Future FinTech Group Inc. - Quarter Report: 2017 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017

☐ 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: 001-34502

16F, China Development Bank

Tower, No. 2, Gaoxin 1st Road,

Xi’an, PRC

710075

(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

86-29-88377161

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the 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 ☐ 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 ☐ No

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

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

SKYPEOPLE FRUIT JUICE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited ) 

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

SKYPEOPLE FRUIT JUICE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited) 

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

SKYPEOPLE FRUIT JUICE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

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

SKYPEOPLE FRUIT JUICE, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position as of March 31, 2017 and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes to the interim financial statements related to these periods are unaudited. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any subsequent periods or for the entire year ending December 31, 2017. The balance sheet at December 31, 2016 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the SEC’s rules and regulations. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2016 as included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The principal activities of SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc. (together with our direct or indirect subsidiaries, “we,” “us,” “our” or “the Company”) consist of production and sales of fruit juice concentrates, fruit juice beverages, and other fruit-related products in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”, or “China”), and overseas markets. All activities of the Company are principally conducted by subsidiaries operating in the PRC. 

Organizational Structure

Current organizational structure is set forth in the diagram below:

Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This basis differs from that used in the statutory accounts of SkyPeople (China), Hedetang Food (China), Hedetang Holding, Huludao Wonder, Xi’an Cornucopia, Xi’an Hedetang Juice Beverages, Yingkou, Shaanxi Qiyiwangguo, Hedetang E-commerce, SkyPeople Suizhong, Agricultural Plantation Mei Counting, Food Industry Yidu, Food Industry Jingyang, Guo Wei Mei, Agriculture Plantation Yidu, Trading Market Yidu, Trading Market Mei County and Hedetang Plantations, which were prepared in accordance with the accounting principles and relevant financial regulations applicable to enterprises in the PRC. All necessary adjustments have been made to present the financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 

Uses of estimates in the preparation of financial statements

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and this requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The significant areas requiring the use of management estimates include, but not limited to, the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, estimated useful life and residual value of property, plant and equipment, provision for staff benefit, recognition and measurement of deferred income taxes and valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions management may undertake in the future, actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling amounts billed to customers in related sales transactions are included in sales revenues and shipping expenses incurred by the Company are reported as a component of selling expenses. The shipping and handling expenses of $131,980 and $92,408 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, are reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Expense) as a component of selling expenses.

Earnings (loss) per share

The Company adopted ASC Topic 215, Statement of Shareholder Equity. Basic Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) are computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders (numerator) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (denominator) during the period. Diluted EPS give effect to all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during a period. In computing diluted EPS, the average price for the period is used in determining the number of shares assumed to be purchased from the exercise of stock options and warrants. 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the FASB issued a new accounting standard update on simplifying the accounting for goodwill impairment. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e., Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test) to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. This guidance will be effective for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and will be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted for any impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. We are evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to our consolidated financial statements.

There were no other recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 that are of significance or potential significance to us. 

Inventories by major categories are summarized as follows:

Sales to related party

The Company’s subsidiary sold fruit beverages to a related entity, Shaanxi Fullmart Convenient Chain Supermarket Co., Ltd. (“Fullmart”), for approximately $31,417 and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively. The accounts receivable balances were approximately $346,676 and $308,304 as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Fullmart is a company indirectly owned by a member of our Board of Directors (and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer), Mr. Yongke Xue. 

Long-term Loan – Related Party

There were no short-term loans to a related party as of each of March 31, 2017 and 2016.

On February 18, 2013, SkyPeople (China) entered into a loan agreement with SkyPeople International Holdings Group Limited (the “Lender”). The Lender indirectly holds 50.2% interest in the Company. Mr. Yongke Xue (“Y. K. Xue”), then the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company and currently a Member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and Mr. Hongke Xue, our Chairman and CEO, indirectly and beneficially own 80.0% and 9.4% of the equity interest in the Lender, respectively. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Lender agreed to extend to the Company a one-year unsecured term loan with a principal amount of $8.0 million at an interest rate of 6% per annum. During 2013, the Company received $8.0 million from the Lender. In February 2014, both parties extended this loan for another two years under the original terms of the agreement.

On October 16, 2015, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with the Lender to sell 5,321,600 shares of the common stock of the Company at the price of $7,982,400, and which was paid by cancellation of the loan by the Lender. On March 10, 2016, the Lender canceled the loan and the shares were issued to the Lender.

Sales to our five largest customers accounted for approximately 33% and 53% of our net sales during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. There was no single customer representing over 10% of total sales for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively.

Two suppliers accounted for 74% and 97% of our purchases for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Our top supplier accounted for 74% of our purchases for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and our top supplier accounted for 96% of our purchases for the three months ended March 31, 2016. 

On March 29, 2017, the Company issued 250,000 shares of the Company’s unrestricted common stock to six of the Company’s employees pursuant to our Omnibus Equity Plan, which was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the annual stockholders meeting on November 19, 2015. The Company recorded an expense of $250 in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 under the Omnibus Equity Plan, reflecting a par value of $0.01 per share of the Company’s common stock.

The Company’s the Omnibus Equity Plan permits the grant of incentive stock options (“ISOs”), nonqualified stock options (“NQSOs”), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, unrestricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to its employees of up to 250,000 shares of Common Stock.

On February 28, 2017, the Company issued an option to purchase 62,500 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock (as defined under the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan in conformity with Regulation 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) at the date of grant to three of the Company’s employees pursuant to the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, which was approved by the Company’s shareholders at annual stockholders meeting on August 18, 2011. These options vested immediately on the grant date with a fair market value of $223,375 based on the fair value of $3.57 per share, which was determined by using the Black Scholes option pricing model. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $223,375 in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 under the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan.

On March 10, 2016, the Company filed with the Florida Secretary of State’s office an amendment to its Articles of Incorporation. As a result of the Articles of Amendment, the Company authorized and approved an 1-for-8 reverse stock split of the Company’s authorized shares of common stock from 66,666,666 shares to 8,333,333 shares, accompanied by a corresponding decrease in the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The common stock remains a par value of $0.001. No changes were made to the number of authorized preferred shares of the Company, which remains as 10,000,000, none of which have been issued. The amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company took effect on March 16, 2016.

