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CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC - Annual Report: 2011 (Form 10-K)

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

Or

 

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

 

Commission File 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 No.)
     

No. 1 Henglong Road, Yu Qiao Development Zone

Shashi District, Jing Zhou City Hubei Province, China

  434000
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code – (86) 716-8329196

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each Class   Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value 

 

The Nasdaq Capital Market 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

  Title of Class  
  None  

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨  No x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨  No x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x  No £

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes x No £

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer ¨  Accelerated Filer x

Non-Accelerated Filer ¨   Smaller Reporting Company ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨  No x

 

The aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2011, based upon the price of $8.63 that was the closing price of the common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “CAAS” on such date, was approximately $70,408,977.

 

The Company has 28,260,302 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 9, 2012.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

None.

 

 
 

 

CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.

FORM 10-K

 

INDEX

 

      Page
PART I      
Item 1. Business.   4
Item 1A. Risk Factors.   11
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.   17
Item 2. Properties.   17
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.   17
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.   18
       
PART II      
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.   19
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.   20
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.   22
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.   40
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.   40
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.   41
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.   41
Item 9B. Other Information.   43
       
PART III      
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.   44
Item 11 Executive Compensation.   47
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.   49
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.   50
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.   50
       
PART IV      
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.   51
     
Signatures   54
Financial Statements   55

 

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Cautionary Statement

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to future events or the Company’s future financial performance. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “can,” “continues,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the matters set forth in this Annual 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. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company’s expectations are as of the date this Form 10-K is filed, and the Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date this Annual Report on Form 10-K is filed to confirm these statements to actual results, unless required by law.

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1.BUSINESS.

 

COMPANY HISTORY

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc., “China Automotive” or the “Company,” was incorporated in the State of Delaware on June 29, 1999 under the name Visions-In-Glass, Inc. On or around March 5, 2003, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Great Genesis Holdings Limited, “Genesis,” a corporation organized under the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, by issuance of 20,914,250 shares of common stock to certain sellers. After the acquisition, the Company continued the operations of Genesis. On May 19, 2003, the Company changed its name from Visions-In-Glass, Inc. to China Automotive Systems, Inc. Presently, Genesis directly and indirectly owns interests in eight Sino-joint ventures and a wholly owned subsidiary in the People’s Republic of China, “China” or the “PRC,” which manufacture power steering systems and/or related products for different segments of the automobile industry. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the Company uses the terms “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” to refer to Genesis and China Automotive collectively on a consolidated basis.

 

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

 

The Company is a holding company and has no significant business operations or assets other than its interest in Genesis. All operations are conducted through Genesis and Henglong USA, its wholly owned subsidiaries (the abbreviated names of subsidiaries and joint ventures are defined in the organization chart below), as well as through eight Sino-foreign joint ventures in China, Henglong, Jiulong, Shenyang, Zhejiang, USAI, Wuhu, Jielong and Testing Center and a wholly owned subsidiary in China, Hengsheng. Seven non-wholly owned joint ventures (Henglong, Jiulong, Shenyang, Zhejiang, USAI, Wuhu and Jielong) are under the Company’s control, whereas the Testing Center is a wholly owned subsidiary of Henglong. Beijing Henglong is a joint venture formed by Hengsheng, which is jointly controlled by the Company and another investor. Set forth below is an organizational chart as at December 31, 2011.

 

    China Automotive Systems, Inc. [NASDAQ:CAAS]    
    ↓100%       ↓100%    
    Great Genesis Holdings Limited       Henglong USA Corporation    
           
↓80%    ↓81%    ↓70%    ↓51%   ↓83.34%   ↓77.33% ↓85%   ↓100.00%

Jingzhou

Henglong

Automotive

Parts Co.,

Ltd.

“Henglong”1

 

Shashi Jiulong

Power

Steering

Gears

Co., Ltd.

“Jiulong”2

 

Shenyang Jinbei

Henglong

Automotive

Steering System

Co., Ltd.

“Shenyang”3

 

Zhejiang

Henglong &

Vie

Pump-Manu

Co., Ltd.

“Zhejiang”4

 

Universal

Sensor

Application,

Inc.

“USAI”5

 

Wuhu Henglong

Automotive

Steering

System Co.,

Ltd.

“Wuhu”6

 

Wuhan

Jielong

Electric Power

Steering Co.,

Ltd

“Jielong”7

 

Jingzhou

Hengsheng

Automotive

System

Co., Ltd.

“Hengsheng”8

↓80.00%                           ↓ 50.00%

Jingzhou Henglong

Automotive

Technology (Testing)

Center

                         

Beijing Henglong

Automotive

System Co.,

Ltd.,

“Testing Center”9                           “Beijing Henglong”10

 

1.Henglong was established in 1997 and is mainly engaged in the production of rack and pinion power steering gear for cars and light duty vehicles.
2.Jiulong was established in 1993 and is mainly engaged in the production of integral power steering gear for heavy-duty vehicles.
3.Shenyang was established in 2002 and focuses on power steering parts for light duty vehicles.  
4.Zhejiang was established in 2002 to focus on power steering pumps.

 

4
 

 

5.USAI was established in 2005 and is mainly engaged in the production and sales of sensor modules.
6.Wuhu was established in 2006 and is mainly engaged in the production and sales of automobile steering systems.
7.Jielong was established in 2006 and is mainly engaged in the production and sales of electric power steering gear, “EPS.”
8.On March 7, 2007, Genesis established Hengsheng, its wholly owned subsidiary, to engage in the production and sales of automotive steering systems. The registered capital of Hengsheng at the time of establishment was $10,000,000. On February 10, 2010, the registered capital of Hengsheng was increased to $16,000,000. On October 12, 2011, the board of directors of the Company approved a reorganization of the Company’s subsidiaries operating in China. As a result of the reorganization, all of Genesis’s equity interests of its subsidiaries operating in China, except for Shenyang and Zhejiang, were transferred to Hengsheng, the Company’s new China-based holding company. The reorganization was completed on January 19, 2012, and after that, the registered capital of Hengsheng increased to $39,000,000.
9.In December 2009, Henglong, a subsidiary of Genesis, formed the Testing Center, which is mainly engaged in the research and development of new products. The registered capital of the Testing Center was RMB 30,000,000, equivalent to approximately $4,393,544.
10.On January 24, 2010, Genesis entered into a joint venture contract with Beijing Hainachuan Auto Parts Co., Ltd., to establish Beijing Henglong as a joint venture company to design, develop and manufacture both hydraulic and electric power steering systems and parts. On September 16, 2010, with Beijing Hainchuan’s agreement, Genesis transferred its interest in the joint venture to Hengsheng, and left the other terms of the joint venture contract unchanged. According to the joint venture agreement, the Company does not have voting control of Beijing Henglong. Therefore, the Company’s consolidated financial statements do not include Beijing Henglong, and such investment is accounted for by the equity method.

 

On October 12, 2011, the board of directors of the Company approved a reorganization of the Company’s subsidiaries operating in China. This reorganization is intended to improve the Company’s marketing of its products in China by presenting a more unified structure under one PRC-based holding company and to improve the administration and control of the various China-based subsidiaries. As a result of the reorganization, all of Genesis’s equity interests in its subsidiaries operating in China, except for Shengyang and Zhejiang, were transferred to Hengsheng (the Company’s new China-based holding company). As the reorganized entities were under common control of the Company, the reorganization will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations and should not impact the tax treatment of the Company or its subsidiaries in any material respect. The reorganization was completed on January 19, 2012. Set forth below is the organizational chart after the reorganization.

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. [NASDAQ:CAAS]
↓100%           ↓100%
Great Genesis Holdings Limited           Henglong USA Corporation
               
↓100.00%       ↓70%           ↓51%

Jingzhou

Hengsheng

Automotive

System

Co., Ltd.

“Hengsheng”

     

Shenyang Jinbei

Henglong

Automotive

Steering System

Co., Ltd.

“Shenyang”

         

Zhejiang

Henglong & Vie

Pump-Manu

Co., Ltd.

“Zhejiang”

                   
↓80%   ↓81%   ↓83.34%   ↓77.33%   ↓85%   ↓50.00%

Jingzhou

Henglong

Automotive

Parts Co.,

Ltd.

“Henglong”

 

Shashi Jiulong

Power

Steering

Gears

Co., Ltd.

“Jiulong”

 

Universal

Sensor

Application,

Inc.

“USAI”

 

Wuhu Henglong

Automotive

Steering

System Co.,

Ltd.

“Wuhu”6

 

Wuhan

Jielong

Electric Power

Steering Co.,

Ltd

“Jielong”

 

Beijing

Henglong

Automotive

System Co.,

Ltd.,

“Beijing Henglong”

↓80.00%                    

Jingzhou Henglong

Automotive

Technology (Testing)

Center

“Testing Center”

                   

 

5
 

 

The Company has business relationships with more than sixty vehicle manufacturers, including FAW Group and Dongfeng Auto Group, two of the five largest automobile manufacturers in China; Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Co., Ltd., the largest light vehicle manufacturer in China; Chery Automobile Co., Ltd, the largest state owned car manufacturer in China, and BYD Auto Co., Ltd and Zhejiang Geely Automobile Co., Ltd., the largest privately owned car manufacturers in China. From 2008, the Company has supplied power steering pumps and power steering gear to the Sino-Foreign joint ventures established by General Motors (GM), Citroen and Volkswagen. Since 2009, the Company has also supplied power steering gears to Chrysler North America.

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

 

Intellectual Property rights, “IP,” are important in helping the Company maintain its competitive position. Currently, the Company owns IP rights, including two trademarks covering automobile parts, “HL” and “JL,” and more than eighty five patents registered in China covering power steering technology. The Company is in the process of integrating new advanced technologies such as electronic chips in power steering systems into its current production line and is pursuing aggressive strategies in technology to maintain a competitive edge within the automobile industry. In 2006, the Company signed a five-year licensing agreement with Bishop Steering Technology Limited, a leader in automotive steering gear technology innovation which offers advanced technology for steering valves within the contract period. On December 20, 2011, the Company extended that agreement for one year. Before expiration, the Company plans to negotiate with Bishop Steering Technology Limited to renew the agreement. The Company does not anticipate that there will be a significant adverse impact if the Company fails to renew as the Company has already developed independent R&D capabilities in steering valves. In 2003, the Company signed a Technology Transfer Agreement with Nanyang Ind. Co. Ltd., a leading steering column maker, for the technology necessary for electronic power steering (EPS) systems. In addition, the Company established with Tsinghua University a steering systems research institute designed to develop EPS and Electronic Hydraulic Power Steering Systems (EHPS). In December 2009, the Company, through Henglong, a subsidiary of Genesis, formed Henglong Testing Center to engage in the research and development of new products, such as EPS, integral rack and pinion power steering and high pressure power steering, to optimize current products design and to develop new, cost-saving manufacturing processes.

 

STRATEGIC PLAN

 

The Company’s short to medium term strategic plan is to focus on both domestic and international market expansion. To achieve this goal and higher profitability, the Company focuses on brand recognition, quality control, decreasing costs, research and development and strategic acquisitions. Set forth below are the Company’s programs:

 

Brand Recognition. Under the Henglong and Jiulong brands, the Company offers four separate series of power steering sets and 310 models of power steering sets, steering columns, steering oil pumps and steering hoses.

 

Quality Control. The Henglong and Jiulong manufacturing facilities obtained the ISO/TS 16949 System Certification in January 2004, a well-recognized quality control system in the auto industry developed by TUVRheindland of Germany.

 

Decreasing Cost. By improving the Company’s production ability and enhancing equipment management, optimizing the process and products structure, perfecting the supplier system and cutting production cost, the Company’s goal is to achieve a more competitive profit margin.

 

Research and Development. By partnering with Bishop Steering Technology Limited, Nanyang Ind. Co. Ltd. and Tsinghua University for the development of advanced steering systems, the Company’s objective is to gain increased market share in China.

 

International Expansion. The Company has entered into agreements with several international vehicle manufacturers and auto parts modules suppliers and carried on preliminary negotiations regarding future development projects.

 

Acquisitions. The Company is exploring opportunities to create long-term growth through new ventures or acquisitions of other auto component manufacturers. The Company will seek acquisition targets that fulfill the following criteria:

 

6
 

 

companies that can be easily integrated into product manufacturing and corporate management;

 

companies that have strong joint venture partners that would become major customers; and

 

companies involved with power steering systems.

 

CUSTOMERS

 

The Company’s ten largest customers represented 72.0% of the Company’s total sales for the year ended December 31, 2011. The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s ten largest customers.

 

Name of Major Customers  Percentage of Total
Revenue in 2011
 
Chery Automobile Co., Ltd   11.7%
Dongfeng Auto Group Co., Ltd   9.7%
Zhejiang Geely Holding Co., Ltd   7.8%
China FAW Group Corporation   6.9%
Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd.   6.6%
Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited   6.4%
Great Wall Motor Company Limited   6.1%
BYD Auto Co., Ltd   6.0%
Chrysler Group LLC   5.9%
Xiamen Joylon Co., Ltd.,   4.9%
Total   72.0%

 

The Company primarily sells its products to the above-mentioned original equipment manufacturing, “OEM,” customers; it also has excellent relationships with them, including serving as their first-rank supplier and developer for product development for new models. While the Company intends to continue to focus on retaining and winning this business, it cannot ensure that it will succeed in doing so. It is difficult to keep these contracts as a result of severe price competition and customers’ diversification of their supply base. The Company’s business would be materially and adversely affected if it loses one or more of these major customers.

 

SALES AND MARKETING

 

The Company’s sales and marketing team has 103 sales persons, which are divided into an OEM team, a sales service team and a working group dedicated to international business. These sales and marketing teams provide a constant interface with the Company’s key customers. They are located in all major vehicle producing regions to represent more effectively the Company’s customers’ interests within the Company’s organization, to promote their programs and to coordinate their strategies with the goal of enhancing overall service and satisfaction. The Company’s ability to support its customers is further enhanced by its broad presence in terms of sales offices, manufacturing facilities, engineering technology centers and joint ventures.

 

The Company’s sales and marketing organization and activities are designed to create overall awareness and consideration of, and therefore to increase sales of, the Company’s modular systems and components. To achieve that objective, the Company organized delegations to visit the United States, Korea, India and Japan and has supplied power steering gear to Chrysler North America. Through these activities, the Company has generated potential business interest as a strong base for future development.

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

The Company’s distribution system covers all of China. The Company has established sales and service offices with certain significant customers to deal with matters related to such customers in a timely fashion. The Company also established distribution warehouses close to major customers to ensure timely deliveries. The Company maintains strict control over inventories. Each of these sales and service offices sends back to the Company through e-mail or fax information related to the inventory and customers’ needs. The Company guarantees product delivery in 8 hours for those customers who are located within 200 km from the Company’s distribution warehouses, and 24 hours for customers who are located outside of 200 km from the Company’s distribution warehouses. Delivery time is a very important competitive factor in terms of customer decision making, together with quality, pricing and long-term relationships.

 

EMPLOYEES AND FACILITIES

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company employed approximately 3,746 persons, including approximately 2,131 by Henglong and Jiulong, approximately 290 by Shenyang, approximately 347 by Zhejiang, approximately 38 by USAI, approximately 207 by Wuhu, approximately 370 by Jielong, approximately 353 by Hengsheng, and 10 by Henglong USA.

 

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As of December 31, 2011, each of Henglong and Jiulong, Shenyang, Zhejiang, Wuhu, Jielong, and Hengsheng has a manufacturing and administration area of 278,092 square meters, 35,354 square meters, 32,000 square meters, 83,700 square meters, 99,580 square meters, and 170,520 square meters, respectively.

 

Hubei Province, which is home to Dongfeng, one of the largest automakers in China, provides an ample supply of inexpensive but skilled labor to automotive-related industries. The annual production of the Company’s main product, power steering gear, was approximately 3,400,000 units and 3,100,000 units in 2011 and 2010, respectively. Although the production process continues to rely heavily on manual labor, the Company has invested substantially in high-level production machinery to improve capacity and production quality. Approximately $61 million was spent over the last three years to purchase professional-grade equipment and extend workshops—approximately 80% of which has been used in the production process as of December 31, 2011.

 

RAW MATERIALS

 

The Company purchases various manufactured components and raw materials for use in its manufacturing processes. The principal components and raw materials the Company purchases include castings, finished sub-components, aluminum, steel, fabricated metal electronic parts and molded plastic parts. The most important raw material is steel. The Company enters into purchase agreements with local suppliers. The annual purchase plans are determined at the beginning of the calendar year but are subject to revision every three months as a result of customers’ orders. A purchase order is made according to monthly production plans. This protects the Company from building up inventory when the orders from customers change.

 

The Company’s purchases from its ten largest suppliers represented in the aggregate 28.6% of all components and raw materials it purchased for the year ended December 31, 2011, and none of them provided more than 10% of total purchases.

 

All components and raw materials are available from numerous sources. The Company has not, in recent years, experienced any significant shortages of manufactured components or raw materials and normally does not carry inventories of these items in excess of what is reasonably required to meet its production and shipping schedules.

 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

 

In 2006, the Company signed a five year consulting and licensing agreement with Bishop Steering Technology Ltd, one of the leading design firms in power steering systems. Bishop’s technology in power steering systems is currently used by carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes Benz. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company has implemented the Bishop steering valve technology into the Henglong brand R&P power steering gear. On December 20, 2011, the Company signed a one-year extension of a licensing agreement with Bishop Steering Technology Limited for steering valves technology. Before expiration, the Company plans to negotiate with Bishop Steering Technology Limited to renew the agreement. The Company does not anticipate that there will be a significant adverse impact if the Company fails to renew as the Company has already developed independent R&D capabilities in steering valves.

 

The Company owns the Testing Center, a Hubei Provincial-Level technical center, which has been approved by the Hubei Economic Commission. The center has a staff of about 295, including 26 senior engineers, 3 foreign experts and 205 engineers, primarily focusing on steering system R&D, tests, production process improvement and new material and production methodology application.

 

In addition, the Company has partnered with Tsinghua University to establish a steering system research center, called Tsinghua Henglong Automobile Steering Research Institute, for the purposes of R&D and experimentation for EPS.

 

The Company believes that its engineering and technical expertise, together with its emphasis on continuing research and development, allow it to use the latest technologies, materials and processes to solve problems for its customers and to bring new, innovative products to market. The Company believes that continued research and development activities, including engineering, are critical to maintaining its pipeline of technologically advanced products. The Company has aggressively managed costs in other portions of its business in order to increase its total expenditures for research and development activities, including engineering, at approximately $10,010,000, $7,990,000, and $2,560,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. The significant increase in 2011 is mainly due to the large expenditure in EPS R&D, because the Company believes demands for new EPS products will increase significantly in the future. In 2011, the sales of newly developed products accounted for about 20.5% of total sales. As the Company sold newly developed products in 2011, the Company’s sales of steering gear for passenger vehicles increased by 7.3%, compared with the year 2010. By way of comparison, the sales of passenger vehicles in the China market only increased by 4.23%, compared with the year 2010.

 

COMPETITION

 

The automotive components industry is extremely competitive. 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 overall management capability. The power steering system market is fragmented in China, and the Company has seven major competitors. Of these competitors, two are Sino-foreign joint ventures while the other five are state-owned. Like many competitive industries, there is pressure on downward selling prices.

 

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The Company’s major competitors, including Shanghai ZF and First Auto FKS, “FKS,” are component suppliers to specific automobile manufacturers. Shanghai ZF is the joint venture of SAIC and ZF Germany, which is an exclusive supplier to SAIC-Volkswagen and SAIC-GM. FKS is a joint venture between First Auto Group and Japan’s Koyo Company and its main customer is FAW-Volkswagen Company.

 

While the Chinese government limits foreign ownership of auto assemblers to 50%, there is no analogous limitation in the automotive components industry. Thus, opportunities exist for foreign component suppliers to set up factories in China. These overseas competitors employ technology that may be more advanced and may have existing relationships with global automobile assemblers, but they are generally not as competitive as the Company in China in terms of production cost and flexibility in meeting client requirements.

 

CHINESE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

 

The Company is a supplier of automotive parts and most of its operations are located in China. An increase or decrease in the output and sales of Chinese vehicles could result in an increase or decrease of the Company’s results of operations. According to the latest statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (“CAAM”), in 2011, the output and sales volume of vehicles in China have reached 18.24 million and 18.51 million units, respectively, an increase of 0.84% and 2.5% compared to 2010. The output and sales volume of passenger vehicles have reached 14.49 million and 14.47 million units respectively, with an increase of 4.23% and 5.19% compared to 2010. The output and sales volume of commercial vehicles have reached 3.93 million and 4.03 million units, respectively, a decrease of 9.94% and 6.31% compared to 2010. Accordingly, in 2011, the Company’s sales of steering gear for passenger vehicles increased by 7.3% compared with the year 2010, steering gear and steering pumps for commercial vehicles decreased by 13.0% and 24.2%, respectively, compared with the year 2010.

 

Industry analysts expect market growth to slow in 2012 as the incentive policies, such as subsidies to rural area consumers, fuel-efficient car buyers and reduced purchase taxes, have expired. In addition, some PRC cities, like Beijing, have policies to limit the number of cars purchased each month to deal with gridlocked streets, which the Company expects to have a longer-term impact on the development of the automobile industry in China.

 

Despite these challenges, management believes that the continuing development of the highway system will have a significant positive long-term impact on the manufacture and sale of private automobiles in the PRC. Statistics from the Ministry of Transport show that 71,000 kilometers of highway and 11,000 kilometers of expressway were built in 2011. Total highways and expressways in the PRC now amount to 4,055,000 kilometers and 85,000 kilometers, respectively.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

 

The Company is subject to the requirements of U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S., including China’s, environmental and occupational safety and health laws and regulations. These include laws regulating air emissions, water discharge and waste management. The Company has an environmental management structure designed to facilitate and support its compliance with these requirements globally. Although the Company intends to comply with all such requirements and regulations, it cannot provide assurance that it is at all times in compliance. The Company has made and will continue to make capital and other expenditures to comply with environmental requirements, although such expenditures were not material during the past two years. Environmental requirements are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent over time. Accordingly, the Company cannot assure that environmental requirements will not change or become more stringent over time or that its eventual environmental cleanup costs and liabilities will not be material.

 

During 2011, the Company did not make any material capital expenditures relating to environmental compliance.

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

 

Financial information about sales and long-term assets by major geographic region can be found in Note 32, “Segment Information” to the consolidated financial statements. The following table summarizes the percentage of sales and total assets by major geographic regions:

 

   Net Sales   Long-term Assets 
   Year Ended December 31   As of December 31 
   2011   2010   2009   2011   2010 
Geographic region:                         
United States   6.4%   5.0%   2.4%   0.03%   0.02%
China   93.6    95.0    97.6    99.97    99.98 
Total   100%   100%   100%   100%   100%

 

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WEBSITE ACCESS TO SEC FILINGS

 

The Company files electronically with (or furnishes to) the SEC its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company makes available free of charge on its web site (www.caasauto.com) all such reports as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed.

 

The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy information and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov. The materials are also available at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, located at 100 F Street, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information through the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

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ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS.

 

Any investment in the Company’s securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with the information contained elsewhere in this Annual Report, before you make a decision to invest in the Company. The Company’s business, 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 any forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, among others, the following:

 

RISKS RELATED TO THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

 

The cyclical nature of automotive production and sales could result in a reduction in automotive sales, which could adversely affect the Company’s business and results of operations.

 

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 and the price and availability of gasoline. They also can be affected by labor relations issues, regulatory requirements and other factors. In the last two years, the price of automobiles in China has generally declined. Additionally, the volume of automotive production in China has fluctuated from year to year, which gives rise to fluctuations in the demand for the Company’s products. Therefore, any significant economic decline could result in a reduction in automotive production and sales by the Company’s customers and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations. Moreover, if the prices of automobiles do not remain low, then demand for automobile parts could fall and result in lower revenues and profitability.

 

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 the Company’s operating costs and adversely affect its profit margins and profitability.

 

Because the Company is a holding company with substantially all of its operations conducted through its subsidiaries, its performance will be affected by the performance of its subsidiaries.

 

The Company almost has no operations independent of those of Genesis and its subsidiaries, and the Company’s principal assets are its investments in Genesis and its subsidiaries and affiliates. As a result, the Company is dependent upon the performance of Genesis and its subsidiaries and will be subject to the financial, business and other factors affecting Genesis as well as general economic and financial conditions. As substantially all of the Company’s operations are and will be conducted through its subsidiaries, the Company 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 the Company’s 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, its assets and those of its subsidiaries will be available to satisfy the claims of the Company’s stockholders only after all of its and its subsidiaries’ liabilities and obligations have been paid in full.

 

The convertible notes are the Company’s unsecured obligations, but are not obligations of its subsidiaries. In addition, the subsidiaries’ secured bank loans and notes payable are senior to the convertible notes.

 

With the automobile parts markets being highly competitive and many of the Company’s competitors having greater resources than it does, the Company may not be able to compete successfully.

 

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
·overall management capability.

 

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The Company’s competitors include independent suppliers of parts, as well as suppliers formed by spin-offs from the Company’s 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, business prospects and results of operations.

 

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 it could lose market share, any of which could materially harm the Company’s business, results of operations and profitability.

 

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

 

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. 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, revenues and profitability would be materially and adversely affected if it loses any of its large customers.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2011, approximately 11.7% of the Company’s sales were to Chery Automobile Co., Ltd, approximately 9.7% were to Dongfeng Auto Group Co., Ltd, approximately 7.8% were to Zhejiang Geely Holding Co., Ltd, and approximately 6.9% were to China FAW Group Corporation, the Company’s four largest customers. In total, these four largest customers accounted for 36.1% of the total sales in 2011. For the year ended December 31, 2010, approximately 12.3% of the Company’s sales were to Chery Automobile Co., Ltd, approximately 11.0% were to BYD Automobile Co., Ltd, approximately 8.8% were to Dongfeng Auto Group Co., Ltd and approximately 8.5% were to Zhejiang Geely Holding Co., Ltd, the Company’s four largest customers. In total, these four largest customers accounted for 40.6% of the total sales in 2010. 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 not be able to collect receivables incurred by customers.

 

Although the Company currently sells its products on credit, the Company’s ability to receive payment for its products depends on the continued creditworthiness of its customers. The Company’s customer base may change if its sales increase because of the Company’s expanded capacity. If the Company is not able to collect its receivables, its profitability will be adversely affected.

 

The Company may be subject to product liability and warranty and recall claims, which may increase the costs of doing business and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and liquidity.

 

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 some of 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 “3-R Guarantees” service charge for repair, replacement and refund in an amount of about 2%–6% of the total amount of parts supplied. Accordingly, the Company has experienced and will 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, which may increase the Company’s compliance costs and may adversely affect its results of operations.

 

The Company is subject to the requirements of environmental and occupational safety and health laws and regulations in China. The Company cannot provide assurance 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 requirements. 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. The capital requirements and other expenditures that may be necessary to comply with environmental requirements could increase and become a material expense of doing business.

 

12
 

 

Non-performance by the Company’s suppliers may adversely affect its operations by delaying delivery or causing delivery failures, which may negatively affect demand, sales and profitability.

 

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 fail to perform, and it 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.

 

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 staff, particularly engineers and other employees with mechanics and electronics expertise, and managerial, finance and marketing personnel. The Company does not maintain a key person life insurance policy on Mr. Hanlin Chen or Mr. Qizhou Wu. 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 71.31% of its outstanding common stock and may have conflicts of interest with the Company’s minority stockholders.

 

As of December 31, 2011, members of the Company’s management beneficially own approximately 71.31% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. As a result, except for the related party transactions that require approval of the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company, these majority stockholders have control over decisions to enter into any corporate transaction, which could result in the approval of transactions that might not maximize overall stockholders’ value. 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. The Company regularly engages in transactions with entities controlled by one or more of its officers and directors, including those controlled by Mr. Hanlin Chen, the chairman of the board of directors of the Company and its controlling stockholder.

 

Covenants contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement and the convertible notes restrict the Company’s operating flexibility.

 

In connection with the convertible notes, the Company entered into a series of binding covenants and contractual provisions that limits the Company’s operating flexibility. For example, the Securities Purchase Agreement prohibits the Company from paying cash dividends on common stock without the approval of the holders of the convertible notes. Also, if the Weighted Average Price (WAP) for twenty (20) consecutive trading days is less than $3.187, the convertible notes holders shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem all or any portion of the convertible notes. The portion of this convertible notes subject to redemption in connection with the share price change of the underlying common stock will be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the sum of the conversion amount being redeemed and the Other Make Whole Amount as mentioned in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements. Also, upon the consummation of a change of control as defined in the convertible notes agreements, the convertible notes holders may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of the convertible notes. These binding covenants and contractual provisions limit the Company’s ability to declare or pay dividends, issue other notes or debt, issue certain types of securities engage in certain types of intercompany loans or enter into other types of fundamental transactions. These restrictions could limit the Company’s ability to operate and may harm the equity interest of stockholders.

 

There is a limited public float of the Company’s common stock, which can result in the Company’s stock price being volatile and prevent the realization of a profit on resale of the Company’s common stock or derivative securities.

 

There is a limited public float of the Company’s common stock. As of December 31, 2011, approximately 28.69% of the Company’s outstanding common stock is considered part of the public float. The term “public float” refers to shares freely and actively tradable on the NASDAQ Capital Market and not owned by officers, directors or affiliates, as such term is defined under the Securities Act. As a result of the limited public float and the limited trading volume on some days, the market price of the Company’s common stock can be volatile, and relatively small changes in the demand for or supply of the Company’s common stock can have a disproportionate effect on the market price for its common stock. This stock price volatility could prevent a security holder seeking to sell the Company’s common stock or derivative securities from being able to sell them at or above the price at which the stock or derivative securities were bought, or at a price which a fully liquid market would report.

 

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 it 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 and possibly prevent transactions that would maximize stockholders’ value.

 

Litigation arising from the need to restate certain previously issued historical financial statements of the Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

On March 17, 2011, the Company announced that it had identified historical accounting errors relating to the accounting treatment of the Company’s convertible notes issued on February 15, 2008. The accounting errors resulted in the misstatement of certain charges since the first quarter of 2009. The Company undertook a review to determine the total amount of the errors and the accounting periods in which the errors occurred. The Company’s review was overseen by the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company, the “Audit Committee”, with the assistance of management and accounting consultants engaged by management. The Audit Committee concluded on March 12, 2011 that the Company’s previously issued audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009, and related auditors’ report, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarterly periods ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010 should no longer be relied upon because of these errors in the financial statements. The Company’s board of directors agreed with the Audit Committee’s conclusions. After analyzing the size and timing of the errors, the Company determined that, in the aggregate, the errors were material and would require the Company to restate certain of its previously issued financial statements.

 

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On October 25, 2011, a purported securities class action was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of all purchasers of the Company’s securities between March 25, 2010 and March 17, 2011. On February 24, 2012, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, changing the purported class period from May 12, 2010 through March 17, 2011. The amended complaint alleges that the Company, certain of its present officers and directors and the Company’s former auditor violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules promulgated thereunder, and seeks unspecified damages.

 

On December 23, 2011, a purported shareholder derivative action was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) on behalf of the Company. The complaint alleges that certain of the Company’s current officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company in relation to the Company’s accounting of convertible notes issued in February 2008. On January 25, 2012, a second purported shareholder derivative action was filed in the Court of Chancery on behalf of the Company. On February 3, 2012 the Court of Chancery consolidated the two cases. The shareholder suits have been stayed pending the outcome of any motion to dismiss in the securities class action.

 

The Company has not yet been required to respond formally to these lawsuits. In addition, the complaints do not specify an amount of damages that plaintiffs seek. Because these matters are in very early stages, the Company cannot determine whether or not an adverse outcome is probable, nor can it provide a reasonable estimate of potential losses related to these matters. An adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

The Company may also be subject to additional lawsuits as a result of the restatement, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and the trading price of its shares.

