ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the following information about these risks, together with the other information contained in this Report. Our business, results of operations or financial condition could be adversely affected by any of these risks, which could result in a decline in the market price of our securities, causing you to lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Business
The industry in which we do business is highly fragmented and competitive and we face competition from numerous fertilizer manufacturers in China and elsewhere.
We compete with numerous local Chinese fertilizer manufacturers. Although we may have greater resources than many of our competitors, most of which are small local fertilizer companies and it is possible that these competitors have better access in certain local markets, an enhanced ability to customize products to particular regions and better established local distribution channels. We also compete with a few large PRC national competitors, such as Yuntianhua Group Co., Ltd and Yongye International, Inc. Although we have advanced automated humic acid-based fertilizer production lines and green house supported research and development centers, we cannot assure you that such large competitors will not develop their own similar production or research and development facilities. Further, China’s access into the World Trade Organization has led to increased foreign competition for us. International producers and traders import products into China that generally are of higher quality than those produced by the local Chinese manufacturers. If they are localized and become familiar with fertilizers we produce, we may face additional competition. If we are not successful in our research, development and production of new products and/or in our marketing and advertising efforts to increase awareness of our brands, our revenues could decline, which might have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and share price.
Our major competitors may be able to endure downturns in our industrial sector more than we are. When facing reduced demand for our products, we can either choose to maintain market share by reducing selling prices to meet competition, or to maintain the prices while sacrificing a portion of market share. The overall profitability would be reduced in either case. In addition, we cannot assure you that additional competitors will not enter into our existing markets, or that we will be able to compete successfully against existing or new competitors.
If we are unable to design, manufacture, and market fertilizer products in a timely and efficient manner, we may not remain as competitive.
A lot of our fertilizer products are characterized by short product development cycles as they target at the unique climate and soil conditions where our customers are located. Accordingly, we devote a substantial amount of resources to product development. To compete successfully, we must develop new and/or improved fertilizer products that cater to customer needs. New fertilizers may not be easily developed. As a result, we may experience performance difficulties, which may result in delays, setbacks and cost overruns. Our inability to develop and offer new and/or improved fertilizer products or to achieve customer acceptance of these products could limit our ability to compete in the market or to grow revenues at a desired rate.
Our proprietary fertilizer formula may become obsolete or be unintentionally disclosed to competitors, which could materially adversely affect the competitiveness of our future fertilizer products.
Our proprietary fertilizer formula is the base for producing our fertilizer. Our future success will depend upon our ability to address the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers by supplying existing humic acid fertilizer products and by developing new products on a timely basis that keep pace with the evolving industry standards and changing customer requests. If our proprietary formula becomes obsolete as our competitors develop better products than ours, our future business and financial results could be adversely affected. In addition, although we have entered into confidentiality agreements with key employees, we cannot assure you that if there is a breach of such agreement by an employee, we would not lose any competitive advantage that we currently have with respect to our proprietary fertilizer formula. If we are forced to take legal action to protect our proprietary formula, significant expense will incur and a favorable outcome can not be guaranteed.
If our warehouse selling and credit sales of certain fertilizer products continue to increase and we fail to collect the accounts receivables that are due in a timely manner, our financial condition and results of operation may be materially adversely affected.
We had accounts receivable of $68,528,598 as of June 30, 2015, as compared to $88,781,608 and $85,323,442 as of June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, a decrease of $20,253,010 and an increase of $3,458,166, or 22.8% and 4.1% year over year. The increase was primarily due to the increased credit sales of Gufeng’s fertilizer products and the aggressive marketing of Jinong’s humic acid fertilizer products including liquid and powder fertilizers. We offer a tentative credit period up to 180 days to our customers. Although we perform routine assessment of our customers’ creditworthiness, evaluate the structure and collectability of accounts receivable and provide an allowance for doubtful accounts when necessary, we may not be able to receive or collect payment for our products on time or at all if our customers encounter financial difficulties. Any such failure may have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operation.
Our concentration of customers could have a material adverse effect on us.
Gufeng’s top five distributors accounted for 74.8% of its revenues with its largest distributor accounted for 49.8% of the total revenues for the fiscal year of 2015. Jinong’s top five distributors accounted for 1.5% of its fertilizer revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. If those major customers reduce or discontinue their product purchases from us and we are unable to find their replacements, it would adversely affect our results of operations.
If we fail to adequately protect or enforce our intellectual property rights, we may be exposed to intellectual property infringement and the value of our intellectual property rights could diminish.
Our success, competitive position and future revenues will depend in part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection for our products, methods, processes and other technologies, to preserve our trade secrets, to prevent third parties from infringing on our proprietary rights and to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties.
Jinong is the holder of four registered patents. The first patent is a fertilizer formulation named “Method and Recipe of the Water Soluble Humic Acid Fertilizers”. The second patent, “Production Facility of Humic Acid Products”, relates to our proprietary production line and manufacturing processes in the PRC. The third patent is “Production Method of Organic Fertilizer”. The fourth patent is “ Production method of Multifunctional liquid calcium fertilizer”. Gufeng and Tianjuyuan do not have patents but currently possess seven proprietary technologies. However, we cannot predict the degree and range of protection patents and confidentiality agreements with respect to proprietary technologies will defense us against competitors. Third parties may find ways to invalidate or otherwise circumvent our patents and proprietary technologies. Third parties may attempt to obtain patents claiming aspects similar to our patent applications. We cannot assure you that our current or potential competitors do not have, and will not obtain, patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use or sell our products in the PRC.
If we need to initiate litigation or administrative proceedings, such actions may be costly and may divert management attention as well as consume other resources which could otherwise have been devoted to our business. An adverse determination in any such litigation will impair our intellectual property rights and may harm our business, prospects and reputation. In addition, historically, implementation of PRC intellectual property-related laws has been lacking, primarily because of ambiguities in the PRC laws and difficulties in enforcement. Accordingly, intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in China may not be as effective as that in the United States or other countries, which increases the risk that we may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property. Moreover, litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights. Future litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of our management’s attention and resources, and could disrupt our business, as well as have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Given the relative unpredictability of China’s legal system and potential difficulties enforcing court judgments in China, there is no guarantee that we would be able to halt any unauthorized use of our intellectual property through litigation.
If we infringe on the intellectual property rights of third parties, we could be prevented from selling products, forced to pay damages and compelled to defend against claims by third parties, which, if successful, could cause us to pay significant damage awards and incur other costs.
Our success also depends in large part on our ability to use and develop our technology and know-how without infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties. As litigation becomes more common in the PRC in resolving commercial disputes, we face a higher risk of being the subject of intellectual property infringement claims. The validity and scope of claims relating to humic acid fertilizer production technology and related devices and machine patents involve complex technical, legal and factual questions and analysis and, therefore, may be highly uncertain. The defense and prosecution of intellectual property suits, patent opposition proceedings and related legal and administrative proceedings can be both costly and time consuming and may significantly divert the efforts and resources of our technical and management personnel. An adverse determination in any such litigation or proceedings to which we may become a party could subject us to significant liability including damage awards to third parties, require us to seek licenses from third parties (which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all), to pay ongoing royalties, or to redesign our products or subject us to injunctions preventing the manufacture and sale of our products. Protracted litigation could also result in our customers or potential customers deferring or limiting their purchase or use of our products until resolution of such litigation.
Disruptions in the supply of raw materials used in our products could cause us to be unable to meet customer demand in a timely manner, which could result in the loss of customers and net sales or could result in a lower profit margin for us.
