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Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

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

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020

 

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 : 001-35192

 

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Cayman Islands   N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation of organization)   Identification No.)

 

18/F, Zhongshan Building A,

No. 154 Hudong Road

Fuzhou, China 350001

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(86) 591-8727-1266

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Ordinary Shares, $0.001 par value   PME   The NASDAQ Capital Market

  

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, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
    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 ☒

 

As of November 9, 2020, the outstanding number of the registrant’s ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, was 79,302,428.

  

 

 

 

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD.

FORM 10-Q

September 30, 2020

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page No.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
Item 1. Financial Statements 1
  Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 1
  Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 2
  Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 3
  Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 4
  Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 5
  Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements 6
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 27
Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 43
Item 4 Controls and Procedures 44
     
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION  
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 45
Item 1A. Risk Factors 45
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 45
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities 45
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 46
Item 5. Other Information 46
Item 6. Exhibits 46

 

i

 

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains forward-looking statements regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not deemed to represent an all-inclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements as denoted in this report. Additionally, statements concerning future matters are forward-looking statements.

 

Although forward-looking statements in this report reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences in results and outcomes include, without limitation, the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Company’s financial condition, business operations and liquidity; the impact of COVID-19 on our customers and distributors; anticipated growth and growth strategies; need for additional capital and the availability of financing; operational, mechanical, climatic or other unanticipated issues that adversely affect the production capacity of the Company’s vessels; delays in deploying vessels; our ability to successfully manage relationships with customers, distributors and other important relationships; technological changes; competition; demand for our products and services; the deterioration of general economic conditions, whether internationally, nationally or in the local markets in which we operate; legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect our business; and those specifically addressed under the headings “Risks Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our annual report on Form 10-K, in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) and information contained in other reports that we file with the SEC. You are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. 

 

We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this report, except as required by law. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made throughout the entirety of this Quarterly Report, which are designed to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, references in this report to “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” refer to Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. and its subsidiaries.

 

ii

 

  

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements. 

 

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
ASSETS        
CURRENT ASSETS:        
Cash and cash equivalents  $3,397,018   $10,092,205 
Restricted cash   14,237,932    - 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts   14,577,205    9,273,446 
Due from related parties   15,223,427    12,477,777 
Inventories, net of reserve for inventories   65,476,730    30,527,752 
Prepaid expenses   1,821,706    1,354,129 
Other receivables   965,499    613,384 
           
Total Current Assets   115,699,517    64,338,693 
           
OTHER ASSETS:          
Cost method investment   3,083,655    3,010,235 
Equity method investment   28,244,032    27,923,464 
Prepayment for long-term assets   71,380,217    49,040,338 
Right-of-use asset   159,529    438,254 
Property, plant and equipment, net   299,169,068    259,377,729 
           
Total Other Assets   402,036,501    339,790,020 
           
Total Assets  $517,736,018   $404,128,713 
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
           
CURRENT LIABILITIES:          
Accounts payable  $3,380,426   $7,951,766 
Accounts payable - related parties   1,973,428    1,707,217 
Short-term bank loans   50,219,527    10,034,116 
Long-term bank loans - current portion   42,897,018    57,122,789 
Accrued liabilities and other payables   12,665,762    11,428,018 
Lease liability- current liability   128,618    375,922 
Due to related parties   18,354    168,328 
           
Total Current Liabilities   111,283,133    88,788,156 
           
OTHER LIABILITIES:          
Lease liability   
-
    32,203 
Long-term bank loans - non-current portion   239,627,776    160,230,498 
           
Total Liabilities   350,910,909    249,050,857 
           
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES   
 
    
 
 
           
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:          
Equity attributable to owners of the company:          
Ordinary shares ($0.001 par value; 125,000,000 shares authorized; 79,302,428 and 79,055,053 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019)   79,302    79,055 
Additional paid-in capital   82,045,993    81,682,599 
Retained earnings   61,064,318    54,286,454 
Statutory reserve   15,748,751    15,748,751 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (12,550,529)   (16,080,908)
Total equity attributable to owners of the company   146,387,835    135,715,951 
Non-controlling interest   20,437,274    19,361,905 
           
Total Shareholders’ Equity   166,825,109    155,077,856 
           
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity  $517,736,018   $404,128,713 

  

See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

 

1

 

 

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)

 

   For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
   For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
                 
REVENUE  $15,448,083   $11,179,946   $56,218,216   $55,067,249 
                     
COST OF REVENUE   13,787,521    7,594,714    46,641,884    38,134,552 
                     
GROSS PROFIT   1,660,562    3,585,232    9,576,332    16,932,697 
                     
OPERATING EXPENSES:                    
Selling   1,333,927    650,786    3,282,097    1,895,991 
General and administrative   809,988    628,672    2,875,463    3,113,870 
General and administrative - depreciation   773,812    913,986    2,274,579    2,885,203 
Subsidy   (4,440,731)   (5,288,586)   (12,778,819)   (5,288,586)
Impairment loss   
-
    70,896    
-
    2,546,338 
(Gain) loss on fixed assets disposal   
-
    (1,777)   
-
    164,375 
                     
Total Operating Expenses   (1,523,004)   (3,026,023)   (4,346,680)   5,317,191 
                     
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS   3,183,566    6,611,255    13,923,012    11,615,506 
                     
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):                    
Interest income   973,265    6,131    3,335,877    26,420 
Interest expense   (4,036,524)   (776,569)   (9,871,949)   (2,903,816)
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)   747,678    (340,012)   402,987    (389,643)
Gain (loss) from cost method investment   764    (6,766)   133,517    340,885 
Loss on equity method investment   (82,586)   (96,129)   (351,129)   (477,972)
Other expense   (4,468)   (987,517)   (34,924)   (735,359)
                     
Total Other Expense, net   (2,401,871)   (2,200,862)   (6,385,621)   (4,139,485)
                     
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   781,695    4,410,393    7,537,391    7,476,021 
                     
INCOME TAXES   
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
 
                     
NET INCOME  $781,695   $4,410,393   $7,537,391   $7,476,021 
                     
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST   92,511    377,859    759,527    751,682 
                     
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE COMPANY  $689,184   $4,032,534   $6,777,864   $6,724,339 
                     
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):                    
NET INCOME   781,695    4,410,393    7,537,391    7,476,021 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)                    
Unrealized foreign currency translation gain (loss)   5,700,836    (4,674,763)   3,846,221    (4,842,207)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)  $6,482,531   $(264,370)  $11,383,612   $2,633,814 
LESS: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST   556,889    220,968    1,075,369    345,945 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)  ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE COMPANY  $5,925,642   $(485,338)  $10,308,243   $2,287,869 
                     
NET INCOME PER ORDINARY SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE COMPANY                    
Basic and diluted  $0.01   $0.05   $0.09   $0.09 
                     
WEIGHTED AVERAGE ORDINARY SHARES OUTSTANDING:                    
Basic and diluted   

79,071,363

    79,055,053    

79,060,490

    79,055,053 

 

See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

 

2

 

 

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 AND 2019

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)

 

   Equity Attributable To Owners of The Company         
                   Accumulated         
   Ordinary Shares   Additional           Other   Non-   Total 
   Number of       Paid-in   Retained   Statutory   Comprehensive   controlling   Shareholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Earnings   Reserve   Loss   Interest   Equity 
                                 
Balance, June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)   79,055,053   $79,055   $81,682,599   $60,375,134   $15,748,751   $(17,786,987)  $19,880,385   $159,978,937 
                                         
Net income   -    
-
    
-
    689,184    
-
    
-
    92,511    781,695 
                                         
Common stock issuance for professional fee   247,375    247    363,394    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    363,641 
                                         
Foreign currency translation adjustment   -    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    5,236,458    464,378    5,700,836 
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2020 (Unaudited)   79,302,428   $79,302   $82,045,993   $61,064,318   $15,748,751   $(12,550,529)  $20,437,274   $166,825,109 
                                         
Balance, June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)   79,055,053   $79,055   $81,682,599   $52,284,874   $14,760,112   $(13,576,052)  $19,226,706   $154,457,294 
                                         
Net income   -    
-
    
-
    4,032,534    
-
    
-
    377,859    4,410,393 
                                         
Foreign currency translation adjustment   -    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    (4,308,465)   (366,298)   (4,674,763)
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)   79,055,053   $79,055   $81,682,599   $56,317,408   $14,760,112   $(17,884,517)  $19,238,267   $154,192,924 

 

See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

 

3

 

  

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 AND 2019

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)

 

   Equity Attributable To Owners of The Company         
                   Accumulated         
   Ordinary Shares   Additional           Other   Non-   Total 
   Number of       Paid-in   Retained   Statutory   Comprehensive   controlling   Shareholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Earnings   Reserve   Loss   Interest   Equity 
                                 
Balance, December 31, 2019   79,055,053   $79,055   $81,682,599   $54,286,454   $15,748,751   $(16,080,908)  $19,361,905   $155,077,856 
                                         
Net income   -    
-
    
-
    6,777,864    
-
    
-
    759,527    7,537,391 
                                         
Common stock issuance for professional fee   247,375    247    363,394    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    363,641 
                                         
Foreign currency translation adjustment   -    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    3,530,379    315,842    3,846,221 
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2020 (Unaudited)   79,302,428   $79,302   $82,045,993   $61,064,318   $15,748,751   $(12,550,529)  $20,437,274   $166,825,109 
                                         
Balance, December 31, 2018   79,055,053   $79,055   $81,682,599   $49,593,069   $14,760,112   $(13,448,047)  $18,892,322   $151,559,110 
                                         
Net income   -    
-
    
-
    6,724,339    
-
    
-
    751,682    7,476,021 
                                         
Foreign currency translation adjustment   -    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    (4,436,470)   (405,737)   (4,842,207)
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)   79,055,053   $79,055   $81,682,599   $56,317,408   $14,760,112   $(17,884,517)  $19,238,267   $154,192,924 

 

See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

 

4

 

 

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)

  

   For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2020   2019 
         
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:        
Net income  $7,537,391   $7,476,021 
Adjustments to reconcile net income from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation   10,616,935    7,699,244 
Increase in allowance for doubtful accounts   245,498    13,247 
Increase (decrease) in reserve for inventories   1,711,666    (370,959)
Loss on equity method investment   351,129    477,972 
Common stock issuance for professional fee   25,974    
-
 
Loss on disposal of fixed assets   
-
    164,375 
Impairment loss of fishing vessels   
-
    2,533,091 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (5,191,192)   4,170,551 
Inventories   (35,027,650)   (15,713,023)
Prepaid expenses   (432,033)   (332,644)
Other receivables   (328,396)   114,731 
Other receivables - related party   
-
    (358,553)
Accounts payable   (4,641,514)   (3,965,580)
Accounts payable - related parties   218,739    (2,919,909)
Accrued liabilities and other payables   1,553,556    1,552,427 
Advance from customers   (619,235)   839,137 
Accrued liabilities and other payables - related party   
-
    (1,290)
Due to related parties   140,210    (9,432,979)
           
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES   (23,838,922)   (8,054,141)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Purchase of property, plant and equipment  (93,357,444)   (105,567,685)
Proceeds from government subsidies for fishing vessels construction   28,962,913    33,128,784 
           
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES   (64,394,531)   (72,438,901)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Proceeds from short-term bank loans   81,811,291    
 
 
Repayments of short-term bank loans   (42,908,020)   
-
 
Proceeds from long-term bank loans   104,640,414    163,551,743 
Repayments of long-term bank loans   (46,325,253)   (11,963,642)
Repayments to related parties   
-
    (10,111,087)
Loans issued to related parties   

(160,070,480

)   

(121,838,509

)
Repayments of loans issued to related parties   

157,692,576

   

80,170,667

           
NET CASH PROVIDED BY  FINANCING ACTIVITIES   94,840,528    99,809,172 
           
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH   935,670    (862,543)
           
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH   7,542,745    18,453,587 
           
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - beginning of period   10,092,205    1,966,855 
           
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED - end of period  $17,634,950   $20,420,442 
           
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:          
Cash paid for:          
Interest  $11,012,593   $10,382,198 
Income taxes  $
-
   $
-
 
           
RECONCILIATION TO AMOUNTS ON CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS:          
Cash and cash equivalents   3,397,018    20,420,442 
Restricted cash   14,237,932    
-
 
TOTAL CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH  $17,634,950   $20,420,442 
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Acquisition of property and equipment by decreasing prepayment for long-term assets  $(20,594,592)  $
-
 
Property and equipment acquired on credit as payable  $
    22,429,610 

 

See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

  

5

 

  

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION

 

Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. (the “Company” or “PME”), formerly China Growth Equity Investment Limited (“CGEI”), incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted limited liability company, was incorporated as a blank check company on January 18, 2010, with the purpose of directly or indirectly acquiring, through a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, plan of arrangement, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination, an operating business, or control of such operating business through contractual arrangements, that has its principal business and/or material operations located in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). In connection with its initial business combination, in February 2013, CGEI changed its name to Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd.

 

On October 24, 2012, CGEI and China Dredging Group Co., Ltd (“CDGC” or “China Dredging”) entered into a Merger Agreement providing for the combination of CGEI and CDGC and on October 24, 2012, CGEI also acquired all of the outstanding capital shares and other equity interests of Merchant Supreme Co., Ltd. (“Merchant Supreme”), a company incorporated on June 25, 2012, in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”), as per a Share Purchase Agreement. On February 25, 2013, the merger between the Company, CDGC and Merchant Supreme became effective and has been accounted for as a “reverse merger” and recapitalization since the common shareholders of CDGC and Merchant Supreme (i) owned a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares of the Company immediately following the completion of the transaction, and (ii) have significant influence and the ability to elect or appoint or to remove a majority of the members of the governing body of the combined entity. In accordance with the provision of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805-40, CDGC and Merchant Supreme are deemed the accounting acquirers and the Company is the legal acquirer in the transaction and, consequently, the transaction is treated as a recapitalization of the Company. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities and the historical operations that are reflected in the consolidated financial statements are those of CDGC, Merchant Supreme and their subsidiaries and are recorded at the historical cost basis. The Company’s assets, liabilities and results of operations were consolidated with the assets, liabilities and results of operations of CDGC, Merchant Supreme and their subsidiaries subsequent to the acquisition date of February 25, 2013. Following the completion of the business combination, which became effective on February 25, 2013, CDGC and Merchant Supreme became the wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. The Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, are listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “PME”. 