 

The Company is subject to reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. The Securities and Exchange Commission, the “SEC,” as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, has adopted rules requiring public companies to include a report of management in its annual report that contains an assessment by management of the effectiveness of such company’s internal control over financial reporting. In addition, beginning with the year ended December 31, 2007, an independent registered public accounting firm for an accelerated filer must attest to and report on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

The Company’s management has conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting and concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2011, and a material weakness was noted because the Company did not have sufficient personnel with appropriate levels of accounting knowledge and experience to address complex U.S. GAAP accounting issues, and to prepare and review financial statements and related disclosures under U.S. GAAP. If the Company fails to maintain the effectiveness or fails to remediate the deficiencies of its internal control over financial reporting, the Company may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that it has effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

Effective internal controls are necessary for the Company to produce reliable financial reports. For the deficiencies identified in this fiscal year, the Company’s management team is evaluating remediation measures that can be undertaken to address this material weakness and will continue such evaluation so that it may institute a comprehensive remediation plan in order to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. Any failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of the Company’s financial statements, which in turn could negatively impact the trading price of the Company’s shares. Furthermore, the Company may need to incur additional costs and use additional management and other resources in an effort to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other requirements going forward.

 

The Company does not pay cash dividends on its common stock.

 

The Company has never paid common stock cash dividends and does not anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future. In addition, the Securities Purchase Agreement prohibits the Company from paying cash dividends on common stock without the approval of the holders of the convertible notes.

 

Techniques employed by short sellers may drive down the market price of the Company’s common stock.

 

Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. As it is in the short seller’s best interests for the price of the stock to decline, many short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a stock short. These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market.

 

Recently, public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been the subject of short selling. Much of the scrutiny and negative publicity has centered around allegations of a lack of effective internal control over financial reporting resulting in financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result, many of these companies are now conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations and, in the interim, are subject to shareholder lawsuits and/or SEC enforcement actions.

 

It is not clear what effect such negative publicity would have on the Company, if any. If the Company were to become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, the Company could have to expend a significant amount of resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend itself. While the Company would strongly defend against any such short seller attacks, the Company may be constrained in the manner in which it can proceed against the relevant short seller by principles of freedom of speech, applicable state law or issues of commercial confidentiality. Such a situation could be costly and time-consuming, and could distract the Company’s management from growing the Company. Even if such allegations are ultimately proven to be groundless, allegations against the Company could severely impact its business operations and stockholders equity, and any investment in the Company’s stock could be greatly reduced or rendered worthless.

 

RISKS RELATED TO DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES BESIDES THE UNITED STATES

 

The Company may face a severe operating environment during times of economic recession.

 

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The sales volume of the Company’s core products is largely influenced by the demand for its customers’ end products which are mostly sold in the Chinese markets. Future economic crises, either within China or without, may lead to a drastic drop in demand for the Company’s products.

 

Inflation in China could negatively affect the Company’s profitability and growth.

 

China’s economy has experienced rapid growth, much of it due to the issuance of debt over the last few years. This debt-fueled economic growth has led to growth in the money supply, causing rising inflation. If prices for the Company’s products rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the cost of production, it may harm the Company’s profitability. In order to control inflation, the Chinese government has imposed controls on bank credit, limits on loans and other restrictions on economic activities. Such policies have led to a slowing of economic growth. Additional measures could further slow economic activity in China, which could, in turn, materially increase the Company’s costs while also reducing demand for the Company’s products.

 

The Chinese government’s macroeconomic policies could have a negative effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.

 

The Chinese government has implemented various measures from time to time to control the rate of economic growth in the PRC. Some of these measures may have a negative effect on the Company over the short or long term. Recently, to cope with high inflation and economic imbalances, the Chinese government has tightened monetary policy and implemented floating exchange rate policy. In addition, in order to alleviate some of the effects of unbalanced growth and social discontent, the Chinese government has enacted a series of social programs and anti-inflationary measures. These, in turn, have increased the costs on the financial and manufacturing sectors, without having alleviated the effects of high inflation and economic imbalances. The Chinese government’s macroeconomic policies, even if effected properly, may significantly slow down China’s economy or cause great social unrest, all of which would have a negative effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.

 

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

 

Most 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 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. Therefore, the Chinese government’s involvement in the economy could adversely affect the Company’s business operations, results of operations and/or financial condition.

 

Because the Company’s operations are mostly located outside of the United States and are subject to Chinese laws, any change of Chinese laws may adversely affect its business.

 

Most of the Company’s operations are in the PRC, 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 PRC government actions, and unsettled political conditions. These factors may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations or on its 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 its international sales outside China by targeting markets, such as the United States and Brazil. 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 its business, operating results and financial condition.

 

15
 

 

The Company faces risks associated with currency exchange rate fluctuations; any adverse fluctuation may adversely affect its operating margins.

 

Although the Company is incorporated in the State of Delaware, 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 its 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 its exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations and involve costs and risks of their own, such as ongoing management time and expertise requirements, external costs to implement the strategy and potential accounting implications.

 

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 its ability to access U.S. capital markets.

 

The Chinese government could change its policies toward private enterprise, 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 China’s 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.

 

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

 

The Company receives most of its revenues in Chinese Renminbi (RMB). 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 RMB into foreign currency. In July 2005, the Chinese government has adjusted its exchange rate policy from “Fixed Rate” to “Floating Rate.” Between July 2005 to December 2011, the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar appreciated from RMB1.00 to US$0.1205 to RMB 1.00 to US$0.1587. The Company believes that this significant appreciation will continue for the near future. Significant appreciation of the RMB is likely to decrease the income of export products and decrease the Company’s cash flow.

 

Because the Chinese legal system is not fully developed, the Company and its security holders’ 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. Moreover, interpretative case law does not have the same precedential value in China as in the United States, so legal compliance in China may be more difficult or expensive.

 

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

 

Most of the Company’s assets are located in China and twelve of its 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 to originate an action in the United States. 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.

 

16
  

 

The Company may be subject to fines and legal sanctions imposed by State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) or other Chinese government authorities if it or its Chinese directors or employees fail to comply with recent Chinese regulations relating to employee share options or shares granted by offshore listed companies to Chinese domestic individuals.

 

On December 25, 2006, the People’s Bank of China, or PBOC, issued the Administration Measures on Individual Foreign Exchange Control, and the corresponding Implementation Rules were issued by SAFE on January 5, 2007. Both of these regulations became effective on February 1, 2007. According to these regulations, all foreign exchange matters relating to employee stock holding plans, share option plans or similar plans with Chinese domestic individuals’ participation require approval from the SAFE or its authorized branch. On March 28, 2007, the SAFE issued the Application Procedure of Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Holding Plan or Stock Option Plan of Overseas-Listed Company, or the Stock Option Rule. Under the Stock Option Rule, Chinese domestic individuals who are granted share options or shares by an offshore listed company are required, through a Chinese agent or Chinese subsidiary of the offshore listed company, to register with the SAFE and complete certain other procedures. As the Company is an offshore listed company, its Chinese domestic directors and employees who may be granted share options or shares shall become subject to the Stock Option Rule. Under the Stock Option Rule, employees stock holding plans, share option plans or similar plans of offshore listed companies with Chinese domestic individuals’ participation must be filed with the SAFE. After the Chinese domestic directors or employees exercise their options, they must apply for the amendment to the registration with the SAFE. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has completed such SAFE registration and other related procedures according to PRC law. If the Company or its Chinese domestic directors or employees fail to comply with these regulations in the future, the Company or its Chinese domestic directors or employees may be subject to fines or other legal sanctions imposed by the SAFE or other Chinese government authorities.

 

Capital outflow policies in China may hamper the Company’s ability to declare and pay dividends to its stockholders.

 

China has adopted currency and capital transfer regulations. These regulations may require the Company to comply with complex regulations for the movement of capital. Although the Company’s management believes that it will be in compliance with these regulations, should these regulations or the interpretation of them by courts or regulatory agencies change, the Company may not be able to pay dividends to its stockholders outside of China. In addition, under current Chinese law, the Company’s joint-ventures and wholly owned enterprise in China must retain a reserve equal to 10% of its net income after taxes, not to exceed 50% of its registered capital. Accordingly, this reserve will not be available to be distributed as dividends to the Company’s stockholders. The Company presently does not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future. The Company’s board of directors intends to follow a policy of retaining all of its earnings to finance the development and execution of its strategy and the expansion of its business.

 

ITEM 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

 

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 2.PROPERTIES.

 

The Company’s headquarters are located at No. 1 Henglong Road, Yu Qiao Development Zone, Shashi District, Jing Zhou City Hubei Province, the PRC. Set forth below are the manufacturing facilities operated by each joint venture. The Company has forty-five to fifty years long-term rights to use the lands and buildings.

 

Name of Entity  Product   Total Area
(M2)
   Building Area
(M2)
   Original Cost of
Equipment
   Site 
Henglong   Automotive Parts    225,221    20,226   $35,710,000    Jingzhou City, Hubei Province 
         13,393    13,707   $-    Wuhan City, Hubei Province 
Jiulong   Power Steering Gear    39,478    23,728   $31,880,000    Jingzhou City, Hubei Province 
Shenyang   Automotive Steering Gear    35,354    5,625   $5,480,000    Shenyang City, Liaoning Province 
Zhejiang   Steering Pumps    32,000    20,000   $10,610,000    Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province 
Jielong   Electric Power Steering    99,580    -   $6,090,000    Wuhan City, Hubei Province 
USAI   Sensor Modular    -    -   $900,000    Wuhan City, Hubei Province 
Hengsheng   Automotive Steering Gear    170,520    26,000   $12,490,000    Jingzhou City, Hubei Province 
Wuhu   Automotive Steering Gear    83,700    12,600   $4,160,000    Wuhu City, Anhui Province 
Total        699,246    121,886   $107,320,000      

 

The Company is not involved in investments in (i) real estate or interests in real estate, (ii) real estate mortgages, and (iii) securities of or interests in persons primarily engaged in real estate activities, as all of its land rights are used for production purposes.

 

ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

On October 25, 2011, a purported securities class action was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of all purchasers of the Company’s securities between March 25, 2010 and March 17, 2011. On February 24, 2012, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, changing the purported class period from May 12, 2010 through March 17, 2011. The amended complaint alleges that the Company, certain of its present officers and directors and the Company’s former auditor violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules promulgated thereunder, and seeks unspecified damages. The Company has not yet responded to the amended complaint, but believes the allegations in the complaint are without merit. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously against the claims.

 

17
 

 

On December 23, 2011, a purported shareholder derivative action was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) on behalf of the Company. The complaint alleges that certain of the Company’s current officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company in relation to the Company’s accounting of convertible notes issued in February, 2008. On January 25, 2012, a second purported shareholder derivative action was filed in the Court of Chancery on behalf of the Company. On February 3, 2012 the Court of Chancery consolidated the two cases. The shareholder suits have been stayed pending the outcome of any motion to dismiss in the securities class action. The Company believes the allegations in the shareholder suits are without merit, and intends to defend itself vigorously against the claims.

 

The Company has not yet been required to respond formally to these lawsuits. In addition, the complaints do not specify an amount of damages that plaintiffs seek. Because these matters are in very early stages, the Company cannot determine whether or not an adverse outcome is probable, nor can it provide a reasonable estimate of potential losses related to these matters. While the Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to each of these actions and intends to defend them vigorously, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Other than the above, the Company is not a party to any pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any threatened legal proceedings. In addition, no director, officer or affiliate of the Company, or owner of record of more than five percent of the securities of the Company, or any associate of any such director, officer or security holder is a party adverse to the Company or has a material interest adverse to the Company in reference to pending litigation.

 

ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

 

Not applicable.

 

18
 

 

PART II

ITEM 5.               MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

MARKET PRICES OF COMMON STOCK

 

The Company’s common stock has been traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “CAAS.” The high and low bid intra-day prices of the common stock in 2011 and 2010 were reported on NASDAQ for the time periods indicated on the table below. Accordingly, the table below contains the high and low bid closing prices of the common stock as reported on the NASDAQ for the time periods indicated.

 

   Price Range 
   2011   2010 
   High   Low   High   Low 
First Quarter  $15.02   $7.40   $27.17   $14.18 
Second Quarter  $11.59   $6.30   $25.15   $14.60 
Third Quarter  $9.29   $4.03   $20.70   $13.60 
Fourth Quarter  $5.65   $3.23   $17.98   $13.10 

 

STOCKHOLDERS

 

The Company’s common shares are issued in registered form. Securities Transfer Corporation in Frisco, Texas is the registrar and transfer agent for the Company’s common stock. As of December 31, 2011, there were 28,260,302 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding and the Company had approximately 59 stockholders of record.

 

DIVIDENDS

 

The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its common stock and it does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company currently intends to retain future earnings, if any, to finance operations and the expansion of its business. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be based upon the Company’s financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, plans for expansion, restrictions imposed by any financing arrangements and any other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant.

 

SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

 

The securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans at December 31, 2011 are as follows:

 

Plan category  Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options
   Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options
   Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security
holders
   2,200,000   $9.72    1,721,150 

 

The stock option plan was approved at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and the maximum common shares for issuance under this plan are 2,200,000 with a term of 10 years.

 

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

Company Stock Performance

 

The information contained below shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the “Exchange Act,” whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing (except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference) and shall not otherwise be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act (except to the extent that the Company specifically requests that this information be treated as soliciting material or specifically incorporate this information by reference).

 

The following graph shows a five-year comparison of the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company’s common stock as compared to the cumulative total return of two other indexes: a custom composite index (“Peer Group”), and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index. The companies included in the Peer Group are: SORL Auto Parts, Inc., China Yuchai International Limited, Standard Motor Products Inc. and Dorman Products, Inc. These comparisons assume an initial investment of $100 and the reinvestment of dividends.

 

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   Fiscal Years End December 31, 
                         
   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010   2011 
CAAS  $100   $65   $28   $156   $114   $28 
S&P 5001  $100   $105   $66   $84   $97   $99 
Peer Group  $100   $101   $54   $129   $255   $187 
Peer + CAAS  $100   $92   $47   $136   $219   $147 

 

1 Data Source: Standard & Poor's

 

The graph and other information furnished in the section titled “Share Performance” under this Part II, Item 5 of this Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be “soliciting” material or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

ITEM 6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

 

The selected consolidated statement of income (loss) and cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 and the selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 are derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The selected consolidated financial data for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, are derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements not included in this Annual Report.

 

The following selected historical financial information should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes and the information contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

20
 

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2007   2008   2009   2010   2011 
Statement of income (loss) data:                         
Net sales  $133,597,003   $163,179,286   $255,597,553   $345,925,182   $347,974,754 
Gross profit   45,323,048    41,470,073    61,742,626    80,302,710    68,098,997 
Operating expenses   24,611,397    25,207,560    25,648,736    27,384,338    36,201,809 
Income from operations   20,737,277    16,996,576    36,932,395    54,047,404    33,378,496 
Net income (loss) attributable to parent company  $8,859,906   $10,244,130   $(26,440,871)  $51,738,113   $40,791,987 
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to parent company                         
— basic  $0.37   $0.35   $(0.98)  $1.65   $1.30 
— diluted  $0.37   $0.35   $(0.98)  $1.10   $0.69 
Statement of cash flows data:                         
Net cash flows provided by operating activities  $11,324,473   $16,373,966   $34,956,534   $38,552,161   $34,063,290 
Net cash flows used in investing activities (1)  $(13,159,277)  $(22,356,060)  $(17,335,687)  $(32,596,741)  $(14,402,403)
Net cash flows provided by/(used in) financing activities (2)  $(7,429,025)  $21,981,953   $(11,290,625)  $(1,394,578)  $871,936 

 

   December 31, 
   2007   2008   2009   2010   2011 
Balance sheet data:                         
Cash and cash equivalents  $19,487,159   $37,113,375   $43,480,176   $49,424,979   $72,960,500 
Total assets   182,984,687    231,888,141    314,382,572    405,527,665    466,447,120 
Long-term debt obligation and accrued make-whole (2)    -    -    -    -    31,187,138 
Total liabilities (2)   92,583,555    129,252,311    232,529,179    257,287,874    250,289,944 
Total stockholders’ equity  $90,401,132   $102,635,830   $81,853,393   $148,239,791   $216,157,176 

 

(1)In January 2010, the Company invested $3.1 million to establish a joint venture company with another stockholder, Beijing Henglong. Please see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 15 of this Annual Report for more details.

 

(2)In February 2008, the Company issued convertible notes in the amount of $35 million, of which $5.0 million and $6.4 million were redeemed and converted into common shares in April 2009 and March 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the accrued make-whole interests were $7.6 million, $6.6 million and $4.8 million, respectively. Upon expiration of the mandatory redemption period of the convertible notes in February 2011, the outstanding balance of the convertible notes and accrued make-whole interests were reclassified as long-term obligations. Please see Notes 12 and 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 15 of this Annual Report for more details.

 

21
 

 

ITEM 7.                 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto and other financial information contained elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

 

GENERAL OVERVIEW

 

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, engages in the manufacture and sales of automotive systems and components in the People’s Republic of China, the “PRC” or “China.” Genesis, a company incorporated on January 3, 2003 under The Companies Ordinance in Hong Kong as a limited liability company, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Henglong USA Corporation, “HLUSA,” which was incorporated on January 8, 2007 in Troy, Michigan, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and mainly engages in marketing of automotive parts in North America, and provides after sales service and research and development support accordingly. Furthermore, the Company owns the following aggregate net interests in the following wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures organized in the PRC as of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009.

 

   Aggregate Net Interest 
Name of Entity  2011   2010   2009 
Jingzhou Henglong Automotive Parts Co., Ltd., “Henglong”   80.00%   80.00%   80.00%
Shashi Jiulong Power Steering Gears Co., Ltd., “Jiulong”   81.00%   81.00%   81.00%
Shenyang Jinbei Henglong Automotive Steering System Co., Ltd., “Shenyang”   70.00%   70.00%   70.00%
Zhejiang Henglong & Vie Pump-Manu Co., Ltd., “Zhejiang”   51.00%   51.00%   51.00%
Universal Sensor Application Inc., “USAI”   83.34%   83.34%   83.34%
Wuhu HengLong Auto Steering System Co., Ltd., “Wuhu”   77.33%   77.33%   77.33%
Wuhan Jielong Electric Power Steering Co., Ltd., “Jielong”   85.00%   85.00%   85.00%
Jingzhou Hengsheng Automotive System Co., Ltd, “Hengsheng”   100.00%   100.00%   100.00%
Jingzhou Henglong Automotive Technology (Testing) Center, “Testing Center”   80.00%   80.00%   80.00%
Beijing Hainachun HengLong Automotive Steering System Co., Ltd, “Beijing HengLong”   50.00%   50.00%    

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

2011 Versus 2010 Comparative

 

Net Sales and Cost of Sales

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, net sales and cost of sales are summarized as follows:

 

   Net Sales   Cost of sales 
   2011   2010   Change   2011   2010   Change 
Henglong  $196,296,846   $197,226,807   $(929,961)   -0.5%  $154,856,218   $150,622,578   $4,233,640    2.8%
Jiulong   69,517,738    92,095,265    (22,577,527)   -24.5    60,387,004    80,664,101    (20,277,097)   -25.1 
Shenyang   30,290,139    39,691,553    (9,401,414)   -23.7    26,239,369    33,644,820    (7,405,451)   -22.0 
Zhejiang   20,269,837    26,193,095    (5,923,258)   -22.6    15,555,120    18,630,742    (3,075,622)   -16.5 
Wuhu   35,271,488    33,057,878    2,213,610    6.7    33,531,226    31,330,114    2,201,112    7.0 
Hengsheng1   22,313,422    13,092,659    9,220,763    70.4    17,655,987    10,650,920    7,005,067    65.8 
Other Sectors1   43,357,605    32,707,067    10,650,538    32.6    41,729,969    29,204,686    12,525,283    42.9 
Eliminations   (69,342,321)   (88,139,142)   18,796,821    -21.3    (70,079,136)   (89,125,489)   19,046,353    -21.4 
Total  $347,974,754   $345,925,182   $2,049,572    0.6%  $279,875,757   $265,622,472   $14,253,285    5.4%

 

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1Hengsheng was previously included in “Other Sectors.” The Company is now reporting Hengsheng as a separate sector, as it has recently become a principal profit maker. As such, a reclassification has been made to all periods presented to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations.

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales were $347,974,754 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $345,925,182 for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of $2,049,572, or 0.6%. Historically, more than 90% of the Company’s business was derived from China and denominated in RMB, and the increase in net sales results from the appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar. The growth rate of the Company’s net sales in 2011 was lower than the prior year’s as China’s auto market demand slowed, as a result of the expiration of government incentive policies (such as subsidies to rural-area consumers, fuel-efficient car buyers and reduced purchase taxes) and tightened auto industry financing. The decrease in sales volume led to a sales decrease of $18,817,548, a decrease in the average selling price led to a sales decrease of $406,716 and the appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales increase of $21,273,836 compared with the same period of 2010. Further analysis is as follows:

 

Net sales for Henglong was $196,296,846 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $197,226,807 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing a decrease of $929,961, or 0.5%. Decrease in sales was mainly due to decrease in sale volumes with a sales decrease of $4,788,983, decrease in selling price with a sales decrease of $5,715,008 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a sales increase of $9,574,030.

 

Net sales for Jiulong was $69,517,738 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $92,095,265 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing a decrease of $22,577,527, or 24.5%. Excluding the net sales of $9,497,104 to Chrysler during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, net sales decrease was $13,080,423, or 15.8% in 2011. Prior to October 1, 2010, sales of Hengsheng’s product to Chrysler were made through Jiulong. Subsequent to that date, Hengsheng directly sells its products to Chrysler. The net sales decrease was mainly due to decrease in sales volumes with a sales decrease of $16,441,619, increase in selling prices resulting from newly developed steering gear models which have higher selling prices than those of old models with a sales increase of $734,771 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a sales increase of $2,626,425.

 

Net sales for Shenyang was $30,290,139 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $39,691,553 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing a decrease of $9,401,414, or 23.7%. Net sales decrease was mainly due to a decrease in sale volumes with a sales decrease of $11,662,345, an increase in selling prices resulting from newly developed steering gear models that have higher selling prices than those of older models with a sales increase of $318,036 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a sales increase of $1,942,895.

 

Net sales for Zhejiang was $20,269,837 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $26,193,095 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing a decrease of $5,923,258, or 22.6%. Net sales decrease was mainly due to a decreased sale volumes with a sales decrease of $5,682,237, a decrease in selling price with a sales decrease of $1,521,246 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a sales increase of $1,280,225.

 

Net sales for Wuhu was $35,271,488 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $33,057,878 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing an increase of $2,213,610, or 6.7%. Net sales increase was mainly due to a decrease in sale volumes with a sales decrease of $1,752,322, an increase in selling prices resulting from newly developed steering gear models which have higher selling prices than that of older models with a sales increase of $2,331,516 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a sales increase of $1,634,416.

 

Net sales for Hengsheng was $22,313,422 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $13,092,659 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing an increase of $9,220,763, or 70.4%. Net sales increase was mainly due to an increase in automobile consumption in the United States as a result of its economic recovery. Hengsheng’s products were all sold to United States. Increase in sale volumes lead to a sales increase of $10,083,605, a decrease in selling price led to a sales decrease of $1,497,148 and the appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales increase of $634,306.

 

Net sales for Other Sectors was $43,357,605 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $32,707,067 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing an increase of $10,650,538 or 32.6%. Net sales increase was mainly due to an increase in the market demand for newly developed EPS products. Increase in sale volumes led to a sales increase of $4,567,049, increase in selling prices resulting from newly developed steering gear models that have higher selling prices than those of older models led to a sales increase of $4,408,880 and the appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales increase of $1,674,609.

 

23
 

 

Cost of Sales

 

For the year ended December 31, 2011, the cost of sales was $279,875,757, compared with $265,622,472 for the same period of 2010, an increase of $14,253,285, or 5.4%. Increase in cost of sales was mainly due to the net effect of decrease in sale volumes with a cost of sales decrease of $15,326,980, increase in unit cost with a cost of sales increase of $12,175,705, and the appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a cost of sales increase of $17,404,560. The increase in the unit cost of sales was primarily due to an increase in the cost of raw materials, such as steel. Further analysis is as follows:

 

Cost of sales for Henglong was $154,856,218 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $150,622,578 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing an increase of $4,233,640, or 2.8%. Increase in cost of sales was mainly due to a decrease in sales volumes with a cost of sales decrease of $6,878,103, an increase in unit cost with a cost of sales increase of $3,775,578 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a cost of sales increase of $7,336,165.

 

Cost of sales for Jiulong was $60,387,004 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $80,664,101 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing a decrease of $20,277,097, or 25.1%. Excluding the cost of sales of $7,430,534 to Chrysler during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, cost of sales decrease was $12,846,563, or 17.5%. Prior to October 1, 2010, the sales of Hengsheng’s products to Chrysler were made through Jiulong. Subsequent to that date, Hengsheng directly sells its products to Chrysler. Decrease in cost of sales was mainly due to a decrease in sales volumes with a cost of sales decrease of $16,301,757, an increase in unit cost with a cost of sales increase of $932,206 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a cost of sales increase of $2,522,988.

 

Cost of sales for Shenyang was $26,239,369 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $33,644,820 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing a decrease of $7,405,451, or 22.0%. Decrease in cost of sales was mainly due to a decrease in sales volumes with a cost of sales decrease of $10,121,205, an increase in unit cost with a cost of sales increase of $1,071,712 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a cost increase of $1,644,042.

 

Cost of sales for Zhejiang was $15,555,120 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $18,630,742 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing a decrease of $3,075,622, or 16.5%. Decrease in cost of sales was mainly due to a decrease in sales volumes with a cost of sales decrease of $4,101,041, an increase in unit cost with a cost of sales increase of $113,424 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a cost increase of $911,995.

 

Cost of sales for Wuhu was $33,531,226 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $31,330,114 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing an increase of $2,201,112, or 7.0%. Increase in cost of sales was mainly due to a decrease in sales volumes with a cost of sales decrease of $1,647,723, an increase in unit cost with a cost of sales increase of $2,336,653 and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar with a cost increase of $1,512,182.

 

Cost of sales for Hengsheng was $17,655,987 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $10,650,920 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing an increase of $7,005,067, or 65.8%. Increase in cost of sales increase was mainly due to an increase in automobile consumption in the United States as a result of its economic recovery. The increase in sales volumes led to a cost of sales increase of $8,561,925, a decrease in unit cost as a result of increase in purchases led to a cost of sales decrease of $2,074,006 and the appreciation of the RMB against U.S. dollar led to a cost of sales increase of $517,148.

 

Cost of sales for Other Sectors was $41,729,969 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $29,204,686 for the year ended December 31, 2010, representing an increase of $12,525,283, or 42.9%. Increase in net cost of sales was mainly due to an increase in market demand of newly developed EPS, which resulted in an increase in sales volumes. The increase in sales volumes led to a cost of sales increase of $5,543,612. Given that the Company’s market share of EPS in the China market is relatively low, and yet to reach a production level with economies of scale, the Company could not purchase relevant materials from suppliers for a lower price. Furthermore certain suppliers increased their selling prices as a result of inflation, which resulted in an increase in costs of sales of $5,480,944. The appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a cost of sales increase of $1,500,727.

 

Gross margin was 19.6% for the year ended December 31, 2011, representing a 3.6 percentage point decrease from 23.2% for the same period of 2010, which was primarily due to a decrease of selling price and an increase of unit cost.

 

Gain on Other Sales

 

Gain on other sales mainly consisted of net amount retained from sales of materials and other assets. For the year ended December 31, 2011, gain on other sales amounted to $1,481,308, while it amounted to $1,129,032 for the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase of $352,276, or 31.2%, was mainly due to an increase in sales of materials.

 

Selling Expenses

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, selling expenses are summarized as follows:

 

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   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   Increase/(Decrease)   Percentage 
Salaries and wages  $2,337,901   $2,247,519   $90,382    4.0%
Office expense   1,509,413    1,129,348    380,065    33.7 
Transportation expense   4,634,306    4,690,313    (56,007)   -1.2 
Rent expense   1,277,140    1,085,128    192,012    17.7 
Other expense   213,075    211,567    1,508    0.1 
Total  $9,971,835   $9,363,875   $607,960    6.5%

 

Selling expenses were $9,971,835 for the year ended December 31, 2011. As compared to $9,363,875 for the year ended December 31, 2010, there was an increase of $607,960, or 6.5%, which was mainly due to an:

 

·increase in office expenses (including office supplies, travel expenses and meeting expenses), as a result of an increase in marketing activities; and

 

·increase in rent expense due to expansion of commercial networks, which led to increases in product warehouses rental.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, general and administrative expenses are summarized as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010   Increase/
(Decrease)
   Percentage 
Salaries and wages  $5,401,098   $4,681,335   $719,763    15.4%
Labor insurance expenses   2,988,187    2,086,319    901,868    43.2 
Maintenance and repair expenses   1,112,250    679,858    432,392    63.6 
Property and other taxes   1,479,122    1,179,092    300,030    25.4 
Provision/(recovery) for bad debts   (75,486)   (2,558,818)   2,483,332    -97.0 
Office expense   1,642,180    958,542    683,638    71.3 
Depreciation and amortization expense   919,682    691,721    227,961    33.0 
Listing expenses1   2,370,880    1,939,774    431,106    22.2 
Others expenses   386,456    371,388    15,068    4.1 
Total  $16,224,369   $10,029,211   $6,195,158    61.8%

 

1Listing expenses consisted of the costs associated with legal, accounting and auditing fees for operating a public company. The expenses also included share-based compensation expense for options granted to members of the audit committee.

 

General and administrative expenses were $16,224,369 for the year ended December 31, 2011. As compared to $10,029,211 for the year ended December 31, 2010, there was an increase of $6,195,158, or 61.8%.

 

The analysis of expense items with significant fluctuation is as follows:

 

·Increases in salaries and wages and labor insurance expenses were mainly due to an overall increase in labor cost and additional endowment insurance for employees.

 

·Increase of maintenance and repair expenses was mainly due to repair and maintenance projects on certain office facilities in 2011, thus the costs of maintenance of office facilities and repair increased in 2011.

 

·Increase in property and other taxes paid to government was mainly due to acquisition of new land use rights and development of new properties in 2011.

 

·The Company recorded provision for bad debts based on specific identification methods. Decrease in provision for bad debts in 2011 was mainly due to further improvement of OEMs’ financial positions as a result of the continuing growth of China's economy. Compared with bad debt recovery of $2.6 million in 2010, in 2011, the Company collected less aged accounts receivable that was previously considered uncollectible and for which the Company made provisions. Accordingly, there was less of a reversal of the provision for bad debts.

 

·The increase in office expense was mainly due to expansion of operations.

 

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·The increase of depreciation and amortization expense was mainly due to the increase in the number of land and buildings, office equipment and software as a result of operation expansion.

 

·The increase in listing expenses was mainly due to the increase of auditing expenses, accounting consulting expenses and attorney service expenses. The increase in professional fees was mainly due to increased cost in the requirement of compliance as a publicly listed entity, the restatement of certain of the Company’s previously reported financial statements and the need to evaluate the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses, “R & D” expenses, were $10,005,605 for the year ended December 31, 2011. As compared to $7,991,252 for the year ended December 31, 2010, there was an increase of $2,014,353, or 25.2%.

 

The global automotive parts industry is highly competitive; winning and maintaining new business requires suppliers to rapidly produce new and innovative products on a cost-competitive basis. In 2011, foreign OEMs significantly increased their demand for EPS, but the related technology in China is still in the research and development and testing stage. In order to expand into the market for EPS, the Company increased its investment in the research and development of EPS in 2011, including assigning the Company’s senior technicians and advanced manufacturing equipment to EPS, establishing the EPS trail-production department, introducing technology expectations and purchasing advanced technology and test equipment. At present, the Company has developed several types of EPSs suitable for small-engine cars, and has sold certain quantities of EPS.

 

Income from Operations

 

Income from operations was $33,378,496 for the year ended December 31, 2011. As compared to $54,047,404 for the year ended December 31, 2010, there was a decrease of $20,668,908, or 38.2%, which mainly consisted of a decrease of $12,203,713, or 15.2%, in gross profit, an increase of $352,276, or 31.2%, in gain on other sales (such as raw materials) and an increase in operating expenses of $8,817,471, or 32.2%.

 

Other Income, Net

 

Other income was $168,749 for the year ended December 31, 2011. As compared to $558,058 for the year ended December 31, 2010, there was a decrease of $389,309, or 69.8%, primarily as a result of fewer government subsidies being recognized in 2011.

 

The Company’s government subsidies consisted of an interest subsidy and an investment subsidy. Interest subsidies are refunds of bank interest charges offered by the Chinese government. Investment subsidies are subsidies for encouraging foreign investors to set up technologically advanced enterprises in China.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company received interest subsidy of $168,749.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company received interest subsidy of $311,291, and investment subsidy of $231,951, as Henglong was qualified as an advanced enterprise.

 

Financial Expenses

 

Financial expenses were $3,983,817 for the year ended December 31, 2011. As compared to financial expenses of $3,360,837 for 2010, there was an increase of $622,980, or 18.5%, primarily as a result of an: (a) increase in the average balance of borrowings increased to $8.6 million in 2011 from $6.0 million in 2010; (b) increase in the average borrowing interest rate to 6.29% in 2011 from 5.25% in 2010; and (c) increase in foreign currency losses, as the Company’s PRC based subsidiaries and Genesis maintain their books and records in the RMB (their functional currency) and Hengsheng, which is also based in the PRC, settles its external sales in U.S. dollars. During 2011, the RMB appreciated approximately by 5% against the U.S. dollar.

 

Gain (Loss) on Change in Fair Value of Derivatives

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the gain on change in fair value of the derivatives embedded in the convertible notes was $20,971,087. As compared to $20,171,698 for the year ended December 31, 2010, there was an increase of $799,389. The derivative liability was marked to market each period.

 

Compared with the fair value of compound derivative liabilities as of December 31, 2010, the fair value of compound derivative liabilities decreased $24,712,660, including: (a) on March 1, 2011, an investor converted $6,428,571 of the principal amount of the convertible notes and, correspondingly, the derivative liabilities decreased $3,741,573; and (b) during the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company’s common stock market price dropped to $3.30 from $13.62 at the beginning of year, which significantly decreased fair value of $20,971,087 for the embedded conversion option of the convertible notes. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 15 of this Annual Report for more details.

 

26
 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company’s common stock market price dropped to $13.62 from $18.71 at the beginning of the year, which significantly decreased the intrinsic value of the embedded conversion option of the convertible notes. As a result, the fair value of compound derivative liabilities decreased significantly and, correspondingly, the gain on change in fair value of derivatives increased.

 

The increase of gain on change in fair value of derivatives as compared with 2010 was primarily due to greater stock price decreases with lower compound derivative liabilities in 2011.

 

Gain on Convertible Notes Conversion

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recognized a gain of $1,564,418 for convertible notes conversion which occurred in March 2011 whereas there was no convertible note converted in 2010.

 

On March 1, 2011, an investor converted $6,428,571 principal amount of the convertible notes at a conversion price of $7.0822 per share and the Company issued 907,708 shares of its common stock to the investor. On the conversion date, the market price of the common shares issued was $10,111,869 ($11.14 per share) and the value of the conversion consideration was $11,676,287, including $6,428,571 of principal, $1,506,143 of coupon interest and make-whole amount payable and $3,741,573 of derivative liabilities under such principal. The Company recorded a gain on convertible notes conversion of $1,564,418, which is the difference between the market price of the common stock and the conversion consideration.

 

Income Before Income Tax Expenses and Equity In Earnings Of Affiliated Companies

 

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was $52,098,933 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $71,416,323 for the year ended December 31, 2010, a decrease of $19,317,390, or 27.0%, including a decrease in income from operations of $20,668,908, a decrease in gain on other income of $389,309, an increase in financial expense of $622,980, an increase in gain on change in fair value of derivative of $799,389 and an increase in gain on convertible notes conversion of $1,564,418.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense was $4,353,702 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $8,484,205 for the year ended December 31, 2010, a decrease of $4,130,503, mainly because of: (1) a decrease in income before income tax; and (2) certain joint ventures of the Company based in the PRC that were qualified as an “Advanced Technology Enterprises” in 2011 need to have their qualification re-assessed in 2012. Thus, for these entities, their current tax rates of 12.5% and 15% need further government assessment. If such approval is not given, these entities will be subject to a tax rate of 25% in 2012. Therefore, the Company has calculated deferred income tax for these joint ventures based on a rate of 25% in 2011, while preferential rates were applied previously. As a result, additional deferred tax assets of $929,795 were recognized, which offset the current income tax expense. See Note 25 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 15 of this Annual Report. For a full reconciliation of the Company’s effective tax rate to the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35%, and further explanation of the Company’s provision for taxes, see Note 27 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 15.

 

Net Income

 

Net income was $47,903,481 for the year ended December 31, 2011. As compared with $62,917,302 for the year ended December 31, 2010, there was a decrease of $15,013,821 or 23.9%, representing a decrease in income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies of $19,317,390, or 27.0%, a decrease in income tax expenses of $4,130,503, or 48.7%, and an increase in equity in earnings of affiliated companies of $173,066.

 

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

 

The Company recorded net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $7,111,494 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $11,179,189 for the year ended December 31, 2010, a decrease of $4,067,695, or 36.4%.

 

The Company owns different equity interests in nine joint ventures, through which it conducts its operations. The operating results of eight entities were consolidated in the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. The Company records the net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of the respective entities for each period.

 

In 2011, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests decreased as compared to that of 2010, primarily resulting from a decrease in net income of joint ventures.

 

27
 

 

Net Income Attributable to Parent Company

 

Net income attributable to parent company was $40,791,987 for the year ended December 31, 2011. As compared to $51,738,113 for the year ended December 31, 2010, there was a decrease of $10,946,126, consisting of a decrease in net income of $15,013,821, and a decrease in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $4,067,695.

 

2010 Versus 2009 Comparative

Net Sales and Cost of Sales

 

For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, net sales and cost of sales are summarized as follows:

 

   Net Sales   Cost of sales 
   2010   2009   Change   2010   2009   Change 
Henglong  $197,226,807   $153,459,876   $43,766,931    28.5%  $150,622,578   $112,141,910   $38,480,668    34.3%
Jiulong   92,095,265    61,613,116    30,482,149    49.5    80,664,101    53,368,639    27,295,462    51.1 
Shenyang   39,691,553    32,492,844    7,198,709    22.2    33,644,820    27,051,979    6,592,841    24.4 
Zhejiang   26,193,095    24,193,366    1,999,729    8.3    18,630,742    18,926,080    (295,338)   -1.6 
Wuhu   33,057,878    26,496,148    6,561,730    24.8    31,330,114    25,769,456    5,560,658    21.6 
Hengsheng1   13,092,659    10,209,668    2,882,991    28.2    10,650,920    7,244,787    3,406,133    47 
Other Sectors1   32,707,067    596,865    32,110,202    5379.8    29,204,686    710,971    28,493,715    4007.7 
Eliminations   (88,139,142)   (53,464,330)   (34,674,812)   64.9    (89,125,489)   (51,358,895)   (37,766,594)   73.5 
Total  $345,925,182   $255,597,553   $90,327,629    35.3%  $265,622,472   $193,854,927   $71,767,545    37.0%

 

1.Hengsheng was previously included in “Other Sectors.” The Company is now reporting Hengsheng as a separate sector in 2011, as it has recently become a principal profit maker. As such, a reclassification has been made to all periods presented to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations.

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales were $345,925,182 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $255,597,553 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $90,327,629, or 35.3%, mainly due to the increases in the income of Chinese residents and significant government investment, including incentives to buyers, leading to an increase in demand of passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, and the resultant increase in the Company’s sales of steering gear and pumps. Further analysis is as follows:

 

Net sales for Henglong was $197,226,807 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $153,469,876 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $43,766,931, or 28.5%. Net sales increase was mainly due to increased sale volumes with a sales increase of $56,708,725, the impact from the decrease in sales price of $15,532,900 and the effect of foreign currency translation with a sales increase of $2,591,106.

 

Net sales for Jiulong was $92,095,265 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $61,613,116 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $30,482,149, or 49.5%. The net sales increase was mainly due to increased sale volumes with a sales increase of $25,273,955, the impact from the increase in sales price of $4,159,962 and the effect of foreign currency translation with a sales increase of $1,048,232.

 

Net sales for Shenyang was $39,691,553 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $32,492,844 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $7,198,709, or 22.2%. The net sales increase was mainly due to increased sale volumes with a sales increase of $8,770,764, the impact from the decrease in sales price of $2,077,612, and the effect of foreign currency translation with a sales increase of $505,557.

 

Net sales for Zhejiang was $26,193,095 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $24,193,366 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $1,999,729, or 8.3%. The net sales increase was mainly due to decreased sale volumes with a sales decrease of $233,616, the impact from the increase in sales price of $1,875,753 and the effect of foreign currency translation with a sales increase of $357,592.

 

Net sales for Wuhu was $33,057,878 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $26,496,148 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $6,561,730, or 24.8%. The net sales increase was mainly due to increased sale volumes with a sales increase of $7,006,394, the impact from the decrease in sales price of $878,314 and the effect of foreign currency translation with a sales increase of $433,650.

 

Net sales for Other Sectors was $45,799,726 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $10,806,533 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $34,993,193 or 323.8%. The net sales increased mainly due to the development of new market, such as the U.S. market and EPS market. For the U.S. market, net sales were $16,950,000 in 2010, compared with $6,430,000 in 2009, representing an increase of $10,520,000. For the new products in the China market, net sales were $28,850,000 in 2010, compared with $4,380,000 in 2009, representing an increase of $24,470,000.

 

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Cost of Sales

 

For the year ended December 31, 2010, the cost of sales was $265,622,472, compared with $193,854,927 for the same period of 2009, an increase of $71,767,545, or 37.0%, mainly due to the increase of sales. Further analysis is as follows:

 

Cost of sales for Henglong was $150,622,578 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $112,141,910 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $38,480,668, or 34.3%. The cost of sales increase was mainly due to increased sale volumes with a cost of sales increase of $40,349,480, decreased unit price with a cost of sales decrease of $3,808,979, and the effect of foreign currency translation with a cost increase of $1,940,167.

 

Cost of sales for Jiulong was $80,664,101 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $53,368,639 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $27,295,462, or 51.1%. The cost of sales increase was mainly due to increased sales volumes with a cost of sales increase of $21,512,660, increased unit price with a cost of sales increase of $4,859,034, and the effect of foreign currency translation with a cost increase of $923,768.

 

Cost of sales for Shenyang was $33,644,820 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $27,051,979 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $6,592,841, or 24.4%. The cost of sales increase was mainly due to increased sales volumes with a cost of sales increase of $7,257,738, decreased unit price with a cost of sales decrease of $1,086,994, and the effect of foreign currency translation with a cost increase of $422,097.

 

Cost of sales for Zhejiang was $18,630,742 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $18,926,080 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing a decrease of $295,338, or 1.6%. The cost of sales decrease was mainly due to decreased sales volumes with a cost of sales decrease of $188,586, decreased unit price with a cost of sales decrease of $394,748, and the effect of foreign currency translation with a cost increase of $287,996.

 

Cost of sales for Wuhu was $31,330,114 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $25,769,456 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $5,560,658, or 21.6%. The cost of sales increase was mainly due to increased sales volumes with a cost of sales increase of $6,846,269, decreased unit price with a cost of sales decrease of $1,718,865, and the effect of foreign currency translation with a cost increase of $433,254.

 

Cost of sales for Other Sectors was $39,855,606 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $7,955,758 for the year ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of $31,899,848, or 401.0%, mainly due to the sales volume increase.

 

Gross margin was 23.2% for the year ended December 31, 2010, a 1 percentage point decrease from 24.2% for the same period of 2009, primarily due to declines in sales price in excess of unit cost reductions.

 

Gain on Other Sales

 

Gain on other sales consisted of net amount retained from sales of materials and other assets. For the year ended December 31, 2010, gain on other sales were $1,129,032, compared to $838,505 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $290,527, or 34.6%, due to increased sales of materials.

 

Selling Expenses

 

For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, selling expenses are summarized as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2010   2009   Increase(Decrease)   Percentage 
Salaries and wages  $2,247,519   $2,563,384   $(315,865)   -12.3%
Office expense   1,129,348    841,748    287,600    34.2 
Transportation expense   4,690,313    3,703,818    986,495    26.6 
Rent expense   1,085,128    699,206    385,922    55.2 
Other expense   211,567    84,384    127,183    150.7 
Total  $9,363,875   $7,892,540   $1,471,335    18.6%

 

Selling expenses were $9,363,875 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $7,892,540 for 2009, an increase of $1,471,335, or 18.6%. Items that increased in 2010 compared to 2009 were office expenses, transportation expense, rent expenses, and other expense. The major item that decreased was salaries and wages.

 

The increase in office expenses was due to increased sales, which led to increases in office supplies, travel expenses and meeting expenses.

 

29
 

 

The increase in transportation expense was due to increased sales and a rise in the price of oil, which led to increases in domestic transportation prices.

 

The increase in rent expense was due to increased sale volumes, which led to increases in the area of product warehouses in different places.

 

The salaries of salesmen, including bonuses for meeting sales target, were indexed with their sales performance. During 2010, revenue increased by 35.3% over the last year, compared with the increase of 56.6% in 2009, a decrease of 21.3 percentage points. As the salesmen did not meet their target, correspondingly their salaries decreased.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, general and administrative expenses are summarized as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2010   2009   Increase
(Decrease)
   Percentage 
Salaries and wages  $4,681,335   $4,623,631   $57,704    1.2%
Labor insurance expenses   2,086,319    2,123,071    (36,752)   -1.7 
Maintenance and repair expenses   679,858    1,214,160    (534,302)   -44.0 
Taxes   1,179,092    1,120,948    58,144    5.2 
Provision/(income) for bad debts   (2,558,818)   120,483    (2,679,301)   -2223.8 
Office expense   958,542    1,189,475    (230,933)   -19.4 
Depreciation and amortization expense   691,721    2,955,159    (2,263,438)   -76.6 
Listing expenses1   1,939,774    1,589,236    350,538    22.1 
Others expenses   371,388    258,863    112,525    43.5 
Total  $10,029,211   $15,195,026   $(5,165,815)   -34.0%

 

1Listing expenses consisted of the costs associated with legal, accounting and auditing fees for operating a public company. The expenses also included share-based compensation expense for options granted to members of the audit committee.

 

General and administrative expenses were $10,029,211 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $15,195,026 for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of $5,165,815, or 34.0%.

 

The expense items that significantly increased in 2010 compared to 2009 were listing expenses and other expenses. The expense items that significantly decreased in 2010 compared to 2009 were provision for bad debt expenses, maintenance and repair expenses, office expenses and depreciation and amortization expense.

 

The increase of listing expenses was mainly due to the increase of auditing expenses. The increase in professional fees was mainly due to increased cost in the requirement of compliance with being a publicly listed entity and the need to evaluate the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

The increase of other expenses was primarily due to expansion of the scale of operation, and increases of the costs associated with legal, insurance, and accounting service.

 

The Company recorded provision for bad debts based on specific identification methods. The decrease in provision for bad debts in 2010 was mainly due to further improvement of OEMs’ financial positions resulting from the Chinese government’s continuous stimulation measures on the automobile industry, such as subsidies to rural area consumers and fuel efficient car buyers and reduction in purchase taxes. As a result, the Company collected about $2,600,000 of accounts receivable in 2010, which was not expected to be collectible in prior years and bad debts provision has been provided for. As a result, the provision for bad debts was negative.

 

The decrease of maintenance and repair expenses was mainly due to certain office facilities having maintenance and repair last year and none this year, thus the maintenance of office facilities and repair were reduced in 2010.

 

The decrease of depreciation and amortization expense was mainly due to certain fixed assets of the Company not needing to be depreciated in 2010 as they have been fully depreciated.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses, “R&D” expenses, were $7,991,252 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $2,561,170 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $5,430,084, or 212.0%.

 

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The global automotive parts industry is highly competitive; winning and maintaining new business requires suppliers to rapidly produce new and innovative products on a cost-competitive basis. In 2010, foreign OEMs significantly increased their demand for EPS, but the related technology in China is still in the research and development and testing stage. In order to market “EPS” quickly, the Company invested more in the R&D of “EPS” in 2010, including focusing the Company’s senior technicians and advanced manufacture equipment on “EPS” establishing the “EPS” trail-production department, introducing technology expectations and purchasing advanced technology and test equipment.

 

Income from Operations

 

Income from operations was $54,047,404 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $36,932,395 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $17,115,009, or 46.3%, mainly consisting of an increase of $18,560,084, or 30.1%, in gross profit, an increase of $290,527, or 34.6%, in gain on other sales, such as raw materials, and an increase of operating expenses of $1,735,602, or 6.8%.

 

Other Income, Net

 

Other income was $558,058 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $94,534 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $463,524, or 490.3%, primarily as a result of increased government subsidies.

 

The Company’s government subsidies consisted of interest subsidy and investment subsidy. Interest subsidy is the refund by the Chinese government of interest charged by banks to companies which are entitled to such subsidies. Investment subsidy is subsidy to encourage foreign investors to set up technologically advanced enterprises in China.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company received $94,534 for interest subsidy, and no investment subsidy. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company’s received $311,291 for interest subsidy, and $231,951 for investment subsidy.

 

Interest subsidies apply only to loan interest related to production facilities expansion. During 2008 and 2009, the Company had used the special loans to improve different products’ production lines technologically in order to enlarge production capability and enhance quality. The expansion projects were completed and new facilities were put into use at the end of 2009 and 2010, respectively.

 

The Chinese government also provided incentives to foreign investors for setting up technologically advanced enterprises in China. Henglong, a subsidiary of the Company, has received $231,951 of government subsidies because it is a technologically advanced enterprise.

 

Financial Expenses

 

Financial expenses were $3,360,837 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to financial expenses of $7,883,714 for 2009, a decrease of $4,522,877, or 57.4%, primarily as a result of a decrease in interest expense related to the convertible notes. Convertible notes holders are entitled to require the Company to redeem all or any portion of the convertible notes in cash, if the weighted average price, “WAP,” is less than $3.187 for twenty (20) consecutive trading days at any time following February 15, 2009. In March 2009, due to a default on the WAP under the aforesaid contractual provision, the “WAP Default,” the Company accreted $3,900,000 of the remaining discount on the convertible notes immediately and accrued an additional $520,000 of interest expenses for WAP Default. Please see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 15 of this Annual Report for more details.

 

Gain (Loss) on Change in Fair Value of Derivatives

 

During the year ended December 31, 2010, the gain on change in fair value of the derivatives embedded in the convertible notes was $20,171,698, as compared to a loss of $43,074,327 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $63,246,025. The derivative liability was marked to market each period.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the increase of loss on change in fair value of derivatives was primarily due to the increase in the intrinsic value of the embedded conversion feature in the convertible notes as a result of the increase in the market price of the Company’s common stock which rose from $3.39 at the beginning of 2009 to $18.71 at December 31, 2009. Upon the adoption of ASC 815-10 on January 1, 2009, the Company is required to bifurcate the embedded conversion feature of the convertible note payable as a derivative liability.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company’s common stock market price dropped to $13.62 from $18.71 at the beginning of the year, which significantly decreased the intrinsic value of the embedded conversion option of the convertible notes. As a result, the fair value of compound derivative liabilities decreased significantly and correspondingly, the gain on change in fair value of derivatives increased. Please see Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 15 of this Annual Report for more details.

 

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Income (Loss) before Income Taxes

 

Income before income taxes was $71,416,323 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to a loss of $13,931,112 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $85,347,435, consisting of increased income from operations of $17,115,009, increased other income of $463,524, decreased finance expenses of $4,522,877, and increased gain on change in fair value of derivative of $63,246,025.

 

Income taxes

 

Income tax expense was $8,484,205 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $4,720,013 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $3,764,192, mainly because of: (1) an increase in income before income tax in the PRC market that was not offset by losses before income tax in the U.S. market and the Company made a provision for deferred income tax assets in the United States (see Note 9); (2) while there was a gain before income tax in the United States for the year ended December 31, 2010 (and loss for the year ended December 31, 2009) mainly due to a change in the fair value of convertible notes, the Company cannot recognize such gain as a deferred income tax as if it was a permanent change; and (3) a decrease of foreign government tax return. For a full reconciliation of the Company’s effective tax rate to the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% and further explanation of the Company’s provision for taxes, see Note 27 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 15.

 

Net income

 

Net income was $62,917,302 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to a loss of $18,651,125 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $81,568,427, consisting of increased income before income taxes of $85,332,619, and an increase of income tax expenses of $3,764,192.

 

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

 

The Company recorded net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $11,179,189 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $7,789,746 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $3,389,443, or 43.5%.

 

The Company owns different equity interests in eight Sino-foreign joint ventures, through which it conducts its operations. All the operating results of these eight Foreign Investment Enterprises were consolidated in the Company’s financial statements as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. The Company records the net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of the respective Sino-foreign joint ventures for each period.

 

In 2010, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased compared to 2009, primarily resulting from increased net income of joint ventures.

 

Net Income Attributable to Parent Company

 

Net income attributable to parent company was $51,738,113 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to a loss attributable to parent company of $26,440,871 for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $78,178,984, consisting of increased net income of $81,568,427, and an increased net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $3,389,443.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Capital Resources and Use of Cash

 

The Company has historically financed its liquidity requirements from a variety of sources, including short-term borrowings under bank credit agreements, bankers’ acceptance, issuances of capital stock and internally generated cash. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $72,960,500. As compared to $49,424,979 and $43,480,176 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, there was an increase of $23,535,521 and $29,480,324, respectively.

 

The Company had working capital of $147,819,863 as of December 31, 2011. As compared with $54,191,797 as of December 31, 2010, there was an increase of $93,628,066, or 172.8%, which mainly includes: (a) according to the terms of the convertible notes, convertible notes payable, compound derivative liabilities and accrued make-whole redemption interest expense for convertible notes were recorded as current liabilities before February 15, 2011 (which was the last annual redemption date), and thereafter reclassified to and recorded as non-current liabilities as the convertible notes will mature on February 15, 2013 (refer to Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements); (b) on March 1, 2011, an investor converted $6,428,571 of the principal amount of the convertible notes and, correspondingly, decreased the principal amount and compound derivative liabilities (refer to Note 13); and (c) the net income realized in the current year.

 

The Company intends to indefinitely reinvest the funds in subsidiaries incorporated in China.

 

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Capital Source

 

The Company’s capital source is multifaceted, such as bank loans and banker’s acceptance bill facilities. In financing activities and operating activities, the Company’s banks require the Company to sign lines of credit agreement and repay such facilities within one year. On the condition that the Company can provide adequate mortgage security and has not violated the terms of the line of credit agreement, such one year facilities can be extended for another year.

 

The Company had bank loans maturing in less than one year of $10,315,987 (Note 10) and bankers’ acceptances of $57,307,445 (Note 11) as of December 31, 2011.

 

The Company currently expects to be able to obtain similar bank loans and bankers’ acceptance bills in the future if it can provide adequate mortgage security following the termination of the above mentioned agreements (See the table of Bank Arrangements below). If the Company is not able to do so, it will have to refinance such debt as it becomes due or repay that debt to the extent it has cash available from operations or from the proceeds of additional issuances of capital stock. Owing to depreciation, the value of the mortgages securing the above-mentioned bank loans and banker's acceptance bills will be devalued by approximately $14,799,392. If the Company wishes to obtain the same amount of bank loans and banker's acceptance bills, it will have to provide $14,799,392 additional mortgages as of the maturity date of such agreements (See the table in section (a) Bank loan). The Company still can obtain a reduced line of credit with a reduction of $8,137,184, which is 54.98% (the mortgage rates) of $14,799,392, if it cannot provide additional mortgages. The Company expects that the reduction of bank loans will not have a material adverse effect on its liquidity.

 

On February 15, 2008, the Company issued $35,000,000 of convertible notes to Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited, “LBCCA”, and YA Global Investments, L.P., “YA Global”, maturing in 5 years. According to the terms of the convertible notes (as described in Note 12), convertible notes may be required to be repaid in cash on or prior to their maturity. For example, convertible note holders are entitled to require the Company to redeem all or any portion of the convertible notes in cash, if the Weighted Average Price (WAP) for twenty (20) consecutive trading days is less than $3.187 at any time following February 15, 2009, the “WAP Default,” by delivering written redemption notice to the Company within five (5) business days after the receipt of the Company’s notice of the WAP Default.

 

As a result of the worldwide financial crisis in 2009, the Company’s stock’s WAP for twenty (20) consecutive trading days ended on March 16, 2009 was below $3.187. On March 17, 2009, the Company delivered two WAP Default notices to the convertible note holders. On March 27, 2009, the Company received a letter dated March 26, 2009 from YA Global, one of the convertible note holders, electing to require the Company to redeem all the three convertible notes it held in the total principal amount of $5,000,000, together with interest, late charges, if any, and the Other Make Whole Amount as defined in Section 5(d) of the convertible notes. After negotiation, on April 15, 2009, the Company paid YA Global $5,041,667 for the total principal amount ($5,000,000), together with interest and late charges, if any. YA Global has waived its entitlement to the Other Make Whole Amount.

 

Following the WAP Default notices, the Company received a letter from the provisional liquidator acting on behalf of LBCCA, the “LBCCA Liquidator,” requesting that it be granted an extension until April 24, 2009 to consider its rights under the convertible notes. The Company granted an extension to April 15, 2009. The LBCCA Liquidator further requested another extension to April 24, 2009. On April 24, 2009, LBCCA’s lawyers sent three Holder Redemption Notices electing to redeem the entire outstanding principal of $30,000,000, together with interest, late charges, if any, and the Other Make Whole Amount, to be paid on July 23, 2009. The Company discussed settlement with the LBCCA Liquidator, and on or about July 22, 2009, the Company and the LBCCA Liquidator agreed to extend the applicable holder mandatory redemption date for two months to September 23, 2009 to give more time to the Company and the LBCCA Liquidator to pursue settlement discussion. The Company received a letter dated September 22, 2009 from the LBCCA Liquidator stating that upon the Company’s acceptance of the revocation, all holder redemption notices dated April 24, 2009 shall be immediately revoked as if they were never issued, and the letter and the revocation did not purport to amend, restate or supplement any other terms and conditions under the three Notes and Securities Purchase Agreements dated 1 February 2008 between the Company and the LBCCA Liquidator. The Company accepted such revocation on September 23, 2009. On March 1, 2011, LBCCA Liquidator converted $6,428,571 of the principal amount of the convertible notes at a conversion price of $7.0822 per share and the Company issued 907,708 shares of its common stock to the investor. No additional consideration was paid for the conversion of the convertible notes into common stock.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company’s stock’s WAP for any twenty consecutive trading days was above $3.187.

 

The Company’s ability to redeem the convertible notes and meet its payment obligations depends on its cash position and its ability to refinance or generate significant cash flow, which is subject to general economic, financial and competition factors and other factors beyond the Company’s control. The Company cannot assure you that it has sufficient funds available or will be able to obtain sufficient funds to meet its payment obligations under the convertible notes, and the Company’s redemption of the convertible notes would result in a material adverse effect on its liquidity and capital resources, business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

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Bank Arrangements

 

As of December 31, 2011, the principal outstanding under the Company’s credit facilities and lines of credit was as follows:

 

   Bank   Due
Date
   Amount
Available
   Amount Used   Mortgage Value 
1.Comprehensive credit facilities(1)   Bank of China    Jan-12(2)  $22,377,756   $4,761,225   $6,879,208 
2.Comprehensive credit facilities   Jingzhou Commercial Bank    Apr-12    31,741,497    14,519,624    71,066,736 
3.Comprehensive credit facilities   China Construction Bank    Oct-12    12,696,599    3,174,150    32,125,934 
4.Comprehensive credit facilities(1)   Shanghai Pudong Development Bank    Dec-13    15,870,749    9,890,314    12,866,860 
5.Comprehensive credit facilities   China CITIC Bank    Sep-12    16,505,579    14,848,990    14,767,732 
6.Comprehensive credit facilities   Industrial and Commercial Bank of China    May-12    16,188,164    8,710,660    4,119,761 
7.Comprehensive credit facilities (1)   China Hua Xia Bank    Jan-12(2)   25,393,198    3,676,459    33,033,938 
8.Comprehensive credit facilities   China Everbright Bank    Aug-14    4,761,225    6,900,903(3)   8,126,522 
Total            $145,534,767   $66,482,325(4)  $182,986,691 

 

(1)Henglong’s comprehensive credit facility with China CITIC Bank, Henglong and Jielong's comprehensive credit facility with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, and Henglong's comprehensive credit facility with Hua Xia Bank, also need to be guaranteed by Jiulong, another subsidiary of the Company, in addition to the above pledges.

 

(2)As at the date of this Annual Report, the comprehensive credit line arrangements with the Bank of China and China Hua Xia Bank have expired. The Company plans to negotiate with these lenders to renew the agreements. The Company does not anticipate that there will be any material adverse impact if the Company fails to renew as the Company has obtained sufficient comprehensive credit lines from other banks.

 

(3)The amount available for use was increased to the amount of assets pledged with the bank.

 

(4)Total amount used includes bank loans of $10,315,987 and notes payable of $56,166,338 as of December 31, 2011. Please see Notes 10 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 15 of this Annual Report for more details.

 

The Company may request the banks to issue notes payable or bank loans within its credit line using a 364-day revolving line.

 

The Company refinanced its short-term debt during 2011 at annual interest rates of 5.31% to 7.87%, and maturity terms of twelve months. Pursuant to the comprehensive credit line arrangement the Company pledged: (1) land use rights with an assessed value of $6.9 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with the Bank of China; (2) land use rights and equipment with an assessed value of approximately $71.1 million as security for its revolving comprehensive credit facility with Jingzhou Commercial Bank; (3) equipment, land use rights and buildings with an assessed value of approximately $32.1 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with China Construction Bank; (4) land use rights and buildings with an assessed value of approximately $12.9 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank; (5) land use rights and buildings with an assessed value of approximately $14.8 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with China CITIC Bank; (6) land use rights and buildings with an assessed value of approximately $4.1 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; (7) accounts receivable with an assessed value of approximately $33.0 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with China Hua Xia Bank; and (8) land use rights and buildings with an assessed value of approximately $8.1 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with China Everbright Bank.

 

Cash Requirements

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s expected cash outflows resulting from financial contracts and commitments. The Company has not included information on its recurring purchases of materials for use in its manufacturing operations. These amounts are generally consistent from year to year, closely reflecting the Company’s levels of production, and are not long-term in nature, which are less than three months.

 

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    Payment Due Dates 
    Total    Less than 1
year
    1-3 years    3-5 years    More than 5
Years
 
Short-term bank loan including interest payable  $10,315,987   $10,315,987   $   $   $ 
Notes payable2   57,307,445    57,307,445             
Convertible notes payable   23,571,429    -    23,571,429         
Convertible notes interest1   12,982,849    1,572,968    11,409,881          
Other contractual purchase commitments, including service agreements   12,037,323    7,159,582    4,877,741         
Total  $116,215,033   $76,355,982   $39,859,051   $   $ 

 

1Including accrued make-whole redemption interest expense of $7,615,709, accrued coupon interest of $625,447 and interest and make-whole obligation of $4,870,615 to be accrued.

 

2Notes payable do not bear interest.