Jinong is supplied with approximately 50 different types of raw materials, of which weathered coal is the primary one as it is the raw material from which humic acid is extracted and applied to the manufacturing of our products. Although there are numerous weathered coal suppliers available in market, we have been using Inner Mongolia Tianlibao Fertilizer Co., Ltd. (“Tianlibao”) as our main supplier of weathered coal because of the abundance and high quality of weathered coal in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Our supply agreement with Tianlibao is renewed on a monthly basis. If Tianlibao does not intend to renew the supply agreement with us for any reason, or if there are any business interruptions at Tianlibao and we are unable to locate an alternative supplier in a timely manner or on the same terms, we may not be able to meet customer demand on humic acid-based fertilizers in a timely manner or maintain our standards of quality for humic acid-based fertilizers during the transitional period, which may result in the loss of customers and net sales or we may not be able to keep our profit margin as before for our humic acid-based fertilizers.
Gufeng and Tianjuyuan are supplied with over fifty types of raw materials from a diversified pool of suppliers. Neither Gufeng nor Tianjuyuan are dependent on any single supplier for its raw materials; however, if we experience a significant increase in demand or if we need to replace any of these suppliers, we cannot be assured that the adequate supply of raw materials or a replacement supplier will be acquired in a timely manner to avoid any material adverse effect on our business operations and financial condition.
Any significant fluctuation in our production costs may have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
The prices for the raw materials and other inputs to manufacture our fertilizer products are subject to market forces largely beyond our control, including the price of weathered coal, energy costs, mineral and non-mineral elements, and freight costs. The costs for these inputs may fluctuate significantly based upon changes in the economy and markets. Although we may pass any increase of such costs to our customers, in the event we are unable to do so, we could incur significant losses and a diminution of our share price.
We do not presently maintain business disruption insurance. Any disruption of the operations in our factories would damage our business.
Our operations could be interrupted by fire, flood, earthquake and other events beyond our control for which we do not carry adequate insurance. While we have property damage insurance and automobile insurance, we do not carry business disruption insurance, which is not readily available in China. Any disruption of the operations in our factories would have a significant negative impact on our ability to manufacture and deliver products, which would cause a potential diminution in sales, the cancellation of orders, damage to our reputation and potential lawsuits.
We do not presently maintain product liability insurance, and our property and equipment insurance does not cover the full value of our property and equipment, which leaves us with exposure in the event of loss or damage to our properties or claims filed against us.
We currently do not carry any product liability or other similar insurance. We cannot assure you that we would not face liability in the event of the failure of any of our products. We also cannot assure you that, especially as China’s domestic consumer economy and industrial economy continues to expand, product liability exposure and litigation will not become more commonplace in the PRC, or that we will not face product liability exposure or actual liability as we expand our sales into international markets where product liability claims could be more prevalent.
The occurrence of any acts of God, war, terrorist attacks and other emergencies which are beyond our control may have a material adverse effect on our business operations and financial condition.
Acts of God, war, terrorist attacks and other emergencies which are beyond our control may have a material adverse effect on the economy and infrastructure in the PRC and on the livelihood of the Chinese population. Our business operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected should such events occur. We cannot give assurance that any acts of God such as floods, earthquakes, drought or any war, terrorist attack or other hostilities in any part of the PRC or even the world, potential or threatened, will not, directly or indirectly, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
If we cannot renew our fertilizer registration certificates, we will be unable to sell some or all of our products. If we do not receive the formal fertilizer registration certificates for our new products, upon the expiration of the temporary registration certificates, we cannot continue to produce such new products.
All fertilizers produced in China must be registered with the PRC Ministry of Agriculture. No fertilizer can be manufactured without such registration. There are two kinds of registrations: interim registration and formal registration. The interim registration is valid for one year and applies to fertilizers in the stages of in-the-field testing and test selling. Fertilizers that have completed in-the-field testing and test selling must obtain formal registration, which is valid for five years, and thereafter must be renewed each five years. Jinong has 16 formal registration certificates. Gufeng and Tianjuyuan have 19 interim fertilizer certificates and 259 formal certificates. We will apply for formal certificates for each of our interim certificates before the applicable expiration date.
Our belief is that the PRC Ministry of Agriculture generally grants an application for renewal in the absence of illegal activity by the applicant. However, there is no assurance that the PRC Ministry of Agriculture will grant renewal of our formal Fertilizer Registration Certificates. If we cannot obtain the necessary renewal, we will not be able to manufacture and sell such fertilizer products without certificates which will cause the termination of commercial operations for such fertilizer products. With respect to the transformation of the interim fertilizer registration certificates to formal fertilizer registration certificates, we believe that we can receive formal fertilizer registration certificates for our 19 interim fertilizer registration certificates in due course; however, if the government imposes additional burden on the application procedure or put temporary suspension on its certificate granting process due to any unexpected incidents in China, we cannot assure you that our formal fertilizer registration certificates can be obtained without delay or can be obtained at all in which case our production could be adversely affected.
We may not possess all the licenses required to operate our business, or may fail to maintain the licenses we currently hold. This could subject us to fines and other penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
In addition to a fertilizer registration certificate, we are required to hold a variety of other permits, licenses and certificates to conduct our business in China. We may not possess or receive all the permits, licenses and certificates required for our business or for which application has been made. In addition, there may be circumstances under which the approvals, permits, licenses or certificates granted by the governmental agencies are subject to change without substantial advance notice. If we fail to obtain or to maintain such permits, licenses or certificates or renewals are granted with onerous conditions, we could be subject to fines and other penalties and be limited in the number or the quality of the products that we would be able to offer. As a result, our business, result of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
Potential environmental liability could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
Our manufacturing operations are subject to numerous laws, regulations, rules and specifications relating to the environment, including, among others, the Integrated Emission Standard of Air Pollutants GB 16297-1996 and the Standard of Environmental Noise of Urban Area GB 3096-93. Failure to comply with any laws and regulations and future changes to them may result in significant consequences to us, including civil and criminal penalties, liability for damages and negative publicity. Our business and operating results may be materially and adversely affected if we were to be held liable for violating existing environmental regulations or if we were to incur significant expenditures to comply with environmental regulations affecting our operations.
Our success depends on our management team and other key personnel, the loss of any of whom could disrupt our business operations.
We depend, to a large extent, on the abilities and participation of our current management team, with a particular reliance upon Mr. Tao Li, our CEO, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. The loss of the services of Mr. Li, for any reason, may have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects. We cannot assure you that the services of Mr. Li will continue to be available to us, or that we will be able to find a suitable replacement for him in the event his services are not available to us. We do not carry key man life insurance for our key personnel.
The agricultural chemicals business is specialized and requires the employment of personnel with significant scientific and operational experience in the industry. Accordingly, we must attract, recruit and retain a sizeable workforce of technically and scientifically competent employees. Our ability to effectively implement our business strategy will depend upon, among other factors, the successful recruitment and retention of additional management and other key personnel that have the necessary scientific, technical and operational skills and experience with the fertilizer industry. These individuals are difficult to find in the PRC and we may not be able to retain such skilled employees. If we are unable to hire individuals with the requisite experience, we may not be able to produce enough products to optimize profits, and the research and development initiatives may be delayed which will negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations and share price.
Mr. Tao Li, our Chairman, President and CEO may not devote all of his time to our business.