On March 11, 2016, SkyPeople Juice International Holding (HK) Limited (the “Skypeople HK”), a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc. (the “Company”) and a 99.78% owner of SkyPeople Juice Group Co., Ltd. (“Skypeople China”) entered into a Share Transfer Agreement and a Capital Contribution (the “Agreements”) with Shenzhen TianShunDa Equity Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd. (the “TSD”), a limited liability corporation registered in China. 

Skypeople HK incorporated Skypeople China in Shaanxi Province, China on March 13, 2012 and pursuant to the approval certificate and business license of Skypeople China, SkyPeople HK was required to contribute RMB 427,000,000 (approximately $65,698,308) and Hongke Xue, currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and our Chief Executive Officer (“Xue”), was required to contribute RMB 1,000,000 (approximately $153,846) to Skypeople China, and Skypeople HK and Xue as a result would own 427,000,000 shares (99.78%) and 1,000,000 shares (0.22%) of Skypeople China, respectively. As of March 10, 2016, Skypeople HK had contributed RMB 314,190,900 (approximately $48,337,062) to Skypeople China but had not contributed the remaining RMB 112,809,100 (approximately $17,355,246) as the payment for 112,809,100 shares of Skypeople China.

Pursuant to the Agreements, TSD shall acquire 112,809,100 shares of Skypeople China from Skypeople HK and shall make a total capital contribution RMB 131,761,028.80 (approximately $20,270,928) to Skypeople China, which is calculated based upon 8 times of Skypeople China’s net profit per share for 2014 (about RMB 0.146 per share) multiplied by 112,809,100 shares. RMB 112,809,100 out of the RMB 131,761,028.80 (the “Capital Contributions”) shall be used as payment for outstanding capital contribution due to Skypeople China by Skypeople HK and the remaining RMB 18,951,928.80 (approximately $2,915,681) shall be used as additional capital contribution to Skypeople China and shall be deposited into Skypeople China’s capital surplus account. On March 18, 2016, TSD paid the full Capital Contributions to Skypeople China s and the shares were transferred, resulting in TSD owning 112,809,100 shares, or 26.36%, of Skypeople China.

On June 15, 2016, Hedetang Holdings Co., Ltd. (the “Hedetang”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Share Transfer Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Shaanxi New Silk Road Kiwifruit Group Inc. ( “NSR”), a limited liability corporation registered in China. Pursuant to the Agreement, NSR was to acquire 51% of the equity shares of Shaanxi Guoweiduomei Beverage Co, Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hedetang (the “Shares”). The tentative total transfer price for the Shares was 300 million RMB (approximately $46 million). NSR was to pay the total transfer price to Hedetang within six months of the effective date of the Agreement.  

On July 5, 2016, Hedetang completed the registration of 51% of its shares in Shaanxi Guoweiduomei Beverage Co., Limited under the name of NSR with China’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the transferred shares were still under the control of Hedetang until it receives full payment from NSR. On January 20, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the termination of the Agreement with NSR because the local government authority had not approved the transaction contemplated thereby and the Company had not received the required payment within six months of the effective date of the Agreement. On January 26, 2017, Hedetang executed a Termination Agreement for the Share Transfer Agreement with NSR. Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Hedetang agreed not to claim any compensation or penalty against NSR under the Agreement and NSR agreed to cooperate with Hedetang to complete the process to transfer share ownership back to the Hedetang within 60 days of the date of the Termination Agreement. On March 15, 2017, NSR transferred back the share ownership to Hedetang.

As of March 31, 2017, the balance of other receivables was $29,830,980, which mainly consisted of a deposit of approximately $29 million for the purchase of a kiwi orchard in Mei County.

In April 2016, the Company signed a letter of intent with Mei County Kiwifruits Investment and Development Corporation to purchase 833.5 mu (approximately 137.3 acres) of kiwifruits orchard in Mei County. The purchase price will be determined by a third party valuation company appointed by both parties. As of the date of this report, the valuation has not been completed. The Company paid RMB 200 million (approximately $29 million) as a deposit (“Deposit”) in the second quarter of 2016. The purchase is subject to government approval, approval by the Company’s Board of Directors and definitive agreement negotiated and signed by the parties. Pursuant to the letter of intent, the Deposit shall be returned to the Company within 10 working days upon the request of the Company if the kiwifruits orchard cannot be transferred to the Company according to the schedule. The Company expects to complete the purchase process in the third quarter of 2017. As the transaction has not been completed, the Company recorded this deposit as other receivables in its balance sheet.

As of March 31, 2017, the balance of advances to suppliers and other current assets was $57,167,955, which mainly consisted of approximately $34.7 million for the leasing fee for the kiwifruits orchard in Mei County and approximately $21.8 million for the leasing fee for the orange orchard in Yidu city. 

On August 3, 2016, Shaanxi Guoweimei Kiwi Deep Processing Company, an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, signed a lease agreement for 20,000 mu (approximately 3,292 acres) of kiwifruits orchard located in Mei County, Shaanxi Province, with the Di’ErPo Committee of Jinqu Village, Mei County, Shaanxi for a term of 30 years, from August 5, 2016 to August 4, 2046. The annual leasing fee is RMB 1,250 (approximately $189) per mu, and payment of 10 years’ of leasing fees shall be made on each of September 25, 2016, 2026 and 2036. The Company made a payment of RMB 250 million (approximately $36.2 million) for the first 10 years’ leasing fees on August 15, 2016, which is recorded as advances to suppliers and other current assets in the Company’s balance sheet. The Company had amortized $1.5 million as expenses as of March 31, 2017.

On August 15, 2016, Hedetang Agricultural Plantations (Yidu) Co., Ltd., an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, signed a lease agreement for 8000 mu (approximately 1,317 acres) of orange orchard located in city of Yidu, Hubei Province, with the Yidu Sichang Farmers Association, Hubei Province, for a term of 20 years, from September 22, 2016 to September 21, 2036. The annual leasing fee is RMB 2,000 (approximately $306) per mu, and payment of 10 years’ of leasing fees shall be made on each of September 25, 2016 and 2026. The Company made a payment of RMB 160 million (approximately $23.2 million) for the first 10 years’ of leasing fees on September 20, 2016, which is recorded as deposits in the Company’s balance sheet. The Company had amortized $1.4 million as expenses as of March 31, 2017

The Company’s Huludao Wonder operation, a subsidiary which produces concentrated apple juice, suffered continued operating losses in the three fiscal years prior to 2016 and its cash flow was minimal for these three years. In December 2016, the Company established a winding-down plan to close this operation. Based on the restructuring plan and in accordance with EITF 03-13, the Company presented the operating results from Huludao Wonder as a discontinued operation, as the Company believed that no continued cash flow would be generated by the disposed component (Huludao Wonder) and that the Company would have no significant continuing involvement in the operation of the discontinued component. Management of the Company initiated a plan to sell the property located in Huludao in December 2016, and ceased the depreciation of the property in accordance with SFAS No. 144. In fiscal year 2016, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $2.4 million with respect to the concentrated fruit juice production equipment in Huludao Wonder. In accordance with the restructuring plan, the Company intends to transfer the concentrated fruit juice production equipment in Huludao Wonder to another subsidiary and sell the land and facilities upon favorable circumstances. As the Company does not expect to sell the assets of Huludao Wonder in the near future, the assets were not recorded as assets held for sale as of March 31, 2017. The book value of the land usage right was $4,804,167 and the book value of the building was $15,561,962 as of March 31, 2017. The Company believes that the assets’ book value was lower than its fair value, less the cost to sell.

As of March 31, 2017, there was an outstanding bank loan of $5.80 million owed by Huludao Wonder to a lending bank. Huludao Wonder has disputed the interest rate on this loan with the bank, and stopped payment of interest on this loan during 2016. The bank sued Huludao Wonder and asked Huludao Wonder to pay back the loan principal and the outstanding interest. As of the date of this report, the Company has not yet reached an agreement with the bank. The Company expects to pay back the outstanding principal and interest of this loan after the assets are sold.

During the process of winding down the Company’s operation in Huludao Wonder, the Company incurred general and administrative expenses of approximately $48,685 during the first quarter of 2017.

Loss from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:

The loss from discontinued operations was $48,685 for the first quarter of 2017. The Company does not provide a separate cash flow statement for the discontinued operation. The loss from discontinued operations was deemed as cash outflow from operating activities of the discontinued operation. The impact of this discontinued operation was considered immaterial, when compared with the total revenues for the first quarter of fiscal years 2017 and 2016, which were approximately $2.96 million and $5.44 million, respectively. The Company believes there will not be any future significant cash flows from the discontinued operation, as the outstanding accounts receivable and accounts payable are immaterial to the Company’s financial position and liquidity. 

The Company operates in six segments: concentrated apple juice and apple aroma, concentrated kiwifruit juice and kiwifruit puree, concentrated pear juice, fruit juice beverages, fresh fruits and vegetables, and others. Our concentrated apple juice and apple aroma was primarily produced by the Company’s Huludao Wonder factory and Yingkou factory. In the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, Huludao Wonder factory suffered continued operating losses and its cash flows were minimal. Thus, in December 2016, we established a restructuring plan to close the Hudludao Wonder operation, and concentrated pear juice is now primarily produced by the Company’s Jiangyang factory. However, the production line in Jiangyang factory can manufacture both concentrated apple juice and concentrated pear juice, and Shaanxi Province, where Jianyang factory is located, is rich in fresh apple and pear supplies. Jinagyang factory also produces concentrated apple juice when necessary. Concentrated kiwifruit juice and kiwifruit puree is primarily produced by the Company’s Qiyiwangguo factory, and fruit juice beverages is primarily produced by the Company’s Qiyiwangguo factory. The Company’s other products include fructose, concentrated turnjujube juice, and other by products, such as kiwifruit seeds.

Concentrated fruit juice is used as a basic ingredient for manufacturing juice drinks and as an additive to fruit wine and fruit jam, cosmetics and medicines. The Company sells its concentrated fruit juice to domestic customers and exported directly or via distributors. The Company’s main export markets are the United States, the European Union, South Korea, Russia and the Middle East. The Company sells its Hedetang branded bottled fruit beverages domestically primarily to supermarkets in the PRC. The Company sells its fresh fruit and vegetables to supermarkets and whole sellers in the PRC. 

Some of these product segments might never individually meet the quantitative thresholds for determining reportable segments and we determine the reportable segments based on the discrete financial information provided to the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating decision maker evaluates the results of each segment in assessing performance and allocating resources among the segments. Since there is an overlap of services provided and products manufactured between different subsidiaries of the Company, the Company does not allocate operating expenses and assets based on the product segments. Therefore, operating expenses and assets information by segment are not presented. Segment profit represents the gross profit of each reportable segment.

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 (in thousands, unaudited):

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 (in thousands, unaudited):

The following table reconciles reportable segment profit to the Company’s condensed consolidated loss before income tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016: 

On March 20, 2017, Hedetang Foods (China) Co. Ltd. (“Hedetang Foods (China)”) and Hedetang Farm Products Trading Market (Mei County) Co. Ltd. (“Trading Market Mei County”), two wholly-owned subsidiaries of SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc. (the “Company”), entered into a Cooperation Framework Agreement of the Spot Trading Company (the “Agreement”) with Xi’an Taizhan Financial Management Co., Ltd. (“Taizhan”).

Pursuant to the Agreement, Hedetang Foods (China), Trading Market Mei County and Taizhan will jointly establish a new company currently named as China Agricultural Commodity Trading Market Co., Ltd. (“China Agricultural Commodity Trading Center”) in Mei County, Shaanxi Province, China. The total registered capital for China Agricultural Commodity Trading Center will be RMB 50 million (approximately $7.35 million). Hedetang Foods (China) agreed to contribute RMB 17.50 million (approximately $2.57 million), Trading Market Mei County agreed to contribute RMB 15 million (approximately $2.21 million) and Taizhan agreed to contribute RMB 17.50 million (approximately $2.57 million) in capital contributions to China Agricultural Commodity Trading Center. All capital contributions to China Agricultural Commodity Trading Center shall be completed before March 20, 2037. Each shareholder of China Agricultural Commodity Trading Center shall be able to enjoy the profits and assume the losses of China Agricultural Commodity Trading Center based upon the percentages of their respective capital contributions. As of the date of this report, the new company has not yet been registered.

Litigation

In April 2015, China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd. Shaanxi Branch (“Cinda Shaanxi Branch”) filed two enforcement proceedings with Xi’an Intermediate People’s Court against the Company for alleged defaults pursuant to guarantees by the Company to its suppliers for a total amount of RMB 39,596,250, or approximately $6.1 million.

In June 2014, two long term suppliers of pear, mulberry, kiwi fruits to the Company requested the Company to provide guarantees for their loans with Cinda Shaanxi Branch. Considering the long term business relationship and to ensure the timely supply of raw materials, the Company agreed to provide guarantees upon the value of the raw materials supplied to the Company. Because Cinda Shaanxi Branch is not a bank authorized to provide loans, it eventually provided financing to the two suppliers through purchase of accounts receivables of the two suppliers with the Company. In July, 2014, the parties entered into two agreements - Accounts Receivables Purchase and Debt Restructure Agreement and Guarantee Agreements for Accounts Receivables Purchase and Debt Restructure. Pursuant to the agreements, Cinda Shaanxi Branch agreed to provide a RMB 100 million credit line on a rolling basis to the two suppliers and the Company agreed to pay its accounts payables to the two suppliers directly to Cinda Shaanxi Branch and provided guarantees for the two suppliers. In April 2015, Cinda Shaanxi Branch stopped providing financing to the two suppliers and the two suppliers were unable to continue the supply of raw materials to the Company. Consequently, the Company stopped making any payment to Cinda Shaanxi Branch.

The Company has responded to the court and taken the position that the financings under the agreements are essentially loans from Cinda Shaanxi Branch to the two suppliers, and because Cinda Shaanxi Branch does not have permits to make loans in China, the agreements are invalid, void and have no legal force from inception. Therefore, the Company has no obligations to repayment the debts owed by the two suppliers to Cinda Shaanxi Branch. The proceeding is currently pending the judge’s verdict. 

In September 2016, the Suizhong Branch of Huludao Banking Co. Ltd. (“Suizhong Branch”) filed a lawsuit with Huludao Intermediate People’s Court (the “Court”) against the Company’s indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary Huludao Wonder Fruit Co., Ltd. (“Wonder Fruit”) and requested that Wonder Fruit repay an RMB40 million (approximately $6.35 million) bank loan, plus interest. The loan became due on its maturity date on December 9, 2016. On December 19, 2016, the Court accepted the case. The Company has been disputing the interest rate of the loan with Suizhong Branch, and has not repaid the loan to date. Wonder Fruit believes the interest charged by Suizhong Branch is 100% higher than the base rate set by China People’s Bank and is not in consistent with China People’s Bank’s base interest and floating rate. The Court has temporarily frozen the land and real property of the Wonder Fruit that were pledged as guarantee for the loan from being transferred to any third-party, but the freeze does not limit or affect the use of these properties by Wonder Fruit for its business. Wonder Fruit is currently in discussions with the Suizhong Branch on repayment of the bank loan and a reduction of the interest due thereon, and the Company has not reached an agreement with the ban as of the date of this report.

From time to time we may be a party to various litigation proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business, none of which, in the opinion of management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

On March 30, 2017, the Company’s Board approved and adopted the Second and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “A&R Articles”) of the Company, which were approved by shareholders holding a majority of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock on March 31, 2017. Pursuant to the A&R Articles, the Company’s name will change to “Future FinTech Group Inc.” following the filing of the A&R Articles at least 20 days following the mailing of the Definitive Information Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 28, 2017 (the “Name Change”) to the Company’s shareholders. The Company expects to complete the Name Change in the second quarter of 2017.

On April 12, 2017, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain purchasers (the “Purchasers”), pursuant to which the Company offered and sold to the Purchasers, in a registered direct offering, an aggregate of 862,097 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”). The Shares were sold to the Purchasers at a negotiated purchase price of $3.10 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $2,672,500, before deducting fees to the placement agent and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Shares were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which was originally filed with the SEC on August 3, 2015, amended on February 17, 2017, and was declared effective on February 23, 2017 (File No. 333-206353) (the “Registration Statement”).

In a concurrent private placement, the Company also issued to the each of the Purchasers a warrant to purchase one (1) share of the Company’s Common Stock for each share purchased under the Purchase Agreement, pursuant to that certain Common Stock Purchase Warrant, by and between the Company and each Purchaser (each, a “Warrant”, and collectively, the “Warrants”). The Warrants will be exercisable beginning on the six month anniversary of the date of issuance at an initial exercise price of $5.20 per share and will expire on the five and a half year anniversary of the date of issuance.

The Warrants and the shares of the Company’s Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) are not being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement, and were instead offered pursuant to the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act. Each Purchaser was either (i) an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Securities Act or (ii) a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A(a) under the Securities Act. 

In connection with the private placement and in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, the Company is required to file a registration statement on Form S-1 within 45 calendar days after the date of the Purchase Agreement to provide for the resale of the Warrant Shares.

Rodman & Renshaw, a unit of H.C. Wainwright & Co., served as our placement agent in connection with the offering under the Purchase Agreement and received warrants to purchase our Common Stock in an amount equal to 4% of our Shares sold to the Purchasers in the offering on substantially the same terms as the Warrants, with an initial exercise price of $5.20 per share, except that the termination date shall be April 12, 2022 and the warrants have certain transfer restrictions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 (the “Placement Agent Warrants”).  

Per the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed with the Purchasers to the following: (i) that subject to certain exceptions, the Company will not, within the ninety day period immediately following the closing of the offering, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any securities; (ii) the Company will not, during the period in which the Warrants are outstanding, enter into an agreement to effect a “Variable Rate Transaction,” as that term is defined in the Purchase Agreement; and (iii) until the one-year anniversary of the closing of the offering, the Company will not undertake a reverse or forward stock split or reclassification of the Common Stock without the prior written consent of the Purchasers holding a majority in interest of the Shares then outstanding and still held by them, subject to certain exceptions. 

The Company also agreed to indemnify each of the Purchasers against certain losses resulting from its breach of any representations, warranties or covenants under agreements with each of the Purchasers, as well as under certain other circumstances described in the Purchase Agreement.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

DISCLAIMER REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The following discussion and analysis of the condensed consolidated financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes in Item I above and with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes, and with the information under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed in this report and under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview of Our Business

We are engaged in the production and sales of fruit juice concentrates (including fruit purees, concentrated fruit purees and concentrated fruit juices), fruit beverages (including fruit juice beverages and fruit cider beverages), and other fruit related products (including organic and non-organic fresh fruits) in and outside of the PRC. Our fruit juice concentrates, which include apple, pear and kiwifruit concentrates, are sold to domestic customers and exported directly or via distributors. We sell our Hedetang branded bottled fruit beverages domestically primarily to supermarkets in the PRC. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, sales of our fruit concentrates, fruit beverages, fresh fruits and other fruit related products represented 72%, 28% and 0% of our revenue, respectively, compared to 100%, 0% and 0% respectively, for the same period of 2016. 

In addition to our domestic sales, we also export our products. We sell our products either through distributors with good credit or to end users directly. Our main export markets are Asia, North America, Europe, Russia and the Middle East. We sell our other fruit related products to domestic customers.

We currently market our Hedetang brand fruit beverages in only certain regions of the PRC. We plan to expand the market presence of Hedetang over a broader geographic area in the PRC. In particular, we plan to expand our glass bottle production line to produce higher margin portable fruit juice beverages targeting consumers in more populated Chinese cities. Currently we produce six flavors of fruit beverages in 280 ml glass bottles, 418 ml glass and 500 ml glass bottles and BIB packages, including apple juice, pear juice, kiwifruit juice, mulberry juice, peach juice and pomegranate juice. We currently sell our fruit beverages to over 100 distributors and more than 20,000 retail stores in approximately 20 provinces. Our products are sold through distributors in stores such as Hualian Supermarket in Beijing, RT-Mart in Shenyang, WOWO in Chengdu, the Quanjia convenient store chain, Vanguard in Xi’an, Carrefour in Chongqing and Shenyang and Lianhua Supermarket in Shanghai.

We plan to continue to focus on creating new products with high margins to supplement our current product offering.

Our business is highly seasonal and can be greatly affected by weather because of the seasonal nature in the growing and harvesting of fruits and vegetables. Our core products are apple, pear and kiwifruit juice concentrates, which are produced from July or August to April of the following year. The squeezing season for (i) apples is from August to January or February; (ii) pears is from July or August until April of next year; and (iii) kiwifruit is from September through December. Typically, a substantial portion of our revenues is earned during our first and fourth quarters. To minimize the seasonality of our business, we make continued efforts in identifying new products with harvesting seasons complementary to our current product mix. Our goal is to lengthen our squeezing season, thus increasing our annual production of fruit juice concentrates and fruit beverages. Unlike fruit juice concentrates, which can only be produced during the squeezing season, our fruit beverages are made out of fruit juice concentrates and can be produced and sold in all seasons. With continuous efforts in marketing of our beverages in domestic market, we believe that our seasonality will be reduced.

Fresh fruits are the primary raw materials needed for the production of our products. Our raw materials mainly consist of apples, pears and kiwifruits. Other raw materials used in our business include pectic enzyme, amylase, auxiliary power fuels and other power sources such as coal, electricity and water.

We purchase raw materials from local markets and fruit growers that deliver directly to our plants. We have implemented a fruit-purchasing program in areas surrounding our factories. In addition, we organize purchasing centers in rich fruit production areas, helping farmers deliver fruit to our purchasing agents easily and in a timely manner. We are then able to deliver the fruit directly to our factory for production. We have assisted local farmers in their development of kiwifruit fields to help ensure a high quality product throughout the production channel. Our raw material supply chain is highly fragmented and raw fruit prices are highly volatile in China. Fruit concentrate and fruit juice beverage companies generally do not enter into purchasing agreements with raw fruit suppliers. In addition to raw materials, we purchase various ingredients and packaging materials such as sweeteners, glass and plastic bottles, cans and packing barrels. We generally purchase our materials or supplies from multiple suppliers. We are not dependent on any one supplier or group of suppliers.

Shaanxi and Liaoning Provinces, where our manufacturing facilities are located, are large fruit producing provinces. We own and operate four manufacturing facilities in the PRC, all of which are strategically located near fruit growing centers so that we can better preserve the freshness of the fruits and lower our transportation costs. To take advantage of economies of scale and to enhance our production efficiency, generally, each of our manufacturing facilities has a focus on products made from one particular fruit according to the proximity of such manufacturing to the sources of supply for that fruit. Our kiwifruit processing facilities are located in Zhouzhi County of Shaanxi Province, which has the largest planting area of apples and kiwifruit in the PRC. Our pear processing facilities are located in Shaanxi Province, which is the main pear-producing province in the PRC. Our apple processing facilities are located in Liaoning Province, a region that abounds with high acidity apples. As we use the same production line for concentrated apple juice and concentrated pear juice and both Shaanxi Province and Liaoning Province are rich in fresh apple and pear production, our Liaoning facilities can also produce concentrated pear juice and our Shaanxi Province facilities can also produce concentrated apple juice based on customer need. According to the data provided by the Chinese Customs, the amount of exported concentrated apple juice from China continued to drop in the past few years. As most of our concentrated apple juice was sold directly or indirectly to the international market, our two facilities in Liaoning stopped operations in the past two years. Our Huludao Wonder operation suffered continued operating losses in the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and the cash flows were minimal during the same three fiscal years. Thus, in December 2016, we established a restructuring plan to close the Huludao Wonder Operation. In the first quarter of 2017, this discontinued operation reported a loss of $48,685. Our Yingkou factory in Liaoning also did not produce any concentrated apple juice in the past two years. We believe that these regions provide adequate supply of raw materials for our production needs in the foreseeable future. 

On August 3, 2016, Shaanxi Guoweimei Kiwi Deep Processing Company, an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, signed a lease agreement for 20,000 mu (approximately 3,292 acres) of kiwifruits orchard located in Mei County, Shaanxi Province, with the Di’erpo Committe of Jinqu Village, Mei County, Shaanxi for a term of 30 years, from August 5, 2016 to August 4, 2046. On August 15, 2016, Hedetang Agricultural Plantations (Yidu) Co., Ltd., an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, signed a lease agreement for 8000 mu (approximately 1,317 acres) of orange orchard located in the city of Yidu, Hubei Province, with the Yidu Sichang Farmers Association, Hubei Province, for a term of 20 years, from September 22, 2016 to September 21, 2036. The Company believes that the leasing of the orchards will help ensure the quality and safety of its products and lower its costs.

On August 30, 2010, we closed the public offering of 5,181,285 shares of our Common Stock at a price of $5.00 per share for approximately $25.9 million. We received an aggregate of approximately $24 million as net proceeds after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. As of March 31, 2017, we had spent approximately $18.6 million on various capital projects in Huludao Wonder and $5.4 million on projects in SkyPeople Suizhong, as described in project (1) below using the proceeds from our public offering. The following table presents the capital projects on which we currently plan to use the proceeds from this offering. We review these projects and capital expenditures on a quarterly basis based on the market conditions and associated costs of these projects.