 

Short-term Bank Loans

 

The following table summarizes the contract information of short-term borrowings between the banks and the Company as of December 31, 2011.

 

Bank   Purpose   Borrowing
Date
  Borrowing
Term
(Year)
    Annual
Percentage
Rate
    Date of
Interest
Payment
  Due Date   Amount
Payable on
Due Date
 
China Construction Bank   Working Capital   29-Jun-11     1       6.56%     Pay monthly   28-Jun-12   $ 3,174,150  
Bank of China   Working Capital   30-Sep-11     1       6.56%     Pay monthly   29-Sep-12     4,761,225  
China CITIC Bank   Working Capital   6-Jul-11     1       7.87%     Pay monthly   5-Jul-12     2,380,612  
Total                                   $ 10,315,987  

 

The Company must use the loans for the purpose described in the table. If the Company fails to do so, it will be charged a penalty interest at 100% of the specified loan rate listed in the table above. The Company has to pay interest at the interest rate described in the table on the 20th of each month. If the Company fails, it will be charged a compounded interest at the specified rate in the above table. The Company has to repay the principal outstanding on the specified date in the table. If it fails, it will be charged a penalty interest at 50% of the specified loan rate. Management believes that the Company had complied with such financial covenants as of December 31, 2011, and will continue to comply with them.

 

Notes Payable

 

The following table summarizes the contract information of issuing notes payable between the banks and the Company as of December 31, 2011:

 

Purpose  Term (Month)   Due Date   Amount Payable on
Due Date
 
Working Capital 1   3-6    Jan-12   $7,321,970 
Working Capital 1   3-6    Feb-12    7,858,782 
Working Capital   3-6    Mar-12    12,768,906 
Working Capital   3-6    Apr-12    11,748,839 
Working Capital   3-6    May-12    8,355,092 
Working Capital   3-6    Jun-12    9,254,056 
Total            $57,307,445 

 

1The notes payable were settled in January and February 2012, respectively.

 

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The Company must use notes payable for the purpose described in the table. If it fails, the banks will no longer issue the notes payable, and it may have an adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and capital resources. The Company has to deposit sufficient cash in the designated account of the bank on the due date of notes payable for payment to the suppliers. If the bank has advanced payment for the Company, it will be charged a penalty interest at 150% of the loan rate that is published by the People’s Bank of China in the same period. Management believes that the Company had complied with such financial covenants as of December 31, 2011, and will continue to comply with them.

 

Cash flows

 

(a)Operating activities

 

Compared with the net cash generated from operations during the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 of $38,552,161 and $34,956,534, respectively, net cash generated from operations during the year ended December 31, 2011 was $34,063,290. Net cash generated from operations in 2011 decreased by $4,488,872 from 2010, whereas net cash generated from operations in 2010 increased by $3,595,628 from 2009.

 

The decrease in net cash generated from operations in 2011 was mainly due to decreases in gross profit and in accounts and notes payable, and increases in accounts and notes receivable and inventory compared with those of 2010.

 

As compared with 2009, in 2010, the primary factors for the increase in net cash generated from operations were the increase in gross profit and accounts and notes payable.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, changes in the balances of accounts and notes payable used cash flow of $15,013,604, $36,821,221, and $48,178,260, respectively, and cash flow decreased in the amount of $21,807,617, $11,357,039, and increased in $39,858,788 year on year.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, changes in the balances of accounts receivable generated cash flow of $6,294,797, and used cash flow of $14,450,692 and $43,700,826, respectively.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, changes in the balances of notes receivable used cash flow of $12,495,349, $18,605,172, and $15,034,485, respectively. The settlements of notes receivable are guaranteed by issuing banks, and may be converted into cash whenever the Company factors them. Therefore, the increase in notes receivable does not have any material adverse effect on the Company’s operations.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the inventory turnover rate of the Company decreased as a result of a slowdown in the growth of China’s automobile industry. Accordingly, an increase in year-end inventory balances used cash flow of $12,458,644. The increasing in cash used in inventory in 2011 was primarily due to inventories stocked up for seasonal sales during Chinese New Year in January 2012 and new models of inventories built for a customer based in North America. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, an increase in inventory balances used cash flow of $8,679,749 and $1,849,579, respectively. As the Company stocks up based on customers’ orders and market demand, increase in inventory does not have any material adverse effect on the Company’s operations. The Company may adjust its inventory level based on market demand.

 

(b)Investing activities

 

The Company expended $14,042,403 in investment activities during the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $32,596,741 and $17,335,687 during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the Company invested in manufacturing facilities to expand production to meet market needs. Cash used for equipment purchases and building facilities in 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $14,857,364, $28,024,638 and $17,498,957, respectively.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company invested $3,095,414 in Beijing to set up a jointly operated company, Beijing Henglong, with Beijing Hainachuan to expand the market share of the Company. Beijing Henglong was established to design, develop and manufacture both hydraulic and electric power steering systems and parts.

 

(c)Financing activities

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company received $871,936 provided by financing activities, during the years ended December 2010 and 2009, the Company used $1,394,578 and $11,290,625 in financing activities, respectively.

 

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During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company borrowed net cash of $3,204,631 and $1,420,279 from the banks. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company repaid bank loans of $2,196,367.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the Company’s subsidiaries in China paid dividends of $2,822,432, $3,614,252 and $4,176,583 to their noncontrolling interest holders.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company repaid YA Global $5,000,000 for its redemption of convertible notes.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

At December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the Company did not have any transactions, obligations or relationships that could be considered off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual payment obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2011:

 

   Payment Obligations by Period 
   2012   2013   2014   2015   Thereafter   Total 
Obligations for service agreements  $   $206,320   $   $   $   $206,320 
Obligations for purchasing agreements   7,159,582    4,671,421                11,831,003 
Interest and make-whole on convertible notes   1,075,022    3,794,172                4,869,194 
Total  $8,234,604   $8,671,913   $   $   $   $16,906,517 

 

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On December 1, 2011, Hengsheng entered into a Sino-foreign equity joint venture contract with SAIC-IVECO Hongyan Company to establish a Sino-foreign joint venture company, Chongqing Henglong Hongyan Power Steering Systems Co. Ltd. ("Chongqing Henglong") to design, develop and manufacture both hydraulic and electric power steering systems and parts. The new joint venture will be located in Chongqing City and have a registered capital of RMB60 million (of which RMB 42 million, or 70%, will be invested by Hengsheng). Under PRC law, the establishment of Chongqing Henglong and the effectiveness of the equity joint venture contract are subject to approval by the local Ministry of Commerce and the registration of the same with the local Administration of Industries and Commerce in Chongqing.  As of the date of this Annual Report, such approval has not been obtained.

 

On January 19, 2012, the Company completed its reorganization as discussed in Item 1–BUSINESS.

 

INFLATION AND CURRENCY MATTERS

 

China’s economy has experienced rapid growth recently, mostly through the issuance of debt. Debt-induced economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising inflation. If prices for the Company’s products rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the cost of supplies, it may harm the Company’s profitability. In order to control inflation in the past, the Chinese government has imposed controls on bank credit, limits on loans for fixed assets and restrictions on state bank lending. Such policies can lead to a slowing of economic growth. Rises in interest rates by the central bank would likely slow economic activity in China which could, in turn, materially increase the Company’s costs and also reduce demand for the Company’s products.

 

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. During 2011, the Company supplied products to North America and settled in cash in U.S. dollars. As a result, appreciation or currency fluctuation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would increase the cost of export products, and adversely affect the Company’s financial performance.

 

In July 2005, the Chinese government adjusted its exchange rate policy from “Fixed Rate” to “Floating Rate.” During July 2005 to December 2011, the exchange rate between RMB and U.S. dollar appreciated from RMB 1.00 to US$0.1205 to RMB 1.00 to US$0.1587. This significant appreciation of the RMB may continue for in the near term, as the Chinese government attempts to slow the rate of inflation in the PRC. Significant appreciation of the RMB is likely to decrease the income of export products, thus decreasing the Company’s cash flow.

 

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RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs” (ASU 2011-04). This newly issued accounting standard clarifies the application of certain existing fair value measurement guidance and expands the disclosures for fair value measurements that are estimated using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs. This ASU is effective on a prospective basis for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011, which for the Company means January 1, 2012. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income” (ASU 2011-05). This newly issued accounting standard: (1) eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity; (2) requires the consecutive presentation of the statement of net income and other comprehensive income; and (3) requires an entity to present reclassification adjustments on the face of the financial statements from other comprehensive income to net income. The amendments in this ASU do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income nor do the amendments affect how earnings per share is calculated or presented. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, which defers the requirement within ASU 2011-05 to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income for all periods presented. During the deferral, entities should continue to report reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect prior to the issuance of ASU 2011-05. These ASUs are required to be applied retrospectively and are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, which for the Company means January 1, 2012. As these accounting standards do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income, the adoption of these standards is not expected to have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (ASU 2011-11). This newly issued accounting standard requires an entity to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position as well as instruments and transactions executed under a master netting or similar arrangement and was issued to enable users of financial statements to understand the effects or potential effects of those arrangements on its financial position. This ASU is required to be applied retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2013. As this accounting standard only requires enhanced disclosure, the adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

The Company prepares its 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 dates of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. 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. The following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

The Company considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:

 

¨It requires the Company to make assumptions about matters that were uncertain at the time it was making the estimate, and

 

¨Changes in the estimate or different estimates that the Company could have selected would have had a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

The table below presents information about the nature and rationale for the Company critical accounting estimates:

 

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Balance Sheet
Caption
  Critical
Estimate
Item
  Nature of Estimates Required   Assumptions/Approaches
Used
  Key Factors
Accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities   Warranty obligations   Estimating warranty requires the Company to forecast the resolution of existing claims and expected future claims on products sold. VMs (Vehicle Manufacturer) are increasingly seeking to hold suppliers responsible for product warranties, which may impact the Company’s exposure to these costs.   The Company bases its estimate on historical trends of units sold and payment amounts, combined with its current understanding of the status of existing claims and discussions with its customers.   • VM sourcing
• VM policy decisions regarding warranty claims
                 
Property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and other long-term assets   Valuation of long- lived assets and investments   The Company is required from time-to-time to review the recoverability of certain of its assets based on projections of anticipated future cash flows, including future profitability assessments of various product lines.   The Company estimates cash flows using internal budgets based on recent sales data, independent automotive production volume estimates and customer commitments.   • Future production estimates
• Customer preferences and decisions
                 
Accounts and notes receivables   Provision for doubtful accounts and notes receivable   Estimating the provision for doubtful accounts and notes receivable requires the Company to analyze and monitor each customer’s credit standing and financial condition regularly. The Company grants credit to its customers, generally on an open account basis. It will impact the Company’s expense disclosure and results of operations if such estimate is improper.   The Company grants credit to its customers for three to four months based on each customer’s current credit standing and financial data. The Company assesses allowance on an individual customer basis, under normal circumstances. The Company records provision for bad debts based on specific identification methods.   •Customers’ credit standing and financial condition
                 
Deferred income taxes   Recoverability of deferred tax assets   The Company is required to estimate whether recoverability of its deferred tax assets is more likely than not based on forecasts of taxable earnings in the related tax jurisdiction.   The Company uses historical and projected future operating results, based upon approved business plans, including a review of the eligible carry forward period, tax planning opportunities and other relevant considerations.   • Tax law changes
• Variances in future projected profitability, including by taxing entity
                 
Convertible notes payable, warrant liabilities, compound derivative liabilities   Warrant liabilities and compound derivative liabilities   The Company is required to estimate the fair value of warrant liabilities and compound derivative liabilities at conception and completion of each reporting period.   The Company uses Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine fair value of warrant; uses Monte Carlo simulation (“MCS”) valuation techniques to determine fair value of compound derivative liabilities.  
• Expected volatility
• Risk-free rate •interest market risk
•Credit risk
• Redemption activities before maturity
                 
Uncertain Tax   Uncertain Tax Positions   The Company is required to determine and assess all material positions, including all significant uncertain positions in all tax years that are still subject to assessment or challenge under relevant tax statutes.   The Company applies a more likely than not threshold and a two-step approach for tax position measurement and financial statement recognition. For the two-step approach, the first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement.   • An allocation or a shift of income between jurisdictions
• The characterization of income or a decision to exclude reporting taxable income in a tax return
•A decision to classify a transaction, entity, or other position in a tax return as tax exempt

 

In addition, there are other items within the Company’s financial statements that require estimation, but are not as critical as those discussed above. These include the allowance for reserves for excess and obsolete inventory. Although not significant in recent years, changes in estimates used in these and other items could have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. For purposes of specific risk analysis, the Company uses sensitivity analysis to determine the effects that market risk exposures may have.

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK

 

The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar and the majority of its revenues will be settled in RMB and U.S. dollars. The Company’s currency exchange rate risks come primarily from the sales of products to international customers. Most of the Company’s assets are denominated in RMB except for part of cash and accounts receivable. As a result, the Company is exposed to foreign exchange risk as its revenues and results of operations may be affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the RMB.

 

The value of the RMB fluctuates and is affected by, among other things, changes in China's political and economic conditions. In addition, the RMB is not readily convertible into U.S. dollars or 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. The conversion of RMB into foreign currencies such as the U.S. dollar has been generally based on rates set by the People's Bank of China, which are set daily based on the previous day's interbank foreign exchange market rates and current exchange rates on the world financial markets. On December 31, 2011 and 2010, the exchange rates of RMB against U.S. dollar were RMB1.00 to US$0.1587 and RMB1.00 to US$0.1510, respectively. This floating exchange rate, and any appreciation of the RMB that may result from such rate, could have various adverse effects on the Company’s business. If the RMB appreciates against foreign currencies, it will make the Company’s sales income increase.

 

In order to mitigate the currency exchange rate risk, the Company has inserted a currency exchange rate fluctuation compensation provision in its sales contracts with its international customers to the effect that both parties will bear 50% of such loss when the fluctuation is over 8% within that contract year.

 

CREDIT RISK

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable. The Company does not require collateral or other security to support client receivables since most of its customers are large, well-established companies. The Company's credit risk is also mitigated because its customers are all selected enterprises supported by the local government. One customer, Chery Automobile Co. Ltd, accounted for more than 10% (11.7%) of the Company’s consolidated revenues in 2011. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for any potential credit losses related to its trade receivables. The Company does not use foreign exchange contracts to hedge the risk in receivables denominated in foreign currencies and the Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

 

ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following financial statements are set forth at the end of this Annual Report.

 

1.Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm, PricewatershouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company

 

2.Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm, Schwartz Levitsky Feldman LLP

 

3.Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

4.Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 

5.Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 

6.Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 

7.Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 

8.Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

9.Financial Statement Schedule I – Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

 

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SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

 

Selected quarterly financial data for the past two years are summarized in the following table.

 

   Quarterly Results of Operations 
   First   Second   Third   Fourth 
   2011   2010   2011   2010   2011   2010   2011   2010 
Net sales  $91,014,170   $84,232,689   $82,505,886   $85,081,138   $75,002,717   $76,102,844   $99,451,981   $100,508,511 
Gross profit   19,984,908    22,535,017    14,800,670    19,810,260    13,786,743    18,173,560    19,526,676    19,783,873 
Operating income   11,731,250    15,890,489    7,640,765    13,712,956    5,959,211    12,171,373    8,047,270    12,272,586 
Net income/(loss)   22,080,238    (1,040,108)   5,764,192    30,418,967    11,491,500    18,285,666    8,567,551    15,252,777 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest   2,438,256    3,066,343    1,420,234    2,811,362    1,382,653    2,350,280    1,870,351    2,951,204 
Net income /(loss) attributable to parent company   19,641,982    (4,106,451)   4,343,958    27,607,605    10,108,847    15,935,386    6,697,200    12,301,573 
Earnings/(loss) per share attributable to parent company                                        
Basic  $0.63   $(0.15)  $0.14   $0.88   $0.32   $0.51   $0.21   $0.39 
Diluted  $0.23   $(0.15)  $0.14   $0.28   $0.10   $0.26   $0.19   $0.22 

 

ITEM 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

 

None

 

ITEM 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(A) DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, Messrs. Wu Qizhou and Li Jie, respectively, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2011, the end of the period covered by this Report. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports, such as this Form 10-K, that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on that evaluation, Messrs. Wu and Li concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2011.

 

The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of its disclosure control system are met. Because of inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company have been detected.

 

(B) MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.

 

Internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer and effected by the board of directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

 

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a.pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets;

 

b.provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that the Company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorization of the Company’s management and board of directors; and

 

c.provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In making its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management, under the supervision and with the participation of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework.”

 

Management has assessed the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 and determined that the following material weakness in internal control over financial reporting existed as of December 31, 2011.

 

·The Company did not have sufficient personnel with appropriate levels of accounting knowledge and experience to address complex U.S. GAAP accounting issues and to prepare and review financial statements and related disclosures under U.S. GAAP. Specifically, the Company's controls did not operate effectively to ensure the appropriate and timely analysis of and accounting for unusual and non-routine transactions and certain financial statement accounts, including, but not limited to, accounting and disclosure for the convertible notes and accounting for deferred taxes.

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The above material weakness could result in misstatements of accounting for unusual and non-routine transactions and certain financial statement accounts, including, but not limited to the aforementioned accounts and disclosures that would result in a material misstatement in the Company’s annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected in a timely manner.

 

The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included in Item 15 of this Annual Report.

 

Remediation of Previously Identified Material Weakness

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company believes it has effectively remediated a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting that was included in “Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” in “Item 9AControls and Procedures” contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 

During 2011, the Company was actively engaged in the implementation of remediation efforts to address the material weaknesses in controls over financial reporting that were in existence at December 31, 2010. As it relates to the material weakness identified by which the Company did not have formalized closing procedures and adequate period-end review procedures to ensure a) proper preparation of the period-end financial statement closing entries and b) consistency of application of accounting policies and completeness and accuracy of the financial statement disclosures, the Company:

 

1.engaged an external consulting firm in the area of accounting advisory to assist it in reviewing the accounting treatment of the convertible notes and other complex transactions and to enhance the Company’s knowledge of U.S. GAAP and disclosure requirements for SEC registrants in preparing year-end financial statements and Form 10-K;

 

2.appointed a new financial manager at its headquarters, and redefined the responsibilities, roles and review matrix clearly among the financial manager, chief accounting officer and chief financial officer in the process of preparation and review of consolidated financial statements for its periodic reports;

 

3.established and developed comprehensive financial period-end closing procedures to ensure the proper preparation of quarterly and annual consolidated financial statements, disclosure notes and related information in compliance with accounting standards and guidance;

 

4.established a procedure for additional review of period-end closing procedures by conducting a detailed and extensive review of non-routine and complex transactions and agreements, and carried out more comprehensive accounting reconciliation processes;

 

5.provided more training on U.S. GAAP to accounting and other relevant personnel;

 

6.required members of the finance team to perform extensive research to enhance knowledge of the relevant U.S. GAAP interpretations and their application, including, but not limited to, accounting and disclosure for the convertible notes and accounting for deferred taxes; and

 

7.engaged the external consulting firm to review the draft Annual Report on Form 10-K before filing.

  

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The Company’s remediation efforts were under the direction of its chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief accountant. The status of the remediation was reviewed by the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company, who were advised of issues encountered and key decisions reached by the management.

 

Remediation of Existing Material Weakness

 

In order to address the material weakness identified as of December 31, 2011, the Company plans to:

 

1.hire additional key individuals in the corporate accounting function with in-depth knowledge and experience in U.S. GAAP;

 

2.provide further comprehensive training on U.S. GAAP to accounting and other relevant personnel; and

 

3.require the finance team to perform extensive research to enhance their knowledge of the relevant U.S. GAAP interpretations and their application.

 

Management believes that the measures described above will satisfactorily address the referenced material weakness. Under the direction of the Audit Committee, management will continue to review and make necessary changes to the system of internal controls and the control environment, as well as policies and procedures to improve the overall effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

 

(C) CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

Other than as described above, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B.OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None.

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

 

The following table and text set forth the names and ages of all directors and executive officers of the Company as of December 31, 2011. The Board of Directors is comprised of only one class. All of the directors will serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal. Also provided herein are brief descriptions of the business experience of each director and executive officer during the past five years and an indication of directorships held by each director in other companies subject to the reporting requirements under the federal securities laws.

 

Name   Age   Position(s)
         
Hanlin Chen   54   Chairman of the Board
         
Robert Tung   55   Director
         
Guangxun Xu   61   Director
         
Bruce C. Richardson   54   Director
         
Qizhou Wu   47   Chief Executive Officer and Director
         
Jie Li   42   Chief Financial Officer
         
Andy Tse   41   Senior Vice President
         
Shengbin Yu   58   Senior Vice President
         
Shaobo Wang   49   Senior Vice President
         
Yijun Xia   49   Vice President
         
Daming Hu   53   Chief Accounting Officer
         
Haimian Cai   48   Vice President

 

BIOGRAPHIES OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Directors

 

Hanlin Chen has served as the chairman of the board of directors and an executive officer since March 2003. Mr. Chen is a standing board member of Political Consulting Committee of Jingzhou City and vice president of Foreign Investors Association of Hubei Province. He was the general manager of Shashi Jiulong Power Steering Gears Co., Ltd. from 1993 to 1997. Since 1997, he has been the Chairman of the Board of Henglong Automotive Parts, Ltd. Mr. Hanlin Chen is the brother-in-law of the Company’s Senior Vice President, Mr. Andy Tse.

 

Qizhou Wu has served as a director and an executive officer since September 2003, and the chief executive officer since September 2007. Prior to that position he served as the Chief Operating Officer since March 2003. He was the Executive General Manager of Jiulong from 1993 to 1999 and general manager of Henglong Automotive Parts, Ltd. from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Wu graduated from Tsinghua University in Beijing with a Master’s degree in Automobile Engineering.

 

Robert Tung has been an independent director of the Company since September 2003 and a member of the Company’s Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees. Mr. Tung is currently the president of Multi-Media Communications, Inc., and vice president of Herbal Blends International, LLC. Mr. Tung holds a M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia. Since 2003, Mr. Tung has been actively developing business in China. Currently, Mr. Tung is the China Operation Vice President of Iraq Development Company of Canada, a leading North American corporation engaging in oil field and infrastructure development in the Republic of Iraq. In addition, Mr. Tung holds the Grand China sales representative position of TRI Products, Inc., a well known North American iron ores and scrap metals supplier. Mr. Tung is also actively involved in minerals, iron ore and petroleum derivatives purchase and trading.

 

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Guangxun Xu has served as an independent director of the Company since December 2009. Mr. Xu has also been an independent director of iNet School, a Korean company. Prior to that, he has been the Chief Representative of NASDAQ in China in the past two years and was a managing director with the NASDAQ Stock Market International, Asia for over 10 years. With a professional career in the finance field spanning over 25 years, Mr. Xu’s practice focuses on providing package services on U.S. and U.K. listings, advising on and arranging for Private Placements, PIPEs and IPOs, pre-IPO restructuring, M&A, Corporate and Project Finance, corporate governance, post-IPOIR compliance, Risk Control, etc. He holds an MBA from Middlesex University, London. He is also on the Audit Committee.

 

Bruce C. Richardson joined the Company as an independent director in December 2009. In November, 2010 Mr. Richardson joined Corin Group, a UK orthopedics firm, as China Managing Director. Prior to joining Corin Group, Mr. Richardson served as a manager with Redwood Capital from July 2009. Prior to joining Redwood Capital, he served as chief financial officer and company secretary of Dalian RINO Environmental Engineering from October 2007 until September 2008, and as a Managing Director of Xinhua Finance in Shanghai from April 2006 until September 2007. He began his career with Arthur Andersen in New York, where he worked from 1989 to 1994 before returning to China. Mr. Richardson earned a BA in Classics from the University of Notre Dame in 1980, and graduated with an MA in International Management from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1986. He was awarded a graduate study grant by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 1987 and completed a year of post-graduate research on PRC accounting at People’s University in 1988. He is also the Chairman of the Audit Committee.

 

Executive Officers

 

Jie Li has served as the chief financial officer since September 2007. Prior to that position he served as the corporate secretary from December 2004. Prior to joining the Company in September 2003, Mr. Li was the assistant president of Jingzhou Jiulong Industrial Inc. from 1999 to 2003 and the general manger of Jingzhou Tianxin Investment Management Co. Ltd. from 2002 to 2003. Mr. Li has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Science and Technology of China. He also completed his graduate studies in economics and business management at the Hubei Administration Institute.

 

Andy Tse has served as a senior vice president of the Company since March 2003. He has also served as chairman of the board of Shenyang. He was the vice GM of Jiulong from 1993 to 1997 and the vice GM of Henglong. Mr. Tse has over 10 years of experience in automotive parts sales and strategic development. Mr. Tse has an MBA from the China People University. He is brother in-law to Hanlin Chen

 

Shengbin Yu has served as a senior vice president of the Company and had overall charge of the production since March 2003. Mr. Yu was the Vice-G.M. of Jiulong from 1993 to 1996 and Executive Vice-G.M. of Henglong from 1997 to 2003.

 

Shaobo Wang has served as a senior vice president of the Company and had overall charge of the technology since March 2003. He was the Vice-G.M. of Jiulong from 1993 to 2003. Mr. Wang graduated from Tsinghua University in Beijing with a bachelor degree in Automobile Engineering.

 

Yijun Xia has served as a vice president of the Company since December 2009. He has also served as the general manager of Henglong since April 2005. Prior to that position he served as the Vice-G.M. of Henglong from December 2002. Mr. Xia graduated from Wuhan University of Water Transportation Engineering with a bachelor degree in Metal Material and Heat Treatment.

 

Haimian Cai was an independent director of the Company from September 2003 to December 2009, and also a member of the Company’s Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees. Dr. Cai is a technical specialist in the automotive industry. Prior to that, Dr. Cai was a staff engineer in ITT Automotive Inc. Dr. Cai has written more than fifteen technical papers and co-authored a technical book regarding the Powder Metallurgy industry for automotive application. Dr. Cai has more than ten patents including pending patents. Dr. Cai holds a B.S. Degree in Automotive Engineering from Tsinghua University and a M.S. and Ph. D. in manufacturing engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Since December 2009, Mr. Cai has not served as independent director and a member of the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation and Nominating Committees, because he was nominated as vice president of the Company.

 

Daming Hu has served as the chief accounting officer since September 2007 and had overall charge of the financial report. During March 2003 to August 2007, he served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Hu was the Finance Manager of Jiulong from 1996 to 1999 and Finance Manager of Henglong from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Hu graduated from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law with bachelor’s degree in accounting.

 

BOARD COMPOSITION AND COMMITTEES

 

Audit Committee and Independent Directors

 

The Company has a standing Audit Committee of the Board of Directors established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, as amended. The Audit Committee is operated under a written charter. The Audit Committee consists of the following individuals, all of whom the Company considers to be independent, as defined under the SEC’s rules and regulations and the Nasdaq’s definition of independence: Robert Tung, Guangxun Xu and Bruce C. Richardson. Bruce C. Richardson is the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Board has determined that Mr. Bruce C. Richardson is the audit committee financial expert, as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K, serving on the Company’s audit committee.

 

45
 

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Company has a standing Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining compensation for the Company’s executive officers. Three of the Company’s independent directors, as defined under the SEC’s rules and regulations and the Nasdaq’s definition of independence, Robert Tung, Guangxun Xu and Bruce C. Richardson serve on the Compensation Committee. Since July 8, 2010, Mr. Robert Tung has been the Chairman of the Compensation Committee. The Board has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee are independent directors under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, as applicable. The Compensation Committee administers the Company’s benefit plans, reviews and administers all compensation arrangements for executive officers, and establishes and reviews general policies relating to the compensation and benefits of the Company’s officers and employees. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter that is made available on the Company’s website, www.caasauto.com.

 

The Company’s Compensation Committee is empowered to review and approve the annual compensation and compensation procedures for the executive officers of the Company. The primary goals of the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors with respect to executive compensation are to attract and retain the most talented and dedicated executives possible and to align executives’ incentives with stockholder value creation. The Compensation Committee evaluates individual executive performance with a goal of setting compensation at levels the committee believes are comparable with executives in other companies of similar size and stage of development operating in similar industry while taking into account the Company’s relative performance and its strategic goals.

 

The Company has not retained a compensation consultant to review its policies and procedures with respect to executive compensation. The Company conducts an annual review of the aggregate level of its executive compensation, as well as the mix of elements used to compensate its executive officers. The Company compares compensation levels with amounts currently being paid to executives in its industry and most importantly with local practices in China. The Company is satisfied that its compensation levels are competitive with local conditions.

 

Nominating Committee

 

The Company has a standing Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors. Director candidates are nominated by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will consider candidates based upon their business and financial experience, personal characteristics, and expertise that are complementary to the background and experience of other Board members, willingness to devote the required amount of time to carry out the duties and responsibilities of Board membership, willingness to objectively appraise management performance, and any such other qualifications the Nominating Committee deems necessary to ascertain the candidates’ ability to serve on the Board. The Nominating Committee will not consider nominee recommendations from security holders, other than the recommendations received from a security holder or group of security holders that beneficially owned more than five (5) percent of the Company’s outstanding common stock for at least one year as of the date the recommendation is made. Three of the Company’s independent directors, as defined under the SEC’s rules and regulations and the Nasdaq’s definition of independence, Robert Tung, Guangxun Xu and Bruce C. Richardson, serve on the Nominating Committee. Since December 17, 2009, Mr. Guangxun Xu has been the Chairman of the Nominating Committee.

 

Stockholder Communications

 

Stockholders interested in communicating directly with the Board of Directors, or individual directors, may email the Company’s independent director Mr. Bruce C. Richardson at bcrichardson@hotmail.com. Mr. Richardson will review all such correspondence and will regularly forward to the board of directors of the Company copies of all such correspondence that deals with the functions of the Board or committees thereof or that he otherwise determines requires their attention. Directors may at any time review all of the correspondence received that is addressed to members of the board of directors of the Company and request copies of such correspondence. Concerns relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters will immediately be brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit Committee with respect to such matters.

 

Family Relationships

 

Mr. Hanlin Chen and Mr. Yiu Wong Andy Tse are brothers-in-law.

 

Code of Ethics and Conduct

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics and Conduct which is applicable to all officers, directors and employees. The Code of Ethics and Conduct was filed as an exhibit to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2010.

 

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial statements of beneficial ownership, reports of changes in ownership and annual reports concerning their ownership of common stock and other of the Company’s equity securities, on Forms 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by Commission regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, based solely upon a review of the Form 3, 4 and 5 filed, no officer, director or 10% beneficial shareholder failed to file on a timely basis any reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

ITEM 11EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

In 2003, the Board of Directors established a Compensation Committee consisting only of independent Board members, which is responsible for setting the Company’s policies regarding compensation and benefits and administering the Company’s benefit plans. At the end of fiscal year 2011, the Compensation Committee consisted of Robert Tung, Guangxun Xu and Bruce C. Richardson. The members of the Compensation Committee approved the amount and form of compensation paid to executive officers of the Company and set the Company’s compensation policies and procedures during these periods.

 

The primary goals of the Company’s compensation committee with respect to executive compensation are to attract and retain highly talented and dedicated executives and to align executives’ incentives with stockholder value creation.

 

The Compensation Committee will conduct an annual review of the aggregate level of the Company’s executive compensation, as well as the mix of elements used to compensate the Company’s executive officers. The Company compares compensation levels with amounts currently being paid to executives at similar companies in the same area and the same industry. Most importantly, the Company compares compensation levels with local practices in China. The Company believes that its compensation levels are competitive with local conditions.

 

Elements of compensation

 

The Company’s executive compensation consists of the following elements:

 

Base Salary

 

Base salaries for the Company’s executives are established to be amounts of compensation that are similar to those paid by other companies to executives in similar positions and with similar responsibilities. Base salaries are adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance and experience. The Compensation Committee established a salary structure to determine base salaries and is responsible for initially setting executive officer compensation in employment arrangements with each individual. The base salary amounts are intended to reflect the Company’s philosophy that the base salary should attract experienced individuals who will contribute to the success of the Company’s business goals and represent cash compensation that is commensurate with the compensation of individuals at similarly situated companies.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors and Compensation Committee have approved the current salaries for executives: $165,000 for the Chairman, $110,000 for the CEO, and $66,000 for other officers in 2011.

 

Performance Bonus

 

a.Grantees: Hanlin Chen, Qizhou Wu, Shengbin Yu, Shaobo Wang, Andy Tse, Jie Li, and Daming Hu;
b.Conditions: (i) based on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, the year over year growth rates of net sales, net profits and earnings per share for 2011 must exceed 20%; and (ii) the average growth rate of the foregoing indicators must exceed that of China auto industry in 2010 published by China Association Of Auto Manufacturers, “CAAM”
c.Bonus: 50% of each officer’s annual salary in 2011.

 

There are no accrued performance bonuses in 2011 as the Company did not reach either of the above conditions for awarding performance bonuses.

 

Stock Option Awards

 

The stock options plan proposed by management, which aims to incentivize and retain core employees, to meet employees’ benefits, the Company’s long term operating goals and stockholder benefits, was approved at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and the maximum common shares for issuance under this plan is 2,200,000 with a period of 10 years.

 

47
 

 

The stock options granted to management in 2008 were as follows, which were approved by the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee.

 

a.Total Number of Options Granted: 298,850
b.Exercise Price Per Option: $2.93, the closing price of the common shares of the Company on December 9, 2008
c.Date of Grant: December 10, 2008
d.Expiration Date: on or before December 9, 2011, management has exercised all options before their expiration date
e.Vesting Schedule
(i)On December 10, 2008, 1/3 of the granted stock option vested and became exercisable
(ii)On December 10, 2009, 1/3 of the granted stock option vested and became exercisable
(iii)On December 10, 2010, 1/3 of the granted stock option vested and became exercisable

 

Other Compensation

 

Other than the base salary for the Company’s executive officers, the performance bonus and the stock option awards referred to above, the Company does not have any other benefits and perquisites for its executive officers. However, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may provide benefits and perquisites to these executive officers if it deems advisable to do so.

 

Compensation Committee Report

 

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K with management. Based on the Company’s Compensation Committee’s review of and the discussions with management with respect to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Company’s Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for filing with the SEC.

 

The foregoing report is provided by the following directors, who constitute the Compensation Committee: Robert Tung, Guangxun Xu and Bruce C. Richardson.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of the Company’s executive officers has served as a member of a compensation committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any other entity whose executive officers serve as a director of the Company or member of the Company’s compensation committee.

 

Compensation Tables

 

Executive Officers

 

The compensation that executive officers received for their services for fiscal years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

 

Name and principal position   Year   Salary1   Bonus2   Option Awards3   Total 
Hanlin Chen (Chairman)   2011   $165,000   $   $   $165,000 
    2010   $150,000   $75,000   $   $225,000 
    2009   $150,000   $75,000   $   $225,000 
                          
Qizhou Wu (CEO)   2011   $110,000   $   $   $110,000 
    2010   $100,000   $50,000   $   $150,000 
    2009   $100,000   $50,000   $   $150,000 
                          
Jie Li (CFO)   2011   $66,000   $   $   $66,000 
    2010   $60,000   $30,000   $   $90,000 
    2009   $60,000   $30,000   $   $90,000 
                          
Haimian Cai (Vice President)   2011   $96,000   $   $   $96,000 
    2010   $96,000   $   $   $96,000 
    2009   $40,000   $96,000   $65,550   $201,550 
                          
Shengbin Yu (Senior Vice President)   2011   $33,000   $   $   $33,000 
    2010   $60,000   $30,000   $   $90,000 
    2009   $60,000   $30,000   $   $90,000 

 

48
 

 

1Salary – Please refer to Base Salary disclosed under “Elements of compensationsection above for further details.

 

2Bonus – Please refer to Performance Bonus disclosed under “Elements of compensationsection above for further details.

 

3Option Awards – Please refer to Stock Option Awards disclosed under “Elements of compensationsection above for further details.

 

For detailed information on option exercises and stock vested, please see Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 15 of this Annual Report.

 

Compensation for Directors

 

Based on the number of the board of directors’ service years, workload and performance, the Company decides on their pay. The management believes that the pay for the members of the Board of Directors was appropriate as of December 31, 2011. The compensation that directors received for serving on the Board of Directors for fiscal year 2011 was as follows:

 

Name  Fees earned or paid in cash   Option awards1   Total 
Robert Tung  $44,000   $33,525   $77,525 
Guangxun Xu  $32,000   $33,525   $65,525 
Bruce C. Richardson  $38,000   $33,525   $71,525 

 

1Other than the cash payment based on the number of a director’s service years, workload and performance, the Company grants 7,500 option awards to each director every year. In accordance with ASC Topic 718, the cost of the above mentioned stock options issued to directors was measured on the grant date based on their fair value. The fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and certain assumptions. Please see Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 15 of this Annual Report for more details.

 

The cost of the above-mentioned compensation paid to directors was measured based on investment, operating, technology, and consulting services they provided. All other directors did not receive compensation for their service on the Board of Directors.

 

ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

 

As used in this section, the term beneficial ownership with respect to a security is defined by Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as consisting of sole or shared voting power, including the power to vote or direct the vote, and/or sole or shared investment power, including the power to dispose of or direct the disposition of, with respect to the security through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable. The percentage ownership is based on 28,260,302 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2011.

 

Name/Title  Total Number of Shares   Percentage Ownership 
Hanlin Chen, Chairman1   17,849,014    63.16%
Qizhou Wu, CEO and Director   1,445,136    5.11%
Jie Li, CFO   33,403    0.12%
Li Ping Xie2   17,849,014    63.16%
Tse, Yiu Wong Andy, Sr. VP, Director   377,204    1.33%
Shaobo Wang, Sr. VP   165,104    0.58%
Shengbin Yu, Sr. VP   226,429    0.80%
Yijun Xia, VP   17,200    0.06%
Daming Hu, CAO   26,400    0.09%
Robert Tung, Director   7,500    0.03%
Haimian Cai, Director   3,750    0.01%
Wiselink Holdings Limited3   17,849,014    63.16%
All Directors and Executive Officers (12 persons)   20,151,140    71.31%

 

49
 

 

1Includes 1,502,925 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Chen’s wife, Ms. Xie, and 3,023,542 shares beneficially held through Wiselink Holdings Limited.

 

2Includes 13,322,547 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Ms. Xie’s husband, Mr. Chen and 3,023,542 beneficially held in Wiselink Holdings Limited.

 

3Wiselink Holdings Limited is a company controlled by Mr. Chen. Includes 13,322,457 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Chen and 1,502,925 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Chen’s wife, Ms. Xie.

 

ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

 

For the information required by Item 13 please refer to Consolidated Financial Statements Note 2 (Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies–Certain Relationships And Related Transactions) and Note 28 (Related Party Transactions).

 

The Company’s Audit Committee’s charter provides that one of its responsibilities is to review and approve related party transactions defined as those transactions required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. Although the Company does not currently have a formal written set of policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of related person transactions, the Company does have written procedures in place to identify related party transactions that may require Audit Committee approval. These procedures include submission of a forecast summary of transactions with related parties annually. Where a related party transaction is identified, the Audit Committee reviews and, where appropriate, approves the transaction based on whether it believes that the transaction is at arms length and contains terms that are no less favorable than what the Company could have obtained from an unaffiliated third party.

 

ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.

 

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees for professional audit services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements, and fees billed for other services for the fiscal years 2011 and 2010. The Audit Committee has approved all of the following fees.

 

   Fiscal Year Ended 
   2011   2010 
Audit Fees  $870,000   $823,000 
Audit-Related Fees        
Tax Fees        
Total Fees Paid  $870,000   $823,000 

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE’S PRE-APPROVAL POLICY

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors adopted policies and procedures for the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s independent auditor and for the prohibition of certain services from being provided by the independent auditor. The Company may not engage the Company’s independent auditor to render any audit or non-audit service unless the service is approved in advance by the Audit Committee or the engagement to render the service is entered into pursuant to the Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures. On an annual basis, the Audit Committee may pre-approve services that are expected to be provided to the Company by the independent auditor during the fiscal year. At the time such pre-approval is granted, the Audit Committee specifies the pre-approved services and establishes a monetary limit with respect to each particular pre-approved service, which limit may not be exceeded without obtaining further pre-approval under the policy. For any pre-approval, the Audit Committee considers whether such services are consistent with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission on auditor independence.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

 

(a)(1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, PricewatershouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company
   
2. Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm, Schwartz Levitsky Feldman LLP
   
3. Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010
   
4. Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
   
5. Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
   
6. Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
   
7. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
   
8. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(2) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

 

I Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

 

EXHIBITS

 

The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Where so indicated by footnote, exhibits that were previously filed are incorporated by reference.

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
     
3.1(i)   Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from the filing on Form 10KSB File No. 000-33123)
     
3.1(ii)   Bylaws (incorporated by reference from the Form 10KSB for the year ended December 31, 2002)
     
10.5   Joint-venture Agreement, dated March 31, 2006, as amended on May 2, 2006, between Great Genesis Holdings Limited and Wuhu Chery Technology Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report on May 10, 2006)
     
10.6   Securities Purchase Agreement dated February 1, 2008 among us, Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited, and YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.7   Securities Purchase Agreement dated February 15, 2008 between the Company and the investors. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.8   Escrow Agreement dated February 15, 2008 among us, U.S. Bank National Association, Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited, and YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.9   Registration Rights Agreement dated February 15, 2008 among us, Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited, and YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)

 

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10.10   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $8,571,429 issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.11   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $6,428,571 issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.12   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $15,000,000 issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.13   Closing Warrant to purchase 564,799 shares of common stock at $8.8527 per share, dated February 15, 2008, issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.14   Escrow Warrant to purchase 564,799 shares of common stock at $8.8527 per share, dated February 15, 2008, issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.15   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $1,428,571 issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.16   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $1,071,429 issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.17   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $2,500,000 issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.18   Closing Warrant to purchase 94,133 shares of common stock at $8.8527 per share, dated February 15, 2008, issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.19   Escrow Warrant to purchase 94,133 shares of common stock at $8.8527 per share, dated February 15, 2008, issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.20   Translation of the Equity Transfer Agreement dated March 31, 2008 in English (incorporated by reference to exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 2, 2008)
     
10.21   English Translation of the Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Contract dated January 24, 2010 between Great Genesis Holdings Limited and Beijing Hainachuan Auto Parts Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed on March 25, 2010)
     
21   Schedule of Subsidiaries*
     
23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company*
     
23.2   Consent of Schwartz Levitsky Feldman LLP*
     
31.1   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification*
     
31.2   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification*

 

52
 

 

32.1   Section 1350 Certification*
     
32.2   Section 1350 Certification*
     
101+   The following materials from the China Automotive Systems, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed on March 9, 2012, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL):

 

(i)Consolidated Balance Sheets;
(ii)Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss);
(iii)Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss);
(iv)Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity;
(v)Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and
(vi)Related notes

 

*Filed herewith.
   
+The XBRL information accompanying this Annual Report is furnished and is deemed not “filed” or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and not “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

53
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
     
Dated: March 9, 2012   /s/ Qizhou Wu
     
  Name:    Qizhou Wu
     
  Title:    Chief Executive Officer and President

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Qizhou Wu his attorney-in-fact and agent, with the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

In accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Dated: March 9, 2012   /s/ Hanlin Chen  
  Name: Hanlin Chen  
  Title: Chairman and Director  
       
Dated: March 9, 2012   /s/ Qizhou Wu  
  Name: Qizhou Wu  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer, President and Director  
       
Dated: March 9, 2012   /s/ Jie Li  
  Name: Jie Li  
  Title: Chief Financial Officer  
       
Dated: March 9, 2012   /s/ Daming Hu  
  Name: Daming Hu  
  Title: Chief Accounting Officer  
       
Dated: March 9, 2012   /s/ Robert Tung  
  Name: Robert Tung  
  Title: Director  
       
Dated: March 9, 2012   /s/ Guangxun Xu  
  Name: Guangxun Xu  
  Title: Director  
       
Dated: March 9, 2012   /s/ Bruce C. Richardson  
  Name: Bruce C. Richardson  
  Title: Director  

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

  

 

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF

CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.:

 

In our opinion, the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and the related consolidated statements of income (loss), comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years then ended present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of China Automotive Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“the Company”) at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 listed in the index appearing under Item 8 presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company did not maintain, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") because a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting related to insufficient personnel with appropriate levels of accounting knowledge and experience to address complex U.S. GAAP accounting issues and to prepare and review financial statements and related disclosures under U.S. GAAP existed as of that date. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness referred to above is described in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. We considered this material weakness in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2011 consolidated financial statements, and our opinion regarding the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting does not affect our opinion on those consolidated financial statements. The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in management's report referred to above. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

We do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on management's statements referring to the management’s actions and plans of remediation of previously identified material weakness and the actions and plans to remediate the existing material weakness included in the Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.


 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company

PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company

Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

March 9, 2012

 

 

55
 

 

Schwartz Levitsky Feldman llp

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

LICENSED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 

TORONTO · MONTREAL

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of China Automotive Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as at December 31, 2009 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2009. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the management of the Company. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

The Company is not required to have nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financing reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2009 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2009 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

 

“SCHWARTZ LEVITSKY FELDMAN LLP”

 

 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Chartered Accountants
March 16, 2010 except for note 2 to the Licensed Public Accountants
consolidated financial statements appearing  
on the Company’s 2010 Form 10-K, which  
was as of June 23, 2011  

 

 

 

 

2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1500

Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4

Tel: 416 785 5353

Fax: 416 785 5663

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China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $72,960,500   $49,424,979 
Pledged cash deposits   21,820,890    20,983,891 
Accounts and notes receivable, net - unrelated parties   206,333,110    190,392,146 
Accounts and notes receivable, net - related parties   6,126,148    5,466,842 
Advance payments and others - unrelated parties   2,215,240    2,892,068 
Advance payments and others - related parties   629,741    1,334,069 
Inventories   51,607,193    36,870,272 
Current deferred tax assets   3,686,713    3,511,421 
Total current assets   365,379,535    310,875,688 
Non-current assets:          
Property, plant and equipment, net   84,843,250    75,380,747 
Intangible assets, net   837,075    662,089 
Other receivables, net - unrelated parties   1,876,953    2,450,970 
Other receivables, net - related parties   499,652    350,464 
Advance payment for property, plant and equipment - unrelated parties   1,472,442    1,839,537 
Advance payment for property, plant and equipment - related parties   3,712,121    7,534,440 
Long-term investments   3,485,118    3,162,136 
Non-current deferred tax assets   4,340,974    3,271,594 
Total assets  $466,447,120   $405,527,665 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Bank loans  $10,315,987   $6,794,812 
Accounts and notes payable - unrelated parties   169,456,482    146,649,497 
Accounts and notes payable - related parties   2,052,897    1,867,926 
Convertible notes payable   -    30,000,000 
Compound derivative liabilities   -    25,271,808 
Customer deposits   1,181,401    720,883 
Accrued payroll and related costs   5,177,140    4,927,200 
Accrued expenses and other payables   22,617,667    29,072,710 
Accrued pension costs   4,067,399    3,851,988 
Taxes payable   2,029,215    6,860,946 
Amounts due to shareholders/directors   351,817    353,817 
Deferred tax liabilities   309,667    312,304 
Total current liabilities   217,559,672    256,683,891 
Long-term liabilities:          
Convertible notes payable   23,571,429    - 
Compound derivative liabilities   559,148    - 
Accrued make-whole redemption interest expense of convertible notes   7,615,709    - 
Advances payable   983,986    603,983 
Total liabilities   250,289,944    257,287,874 
Commitments and Contingencies          
Stockholders’ Equity          
Common stock, $0.0001 par value - Authorized - 80,000,000 shares
Issued and Outstanding – 28,260,302 and 27,175,826 shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively
   2,826    2,717 
Additional paid-in capital   39,295,419    28,565,153 
Retained earnings-          
Appropriated   9,026,240    8,767,797 
Unappropriated   99,513,395    58,979,851 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   25,291,231    15,957,500 
Total parent company stockholders' equity   173,129,111    112,273,018 
Non-controlling interests   43,028,065    35,966,773 
Total stockholders' equity   216,157,176    148,239,791 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $466,447,120   $405,527,665 

 

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

 

57
 

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss)

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Net product sales               
Unrelated parties  $328,043,323   $334,264,680   $249,705,389 
Related parties (Note 28)   19,931,431    11,660,502    5,892,164 
    347,974,754    345,925,182    255,597,553 
Cost of product sold               
Unrelated parties   259,096,894    246,369,792    179,856,225 
Related parties(Note 28)   20,778,863    19,252,680    13,998,702 
    279,875,757    265,622,472    193,854,927 
Gross profit   68,098,997    80,302,710    61,742,626 
Net gain on other sales   1,481,308    1,129,032    838,505 
Operating expenses:               
Selling expenses   9,971,835    9,363,875    7,892,540 
General and administrative expenses   16,224,369    10,029,211    15,195,026 
R&D expenses   10,005,605    7,991,252    2,561,170 
Total operating expenses   36,201,809    27,384,338    25,648,736 
Operating income   33,378,496    54,047,404    36,932,395 
Other income, net   168,749    558,058    94,534 
Financial expenses, net   (3,983,817)   (3,360,837)   (7,883,714)
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative   20,971,087    20,171,698    (43,074,327)
Gain on convertible notes conversion   1,564,418    -    - 
Income (loss) before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies   52,098,933    71,416,323    (13,931,112)
Less: Income taxes   4,353,702    8,484,205    4,720,013 
Add: Equity in earnings of affiliated companies   158,250    (14,816)   - 
Net income (loss)   47,903,481    62,917,302    (18,651,125)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest   7,111,494    11,179,189    7,789,746 
Net income (loss) attributable to parent company  $40,791,987   $51,738,113   $(26,440,871)
Allocation to convertible notes holders   (4,518,838)   (6,994,306)   - 
Net income (loss) attributable to parent company’s common shareholders   36,273,149    44,743,807    (26,440,871)
Net income (loss) attributable to parent company’s common shareholders per share –               
Basic  $1.30   $1.65   $(0.98)
Diluted  $0.69   $1.10   $(0.98)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding –               
Basic   27,930,668    27,098,258    26,990,649 
Diluted   31,511,685    31,565,422    26,990,649 

 

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

 

58
 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Net income (loss)  $47,903,481   $62,917,302   $(18,651,125)
Other comprehensive income:               
Foreign currency translation gain, net of tax   11,284,880    5,707,902    82,638 
Comprehensive income (loss)   59,188,361    68,625,204    (18,568,487)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest   9,062,643    12,117,324    7,812,156 
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent company  $50,125,718   $56,507,880   $(26,380,643)

 

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

 

59
 

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

 

   2011   2010   2009 
             
Common Stock               
Balance at January 1  $2,717   $2,704   $2,698 
Issuance of common shares for the conversion of convertible notes   91         
Exercise of stock option   18    13    6 
Balance at December 31  $2,826   $2,717   $2,704 
                
Additional paid-in capital               
Balance at January 1  $28,565,153   $27,515,064   $26,648,154 
Issuance of common shares for the conversion of convertible notes   10,111,778         
Issuance of stock options   100,575    595,402    446,676 
Exercise of stock option   517,913    454,687    420,234 
Balance at December 31  $39,295,419   $28,565,153   $27,515,064 
                
Retained earning s— Appropriated               
Balance at January 1  $8,767,797   $8,324,533   $7,525,777 
Appropriation of retained earnings   258,443    443,264    798,756 
Balance at December 31  $9,026,240   $8,767,797   $8,324,533 
                
Unappropriated               
Balance at January 1 – as previously reported  $58,979,851   $7,685,002   $34,060,876 
Accumulated effect of adopted ASC815-15           863,753 
Balance at January 1   58,979,851    7,685,002    34,924,629 
Net income (loss) attributable to parent company   40,791,987    51,738,113    (26,440,871)
Appropriation of retained earnings   (258,443)   (443,264)   (798,756)
Balance at December 31  $99,513,395   $58,979,851   $7,685,002 
                
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income               
Balance at January 1  $15,957,500    11,187,733   $11,127,505 
Net foreign currency translation adjustment attributable to parent company   9,333,731    4,769,767    60,228 
Balance at December 31  $25,291,231   $15,957,500   $11,187,733 
Total parent company stockholders' equity  $173,129,111   $112,273,018   $54,715,036 
                
Non-controlling interest               
Balance at January 1  $35,966,773   $27,138,357   $23,270,820 
Net foreign currency translation adjustment attributable to non-controlling interest   1,951,149    938,135    22,410 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest   7,111,494    11,179,189    7,789,746 
Distribution of retained earnings   (2,001,351)   (3,288,908)   (3,944,619)
Balance at December 31  $43,028,065   $35,966,773   $27,138,357 
Total stockholders' equity  $216,157,176   $148,239,791   $81,853,393 

 

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

 

60
 

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

  

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:               
Net income (loss)  $47,903,481   $62,917,302   $(18,651,125)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:               
Stock-based compensation   100,575    595,402    446,676 
Depreciation and amortization   13,501,091    9,497,618    8,684,169 
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities   (914,886)   620,880    (1,676,731)
Inventory write downs   (23,054)   431,652    1,031,751 
Provision (reversal) for doubtful accounts   (75,486)   (2,373,520)   901,680 
Amortization for discount of convertible notes payable           3,891,148 
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies   (158,250)   14,816    - 
Gain on convertible notes conversion   (1,564,418)   -    - 
(Gain) loss on change in fair value of derivative   (20,971,087)   (20,171,698)   43,074,327 
Loss on disposal of fixed assets   104,849    690,256    22,970 
Other operating adjustments   -    (6)   (235,076)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:               
(Increase) decrease in:               
Pledged cash deposits   181,608    (7,656,455)   (5,994,298)
Accounts and notes receivable   (6,200,552)   (33,055,864)   (58,735,311)
Advance payments and other   1,576,777    (1,721,067)   (968,719)
Inventories   (12,458,644)   (8,679,749)   (1,849,579)
Increase (decrease) in:               
Accounts and notes payable   15,013,604    36,821,221    48,178,260 
Customer deposits   409,036    (1,232,590)   1,682,384 
Accrued payroll and related costs   19,903    206,373    1,055,134 
Accrued expenses and other payables   2,355,538    6,295,860    8,375,518 
Accrued pension costs   25,566    (45,692)   (31,847)
Taxes payable   (5,107,984)   (4,963,593)   5,755,520 
Advances payable   345,623    361,015    (317)
Net cash provided by operating activities   34,063,290    38,552,161    34,956,534 
Cash flows from investing activities:               
(Increase) decrease in other receivables   563,649    (1,695,321)   207,014 
Cash received from equipment sales   574,775    383,924    280,270 
Cash paid to acquire property, plant and equipment   (14,857,364)   (28,024,638)   (17,498,957)
Cash paid to acquire intangible assets   (323,463)   (165,292)   (324,014)
Equity investment   -    (3,095,414)    
Net cash used in investing activities   (14,042,403)   (32,596,741)   (17,335,687)
Cash flows from financing activities:               
Bank loans borrowed   10,199,951    8,215,091    6,590,317 
Repayment of bank loans   (6,995,320)   (6,794,812)   (8,786,684)
Dividends paid to the non-controlling interest holders of joint-venture companies   (2,822,432)   (3,614,252)   (4,176,583)
Increase (decrease) in amounts due to shareholders/directors   (28,194)   344,695    (337,915)
Exercise of stock option   517,931    454,700    420,240 
Redemption of convertible notes           (5,000,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   871,936    (1,394,578)   (11,290,625)
Cash and cash equivalents affected by foreign currency   2,642,698    1,383,961    36,579 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   23,535,521    5,944,803    6,366,801 
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year   49,424,979    43,480,176    37,113,375 
Cash and equivalents at end of year  $72,960,500   $49,424,979   $43,480,176 

 

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

 

61
 

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Cash paid for interest  $1,972,601   $2,044,713   $1,475,307 
Cash paid for income taxes  $8,271,564   $6,685,443   $4,048,120 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Issuance of common shares for the conversion of convertible notes  $10,111,869   $-   $- 
Advance payments for acquiring property, plant and equipment  $5,184,563   $9,373,977   $6,369,043 
Dividend Payable to non-controlling interest shareholders of joint-ventures  $807,970    1,530,445    1,761,339 

 

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

 

62
 

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.  Organization and Business

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc., “ China Automotive,” was incorporated in the State of Delaware on June 29, 1999 under the name of Visions-In-Glass, Inc. China Automotive, 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 is primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of automotive systems and components, as described below.

 

Great Genesis Holdings Limited, a company incorporated on January 3, 2003 under The Companies Ordinance in Hong Kong as a limited liability company, “Genesis,” is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

Henglong USA Corporation, “HLUSA,” which was incorporated on January 8, 2007 in Troy, Michigan, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and mainly engages in marketing of automotive parts in North America, and provides after-sales service and research and development support accordingly.

 

The Company owns the following aggregate net interests in the following Sino-foreign joint ventures, wholly-owned subsidiary and joint ventures organized in the PRC as of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009.

 

   Aggregate Net Interest 
Name of Entity  2011   2010   2009 
Jingzhou Henglong Automotive Parts Co., Ltd., “Henglong”1   80.00%   80.00%   80.00%
Shashi Jiulong Power Steering Gears Co., Ltd., “Jiulong”2   81.00%   81.00%   81.00%
Shenyang Jinbei Henglong Automotive Steering System Co., Ltd., “Shenyang”3   70.00%   70.00%   70.00%
Zhejiang Henglong & Vie Pump-Manu Co., Ltd., “Zhejiang”4   51.00%   51.00%   51.00%
Universal Sensor Application Inc., “USAI”5   83.34%   83.34%   83.34%
Wuhu HengLong Auto Steering System Co., Ltd., “Wuhu”6   77.33%   77.33%   77.33%
Wuhan Jielong Electric Power Steering Co., Ltd., “Jielong”7   85.00%   85.00%   85.00%
Jingzhou Hengsheng Automotive System Co., Ltd, “Hengsheng”8   100.00%   100.00%   100.00%
Jingzhou Henglong Automotive Technology (Testing) Center, “Testing Center”9   80.00%   80.00%   80.00%
Beijing Hainachun HengLong Automotive Steering System Co., Ltd, “Beijing HengLong”10   50.00%   50.00%   - 

 

1.Henglong was established in 1997 and is mainly engaged in the production of rack and pinion power steering gear for cars and light duty vehicles.
2.Jiulong was established in 1993 and is mainly engaged in the production of integral power steering gear for heavy-duty vehicles.
3.Shenyang was established in 2002 and focuses on power steering parts for light duty vehicles.  
4.Zhejiang was established in 2002 to focus on power steering pumps.
5.USAI was established in 2005 and is mainly engaged in the production and sales of sensor modules.
6.Wuhu was established in 2006 and is mainly engaged in the production and sales of automobile steering systems.
7.Jielong was established in 2006 and is mainly engaged in the production and sales of electric power steering gear, “EPS.”
8.On March 7, 2007, Genesis established Hengsheng, its wholly-owned subsidiary, to engage in the production and sales of automotive steering systems. The registered capital of Hengsheng at the time of establishment was $10,000,000. On February 10, 2010, the registered capital of Hengsheng was increased to $16,000,000. On October 12, 2011, the board of directors of the Company approved a reorganization of the Company’s subsidiaries operating in China. As a result of the reorganization, all of Genesis’s equity interests of its subsidiaries operating in China, except for Shengyang and Zhejiang, were transferred to Hengsheng, the Company’s new China-based holding company. The reorganization was completed on January 19, 2012 and, after that, the registered capital of Hengsheng was increased to $39,000,000.
9.In December 2009, Henglong, a subsidiary of Genesis, formed the Testing Center, which is mainly engaged in the research and development of new products. The registered capital of the Testing Center was RMB 30,000,000, equivalent to approximately $4,393,544.
10.On January 24, 2010, Genesis entered into a joint venture contract with Beijing Hainachuan Auto Parts Co., Ltd., to establish Beijing Henglong as a joint venture company to design, develop and manufacture both hydraulic and electric power steering systems and parts. On September 16, 2010, with Beijing Hainchuan’s agreement, Genesis transferred its interest in the joint venture to Hengsheng, and left the other terms of the joint venture contract unchanged. According to the joint venture agreement, the Company does not have voting control of Beijing Henglong. Therefore, the Company’s consolidated financial statements do not include Beijing Henglong, and such investment is accounted for by the equity method.

 

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On October 12, 2011, the board of directors of the Company approved a reorganization of the group companies operating as subsidiaries in China. The reorganization is intended to improve the Company’s marketing of its products in China by presenting a more unified structure under one PRC-based holding company and to improve the administration and control of the various China-based subsidiaries. As a result of the reorganization, all of Genesis’ equity interests in its subsidiaries operating in China, except for Shengyang and Zhejiang , were transferred to Hengsheng (the Company’s new China-based holding company). As the reorganization was under common control of the Company, it will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations and should not impact the tax treatment of the Company or its subsidiaries in any material respect. The reorganization was completed on January 19, 2012. Set forth below is an organizational chart after reorganization.

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. [NASDAQ:CAAS]
↓100%           ↓100%
Great Genesis Holdings Limited           Henglong USA Corporation
               
↓100.00%       ↓70%           ↓51%
Jingzhou       Shenyang Jinbei           Zhejiang
Hengsheng   Henglong     Henglong & Vie
Automotive   Automotive     Pump-Manu
System   Steering System     Co., Ltd.
Co., Ltd.   Co., Ltd.      
“Hengsheng”       “Shenyang”           “Zhejiang”
                   
↓80%   ↓81%   ↓83.34%   ↓77.33%   ↓85%   ↓50.00%
Jingzhou   Shashi Jiulong   Universal   Wuhu Henglong   Wuhan   Beijing
Henglong   Power   Sensor   Automotive   Jielong   Henglong
Automotive   Steering   Application,   Steering   Electric Power   Automotive
Parts Co.,   Gears   Inc.   System Co.,   Steering Co.,   System Co.,
Ltd.   Co., Ltd.       Ltd.   Ltd    Ltd.,
“Henglong”   “Jiulong”   “USAI”   “Wuhu”   “Jielong”   “Beijing Henglong”
↓80.00%                    
Jingzhou Henglong                    
Automotive                    
Technology (Testing)                    
Center                    
“Testing Center”                    

 

2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation - For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its three wholly-owned subsidiaries and eight joint ventures, which are described in Note 1. Significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The Company has no voting control in Beijing Henglong, thus such investment was accounted for using the equity method.

 

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During early 2003, the Directors of the Company and the other joint venture partners in the Company’s Sino-foreign joint ventures executed “Act in Concert” agreements, resulting in the Company’s ownership of voting control in such Sino-foreign joint ventures. Consequently, effective January 1, 2003, the Company changed from equity accounting to consolidation accounting for its investments in Sino-foreign joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2003. Prior to January 1, 2003, the Company used the equity method pursuant to the provision in ASC Topic 810 (formerly EITF 96-16), as described as follows.

 

Henglong was formed in 1997. The Company increased its shareholdings from 44.5% to 80% in 2008 and the remaining 20% is owned by Jingzhou Jiulong Machinery and Electronic Manufacturing Co., Ltd., “JLME.” The highest authority of the joint venture is the Board of Directors, which is comprised of five directors, four of which, 80%, are appointed by the Company, and one of which, 20%, is appointed by JLME. As for day-to-day operating matters, approval by more than two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, 67%, is required. Both the Chairman of the Board of Directors and general manager of Henglong are appointed by the Company.

 

Jiulong was formed in 1993, with 81% owned and controlled by the Company, 10% owned by JLME, and 9% owned by Jingzhou Tianxin Investment Consulting Co., Ltd., “Tianxin.” The highest authority of the joint venture is the Board of Directors, which is comprised of five directors, four of which, 80%, are appointed by the Company, and one of whom, 20%, is appointed by JLME. As for day-to-day operating matters, approval by more than two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, 67%, is required. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is appointed by JLME. The general manager of Jiulong is appointed by the Company.

 

Shenyang was formed in 2002, with 70% owned and controlled by the Company, and 30% owned by Shenyang Automotive Industry Investment Corporation, “JB Investment.” The highest authority of the joint venture is the Board of Directors, which is comprised of seven directors, four of whom, 57%, are appointed by the Company, and three of whom, 43%, are appointed by JB Investment. As for day-to-day operating matters, approval by more than two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, 67%, is required. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Company. In March 2003, the Company and Jinbei entered into an act-in-concert agreement, under which the directors appointed by Jinbei agree to act in concert with the directors appointed by the Company. As a result, the Company obtained control of Shenyang in March 2003. The general manager of Shenyang is appointed by the Company.

 

Zhejiang was formed in 2002, with 51% owned by Genesis, which is wholly-owned and controlled by the Company, and 49% owned by Zhejiang Vie Group, “ZVG.” The highest authority of the joint venture is the Board of Directors, which is comprised of seven directors, four of whom, 57%, are appointed by the Company and three of whom, 43%, are appointed by ZVG. As for day-to-day operating matters, approval by more than two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, 67%, is required. In March 2003, the Company and ZVG entered into an act-in-concert agreement, under which the directors appointed by ZVG agree to act in concert with the directors appointed by the Company. As a result, the Company obtained control of Zhejiang in March 2003. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is appointed by ZVG. The general manager of Zhejiang is appointed by the Company.

 

USAI was formed in 2005. As at December 31, 2008, 83.34% was owned by the Company and 16.66% owned by Shanghai Hongxi Investment Inc., “Hongxi”. The highest authority of the joint venture is the Board of Directors, which is comprised of three directors, two of whom, 67%, are appointed by the Company, one of whom, 33%, is appointed by Hongxi. As for day-to-day operating matters, approval by more than two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, 67%, is required. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Company. The general manager of USAI is appointed by the Company.

 

Jielong was formed in April 2006, with 85% owned by the Company, and 15% owned by Hong Kong Tongda, “Tongda.” The highest authority of the joint venture is the Board of Directors, which is comprised of three directors, two of whom, 67%, are appointed by the Company, and one of whom, 33%, is appointed by Tongda. As for day-to-day operating matters, approval by more than two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, 67%, is required. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Company. The general manager of Jielong is appointed by the Company.

 

Wuhu was formed in May 2006, with 77.33% owned by the Company, and 22.67% owned by Wuhu Chery Technology Co., Ltd., “Chery Technology.” The highest authority of the joint venture is the Board of Directors, which is comprised of five directors, three of whom, 60%, are appointed by the Company, and two of whom, 40%, are appointed by Chery Technology. As for day-to-day operating matters, approval by more than two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, 67%, is required. The directors of the Company and Chery Technology executed an “Act in Concert” agreement, resulting in the Company having voting control in the joint venture. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Company. The general manager of Wuhu is appointed by the Company.

 

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Testing Center was formed in December 2009, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Henglong. The highest authority of the entity is the Board of Directors, which is comprised of three directors, all of them are appointed by the Company.

 

Beijing Henglong was formed in 2010, with 50% owned by the Company and 50% owned by Beijing Hainachuan Auto Parts Co. Ltd., "Hainachuan.” The highest authority of the joint venture is the Board of Directors, which is comprised of seven directors, four of whom, 57%, are appointed by the Company, and three of whom, 43%, are appointed by Hainachuan. As for day-to-day operating matters, approval by more than two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, 67%, is required. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is appointed by Hainachuan. The general manager of Beijing Henglong is appointed by the Company.

 

The minority partners of each of the joint ventures are all private companies not controlled, directly or indirectly, by any PRC municipal government or other similar government entity.

 

Use of Estimates - The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The Company is of an opinion that the significant estimates related to impairment of long term assets and investment, the realizable value of accounts receivable and inventories, useful lives of property, plant and equipment, and the amounts of accruals, warranty liabilities and deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents include all highly-liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase.

 

Pledged Cash Deposits - Pledged as guarantee for the Company's notes payable and restricted to use. The Company regularly pays some of its suppliers by bank notes. The Company (the drawer) has to deposit a cash deposit, equivalent to 30%- 40% of the face value of the relevant bank note, in a bank (the drawer) in order to obtain the bank note.

 

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

 

Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is calculated on the moving-average basis and includes all costs to acquire and other costs to bring 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.

 

Advance Payments - These amounts represent advances to acquire various assets to be utilized in the future in the Company’s normal business operations, such as machine equipment, raw materials and technology. Such amounts are paid according to their respective contract terms. Advance payment for machinery and equipment is classified as advance payment for property, plant and equipment in the consolidated balance sheet and advance payment of raw materials and technology are classified as advance payments and others in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment – Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized; minor replacements and maintenance and repairs are charged to operations. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets as follows:

 

Category    Estimated Useful Life (Years) 
Land use rights and buildings:    
Land use rights   45-50
Buildings   25
Machinery and equipment   6
Electronic equipment   4
Motor vehicles   8

 

Assets under construction - represent buildings under construction and plant and equipment pending installation— are stated at cost. Cost includes construction and acquisitions, and interest charges arising from borrowings used to finance assets during the period of construction or installation and testing. No provision for depreciation is made on assets under construction until such time as the relevant assets are completed and ready for their intended commercial use.

 

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Gains or losses on disposal of property, plant and equipment are determined as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant asset, and are recognized in the consolidated statements of income/(loss) on the date of disposal. Gains or losses on disposal of property, plant and equipment has not been material for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

 

Interest Costs Capitalized - Interest costs incurred in connection with specific borrowings for the acquisition, construction or installation of property, plant and equipment are capitalized (if significant) and depreciated as part of the asset’s total cost when the respective asset is placed into service.

 

However, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, interest costs which were incurred before achieving the expected usage as result of using such specific borrowings for the acquisition, construction or installation of property, plant and equipment were not significant, so the Company did not capitalize interest costs.

 

Intangible Assets - Intangible assets, representing patents and technical know-how acquired, are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses. Amortization is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of 5 to 15 years.

 

Long-Lived Assets - The Company has adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 360 (formerly SFAS No.144), “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” Property, plant and equipment and definite life intangible assets are reviewed periodically for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. If required, an impairment loss is recognized as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the assets.

 

In assessing long-lived assets for impairment, management considered the Company’s product line portfolio, customers and related commercial agreements, labor agreements and other factors in grouping assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent. The Company considers projected future undiscounted cash flows, trends and other factors in its assessment of whether impairment conditions exist. Whilst the Company believes that its estimates of future cash flows are reasonable, different assumptions regarding such factors as future automotive production volumes, customer pricing, economics and productivity and cost saving initiatives, could significantly affect its estimates. In determining fair value of long-lived assets, management uses appraisals, management estimates or discounted cash flow calculations.

 

 Long-Term Investments - Investments in which the Company owns less than 20% of the investee company and does not have the ability to exert significant influence are stated at cost, and are reviewed periodically for realization. Investments in which the Company owns 20% - 50% of the investee company and does have the ability to exert significant influence are accounted for using the equity method.

 

In 2010, the Company set up a joint venture with Beijing Hainachuan, Beijing Henglong. Beijing Henglong is an entity over which the Company has significant influence, but which it does not control. Investment in Beijing Henglong is accounted for by the equity method of accounting. Under this method, the Company’s income (loss) from investment in Beijing Henglong is recognized in the consolidated statements of income/(loss). Unrealized gains on transactions between the Company and Beijing Henglong are eliminated to the extent of the Company’s interest in Beijing Henglong, if any; unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. When the Company’s share of losses in Beijing Henglong equals or exceeds its interest in Beijing Henglong, the Company does not recognize further losses, unless the Company has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of Beijing Henglong.

 

The Company continually reviews its investment in Beijing Henglong to determine whether a decline in fair value below the carrying value is other than temporary. The primary factors the Company considers in its determination are the length of time that the fair value of the investment is below the Company’s carrying value and the financial condition, operating performance and near term prospects of the investee. In addition, the Company considers the reason for the decline in fair value, including general market conditions, industry-specific or investee-specific reasons, changes in valuation subsequent to the balance sheet date and the Company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery in fair value. If the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, the carrying value of the security is written down to fair value. There were no impairment losses for its long-term investment in the three years ended December 31, 2011.

 

Revenue from Product Sales Recognition - 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 collectability is probable. The Company recognizes product sales generally at the time the product is installed on OEMs’ production line, and a small number of product sales is recognized at the time the product is shipped. Concurrent with the recognition of revenue, the Company reduces revenue for estimated product returns. Revenue is presented net of any sales tax and value added tax.

 

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Revenue from Materials and Other Assets Sales Recognition – Normally, the Company purchases materials only for its production. Occasionally, some materials will be sold to other suppliers in case of temporary inventory overage of such materials and to make a profit on any price difference. The Company is essentially the agent in these transactions because it does not have any risk of product return. When there is any quality or quantity loss, the suppliers are obligated to restitution. Income generated from selling materials is recorded as the net amount retained, that is, the amount billed to the customers less the amount paid to suppliers, in the consolidated statement of income (loss) in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 350.

 

Revenue from other asset sales represents gains or losses from other assets, for example, used equipment. Income generated from selling other assets is recorded as the net sales amount less the carrying value of the assets. The Company has classified such revenue from materials and other asset sales into gain on other sales in its consolidated statements of income/(loss).

 

Sales Taxes - The Company is subject to value added tax, “VAT.” The applicable VAT tax rate is 17% for products sold in the PRC. The amount of VAT liability is determined by applying the applicable tax rate to the invoiced amount of goods sold less VAT paid on purchases made with the relevant supporting invoices. VAT is collected from customers by the Company on behalf of the PRC tax authorities and is therefore not charged to the consolidated statements of income/(loss).

 

Uncertain Tax Positions - In order to assess uncertain tax positions, the Company applies a more likely than not threshold and a two-step approach for tax position measurement and financial statement recognition. For the two-step approach, the first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement.

 

Product Warranties - The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties when the products are sold. Such estimates of product warranties were based on, among other things, historical experience, product changes, material expenses, service and transportation expenses arising from the manufactured product. Estimates will be adjusted on the basis of actual claims and circumstances.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the warranties activities were as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
Balance at the beginning of year  $13,944,392   $9,092,464   $6,335,613 
Additions during the year   11,484,592    13,285,612    10,192,749 
Settlement within the year   (9,332,366)   (8,715,820)   (7,442,982)
Foreign currency translation   712,169    282,136    7,084 
Balance at end of year  $16,808,787   $13,944,392   $9,092,464 

 

Pension - Most of the operations and employees of the Company are located in China. The Company records pension costs and various employment benefits in accordance with the relevant Chinese social security laws, which is approximately at a total of 31% of salary as required by local governments. Base salary levels are the average salary determined by the local governments.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk - Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations with respect to the financial condition of its debtors, but does not require collateral. In order to determine the value of the Company’s accounts receivable, the Company records a provision for doubtful accounts to cover probable credit losses. Management reviews and adjusts this allowance periodically based on historical experience and its evaluation of the collectability of outstanding accounts receivable.

 

Interest Rate Risk- Bank loans and convertible notes payable are charged at fixed interest rates.

 

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Income Taxes - The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method whereby deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of certain assets and liabilities, changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities, if any, include the impact of any tax rate changes enacted during the year. ASC Topic 350, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on all available evidence, it is considered more likely than not that some portion or all of the recorded deferred tax assets will not be realized in future periods.. Additionally, the Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes using a two-step approach to recognize and measure uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. The Company classifies the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as current to the extent that the Company anticipates payment (or receipt) of cash within one year. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized in the provision for income taxes.

 

If the amount of the Company’s taxable income or income tax liability is a determinant of the amount of a grant, the grant is treated as a reduction of the income tax provision in the year the grant is realized.

 

Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

 

Advertising, Shipping and Handling Costs - Advertising, shipping and handling costs are expensed as incurred and recorded in selling expenses. Shipping and handling costs relating to sales of $4,632,840, $4,690,313 and $3,867,125 were included in selling expenses for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

Income Per Share - Basic income per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated between ordinary shares and other participating securities (convertible note holders) based on their participating rights. Diluted income per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to ordinary shareholders, as adjusted for the effects on income of participating securities as if they were dilutive ordinary shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Ordinary equivalent shares consist of ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of the convertible notes using the if-converted method, and shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants for the purchase of ordinary shares using the treasury stock method. Ordinary equivalent shares are not included in the denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be antidilutive.

-

Comprehensive Income - ASC Topic 220 establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income, its components and accumulated balances in a full set of general purpose financial statements. ASC Topic 220 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.

 

Financial Instruments – Financial instruments consist of cash, evidence of ownership in an entity, and contracts that both (i) impose on one entity a contractual obligation to deliver cash or another financial instrument to a second entity, or to exchange other financial instruments on potentially unfavorable terms with the second entity, and (ii) conveys to that second entity a contractual right (a) to receive cash or another financial instrument from the first entity, or (b) to exchange other financial instruments on potentially favorable terms with the first entity. Inputs to the valuation methodology for Level 1 are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Inputs to the valuation methodology for Level 2 include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments. Inputs to the valuation methodology for Level 3 are unobservable and significant to the fair value. Consideration is also given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.

 

Effective on January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging Activities that address the determination of whether an instrument meets the definition of a derivative being indexed to a company’s own stock for purposes of applying the scope exception as provided for in accordance with ASC 815-15. Upon adoption of the standard on the effective date, the embedded conversion option that is embedded in the Company’s convertible notes payable no longer met the definition of being indexed to its own stock because it embodied certain anti-dilution protections that are not based on input to the fair value of a fixed-for-fixed option. As a result, the embedded conversion feature required bifurcation, classification in liabilities and measurement at fair value at each reporting period, with changes reflected in earnings, until the convertible notes are settled.

 

The Company has accounted for this change in accounting principle by reflecting the cumulative effect as an adjustment to its beginning retained earnings during the year ended December 31, 2009. The cumulative effect adjustment that the Company made is the difference between the amounts that it has recognized on the convertible notes Payable prior to the adoption of ASC 815-40 and the amounts that would have been recognized if the amended guidance had been effective on the issuance date of the convertible notes payable, which was February 15, 2008. The following table illustrates the differences that comprise the cumulative effect:

 

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   (Effective Date January 1, 2009) 
   As   As   Cumulative 
Financial Instrument:  Recorded   Adjusted   Effect 
Convertible notes payable  $34,339,807   $31,108,852   $3,230,955 
Derivative liabilities       2,367,202    (2,367,202)
   $34,339,807   $33,476,054   $863,753 

 

The following table illustrates the reallocation as if the amended provisions of ASC 815 had been in effect on the financing date:

 

   (Financing Date February 15, 2008) 
   Original   Amended     
Financial Instrument:  Allocation   Allocation   Difference 
Convertible notes payable  $34,201,374   $28,379,704   $5,821,670 
Derivative liabilities       5,821,670    (5,821,670)
Warrants   798,626    798,626     
   $35,000,000   $35,000,000   $ 

 

The cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle on the effective date reflects (i) the difference in the financing date allocation of proceeds, (ii) the resulting change in the amortization of the debt discount that results from the revised allocation, and (iii) the changes in the fair values of the derivative liabilities that would have been recorded had the amended standard been in effect since the financing date.

 

Fair Value Measurements – For purposes of fair value measurements, the Company applies the applicable provisions of ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”. Accordingly, fair value for the Company’s financial accounting and reporting purposes represents the estimated price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the designated measurement date. With an objective to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures, the Financial Accounting Standard Board established the fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels.

 

Level 1 Inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. An active market for the asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. A quoted price in an active market provides the most reliable evidence of fair value and shall be used to measure fair value whenever available. As at December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company did not have any fair value assets and liabilities classified as Level 1.

 

Level 2 Inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, a Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. As at December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company did not have any fair value assets and liabilities classified as Level 2.

 

Level 3 Inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. However, the fair value measurement objective remains the same, that is, an exit price from the perspective of a market participant that holds the asset or owes the liability. Therefore, unobservable inputs shall reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk). Accordingly, the compound derivative liabilities are classified as Level 3 as the inputs reflected management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

The following table presents information about the Company’s financial liabilities classified as Level 3 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

 

   Balance as of December 31, 2011  
       Fair Value Measurements  
   Carrying Value    Using Fair Value Hierarchy  
      Level 1   Level 2 Level 3  
Derivative liability, non-current  $559,148   $  -   $- $ 559 ,148  

 

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   Balance as of December 31, 2010 
     Fair Value Measurements 
   Carrying Value  Using Fair Value Hierarchy 
      Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Derivative liability, current  $25,271,808   $-   $-   $25,271,808 

  

For a summary of changes in Level 3 derivative liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2011,2010 and 2009, please see Note 13

 

Stock-Based Compensation - The Company may issue stock options to employees and stock options or warrants to non-employees in non-capital raising transactions for services and for financing costs.

 

In July 2004, the Company adopted a stock incentive plan. The maximum number of common shares for issuance under this plan is 2,200,000 with a period of 10 years. The stock incentive 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. Since the adoption of the stock incentive plan, the Company has issued 478,850 stock options and 1,721,150 stock options remain to be issuable in the future. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had 67,500 stock options outstanding.

 

The Company has adopted ASC Topic 718, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” which establishes a fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation plans. In accordance with ASC Topic 718, the cost of stock options and warrants issued to employees and non-employees is measured on the grant date based on the fair value. The fair value 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 the benefit, which is generally the vesting period.

 

Registration Payment Arrangements - The Company has entered into registration payment arrangements with certain investors that provide for the payment of damages for failures to register common shares underlying the investor’s financial instruments. ASC Topic 825, Accounting for Registration Payment Arrangements, provides for the exclusion of registration payments, such as the liquidated damages, from the consideration of classification of financial instruments. Rather, such registration payments would be accounted for pursuant to ASC Topic 450, “Accounting for Contingencies,” which is the Company’s current accounting practice. That is, all registration payments will require recognition when they are both probable and reasonably estimable. The Company does not currently believe that damages are probable.

 

As the investors may sell the convertible notes and underlying shares freely pursuant to Rule 144, there are no liquidated damages.

 

Foreign Currencies - The Company’s subsidiaries based in PRC and Genesis maintain their books and records in Renminbi, their functional currency. In accordance with ASC Topic 830, foreign currency transactions in RMB 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, including shareholders’ equity, 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 for the period. The parent company (CAAS) and Henglong USA Corporation (HLUSA), maintain their books and records in U.S. dollars, “USD,” the currency of U.S.A., their functional currency.

 

In translating the financial statements of the Company’s China subsidiaries and Genesis from their functional currency into the  Company's reporting currency of 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.

 

Certain Relationships And Related Transactions-

 

The following related parties are related through common ownership with the major shareholders of the Company:

 

Jingzhou Henglong Fulida Textile Co., Ltd., “Jingzhou”

Xiamen Joylon Co., Ltd., “Xiamen Joylon”

Shanghai Tianxiang Automotive Parts Co., Ltd., “Shanghai Tianxiang”

Shanghai Fenglong Materials Co., Ltd., “Shanghai Fenglong”

Changchun Hualong Automotive Technology Co., Ltd., “Changchun Hualong”

Jiangling Tongchuang Machining Co., Ltd., “Jiangling Tongchuang”

 

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Beijing Hualong Century Digital S&T Development Co., Ltd., “Beijing Hualong”

Jingzhou Jiulong Material Co., Ltd., “Jiulong Material”

Shanghai Hongxi Investment Inc., “Hongxi”

Hubei Wiselink Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., “Hubei Wiselink”

Jingzhou Tongyi Special Parts Co., Ltd., “Jingzhou Tongyi”

Jingzhou Derun Agricultural S&T Development Co., Ltd., “Jingzhou Derun”

Jingzhou Tongying Alloys Materials Co., Ltd., “Jingzhou Tongying”

WuHan Dida Information S&T Development Co., Ltd., “WuHan Dida”

Hubei Wanlong Investment Co., Ltd., “Hubei Wanlong”

Jiangling Yude Machining Co., Ltd., “Jiangling Yude”

Wiselink Holdings Limited., “Wiselink”

 

Principal policies of the Company in connection with transactions with related parties are as follows:

 

Products sold to related parties – The Company sold products to related parties at fair market prices, and also granted them credit of three to four months on an open account basis. These transactions were consummated under similar terms as the Company's other customers.

 

Materials purchased from related parties – The Company purchased materials from related parties at fair market prices, and also received from them credit of three to four months on an open account basis. These transactions were consummated under similar terms as the Company's other suppliers.

 

Equipment and production technology purchased from related parties - The Company purchased equipment and production technology from related parties at fair market prices, or reasonable cost plus pricing if fair market prices are not available and was required to pay in advance based on the purchase agreement between the two parties, because such equipment manufacturing and technology development was required for a long period. These transactions were consummated under similar terms as the Company's other suppliers.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs” (ASU 2011-04). This newly issued accounting standard clarifies the application of certain existing fair value measurement guidance and expands the disclosures for fair value measurements that are estimated using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs. This ASU is effective on a prospective basis for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011, which for the Company means January 1, 2012. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income” (ASU 2011-05). This newly issued accounting standard (1) eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity; (2) requires the consecutive presentation of the statement of net income and other comprehensive income; and (3) requires an entity to present reclassification adjustments on the face of the financial statements from other comprehensive income to net income. The amendments in this ASU do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income nor do the amendments affect how earnings per share is calculated or presented. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, which defers the requirement within ASU 2011-05 to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income for all periods presented. During the deferral, entities should continue to report reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect prior to the issuance of ASU 2011-05. These ASUs are required to be applied retrospectively and are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, which for the Company means January 1, 2012. As these accounting standards do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income, the adoption of these standards is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

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In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (ASU 2011-11). This newly issued accounting standard requires an entity to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statements of financial position as well as instruments and transactions executed under a master netting or similar arrangement and was issued to enable users of financial statements to understand the effects or potential effects of those arrangements on their financial position. This ASU is required to be applied retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2013. As this accounting standard only requires enhanced disclosure, the adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

3. Accounts and Notes Receivable

 

The Company’s accounts receivable at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Accounts receivable  $120,845,295   $122,379,968 
Notes receivable   92,805,163    76,407,523 
    213,650,458    198,787,491 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts   (1,191,200)   (2,928,503)
Balance at end of year  $212,459,258   $195,858,988 

 

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

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company has pledged $33,033,938 of accounts receivable as security for its comprehensive credit facility with the banks in China.

 

The activity in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts of accounts receivable during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are summarized as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
Balance at beginning of year  $2,928,503   $5,320,378   $4,910,478 
Amounts provided for during the year   10,258    25,729    1,171,429 
Amounts reversed of collection during the year   (168,008)   (2,582,693)   (765,201)
Written off during the year   (1,729,116)   -    - 
Foreign currency translation   149,563    165,089    3,672 
Balance at end of year  $1,191,200   $2,928,503   $5,320,378 

 

4. Other Receivables

 

The Company’s other receivables at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Other receivables  $3,073,860   $3,501,967 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts   (697,255)   (700,533)
Balance at end of year  $2,376,605   $2,801,434 

 

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.

 

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The activity in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts of other receivable during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are summarized as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
Balance at beginning of year  $700,533   $740,110   $659,837 
Amounts provided for during the year   57,849    102,522    113,905 
Amounts reversed of collection during the year   (96,903)   (165,066)   (34,287)
Foreign currency translation   35,776    22,967    655 
Balance at end of year  $697,255   $700,533   $740,110 

 

5. Inventories

 

The Company’s inventories at December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Raw materials  $15,603,801   $11,394,670 
Work in process   7,344,342    7,537,766 
Finished goods   28,659,050    17,937,836 
Balance at end of year  $51,607,193   $36,870,272 

 

Provision for inventories valuation amounted to $0.02million, $0.4 million and $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

6. Long-term Investments

 

On December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company’s balance of long-term investment was $3,485,118 and $3,162,136, respectively. As discussed in note 2, for the long-term investments that the Company has no voting control, such investments were accounted for using the equity method or the cost method.

 

On January 24, 2010, the Company invested $ 3,095,414 to establish a joint venture company with the other shareholder, Beijing Hainachuan Henglong Steering System Co., Ltd., “Beijing Henglong,” in which the Company owns 50% equity, as discussed in Note 2. The Company accounted for its operation results with the equity method. On December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had $3,399,416 and $3,080,598, respectively, of net equity in Beijing Henglong, respectively. Summarized statement of balance sheet data of Beijing Henglong as of December 31 is as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
         
Current assets  $10,114,458   $4,462,788 
Other assets   4,860,562    4,530,395 
Total assets  $14,975,020   $8,993,183 
Current liabilities  $5,690,939   $586,678 
Other liabilities   2,485,248    2,245,308 
Shareholders’ equity   6,798,833    6,161,197 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $14,975,020   $8,993,183 

 

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Summarized statement of operations data for the years ended December 31 is as follows:

 

   Net Sales   Gross Margin   Net Income(Loss) 
   2011   2010   2009   2011   2010   2009   2011   2010   2009 
                                              
Beijing Henglong  $25,051,883   $   $   $733,591   $   $   $316,500   $(29,631)  $ 

 

 The Company’s share of net assets and net income is reported in the consolidated financial statements as “long-term investments” on the consolidated balance sheets and “equity in earnings of affiliated companies” on the consolidated statements of income/(loss) . The Company’s consolidated financial statement contains the net income and net loss of non-consolidated affiliates of $158,250 and $14,816 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

7. Property, Plant and Equipment

 

The Company’s property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
         
Costs:        
Land use rights and buildings  $39,527,681   $36,983,940 
Machinery and equipment   100,327,278    81,905,845 
Electronic equipment   6,353,939    5,840,308 
Motor vehicles   2,956,235    2,902,738 
Construction in progress   6,546,981    4,686,699 
    155,712,114    132,319,530 
Less: Accumulated depreciation   (70,868,864)   (56,938,783)
Balance at end of year  $84,843,250   $75,380,747 

 

Depreciation charges for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $13,320,752, $9,416,451 and $8,429,863, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company has pledged approximately $83,000,000 of property, plant and equipment as security for its comprehensive credit facilities with the banks in China.

 

8. Intangible Assets

 

The Company’s intangible asset at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Costs:          
Patent technology  $1,896,013   $1,536,268 
Management software license   578,754    509,221 
    2,474,767    2,045,489 
Less: Accumulated amortization   (1,637,692)   (1,383,400)
Balance at end of the year  $837,075   $662,089 

 

For the years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009, amortization expenses were $180,339, $81,167 and $254,306, respectively.

 

The estimated aggregated amortization expense for the five succeeding years is $820,000 with $164,000 for each year.

 

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9. Deferred Income Tax Assets

 

In accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 740 “Income Taxes”, the Company assesses, on a quarterly basis, its ability to realize its deferred tax assets. Based on the more likely than not standard in the guidance and the weight of available evidence, the Company believes a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets is necessary. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considered the following significant factors: an assessment of recent years’ profitability and losses by taxing authorities; the Company’s expectation of profits based on margins and volumes expected to be realized (which are based on current pricing and volume trends); the long period in all significant operating jurisdictions before the expiry of net operating losses, noting further that a portion of the deferred tax asset is composed of deductible temporary differences that are subject to an expiry period until realized under tax law. The Company will continue to evaluate the provision of valuation allowance in future periods.

 

The components of deferred income tax assets at December 31, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
         
Losses carryforward (U.S.) (1)  $4,012,253   $2,422,312 
Losses carryforward (PRC)   1,351,498    804,147 
Product warranties and other reserves   3,512,683    2,871,844 
Property, plant and equipment   4,094,824    3,271,594 
Accrued make-whole interest expense for convertible notes   2,665,498    2,320,938 
Share-based compensation   213,098    366,464 
Bonus accrual   206,035    182,970 
Other accruals   790,664    943,373 
Others   136,660    314,795 
Total deferred tax assets   16,983,213    13,498,437 
Less: taxable temporary difference related to revenue recognition   (817,141)   (801,562)
Total deferred tax assets, net   16,166,072    12,696,875 
Less: Valuation allowance   (8,138,385)   (5,913,860)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance (2)  $8,027,687   $6,783,015 

 

(1) The net operating loss carry forwards for the U.S. entity for income tax purposes are available to reduce future years' taxable income. These carry forwards will expire, if not utilized, in 20 years. Net operating loss carryforwards for non-U.S. entities can be carried forward for 5 years to offset taxable income. However, as of December 31, 2011, valuation allowance was $8,138,385, including $7,033,036 allowance for the Company’s deferred tax assets in the United States and $1,105,349 allowance for the Company’s non-U.S. deferred tax assets. Based on the Company’s current operations in the United States, management believes that the deferred tax assets in the United States are not likely to be realized in the future. For the non-U.S. deferred tax assets, pursuant to certain tax laws and regulations in China, the management believes such amount will not be used to offset future taxable income.

 

(2) Approximately $4,340,974 and $3,271,594 of deferred income tax asset as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, is included in non-current deferred tax assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The remaining $3,686,713 and $3,511,421 of deferred income tax asset as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, is included in the current deferred tax assets.

 

The activity in the Company’s valuation allowance for deferred tax assets during the year ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are summarized as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Balance at beginning of year  $5,913,860   $4,821,210   $3,459,664 
Amounts provided for during the year   2,336,821    1,269,127    1,452,022 
Amounts recovered during the year   (153,367)   (200,500)   (91,037)
Foreign currency translation   41,071    24,023    561 
Balance at end of year  $8,138,385   $5,913,860   $4,821,210 

 

10. Bank Loans

 

At December 31, 2011, the Company, through its Sino-foreign joint ventures, had outstanding fixed-rate short-term bank loans with a principal of $10,315,987 and a weighted average interest rate at 6.72 % per annum. Interest is to be paid on the twentieth day of each month and the principal repayment is at maturity. These loans are secured by some of the property and equipment of the Company and are repayable within one year.

 

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(1)On July 6, 2011, China CITIC Bank loaned $2,380,612 to the Company at an annual interest rate of 7.79%, and maturity term of twelve months.

 

(2)On September 30, 2011, Bank of China loaned $4,761,225 to the Company at an annual interest rate of 6.56%, and maturity terms of twelve months.

 

(3)On June 29, 2011, China Construction Bank loaned $3,174,150 to the Company at an annual interest rate of 6.56%, and maturity term of twelve months.

 

At December 31, 2010, the Company, through its Sino-foreign joint ventures, had outstanding fixed-rate short-term bank loans with a principal of $6,794,812 and a weighted average interest rate at 5.25 % per annum. Interest is to be paid on the twentieth day of each month and the principal repayment is at maturity. These loans are secured by some of the property and equipment of the Company and are repayable within one year. The Company has repaid such loans at maturity dates in 2011.

 

11. Accounts and notes payable

 

The Company’s accounts and notes payable at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Accounts payable  $114,201,934   $95,726,549 
Notes payable   57,307,445    52,790,874 
Balance at end of year  $171,509,379   $148,517,423 

 

Included in notes payable, $56,166,338 were notes issued by the banks out of the Company’s banking facility lines, and $1,141,107 were notes issued by the banks in exchange of the notes received by the Company from customers for which no banking facility line was utilized.

 

The Company has pledged cash deposits, accounts receivable and certain property plant and machinery as security for its comprehensive credit facility with the banks in China.

 

12. Convertible notes payable

 

In February 2008, the Company sold to two accredited institutional investors $35 million of convertible notes, the "convertible notes,” with a scheduled maturity date of February 15, 2013. The convertible notes, including any accrued but unpaid interest, are convertible into common shares of the Company at a conversion price of $8.8527 per share, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

The convertible notes bear annual interest rates of 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5% and 5% for each year of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. The interest on the convertible notes shall be computed commencing from the issuance date and will be payable in cash in arrears semi-annually on January 15, and July 15 of each year with the first interest payable date on July 15, 2008. From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default defined in the relevant convertible notes agreements, the interest rate then in effect shall be increased by two percent (2%) until the event of default is remedied.

 

The holders of the convertible notes will be entitled to convert any portion of the conversion notes into shares of common stock at the conversion price at any time or times on or after the thirtieth (30th) day after the issuance date and prior to the thirtieth (30th) business day prior to the expiry date of the convertible notes. A penalty will be paid if share certificates are not delivered timely after any conversion.

 

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The Company will have the right to require the convertible notes holders to convert a portion of the conversion amount then remaining under the convertible notes obligation into shares of common stock, “ Mandatory Conversion,” if at any time during a six-month period, the beginning day of each such six-month period, a “Mandatory Conversion Period Start Date,” the arithmetic average of the weighted average price of the common stock for a period of at least thirty (30) consecutive trading days following the Mandatory Conversion Period Start Date equals or exceeds the percentage set forth in the chart below multiplied by $8.8527 as applicable to the indicated six month period:

 

0-6 months:   125%
6-12 months:   125%
12-18 months:   135%
18-24 months:   135%
24-30 months:   145%
30-36 months:   145%
36-42 months:   155%
42-48 months:   155%

 

The Company will not effect a Mandatory Conversion of more than twelve percent (12%) of the original principal amount of the convertible notes, with the applicable accrued but unpaid interest, in any six month period or twenty-four percent (24%) of the original principal amount of the convertible notes, with the applicable accrued but unpaid interest, in any twelve (12) month period.

 

The Company will not effect any conversion of the convertible notes, and each holder of the convertible notes will not have the right to convert any portion of the convertible notes to the extent that after giving effect to such conversion, such holders would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion.

 

On each six month anniversary of the issuance date beginning August 15, 2008, the conversion price will be adjusted downward to the Reset Reference Price, as defined below, if the weighted average price for the twenty (20) consecutive trading days immediately prior to the applicable six month anniversary, the “Reset Reference Price”, is less than 95% of the conversion price in effect as of such applicable six month anniversary date. The foregoing notwithstanding, the conversion price will not be reduced via such reset provision to less than $7.0822. The conversion price is also subject to weighted-average antidilution adjustments, but in no event will the conversion price be reduced to less than $6.7417. If and whenever on or after the issuance date, the Company issues or sells its shares of Common Stock or other convertible securities, except for certain defined exempt issuances, for a consideration per share less than a price equal to the conversion price in effect on the issuance date immediately prior to such issue or sale, the original conversion price then in effect shall be adjusted by a weighted-average antidilution formula.

 

According to the terms of the convertible notes, the conversion price was reset to $7.0822 as of August 15, 2008 based on the weighted average price of the stock on that date. In accordance with ASC Topic 470, a contingency feature that cannot be measured at inception of the instrument should be recorded when the contingent event occurs. Therefore, on the date of the reset, the difference in the number of indexed shares prior to the reset was compared to the indexed shares subsequent to the reset and this incremental number of shares was multiplied by the commitment date stock price to determine the incremental intrinsic value that resulted from the adjustment to the conversion price. At the commitment date, as the effective conversion price was higher than the market value of the stock, no beneficial conversion feature was present.

 

As of August 15, 2008, based on the inception conversion price and reset conversion price, the convertible notes could be converted into 3,953,596 and 4,941,967 of common shares, respectively. At the commitment date, the stock price was $6.09, and the “effective” conversion price was $6.93. Accordingly, since the effective conversion price was higher than the market value of the stock, the debt instruments are not considered "in the money" and no beneficial conversion feature was present.

 

Upon the occurrence of an event of default with respect to the convertible notes, the convertible note holders may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of the convertible notes. Each portion of the convertible notes subject to redemption by the Company will be redeemed by the Company at a price equal to the sum of (i) the conversion amount to be redeemed and (ii) the Other Make Whole Amount. The “Other Make Whole Amount” will mean a premium to the conversion amount such that the total amount received by the convertible notes holder upon redemption represents a gross yield to the convertible notes holders on the original principal amount as of the redemption date equal to thirteen percent (13%), with interest computed on the basis of actual number of days elapsed over a 360-day year. The events of default include the Company’s failure to cure a conversion failure by delivery of the required number of shares of Common Stock, the Company’s failure to pay to the convertible notes holder any amount of principal, interest, late charges or other amounts when and as due under the convertible notes and other events as defined in the convertible notes agreements. Any amount of principal, interest or other amount due under the convertible notes which is not paid when due shall result in a late charge of 18% being incurred and payable by the Company until such amount has been paid.

 

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Upon the consummation of a change of control as defined in the convertible notes agreements, the convertible notes holder may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of the convertible notes. The portion of the convertible notes subject to redemption shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the sum of the conversion amount being redeemed and the Other Make Whole Amount as defined above.

 

On each of February 15, 2010 and February 15, 2011, the convertible notes holders had the right, in their sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem the convertible notes in whole but not in part, by delivering written notice thereof to the Company. The portion of the convertible notes subject to redemption pursuant to this annual redemption right will be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the sum of the conversion amount being redeemed and the Annual Redemption Make Whole Amount. The “Annual Redemption Make Whole Amount” will mean a premium to the conversion amount such that the total amount received by the convertible notes holder upon any annual redemption represents a gross yield on the original principal amount of eleven percent (11%), with interest computed on the basis of actual number of days elapsed over a 360-day year. The convertible notes holders did not exercise their right on either of these dates.

 

At any time following February 15, 2009, if the Weighted Average Price (WAP) for twenty (20) consecutive trading days is less than 45% of the Conversion Price in effect on the Issuance Date, as adjusted, namely $3.187, the convertible notes holder shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem all or any portion of the convertible notes. The portion of this convertible notes subject to redemption in connection with the share price change of the underlying common stock will be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the sum of the conversion amount being redeemed and the Other Make Whole Amount as mentioned above.

 

Since the Company’s stock Weighted Average Price for twenty (20) consecutive trading days ended on March 16, 2009 was below $3.187, which is less than 45% of the Conversion Price in effect as of the Issuance Date, as adjusted, the “ WAP Default” , each convertible notes holder had the right, at its sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem all or any portion of the convertible notes by delivering written redemption notice to the Company within five (5) business days after the receipt of the Company’s notice of the WAP Default.

 

On March 17, 2009, the Company delivered two WAP Default notices to the convertible notes holders. On March 27, 2009, the Company received a letter from YA Global, one of the convertible notes holders, electing to require the Company to redeem all the three convertible notes it held in the total principal amount of $5,000,000, together with interest, late charges, and the Other Make Whole Amount as defined in Section 5(d) of the convertible notes. After negotiation, the Company and YA Global reached a settlement agreement on April 8, 2009 and under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company paid on April 15, 2009 a redemption amount of $5,041,667 to YA Global and YA Global waived its entitlement to the Other Make Whole Amount. The amount waived was accounted for as a gain on convertible notes conversion and recorded in interest expense.

 

Following the WAP Default notices, the Company received a letter from the provisional liquidator acting on behalf of Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited, the “LBCCA Liquidator,” the other convertible notes holder, requesting an extension until April 15, 2009 to consider its rights under the convertible notes. The Company granted an extension to April 15, 2009. The LBCCA Liquidator further requested another extension to April 24, 2009. On April 24, 2009, LBCCA’s lawyers sent three Holder Redemption Notices electing to redeem the entire outstanding principal of $30,000,000, together with interest, late charges, if any, and the Other Make Whole Amount, to be paid on July 23, 2009. The Company discussed settlement with the LBCCA Liquidator, and on July 22, 2009, the Company and the LBCCA Liquidator agreed to extend the applicable holder mandatory redemption date for two months to September 23, 2009 to give more time to pursue settlement discussions. The Company received a letter dated September 22, 2009 from the LBCCA Liquidator stating that upon the Company’s acceptance of the revocation, all holder redemption notices dated April 24, 2009 shall be immediately revoked as if they were never issued, and the letter and the revocation did not purport to amend, restate or supplement any other terms and conditions under the three Notes and the Securities Purchase Agreement dated 1 February 2008 between the Company and LBCCA Liquidator. The Company accepted such revocation on September 23, 2009.

 

In connection with the convertible notes, the Company issued 1,317,864 detachable warrants, the “Warrants,” to purchase from the Company shares of common stock of the Company at the exercise price of $8.8527 per share. On February 15, 2009, the warrants expired unexercised and the warrants were forfeited.

 

On the issuance date, February 15, 2008, the Company has evaluated the convertible notes for terms and conditions that would be considered to be features of embedded derivatives. Generally, such features would be required to be separated from the host contract and accounted for as derivative financial instruments when certain conditions are met. Certain features, such as the conversion option, were found to be exempt, as they satisfied the conditions as set forth in ASC Topic 815 for instruments that are being (1) indexed to the Company’s own stock, and (2) classified as equity in the financial position statement. Other features, such as puts, were not required to be bifurcated from the debt host as they are clearly and closely associated with the risk of the debt-type host instrument.

 

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Upon the adoption of ASC 815-15 on January 1, 2009, the Company bifurcated the embedded conversion feature from the convertible notes and classified that financial instrument in liabilities at fair value. The Company has accounted for this change in accounting principle by reflecting the cumulative effect as an adjustment to its beginning retained earnings for the year ended December 31, 2009. The cumulative effect adjustment that the Company made is the difference between the amounts that it has recognized on the convertible notes payable (prior to the adoption of ASC 815-15) and the amounts that would have been recognized if the amended guidance had been effective on the issuance date of the convertible notes payable, which was February 15, 2008. The following table reflects the cumulative effect of the differences:

  

   Convertible notes payable 
   Original Allocation   Allocation 
Value allocated to debt  $34,201,374   $28,379,704 
Warrants (1)   798,626    798,626 
Compound embedded derivative (2)   -    5,821,670 
Face value of convertible notes payable  $35,000,000    35,000,000 
Unamortized discount   660,193    3,891,148 
Unamortized value as of December 31, 2008  $34,339,807    - 
Unamortized value as of January 1, 2009  $-   $31,108,852 

 

(1)The discount on original issuance reflects the fair value of the warrants of $798,626 at issuance date

 

(2)Reflects the fair value of the embedded conversion feature of $5,821,670

 

As indicated above, on the date of the convertible note issuance, allocation of basis in the financing arrangement to the warrants has resulted in an original issue discount to the face value of the convertible notes in the amount of $798,626, of which the amount was accreted to its face value over the term of the convertible note using the effective method. As of December 31, 2008, the interest expense recorded by the Company was $138,433, and the unamortized discount was $660,193. On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted and applied the provision of ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging Activities (effective on January 1, 2009). The accounting for the cumulative effect change in this accounting principle resulted in a discount of $6,620,296, including $798,626 discount resulting from Warrants and $5,821,670 from the embedded conversion feature of the original unamortized discount and the subsequent amortization using the effective interest method. On January 1, 2009, unamortized discount was $3,891,148.

 

As indicated above, due to the Company’s WAP Default on March 17, 2009, the convertible notes holders had the option to elect to exercise their rights to require the Company to redeem the convertible notes. The remaining amount of $3,891,148 unamortized discount on the convertible notes was recorded to its full face value and the redemption make-whole amount of $520,000 was accrued. On April 8, 2009, the Company and YA Global reached a settlement agreement, whereby under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company paid a redemption amount of $5,000,000 of principal and $41,667 of interest to YA Global, and accrual of $571,181 for make-whole redemption interest to YA Global was waived and accounted for as a gain on convertible notes conversion. On September 22, 2009, LBCCA Liquidator revoked the redemption notices that were sent on April 24, 2009, and continued to hold the Company’s convertible notes, of which the face value was $30,000,000. The Company accepted such revocation on September 23, 2009.

 

On March 1, 2011, LBCCA Liquidator converted $6,428,571 principal amount of the convertible notes at a conversion price of $7.0822 per share, and the Company issued 907,708 shares of its common stock to such investor. On the conversion date, the market price of the common shares issued was $10,111,869 ($11.14 per share) and the value of the conversion consideration was $11,676,287, including $6,428,571 of principal, $1,506,143 of coupon interest and make-whole amount payable and $3,741,573 of derivative liabilities under such principal. The amount of coupon interest, make-whole and derivative liabilities included in the value of the conversion consideration were determined by pro-rating the accrued coupon interest, accrued make-whole amount and the fair value of the derivative liabilities based on the principal amount of the convertible notes converted as a percentage of the outstanding balance prior to their conversion. The Company recorded a gain on convertible notes conversion of $1,564,418, which is the difference between the market price of the common stock and the conversion consideration.

 

On December 31, 2011 and 2010, the carrying value of the Company’s convertible notes payable was $23,571,429 and $30,000,000, respectively. Upon expiration of the mandatory redemption date of the convertible notes on February 15, 2011, the outstanding convertible notes payable of $23, 571,429 were reclassified as long-term liabilities.

 

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13. Compound derivative liabilities

 

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging Activities that address the determination of whether an instrument meets the definition of a derivative being indexed to a company’s own stock for purposes of applying the scope exception as provided for in accordance with ASC 815-15. Upon adoption of the standard on the effective date, the embedded conversion option that is embedded in the Company’s convertible notes Payable (see Note 12) no longer met the definition because it embodied certain anti-dilution protections that are not based on input to the fair value of a fixed-for-fixed option. As a result, the embedded conversion feature required bifurcation, classification in liabilities and measurement at fair value at each reporting period, with changes reflected in earnings, until the convertible notes are settled.

 

The Company’s derivative financial instruments (liabilities) consisted of a compound embedded derivative that originated in connection with the Company’s convertible note Payable and Warrant Financing Arrangement. Derivative liabilities are carried at fair value. The following table summarizes the compound derivative liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
         
Financial Instrument          
Derivative liability  $559,148   $25,271,808 
Common shares to which the derivative liability is linked   3,328,264    4,235,972 

 

Changes in the fair value of derivative liabilities are recorded in gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative in the income statement. The following tables summarize the components of gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative arising from fair value adjustments during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009:

 

   2011   2010   2009 
             
Balances at January 1  $25,271,808   $45,443,506   $ 
Cumulative effect change in accounting principle           2,367,202 
Subtotal   25,271,808    45,443,506    2,367,202 
Decrease due to convertible notes conversion on March 1, 2011(see Note 12)   (3,741,573)   -    - 
(Decrease) increase in fair value adjustments 1   (20,971,087)   (20,171,698)   43,076,304 
Balances at December 31  $559,148   $25,271,808   $45,443,506 

 

1.Recorded as gain on change in fair value of derivative in the statements of income.

 

Estimating fair values of derivative financial instruments requires the development of significant and subjective estimates that may, and are likely to, change over the duration of the instrument with related changes in internal and external market factors. In addition, option-based techniques are highly volatile and sensitive to changes in the trading market price of the Company’s common stock, which has a high estimated volatility. Since derivative financial instruments are initially and subsequently carried at fair values, the Company’s income will reflect the volatility in these estimate and assumption changes.

 

The Company’s embedded conversion option derivative represents the conversion option, term-extending option, certain redemption and put features in the Company’s convertible notes payable. See Note 12 for additional information about the Company’s convertible notes payable. The features embedded in the convertible notes were combined into one compound embedded derivative that the Company measured at fair value using the Monte Carlo valuation technique. Monte Carlo was believed by the Company’s management to be the best available technique for this compound derivative because, in addition to providing for inputs such as trading market values, volatilities and risk free rates, Monte Carlo also embodies assumptions that provide for credit risk, interest risk and redemption behaviors( i.e., assumptions market participants exchanging debt-type instruments would also consider). Monte Carlo simulates multiple outcomes over the period to maturity using multiple assumption inputs also over the period to maturity. The following table sets forth (i) the range of inputs for each significant assumption and (ii) the equivalent, or averages, of each significant assumption as of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, and January 1, 2009 (effective date of accounting principle change):

 

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   Range     
December 31, 2011 Assumptions:  Low   High   Equivalent 
Volatility   51.63%   69.66%   60.40%
Market adjusted interest rates   15.38%   21.87%   18.52%
Credit risk adjusted rates   17.17%   17.17%   17.17%
Implied expected life (years)   -    -    1.13 

 

   Range     
December 31, 2010 Assumptions:  Low   High   Equivalent 
Volatility   43.14%   76.00%   63.00%
Market adjusted interest rates   5.14%   20.15%   9.64%
Credit risk adjusted rates   14.75%   15.82%   15.11%
Implied expected life (years)           1.73 

 

   Range     
December 31, 2009 Assumptions:  Low   High   Equivalent 
Volatility   68.86%   81.94%   76.71%
Market adjusted interest rates   6.40%   7.87%   7.05%
Credit risk adjusted rates   13.39%   14.20%   13.63%
Implied expected life (years)           1.96 

 

   Range     
   Low   High   Equivalent 
January 1, 2009 Assumptions:               
Volatility   63.09%   91.15%   74.02%
Market adjusted interest rates   4.14%   17.01%   7.15%
Credit risk adjusted rates   21.58%   24.97%   23.20%
Implied expected life (years)           4.27 

 

The Monte Carlo technique requires the use of inputs that range across all levels in the fair value hierarchy. As a result, the technique is a Level 3 valuation technique in its entirety. The calculations of fair value utilized the Company’s trading market values on the calculation dates. The contractual conversion prices were adjusted to give effect to the value associated with the down-round, anti-dilution protection. Expected volatility for each interval in the Monte Carlo process was established based upon the Company’s historical volatility for historical periods consistent with the term of each interval in the calculation. Market adjusted interest rates give effect to expected trends or changes in market interest rates by reference to historical trends in LIBOR. Credit risk adjusted rates, or yields, were developed using bond curves, risk free rates, market and industry adjustment factors for companies with similar credit standings as the Company’s.

 

Upon expiration of the mandatory redemption date of the convertible notes on February 15, 2011, the compound derivative liabilities of $559,148 were reclassified as long-term liabilities.

 

14. Accrued expenses and other payables

 

The Company’s accrued expenses and other payables at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
         
Accrued expenses  $2,802,145   $3,627,768 
Accrued interest (1)   625,447    7,143,751 
Other payables   1,573,318    2,826,354 
Warranty reserves   16,808,787    13,944,392 
Dividend payable to non-controlling interest shareholders of joint-ventures   807,970    1,530,445 
Balance at end of year  $22,617,667   $29,072,710 

 

( 1 ) As of December 31, 2011, accrued interest of $625,447 represented coupon interest on convertible notes to be paid every six months, whereas, as of December 31, 2010, accrued interest of $ 7,143,751 included coupon interest and make-whole redemption interest of $512, 500 and $6,631,251, respectively. Upon expiration of the mandatory redemption period of the convertible notes on February 15, 2011, the entire make-whole redemption interest was reclassified as long-term liabilities (see Note 12 and 15).

 

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15.     Accrued maturity and make-whole redemption interest expense for convertible notes

 

In February 2008, the Company sold to two accredited institutional investors $35 million of convertible notes, the "convertible notes,” with a scheduled maturity date of February 15, 2013. Pursuant to the terms of the convertible notes, on each of February 15, 2010 and February 15, 2011, the convertible note holders had the right, in their sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem the convertible notes in whole but not in part, by delivering written notice thereof to the Company. The portion of the convertible note subject to redemption pursuant to this annual redemption right would have been redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the sum of the conversion amount being redeemed and the Annual Redemption Make Whole Amount. The “Annual Redemption Make Whole Amount” means a premium to the conversion amount such that the total amount received by the convertible notes holder upon any annual redemption represents a gross yield on the original principal amount of eleven percent (11%), with interest computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a 360-day year. On February 15, 2011, the remaining convertible notes holder did not exercise its annual redemption right. Therefore, the next scheduled redemption date is the maturity date of February 15, 2013 and the make-whole provision accrued after February 15, 2011 was based on the “Maturity Make Whole Amount.” “Maturity Make Whole Amount” means a premium to the Conversion Amount such that the total amount received by the Holder at Maturity represents a gross yield to the Holder on the Original Principal Amount as of the Maturity Date equal to thirteen percent (13%), with interest computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a 360-day year. The make-whole redemption interest was recorded under accrued interest before February 15, 2011 due to its current liabilities feature and thereafter reclassified to and recorded as non-current liability.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the accrued provision on maturity and make-whole redemption interest pursuant to the term of convertible notes were as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Balance at beginning of year  $6,631,251   $4,763,771   $2,038,729 
Amounts provided for during the year   2,486,583    1,867,480    3,296,223 
Amount waived during the year           (571,181)
Decrease due to convertible notes conversion   (1,502,125)        
Balance at end of year  $7,615,709   $6,631,251   $4,763,771 

 

16.      Warrants

 

In connection with the convertible notes, the Company issued 1,317,864 detachable warrants to purchase from the Company shares of common stock at the exercise price of $8.8527 per share, subject to adjustments upon certain events occurring as defined in the debt agreement. The Warrants were exercisable immediately and expired on February 15, 2009.

 

In accordance with ASC Topic 480, it appears that the warrants require liability classification due to the possible cash redemption upon the event of an all cash acquisition. This guidance clarifies that warrants that contain any redemption features, including contingent redemption features, must be recorded as liabilities and marked to fair value each reporting period. As of the issuance date, i.e., February 15, 2008, the fair value of warrants was $798,626. Such warrant liabilities were adjusted to their estimated fair values at the completion of each reporting period until the maturity of February 15, 2009.

 

As of August 15, 2008, the Company valued the warrant using the conversion price at inception and reset the price respectively. The fair value of the warrant was $489,718 at the inception conversion price of $8.8527, and $551,131 at the reset conversion price of $8.55, respectively.

 

On February 15, 2009, the warrants expired unexercised and the warrants were forfeited. Accordingly, the value of the warrants has been recorded in the income statement as gain or loss on change in fair value of derivative (see Note 24).

 

As of the Issuance Date (February 15, 2008), the Reset date (August 15, 2008) and the end of each reporting period, the fair value of liabilities in connection with warrants was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and based on the following assumptions:

 

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   February   August 15,   August 15,   December   February 
   15, 2008   2008   2008   31, 2008   15, 2009 
   Issuance   Prior to   Subsequent to   Year end   Maturity 
   date   reset   reset   date   date 
Warrants indexed to common stock   1,317,864    1,317,864    1,317,864    1,317,864    1,317,864 
Trading market price  $6.09   $6.03   $6.03   $3.39   $3.30 
Exercise price  $8.8527   $8.8527   $8.8527   $8.8527   $8.8527 
Exercise price adjustment   -    -   $(0.3027)  $(0.3027)  $(0.3027)
Effective strike price for Black-Scholes model  $8.8527   $8.8527   $8.5500   $8.5500   $8.5500 
Term:                         
Estimated Term (Year)   1.00    0.50    0.50    0.13     
Volatility Historical volatility for effective term   54.60%   64.00%   64.00%   92.36%    
Risk-free rate   2.02%   1.99%   1.99%   0.11%    
Dividend yield rates   0.00%   0.00%   0.00%   0.00%    
Fair value of warrants  $798,626   $489,718   $551,131   $1,977   $ 

 

17. Taxes payable

 

The Company’s taxes payable at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
         
Value-added tax payable  $1,513,808   $3,203,808 
Income tax payable   423,586    3,273,776 
Other tax payable   91,821    383,362 
Balance at end of year  $2,029,215   $6,860,946 

 

18. Amounts Due to Shareholders/Directors

 

The activity in the amounts due to shareholders/directors during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 is summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009 
Balance at beginning of the year  $353,817   $   $337,370 
Increase (decrease) during the year   (28,194)   344,695    (337,915)
Foreign currency translation   26,194    9,122    545 
Balance at end of year  $351,817   $353,817   $ 

 

The amounts due to shareholders/directors were unsecured, interest-free and repayable on demand mainly resulting from expenses paid on behalf of the Company by shareholders/directors.

 

19. Advances payable

 

On December 31, 2011 and 2010, advances payable of the Company was $983,986 and $603,983, respectively.

 

The amounts mainly represent advances made by the Chinese government to the Company as subsidy on interest on loans related to improvement of the production techniques and the quality of products.

 

The balances are unsecured, interest-free and will be repayable to the Chinese government if the usage of such advance does not continue to qualify for the subsidy (see Note 22).

 

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20. Stock options

 

In July 2004, the Company adopted a stock incentive plan. The maximum number of common shares for issuance under this plan is 2,200,000 with a term of 10 years. The stock incentive plan provides for the issuance, to the Company’s officers, directors, management and employees who served over three years or have given outstanding performance, of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Since the adoption of the stock incentive plan, the Company has issued 478,850 stock options under this plan, and there remain 1,721,150 stock options issuable in the future as of December 31, 2011.

 

Under the aforementioned plans, the stock options granted will have an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock traded on NASDAQ on the date of grant, and will expire two to five years after the grant date. Except for the 298,850 options granted to management on December 2008, which became exercisable on a ratable basis over the vesting period (3 years), the others were exercisable immediately on the grant date. Stock options will be settled in shares of the Company’s common stock upon exercise and are recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets under the caption “Additional paid-in capital.” As of December 31, 2011, the Company has sufficient unissued registered common stock for settlement of the stock incentive plan mentioned above.

 

The fair value of stock options was determined at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes option model requires management to make various estimates and assumptions, including expected term, expected volatility, risk-free rate, and dividend yield. The expected term represents the period of time that stock-based compensation awards granted are expected to be outstanding and is estimated based on considerations including the vesting period, contractual term and anticipated employee exercise patterns. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in relation to the contractual life of stock-based compensation instruments. The dividend yield assumption is based on historical patterns and future expectations for the Company dividends.

 

Assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options on the grant dates are as follows:

 

Issuance Date  Expected volatility   Risk-free rate   Expected term (years)   Dividend yield 
October 12, 2011   157.0%   0.96%   5    0.00%
July 8, 2010   151.6%   1.79%   5    0.00%
September 10, 2009   153.6%   2.38%   5    0.00%

 

The stock options granted during 2011, 2010 and 2009 were exercisable immediately and their fair value on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model was $100,575, $345,375 and $196,650, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized stock-based compensation of $100,575, $595,402 and $446,676, respectively.

 

The activities of stock options are summarized as follows, including granted, exercised and forfeited.

 

           Weighted-Average 
       Weighted-Average   Contractual 
   Shares   Exercise Price   Term (years) 
Outstanding - January 1, 2009   388,850   $3.84    3.4 
Granted   22,500    8.45    5 
Exercised   (63,000)   6.67    4.7 
Cancelled   (4,500)   2.93    3 
Outstanding - December 31, 2009   343,850   $3.63    3.3 
Granted   22,500    16.80    5 
Exercised   (129,582)   3.48    3.2 
Outstanding - December 31, 2010   236,768   $4.97    3.5 
Granted   22,500    4.84    5 
Exercised   (176,768)   2.93    3 
Cancelled   (15,000)   7.48    4.5 
Outstanding - December 31, 2011   67,500   $9.72    5 

 

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The following is a summary of the range of exercise prices for stock options that are outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2011:

 

      Outstanding Stock   Weighted Average   Weighted Average   Number of Stock
  Range of Exercise Prices   Options   Remaining Life   Exercise Price   Options Exercisable
                
   $4.50 - $10.00    45,000    3.54   $6.18   45,000
   $10.01 - $18.00    22,500    3.52   $16.80   22,500
        67,500             67,500

  

As of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the total intrinsic value of the Company’s stock options that were outstanding was $0, $2,119,510, and $5,171,504, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the total intrinsic value of Company’s stock options that were exercisable was $0, $2,119,510, and $3,611,947, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the total intrinsic value of Company’s stock options that were exercised was $193,858, $749,400, and $637,725, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the weighted average fair value of the Company’s stock options that were granted was $4.47, $15.35, and $8.74, respectively.

 

21. Retained earnings

 

Appropriated

 

Pursuant to the relevant PRC laws and regulations of Sino-foreign joint venture enterprises, the profits distribution of the Company’s Sino-foreign subsidiaries, which are based on their PRC statutory financial statements, other than the financial statement that was prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, are available for distribution in the form of cash dividends after these subsidiaries have paid all relevant PRC tax liabilities, provided for losses in previous years, and made appropriations to statutory surplus at 10%.

 

When the statutory surplus reserve reaches 50% of the registered capital of a company, additional reserve is no longer required. However, the reserve cannot be distributed to joint venture partners. Based on the business licenses of the Sino-foreign joint ventures, the registered capital of Henglong, Jiulong, Shenyang, Zhejiang, USAI, Jielong, Wuhu, and Hengsheng are $10,000,000, $4,283,170 (RMB35,000,000), $8,132,530 (RMB67,500,000), $7,000,000, $2,600,000, $6,000,000, $3,750,387 (RMB30,000,000), and $16,000,000, respectively.

 

The Company recorded $258,443, $443,264 and $798,756 statutory surplus reserve for the years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

22.  Other Income, net

 

The Company recorded government subsidies as other income. As of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the Company has received such subsidies in the amounts of $168,749, $558,058, and $94,534, respectively.

 

The Company’s government subsidies consisted of interest subsidy and investment subsidy. Interest subsidy is the refund by the Chinese government of special loan interest charged by banks to companies which are entitled to such subsidies, such as the company improving its production capacity and product quality under the support of such loan. Investment subsidy is a subsidy to encourage foreign investors to set up technologically advanced enterprises in China.

 

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For the year ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the Company received interest subsidies in the amounts of $168,749, $311,291, and $94,534, respectively, and investment subsidies of $0, $231,951, and $0, respectively.

 

Interest subsidies apply to loan interest related to optimized production technology. During 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, the Company had used this special loan to improve its different products’ production line technologically in order to enlarge the production capability and enhance quality, and the Company has received government subsidies in these years. Some of these improvement projects were completed in 2009, 2010 and 2011, the remaining are still in progress. Improved production technologies were already produced benefits. Therefore, the Company recorded received government subsidies related to completed improvement program as other income, and received government subsidies related to uncompleted improvement program as advances payable.

 

Chinese government also provided incentives to foreign investors for setting up technologically advanced enterprises in China. During 2010, the Company recognized $231,951 of investment subsidiary. Genesis, as a foreign investor, has received such subsidies for re-investment in Jiulong and Henglong with their profit distribution, and both entities were technologically advanced enterprises and entitled to such subsidies.

 

23. Financial (income) expenses

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the Company recorded financial (income) expenses which were summarized as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Accrual on maturity and make-whole redemption interest and coupon interest  $3,610,244   $3,048,730   $3,796,359 
Interest expense   349,243    459,474    470,102 
Interest income   (726,926)   (587,640)   (455,035)
Foreign exchange (gain) loss, net   567,238    348,823    (10,296)
(Income) loss of note discount, net   9,482    (70,308)   82,757 
Amortization for discount of convertible notes payable (1)           3,891,148 
Bank fees   174,556    161,758    108,679 
Total  $3,983,817   $3,360,837   $7,883,714 

 

(1)On March 17, 2009, due to the Company’s WAP Default, the remaining balance of $3,891,148 on the unamortized discount on the convertible notes was accreted to its full face value (see Note 12).

 

24. Gain (Loss) on change in fair value of derivative

 

As of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, following is the summary of Company’s recorded gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivatives:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Income from changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities  $   $   $1,977 
Income (loss) from changes in the fair value of compound derivative liabilities   20,971,087    20,171,698    (43,076,304)
Total  $20,971,087   $20,171,698   $(43,074,327)

 

Gain on the change of the fair value of warrant liability and compound derivative liabilities mentioned above, see Notes 14 and 16.

 

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25. Income Taxes

 

The Company’s subsidiaries registered in the PRC are subject to state and local income taxes within the PRC at the applicable tax rate of 25% on the taxable income as reported in their PRC statutory financial statements in accordance with the relevant income tax laws applicable to foreign invested enterprise. If the enterprise meets certain preferential terms according to the China income tax law, such as assessment as an “Advanced Technology Enterprise” by the government, then, the enterprise will be subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% or 12.5%.

 

PRC withholding tax on undistributed dividends

Pursuant to the New China Income Tax Law and the Implementing Rules (New CIT) which are effective as of January 1, 2008, dividends generated after January 1, 2008 and payable by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign investors will be subject to a 10% withholding tax if the foreign investors are considered as non-resident enterprises without any establishment or place within China or if the dividends payable have no connection with the establishment or place of the foreign investors within China, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement.

 

 Genesis, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary and the direct holder of the equity interests in the Company’s Joint Venture subsidiaries in China, is incorporated in Hong Kong. According to the Mainland and Hong Kong Taxation Arrangement, dividends paid by a foreign-invested enterprise in China to its direct holding company in Hong Kong will be subject to withholding tax at a rate of no more than 5% (if the foreign investor owns directly at least 25% of the shares of the foreign-invested enterprise). Under the New CIT Law and the Implementing Rules, if Genesis is regarded as a non-resident enterprise and therefore is required to pay a 5% withholding tax for any dividends payable to it from Joint Venture subsidiaries.

 

The Company provides for deferred income taxes on the unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries unless such earnings are deemed to be permanently reinvested outside the United States. During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the Company has a gross U.S. deferred income taxes of $0.1 million, $0.2 million, and $0.2 million, respectively, on foreign earnings of $2.0 million, $4.0 million, and $3.7 million, respectively, that it consider not permanently reinvested outside the United States, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company still has undistributed earnings of approximately $99 million from investment in foreign subsidiaries that are considered permanently reinvested. The determination of the amount of deferred taxes on these earnings is not practicable since the computation would depend on a number of factors that cannot be known until a decision to repatriate the earnings is made.

 

During 2008, Jiulong was awarded the title of “Advanced Technology Enterprise”, based on the PRC income tax law, it was subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% for 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2011, the Company has passed re-assessment by the government, based on PRC income tax laws. Accordingly, it continues to be taxed at the 15% tax rate in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

 

During 2008, Henglong was awarded the title of “Advanced Technology Enterprise”, based on the PRC income tax law, it was subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% for 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2011, the Company has passed re-assessment by the government, based on PRC income tax laws. Accordingly, it continues to be taxed at the 15% tax rate in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

 

During 2009, Shenyang was awarded the title of “Advanced Technology Enterprise”, based on the PRC income tax law, and it was subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% for 2009, 2010 and 2011. The government needs to re-assess whether Shenyang is entitled to “Advanced Technology Enterprise” status in 2012, and if approved, its term will be extended for another three years. If Shenyang fails to pass the re-assessment by the government, it would be subject to a tax rate of 25%.

 

During 2009, Zhejiang was awarded the title of “Advanced Technology Enterprise”, based on the PRC income tax law, and it was subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% for 2009, 2010 and 2011. The government needs to re-assess whether Zhejiang is entitled to “Advanced Technology Enterprise” status in 2012, and if approved, its term will be extended for another three years. If Shenyang fails to pass the re-assessment by the government, it would be subject to a tax rate of 25%.

 

Wuhu, Jielong and Hengsheng had an enterprise income tax exemption in 2008 and 2009, and Wuhu is subject to income tax at a rate of 11%, 12%, and 12.5%, respectively, for 2010, 2011 and 2012; Jielong is subject to tax at a rate of 12.5% in 2010 and 2011, and 25% in 2012; and Hengsheng is subject to tax at a rate of 12.5% for the next three year thereafter, from 2010 to 2012.

 

There is no assessable profit for USAI and the Testing Center in 2011, 2010, and 2009. Based on PRC income tax laws, they are exempted from income tax in 2009, subject to income tax at a rate of 12.5% in 2010 and 2011, and 25% in 2012 (if there is a taxable profit).

 

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No provision for Hong Kong tax is made as Genesis is an investment holding company, and has no assessable income in Hong Kong for the years 2011, 2010, and 2009. The enterprise income tax of Hong Kong is 16.5%.

 

No provision for U.S. tax is made as the Company has no assessable income in the United States for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009. The enterprise income tax rate in the United States is 35%.

 

The provision for income taxes was calculated as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Tax rate   35%   35%   35%
Income (loss) before income taxes  $52,098,933   $71,416,323   $(13,931,112)
Federal tax (benefit) at statutory rate  $18,234,627   $24,990,527   $(4,875,889)
Fair value change in convertible bond   (7,339,881)   (7,060,094)   13,866,951 
Change of income tax rate   (929,795)          
Gain on convertible notes conversion   (547,546)   -    - 
Accumulated discount amortization   -    -    2,268,652 
Effect of differences in foreign tax rate   (6,449,798)   (10,901,349)   (6,711,498)
Tax benefit from income tax return   -    (180,731)   (1,053,092)
Provision on valuation allowance for deferred income tax – U.S.   1,923,322    1,062,704    1,185,693 
Provision on valuation allowance for deferred income tax – PRC   260,132    29,946    175,853 
Other differences   (797,359)   543,202    (136,657)
Total income tax expense  $4,353,702   $8,484,205   $4,720,013 

 

The combined effects of the income tax exemption and reduction available to the Company are as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009 
Tax holiday effect  $6,449,798   $10,901,349   $6,711,498 
Basic net income per share effect   0.23    0.40    0.25 
Diluted net income per share effect   0.20    0.35    0.25 

 

The Company is subject to examination in the United States and China. The Company's tax years for 2001 through 2011 are still open for examination in China. The Company's tax years for 2004 through 2011 are still open for examination in the United States. 

 

Uncertain Tax Positions

 

The Company did not have any uncertain tax positions for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

 

26. Income (Loss) Per Share

 

In periods when the Company generates income, the Company calculates basic earnings per share (“EPS”) using the two-class method, pursuant to ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share” . The two-class method is required as the Company’s convertible notes qualify as participating securities, having the right to receive dividends should dividends be declared on common stock. Under this method, earnings for the period are allocated on a pro-rata basis to the common stockholders and to the holders of convertible notes based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the number of shares that could be converted. The Company does not use the two-class method in periods when it generates a loss as the holders of the convertible notes do not participate in losses.

 

For diluted earnings per share, the Company uses the more dilutive of the if-converted method or the two-class method for convertible notes and the treasury stock method for options, assuming the issuance of common shares, if dilutive, resulting from the exercise of options and warrants.

 

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The calculations of diluted income per share attributable to Parent company were:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
             
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Numerator:               
Net income (loss) attributable to parent company  $40,791,987   $51,738,113   $(26,440,871)
Allocation to convertible notes holders   (4,518,838)   (6,994,306)   - 
Net income (loss) attributable to parent company’s common shareholders – Basic   36,273,149    44,743,807    (26,440,871)
Dilutive effect of:               
Add back allocation to convertible notes holders   4,518,838    6,994,306     
Interest expenses of convertible notes payable   3,610,244    3,048,730     
Gain on change in fair value of derivative   (20,971,087)   (20,171,698)    
Gain on convertible notes conversion   (1,564,418)   -    - 
Net income (loss) attributable to parent company’s common shareholders – Diluted  $21,866,726   $34,615,145   $(26,440,871)
Denominator:               
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding – Basic   27,930,668    27,098,258    26,990,649 
Dilutive effects of stock options   101,469    231,192     
Dilutive effect of convertible notes   3,479,548    4,235,972     
Denominator for dilutive income/(loss) per share – Diluted   31,511,685    31,565,422    26,990,649 
Net income (loss) per share attributable to parent company’s common shareholders               
Basic   1.30    1.65    (0.98)
Diluted   0.69    1.10    (0.98)

 

The following table summarizes potential common shares outstanding excluded from the calculation of diluted income per share for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 because such inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect.

 

   Year Ended December 31 
             
   2011   2010   2009 
Shares issuable under stock options   67,500    -    343,850 
Shares issuable upon conversion of convertible notes   -    -    4,235,972 
Total    67,500    -    4,579,822 

 

27. Significant Concentrations

 

A significant portion of the Company’s business is conducted in China where the currency is the RMB. Regulations in China permit foreign owned entities to freely convert the RMB into foreign currency for transactions that fall under the "current account," which includes trade related receipts and payments, interest and dividends. Accordingly, the Company’s Chinese subsidiaries may use RMB to purchase foreign exchange for settlement of such "current account" transactions without pre-approval. However, pursuant to applicable regulations, foreign-invested enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In calculating accumulated profits, foreign investment enterprises in China are required to allocate at least 10% of their accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds, including mandated employee benefits funds, unless these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the enterprises.

 

China Automotive, the parent company, may depend on Genesis and HLUSA dividend payments, which are generated from their subsidiaries and their subsidiaries’ interests in the Sino-foreign joint ventures in China (“China-based Subsidiaries”) after they receive payments from the China-based Subsidiaries. Under PRC law China-based Subsidiaries are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits, up to 50% of their paid-in capital, to fund certain mandated reserve funds that are not payable or distributable as cash dividends.

 

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The PRC government also imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currencies out of China, the China-based Subsidiaries may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currencies. If China Automotive is unable to receive dividend payments from its subsidiaries and China-based subsidiaries, China Automotive may be unable to effectively finance its operations or pay dividends on its shares.

 

Transactions other than those that fall under the "current account" and that involve conversion of RMB into foreign currency are classified as "capital account" transactions; examples of "capital account" transactions include repatriations of investment by or loans to foreign owners, or direct equity investments in a foreign entity by a China domiciled entity. "Capital account" transactions require prior approval from China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, or its provincial branch to convert a remittance into a foreign currency, such as U.S. Dollars, and transmit the foreign currency outside of China.

 

This system could be changed at any time and any such change may affect the ability of the Company or its subsidiaries in China to repatriate capital or profits, if any, outside China. Furthermore, SAFE has a significant degree of administrative discretion in implementing the laws and has used this discretion to limit convertibility of current account payments out of China. Whether as a result of a deterioration in the Chinese balance of payments, a shift in the Chinese macroeconomic prospects or any number of other reasons, China could impose additional restrictions on capital remittances abroad. As a result of these and other restrictions under the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China, or the PRC, the Company’s China subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the parent. The Company has no assurance that the relevant Chinese governmental authorities in the future will not limit further or eliminate the ability of the Company’s Chinese subsidiaries to purchase foreign currencies and transfer such funds to the Company to meet its liquidity or other business needs. Any inability to access funds in China, if and when needed for use by the Company outside of China, could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and its business.

 

The Company grants credit to its customers including to Xiamen Joylon, Shanghai Fenglong and Jiangling Yude, that are related parties of the Company. The Company’s customers are mostly located in the PRC.

 

In 2011, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for 72.0% of the Company’s consolidated sales, with 1 customer accounting for more than 10% of consolidated sales (as 11.7% of consolidated sales).

 

In 2010, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for 81.2% of the Company’s consolidated sales, with 2 customers each accounting for more than 10% of consolidated sales, i.e., 13.1% and 12.6% of consolidated sales, or an aggregate of 25.7% of consolidated sales.

 

In 2009, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for 80.2% of the Company’s consolidated sales, with four customers each accounting for more than 10% of consolidated sales, i.e., 14.8%, 12.0%, 10.4% and 10.0% of consolidated sales, or an aggregate of 47.2% of consolidated sales.

 

At December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, approximately 7.1%, 15.1% and 31.9% of accounts receivable were from trade transactions with the aforementioned customers. 

 

28. Related Party Transactions

 

The Company’s related party transactions include product sales, material purchases and purchases of equipment and technology. These transactions were consummated under similar terms as those with the Company's customers and suppliers. On some occasions, the Company’s related party transactions also include purchase/sale of capital stock of the joint ventures and sale of property, plant and equipment.

 

Related sales and purchases: During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the joint-ventures entered into related party transactions with companies with common directors as shown below:

 

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Merchandise Sold to Related Parties

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Xiamen Joylon  $16,981,268   $9,871,977   $4,850,977 
Shanghai Fenglong   518,834    526,182    400,001 
Hubei Wiselink   1,413,119    -    - 
Jiangling Yude   1,018,210    1,262,343    641,186 
Total  $19,931,431   $11,660,502   $5,892,164 

 

Materials Purchased from Related Parties

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Honghu Changrun  $1,104,102   $81,266   $ 
Shanghai Fenglong           17,273 
Jiangling Tongchuang   8,912,337    9,187,392    7,078,698 
Jingzhou Tongyi   117    785,649    489,116 
Jingzhou Tongying   9,152,847    9,198,373    6,216,739 
Hubei Wiselink   958,513        196,876 
Wuhan Tongkai   650,947         
Total  $20,778,863   $19,252,680   $13,998,702 

 

Technology Purchased from Related Parties

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
                
Changchun Hualong  $218,108   $178,972   $248,916 

 

  Equipment Purchased from Related Parties

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
                
Hubei Wiselink  $4,724,043   $1,873,898   $3,962,690 

 

Related receivables, advance payments and account payable: As at December 31, 2011 and 2010, accounts receivables, advance payments and account payable between the Company and related parties are as shown below:

 

Accounts receivables from Related Parties

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Xiamen Joylon  $5,999,246   $5,046,397 
Shanghai Fenglong   104,442    212,658 
Jiangling Yude   22,460    207,787 
Total  $6,126,148   $5,466,842 

 

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Other Receivables from Related Parties

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
WuHan Dida  $63,608   $59,846 
Jiulong Material   638,272    564,074 
Jiangling Yude   436,044    136,393 
Jingzhou Tongying   -    154,225 
Total   1,137,924    914,538 
Less: provisions for bad debts   (638,272)   (564,074)
Balance at end of year  $499,652   $350,464 

 

Other receivables from related parties are primarily unsecured demand loans, with no stated interest rate or due date.

 

Accounts payable to Related Parties

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Shanghai Tianxiang  $661,316   $629,183 
Jiangling Tongchuang   258,979    263,246 
Hubei Wiselink   694,791    509,898 
Jingzhou Tongyi   7,021    51,561 
Jingzhou Tongying   361,812    414,038 
Honghu Changrun   68,978         
Total  $2,052,897   $1,867,926 

 

Advanced equipment payments to Related Parties

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Hubei Wiselink  $3,712,121   $7,534,440 

 

Advance payments to related parties and others

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Jiangling Tongchuang  $508,548   $405,266 
Jingzhou Tongyi   1,817    875,619 
Jingzhou Tongying   71,907    - 
Honghu Changrun   47,469    53,184 
Total  $629,741   $1,334,069 

 

The Company's related parties, such as Jingzhou Derun, and Wuhan Dida, pledged certain land use rights and buildings as security for the Company’s comprehensive credit facility.

 

As of March 9, 2012, the date the Company issued the financial statements, Hanlin Chen, Chairman, owns 63.16% of the common stock of the Company and has the effective power to control the vote on substantially all significant matters without the approval of other stockholders.

 

29. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal Proceedings – On October 25, 2011, a purported securities class action was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of all purchasers of the Company’s securities between March 25, 2010 and March 17, 2011. On February 24, 2012, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, changing the purported class period from May 12, 2010 through March 17, 2011. The amended complaint alleges that the Company, certain of its present officers and directors and the Company’s former auditor violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules promulgated thereunder, and seeks unspecified damages. The Company has not yet responded to the amended complaint, but believes the allegations in the complaint are without merit. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously against the claims.

 

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On December 23, 2011, a purported shareholder derivative action was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) on behalf of the Company. The complaint alleges that certain of the Company’s current officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company in relation to the Company’s accounting of convertible notes issued in February, 2008. On January 25, 2012, a second purported shareholder derivative action was filed in the Court of Chancery on behalf of the Company. On February 3, 2012 the Court of Chancery consolidated the two cases. The shareholder suits have been stayed pending the outcome of any motion to dismiss in the securities class action. The Company believes the allegations in the shareholder suits are without merit, and intends to defend itself vigorously against the claims.

 

The Company has not yet been required to respond formally to these lawsuits. In addition, the complaints do not specify an amount of damages that plaintiffs seek. Because these matters are in very early stages, the Company cannot determine whether or not an adverse outcome is probable, nor can it provide a reasonable estimate of potential losses related to these matters. While the Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to each of these actions and intends to defend them vigorously, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Other than the above, the Company is not a party to any pending or to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any threatened legal proceedings. In addition, no director, officer or affiliate of the Company, or owner of record of more than five percent of the securities of the Company, or any associate of any such director, officer or security holder is a party adverse to the Company or has a material interest adverse to the Company in reference to pending litigation.

 

In addition to the convertible notes, bank loans, notes payables and the related interest, the following table summarizes the Company’s major commitments and contingencies as of December 31, 2011:

  

   Payment Obligations by Period 
   2012   2013   2014   2015   Thereafter   Total 
Obligations for service agreements  $   $206,320   $   $   $   $206,320 
Obligations for purchasing agreements   7,159,582    4,671,421                11,831,003 
Interest and make-whole on convertible notes   1,075,022    3,794,172                4,869,194 
Total  $8,234,604   $8,671,913   $   $   $   $16,906,517 

 

30. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company did not have any transactions, obligations or relationships that could be considered off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

31.  Subsequent Events

 

 On December 1, 2011, Hengsheng entered into a Sino-foreign equity joint venture contract with SAIC-IVECO Hongyan Company to establish a Sino-foreign joint venture company, Chongqing Henglong Hongyan Power Steering Systems Co. Ltd. ("Chongqing Henglong") to design, develop and manufacture both hydraulic and electric power steering systems and parts. The new joint venture will be located in Chongqing City and have a registered capital of RMB60 million (of which RMB 42 million, or 70%, will be invested by Hengsheng). Under PRC law, the establishment of Chongqing Henglong and the effectiveness of the equity joint venture contract are subject to approval by the local Ministry of Commerce and the registration of the same with the local Administration of Industries and Commerce in Chongqing.  As of the date of this report, such approval has not been obtained. 

 

On January 19, 2012, the Company completed its reorganization as discussed in Note 1.

 

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32.  Segment reporting

 

The accounting policies of the product sectors are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies except that the disaggregated financial results for the product sectors have been prepared using a management approach, which is consistent with the basis and manner in which management internally disaggregates financial information for the purposes of assisting them in making internal operating decisions. Generally, the Company evaluates performance based on stand-alone product sector operating income and accounts for inter segment sales and transfers as if the sales or transfers were to third parties, at current market prices.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 the Company had ten product sectors, six of them were principal profit makers, which were reported as separate sectors which engaged in the production and sales of power steering (Henglong), power steering (Jiulong), power steering (Shenyang), power pumps (Zhejiang), power steering (Wuhu), and power steering (Hengsheng). The other four sectors which were established in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively, engaged in the production and sales of sensor modular (USAI), EPS (Jielong), provider of after sales and R&D services (HLUSA), and the holding company (Genesis). Since the revenues, net income and net assets of these four sectors are less than 10% of its segment in the consolidated financial statements, the Company incorporated these four sectors into “other sectors.”

 

Hengsheng was previously included in “Other Sectors.” The Company is now reporting Hengsheng as a separate sector, as it has recently become a principal profit maker. It is mainly engaged in manufacturing automobile power steering products for export to the U.S. market As such, a reclassification has been made to all periods presented in the summary above to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications have no effect on previously reported results of operations.

 

The Company’s product sectors information is as follows:

 

   Net Sales   Net Income (Loss) 
   Year Ended December 31   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009   2011   2010   2009 
                         
Henglong  $196,296,846   $197,226,807   $153,459,876   $25,570,825   $30,563,088   $25,922,760 
Jiulong   69,517,738    92,095,265    61,613,116    2,043,199    4,951,566    3,463,037 
Shenyang   30,290,139    39,691,553    32,492,844    1,546,618    4,212,843    2,874,063 
Zhejiang   20,269,837    26,193,095    24,193,366    2,042,529    5,186,404    2,998,220 
Wuhu   35,271,488    33,057,878    26,496,148    498,519    812,360    47,270 
Hengsheng   22,313,422    13,092,659    10,209,668    1,647,201    810,462    2,790,924 
Other Sectors   43,357,605    32,707,067    596,865    (2,101,341)   1,190,795    (1,487,820)
Eliminations   (69,342,321)   (88,139,142)   (53,464,330)   (5,622,638)   1,000,819    (2,105,565)
Total Segments   347,974,754    345,925,182    255,597,553    25,624,912    48,728,337    34,502,889 
Corporate               22,278,569    14,188,965    (53,154,014)
Total consolidated  $347,974,754    345,925,182    255,597,553   $47,903,481   $62,917,302   $(18,651,125)

 

   Inventories   Total Assets 
   As of December 31   As of December 31 
   2011   2010   2009   2011   2010   2009 
                         
Henglong  $14,277,098   $11,430,420   $13,686,928   $215,885,003   $188,019,911   $156,393,126 
Jiulong   12,472,364    7,200,613    8,628,835    72,344,671    71,193,527    59,675,929 
Shenyang   3,386,388    4,016,731    2,871,316    35,862,778    36,496,737    32,163,383 
Zhejiang   6,397,899    5,415,478    3,260,930    31,072,820    30,208,969    25,955,363 
Wuhu   3,952,149    3,093,618    2,146,381    26,806,437    26,702,478    18,182,769 
Hengsheng   9,679,179    4,737,048    1,039,125    40,660,687    29,190,456    18,290,063 
Other Sectors   5,471,567    4,805,865    831,232    40,937,542    30,769,112    9,302,994 
Corporate               189,518,582    130,232,180    120,621,288 
Eliminations   (4,029,451)   (3,829,501)   (5,049,050)   (186,641,400)   (137,285,705)   (126,202,343)
Total consolidated  $51,607,193    36,870,272    27,415,697   $466,447,120    $ 405,527,665   $314,382,572 

 

95
 

 

   Depreciation and Amortization   Capital Expenditures 
   Year Ended December 31   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009   2011   2010   2009 
                         
Henglong  $6,242,593   $3,302,493   $3,777,978   $8,458,999   $3,012,270   $5,378,814 
Jiulong   4,874,238    2,219,799    2,068,581    6,970,742    9,736,642    1,671,141 
Shenyang   573,991    521,475    543,930    1,868,528    1,223,395    218,297 
Zhejiang   1,461,982    1,031,155    895,241    948,602    1,287,999    2,486,501 
Wuhu   523,160    359,472    352,770    1,118,148    1,586,144    150,212 
Hengsheng   2,069,851    944,802    718,113    599,309    6,763,8671(1)   3,527,192 
Other Sectors   875,315    1,099,082    256,719    1,012,542    7,675,027    4,390,814 
Eliminations   (3,140,469)   -    -    (5,796,043)   -    - 
Total Segments   13,480,661    9,478,278    8,613,332    15,180,827    31,285,344    17,822,971 
Corporate   20,430    19,340    70,837             
Total consolidated  $13,501,091   $9,497,618   $8,684,169   $15,180,827   $31,285,344   $17,822,971 

 

(1)Included in the balance, $3,095,414 was invested in Beijing Henglong by Hengsheng in 2010.

 

Financial information segregated by geographic region is as follows:

 

   Net Sales   Long-term assets 
   Year Ended December 31   As of December 31 
   2011   2010   2009   2011   2010 
                     
Geographic region:                         
United States  $22,313,426   $13,113,735   $6,205,816   $24,770   $18,787 
China   325,661,328    332,811,447    249,391,737    96,701,841    91,361,596 
Total consolidated  $347,974,754   $345,925,182   $255,597,553   $96,726,611(1)  $91,380,383(1)

 

(1)Pursuant to ASC 280-10-50-41, the non-current deferred tax assets of $4,340,974 and $3,271,594 were excluding from the long-term assets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

96
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX  

 

Exhibit    
Number   Description
     
3.1(i)   Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from the filing on Form 10KSB File No. 000-33123)
     
3.1(ii)   Bylaws (incorporated by reference from the Form 10KSB for the year ended December 31, 2002)
     
10.5   Joint-venture Agreement, dated March 31, 2006, as amended on May 2, 2006, between Great Genesis Holdings Limited and Wuhu Chery Technology Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report on May 10, 2006)
     
10.6   Securities Purchase Agreement dated February 1, 2008 among us, Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited, and YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.7   Securities Purchase Agreement dated February 15, 2008 between the Company and the investors. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.8   Escrow Agreement dated February 15, 2008 among us, U.S. Bank National Association, Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited, and YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
10.9   Registration Rights Agreement dated February 15, 2008 among us, Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited, and YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.10   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $8,571,429 issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.11   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $6,428,571 issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.12   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $15,000,000 issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.13   Closing Warrant to purchase 564,799 shares of common stock at $8.8527 per share, dated February 15, 2008, issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.14   Escrow Warrant to purchase 564,799 shares of common stock at $8.8527 per share, dated February 15, 2008, issued by the Company in favor of TFINN & CO. as nominee for Lehman Brothers Commercial Corporation Asia Limited. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)

 

10.15   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $1,428,571 issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.16   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $1,071,429 issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)

 

97
 

 

10.17   Convertible note dated February 15, 2008 in the original principal amount of $2,500,000 issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.18   Closing Warrant to purchase 94,133 shares of common stock at $8.8527 per share, dated February 15, 2008, issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.19   Escrow Warrant to purchase 94,133 shares of common stock at $8.8527 per share, dated February 15, 2008, issued by the Company in favor of YA Global Investments, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)
     
10.20   Translation of the Equity Transfer Agreement dated March 31, 2008 in English (incorporated by reference to exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 2, 2008)
     
10.21   English Translation of the Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Contract dated January 24, 2010 between Great Genesis Holdings Limited and Beijing Hainachuan Auto Parts Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed on March 25, 2010)
     
21   Schedule of Subsidiaries*
     
23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company*
     
23.2   Consent of Schwartz Levitsky Feldman LLP*
     
31.1   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification*
     
31.2   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification*
     
32.1   Section 1350 Certification*
     
32.2   Section 1350 Certification*
     
101+   The following materials from the China Automotive Systems, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed on March 9, 2012, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL):

    (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets;
  (ii)   Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss);
  (iii)   Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss);
  (iv)   Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity;
  (v)   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and
  (vi)   Related Notes

 

*Filed herewith.
   
+The XBRL information accompanying this Annual Report is furnished and is deemed not “filed” or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and not “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

98
 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. (Unconsolidated – based on the parent company)

Balance Sheets of Registrant

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
         
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $129,810   $451,391 
Total current assets   129,810    451,391 
Non-current assets:          
Other receivables — 3rd parties   126,551    89,361 
Other receivables — intercompany   51,714,827    54,566,152 
Long-term investments   153,834,192    120,262,911 
Total assets  $205,805,380   $175,369,815 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Convertible notes payable (Note 2)  $-   $30,000,000 
Compound derivative liabilities (Note 2)   -    25,271,808 
Accrued expenses and other payables (Note 3)   929,983    7,824,989 
Total current liabilities   929,983    63,096,797 
Long-term liabilities:          
Convertible notes payable (Note 2)   23,571,429    - 
Compound derivative liabilities (Note 2)   559,148    - 
Accrued make-whole redemption interest expense of convertible notes (Note 2)   7,615,709    - 
Total liabilities   32,676,269    63,096,797 
Commitments and Contingencies          
Stockholders' equity :          
Common stock-$0.0001 par value - Authorized-80,000,000 shares Issued and Outstanding – 28,260,302 shares and 27,175,826 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively   2,826    2,717 
Additional paid-in capital   39,295,419    28,565,153 
Retained earnings-          
Appropriated   9,026,240    8,767,797 
Unappropriated   99,513,395    58,979,851 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   25,291,231    15,957,500 
Total stockholders' equity   173,129,111    112,273,018 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $205,805,380   $175,369,815 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

99
 

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. (Unconsolidated – based on the parent company)

Statements of Income (Loss) of Registrant

Year Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Operating expenses:               
General and administrative expenses (Note 4)  $2,370,880   $1,939,772   $1,452,118 
Total Operating expenses   2,370,880    1,939,772    1,452,118 
Operating loss   (2,370,880)   (1,939,772)   (1,452,118)
Financial expenses (Note 5)   (3,610,189)   (3,048,515)   (7,687,507)
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative (Note 5)   20,971,087    20,171,698    (43,074,327)
Gain on convertible notes conversion   1,564,418           
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliated companies   16,554,436    15,183,411    (52,213,952)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies   24,237,551    36,554,702    25,773,081 
Income (loss) before income taxes   40,791,987    51,738,113    (26,440,871)
Income tax   -    -    - 
Net income (loss)   40,791,987    51,738,113    (26,440,871)
Allocation to convertible notes holders   (4,518,838)   (6,994,306)   - 
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders  $36,273,149   $44,743,807   $(26,440,871)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. (Unconsolidated – based on the parent Company)

Statements of Cash Flows of Registrant

Year Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:               
Net income (loss)  $40,791,987   $51,738,113   $(26,440,871)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:               
Stock-based compensation   100,575    595,402    446,676 
Amortization for discount of convertible notes payable           3,891,148 
(Gain) loss on change in fair value of derivative   (20,971,087)   (20,171,698)   43,074,327 
(Gain) on convertible notes conversion   (1,564,418)   -    - 
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies   (24,237,551)   (36,554,702)   (25,773,081)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:               
Increases in accrued expenses and other payables   720,704    1,730,780    3,462,462 
Write-down of accrued interest upon convertion of convertible notes   1,506,143         
Net cash used in operating activities   (3,653,647)   (2,662,105)   (1,339,339)
Cash flows from investing activities:               
Decrease in other receivables   2,814,135    2,402,213    6,050,445 
Net cash provided by investing activities   2,814,135    2,402,213    6,050,445 
Cash flows from financing activities:               
Exercise of stock option   517,931    454,700    420,240 
Redemption of convertible notes           (5,000,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   517,931    454,700    (4,579,760)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents               
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents   (321,581)   194,808    131,346 
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year   451,391    256,583    125,237 
Cash and equivalents at end of year  $129,810   $451,391   $256,583 

 

100
 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
                
Cash paid for interest  $1,006,696   $1,656,034   $1,137,500 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2011   2010   2009 
                
Issuance of common shares for the conversion of convertible notes  $10,111,869   $-   $- 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

101
 

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

 

NOTE 1—Basis of Presentation

 

     China Automotive Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the direct or indirect parent company of all of China Automotive Systems, Inc.’s subsidiaries and joint ventures. The accompanying condensed financial statements reflect the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of China Automotive Systems, Inc. on a separate, parent company basis. All subsidiaries and joint ventures of China Automotive Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries are reflected as investments accounted for using the equity method. For accounting policies and other information, see the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein.

 

NOTE 2 — Convertible notes payable and Compound derivative liabilities

 

        Convertible notes payable and compound derivative liabilities arose from the issuance of convertible notes in February 15, 2008. For detail information, see Notes 13 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein.

 

NOTE 3 — Accrued expenses and other payables

 

Accrued expenses and other payables at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
         
Accrued interest (1)  $625,447   $7,143,751 
Other payables   304,536    681,238 
Balance at end of year  $929,983   $7,824,989 

 

( 1 ) As of December 31, 2011, accrued interest of $625,447 represented coupon interests on convertible notes to be paid every six months whereas, as of December 31, 2010, accrued interest of $ 7,143,751 included coupon interest and make-whole redemption interest of $512,500 and $6,631,251, respectively. Upon expiration of the mandatory redemption period of the convertible notes on February 15, 2011, the entire make-whole redemption interest was reclassified as long-term liabilities, see Notes 12 and 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein. 

 

NOTE 4— General and administrative expenses

 

        General and administrative expenses mainly consisted of the costs associated with legal, accounting and auditing fees for operating a public company. The expenses also included share-based compensation expense for options granted to the audit committee.

 

NOTE 5— Financial income (expenses) and Gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative

 

        Financial expenses and gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative resulted from the issuance of the convertible notes in February 15, 2008. For detail information, see Notes 24 and 25 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein.

 

102