Our Chairman, President and CEO, Mr. Tao Li, also serves as Chairman of Xi’an Techteam Science & Technology Industry (Group) Co. Ltd., a company engaged in hi-tech application fields in China, Chairman and CEO of Xi’an Techteam Investment Holding (Group) Co., Ltd, a holding company for certain entities such as Gem Grain, and Chairman of Kingtone Wirelessinfo Solution Holding Ltd, a publicly-traded, China-based developer and provider of mobile enterprise solutions. This may give rise to further allocation of Mr. Li’s time to each business. While Mr. Li anticipates having sufficient time to devote to our business, a lack of adequate time spent by him on our business may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and share price.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results. As a result, current and potential investors could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could harm our business and have an adverse effect on our stock price.
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we are required to annually furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting. Such report must contain, among other matters, an assessment by our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, including a statement as to whether or not our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of the end of our fiscal year. This assessment must include disclosure of any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting identified by management. Performing the system and process documentation and evaluation needed to comply with Section 404 are both costly and challenging. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We cannot provide assurance that we will not fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment on an ongoing basis, which may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and have a material adverse effect on the price of our common stock.
We are responsible for the indemnification of our officers and directors.
Our Bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors, officers, employees, and agents, under certain circumstances, against costs and expenses incurred by them in any litigation to which they become a party arising from their association with or activities on our behalf. Consequently, we may be required to expend substantial funds to satisfy these indemnity obligations.
Our inability to effectively improve the financial performance of Gufeng may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Although Gufeng had sales revenues of $128,675,606 for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, Gufeng’s net income for such period was $13,764,794. This was primarily due to the lower profit margins on Gufeng’s products, inefficiencies in production and daily operations and negative working capital. In addition, rising transportation costs passed on by Gufeng’s distributors may further erode margins on Gufeng’s products. As Gufeng is based in Beijing, it is susceptible to rising costs of labor common in large cities such as Beijing, which may make it difficult for us to expand the workforce of Gufeng and Tianjuyuan to meet our strategic goals.
Although we have made progress in terms of integrating Gufeng’s employees, products and distribution network into our business during the past 12 months, there is no assurance that we will be able to continue effectively to do so, which may result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have not obtained the land use right over the premises on which certain facilities of Gufeng, our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, is located. As a result, the lack of a proper title certificate may jeopardize our right to use the premises and our possession of the buildings we built on such premises.
Through Tianjuyuan, we lease approximately 47,333 square meters (509,488 square feet) of land in the Ping Gu District of Beijing (the “Premises”). Under the lease dated February 16, 2004 with the village committee of Dong Gao Village and Zhen Nan Zhang Dai Village in the Beijing Ping Gu District (the “Lease”), Tianjuyuan leases the land at an annual rent of RMB 35,500 (approximately $5,783). The term of the Lease is from February 1, 2004 to January 31, 2054. We were informed by our PRC counsel that the Lease is invalid and unenforceable pursuant to the PRC Land Administration Law and related regulations. Therefore, we have been in the process of applying for the proper land use right certificate from the relevant government authorities in order to legitimize our right over the Premises. As of the date of this report, we were informed by the local government that our application materials for the land use right in issue has been moved up from the department in charge of general matters to the land administrative department of the local government and is under their review. However, there can be no assurance that such land use right certificate will be granted to us. Until we obtain the land use right certificate, there is a risk that the PRC government may declare the Lease invalid, evict our personnel from the Premises and tear down the buildings we built on the Premises. As of the date of this Report, we have no knowledge of any pending or threatened governmental actions relating to the Premises.
A severe or prolonged downturn in the global economy could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The global market and economic conditions during the years 2008 through 2010 were unprecedented and challenging, with recessions occurring in most major economies. Continued concerns about the systemic impact of potential long-term and wide-spread recession, energy costs, geopolitical issues, and the availability and cost of credit have contributed to increased market volatility and diminished expectations for economic growth around the world. The difficult economic outlook has negatively affected businesses and consumer confidence and contributed to volatility of unprecedented levels.
The PRC economy also faces challenges. The PRC government has implemented various measures recently to curb inflation. If economic growth slows or an economic downturn occurs, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Risks Related to Doing Business in the PRC
Substantially all of our assets and operations are located in the PRC, and substantially all of our revenue is sourced from the PRC. Accordingly our results of operations and financial position are subject to a significant degree to economic, political and legal developments in the PRC, including the following risks:
Changes in the policies of the PRC government could have a significant impact upon the business we may be able to conduct in the PRC and the profitability of such business.
The PRC’s economy is in a transition from a planned economy to a market oriented economy subject to five-year and annual plans adopted by the government that set national economic development goals (Source: President Hu’s Report at 17th Party Congress). Policies of the PRC government can have significant effects on economic conditions in China. Our interests may be adversely affected by changes in policies by the PRC government, including:
·changes in laws, regulations or their interpretation;
·confiscatory taxation;
·restrictions on currency conversion, imports or sources of supplies and export tariff;
·expropriation or nationalization of private enterprises.
Although the PRC government has been pursuing economic reform policies for more than two decades, we cannot assure you that the government will continue to pursue such policies or that such policies may not be significantly altered, especially in the event of a change in leadership, social or political disruption, or other circumstances affecting political, economic and social life in China.
The slowing economic growth in China may assert a negative impact on our operation and financial results.
According to an article published on August 14, 2015, a slew of recent figures have shown that growth in several key sectors has slowed to a crawl in response to contracting world trade. The demand for oil in China, a key measure of activity, fell in tandem with a fall in car sales. Exports tumbled in June by 8.3%. Furthermore, according to an article published by Fortune on January 21, 2015 since recording its last double-digit growth (10.4%) in 2010, the Chinese economy has effectively decelerated 30% in five years. Most of the slowdown occurred in 2011 and 2012 when reported growth was 9.3% and 7.7%, respectively. Wall Street Journal stated on January 19, 2015 that China’s economic growth slowed to 7.4% in 2014, downshifting to a level not seen in a quarter century.
In the next two to three years, China’s growth performance could deteriorate because of the overhang of its real estate bubble, massive manufacturing overcapacity, and the lack of new growth engines. The International Monetary Fund and UBS estimate that the Chinese economy will grow by 6.8% in 2015. If China’s economy is further slowing down, it may negatively affect our business operation and financial results.
The PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain. Any changes in such PRC laws and regulations may have a material and adverse effect on our business.
We and any future subsidiaries are considered foreign persons or foreign funded enterprises under PRC laws, and we are subject to PRC laws and regulations. These laws and regulations are sometimes vague and may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness of newly enacted laws, regulations or amendments may be delayed, resulting in detrimental reliance from foreign investors. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our business.
We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from sales in the PRC and any downturn in the Chinese economy could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in the PRC and substantially all of our revenues are generated from sales in the PRC. We anticipate that revenues from sales of our products in the PRC will continue to represent a substantial proportion of our total revenues in the near future. Any significant decline in the condition of the PRC economy could, among other things, adversely affect the consumption of our products, which in turn would have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profitability.
Inflation in the PRC could negatively affect our profitability and growth.
While the PRC economy has experienced rapid growth, it has been uneven among various sectors of the economy and in different geographical areas of the country. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising inflation. If prices for our products do not rise at a rate that is sufficient to fully absorb inflation-driven increases in our costs of supplies, our profitability can be adversely affected.