Capital Investment Projects 

Investment/Service Agreement with Yidu Municipal People’s Government

On October 29, 2012, SkyPeople (China) entered into an investment/service agreement (the “Investment Agreement”) with Yidu Municipal People’s Government in Hubei Province of China.

Under the Investment Agreement, the parties agreed to invest and establish an orange comprehensive deep processing zone in Yidu.

The Company is responsible for the establishment, construction and financing of the project with a total investment of RMB 300 million (approximately $48 million), in fixed assets and the purchase of land use rights, while the Yidu government agreed to provide a parcel of land for the project that is approximately 280 mu (approximately 46 acres) in size located at Gaobazhou Town of Yidu for a fee payable by the Company. The consideration for transferring the land use right for the project land shall be RMB 0.3 million per mu. 

The main scope of the Yidu project includes the establishment of:

The total amount of RMB 300 million (approximately $48 million) will mainly be used to establish the distribution center and the deep processing zone on the project land of approximately 280 mu. The Company and Yidu Municipal People’s Government agreed to discuss the investment amount and location for establishing the R&D center and the orange plantation in the future.

On November 23, 2015, the Company started the construction of the Yidu project. The Company plan to finish the construction of the infrastructure of office building, R&D center, fruit juice production facility and cold storage, and other areas in the second quarter of 2017.

The distribution center is planned to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2017, and the orange plantation is planned to be operational in the second quarter of 2017. 

Investment/Service Agreement with Mei County National Kiwi Fruit Wholesale Trading Center

On April 3, 2013, SkyPeople (China) entered into an Investment Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Managing Committee of Mei County National Kiwi Fruit Wholesale Trading Center (the “Committee”). The Committee has been authorized by the People’s Government of Mei County to be responsible for the construction and administration of the Mei County National Kiwi Fruit Wholesale Trading Center (the “Trading Center”).

Under the Agreement, the parties agreed to invest and establish a kiwi fruit comprehensive deep processing zone and kiwi fruit and fruit-related materials trading zone in Yangjia Village, Changxing Town of Mei County with a total planned area of total planned area of 286 mu (approximately 47 acres) (the “Project”).

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company is responsible for the construction and financing of the Project with a total investment of RMB 445.6 million (approximately $71.9 million) in buildings and equipment, which also includes a fee for the land use rights for the Project land in the amount of RMB 0.3 million per mu. The Committee is responsible for financing and constructing the basic infrastructure surrounding the Project, such as the main water supply, main water drainage, natural gas, electricity, sewage, access roads to the Project, natural gas and communications networks. As of the date of this report, the Company is in the process of building fruit juice production lines, a vegetable and fruit flash freeze facility, an R&D center and an office building. The Company plans to complete the construction of these facilities in the second quarter of 2017.

As of the date of this report, Mei County National Kiwi Fruit Wholesale Trading Center has started normal operations. There are a number of enterprises operating in the trading center including 12 express delivery companies, 4 logistic companies, four on-line sales companies, two packing companies and three agriculture companies. In addition, all government departments that are relevant to the operations of the Mei County National Kiwi Fruit Wholesale Trading Center have moved into the trading center. The Company expects to complete its investment in the trading center in the second quarter of 2017, and believes that it will generate income from the trading center through various means, such as rental income from cold storage and shops, and income from logistic services.

As part of the Mei County National Kiwi Fruit Wholesale Trading Center project, on April 19, 2013, we established Shaanxi Guoweimei Kiwi Deep Processing Co., Ltd. (“Guo Wei Mei”) to engage in the business of producing kiwi fruit juice, kiwi puree, cider beverages, and related products. The estimated investment was RMB 294 million, which is a part of total investment of RMB445.6 million mentioned above. We are now building fruit juice production lines, vegetable and fruit flash freeze facility, the R&D center and office building. We plan to complete the construction in the second quarter of 2017.

Suizhong Project

On July 15, 2011, SkyPeople entered into a Letter of Intent with the People’s Government of Suizhong County, Liaoning Province, to establish a fruit and vegetable industry chain and further processing demonstration zone in Suizhong County, Liaoning Province (the “Suizhong project”).

The Suizhong project was intended to include one or more of the following: the construction and operation of fruit juice production lines, vegetable and fruit flash freeze facility, refrigeration storage facility and warehouse, a world class food safety testing center, fruit and vegetable modern supply chain and e-commerce platform, fruit and vegetable finished products processing center and exhibition center.

The Company has made partial payment to acquire land use rights from the local government, purchase equipment and build facilities. The Company is currently in the process of building up facilities and purchasing equipment. As of date of this report, the Company has finished construction of an office building, dormitory, refrigeration storage facility and warehouse. However, due to heavy competition in the concentrated apple juice business in China, our Huludao Wonder and Yingkou facilities in Liaonng have had no production in the past two years, and the construction work on Suizhong project is also currently suspended.

Letter of Intent of Purchase of Biological Assets

In April 2016, the Company signed a letter of intent with Mei County Kiwifruits Investment and Development Corporation to purchase 833.5 mu (approximately 137 acres) of kiwifruits orchard in Mei County. The purchase price will be determined by a third party valuation company appointed by both parties. As of the date of this report, the valuation has not been completed and purchase price has not been settled. The Company paid RMB 200 million (approximately $30 million) as a deposit in the second quarter of 2016. The purchase is subject to government approval, approval by the Company’s Board of Directors and definitive agreement negotiated and signed by the parties. Pursuant to the letter of intent, the Deposit shall be returned to the Company within 10 working days upon the request of the Company if the kiwifruits orchard cannot be transferred to the Company according to the schedule. The Company expects to complete the purchase process in the third quarter of 2017. This deposit was recorded as other receivables in the Company’s balance sheet as of March 31, 2017.

Leasing of Orchard

On August 3, 2016, Shaanxi Guoweimei Kiwi Deep Processing Company, an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, signed a lease agreement for 20,000 mu (approximately 3,292 acres) of kiwifruits orchard located in Mei County, Shaanxi Province, with the Di’erpo Committe of Jinqu Village, Mei County, Shaanxi for a term of 30 years, from August 5, 2016 to August 4, 2046. The annual leasing fee is RMB1,250 (approximately $189) per mu, and payment of 10 years’ of leasing fees shall be made on each of September 25, 2016, 2026 and 2036. The Company made a payment of RMB 250 million (approximately $37.4 million) for the first 10 years’ leasing fees on August 15, 2016, which is recorded as prepayment in the Company’s balance sheet.

On August 15, 2016, Hedetang Agricultural Plantations (Yidu) Co., Ltd., an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, signed a lease agreement for 8000 mu (approximately 1,317 square acres) of orange orchard located in city of Yidu, Hubei Province, with the Yidu Sichang Farmers Association, Hubei Province, for a term of 20 years, from September 22, 2016 to September 21, 2036. The annual leasing fee is RMB 2,000 (approximately $306) per mu, and payment of 10 years’ of leasing fees shall be made on each of September 25, 2016 and 2026. The Company made a payment of RMB 160 million (approximately $24.0 million) for the first 10 years’ of leasing fees on September 20, 2016, which is recorded as prepayment in the Company’s balance sheet.

Highlights during the Quarter

Results of Operations

Comparison of Three Months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

Revenue

The following table presents our consolidated revenues for each of our main products for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively (in thousands for the revenue):

The decrease in gross revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily due to decreased sales in concentrated apple juice and apple aroma, which were partially offset by increased revenues from concentrated kiwifruit juice and kiwifruit puree, concentrated pear juice and fruit juice beverages.

Sales from apple-related products decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as the Company sold approximately 1,160 tons of concentrated apple juice versus 4,796 tons of concentrated apple juice in the same period of 2016. Most of our concentrated apple juice was sold directly or indirectly to the international market. In 2017, international demand of concentrated apple juice from China has continued to drop. According to the data provided by the Chinese Customs, the amount of exported concentrated apple juice from China declined by 7% in year 2016 as compared to 2015, and the amount of exported concentrated apple juice from China declined by 11.9% in the first two months of 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016. Over the past three years, the purchase price of fresh apples has increased, but the sales price of concentrated apple related products remained low. Because of the negative trends in the international market and estimated lower margins, our YingKou and Huludao Wonder factories did not operate their concentrated apple juice production facilities in 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, which caused a lower inventory of concentrated apple juice and required us to purchase supply from third-party manufacturers to meet demand.

Sales from concentrated kiwifruit juice and kiwifruit puree increased during the first quarter of 2017 as compared to net sales of kiwi-related product line in the same quarter of 2016, primarily as a result of the increased amount of products sold in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to same period of 2016 as a result of an increase in customers’ demand.

Sales of concentrated pear juice increased in the first quarter of 2017 as we sold 1,160 and 199 tons of concentrated pear juice during first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in sales amount was mainly due to short of inventory of concentrated pear juice in the first quarter of 2016. Due to unexpected weather conditions in the 2015 pear harvest season, the amount of available raw material supplies was low in early 2016. As a result, the squeezing season started later than usual, and the production amount was lower.

Sales from our fruit juice beverages increased for the first quarter of 2017, primarily due to an increase in the quantity of sales as the Company conducted more advertising and marketing to increase sales.

Gross Margin

The following table presents the consolidated gross profit of each of our main products and the consolidated gross profit margin, which is gross profit as a percentage of the related revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively (in thousands for the gross profit):

The consolidated gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $0.54 million, an increase of $0.50 million, from $0.04 million for the same period of 2016, primarily due to an increase of profit margin for fruit juice beverages.

The gross profit margin of concentrated apple juice segment for the first quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2016 were 3% and 1%, respectively. We did not have any inventory of concentrated apple juice during the first quarters of 2017 and 2016 and we had to purchase concentrated apple juice to satisfy our customers’ demand, which caused a lower margin.

The gross profit margin of the concentrated kiwifruit juice and kiwifruit puree segment was 23% for the first quarter of 2017 as compared to a negative 48% for the same period of 2016, primarily due to an increase in production during the first quarter of 2017, which resulted in a lower ratio of fixed expenses to the unit cost of our products.

The gross profit margin of the concentrated pear juice segment increased to 14% for the first quarter of 2017, from 2% for the same period of 2016, primarily due to the lower costs of raw materials. 

The gross profit margin of our fruit juice beverages segment increased to 41% for the first quarter of 2017 from 26% for the same period of 2016. The increase of gross margin of fruit juice beverages was primarily due to an increase in production which resulted in a higher ratio of fixed expenses to the unit cost of our products.

Operating Expenses

The following table presents our consolidated operating expenses and operating expenses as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively: 

Operating expenses increased for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily due to an increase in general and administrative expenses, which was partially offset by a decrease in selling expenses. 

General and administrative expenses increased to $2,855,329 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of $2,175,385 as compared to the same period of 2016, which was mainly due to an increase in amortization cost of intangible assets in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the same period of last year. The Company started the amortization of land lease rights in Hedetang Foods Industry (Yidu) Co., Shaanxi Guoweimei Kiwi Deep Processing Company and Trading Market Mei County beginning in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Selling expenses decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016, mainly due to a decrease in shipping and handling expenses as a result of a decrease in the volume of sales.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income, net was $142,391 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, a decrease of $302,254, as compared to other income of $444,645 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, primarily due to a decrease in interest income and subsidy income. Subsidy income decreased from $531,445 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to $0 in the same period of 2017. Subsidy income in the first quarter of 2016 was related to our Yidu project.

Interest expense decreased to $30,796, representing a decrease of $177,869 during the three month period ended March 31, 2017, as compared to interest expense of $208,665 for the same period of 2016. The decrease was primarily due to lower bank loan amounts and interest rates on our bank loans in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016. 

Income Tax

Our tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $61,422. We did not have tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as the company suffered a loss in the first quarter of 2016. Our consolidated income tax rates were 2% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and it was 0% for the same period of last year.  

Noncontrolling Interests

As of March 31, 2017, SkyPeople (China) held a 91.15% interest in Shaanxi Qiyiwangguo and Hedetang Holding (HK) held a 73.42% interest in SkyPeople (China). TSD held a 26.36% interest in Skypeople (China). Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased mainly due to the increase in the net income generated from Shaanxi Qiyiwangguo and SkyPeople (China).

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2017, we had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $2,459,424, an increase of $1,315,839, or 115.06%, from $1,143,585 as of December 31, 2016. We expect that the projected cash flows from operations, anticipated cash receipts, cash on hand, and trade credit to provide sufficient capital to meet our projected operating cash requirements at least for the next 12 months, which does not take into account any potential expenditures related to the possible expansions of our current production capacity.

Our working capital has historically been generated from our operating cash flows, advances from our customers and loans from bank facilities. Our working capital was $23,719,916 as of March 31, 2017, a decrease of $27,264,312, from working capital of $50,984,228 as of March 31, 2016, mainly due to a decrease in current assets. During the first quarter of 2017, net cash used by our operating activities was $644,391 as compared to net cash provided by the operating activities of $395,265 of same period of 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in net income of $1,596,292 during the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, our investing activities used net cash of $106,597 as compared to $2,784,612 in the same period of 2016. We spent $2,527,423 in additions to property, plant and equipment for the first quarter of 2016, and we did not have any additions to property, plant and equipment for the same period of 2017.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, our financing activities generated net cash inflow of $1,984,764 as compared to net cash inflow of $4,016,159 in the same period of 2016. The decrease in cash inflow from financing activities was mainly due to an increase in capital contributions of $16,641,394 in connection with the sale of a minority ownership stake in SkyPeople China by SkyPeople HK to Shenzhen TianShunDa Equity Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd. (“TSD”) in the first quarter of 2016, which was partially offset by a capital lease payment of $11,391,267.  

On March 11, 2016, Skypeople HK, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and a 99.78% owner of Skypeople China entered into a Share Transfer Agreement and a Capital Contribution (the “Agreements”) with Shenzhen TianShunDa Equity Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd. (the “TSD”), a limited liability corporation registered in China. Pursuant to the Agreements, TSD paid $16,641,394 and acquired 112,809,100 shares of Skypeople China from Skypeople HK, resulting in TSD owning 112,809,100 shares, or 26.36%, of Skypeople China.

Off-balance sheet arrangements

As of March 31, 2017, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Not applicable.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2017, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of such date as identified in our internal control over financial reporting below.

Notwithstanding this material weakness, our management has concluded that, based upon the interim remediation of internal control described below under “Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting”, our consolidated financial statements for the periods covered by and included in this report are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and fairly present, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for each of the periods presented herein.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017, based upon the updated framework in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in 1992 and updated in May 2013. Based on this assessment, our management concluded that, as of March 31, 2017, there is a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, we currently lack sufficient accounting personnel with the appropriate level of knowledge, experience and training in U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements. 

We have taken, and are taking, certain actions to remediate the material weakness related to our lack of U.S. GAAP experience. We have hired an assistant to the interim Chief Financial Officer in September 2016 who has an accounting degree from the U.S. and is familiar with U.S. GAAP to help us in preparation of our financial statements to ensure that our financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We plan to hire additional credentialed professional staff and consulting professionals with greater knowledge and experience of U.S. GAAP and related regulatory requirements to oversee our financial reporting process in order to ensure our compliance with U.S. GAAP and other relevant securities laws. In addition to the above stated remediation plan we previously engaged an outside Sarbanes-Oxley Act consultant in March 2012 to assist us with improving the design and operations of our internal controls over financial reporting for our U.S. parent company and all subsidiaries.

We believe the measures described above will remediate the material weakness identified above. As we continue to evaluate and work to improve our internal control over financial reporting, we may determine that additional measures are necessary to address control any future deficiencies.

Other than as described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

In April 2015, China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd. Shaanxi Branch (“Cinda Shaanxi Branch”) filed two enforcement proceedings with Xi’an Intermediate People’s Court against the Company for alleged defaults pursuant to guarantees by the Company to its suppliers for a total amount of RMB 39,596,250, or approximately $6.1 million.

In June 2014, two long term suppliers of pear, mulberry, kiwi fruits to the Company requested the Company to provide guarantees for their loans with Cinda Shaanxi Branch. Considering the long term business relationship and to ensure the timely supply of raw materials, the Company agreed to provide guarantees upon the value of the raw materials supplied to the Company. Because Cinda Shaanxi Branch is not a bank authorized to provide loans, it eventually provided financing to the two suppliers through purchase of accounts receivables of the two suppliers with the Company. In July, 2014, the parties entered into two agreements - Accounts Receivables Purchase and Debt Restructure Agreement and Guarantee Agreements for Accounts Receivables Purchase and Debt Restructure. Pursuant to the agreements, Cinda Shaanxi Branch agreed to provide a RMB 100 million credit line on a rolling basis to the two suppliers and the Company agreed to pay its accounts payables to the two suppliers directly to Cinda Shaanxi Branch and provided guarantees for the two suppliers. In April 2015, Cinda Shaanxi Branch stopped providing financing to the two suppliers and the two suppliers were unable to continue the supply of raw materials to the Company. Consequently, the Company stopped making any payment to Cinda Shaanxi Branch.

The Company has responded to the court and taken the position that the financings under the agreements are essentially the loans from Cinda Shaanxi Branch to the two suppliers, and because Cinda Shaanxi Branch does not have permits to make loans in China, the agreements are invalid, void and have no legal force since inception. Therefore, the Company has no obligations to repayment the debts owed by the two suppliers to Cinda Shaanxi Branch. The proceeding is currently pending for the judge’s verdict. 

In September 2016, the Suizhong Branch of Huludao Banking Co. Ltd. (“Suizhong Branch”) filed a lawsuit with Huludao Intermediate People’s Court (the “Court”) against the Company’s indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary Huludao Wonder Fruit Co., Ltd. (“Wonder Fruit”) and requested that Wonder Fruit repay a 40 million RMB (approximately $6.35 million) bank loan, plus interest. The loan became due on its maturity date on December 9, 2016. On December 19, 2016, the Court accepted the case. The Company has been disputing the interest rate of the loan with Suizhong Branch, and has not repaid the loan to date. Wonder Fruit believes the interest charged by Suizhong Branch is 100% higher than the base rate set by China People’s Bank and is not in consistent with China People’s Bank’s base interest and floating rate. The Court has temporarily frozen the land and real property of the Wonder Fruit that were pledged as guarantee for the loan from being transferred to any third-party, but the freeze does not limit or affect the use of these properties by Wonder Fruit for its business. Wonder Fruit is currently in discussions with the Suizhong Branch on repayment of the bank loan and a reduction of the interest due thereon.

From time to time we may be a party to various litigation proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business, none of which, in the opinion of management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Not applicable.

None.

None.

Not applicable.

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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