 

In order to place increased focus on the fishing business and pursue more effective growth opportunities, the Company decided to exit and sell the specialized dredging services operated by China Dredging. The Company completed the sale of CDGC and its subsidiaries on December 4, 2013.

 

On February 9, 2015, the Company terminated its existing Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) agreements, pursuant to an Agreement of Termination dated February 9, 2015, entered into by and among Ms. Honghong Zhuo, Mr. Zhiyan Lin (each a shareholder of Fujian Provincial Pingtan County Ocean Fishing Group Co., Ltd (“Pingtan Fishing”), and together the “Pingtan Fishing’s Shareholders”), Pingtan Fishing and Pingtan Guansheng Ocean Fishing Co., Ltd. (“Pingtan Guansheng”). On February 9, 2015, the Pingtan Fishing’s Shareholders transferred 100% of their equity interest in Pingtan Fishing to Fujian Heyue Marine Fishing Development Co., Ltd. (“Fujian Heyue”), pursuant to an Equity Transfer Agreement dated February 9, 2015, entered into by and among the Pingtan Fishing’s Shareholders, Pingtan Fishing and Fujian Heyue. On February 15, 2015, China Agriculture Industry Development Fund Co., Ltd. (“China Agriculture”) invested Chinese Renmibi (“RMB”) 400 million (approximately $65 million) into Pingtan Fishing for an 8% equity interest in Pingtan Fishing. After the restructuring transactions described above, Pingtan Fishing and its entities became the 92% equity-owned subsidiaries of the Company and was no longer a VIE.

 

6

 

  

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION (continued)

 

Details of the Company’s subsidiaries, which are included in these consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2020, are as follows:

 

Name of subsidiaries   Place and date
of incorporation
  Percentage of
ownership
  Principal activities
Merchant Supreme Co., Ltd.
(“Merchant Supreme”)
  BVI,
June 25, 2012
  100% held by PME   Intermediate holding company
             
Prime Cheer Corporation Ltd.
(“Prime Cheer”)
  Hong Kong,
May 3, 2012
  100% held by Merchant Supreme   Intermediate holding company
             
Pingtan Guansheng Ocean Fishing Co., Ltd.
(“Pingtan Guansheng”)
  PRC,
October 12, 2012
  100% held by Prime Cheer   Intermediate holding company
             
Fujian Heyue Marine Fishing Development Co., Ltd.
(“Fujian Heyue”)
  PRC,
January 27, 2015
  100% held by Pingtan Guansheng   Intermediate holding company
             
Fujian Provincial Pingtan County Fishing Group Co., Ltd.
(“Pingtan Fishing”)
  PRC,
February 27, 1998
  92% held by Fujian Heyue   Oceanic fishing
             
Pingtan Dingxin Fishing Information Consulting Co., Ltd.
(“Pingtan Dingxin”)
  PRC,
October 23, 2012
  100% held by Pingtan Fishing   Dormant
             
Pingtan Yikang Global Fishery Co., Ltd.
(“Yikang Fishery”)
  PRC,
September 14, 2017
  100% held by Pingtan Fishing   Dormant
             
Pingtan Shinsilkroad Fishery Co., Ltd.
(“Shinsilkroad Fishery”)
  PRC,
September 14, 2017
  100% held by Pingtan Fishing   Dormant
             
Fuzhou Howcious Investment Co., Ltd
(“Howcious Investment”)
  PRC,
September 5, 2017
  100% held by Pingtan Fishing   Dormant
             
             
Pingtan Ocean Fishery Co., Ltd
(“Ocean Fishery”)
  PRC,
July 21, 2017
  100% held by Pingtan Fishing   Dormant

 

7

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION (continued)

  

Fujian Heyue, through its PRC subsidiary, Pingtan Fishing, engages in ocean fishing with its owned and controlled vessels within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (“EEZ”), the international waters and Arafura Sea of Indonesia.

 

The Company had a working capital of $4,416,384 as of September 30, 2020. In order to mitigate its liquidity risk, the Company plans to rely on the proceeds from loans from banks and/or financial institutions to increase working capital in order to meet capital demands, and the government subsidies for modification and rebuilding project and reimbursement of certain operating expenses. In addition, Mr. Zhuo, the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, will continue to provide financial support to the Company when necessary.

 

The Company meets its day-to-day working capital requirements through cash flow provided by operations, bank loans and related parties’ advances. The Indonesian government’s moratorium on fishing licenses renewals creates uncertainty over fishing operations in Indonesian waters. The Company’s forecasts and projections show that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence to meet its obligations in the twelve months following the date of this filing, considering operations in Indian waters and international waters and consideration of opportunities in new fishing territories. Also, in the past two years, the Company has upgraded 71 fishing vessels and the deployment of these vessels into operation will generate more revenue and cash inflows to the Company. In addition, the Company receives subsidies for modification and rebuilding projects and is reimbursed for certain operating expenses from government entities, as an encouragement of the development of ocean fishing industry.

 

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) surfaced in the PRC. In reaction to this outbreak, many provinces and municipalities in the PRC activated the highest Level-I Response to the emergency public health incident. As a result, business activities in the PRC were significantly affected.

 

Emergency quarantine measures and travel restrictions have had a significant impact on many sectors across the PRC, which has also adversely affected the Company’s operations. To reduce the impact on its production and operation, the Company implemented certain safety measures to allow them to gradually resume work in mid-February. For the employees who left Fuzhou during the Spring Festival holiday and could not return to Fuzhou as scheduled, or those who could only resume work after satisfying the 14-day quarantine requirement, the Company provided paid leave. Since resuming work in mid-February, the Company has been using a shift system and adopted additional health and safety procedures to protect their employees. With these measures, the Company was able to maintain sales and operations from mid-February to mid-March. On March 23, 2020, the Company resumed normal operations and is conducting business as usual with health and safety procedures to protect employees. Management is focused on mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on the Company’s business operations while protecting the employees’ health and safety. The Company will continue to actively monitor the situation and may take further actions that alter the business operations, as may be required by local authorities, or that the Company determines are in the best interests of its employees, customers, partners, suppliers and other stakeholders. 

 

Some of the Company’s customers are fish processing plants that export processed fish products to foreign countries. These customers reduced or postponed their purchases from the Company in the initial stage of the pandemic, but since the middle of the second quarter, they have adjusted their business strategies in relation to exportation or domestic sale Because of the reduction or postponement, our unit selling price decreased, our inventory levels increased and our accounts receivables were not timely paid as anticipated. 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause major disruptions to businesses and markets worldwide as the virus spreads or a resurgence in certain jurisdictions. The effects of the outbreak are still evolving, and the ultimate severity and duration of the pandemic and the implications on global economic conditions remains uncertain. Therefore, the extent of the impact of the pandemic on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations is still highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, such as the ultimate duration and scope of the outbreak, its impact on the Company’s customers and exporters, how quickly normal economic conditions, operations, and the demand for the Company’s products can resume and whether the pandemic leads to recessionary conditions in the PRC.

 

While the Company anticipates that its results of operations will continue to be impacted by this pandemic in the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the extent of the impact on its full-year results of operations, its liquidity or its overall financial position.

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of presentation

 

These interim consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) and disclosures necessary for a fair presentation of these interim consolidated financial statements have been included. The results reported in the unaudited consolidated financial statements for any interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be reported for the entire year. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).

 

The Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

8

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements as of that date. Because certain information and footnote disclosures have been condensed or omitted, these consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 contained in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “2019 Form 10-K”).

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of the unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and the related disclosures at the date of the financial statements and during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates. Significant estimates in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 include allowance for doubtful accounts, reserve for inventories, the useful life of property, plant and equipment, assumptions used in assessing impairment of long-term assets and valuation of deferred tax assets and accruals for taxes due.

 

Cash

 

Cash consists of cash on hand and cash in banks. The Company maintains cash with various financial institutions in the PRC and Hong Kong and none of these deposits are covered by insurance. At September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, cash balances in the PRC were $3,299,916 and $9,971,626, respectively, and cash balances in Hong Kong were $97,102 and $120,579, respectively, and are uninsured. The Company has not experienced any losses in bank accounts and believes it is not exposed to any risks on its cash in bank accounts.

 

Restricted cash

 

Restricted cash consists of cash deposits held by the Export Import Bank of China to secure its bank loans, the bank loans of Hong Long and Global Deep Ocean. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, restricted cash amounted to $14,237,932 and nil, respectively.

 

Fair value of financial instruments

 

The Company adopted the guidance of ASC Topic 820 for fair value measurements which clarifies the definition of fair value, prescribes methods for measuring fair value, and establishes a fair value hierarchy to classify the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

 

Level 1-Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities available at the measurement date.

 

Level 2-Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

 

Level 3-Inputs are unobservable inputs which reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions on what assumptions the market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best available information.

 

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, inventories, advances to suppliers, prepaid expenses, prepaid expenses – related party, other receivables, other receivables – related party, accounts payable, accounts payable – related parties, short-term bank loans, accrued liabilities and other payables, accrued liabilities and other payables – related party, and due to related parties approximate their fair market value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s long-term bank loans under its agreements approximates its carrying value at September 30, 2020. The fair value of the Company’s long-term bank loans under its agreements were estimated using Level 2 inputs based on market data. As of September 30, 2020, the Company does not have any assets or liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis at fair value.

  

ASC Topic 825-10 “Financial Instruments” allows entities to voluntarily choose to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value (fair value option). The fair value option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable, unless a new election date occurs. If the fair value option is elected for an instrument, unrealized gains and losses for that instrument should be reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The Company did not elect to apply the fair value option to any outstanding instruments.

 

9

 

  

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Accounts receivable

 

Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses. The Company reviews the accounts receivable on a periodic basis and makes general and specific allowance when there is doubt as to the collectability of individual balances. In evaluating the collectability of individual receivable balance, the Company considers many factors, including the age of the balance, a customer’s historical payment history, its current credit-worthiness and current economic trends. Accounts are written off after exhaustive efforts at collection. The Company only grants credit terms to established customers who are deemed to be financially responsible. Credit periods to customers are within 180 days after customers received the purchased goods. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company established, based on a review of its outstanding balances, an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $260,199 and $7,960, respectively. 

 

Inventories

 

Inventories, consisting of frozen fish and marine catches, are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value utilizing the weighted average method. The cost of inventories is primarily comprised of fuel, freight, depreciation, direct labor, consumables, government levied charges and taxes. Consumables include fishing nets and metal containers used by fishing vessels. The Company’s fishing fleets in Indian waters and the international waters operate throughout the year, although the May to July period demonstrates lower catch quantities compared to the October to January period, which is the peak season.

 

A reserve is established when management determines that certain inventories may not be saleable. If inventory costs exceed net realizable value due to obsolescence or quantities in excess of expected demand, the Company will record a reserve for the difference between the cost and the market value. These reserves are recorded based on estimates. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company recorded a reserve for inventories in the amount of $2,030,213 and $266,405, respectively.

 

When recorded, inventory reserves are intended to reduce the carrying value of inventories to their net realizable value. The Company regularly evaluates its ability to realize the value of inventories based on a combination of factors including the following: forecasted sales and estimated current and future market value.

 

Fishing licenses

 

Each of the Company’s fishing vessels requires an approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the PRC (“MARA”) to carry out ocean fishing projects in international waters and foreign territories, and to the extent required, a fishing license in local fishing territory where the vessel operates. These approvals are valid for a period from 3 to 12 months and are awarded to the Company at no cost. The Company applies for the renewal of the license prior to expiration to avoid interruptions of fishing vessels’ operations. Since 2014 there has been a moratorium on fishing in Indonesian waters. Each of our fishing vessels operating in Indonesian waters requires a fishing license granted by the authority in Indonesia.

 

Investment in unconsolidated company – Global Deep Ocean

 

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for its investment in, and earning or loss of, companies that it does not control but over which it does exert significant influence. The Company considers whether the fair value of its equity method investment has declined below its carrying value whenever adverse events or changes in circumstances indicate that recorded value may not be recoverable. The Company reviews its investments for other-than-temporary impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the investment may not be fully recoverable. Investments identified as having an indication of impairment are subject to further analysis to determine if the impairment is other-than-temporary and this analysis requires estimating the fair value of the investment. The determination of fair value of the investment involves considering factors such as current economic and market conditions, the operating performance of the entities including current earnings trends and forecasted cash flows, and other company and industry specific information. If the Company considers any decline to be other than temporary (based on various factors, including historical financial results and the overall health of the investee), then a write-down would be recorded to estimated fair value. See Note 6 for discussion of equity method investment. 

 

10

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The cost of repairs and maintenance is expensed as incurred; major replacements and improvements are capitalized. When assets are retired or disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gains or losses are included in income in the year of disposition. The Company examines the possibility of decreases in the value of fixed assets when events or changes in circumstances reflect the fact that their recorded value may not be recoverable.

 

The estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows:

 

   Estimated useful life
Fishing vessels  10 - 20 Years
Vehicles  5 Years
Office and other equipment  3 - 5 Years

 

Expenditures for repairs and maintenance, which do not extend the useful life of the assets, are expensed as incurred.

 

Capitalized interest

 

Interest associated with the construction of fishing vessels is capitalized and included in the cost of the fishing vessels. When no debt is incurred specifically for the construction of a fishing vessel, interest is capitalized on amounts expended on the construction using the weighted-average cost of the Company’s outstanding borrowings. Capitalization of interest ceases when the construction is substantially complete or the construction activity is suspended for more than a brief period. The Company capitalized interest of $183,747 and $213,514 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, in the fishing vessels under construction. The Company capitalized interest of $1,192,672 and $321,333 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, in the fishing vessels under construction.

  

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

In accordance with ASC Topic 360, the Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company evaluates the impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to an estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount of the long-lived assets over their fair value. Impairment loss represents the impairment loss on the vessels whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets might not be recovered. The Company recognized impairment loss of nil and $70,896 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recognized impairment loss of nil and $2,546,338 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company dismantled 1 transport vessel and deregistered 6 fishing vessels and applied to the MARA for rebuilding 7 new vessels. As a result of the rebuilding projects, the Company assessed the recoverability of the 7 fishing vessels based on the undiscounted future cash flow that the fishing vessels are expected to generate as less than the carrying amount, and recognized an impairment loss.

 

Revenue recognition

 

The Company catches different species of fish, ships them back to the PRC and sells the catches to distributors and retailers by acting as a wholesaler. Marine catch is the Company’s one and only product line. The product type, contractual price and quantities are identified in contracts. The Company does not offer promotional payments, customer coupons, rebates or other cash redemption offers to its customers, and the Company does not accept returns from customers. The Company’s revenues are recorded at a point in time. All of the operations are considered by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment and the Company’s revenue is disaggregated by product type in terms of species of fish sold pursuant to ASC Topic 606-10-55-91(a). 

 

The Company’s revenue is generated from the sale of frozen fish and other marine catches. The Company recognizes revenue at the amount the Company expects to be entitled to be paid, determined when control of the products is transferred to its customers, which occurs upon delivery of and acceptance of the frozen fish by the customer and the Company has a right to receive payment. 

 

The Company has identified one performance obligation as when the frozen fish and other marine catches identified in the contract are picked up by the customers at cold storage warehouse, with revenue being recognized at a point in time. The Company initially recognizes revenue in an amount which is estimated based on contractual prices. The receivables under contracts, whereby pricing is based on contractual prices, are primarily collected within 180 days of completion of its performance obligation. 

 

11

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Revenue recognition (continued)

 

Disaggregation of revenue

 

The following tables disaggregate revenues under ASC Topic 606 by species of fish: For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, our revenue by species of fish was as follows (dollars in thousands, except for average price):

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 
   Revenue   Volume
(KG)
   Average
price
   Percentage
of revenue
 
Indian Ocean squid  $6,071    7,285,134   $0.83    39.3%
Peru squid   4,685    3,382,517    1.39    30.3%
Chub mackerel   981    1,030,773    0.95    6.4%
Tuna   662    184,867    3.58    4.3%
Sardine   649    1,743,914    0.37    4.2%
Others   2,400    1,070,101    2.24    15.5%
Total  $15,448    14,697,306   $1.05    100.0%

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 
   Revenue   Volume
(KG)
   Average
price
   Percentage
of revenue
 
Indian Ocean squid  $8,955    8,009,340   $1.12    80.1%
Cuttle fish   1,108    236,260    4.69    9.9%
Argentina squid(whole)   455    110,726    4.11    4.0%
Croaker fish   342    165,223    2.07    3.1%
Ribbon fish   18    5,490    3.28    0.2%
Others   302    154,428    1.96    2.7%
Total  $11,180    8,681,467   $1.29    100.0%

 

The following tables disaggregate revenues under ASC Topic 606 by species of fish: For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, our revenue by species of fish was as follows (dollars in thousands, except for average price):

 

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 
   Revenue   Volume
(KG)
   Average
price
   Percentage
of revenue
 
Indian Ocean squid  $25,892    30,557,785   $0.85    46.1%
Peru squid   9,523    6,436,282    1.48    16.9%
Chub mackerel   4,996    5,585,977    0.89    8.9%
Cuttle fish   4,554    1,024,960    4.44    8.1%
Croaker fish   3,367    1,861,511    1.81    6.0%
Others   7,886    4,524,509    1.74    14.0%
Total  $56,218    49,991,024   $1.12    100.0%

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 
   Revenue   Volume
(KG)
   Average
price
   Percentage
of revenue
 
Indian Ocean squid  $26,771    24,006,371   $1.12    48.6%
Ribbon fish   5,968    1,819,792    3.28    10.8%
Argentina squid(whole)   4,234    1,000,671    4.23    7.7%
Croaker fish   3,566    1,631,723    2.19    6.5%
Cuttle fish   3,565    681,619    5.23    6.5%
Others   10,963    3,712,634    2.95    19.9%
Total  $55,067    32,852,810   $1.68    100.0%

 

12

 

 

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Government subsidies

 

Government subsidies are recognized when there is reasonable assurance that the subsidy will be received and all attaching conditions will be satisfied. When the subsidy relates to an expense item, it is recognized as income over the periods necessary to match the subsidy, on a systematic basis, to the costs that it is intended to compensate. Where the subsidy relates to an asset, it is credited to the cost of the asset and is released to the income statement over the expected useful life in a consistent manner with the depreciation method for the relevant asset.

 

Income taxes

 

Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, the Company and Merchant Supreme are not subject to any income or capital gains tax, and dividend payments that the Company may make are not subject to any withholding tax in the Cayman Islands or British Virgin Islands. Under the current laws of Hong Kong, Prime Cheer is not subject to any capital gains tax and dividend payments are not subject to any withholding tax in Hong Kong.

 

The Company is not incorporated nor does it engage in any trade or business in the United States and is not subject to United States federal income taxes. The Company did not derive any significant amount of income subject to such taxes and accordingly, no relevant tax provision is made in the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). 

 

The Company’s subsidiary, Pingtan Fishing, is a qualified ocean fishing enterprise certified by the MARA. The qualification renews on April 1 of each year. Pingtan Fishing is exempt from income tax derived from its ocean fishing operations in the periods it processes a valid Ocean Fishing Enterprise Qualification Certificate issued by the MARA. 

 

The China’s Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT Law”), which went into effect on January 1, 2018, also provides that an enterprise established under the laws of foreign countries or regions but whose “de facto management body” is located in the PRC be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes and consequently be subject to the PRC income tax at the rate of 25% for its worldwide income. The Implementing Rules of the new EIT Law merely define the location of the “de facto management body” as “the place where the exercising, in substance, of the overall management and control of the production and business operation, personnel, accounting, properties, etc., of a non-PRC company is located.” On April 22, 2009, the PRC State Administration of Taxation further issued a notice entitled “Notice Regarding Recognizing Offshore-Established Enterprises Controlled by PRC Shareholders as Resident Enterprises Based on Their Place of Effective Management.” Under this notice, a foreign company controlled by a PRC company or a group of PRC companies shall be deemed as a PRC resident enterprise if (i) the senior management and the core management departments in charge of its daily operations mainly function in the PRC; (ii) its financial decisions and human resource decisions are subject to decisions or approvals of persons or institutions in the PRC; (iii) its major assets, accounting books, company seals, minutes and files of board meetings and shareholders’ meetings are located or kept in the PRC; and (iv) more than half of the directors or senior management personnel with voting rights reside in the PRC. Based on a review of surrounding facts and circumstances, the Company does not believe that it is likely that its operations outside of the PRC should be considered a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, due to limited guidance and implementation history of the EIT Law, should the Company be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes, the Company will be subject to PRC tax on worldwide income at a uniform tax rate of 25% retroactive to May 3, 2012. 

 

In addition, Pingtan Fishing is not subject to foreign income taxes for its operations in either India or Indonesia Exclusive Economic Zones or the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission areas. 

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be effective when the differences are expected to reverse. 

 

13

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Income taxes (continued)

 

Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent that management concludes it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

The Company prescribes a more-likely-than-not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken in the tax return. This interpretation also provides guidance on de-recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods and income tax disclosures. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there were no amounts that had been accrued with respect to uncertain tax positions. 

 

Shipping and handling costs

 

Shipping and handling costs are included in selling expense and amounted to $35,397 and $147,926 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Shipping and handling costs amounted to $356,490 and $361,504 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Employee benefits

 

The Company makes mandatory contributions to the PRC government’s health, retirement benefit and unemployment funds in accordance with the relevant Chinese social security laws. The costs of these payments are charged to the same accounts as the related salary costs in the same period as the related salary costs incurred. Employee benefit costs amounted to $606,825 and $474,130 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Employee benefit costs amounted to $1,795,348 and $1,690,484 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

14

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Foreign currency translation

 

The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Company and Merchant Supreme and Prime Cheer, the Company’s subsidiaries, is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of Pingtan Guansheng, Fujian Heyue and Pingtan Fishing, the Company’s subsidiaries, is the RMB. For the Company’s subsidiaries Pingtan Guansheng, Fujian Heyue and Pingtan Fishing, whose functional currencies are the RMB, results of operations and cash flows are translated at average exchange rates during the period, assets and liabilities are translated at the unified exchange rate at the end of the period, and equity is translated at historical exchange rates. As a result, amounts relating to assets and liabilities reported on the statements of cash flows may not necessarily agree with the changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets. Translation adjustments resulting from the process of translating the local currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in determining comprehensive income. The cumulative translation adjustment and effect of exchange rate changes on cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $935,670 and $(862,543), respectively. Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing on the transaction dates. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date and any transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred.

 

All of the Company’s revenue transactions are transacted in the functional currency of the operating subsidiaries. The Company does not enter into any material transactions in foreign currencies. Transaction gains or losses have not had, and are not expected to have, a material effect on the results of operations of the Company.

 

Asset and liability accounts at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were translated at 6.8101 RMB to $1.00 and at 7.0729 RMB to $1.00, respectively, which were the exchange rates on the balance sheet dates. Equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied to the statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were 6.9917 RMB to $1.00 and 6.8541 RMB to $1.00, respectively. Cash flows from the Company’s operations are calculated based upon the local currencies using the average translation rate.

 

Earnings per share

 

ASC Topic 260 “Earnings per Share,” requires presentation of both basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) with a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic EPS computation to the numerator and denominator of the diluted EPS computation. Basic EPS excludes dilution. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity.

 

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of ordinary shares, ordinary share equivalents and potentially dilutive securities outstanding during each period. Potentially dilutive ordinary shares consist of the ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of ordinary share warrants (using the treasury stock method). Ordinary share equivalents are not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share if their effect would be anti-dilutive. In a period in which the Company has a net loss, all potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation of diluted shares outstanding as they would have had an anti-dilutive impact. The following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted net income per share: 

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
Net income available to owners of the company for basic and diluted net income per share of ordinary stock  $689,184   $4,032,534   $6,777,864   $6,724,339 
Weighted average ordinary stock outstanding - basic and diluted   79,071,363    79,055,053    79,060,490    79,055,053 
Net income per ordinary share attributable to owners of the Company - basic and diluted  $0.01   $0.05   $0.09   $0.09 

 

15

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Non-controlling interest

 

On February 15, 2015, China Agriculture invested RMB 400 million (approximately $65 million) into Pingtan Fishing and acquired an 8% equity interest in Pingtan Fishing. As of September 30, 2020, China Agriculture owned 8% of the equity interest of Pingtan Fishing, which was not under the Company’s control.

 

Related parties

 

Parties are considered to be related to the Company if the parties, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, control, are controlled by, or are under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and other parties with which the Company may deal with if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. The Company discloses all significant related party transactions. 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income and all changes to the statements of stockholders’ equity, except those due to investments by stockholders, changes in paid-in capital and distributions to stockholders. For the Company, comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 included net income and unrealized gain from foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

Segment information

 

ASC Topic 280 “Segment reporting” establishes standards for reporting information on operating segments in interim and annual financial statements. All of the Company’s operations are considered by the chief operating decision maker to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment. All of the Company’s customers are in the PRC and all income is derived from ocean fishery.

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to contingencies, including legal proceedings and environmental claims, arising out of the normal course of businesses that relate to a wide range of matters, including among others, liability for breaches of contracts. The Company records accruals for such contingencies based upon the assessment of the probability of occurrence and, where determinable, an estimate of the liability. Management may consider many factors in making these assessments, including historical operations, scientific evidence and the specifics of each matter.

 

The Company’s management has evaluated all such proceedings and claims that existed as of September 30, 2020. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

  

Concentrations of credit, economic and political risks

 

The Company’s operations are carried out in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environment in the PRC, and by the general state of the PRC’s economy. The Company’s operation in the PRC is subject to special considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in North America and Western Europe. These include risks associated with, among others, the political, economic and legal environment and foreign currency exchange. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by changes in the political and social conditions in the PRC, and by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion, remittances aboard, and rates and methods of taxation, among other things. 

 

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and trade accounts receivable. All of the Company’s cash is maintained with state-owned banks within the PRC and Hong Kong, and none of these deposits are covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. A portion of the Company’s sales are credit sales which are primarily to customers whose abilities to pay are dependent upon the industry economics prevailing in these areas; however, concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivables is limited due to generally short payment terms. The Company also performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers to help further reduce credit risk. 

 

16

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Concentrations of credit, economic and political risks (continued)

 

According to the sale agreement signed on December 4, 2013, the Company does not own 20 fishing vessels but has the operating rights to operate these vessels which are owned by a related company, Fuzhou Hong Long Ocean Fishery Co., Ltd (“Hong Long”) and the Company is entitled to 100% of the net profit (loss) of the vessels. The Company has latitude in establishing price and discretion in supplier selection. There were no economic risks associated with the operating rights but the Company may need to bear the operation risks and credit risks as aforementioned.

 

As the Company has historically derived the majority of its revenue from Indonesian waters, the suspension of fishing operations in this area has had and will continue to have a significant negative impact on the Company. 

 

Recent Adopted Accounting Standards

 

Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases (“ASU 2018-10”) and ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements (“ASU 2018-11”). The amendments in ASU 2018-10 affect only narrow aspects of the guidance issued in the amendments in ASU 2016-02, including but not limited to lease residual value guarantee, rate implicit in the lease and lease term and purchase option. The amendments in ASU 2018-11 provide an optional transition method for adoption of the new standard, which will allow entities to continue to apply the legacy guidance in ASC Topic 840, including its disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption.

 

Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective approach and implemented internal controls to enable the preparation of financial information upon adoption. We elected to adopt both the transition relief provided in ASU 2018-11 and the package of practical expedients which allowed us, among other things, to retain historical lease classifications and accounting for any leases that existed prior to adoption of the standard. Additionally, we elected the practical expedients allowing us not to separate lease and non-lease components and not record leases with an initial term of twelve months or less (“short-term leases”) on the balance sheet across all existing asset classes. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of right use asset and lease liability of $0.77 million as of January 1, 2019, which primarily relates to our corporate office leases. The standard did not materially impact our condensed consolidated statements of operations or cash flows. Adopting the new standard did not have a material impact on the accounting for leases under which we are the lessee. 

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” This standard eliminates the current requirement to disclose the amount or reason for transfers between level 1 and level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and the requirement to disclose the valuation methodology for level 3 fair value measurements. The standard includes additional disclosure requirements for level 3 fair value measurements, including the requirement to disclose the changes in unrealized gains and losses in other comprehensive income during the period and permits the disclosure of other relevant quantitative information for certain unobservable inputs. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. We applied the new standard beginning January 1, 2020. 

 

Recent accounting pronouncements

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”, which will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology with an expected credit loss model for which a company recognizes an allowance based on the estimate of expected credit loss. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10. Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates, finalizes effective date delays for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and certain smaller reporting companies applying the credit losses, leases, and hedging standards. The effective date for SEC filers, excluding smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC, remains as fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The new effective date for all other entities is fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements. 

 

17

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 3 – ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, accounts receivable consisted of the following:

 

   September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
 
Accounts receivable  $14,837,404   $9,281,406 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts   (260,199)   (7,960)
   $14,577,205   $9,273,446 

 

The Company reviews the accounts receivable on a periodic basis and makes general and specific allowance when there is doubt as to the collectability of an individual balance. 

 

NOTE 4 – INVENTORIES

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, inventories consisted of the following: 

 

   September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
 
Frozen fish and marine catches work in progress  $20,802,604   $25,401,843 
Frozen fish and marine catches in transit   20,726,990    3,459,004 
Frozen fish and marine catches in warehouse   25,977,349    1,933,310 
    67,506,943    30,794,157 
Less: reserve for inventories   (2,030,213)   (266,405)
   $65,476,730   $30,527,752 

 

Frozen fish and marine catches work in progress represent fish inventory in vessels’ refrigerators, which has not been delivered to ports in the PRC, nor applied for duty-exemption import into the PRC.

 

Frozen fish and marine catches in transit represent fish inventory that obtained duty-exemption import permission and is in the process of being shipped to the PRC.

 

Frozen fish and marine catches in warehouse represent fish inventory in cold storage warehouses located in the PRC.

 

As of September 30, 2020, our total inventory balance was $65,476,730 compared to $30,527,752 as of December 31, 2019. The change in the balance is mainly attributable to an increase in frozen fish and marine catches in warehouse by $24.04 million and an increase in frozen fish and marine catches in transit by $17.27 million, a large portion of which was booked as frozen fish and marine catches work in progress as of December 31, 2019.

 

A reserve is established when management determines that certain inventories may not be saleable. If inventory costs exceed expected market value due to obsolescence or quantities in excess of expected demand, the Company will record a reserve for the difference between the cost and the market value. These reserves are recorded based on estimates.

 

18

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 5 – COST METHOD INVESTMENT

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, cost method investment amounted to $3,083,655 and $3,010,235, respectively. The investment represents Pingtan Fishing’s, the Company’s subsidiary, minority interest in Fujian Pingtan Rural-Commercial Bank Joint-Stock Co., Ltd. (“Pingtan Rural-Commercial Bank”), a private financial institution. Pingtan Fishing completed its registration as a shareholder on October 17, 2012 and paid RMB 21 million (approximately $3.0 million) to purchase 5% of the common stock of Pingtan Rural-Commercial Bank. Pingtan Fishing held 15,113,250 shares and accounted for 4.8% investment in the total equity investment of the bank as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

 

In according to ASC Topic 321, the Company elected to use the measurement alternative to measure such investments at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer, if any. The Company monitors its investment in the non-marketable security and will recognize, if ever existing, a loss in value which is deemed to be other than temporary. The Company determined that there was no impairment on this investment as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

 

NOTE 6 – EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, equity method investment amounted to $28,244,032 and $27,923,464, respectively. The investment represents the Company’s subsidiary, Pingtan Fishing’s interest in Global Deep Ocean. On June 12, 2014, Pingtan Fishing incorporated Global Deep Ocean with other two unrelated companies in PRC. In April 2017, these two companies sold their shares to another unrelated party, Zhen Lin. On September 3, 2020, Zhen Lin sold his shares to Fujian Xinqiao Agricultural Development Group Co., Ltd. As of September 30, 2020, Pingtan Fishing and Fujian Xinqiao Agricultural Development Group Co., Ltd. accounted for 20% and 80% of the total ownership, respectively.

 

Global Deep Ocean will process, cold storage, and transport Deep Ocean fishing products. Total registered capital of Global Deep Ocean is RMB 1 billion (approximately $146.8 million) and as of September 30, 2020, Pingtan Fishing had contributed its share of registered capital of RMB 200 million (approximately $29.4 million).

 

The Company treats the equity investment in the consolidated financial statements under the equity method. Under the equity method, the investment is initially recorded at cost, adjusted for any excess of the Company’s share of the incorporated-date fair values of the investee’s identifiable net assets over the cost of the investment (if any). Thereafter, the investment is adjusted for the post incorporation change in the Company’s share of the investee’s net assets and any impairment loss relating to the investment. For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s share of Global Deep Ocean’s net loss was $82,586 and $126,848, respectively, which was included in loss on equity method investment in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s share of Global Deep Ocean’s net loss was $351,129 and $364,676, respectively, which was included in loss on equity method investment in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

 

NOTE 7 – PREPAYMENT FOR LONG-TERM ASSETS

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, prepayment for long-term assets consisted of prepayment for fishing vessels’ construction. The Company reclassifies the prepayment for fishing vessels’ construction to construction-in-progress using the percentage of completion method. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company reclassified RMB 484,970,792 (approximately $69.4 million) from prepayment for long-term assets to construction-in-progress.

 

19

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

  

NOTE 7 – PREPAYMENT FOR LONG-TERM ASSETS (continued)

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a summary of activities in prepayment for long-term assets was as follows:

 

   Prepayment for fishing vessels’ construction 
Balance - December 31, 2019  $49,040,338 
Prepayments made for fishing vessels’ construction   89,958,093 
Reclassification to construction-in-progress   (69,363,787)
Foreign currency fluctuation   1,745,573 
Balance – September 30, 2020  $71,380,217 

  

NOTE 8 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:

 

   Useful life  September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
 
Fishing vessels  10 - 20 Years  $333,847,113   $304,619,431 
Vehicles  5 Years   22,359    21,826 
Office and other equipment  3 – 5 Years   467,643    427,154 
Construction-in-progress  -   22,495,143    
-
 
       356,832,258    305,068,411 
Less: accumulated depreciation      (57,663,190)   (45,690,682)
      $299,169,068   $259,377,729 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company received a government subsidy for 30 completed fishing vessels that amounted to RMB 202.5 million (approximately $29.0 million). The subsidy is related to assets, which requires deducting it from the carrying amount of the asset.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, depreciation expense amounted to $3,944,203 and $2,627,985, respectively, of which $3,170,392 and $1,713,999, respectively, was included in cost of revenue and inventories, and the remainder was included in general and administrative expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, depreciation expense amounted to $10,616,935 and $7,699,244, of which $8,342,357 and $4,814,041, respectively, was included in cost of revenue and inventories, and the remainder was included in general and administrative expense, respectively.

 

The Company had 70 fishing vessels at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, with net carrying amount of approximately $158.7 million and $190.8 million, respectively, pledged as collateral for its bank loans.

 

Included in construction-in-progress are fishing vessels under construction, which includes the costs of construction and any interest charges arising from borrowings used to finance these assets during the period of construction of the assets. No provision for depreciation is made on fishing vessels under construction until such time as the relevant assets are completed and ready for their intended use.  

 

The Company recognized impairment loss of nil and $70,896 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company dismantled 1 transport vessel and deregistered 6 fishing vessels and applied to the MARA for rebuilding 7 new vessels. As a result of the rebuilding projects, the Company assessed the recoverability of the 7 fishing vessels based on the undiscounted future cash flow that the fishing vessels are expected to generate as less than the carrying amount, and recognized an impairment loss. The Company recognized impairment loss of nil and $2,546,338 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

37 vessels in Indonesian waters, are not in operation because the licenses are currently inactive due to a moratorium. The Indonesian government issued a moratorium on fishing license renewals in 2014 that has had and will continue to have a significant negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition. The net carrying amount of the 37 vessels were approximately $26.6 million at September 30, 2020. Given the impact of the moratorium, the Company assessed the recoverability of these 37 vessels for the nine months ended 2020 and 2019 based on the undiscounted future cash flows, these vessels being available for fishing in other fisheries by redeployment, the relevant operation data of the Company’s comparable vessels, and upgrading and improvement costs based on the Company’s historical experience. As of the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the payback period used in the undiscounted cash flow analysis used in the recoverability assessment is less than its remaining useful life and the carrying value of the fishing vessels are expected to be recoverable. Therefore, no impairment loss was recognized.

 

20

 

    

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 9 – RELATED PARTIES TRANSACTIONS

 

Due from related party

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the due from related party amount consisted of the following:

 

   September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
 
Due from related party-Hong Long  $15,223,427   $12,477,777 

 

Due from related party-Hong Long will be repaid in the following installments, with an annual interest rate of 4.35%, guaranteed by two land use rights owned jointly by two companies controlled by Zhuo's family.

 

The installments due from related party-Hong Long are as follows:

 

Before  Installments 
October 20, 2020  $14,684,072 
December 20, 2020   539,355 
Total  $15,223,427 

   

During the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company received repayment of Hong Long amounted to $66.4 million according to the previous installments schedule. From October 1, 2020 to November 6, 2020, the Company received repayment of Hong Long amounted to $14.0 million.

 

Accounts payable - related parties

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, accounts payable - related parties consisted of the following:

 

Name of related party  September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
 
Hong Long (1)  $288,371   $270,230 
Huna Lin   1,685,057    1,436,987 
   $1,973,428   $1,707,217 

 

(1) Hong Long is an affiliate company majority owned by a family member of the Company’s CEO.

 

These accounts payable - related parties’ amounts are short-term in nature, non-interest bearing, unsecured and payable on demand. 

 

Due to related parties

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the due to related parties amount consisted of the following:

 

   September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
 
Accrued compensation for LiMing Yung, Chief Financial Officer  $15,000   $15,000 
Accrued compensation for Xinrong Zhuo, Chief Executive Officer   3,354    3,328 
Advance from Xinrong Zhuo   
-
    150,000 
   $18,354   $168,328 

 

The advance from Xinrong Zhuo, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, is for working capital purposes and short-term in nature, non-interest bearing, unsecured and payable on demand. 

 

Operating lease

 

On July 31, 2012, the Company entered into a lease for office space with Ping Lin, the spouse of the Company’s CEO (the “Office Lease”). Pursuant to the Office Lease, the annual rent is RMB 84,000 (approximately $12,000) and the renewed Office Lease expires on July 31, 2021.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, rent expense related to the Office Lease amounted to $3,038 and $3,063, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, rent expense related to the Office Lease amounted to $9,011 and $9,192, respectively. The future minimum rental payment required under the Office Lease is as follows:

  

Twelve-month period Ending September 30:  Amount 
2021  $10,012 

 

21

 

 

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 9 – RELATED PARTIES TRANSACTIONS (continued)

 

Selling to related parties

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 selling to related parties were as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2020   Percentage
of revenue
   2019   Percentage
of revenue
   2020   Percentage
of revenue
   2019   Percentage
of revenue
 
                                 
Fuzhou Yahao Seafood Tesco Investment Co., Ltd.  $2,104,460    14%  $1,466,831    13%  $5,972,420    11%  $3,017,216    5%
Xiamen International Trade Honglong Industrial Co., Ltd.   695,958    5%   
-
    
-
    695,510    1%   
-
    
-
 
Fuzhou Nantai Seafood Tesco Investment Co., Ltd.   206,651    1%   1,922,881    17%   3,994,592    7%   3,266,706    6%

  

Purchases from related parties

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 purchases from related parties were as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
Purchase of fuel, fishing nets and other on board consumables                
From Zhiyan Lin  $2,769   $1,033   $2,769   $1,577 
from Fuzhou Honglong Ocean Fishery Co., Ltd.   255,736    953,274    1,320,456    3,622,460 
    258,505    954,307    1,323,225    3,624,037 
Purchase of leasing                    
From Ping Lin   3,038    2,998    9,011    9,192 
    3,038    2,998    9,011    9,192 
Purchase of vessel maintenance service                    
From Huna Lin   3,851,681    2,388,862    7,262,932    2,795,429 
   $3,851,681   $2,388,862   $7,262,932   $2,795,429 

 

NOTE 10 – BANK LOANS

 

Short-term bank loans

 

Short-term bank loans represent the amounts due to various banks that are due within one year. These loans can be renewed with the banks upon maturities. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, short-term bank loans consisted of the following:

 

   September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
 
Loan from Fujian Haixia Bank, due on November 1, 2020 with annual interest rate of 6.0900% at September 30, 2020, collateralized by Hong Long’s 6 fishing vessels and 7 real estate properties of Ping Lin and Ying Liu, the debt ratio of borrower should not be higher than or equal to 100%.  $4,405,222   $4,300,335 
Loan from Fujian Haixia Bank, due on November 6, 2020 with annual interest rate of 6.0900% at September 30, 2020, collateralized by Hong Long’s 6 fishing vessels and 7 real estate properties of Ping Lin and Ying Liu, the debt ratio of borrower should not be higher than or equal to 100%.   5,139,425    5,017,058 
Loan from Fujian Haixia Bank, due on November 14, 2020 with annual interest rate of 6.0900% at September 30, 2020, collateralized by Hong Long’s 6 fishing vessels and 7 real estate properties of Ping Lin and Ying Liu, the debt ratio of borrower should not be higher than or equal to 100%.   734,204    716,723 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on January 21, 2021 with annual interest rate of 3.8800% at September 30, 2020, guaranteed by Pin Lin, Xinrong Zhuo and Hong Long, pledged deposits provided by Hong Long amounted to RMB 42 million, the Land Use Right of B2 plot in central business district on the north shore of Minjiang river.   39,940,676    
-
 
   $50,219,527   $10,034,116 

 

22

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 10 – BANK LOANS (continued)  

 

Long-term bank loans

 

Long-term bank loans represent the amounts due to various banks lasting over one year. Usually, the long-term bank loans cannot be renewed with these banks upon maturities. The Company is in compliance with all long-term bank loan covenants. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, long-term bank loans consisted of the following:

 

  September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until August 28, 2020 with annual interest rate of 4.750% at December 31, 2019, guaranteed by Hong Long, Xinrong Zhuo and Ping Lin.  $-   $4,730,369 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until January 30, 2023 with annual interest rate of 4.900% at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, guaranteed by Xinrong Zhuo and Ping Lin and collateralized by 2 fishing vessels and collateralized by two related parties’ investments in equity interest of one PRC local banks.   2,202,611    5,017,058 
Loan from China Development Bank, due on various dates until November 27, 2023 with annual interest rate of 5.145% at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, guaranteed by Xinrong Zhuo, Honghong Zhuo, Mr. and Mrs. Zhiyan Lin and 17 fishing vessels, the debt ratio of borrower should not be higher than 80%.   4,845,744    5,447,092 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until March 28, 2025 with annual interest rate of 4.949% at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, guaranteed by Hong Long, Xinrong Zhuo, Ping Lin and collateralized by 20 fishing vessels.   55,799,474    65,938,477 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until September 30, 2020 with annual interest rate of 4.750% at December 31, 2019, guaranteed by Hong Long, Xinrong Zhuo, Ping Lin and collateralized by equity investment of 67 million shares of Hong Long in Xiamen International Bank.   -    16,484,619 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until August 21, 2026 with annual interest rate of 4.700% at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, guaranteed by Pin Lin, Xinrong Zhuo and Yaohua Zhuo, 15 fishing vessels, the Land Use Right of B2 plot in central business district on the north shore of Minjiang river.   55,505,793    63,214,931 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until October 21, 2025 with annual interest rate of 4.700% at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, guaranteed by Pin Lin, Xinrong Zhuo, Yaohua Zhuo and Hong Long, 15 fishing vessels and 1 transport vessel, the Land Use Right of B2 plot in central business district on the north shore of Minjiang river.  46,115,329    45,017,345 
Loan from China Development Bank, due on various dates until July 30, 2026 with annual interest rate of 5.390% at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, guaranteed by Xinrong Zhuo, 11 fishing vessels and 6 Hong Long’s fishing vessels, real estate of Mingguang Wanhao Property co., LTD., totalled area 22,123.50m2, the debt ratio of borrower should not be higher than 80%.  10,866,213    11,503,396 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until October 21, 2025 with annual interest rate of 4.700% at September 30, 2020, guaranteed by Pin Lin, Xinrong Zhuo, Yaohua Zhuo and Hong Long, 15 fishing vessels and 1 transport vessel, the Land Use Right of B2 plot in central business district on the north shore of Minjiang river.  8,364,048    
-
 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until April 21, 2028 with annual interest rate of 4.650% at September 30, 2020, guaranteed by Pin Lin, Xinrong Zhuo, Yaohua Zhuo, Hong Long and Huanghai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., the Land Use Right of B2 plot in central business district on the north shore of Minjiang river, 1 vessel.  19,089,294    - 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until December 21, 2028 with annual interest rate of 4.650% at September 30, 2020, guaranteed by Pin Lin, Xinrong Zhuo, Yaohua Zhuo, Hong Long and Huanghai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., the Land Use Right of B2 plot in central business district on the north shore of Minjiang river, 1 vessel.  20,557,701    - 
Loan from The Export-Import Bank of China, due on various dates until August 21, 2022 with annual interest rate of 2.200% at September 30, 2020, guaranteed by Hong Long, Xinrong Zhuo and Pin Lin.  21,000,000    - 
Loan from Bank of Communications, due on various dates until June 27, 2025 with annual interest rate of 4.650% at September 30, 2020, guaranteed by Xinrong Zhuo, Huanghai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Fujian Jingfu Ocean Fishery Development Co., Ltd..  38,178,587    - 
Total long-term bank loans  $282,524,794   $217,353,287 
Less: current portion   (42,897,018)   (57,122,789)
Long-term bank loans, non-current portion  $239,627,776   $160,230,498 

  

23

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 10 – BANK LOANS (continued)

 

Long-term bank loans (continued)

 

The future maturities of long-term bank loans are as follows:

 

Due in twelve-month periods ending September 30,  Principal 
2021  $42,897,018 
2022   65,840,314 
2023   54,698,169 
2024   53,963,965 
2025   45,294,489 
Thereafter   19,830,839 
   $282,524,794 
Less: current portion   (42,897,018)
Long-term liability  $239,627,776 

  

The weighted average interest rate for short-term bank loans was approximately 4.0% and 6.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

The weighted average interest rate for long-term bank loans was approximately 4.8% and 4.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, interest expense related to bank loans amounted to $4,220,271 and $990,083, respectively, of which, $183,747 and $213,514 was capitalized to construction-in-progress, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, interest expense related to bank loans amounted to $11,064,621 and $3,225,149, respectively, of which $1,192,672 and $321,333 was capitalized to construction-in-progress, respectively.

  

NOTE 11 – ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER PAYABLES

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, accrued liabilities and other payables consisted of the following:

 

  September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
 
Accrued salaries and related benefits  $11,595,580   $10,003,346 
Accrued interest due   408,399    339,629 
Other   661,783    1,085,043 
   $12,665,762   $11,428,018 

 

24

 

   

PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

NOTE 12 – CERTAIN RISKS AND CONCENTRATIONS

 

Credit risk

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company’s cash included bank deposits in accounts maintained within the PRC and Hong Kong where there are currently no rules or regulations in place for obligatory insurance to cover bank deposits in event of bank failure. However, the Company does not experience any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant risks on its cash in bank accounts.

 

Major customers

 

The following table sets forth information as to each customer that accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. 

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
Customer  2020   2019   2020   2019 
A   18%   
*
    14%   
*
 
B   14%   13%   11%   
*
 
C   10%   16%   14%   21%
D   10%   25%   11%   16%
E   
*
    17%   
*
    
*
 
F   
*
    
*
    
*
    14%
G   
*
    
*
    
*
    11%

 

* less than 10%

 

Five and three customers accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s total outstanding accounts receivable at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. 

   

Major suppliers

 

The following table sets forth information as to each supplier that accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s purchases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. 

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
Supplier  2020   2019   2020   2019 
A   54%   35%   44%   53%
B   
*
    
*
    24%   
*
 
C   14%   
*
    
*
    
*
 
D   
*
    30%   
*
    13%

 

Three suppliers, whose outstanding accounts payable accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s total outstanding accounts payable and accounts payable – related parties at September 30, 2020, accounted for 68.6% of the Company’s total outstanding accounts payable and accounts payable – related parties at September 30, 2020.

 

One supplier, whose outstanding accounts payable accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s total outstanding accounts payable and accounts payable – related parties at September 30, 2019, accounted for 85.5% of the Company’s total outstanding accounts payable and accounts payable – related parties at September 30, 2019.

 

25

 

 

NOTE 13 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Severance payments

 

The Company has employment agreements with certain employees that provide for severance payments to such employees upon termination of employment under certain circumstances, as defined in the applicable agreements. The Company has estimated its possible severance payments to be approximately $10,000 as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, which have not been reflected in its consolidated financial statements.

 

Operating lease

 

See note 9 for related party operating lease commitment.

 

Rental payment

  

On March 1, 2018, the Company entered into a lease agreement (the “Lease Agreement”) for office space in Hong Kong. Pursuant to the Lease Agreement, the monthly payments are HK$298,500 (approximately $38,000). The Lease Agreement expires on February 28, 2021.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, rent expense and the corresponding administrative service charge related to the Lease Agreement amounted to $18,048 and $17,956, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, rent expense and the corresponding administrative service charge related to the Lease Agreement amounted to $248,776 and $246,315, respectively.

 

As of September 30, 2020, future minimum lease payments on operating leases were as follows:

 

   September 30,
2020
 
Maturity of lease liabilities    
2020  $97,496 
2021   32,499 
Total minimum lease payments  $129,995 
Imputed interest   (1,377)
Present value of minimum lease payments  $128,618 

 

The remaining lease terms (in years) and discount rates consisted of the following:

 

   September 30,
2020
 
Lease term and discount rate    
Remaining operating lease term   0.42 
Discount rate   5.13%

 

NOTE 14 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On October 19, 2020, the Company received repayment of Hong Long amounted to $1.4 million.

 

On October 21, 2020, the Company repaid a long-term bank loan of $9.54 million to The Export-Import Bank of China in accordance with the loan repayment schedule.

 

On October 29, 2020, the Company received a short-term bank loan of $10.3 million from Fujian Haixia Bank.

 

On October 29, 2020, the Company repaid a short-term bank loan of $10.3 million to Fujian Haixia Bank.

 

On November 6, 2020, the Company received repayment of Hong Long amounted to $12.5 million.

 

26

 

 

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

 

The following discussion and analysis of the results of operations and financial condition of Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 should be read in conjunction with the Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. unaudited financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this report. Our discussion includes forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under the Risk Factors, Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Business sections in our Form 10-K as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 15, 2020. We use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, references to the “Company,” “us,” “our” or “we” refer to Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. and its subsidiaries. All amounts expressed below are in US dollars. 

 

Overview

 

We are a marine enterprise group primarily engaging in ocean fishing through our operating subsidiary, Fujian Provincial Pingtan County Ocean Fishing Group Co., Ltd., or Pingtan Fishing, which is organized in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). We carry out marine fishing operations in the international waters and the approved waters in access fishing countries with many of our owned vessels or licensed vessels for which we have exclusive operating license rights. We provide high quality seafood to a diverse group of customers including distributors, restaurant owners and exporters in the PRC. 

 

We initially had a fishing fleet of 40 vessels in 2013. By June 2015, we expanded the number of vessels to 135 through the construction of 3 new vessels, the purchase of 72 licensed vessels and the acquisition of 20-year exclusive operation rights to 20 vessels. Our fishing fleet consists of vessels of diversified fishing methods, including trawling, drift netting, light luring seine, long line fishing and squid jigging. 

 

From 2017 to 2018, we purchased 2 refrigerated transport vessels and 4 squid jigging vessels. Of those vessels, the renovation of 2 transport vessels and 2 squid jigging vessels were completed in subsequent years and were deployed to international waters. The ownership transfer of the remaining 2 vessels’ is not yet completed, but the Company is entitled to 100% of the operations and net profits (losses) from the vessels.

 

In April 2018, 27 vessels received approval from the MARA to operate in the international waters after the completion of modification and rebuilding projects. The 27 fishing vessels were modified and rebuilt into 20 squid jigging vessels and 7 light luring seine vessels and have been deployed to sea for operation in late 2018 and early 2019.  

 

In 2019, the Company had 30 fishing vessels that received approval from the MARA to operate in the international waters after completion of modification and rebuilding. The 30 vessels were rebuilt and modified into 15 squid jigging vessels and 15 seine vessels. The renovation of the 30 vessels was completed in 2019 and were deployed to international waters for operation. In late 2019, we applied to the MARA for permits to modify and rebuild 10 fishing vessels. 

 

In January 2020, we purchased 1 refrigerated transport vessel and started modifying and rebuilding the vessel. We expect the modification and rebuilding project to be completed in November 2020 and then be deployed to international waters. 

 

During three months ended September 30, 2020, we deployed 10 fishing vessels, which completed the modification and rebuilding project to international waters for operation. 

 

As of September 30, 2020, we owned 51 squid jigging vessels, 26 trawlers, 25 seine vessels, 13 drifters, 4 longline fishing vessels, and 2 transport vessels and had exclusive operating license rights to 20 drifters. Additionally, 1 transport vessel was in the modification and rebuilding stage and 1 new krill fishing vessel was in the building stage. 

 

Among the 143 vessels, 79 were located in international waters, 12 were located in the Bay of Bengal in India, 13 were located in the PRC, 37 were located in the Arafura Sea in Indonesia, 1 transport vessel was in the modification and rebuilding stage and 1 new krill fishing vessel was in the building stage.  

 

We catch nearly 30 different species of fish, including squid, ribbon fish, croaker fish and cuttle fish. All of our catch is shipped back to the PRC. We arrange chartered transportation ships to deliver frozen stocks to cold storage warehouses located in one of the PRC’s largest seafood trading centers, the Mawei Seafood Market in Fujian Province. 

 

We derive our revenue primarily from the sale of frozen seafood products. We sell our products directly to customers, including seafood processors, distributors, restaurant owners and exporters. Most of our customers have long-term, cooperative relationships with us. Our existing customers also introduce new customers to us from time to time. In July 2017, we entered into an exclusive strategic cooperation agreement to sell our fish products directly to consumers online. Based on past experiences, demand for seafood products is the highest from December to January, during the Chinese New Year. We believe that our profitability and growth are dependent on our ability to deploy our vessels to new fishing grounds and our ability to expand our customer base. 

 

27

 

 

Significant factors affecting our results of operations

 

 

COVID-19 pandemic: In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) surfaced in the PRC. In reaction to this outbreak, many provinces and municipalities in the PRC activated the highest Level-I Response to the emergency public health incident. As a result, business activities in the PRC were significantly affected. 

 

Emergency quarantine measures and travel restrictions have had a significant impact on many sectors across the PRC, which has also adversely affected our operations. To reduce the impact on our production and operation, we implemented certain safety measures to allow us to gradually resume work in mid-February. For the employees who left Fuzhou during the Spring Festival holiday and could not return to Fuzhou as scheduled, or those who could only resume work after satisfying the 14-day quarantine requirement, we provided paid leave. Since resuming work in mid-February, we have been using a shift system and adopted additional health and safety procedures to protect our employees. With these measures, we were able to maintain sales and operations from mid-February to mid-March. On March 23, 2020, we resumed normal operations and is conducting business as usual with health and safety procedures to protect employees. Management is focused on mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on our business operations while protecting the employees’ health and safety. We will continue to actively monitor the situation and may take further actions that alter our business operations, as may be required by local authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners, suppliers and other stakeholders.

 

Some of our customers are fish processing plants that export processed fish products to foreign countries. These customers reduced or postponed their purchases from us in the initial stage of the pandemic, but since the middle of the second quarter, they have adjusted their business strategies in relation to exportation or domestic sale. Because of the reduction or postponement, our unit selling price decreased, our inventory levels increased and our accounts receivables were not timely paid as anticipated. 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause major disruptions to businesses and markets worldwide as the virus spreads or a resurgence in certain jurisdictions. The effects of the outbreak are still evolving, and the ultimate severity and duration of the pandemic and the implications on global economic conditions remains uncertain. Therefore, the extent of the impact of the pandemic on our financial condition and results of operations is still highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, such as the ultimate duration and scope of the outbreak, its impact on the our customers and exporters, how quickly normal economic conditions, operations, and the demand for our products can resume and whether the pandemic leads to recessionary conditions in the PRC. 

 

While we anticipate that our results of operations will continue to be impacted by this pandemic in the fourth quarter of 2020, we are unable to reasonably estimate the extent of the impact on our full-year results of operations, our liquidity or our overall financial position.

 

28

 

 

  ●  Governmental policies: Fishing is a highly regulated industry and our operations require licenses and permits. Our ability to obtain, sustain or renew such licenses and permits on acceptable terms is subject to changes in regulations and policies and is at the discretion of the applicable government agencies. Our inability to obtain, or loss or denial of extensions to, any of our applicable licenses or permits could hamper our ability to generate revenue from our operations.
     
  Resource & environmental factors: Our fishing expeditions are based in the EEZ, the international waters and the Arafura Sea of Indonesia. Any earthquake, tsunami, adverse weather or oceanic conditions, or other disasters in such areas may result in disruption to our operations and could adversely affect our sales. Adverse weather conditions such as storms, cyclones and typhoons or cataclysmic events may also decrease the volume of fish catches or may even hamper our operations. Our fishing volumes may also be adversely affected by major climatic disruptions such as El Niño, which in the past has caused significant decreases in seafood catch worldwide. Besides weather patterns, other unpredictable factors, such as fish migration, may also impact our harvest volume.

 

  Fluctuation on fuel prices: Our operations may be adversely affected by fluctuations in fuel prices. Changes in fuel prices may result in increases in the selling prices of our products, and may, in turn, adversely affect our sales volume, revenue and operating profit.

 

  Competition: We engage in the business in the EEZ, the international waters, and the Arafura Sea of Indonesian. Competition within our designated fishing areas is not currently significant as the region is not overfished or regulated by government limits on the number of vessels that are allowed to fish in the territories; however, there is no guarantee that competition will not become more intense. Competition in the consumer market in the PRC, however, is keen. We compete with other fishing companies that offer similar and varied products. There is significant demand for fish in the Chinese market. We believe our catch appeals to a wide segment of consumers because of the low price points of our products.
     
 

Fishing licenses: Each of our fishing vessels requires approval from the MARA to carry out ocean fishing projects in international waters and foreign territories. Different countries may have different policies for foreign cooperation in fisheries. Some countries require fishing licenses issued by the accessed country; some others may require establishment of a joint venture or sole proprietorship to obtain local licenses.

 

In early December 2014, the Indonesian government introduced a six-month moratorium on issuing new fishing licenses and renewals so that the country’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (“MMAF”) could combat illegal fishing and rectify ocean fishing order. In February 2015, we ceased all fishing operations in Indonesia. During the moratorium, we were informed that the fishing licenses of four vessels operated through PT. Avona, one of the local companies through which we conduct business in Indonesia, and the fishery business license of PT. Dwikarya, the other local company through which we conduct business in Indonesia, were revoked. Although, in November 2015, the Indonesian government announced that the moratorium had concluded, the MMAF has neither implemented new fishing policies nor resumed the license renewal process. As a result of the above, all local fishing licenses of our vessels in Indonesia are presently inactive. We have been paying close attention to any new trends in fishing policy and have been actively exploring other business operations and redeploying vessels to other locations. 

 

In October 2016, we deployed 13 vessels, which were granted fishing licenses by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (“MAF”), to operate in the Indo-Pacific waters of the country. In September 2017, we were informed that the fishing licenses of these 13 vessels were suspended and the vessels were docked in the port by the MAF. The 13 vessels have returned to the PRC.

 

29

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Comparison of results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

Revenue

 

We catch different species of fish, ship them back to China and sell the catches to distributors and retailers by acting as a wholesaler. Marine catch is our one and only product line. The product type, contractual price and quantities are identified in contracts. We do not offer promotional payments, customer coupons, rebates or other cash redemption offers to our customers, and we do not accept returns from customers. Our revenues are recorded at a point in time. All of our operations are considered by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment and our revenue is disaggregated by product type in terms of species of fish sold pursuant to ASC 606-10-55-91(a). 

 

The revenue is generated from the sale of frozen fish and other marine catches. We recognize revenue at the amount we expect to be entitled to be paid, determined when control of the products is transferred to our customers, which occurs upon delivery of and acceptance of the frozen fish by the customer and we have a right to payment. 

 

We have identified one performance obligation as when the frozen fish and other marine catches identified in the contract are picked up by the customers at our cold storage warehouse, with revenue being recognized at a point in time. We initially recognize revenue in an amount which is estimated based on contractual prices. The receivables under contracts, whereby pricing is based on contractual prices, are primarily collected within 180 days. 

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, our revenue by species of fish was as follows (dollars in thousands, except for average price):

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 
   Revenue   Volume
(KG)
   Average
price
   Percentage
of revenue
 
Indian Ocean squid  $6,071    7,285,134   $0.83    39.3%
Peru squid   4,685    3,382,517    1.39    30.3%
Chub mackerel   981    1,030,773    0.95    6.4%
Tuna   662    184,867    3.58    4.3%
Sardine   649    1,743,914    0.37    4.2%
Others   2,400    1,070,101    2.24    15.5%
Total  $15,448    14,697,306   $1.05    100.0%

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 
   Revenue   Volume
(KG)
   Average
price
   Percentage
of revenue
 
Indian Ocean squid  $8,955    8,009,340   $1.12    80.1%
Cuttle fish   1,108    236,260    4.69    9.9%
Argentina squid(whole)   455    110,726    4.11    4.0%
Croaker fish   342    165,223    2.07    3.1%
Ribbon fish   18    5,490    3.28    0.2%
Others   302    154,428    1.96    2.7%
Total  $11,180    8,681,467   $1.29    100.0%

 

30

 

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, our revenue by species of fish was as follows (dollars in thousands, except for average price):

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 
   Revenue   Volume
(KG)
   Average
price
   Percentage
of revenue
 
Indian Ocean squid  $25,892    30,557,785   $0.85    46.1%
Peru squid   9,523    6,436,282    1.48    16.9%
Chub mackerel   4,996    5,585,977    0.89    8.9%
Cuttle fish   4,554    1,024,960    4.44    8.1%
Croaker fish   3,367    1,861,511    1.81    6.0%
Others   7,886    4,524,509    1.74    14.0%
Total  $56,218    49,991,024   $1.12    100.0%

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 
   Revenue   Volume
(KG)
   Average
price
   Percentage
of revenue
 
Indian Ocean squid  $26,771    24,006,371   $1.12    48.6%
Ribbon fish   5,968    1,819,792    3.28    10.8%
Argentina squid(whole)   4,234    1,000,671    4.23    7.7%
Croaker fish   3,566    1,631,723    2.19    6.5%
Cuttle fish   3,565    681,619    5.23    6.5%
Others   10,963    3,712,634    2.95    19.9%
Total  $55,067    32,852,810   $1.68    100.0%

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2020, we had revenue of $15,448,083, as compared to revenue of $11,179,946 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $4,268,137, or 38.2%. Sales volumes in the three months ended September 30, 2020 increased by 69.3% to 14,697,306 kg from 8,681,467 kg in the three months ended September 30, 2019. Average unit sale price decreased by 18.6% in the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we had revenue of $56,218,216, as compared to revenue of $55,067,249 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $1,150,967, or 2.1%. Sales volumes in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased by 52.2% to 49,991,024 kg from 32,852,810 kg in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Average unit sale price decreased by 33.3% in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the increase in revenue as compared to the same period in 2019 was primarily attributable to changes in different sales mix and the increase of sales volumes as more vessels were in operation. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the decrease in the average unit sale price as compared to the same period in 2019 was primarily attributable to the fish species with highest sales volume being sold at lower selling prices - Indian Ocean squid was our major product for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 - and an increase in the number of fishing vessels catching Indian Ocean squid on the market led to increased supply, which negatively affected the average unit sale price. Lower unit sales prices are expected to continue for the remainder of year 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19.

 

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Cost of revenue

 

Our cost of revenue primarily consists of fuel cost, depreciation, direct labor cost, freight, fishing vessels maintenance fees, and other overhead costs. Fuel cost, depreciation, and labor cost generally accounted for the majority of our cost of revenue. The following table sets forth our cost of revenue information, both in amounts and as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (dollars in thousands): 

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 
   2020   2019 
   Amount   % of
cost of
revenue
   % of
revenue
   Amount   % of
cost of
revenue
   % of
revenue
 
Fuel cost  $8,418    61.1%   54.5%  $5,867    77.2%   52.5%
Labor cost   2,134    15.5%   13.8%   746    9.8%   6.7%
Depreciation   1,436    10.4%   9.3%   508    6.7%   4.5%
Freight   1,165    8.4%   7.5%   21    0.4%   0.2%
Spare parts   656    4.8%   4.2%   349    4.6%   3.1%
Maintenance fee   4    0.0%   0.0%   4    0.0%   0.0%
Other   (25)   (0.2)%   (0.2)%   100    1.3%   0.9%
Total cost of revenue  $13,788    100.0%   89.1%  $7,595    100.0%   67.9%

 

The following table sets forth our cost of revenue information, both in amounts and as a percentage of revenue, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (dollars in thousands): 

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2020   2019 
   Amount   % of
cost of
revenue
   % of
revenue
   Amount   % of
cost of
revenue
   % of
revenue
 
Fuel cost  $29,168    62.5%   51.9%  $24,408    64.0%   44.3%
Labor cost   6,926    14.8%   12.3%   5,170    13.6%   9.4%
Depreciation   4,417    9.5%   7.9%   3,608    9.5%   6.6%
Freight   4,378    9.4%   7.8%   3,447    9.0%   6.3%
Spare parts   1,197    2.6%   2.1%   1,232    3.2%   2.2%
Maintenance fee   20    0.0%   0.0%   23    0.1%   0.0%
Other   536    1.2%   1.0%   247    0.6%   0.4%
Total cost of revenue  $46,642    100.0%   83.0%  $38,135    100.0%   69.2%

 

Cost of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $13,787,521, representing an increase of $6,192,807, or 81.5%, as compared to $7,594,714 for the three months ended September 30, 2019. Cost of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $46,641,884, representing an increase of $8,507,332, or 22.3%, as compared to $38,134,552 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in our production activities.

 

At September 30, 2020, we recorded a reserve for inventories in the amount of $2,030,213.

 

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Gross profit

 

Our gross profit is primarily affected by decreases in the average unit sale price and changes in production costs. Fuel cost, depreciation, and labor cost together account for about 87.0% and 93.7% of cost of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Fuel cost, depreciation, and labor cost together account for about 86.8% and 87.1% of cost of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The fluctuation of fuel prices and changes in labor costs may significantly affect our cost level and gross profit. 

 

The following table sets forth information as to our revenue, cost of revenue, gross profit and gross margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
Revenue  $15,448,083   $11,179,946   $56,218,216   $55,067,249 
Cost of revenue  $13,787,521   $7,594,714   $46,641,884   $38,134,552 
Gross profit  $1,660,562   $3,585,232   $9,576,332   $16,932,697 
Gross margin   10.7%   32.1%   17.0%   30.7%

 

Gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $1,660,562, representing a change of $1,924,670, or 53.7%, as compared to gross profit of $3,585,232 for the three months ended September 30, 2019. Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $9,576,332, representing a change of $7,356,365, or 43.4%, as compared to gross profit of $16,932,697 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The lower gross profit was due to a decrease in our average unit sale price and the fact that our unit production cost of fish was not significantly affected.

 

Gross margin decreased to 10.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from 32.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease in gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 was primarily due to the decrease in average unit sale price by 18.6% and the increase in cost per unit by 8.0%. Gross margin decreased to 17.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from 30.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease in gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 was primarily due to the decrease in average unit sale price by 33.3% and the decrease in cost per unit by 19.8%. The market price of Indian Ocean squid, a key species in our sales mix was low, and the market price of frozen seafood was similarly affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which together led to a decrease in the average unit sale price of sales mix.

 

Selling expense

 

Our selling expense mainly includes shipping and handling fees, insurance, customs clearance charges and storage fees. Our sales activities are conducted through direct selling by our internal sales staff. Because of the strong demand for our products and services, we typically do not aggressively market and distribute our products. As a result, our selling expense has been relatively small as a percentage of our revenue.

 

Selling expense amounted to $1,333,927 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to $650,786 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $683,141, or 105.0%. Selling expense amounted to $3,282,097 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to $1,895,991 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $1,386,106, or 73.1%. Selling expense as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 increased to 8.6% from 5.8% for the same period in 2019. Selling expense as a percentage of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased to 5.8% from 3.4% for the corresponding period in 2019, which was mainly attributable to the increase in insurance and storage fees. Selling expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 consisted of the following:

 

   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
Insurance  $471,163   $304,310   $1,301,969   $840,041 
Storage fees   450,554    95,645    871,294    338,699 
Customs clearance charge   324,824    21,417    358,035    95,597 
Shipping and handling fees   35,397    147,926    356,490    361,504 
Advertising   -    34,580    -    34,580 
Other   51,989    46,908    394,309    225,570 
   $1,333,927   $650,786   $3,282,097   $1,895,991 

 

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  For the three months ended September 30, 2020, insurance increased by $166,853, or 54.8%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, insurance increased by $461,928, or 55.0%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was mainly attributable to 30 vessels that were undergoing modification and rebuilding projects being completed in the second half of2019 and were insured in 2020.
     
  For the three months ended September 30, 2020, storage fees increased by $354,909, or 371.1%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, storage fees increased by $532,595, or 157.2%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was mainly attributable to larger warehouses being rented as more fish were delivered for inventory.

 

  For the three months ended September 30, 2020, customs clearance charge increased by $303,407, or 1,416.7%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, customs clearance charge increased by $262,438, or 274.5%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change was mainly attributable to the number of customs declarations.
     
  For the three months ended September 30, 2020, shipping and handling fees decreased by $112,529, or 76.1%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, shipping and handling fees decreased by $5,014, or 1.4%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change was mainly attributable to the number of deliveries from ports to the warehouses in the PRC.

 

  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, advertising expenses decreased by $34,580, or 100%, as compared to the same period in 2019. The change was mainly due to no advertising activities occurring during the period.  

 

  Other miscellaneous selling expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 increased by $5,081, or 10.8%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. Other miscellaneous selling expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased by $168,739, or 74.8%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was mainly attributable to the increase in satellite communication fees for fishing vessels.

 

General and administrative expense

 

General and administrative expense amounted to $1,583,800 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to $1,542,658 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $41,142, or 2.7%. General and administrative expense amounted to $5,150,042 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to $5,999,073 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, a decrease of $849,031, or 14.2%. General and administrative expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 consisted of the following:

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
Depreciation  $773,812   $913,986   $2,274,579   $2,885,203 
Professional fees   272,593    191,511    1,117,925    1,015,459 
Compensation and related benefits   260,808    387,037    823,726    1,084,328 
Bad debt (recovery) expense   188,293    -    245,498    - 
Travel and entertainment   26,687    9,390    35,560    117,516 
Rent and related administrative service charge   21,086    33,119    257,787    299,440 
Other   40,521    7,615    394,967    597,127 
   $1,583,800   $1,542,658   $5,150,042   $5,999,073 

 

  We recorded the depreciation in relation to vessels that are not operating as operation expense rather than cost of revenue. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, depreciation expense decreased by $140,174, or 15.3%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, depreciation expense decreased by $610,624, or 21.2%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
     
  Professional fees, which primarily consist of legal fees, accounting fees, investor relation service charges, valuation service fees and other fees associated with being a public company, for the three months ended September 30, 2020, increased by $81,082, or 42.3%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. The increase in the three months ended September 30, 2020, was primarily attributable to an increase in consulting fees of approximately $15,000and an increase in investor relation service charges of approximately $63,000. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, professional fees increased by $102,466, or 10.1%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, was primarily attributable to an increase in investor relation service charges of approximately $80,000, an increase in legal fees of approximately $22,000 and an increase in transfer agent fees of approximately $13,000, offset by a decrease in accounting fees of approximately $18,000.
     
  Compensation and related benefits decreased by $126,229, or 32.6%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compensation and related benefits decreased by $260,602, or 24.0%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

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  For the three months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded bad debt expenses of $188,293 as compared to nil for the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded bad debt expenses of $245,498 as compared to nil for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Based on our periodic review of accounts receivable balances, we adjusted the allowance for doubtful accounts after considering management’s evaluation of the collectability of individual receivable balances, including the analysis of subsequent collections, the customers’ collection history, and recent economic events.

 

  For the three months ended September 30, 2020, travel and entertainment expense increased by $17,297, or 184.2%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, travel and entertainment expense decreased by $81,956, or 69.7%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in travel expense of approximately $14,000 and a decrease in entertainment expense of approximately $68,000.
     
  Rent and related administrative service charge decreased by $12,033, or 36.3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, rent and related administrative service charge decreased by $41,653, or 13.9%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

  Other general and administrative expense primarily consists of communication fees, office supplies, miscellaneous taxes, bank service charge, depreciation, and NASDAQ listing fee. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, other general and administrative expense decreased by $32,906, or 432.1%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, other general and administrative expense decreased by $202,160, or 33.9%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

Subsidy

 

The subsidy mainly consists of an incentive granted by the Chinese government to encourage the development of the ocean fishing industry in order to satisfy the demand of natural seafood in the PRC and other miscellaneous subsidy from the Chinese government. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, subsidy decreased by $847,855, or 16.0%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, subsidy increased by $7,490,233, or 141.6%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change was mainly due to the government’s subsidy disbursement schedule.

 

Impairment

 

Impairment loss represents the impairment loss on the vessels whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets might not be recovered. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we dismantled 1 transport vessel and deregistered 6 fishing vessels and applied to the MARA for rebuilding 7 new vessels. As a result of the rebuilding projects, we assessed the recoverability of the 7 fishing vessels based on the undiscounted future cash flow that the fishing vessels are expected to generate as less than the carrying amount, and recognized an impairment loss of $2,546,338.

 

Gain or Loss on fixed assets disposal

 

Gain or loss on fixed assets disposal represents the gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets we recorded as it incurred. For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the gain on fixed assets disposal was nil and $1,777. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the loss on fixed assets disposal was nil and $164,375, respectively.

 

Income from operations

 

As a result of the factors described above, for the three months ended September 30, 2020, income from operations amounted to $3,183,566, as compared to income from operations of $6,611,255 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, a change of $3,427,689, or 51.8%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, income from operations amounted to $13,923,012, as compared to income from operations of $11,615,506 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, a change of $2,307,506, or 19.9%.

 

35

 

 

Other income/expense 

 

Other income/expense mainly includes interest income from bank deposits, interest expense generated from short-term and long-term bank borrowings, foreign currency transaction gain, gain from cost method investment, and loss on equity method investment.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2020, other expense, net, amounted to $2,401,871 as compared to other expense, net, of $2,200,862 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $201,009, or 9.1%, which was primarily attributable to an increase in interest expenses of approximately $3,260,000 as a result of increase in bank loans, offset by an increase in interest income of approximately $967,000, an increase in foreign currency transaction gain of approximately $1,088,000, a decrease in loss on equity method investment of approximately $14,000 and a decrease in other expense of approximately $983,000.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, other expense, net, amounted to $6,385,621 as compared to other expense, net, of $4,139,485 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $2,246,136, or 54.3%, which was primarily attributable to an increase in interest expenses of approximately $6,968,000 as a result of an increase in bank loans, a decrease in gain from cost method investment of approximately $207,000, offset by an increase in interest income of approximately $3,309,000, an increase in foreign currency transaction gain of approximately $793,000, a decrease in loss on equity method investment of approximately $127,000 and a decrease in other expense of approximately $701,000.

 

Income taxes

 

We are exempted from income taxes for income generated from our ocean fishing operations in the PRC for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. 

 

Net income

 

As a result of the factors described above, our net income was $781,695 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to net income of $4,410,393 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, a change of $3,628,698, or 82.3%. Our net income was $7,537,391 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to net income of $7,476,021 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, a change of $61,370, or 0.8%.

 

Net income attributable to owners of the Company

 

The net income attributable to owners of the Company was $689,184, or $0.01 per ordinary share (basic and diluted), for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to net income attributable to owners of the Company of $4,032,534, or $0.05 per ordinary share (basic and diluted), for the three months ended September 30, 2019, a change of $3,343,350, or 82.9%. 

 

The net income attributable to owners of the Company was $6,777,864, or $0.09 per ordinary share (basic and diluted), for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to net income attributable to owners of the Company of $6,724,339, or $ 0.09 per ordinary share (basic and diluted), for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, a change of $53,525, or 0.8%.

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of our parent company and subsidiaries of Merchant Supreme and Prime Cheer is the U.S. dollar and the functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries, which are incorporated in the PRC is the Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”). The financial statements of our subsidiaries which are incorporated in the PRC are translated to U.S. dollars using period end rates of exchange for assets and liabilities, and average rates of exchange (for the period) for revenue, costs, and expenses. Net gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange transactions are included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). As a result of foreign currency translations, which are a non-cash adjustment, we reported a foreign currency translation gain of $5,700,836 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to a foreign currency translation loss of $4,674,763 for the three months ended September 30, 2019. We reported a foreign currency translation gain of $3,846,221 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to a foreign currency translation loss of $4,842,207 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This non-cash loss had the effect of increasing/decreasing our reported comprehensive loss/gain.

36

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

As a result of our foreign currency translation adjustment, we had comprehensive income for the three months ended September 30, 2020 of $6,482,531, compared to comprehensive loss of $264,370 for the three months ended September 30, 2019. We had comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 of $11,383,612, compared to comprehensive income of $2,633,814 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

Cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019

 

The following summarizes the key components of our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:

 

   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2020   2019 
Net cash used in operating activities  $(23,838,922)  $(8,054,141)
Net cash used in investing activities   (64,394,531)   (72,438,901)
Net cash provided by financing activities   94,840,528    99,809,172 
Effect of exchange rate on cash   935,670    (862,543)
Net increase in cash  $7,542,745   $18,453,587 

  

Net cash flow used in operating activities was $23,838,922 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to net cash flow used in operating activities of $8,054,141 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, a change of $15,784,781.

 

  Net cash flow used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, primarily reflected our net income of approximately $7,537,000, and the add-back of non-cash items, mainly consisting of depreciation of approximately $10,617,000, an increase in allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $245,000, an increase in reserve for inventories of approximately $1,712,000, loss on equity method investment of approximately $351,000 and issuance of ordinary shares for professional fee valued at approximately $26,000, and changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily consisting of an increase in accounts receivable of approximately $5,191,000, an increase in inventory of approximately $35,028,000 due to our business expansion resulting from more fishing vessels put in operations, an increase in prepaid expenses of approximately $432,000, an increase in other receivables of approximately $328,000, a decrease in accounts payable of approximately $4,642,000 and a decrease in advance from customers of approximately $619,000, offset by an increase in accounts payable-related parties of approximately $219,000, an increase in accrued liabilities and other payables of approximately $1,554,000 and an increase in due to related parties of approximately $140,000.

 

  Net cash flow used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily reflected our net income of approximately $7,476,000, and the add-back of non-cash items, mainly consisting of depreciation of approximately $7,669,000, an increase in allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $13,000, a decrease in reserve for inventories of approximately $371,000, loss on equity method investment of approximately $478,000, loss on disposal of fixed assets of approximately $164,000 and impairment loss of fishing vessels of approximately $2,533,000, and changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily consisting of an increase in inventory of approximately $15,713,000 due to our business expansion resulting from more fishing vessels put in operations, an increase in prepaid expenses of approximately $333,000, an increase in other receivables- related parties of approximately $359,000, a decrease in accounts payable of approximately $3,966,000, a decrease in accounts payable-related parties of approximately $2,920,000 and a decrease in due to related parties of approximately $9,433,000, offset by a decrease in accounts receivable of approximately $4,171,000 and an increase in accrued liabilities and other payables of approximately $1,552,000.

 

37

 

 

Net cash flow used in investing activities was $64,394,531 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to $72,438,901 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we made payments for purchase of property, plant and equipment of approximately $93,357,000, offset by proceeds received from proceeds from government subsidies for fishing vessels construction of approximately $28,963,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we made payments for purchase of property, plant and equipment of approximately $105,568,000, offset by proceeds received from government subsidy for fishing vessel construction of approximately $33,129,000.

 

Net cash flow provided by financing activities was $94,840,528 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to net cash flow used in financing activities of $99,809,172 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we received short-term bank loans of approximately $81,811,000, long-term bank loans of approximately $104,640,000 and repayments of loans issued to related parties of approximately $157,693,000, offset by the repayments of short-term bank loans of approximately $42,908,000, the repayment of long-term bank loans of approximately $46,325,000 and loans issued to related parties of approximately $160,070,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we received long-term bank loans of approximately $163,552,000 and repayments of loans issued to related parties of approximately $80,171,000, offset by the repayments of long-term bank loans of approximately $11,964,000 and repayments to related parties of approximately $10,111,000 and loans issued to related parties of approximately $121,839,000. 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Liquidity is the ability of a company to generate funds to support its current and future operations, satisfy its obligations and otherwise operate on an ongoing basis. Our principal liquidity demands are based on the capital needs of Pingtan Fishing related to the acquisition or construction of new fishing vessels and continuously upgrading and renovating existing vessels, and our general corporate purposes. We historically relied on cash flow provided by operations and bank loans to supplement our working capital. We also receive government subsidies as a government incentive for encouraging development of ocean fishing industry. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been paying close attention to the operation of our customers and optimizing the collection of accounts receivable. For new customers, we adopt the policy of receiving payment before pick-up. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had cash balances of approximately $3,397,018 and $10,092,205, respectively. The significant portion of these funds are located in financial institutions located in the PRC and will continue to be indefinitely reinvested in our operations in the PRC. 

 

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in our working capital from December 31, 2019 to September 30, 2020:

 

           December 31, 2019 to
September 30,
2020
 
   September 30,
2020
   December 31,
2019
   Change   Percentage
Change
 
Working capital surplus (deficit):                
Total current assets  $115,699,517   $64,338,693   $51,360,824    79.8%
Total current liabilities   111,283,133    88,788,156    22,494,977    25.3%
Working capital surplus (deficit):  $4,416,384   $(24,449,463)  $28,865,847    (118.1)%

 

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Our working capital increased $28,865,847 to a working capital surplus of $4,416,384 at September 30, 2020 from a working capital deficit of $24,449,463 at December 31, 2019. This increase in working capital is primarily attributable to an increase in restricted cash of approximately $14,238,000, an increase in accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, of approximately $5,304,000, an increase in due from related parties of approximately $2,746,000, an increase in inventories, net of reserve for inventories, of approximately $34,949,000 due to our business expansion resulting from having more fishing vessels put in operations, an increase in prepaid expenses of approximately $468,000, an increase in other receivables of approximately $352,000, a decrease in accounts payable of approximately $4,571,000, a decrease in long-term bank loans - current portion approximately of $14,226,000 due to the repayment schedule, a decrease in lease liability-current liability approximately of $247,000 and a decrease in due to related parties of approximately $150,000, offset by an increase in accounts payable - related parties of approximately $266,000, a significant increase in short-term bank loans of approximately $40,185,000 and an increase in accrued liabilities and other payables of approximately $1,238,000.

 

In order to mitigate our liquidity risk, we plan to rely on the proceeds from loans from banks and/or financial institutions to increase working capital in order to meet capital demands, and the government subsidies for modification and rebuilding projects and reimbursement of certain operating expenses. In addition, Mr. Zhuo, the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, will continue to provide financial support to the Company when necessary.

 

The Company meets its day-to-day working capital requirements through cash flow provided by operations, bank loans and related parties’ advances. The Indonesian government’s moratorium on fishing licenses renewals creates uncertainty over fishing operations in Indonesian waters. The Company’s forecasts and projections show that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence to meet its obligations in the twelve months following the date of this filing, considering the management has control over the timing and scope of investments in vessel building and operations in Indian waters and international waters and consideration of opportunities in new fishing territories. Also, in the past two years, the Company has upgraded 67 fishing vessels, 1 transport vessel was in the modification and rebuilding projects and 1 new krill fishing vessel was in building stage, the deployment of more vessels in operation will generate more revenue and cash inflows to the Company. In addition, the Company receives subsidies for modification and rebuilding project and reimbursement of certain operating expenses from the Chinese government, as an encouragement of the development of ocean fishing industry.  At September 30, 2020, due from Hong Long amounted to $15.2 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company received repayments from Hong Long in the amount of $66.4 million.

 

The installments due from related party-Hong Long are as follows:

 

Before  Installments 
October 20, 2020  $14,684,072 
December 20, 2020   539,355 
Total  $15,223,427 

 

From October 1, 2020 to November 6, 2020, the Company received repayment of Hong Long amounted to $14.0 million.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause major disruptions to businesses and markets worldwide as the virus spreads or a resurgence in certain jurisdictions, it has caused our unit selling price decreased, our inventory levels increased and our accounts receivables were not timely paid as anticipated. In order to maintain strong liquidity, the management of the Company has been paying close attention to the operation and optimizing the collection of accounts receivable. For new customers, the Company adopts the policy of receiving payment before pick-up. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company obtained $81.8 million and $104.6 million in short-term and long-term loans from banks, respectively, to maintain strong liquidity.

 

Because the exchange rate conversion is different for consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows, the changes in assets and liabilities reflected on consolidated statements of cash flows are not necessarily identical to the comparable changes reflected on consolidated balance sheets. 

 

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Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Contractual obligations

 

We have certain fixed contractual obligations and commitments that include future estimated payments. Changes in our business needs, cancellation provisions, changing interest rates, and other factors may result in actual payments differing from the estimates. We cannot provide certainty regarding the timing and amounts of payments. We have presented below a summary of the most significant assumptions used in our determination of amounts presented in the tables, in order to assist in the review of this information within the context of our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

 

The following tables summarize our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2020 (dollars in thousands), and the effect these obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods.

 

   Payments Due by Period 
Contractual obligations:  Total   Less than
1 year
   1-3 years   3-5 years   5+ years 
Office lease obligation  $13   $13   $-   $-   $- 
Short-term bank loans (1)   50,220    50,220    -    -    - 
Long-term bank loans   282,525    42,897    120,538    99,258    19,832 
Total  $332,758   $93,130   $120,538   $99,258   $19,832 

 

(1) Historically, we have refinanced these short-term bank loans for an additional term of six months to one year and we expect to continue to refinance these loans upon expiration.

 

Off-balance sheet arrangements

 

None.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Inventories

 

Frozen fish and marine catches work in progress represents fish inventory in vessels’ refrigerators, which has not been delivered to ports in the PRC, nor applied for duty-exemption import into the PRC.

 

Frozen fish and marine catches in transit represents fish inventory that obtained duty-exemption import permission and is in the process of being shipped to the PRC.

 

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Frozen fish and marine catches in warehouse represents fish inventory in cold storage warehouses located in the PRC.

 

A reserve is established when management determines that certain inventories may not be saleable. If inventory costs exceed expected market value due to obsolescence or quantities in excess of expected demand, the Company will record reserve for the difference between the cost and the market value. These reserves are recorded based on estimates.

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

37 vessels in Indonesian waters are not in operation because their licenses are currently inactive due to the moratorium. The Indonesian government’s 2014 moratorium on fishing license renewals has had, and will continue to have, a significant negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition. Given the impact of the moratorium, the Company assessed the recoverability of these 37 vessels for the year ended December 31, 2019 based on the undiscounted future cash flows and the availability of the vessels for redeployment in other fisheries. The impairment test was carried out with reference to the relevant operation data of the Company’s comparable vessels and took into account upgrading and improvement costs based on the Company’s historical experience. As of December 31, 2019, the payback period used in the undiscounted cash flow analysis used in the recoverability assessment is less than its remaining useful life and the carrying value of the fishing vessels are expected to be recoverable. Therefore, no impairment loss was recognized.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

 

Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases (“ASU 2018-10”) and ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements (“ASU 2018-11”). The amendments in ASU 2018-10 affect only narrow aspects of the guidance issued in the amendments in ASU 2016-02, including but not limited to lease residual value guarantee, rate implicit in the lease and lease term and purchase option. The amendments in ASU 2018-11 provide an optional transition method for adoption of the new standard, which will allow entities to continue to apply the legacy guidance in ASC 840, including its disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption.

 

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Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective approach and implemented internal controls to enable the preparation of financial information upon adoption. We elected to adopt both the transition relief provided in ASU 2018-11 and the package of practical expedients which allowed us, among other things, to retain historical lease classifications and accounting for any leases that existed prior to adoption of the standard. Additionally, we elected the practical expedients allowing us not to separate lease and non-lease components and not record leases with an initial term of twelve months or less (“short-term leases”) on the balance sheet across all existing asset classes.

 

Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of right use asset and lease liability of $0.77 million as of January 1, 2019, which primarily relates to our corporate office leases. The standard did not materially impact our condensed consolidated statements of operations or cash flows. Adopting the new standard did not have a material impact on the accounting for leases under which we are the lessee.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” This standard eliminates the current requirement to disclose the amount or reason for transfers between level 1 and level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and the requirement to disclose the valuation methodology for level 3 fair value measurements. The standard includes additional disclosure requirements for level 3 fair value measurements, including the requirement to disclose the changes in unrealized gains and losses in other comprehensive income during the period and permits the disclosure of other relevant quantitative information for certain unobservable inputs. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. We applied the new standard beginning January 1, 2020.

 

Recent accounting pronouncements

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”, which will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology with an expected credit loss model for which a company recognizes an allowance based on the estimate of expected credit loss. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10. Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates, finalizes effective date delays for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and certain smaller reporting companies applying the credit losses, leases, and hedging standards. The effective date for SEC filers, excluding smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC, remains as fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The new effective date for all other entities is fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

Commodity price risk

 

Oil cost accounts for approximately 61.1% and 62.5% of our total cost of revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. We are primarily exposed to oil price volatility caused by supply conditions, political and economic variables and other unpredictable factors. We purchase oil used by our vessels at prevailing market prices. We do not have formal long-term purchase contracts with our suppliers and, therefore, we are exposed to the risk of fluctuating oil prices.

 

We did not have any commodity price derivatives or hedging arrangements outstanding at September 30, 2020 and did not employ any commodity price derivatives in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

Foreign currency exchange rate risk

 

While our reporting currency is the USD, all of our consolidated revenue and consolidated cost of revenue and a significant portion of our consolidated expenses are denominated in RMB. Furthermore, a significant portion of our assets are denominated in RMB. As a result, we are exposed to foreign exchange risk as our revenue and result of operations may be affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate between USD and RMB. 

 

The value of the RMB against the USD and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions. Since July 2005, the RMB has not been pegged to the USD. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the USD in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future, PRC authorities may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.

 

If the RMB depreciates against the USD, the value of our RMB revenue, earnings and assets as expressed in our USD financial statements will decline. A 1% average appreciation (depreciation) of the RMB against the USD would increase (decrease) our comprehensive income by $113,836 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 based on our revenue, costs and expenses, and assets and liabilities denominated in RMB as of September 30, 2020. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedging transactions may be limited and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure at all.

  

Interest rate risk

 

We are exposed to interest rate risk arising from short-term and long-term variable rate borrowings from time to time. Our future interest expense will fluctuate in line with any change in our borrowing rates. Our bank borrowings amounted to $332.7 million at September 30, 2020. Based on the variable nature of the underlying interest rate, the bank borrowings approximated fair value at that date.

 

A hypothetical 100 basis point change in interest rates would impact our interest on our borrowings by approximately $110,126. The potential change in interest amount is calculated based on the change in the interest amount over a one year period due to an immediate 100 basis point change in interest rates.

 

Inflation risk

 

Inflationary factors such as increases in the cost of our product and overhead costs may adversely affect our operating results. Although we do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our financial position or results of operations to date, a high rate of inflation in the future may have an adverse effect on our ability to maintain current levels of gross margin and selling and general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue if the selling prices of our products do not increase with these increased costs.

 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“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 under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.

 

In connection with the preparation of the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, which are defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2020. 

 

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2020, there were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act).

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

For a description of legal proceedings, refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2020. 

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Other than as set forth below, there have been no material changes in the risk factors described in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2020. In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report, you should carefully consider the factors below and also those discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

We could be adversely affected if proposed legislation is adopted regarding improved access to audit and other information and audit inspections of accounting firms, including registered public accounting firms operating in the PRC such as our auditor, or if Nasdaq’s proposals requiring additional criteria to companies operating in “restrictive markets” become effective.

 

BDO China Shu Lun Pan Certified Public Accountants LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, is not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the non-profit body that oversees audits of all U.S. companies in public markets. The PRC currently prohibits Chinese-based auditors from submitting their audits for inspection by the PCAOB.

 

As part of a continued regulatory focus in the U.S. on access to audit and other information currently protected by national law, in particular China’s, in June 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced bills in both houses of Congress that would require the SEC to maintain a list of issuers for which the PCAOB is not able to inspect or investigate an auditor report issued by a foreign public accounting firm. The Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges (EQUITABLE) Act prescribes increased disclosure requirements for such issuers and, beginning in 2025, the delisting from national securities exchanges of issuers included on the SEC’s list for three consecutive years. It is unclear if this proposed legislation will be enacted. Furthermore, there has been recent deliberations within the U.S. government regarding potentially limiting or restricting China-based companies from accessing U.S. capital markets.

 

On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and an identical bill was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed by the U.S. President, this legislation would direct the SEC to prohibit securities of any “covered issuer”, including the Company, from being traded on any of the U.S. securities exchanges, such as Nasdaq, or traded “over-the-counter” if the auditor of the covered issuer’s financial statements is not subject to PCAOB inspection for three consecutive years after the law becomes effective.  In May 2020, Nasdaq requested approval by the SEC of proposals that would impact companies with businesses principally administered in jurisdictions defined as “restrictive markets,” which likely would encompass the PRC. These proposals contemplate, among other things, the application of more stringent listing criteria if a listed company’s auditor does not demonstrate a PCAOB inspection record (as is the case with our auditor), employee expertise and training, or geographic or other resources sufficient to perform the company’s audit satisfactorily. Examples of more stringent criteria that Nasdaq could apply include requiring: (a) higher levels of equity, assets, earnings or liquidity than are otherwise needed; (b) that any public offering to be underwritten on a firm commitment basis (involving more due diligence by the underwriter); and (c) the imposition of lock-up restrictions on directors and officers to allow market mechanisms to determine an appropriate price for shares before the insiders could sell. Alternatively, Nasdaq could deny continued listing to a company.

 

It remains unclear if and when any of such proposed legislations will be enacted. Nevertheless, the enactment of any such legislation or other efforts to increase the U.S. regulatory access to audit information could cause investor uncertainty for affected issuers, which may include the Company, and materially and adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares, including by resulting in our being delisted from Nasdaq or being required to engage a new audit firm, which would require significant expense and management time.

   

We face risks related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that have, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) surfaced in the PRC. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the global economy, our markets in the PRC and our business. 

 

In reaction to the pandemic, many provinces and municipalities in the PRC, where our business is currently conducted, activated the highest response to the emergency public health incident. Emergency quarantine measures and travel restrictions have had a significant impact on many sectors across the China, which has also adversely affected our operations including the fishing industry. In response to the pandemic, we extended the Chinese Spring Festival holiday for one more week and adopted work in shifts after the holiday. To reduce the impact of the pandemic on our production and operation, we implemented certain safety measures to allow us to gradually resume work in mid-February. With these measures, we were able to maintain our sales and operations from mid-February to mid-March. On March 23, 2020, we resumed operations with enhanced health and safety procedures in place to protect our employees. We will continue to actively monitor the situation and may take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required by local authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders. If a significant portion of our workforce is affected by COVID-19 either directly or due to government closures or otherwise, associated work stoppages or facility closures would halt or delay production, which could have an adverse impact on our business and financial performance.

 

The pandemic has had, and continues to have an adverse impact on our customers. Some of our customers are fish processing plants that export processed fish products to foreign countries. These customers were more likely to reduce or postpone their purchases from us in the initial stage of the pandemic and have now started adjusting their business strategies in relation to exportation or domestic sale. This change in strategy has caused a decrease in our unit selling price, an increase of inventory and our accounts receivables not being timely paid as anticipated. If the economic effects caused by the pandemic continue or increase in the PRC, overall customer demand may continue to decrease, which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Our principal liquidity demands are based on the capital needs of Pingtan Fishing related to the acquisition or construction of new fishing vessels and continuously upgrading and renovating existing vessels, and our general corporate purposes. Maintaining strong liquidity has been and will continue to be a priority for us during the current economic disruption. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we have obtained $81.8 million and $104.6 million in short-term loan and long-term loan from banks, respectively.

 

We anticipate that our results of operations will continue to be impacted by this pandemic in the fourth quarter of 2020. However, the extent of the impact on our financial condition and results of operations is still highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, such as the ultimate duration and scope of the outbreak, its continuing impact on our customers, how quickly normal economic conditions, operations, and the demand for our products can resume and whether the pandemic leads to recessionary conditions in the PRC. We may continue to experience the effects of the pandemic even after it has waned, and our business, results of operations and financial condition could continue to be affected.

 

In addition to the risks specifically described above, the impact of COVID-19 is likely to implicate and exacerbate other risks disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

On September 24, 2020, the Company issued 125,000 ordinary shares of the Company to FON Consulting, LLC in exchange for consulting services to be provided by the consultant to the Company pursuant to a consulting services agreement entered into on September 15, 2020. This issuance is exempt from the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

On September 24, 2020, the Company issued 122,375 ordinary shares of the Company to Acorn Management Partners, L.L.C. in exchange for consulting services to be provided by the consultant to the Company pursuant to a professional relations and consulting agreement entered into on September 16, 2020. This issuance is exempt from the registration provisions of the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

None.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report.

 

Exhibit

 

31.1*   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).
     
31.2*   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).
     
32*   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d- 14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350.
     
101.INS*   XBRL INSTANCE DOCUMENT
     
101.SCH*   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA DOCUMENT
     
101.CAL*   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
     
101.DEF*   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
     
101.LAB*   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE DOCUMENT
     
101.PRE*   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
     
104*   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document)

 

* Filed herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

  

  PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD.
  (Registrant)
     
Date: November 9, 2020 By: /s/ Xinrong Zhuo
    Xinrong Zhuo
   

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

     
Date: November 9, 2020 By: /s/ LiMing Yung
    LiMing Yung
   

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

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