According to the International Monetary Fund or IMF, the inflation rate in China fluctuated on an annual basis from a low rate of -1.4% in 1999 to the highest rate of 5.9% in 2008. The inflation rate was 2.6%, 2.6%, and 1.5% in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. These fluctuations and economic factors have led to the adoption by the Chinese government, from time to time, of various corrective measures designed to restrict the availability of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. In order to control inflation in the past, the PRC government has imposed controls on bank credits, limits on loans for fixed assets and restrictions on state bank lending. The implementation of these and other similar policies can impede economic growth and thereby harm the market for our products.
Our subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends and making other payments to our subsidiary, Green New Jersey; as a result, we might therefore be unable to pay dividends to you.
We are a holding company incorporated in the State of Nevada and do not have any assets or conduct any business operations other than our investments in our subsidiaries, Green New Jersey, Jinong, Gufeng and Yuxing (a VIE entity). As a result of our holding company structure, we rely entirely on dividends payments from our subsidiaries in the PRC. PRC regulations currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Our subsidiaries are also required to set aside a portion of its after-tax profits according to PRC accounting standards and regulations to fund certain reserve funds. We may experience difficulties such as lengthy processing time from the foreign exchange administrative bureau’s side and formality requirement on paperwork in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency. Furthermore, if any of our subsidiaries incurs debt on its own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we or Green New Jersey are unable to receive any profits from the operations of our subsidiaries in the PRC, we may be unable to pay dividends to our common stock holders.
Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of Renminbi (“RMB”) into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of the PRC. We receive substantially all our revenues in RMB, which is currently not a freely convertible currency. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict our ability to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends, or otherwise satisfy foreign currency denominated obligations. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from the transaction, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from appropriate governmental authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of the PRC to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of bank loans denominated in foreign currencies.
The PRC government also may at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay certain of our expenses as they come due.
The fluctuation of RMB may materially and adversely affect your investment.
The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in the PRC's political and economic conditions. As we rely entirely on revenues earned in the PRC, any significant revaluation of RMB may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenues and financial condition. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from an offering of our securities into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar could lead the RMB equivalent of the U.S. dollars be reduced and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Conversely, if we decide to convert our RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making dividend payments on our common stock or for other business purposes and the U.S. dollar appreciates against the RMB, the U.S. dollar equivalent of the RMB we convert would be reduced. In August 2015, the PRC Government devalued its currency by approximately 3%, represented the largest yuan depreciation for 20 years. Concerns remain that China’s slowing economy, and in particular its exports, will need a stimulus that can only come from further cuts in the exchange rate.
Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions. While we may enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these transactions may be limited, and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure at all. In addition, the depreciation of significant U.S. dollar denominated assets could result in a charge to our income statement and a reduction in the value of these assets.
PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC domestic residents may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners to personal liability, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries, limit our subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us.
SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as “SAFE Circular 75” promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 (the “SAFE Notice”) requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle” (the “SPV”). SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. Under the SAFE Notice, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth above could result in liability under Chinese law for foreign exchange evasion and may result in penalties and legal sanctions, including fines, the imposition of restrictions on a Chinese subsidiary’s foreign exchange activities and its ability to distribute dividends to the SPV, its ability to pay the SPV proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation in respect of the Chinese subsidiary and the SPV’s ability to contribute additional capital into or provide loans to the Chinese subsidiary. After consultation with China counsel, we do not believe that any of our PRC domestic resident stockholders are subject to the SAFE registration requirement. However, we cannot provide any assurances that all of our stockholders who are PRC residents will not be required to make or obtain any applicable registrations or approvals required by these SAFE regulations in the future. The failure or inability of our PRC resident stockholders to comply with the registration procedures set forth therein may subject us to fines and legal sanctions, restrict our cross-border investment activities, or limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends or obtain foreign-exchange-dominated loans to our company.
As it is uncertain how the SAFE regulations will be interpreted or implemented, we cannot predict how these regulations will affect our business operations or future strategy. For example, we may be subject to more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the SAFE regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
We may be subject to fines and legal sanctions by SAFE or other PRC government authorities if we or our employees who are PRC citizens fail to comply with PRC regulations relating to employee stock options granted by offshore listed companies to PRC citizens.
On March 28, 2007, SAFE promulgated the Operating Procedures for Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Ownership Plans and Stock Option Plans of Offshore Listed Companies, or Circular 78. Under Circular 78, Chinese citizens who are granted share options by an offshore listed company are required, through a Chinese agent or Chinese subsidiary of the offshore listed company, to register with SAFE and complete certain other procedures, including applications for foreign exchange purchase quotas and opening special bank accounts. We and our Chinese employees who have been granted share options are subject to Circular 78. Failure to comply with these regulations may subject us or our Chinese employees to fines and legal sanctions imposed by SAFE or other PRC government authorities and may prevent us from further granting options under our share incentive plans to our employees. Such events could adversely affect our business operations.
Our business and financial performance may be materially adversely affected if the PRC regulatory authorities determine that our acquisition of Jinong constitutes a Round-trip Investment without the PRC Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) approval.
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies promulgated the Regulation on Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors (the “2006 M&A Rules”), which became effective on September 8, 2006. According to the 2006 M&A Rules, a “Round-trip Investment” is defined as having taken place when a PRC business that is owned, directly or indirectly, by PRC individual(s) is sold to a non-PRC entity that is established or controlled, directly or indirectly, by those same PRC individual(s) and their PRC affiliates. Under the 2006 M&A Rules, any Round-trip Investment must be approved by the MOFCOM. The application of the 2006 M&A Rules with respect to the definition of Round-trip Investment remains unclear with no consensus currently existing among the leading PRC law firms regarding the definition, scope of the applicability of the MOFCOM approval.
We, through Green New Jersey, acquired 100% capital stock of Jinong (the “Jinong Acquisition”), Jinong was a PRC business whose stockholders were two PRC individuals and a PRC entity, of which Mr. Tao Li, our current Chairman, President and CEO, was the controlling stockholder holding 31% of its shares. The PRC regulatory authorities may take the view that the Jinong Acquisition could be part of a Round-trip Investment. The PRC legal counsel of Jinong has opinioned that the Jinong Acquisition did not violate any PRC law, which would include the 2006 M&A Rules. We, however, cannot assure you that the PRC regulatory authorities, MOFCOM in particular, may take the same view as the PRC legal counsel. If the PRC regulatory authorities take the view that the Jinong Acquisition constitutes a Round-trip Investment under the 2006 M&A Rules, we cannot assure you we may be able to obtain the approval required from MOFCOM.
If the PRC regulatory authorities take the view that the Jinong Acquisition constitutes a Round-trip Investment without MOFCOM approval, they could invalidate our acquisition and ownership of Jinong. Additionally, the PRC regulatory authorities may take the view that the Jinong Acquisition constitutes a transaction which requires the prior approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, before MOFCOM approval is obtained. We believe that if this takes place, we may be able to find a way to re-establish control of Jinong’s business operations through a series of contractual arrangements rather than an outright purchase of Jinong. We cannot assure you that such contractual arrangements will be protected by PRC law or that we can receive as complete or effective economic benefit and overall control of Jinong’s business than if the Company had direct ownership of Jinong. In addition, we cannot assure you that such contractual arrangements can be successfully effected under PRC law. If we cannot obtain MOFCOM or CSRC approval if required by the PRC regulatory authorities to do so, and if we cannot put in place or enforce relevant contractual arrangements as an alternative and equivalent means of control of Jinong, our corporate structure, in particular, the control asserted by the shareholders in the United States will be materially adversely affected.
Jinong’s contractual arrangements with Yuxing may result in adverse tax consequences to us.
We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that Jinong’s contractual arrangements with Yuxing were not made on an arm’s length basis and adjust our income and expenses for PRC tax purposes in the form of a transfer pricing adjustment. A transfer pricing adjustment could result in a reduction, for PRC tax purposes, of adjustments recorded by Yuxing, which could adversely affect us by increasing Yuxing’s tax liability without reducing Jinong’s tax liability, which could further result in late payment fees and other penalties to Yuxing for underpaid taxes.
We control Yuxing through contractual arrangements which may not be as effective in providing control over Yuxing as direct ownership, and if Yuxing or its shareholders breach the contractual arrangements, we would have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, which may not be available or effective, to enforce or protect our rights.
Effective June 16, 2013, we conduct substantially all of our operations on agriculture products, and generate substantially all of our revenues from agriculture products, through contractual arrangements with our VIE, Yuxing, that provide us, through our ownership of Green New Jersey and its ownership of Jinong, with effective control over Yuxing. We have no direct ownership interest in Yuxing. We depend on Yuxing to hold and maintain agriculture products contracts with our customers. Yuxing also owns substantially all of our property, facilities and other assets relating to the operation of our agriculture products business, and employs the personnel for substantially all of our agriculture products business. Neither our company nor Jinong has any ownership interest in Yuxing. Although we believe that that each contract under Jinong’s contractual arrangements with Yuxing is valid, binding and enforceable under current PRC laws and regulations in effect, these contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with control over Yuxing as direct ownership of Yuxing would be. In addition, Yuxing may breach the contractual arrangements. For example, Yuxing may decide not to make contractual payments to Jinong, and consequently to our company, in accordance with the existing contractual arrangements. In the event of any such breach, we would have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law. These remedies may not always be available or effective, particularly in light of uncertainties in the PRC legal system.
Yuxing may also seek to renew its agreements on terms that are disadvantageous to us. Although we have entered into a series of agreements that provide us with substantial ability to control Yuxing, we may not succeed in enforcing our rights under them insofar as our contractual rights and legal remedies under PRC law are inadequate. If we are unable to renew these agreements on favorable terms when these agreements expire or enter into similar agreements with other parties, our business may not be able to operate or expand, and our operating expenses may significantly increase.
In addition, although we do not rely on Yuxing’s revenue, Yuxing’s VIE structure is subject to uncertainty amid the PRC’s changing legislative practice. In January 2015, China’s Ministry of Commerce unveiled a draft legislation that could change how the government is regulating corporate structures, especially for VIEs controlled by foreign investments. Instead of looking at “ownership”, the draft law focused on the entities or individuals hold control of a VIE. If a VIE is deemed to be controlled by foreign investors, it may be barred from operating in restricted sectors or the prohibited sectors listed on a “negative list”, where only companies controlled by Chinese nationals could operate, even if structured as VIEs.
In the event that the draft law is implemented in any form, and that the Company’s business was characterized as one of the “restricted” or “prohibited” sectors, Yuxing may be barred from operation which will materially adversely affect our business.
PRC laws and regulations governing our businesses and the validity of certain of our contractual arrangements are uncertain. If we are found to be in violation of such PRC laws and regulations, we could be subject to sanctions. In addition, changes in such PRC laws and regulations may materially and adversely affect our business.
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing our business, or the enforcement and performance of Yuxing’s contractual arrangements with Jinong. Jinong is considered a foreign invested enterprise under PRC law. As a result, Jinong is subject to PRC law limitations on its businesses and foreign ownership of Chinese companies. These laws and regulations are relatively new and may be subject to change, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness of newly enacted laws, regulations or amendments may be delayed, resulting in detrimental reliance by foreign investors. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively.
The PRC government has broad discretion in dealing with violations of laws and regulations, including levying fines, revoking business and other licenses and requiring actions necessary for compliance. In particular, licenses and permits issued or granted to us by relevant governmental bodies may be revoked at a later time by higher regulatory bodies. We cannot predict the effect of the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations on our businesses. We cannot assure you that our current ownership and operating structure would not be found in violation of any current or future PRC laws or regulations. As a result, we may be subject to sanctions, including fines, and could be required to restructure our operations or cease to provide certain services. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Any of these or similar actions could significantly disrupt our business operations or restrict us from conducting a substantial portion of our business operations, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The PRC environment laws and regulations may adversely impact on our business.
Our manufacturing operations are subject to numerous environment laws, ordinances and regulations. These laws, ordinances and regulations address and regulate, among other matters, wastewater discharge, air quality and the generation, handling, storage, treatment, disposal and transportation of solid and hazardous waste. It is possible that compliance with a new regulatory requirement could impose significant compliance costs on us. Such costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We believe that we have obtained all permits, licenses and approvals, and filed all registrations required for the conduct of our business, except where the failure to obtain such permit, license or approval, or file any registration would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We have not been notified by any governmental authority of any continuing noncompliance, liability or other claim in connection with any of our properties or business operations, nor are we aware of any other material environmental condition with respect to any of our properties or arising out of our business operations at any other location.
However, No assurance can be given that all potential environmental liabilities have been identified or properly quantified or that any prior owner, operator, or tenant has not created an environmental condition unknown to us. Moreover, no assurance can be given that (i) future laws, ordinances or regulations will not impose any material environmental liability or (ii) the current environmental condition of the properties will not be affected by the condition of land or operations in the vicinity of the properties (such as the presence of underground storage tanks), or by third parties unrelated to us.
PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds we received from any offerings to make loans to our PRC subsidiaries or to make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
We are a holding company in the United States conducting our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries. In utilizing the proceeds we received from any offerings, we may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries, whether currently in existence or to be formed in the future, or make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries.
Any loans we make to our PRC subsidiaries cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with SAFE, or its local counterparts. Under applicable PRC law, the government authorities must approve a foreign-invested enterprise’s registered capital amount, which represents the total amount of capital contributions made by the stockholders that have registered with the registration authorities. In addition, the authorities must also approve the foreign-invested enterprise’s total investment, which is equal to the company’s registered capital plus the amount of stockholder loans it is permitted to borrow under the law. The ratio of registered capital to total investment cannot be lower than the minimum statutory requirement. If we make loans to our operating subsidiaries in China that does not exceed its current maximum amount of borrowings, we will have to register each loan with SAFE or its local counterpart for the issuance of a registration certificate of foreign debts. In practice, it could be time-consuming to complete such SAFE registration process. Alternatively or concurrently with the loans, we might make capital contributions to our operating subsidiaries in China and such capital contributions involve uncertainties of their own. Further, SAFE promulgated a new circular (known as Circular 142) in August 2008 with respect to the administration of conversion of foreign exchange capital contributions of a foreign invested enterprise. The circular clarifies that RMB converted from foreign exchange capital contributions can only be used for the activities within the approved business scope of such foreign invested enterprise and cannot be used for domestic equity investments unless otherwise permitted.
While we do not foresee this to happen in the near future, with respect to future loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, when the need arises. If circumstances call and if we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we receive from this offering and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely and materially affect our ability to fund and expand our business.
If we were deemed as a “resident enterprise” by PRC tax authorities, we could be subject to tax on our global income at the rate of 25% under the new Enterprise Income Tax Law (“2008 EIT Law”) in the PRC and our non-PRC shareholders could be subject to certain PRC taxes.
Under the 2008 EIT Law and the implementing rules, both of which became effective January 1, 2008, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with “de facto management bodies” within the PRC may be considered a PRC “resident enterprise” and will be subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its global income as well as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. The implementing rules of the 2008 EIT Law define “de facto management” as “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise. If we were to be considered a “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities, our global income would be taxable under the 2008 EIT Law at the rate of 25% and, to the extent we were to generate a substantial amount of income outside of PRC in the future, we would be subject to additional taxes. In addition, the dividends we pay to our non-PRC enterprise shareholders and gains derived by such shareholders from the transfer of our shares may also be subject to PRC withholding tax at the rate up to 10%, if such income were regarded as China-sourced income. In addition, the circular mentioned above details that certain Chinese-invested enterprises controlled by Chinese enterprises or Chinese group enterprises will be classified as “resident enterprises” if the following are located or resident in China: senior management personnel and departments that are responsible for daily production, operation and management; financial and personnel decision making bodies; key properties, accounting books, company seal, and minutes of board meetings and stockholders’ meetings; and half or more of the directors with voting rights or senior management. However, as of the date hereof, no final interpretation on the implementation of the “resident enterprise” designation is available. Moreover, any such designation, when made by PRC tax authorities, will be determined based on the facts and circumstances of individual cases. As a result, we cannot determine the likelihood or consequences of our being designated a “resident enterprise” as of the date hereof.
If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a “resident enterprise,” we may be subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide income and dividends paid by us to our non-PRC stockholders as well as capital gains recognized by them with respect to the sale of our stock may be subject to a PRC withholding tax. This will have an impact on our effective tax rate, a material adverse effect on our net income and results of operations, and may require us to withhold tax on our non-PRC stockholders.
Because our principal assets are located outside of the United States and because almost all of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States, it may be difficult for you to use the United States Federal securities laws to enforce your rights against us and our officers and most of our directors or to enforce judgments of United States courts against us or most of our directors and officers in the PRC.
Almost all of our present officers and directors reside outside of the United States. In addition, our operating subsidiaries are located in the PRC and substantially all of their assets are located outside of the United States. It may therefore be difficult for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights based on the civil liability provisions of the United States Federal securities laws against us and our officers and most of our directors in the courts of either the United States or the PRC and, even if civil judgments are obtained in courts of the United States, to enforce such judgments in PRC courts. It is unclear if extradition treaties now in effect between the United States and the PRC would permit effective enforcement against us or most of our directors and officers of criminal penalties, under the United States Federal securities laws or otherwise. In addition, enforcement of a foreign judgment in the PRC may be limited or otherwise affected by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, arrangement, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and will be subject to a statutory limitation of time within which proceedings may be brought.
Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.
We are required to comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which generally prohibits United States companies from engaging in bribery or other prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Foreign companies, including some that may compete with us, are not subject to these prohibitions, and therefore may have a competitive advantage over us. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs, theft and other fraudulent practices may occur in the PRC. If our competitors engage in these practices they may receive preferential treatment, giving our competitors an advantage in securing business, which would put us at a disadvantage. We can make no assurance that our employees or other agents will not engage in such conduct for which we might be held responsible. If our employees or other agents are found to have engaged in such practices, we could suffer severe penalties and other consequences that may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may have difficulty managing the risk associated with doing business in the Chinese fertilizer and agricultural products sectors.
In general, the fertilizer and agricultural products sectors in China is affected by a series of factors, including, but not limited to, natural, economic and social such as climate, market, technology, regulation, and globalization, which makes risk management difficult. Fertilizer and agricultural products operations in China face similar risks as present in other countries, however, in the PRC these can either be mitigated or exacerbated due to governmental intervention through policy promulgation and implementation either in the fertilizer and agricultural products or sectors which provide critical inputs to fertilizer and agricultural products such as energy or outputs such as transportation. While not an exhaustive list, the following factors could significantly affect our ability to do business:
·food, feed, and energy demand including liquid fuels and crude oil;
·agricultural, financial, energy and renewable energy and trade policies;
·input and output pricing due to market factors and regulatory policies;
· production and crop progress due to adverse weather conditions, equipment deliveries, and water and irrigation conditions; and
·infrastructure conditions and policies.
Currently, we do not hold and do not intend to purchase insurance policies to protect revenue in the case that the above conditions cause losses of revenue.
Risks Related to an Investment in our Stock.
We have not paid any cash dividends and no cash dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future.
We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future and we may not have sufficient funds legally available to pay dividends. Even if the funds are legally available for distribution, we may nevertheless decide not to pay, or may be unable to pay, any dividends. We intend to retain all earnings for our company’s operations.
The market price for our common stock may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations, which may adversely affect the price at which you can sell our shares.
The market price for our common stock may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including the following:
·actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operations results;
·filing of a class action lawsuit against us and certain of our current and former officers;
·changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;
·conditions in foreign or domestic fertilizer and agricultural markets;
·changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other companies in the same industry;
· announcements by us or our competitors of new products, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;
·addition or departure of key personnel;
·fluctuations of exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar;
·intellectual property litigation;
·general economic or political conditions in the PRC; and
·Other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control.
In addition, the securities market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.
We may require additional financing in the future and our operations could be curtailed if we are unable to obtain required additional financing when needed.
We may need to obtain additional equity or debt financing to fund future capital expenditures. Additional equity may result in dilution to the holders of our outstanding shares of capital stock. Additional debt financing may include conditions that would restrict our freedom to operate our business, such as conditions that:
·limit our ability to pay dividends or require us to seek consent for the payment of dividends;
·increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
· require us to dedicate a portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund capital expenditures, working capital and other general corporate purposes; and
·limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry.
We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain any additional financing on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all.
An SEC investor bulletin regarding reverse mergers may drive down the market price of our common stock.
On June 9, 2011, the SEC issued an investor bulletin in which it explained the process by which a company becomes a public company by means of a reverse merger, described the potential risks of investing in a reverse merger company and detailed recent enforcement actions taken by it against certain reverse merger companies. In particular the investor bulletin raised specific concerns with respect to foreign companies that access the U.S. markets through the reverse merger process, as we did. The SEC investor bulletin could lead investors in our common stock to sell their shares and may cause other investors not to invest in us, thus driving down the market price of our common stock or making it more difficult for us to raise funds in the future.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2.PROPERTIES
There is no private ownership of land in China. All land is owned by the PRC government on behalf of all Chinese citizens or collectively owned by farmers. Land use rights can be granted or transferred with or without consideration upon approval by the PRC State Land Administration Bureau or its authorized branches.
Our principal executive offices are located at 3rd floor, Borough A, Block A. No. 181, South Taibai Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi province, PRC 710065. The office space is approximately 360 square meters (3,875 square feet). It is leased from Xi’an Kingtone Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Kingtone Information”), for a term of two years from July 1, 2014 at monthly rent of RMB24,480 (approximately $4,000) for 612 square meters (approximately 6,588 square feet) of office space.
Through Jinong, we own an approximately 6,495 square meters (69,911 square feet) production facility that manufactures liquid fertilizer products and a 13,803 square meter (148,576 square feet) production facility that produces liquid and highly concentrated (powdered) fertilizers, located in the Yang Ling Agriculture High-tech Demonstration Zone, on No. 6 Guhua 5 Road, Yangling, Xi’an, Shaanxi province, PRC 712100. The production facilities occupied approximately 30,947 square meters (333,111 square feet) of land, which contains office buildings, warehouses and research laboratories. The production lines have a total annual production capacity of 55,000 metric tons. We own the land use rights for the land Jinong’s manufacturing facilities are situated for a term of 50 years from 2001.
Yuxing, Jinong’s wholly-owned subsidiary, has land use rights to over 353,000 square meters (3,799,660 square feet) of land located in Hu County, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province on which we have built 98 sunlight greenhouses and 6 intelligent greenhouses as part of a research and development center currently under construction.
Through Gufeng and Tianjuyuan, we own an additional 17,930 square meters (approximately 192,997 square feet) of manufacturing, office and warehouse space and 47,110 square meters (approximately 507,088 square feet) of auxiliary facilities of the building located on approximately 42,726 square meters (459,898 square feet) of land located in No. 6 Mafang Logistics Park, Pinggu, Beijing. In addition, the eight manufacturing facilities of Gufeng and Tianjuyuan collectively increased our total annual production capacity by another 500,000 metric tons.
Tianjuyuan leases approximately 47,333 square meters (509,488 square feet) of land in the Ping Gu District of Beijing. Under the lease dated February 16, 2004 with the village committee of Dong Gao Village and Zhen Nan Zhang Dai Village in the Beijing Ping Gu District, Tianjuyuan leases the land at an annual rent of RMB 35,500 (approximately $5,591). The lease term is from February 1, 2004 to January 31, 2054. However, according to our PRC counsel, such lease is invalid and unenforceable pursuant to the PRC Land Administration Law and related regulations. Therefore, we are in the process of applying for the proper land use right certificate from the relevant government authority. There can be no assurance such land use right certificate will be granted to us.
The details on our properties and manufacturing facilities are described in the table below:
* (1) As of June 30, 2015, the encumbrances over our land use right and building ownership are summarized as below:
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.
This item is not applicable to us.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
Market Information
We have two classes of equity securities: (i) common stock, par value $.001 per share, 35,928,413 shares of which were outstanding as of September 15, 2015, and (ii) preferred stock, par value $.001 per share, of which no shares were outstanding as of September 15, 2015. Since December 7, 2009, our common stock has been listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “CGA”. From March 9, 2009 to December 4, 2009, our common stock was listed and traded on the NYSE MKT, formerly known as NYSE Amex Equities. From August 27, 2007 until March 9, 2009, our common stock was traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board.
The table below sets forth the high and low sales prices for our common stock for each fiscal quarter during the past two fiscal years based on reports from Yahoo Finance.
Holders
As of September 15, 2015, there were approximately 610 shareholders of record of our common stock. This does not reflect the number of persons or entities who held stock in nominee or “street” name through various brokerage firms.
Dividends
Our board of directors has not declared a dividend on our common stock during the last two fiscal years or the subsequent interim period due to our business expansion and integration in the last two fiscal years and in the subsequent interim period, which required and would require a high demand on capital.
The payment of dividends, if any, is at the discretion of the Board of Directors and is contingent on the Company’s revenues and earnings, capital requirements, financial conditions and the ability of our operating subsidiaries to obtain approval to send money out of the PRC. The PRC's national currency, the Yuan, is not a freely convertible currency. Please read “ Our subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends and making other payments to our subsidiary, Green New Jersey; as a result, we might therefore, be unable to pay dividends to you. ” under Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Report.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
On October 27, 2009, our Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted the Company’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). On December 11, 2009, our stockholders approved the Incentive Plan. The Incentive Plan gives us the ability to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock and other stock-based awards to our employees, consultants and to non-employee members of our advisory board or our Board or the board of directors of any of our subsidiaries. On September 28, 2012, October 25, 2013 and May 15, 2015, our Board approved the amendment to increase of three million shares of Common Stock reserved under the Incentive Plan each time. 	All three amendments were approved by our stockholders on the annual meeting held on December 15, 2012, December 22, 2013, and June 30, 2015, respectively. As a result, a total of 11.26 million shares of Common Stock have been reserved under the Incentive Plan.
As of June 30, 2015, options to purchase an aggregate of shares of Common Stock had been granted under the Incentive Plan. Options granted in the future under the Incentive Plan are within the discretion of our Board or our compensation committee, as delegated by the Board. The following table summarizes the number of shares of our Common Stock authorized for issuance under our Incentive Plan as of June 30, 2015.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total return on our common stock, the NYSE Composite Index and a peer group index consisting of companies reporting under the Standard Industrial Classification Code 2870 over the period commencing on June 30, 2009 and ending on June 30, 2015.
The performance graph in this Item 5 is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under the Exchange Act or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date of this Report and irrespective of any general incorporation language in such filings.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Unregistered Securities.
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated income statement data for the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2015 and 2014 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Report. Our selected consolidated income statement data for the year ended June 30, 2013 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2013, 2012 have been derived from our audited financial statements which are not included in this Report. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in any future period.
Note: We acquired Gufeng and its wholly owned subsidiary Tianjuyuan on July 2, 2010.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes to those financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as the slow-down of the global financial markets and its impact on economic growth in general, the competition in the fertilizer industry and the impact of such competition on pricing, revenues and margins, the weather conditions in the areas where our customers are based, the cost of attracting and retaining highly skilled personnel, the prospects for future acquisitions, and the factors set forth elsewhere in this report, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this report will in fact occur. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this report.
The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except to the extent required by U.S. federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Further, the information about our intentions contained in this report is a statement of our intention as of the date of this report and is based upon, among other things, the existing regulatory environment, industry conditions, market conditions and prices, and our assumptions as of such date. We may change our intentions, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in our assumptions or otherwise.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in the following discussion, “Company”, “we,” “us,” and “our,” refer to (i) China Green Agriculture, Inc. (“Green Nevada”), a corporation incorporated in the State of Nevada; (ii) Green Agriculture Holding Corporation (“Green New Jersey”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Nevada incorporated in the State of New Jersey; (iii) Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd. (“Jinong”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green New Jersey organized under the laws of the PRC; (iv) Xi’an Hu County Yuxing Agriculture Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Yuxing”), a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) controlled by Jinong in the PRC; (v) Beijing Gufeng Chemical Products Co., Ltd. (“Gufeng”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jinong in the PRC, and (vi) Beijing Tianjuyuan Fertilizer Co., Ltd. (“Tianjuyuan”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gufeng in the PRC.
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to (i) “PRC” and “China” are to the People’s Republic of China; (ii) “U.S. dollar,” “$” and “US$” are to United States dollars; and (iii) “RMB”, “Yuan” and Renminbi are to the currency of the PRC or China.
Overview
We are engaged in research, development, production and sale of various types of fertilizers and agricultural products in the PRC through our wholly-owned Chinese subsidiaries, Jinong and Gufeng (including Gufeng’s subsidiary Tianjuyuan), and our VIE, Yuxing. Our primary business is fertilizer products, specifically humic-acid based compound fertilizer produced by Jinong and compound fertilizer, blended fertilizer, organic compound fertilizer, slow-release fertilizer, highly-concentrated water-soluble fertilizer and mixed organic-inorganic compound fertilizer produced by Gufeng. In addition, through Yuxing, we develop and produce various agricultural products, such as top-grade fruits, vegetables, flowers and colored seedlings. For financial reporting purposes, our operations are organized into three business segments: fertilizer products (Jinong), fertilizer products (Gufeng) and agricultural products production (Yuxing).
The fertilizer business conducted by Jinong and Gufeng generated approximately 98.4%,98.4% and 98.4% of our total revenues for the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Yuxing serves as a research and development base for our fertilizer products. Previously, Jintai had served in that capacity as well. However, as reported in our previous annual and quarterly reports, as a result of environmental degradation that harmed Jintai’s flora, we started to relocate Jintai’s facilities to Yuxing. As a result, Jintai has not been in operation since the ongoing relocation commenced in March 1, 2012 and for the year ended June 30, 2015, the relocation and dissolution process were completed.
Fertilizer Products
As of June 30, 2015, we had developed and produced a total of 459 different fertilizer products in use, of which 127 were developed and produced by Jinong and 332 by Gufeng.
Below is a table that shows the metric tons of fertilizer sold by Jinong and Gufeng and the revenue per ton for the periods indicated:
For the year ended June 30, 2015, we sold approximately 361,779 metric tons of fertilizer products, as compared to 316,450 metric tons for the year ended June 30, 2014. For the year ended June 30, 2015, Jinong sold approximately 74,351 metric tons of fertilizer products, as compared to 60,629 metric tons for the year ended June 30, 2014. This increase was mainly attributable to the greater sales of humic acid fertilizer products during this period as a result of the increased number of our distributors and our marketing efforts. For the year ended June 30, 2015, Gufeng sold approximately 287,428 metric tons of fertilizer products, as compared to 255,821 metric tons for the year ended June 30, 2014. The increase was mainly due to the large amount sales to China National Agricultural Means of Production Group Corporation ("Sino-agri Group") during the last year compared with the same period last year.
Our sales of fertilizer products to five provinces accounted for approximately 53.1% of our fertilizer revenue for year ended June 30, 2015. Specifically, the provinces and their respective percentage contributed to our fertilizer revenues were: Beijing (26.2%), Shaanxi (10.7%), Hebei (5.8%), Guangdong (5.6%) and Heilongjiang (4.9%).
As of June 30, 2015, we had a total of 1,292 distributors covering 27 provinces, four autonomous regions and three central government-controlled municipalities in China. Jinong had 1,010 distributors in China. Jinong’s sales are not dependent on any single distributor or any group of distributors. Jinong’s top five distributors accounted for 1.5% of its fertilizer revenues for the year ended June 30, 2015. Gufeng had 282 distributors, including some large state-owned enterprises. Gufeng’s top five distributors accounted for 74.8% of its revenues for the year ended June 30, 2015.
Agricultural Products
Through Yuxing, we develop, produce and sell high-quality flowers, green vegetables and fruits to local marketplaces and various horticulture and planting companies. We also use certain of Yuxing’s greenhouse facilities to conduct research and development activities for our fertilizer products. The three PRC provinces that accounted for 92.8% of our agricultural products revenue for the year ended June 30, 2015 were Shaanxi (87.9%), Sichuan (2.6%), Gansu (2.3%).
Recent Developments
New Products
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, Jinong launched six new fertilizer products. Jinong’s new products generated approximately $552,384, or 1.7% of Jinong’s fertilizer revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Jinong also added 32 new distributors for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Jinong’s new distributors accounted for approximately $1,244,135, or 3.7% of Jinong’s fertilizer revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Jinong’s revenue attributable to the new products distributed by its new distributors was approximately $58,299, or 0.2% of Jinong’s fertilizer revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2015.
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, Gufeng added 4 new distributors. Gufeng’s new distributors accounted for approximately $509,334, or 0.4% of Gufeng’s fertilizer revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2015.
Business Development
Cooperation with Sino-agri Group
In October 2014, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries organized under the laws of the PRC, Gufeng and Jinong, both entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Sino-agri Mining Resource Exploration Co., Ltd. ("Sino-agri"), a key subsidiary of Sino-agri Group.
Sino-agri Group is a nationwide large-scale enterprise group that integrates production, circulation and service as well as specializes in the agricultural means of production, such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, agricultural machinery & implements, etc. It is an enterprise with the corresponding level of the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and an exclusively-invested enterprise of China CO-OP Group (http://www.chinacoop.coop/English/About%20China%20co-ops), which have the total assets of RMB30 billion, sales revenue of more than RMB72 billion, and the sales volume of more than 25 million tons for the agricultural materials. (For more information, please visit: http://english.sino-agri.com/show.php?id=10 ).
The objective of the strategic cooperation agreement between Sino-argi and Gufeng is for Sino-argi and Gufeng to work together with sales goals in three years. Specifically, pursuant to the agreement, Sino-agri shall sell 150,000 metric tons of compound fertilizers produced by Gufeng ("Gufeng Fertilizers") during the calendar year 2015; 300,000-metric-ton Gufeng fertilizers during 2016 and 500,000-metric-ton Gufeng Fertilizers in 2017 to promote Gufeng's flagship products.
To accomplish the sales goals of the agreement, Sino-agri and Gufeng are committed to strengthen the production and marketing of Gufeng Fertilizers comprehensively. Specifically, Gufeng will team up with Sino-agri to secure raw materials supplies by leveraging Sino-agri's global access to related raw materials. With that, Gufeng will deliver Sino-agri customized Gufeng Fertilizers upon the orders from Sino-agri's heterogeneous customers. In the next three-year period, Gufeng will be able to tap needed financial credit facilities from Sino-agri to fill the Sino-agri orders. In addition to Gufeng Fertilizers, Gufeng is committed to offer product support for Sino-agri's clients which includes, but not limit to, soil testing, fertilizer comparison and testing, as well as fertilizer solutions. In parallel, Sino-agri will give priority to purchase Gufeng Fertilizer to replenish its compound fertilizer inventory.
The objective of the strategic cooperation agreement between Sino-argi and Jinong is to require both parties to achieve the following sales goals in the next three years: Sino-agri Group sells 10,000 metric tons high-concentrated fertilizer produced by Jinong in the calendar year of 2015; 20,000 metric tons in 2016 and 50,000 metric tons in 2017. The mission under the agreement is to establish a long-term strategic partnership that is mutually beneficial to both parties. To take advantage of Sino-agri Group's state-owned advantage in fertilizer distribution both domestic and overseas, Jinong will work with Sino-agri Group to improve Jinong's supply chain management in the procurement of raw material, and the sale of concentrated fertilizer products. Specifically, Sino-agri Group will provide quality raw materials and favorite lead time to Jinong. In return, Jinong will deliver to Sino-agri quality concentrated fertilizer at fair market price. In addition, Sino-agri Group will offer large support of working capital and investment to Jinong if Jinong needs liquidity and capital investment to expand production. In the meantime, Jinong concentrates on differentiating the market demand for Sino-agri and will customize corresponding product development and production process respectively.
We are very excited for having entered this partnership with Sino-agri, and the result is satisfactory Sino-agri has purchased a total of at $63,818,569fertilizer products during the year ended June 30, 2015, which accounted for 24.5% of the total sales of fertilizer products from Company. We believe our partnership with Sino-agri will be extraordinary. These agreements are win-win showcases between us and the large state-owned enterprise in China.
Cooperation with 900LH.com
The Company’s affiliate, 900LH.com Food Co., Ltd. ("900LH.com", previously announced as Xi'an Gem Grain Co., Ltd) has entered into an agreement to jointly build an “Agricultural Comprehensive Development Base Project” (the “Project”) with the Shiquan County Government in China on January 16, 2015. The total investment on the Project is expected to be three billion RMB (about 480 million USD). 900LH.com is a subsidiary of Xi'an Techteam Investment Holding (Group) