has generally declined. As a result, the volume of automotive production in China has fluctuated from year to year, which give rise to fluctuations in the demand for the Company’s products. Any significant economic decline that results in a reduction in automotive production and sales by the Company’s customers would have a material adverse effect on its results of operations.

Increasing costs for manufactured components and raw materials may adversely affect the Company’s profitability.

The Company uses a broad range of manufactured components and raw materials in its products, including castings, electronic components, finished sub-components, molded plastic parts, fabricated metal, aluminum and steel, and resins. Because it may be difficult to pass increased prices for these items on to the Company’s customers, a significant increase in the prices of the Company’s components and materials could materially increase its operating costs and adversely affect its profit margins.

Pricing pressure by automobile manufacturers on their suppliers may adversely affect the Company’s business.

Recently, pricing pressure from automobile manufacturers has been prevalent in the automotive parts industry in China. Virtually all vehicle manufacturers seek price reductions each year, including requiring suppliers to pay a “three warranties” service charge (for compensation, exchange and withdrawal) in an amount equal to one percent of the total amount of parts supplied. Although the Company has tried to reduce costs and resist price reductions, these reductions have impacted the Company’s sales and profit margins. If the Company cannot offset continued price reductions through improved operating efficiencies and reduced expenditures, price reductions will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

The Company’s business would be materially and adversely affected if it loses any of its large customers.

53



For the year ended December 31, 2004, approximately 19.2% of the Company’s sales were to Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited, approximately 16.2% were to Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd., approximately 10.9% were to Dongfeng Auto Group Co., Ltd. and approximately 7.2% were to China FAW Group Corporation, the Company’s four largest customers. The loss of, or significant reduction in purchases by, one or more of these major customers could adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company may be subject to product liability and warranty and recall claims.

The Company may be exposed to product liability and warranty claims if its products actually or allegedly fail to perform as expected or the use of its products results, or is alleged to result, in bodily injury and/or property damage.  The Company started to pay to its customers increased after-sales service expenses due to consumer rights protection policies of “recall” issued by the Chinese Government in 2004, such as the recalling flawed vehicles policy. Beginning in 2004, automobile manufacturers unilaterally required their suppliers to pay a “three warranties” service charge (for compensation, exchange and withdrawal) in an amount equal to one percent of the total amount of parts supplied. Accordingly, the Company has experienced and shall continue to experience higher after sales service expenses. Product liability, warranty and recall costs may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition.

The Company is subject to environmental and safety regulations.

The Company is subject to the requirements of environmental and occupational safety and health laws and regulations in China. The Company cannot assure you that it has been or will be at all times in full compliance with all of these requirements, or that it will not incur material costs or liabilities in connection with these requirement. Additionally, these regulations may change in a manner that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. We have made and will continue to make capital and other expenditures to comply with environmental requirements.

Non-performance by the Company’s suppliers may adversely affect its operations.

The Company purchases various types of equipment, raw materials and manufactured component parts from its suppliers.  The Company would be materially and adversely affected by the failure of its suppliers to perform as expected. The Company could experience delivery delays or failures caused by production issues or delivery of non-conforming products if its suppliers failed to perform, and the Company also faces these risks in the event any of its suppliers becomes insolvent or bankrupt.

The Company’s business and growth may suffer if it fails to attract and retain key personnel.

54



The Company’s ability to operate its business and implement its strategies effectively depends on the efforts of its executive officers and other key employees.  The Company depends on the continued contributions of its senior management and other key personnel.  The Company’s future success also depends on its ability to identify, attract and retain highly skilled technical, particularly engineers and other employees with electronics expertise, managerial, finance and marketing personnel.  The Company does not maintain a key person life insurance policy on Mr. Chen Hanlin. The loss of the services of any of the Company’s key employees or the failure to attract or retain other qualified personnel could substantially harm the Company’s business.

The Company’s management controls approximately 89% of its outstanding common stock and may have conflicts of interest with its minority stockholders.

Members of the Company’s management beneficially own approximately 89% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.  As a result, these majority stockholders have control over decisions to enter into any corporate transaction and have the ability to prevent any transaction that requires the approval of stockholders. Additionally, these stockholders control the election of members of the Company’s board, have the ability to appoint new members to the Company’s management team and control the outcome of matters submitted to a vote of the holders of the Company’s common stock.  The interests of these majority stockholders may at times conflict with the interests of the Company’s other stockholders.

There is a limited public float of the Company’s common stock, which can result in its stock price being volatile.

There is a limited public float of the Company’s common stock. Of the Company’s outstanding common stock, approximately 11% is considered part of the public float. The term “public float” refers to shares freely and actively tradable on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and not owned by officers, directors or affiliates, as such term is defined under the Securities Act. Due to the Company’s relatively small public float and the limited trading volume of its common stock, purchases and sales of relatively small amounts of the Company’s common stock can have a disproportionate effect on the market price for the Company’s common stock. As a result, the market price of the Company’s common stock can be volatile.

Provisions in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the General Corporation Law of Delaware may discourage a takeover attempt.

Provisions in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the state in which the Company is organized, could make it difficult for a third party to acquire the Company, even if doing so might be beneficial to the Company’s stockholders. Provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws impose various procedural and other requirements, which could make it difficult for stockholders to effect certain corporate actions.

55



Risks Related to Doing Business in China and International Operations Generally

The Company’s operations are all located outside of the United States.

All of the Company’s operations are outside the United States and in China, which exposes it to risks, such as exchange controls and currency restrictions, currency fluctuations and devaluations, changes in local economic conditions, changes in Chinese laws and regulations, exposure to possible expropriation or other Chinese government actions, and unsettled political conditions. These factors may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations or on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company’s international expansion plans subject it to risks inherent in doing business internationally.

The Company’s long-term business strategy relies on the expansion of the Company’s international sales outside China by targeting markets, such as the United States. Risks affecting the Company’s international expansion include challenges caused by distance, language and cultural differences, conflicting and changing laws and regulations, foreign laws, international import and export legislation, trading and investment policies, foreign currency fluctuations, the burdens of complying with a wide variety of laws and regulations, protectionist laws and business practices that favor local businesses in some countries, foreign tax consequences, higher costs associated with doing business internationally, restrictions on the export or import of technology, difficulties in staffing and managing international operations, trade and tariff restrictions, and variations in tariffs, quotas, taxes and other market barriers. These risks could harm the Company’s international expansion efforts, which could in turn materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition.

The Company faces risks associated with currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Although the Company is incorporated in the United States, the majority of its current revenues are in Chinese currency. Conducting business in currencies other than U.S. dollars subjects the Company to fluctuations in currency exchange rates that could have a negative impact on the Company’s reported operating results. Fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies impact the Company’s revenues, cost of revenues and operating margins and result in foreign currency translation gains and losses. Historically, the Company has not engaged in exchange rate hedging activities. Although the Company may implement hedging strategies to mitigate this risk, these strategies may not eliminate the Company’s exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations and involve costs and risks of their own, such as ongoing management time and expertise, external costs to implement the strategy and potential accounting implications.

56



If relations between the United States and China worsen, the Company’s stock price may decrease and the Company may have difficulty accessing the U.S. capital markets.

At various times during recent years, the United States and China have had disagreements over political and economic issues. Controversies may arise in the future between these two countries. Any political or trade controversies between the United States and China could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock and the Company’s ability to access US capital markets.

The Chinese government could change its policies toward private enterprises, which could adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company’s business is subject to political and economic uncertainties in China and may be adversely affected by its political, economic and social developments. Over the past several years, the Chinese government has pursued economic reform policies including the encouragement of private economic activity and greater economic decentralization. The Chinese government may not continue to pursue these policies or may alter them to the Company’s detriment from time to time.

Changes in policies, laws and regulations, or in their interpretation or the imposition of confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency conversion, restrictions or prohibitions on dividend payments to stockholders, devaluations of currency or the nationalization or other expropriation of private enterprises could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. Nationalization or expropriation could result in the total loss of the Company’s investment in China.

The economic, political and social conditions in China could affect the Company’s business.

All of the Company’s business, assets and operations are located in China. The economy of China differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange, and allocation of resources. The economy of China has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy.  Although the Chinese government has implemented measures recently emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of sound corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the Chinese government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry by imposing industrial policies. It also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.

57



The economy of China has experienced significant growth in the past 20 years, but growth has been uneven.

The Chinese government has implemented various measures from time to time to control the rate of economic growth.  Some of these measures benefit the overall economy of China, but may have a negative effect on us.

Government control of currency conversion and future movements in exchange rates may adversely affect the Company’s operations and financial results.

The Company receives substantially all of its revenues in renminbi, the currency of China. A portion of such revenues will be converted into other currencies to meet the Company’s foreign currency obligations. Foreign exchange transactions under the Company’s capital account, including principal payments in respect of foreign currency-denominated obligations, continue to be subject to significant foreign exchange controls and require the approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange in China. These limitations could affect the Company’s ability to obtain foreign exchange through debt or equity financing, or to obtain foreign exchange for capital expenditures.

The Chinese government controls its foreign currency reserves through restrictions on imports and conversion of renminbi into foreign currency.  Although the exchange rate of the renminbi to the U.S. dollar has been stable since January 1, 1994, and the Chinese government has stated its intention to maintain the stability of the value of renminbi, there can be no assurance that exchange rates will remain stable.  The renminbi could devalue against the U.S. dollar. The Company’s financial condition and results of operations may also be affected by changes in the value of certain currencies other than the renminbi in which the Company’s earnings and obligations are denominated. In particular, a devaluation of the renminbi is likely to increase the portion of the Company’s cash flow required to satisfy the Company’s foreign currency-denominated obligations.

Because the Chinese legal system is not fully developed, the Company’s legal protections may be limited.

The Chinese legal system is based on written statutes and their interpretation by the Supreme People’s Court.  Although the Chinese government introduced new laws and regulations to modernize its business, securities and tax systems on January 1, 1994, China does not yet possess a comprehensive body of business law. Because Chinese laws and regulations are relatively new, interpretation, implementation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties and inconsistencies and it may be difficult to enforce contracts. In addition, as the Chinese legal system develops, changes in such laws and regulations, their interpretation or their enforcement may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business operations.

58



It may be difficult to serve the Company with legal process or enforce judgments against the Company’s management or the Company.

All of the Company’s assets are located in China and three out of the Company’s directors and officers are non-residents of the United States, and all or substantial portions of the assets of such non-residents are located outside the United States.  As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of process within the United States upon such persons. Moreover, there is uncertainty that the courts of China would enforce judgments of U.S. courts against the Company, its directors or officers based on the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state, or an original action brought in China based upon the securities laws of the United States or any state.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK:

The Company does not have any market risk with respect to such factors as commodity prices, equity prices, and other market changes that affect market risk sensitive investments. A 10 basis point change in the Company’s average debt interest rate would not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations.

With respect to foreign currency exchange rates, the Company does not believe that a devaluation or fluctuation of the RMB against the US dollar would have a detrimental effect on the Company’s operations, since the Company conducts virtually all of its business in China, and the sale of its products and the purchase of raw materials and services are settled in RMB. The effect of a devaluation or fluctuation of the RMB against the US$ would affect the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows, when presented in US$ (based on a current exchange rate) as compared to RMB.

As the Company’s debt obligations are primarily short-term in nature, with fixed interest rates, the Company does not have any risk from an increase in market interest rates. However, to the extent that the Company arranges new borrowings in the future, an increase in market interest rates would cause a commensurate increase in the interest expense related to such borrowings.

59



ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a)     EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed under the Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to management, including its principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its principal executive and financial officers, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon and as of the date of that evaluation, the Company’s principal executive and financial officers concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files and submits under the Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

(b)     CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS

There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could have significantly affected those controls subsequent to the date of the Company’s most recent evaluation.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

A list of exhibits required to be filed as part of this report is set forth in the Index to Exhibits, which immediately precedes such exhibits, and is incorporated herein by reference.

60



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.

 


 

(Registrant)

 

 

Date: November 14, 2005

 

 

 

By:

/s/ HANLIN CHEN

 

 


 

 

Hanlin Chen

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Date: November 14, 2005

 

 

 

By:

/s/ DAMING HU

 

 


 

 

Daming Hu

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

61




INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number

 

Description of Document


 


31.1

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 -Hanlin Chen*

31.2

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 -Daming Hu*

32.1

 

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 -Hanlin Chen*

32.2

 

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Daming Hu*

62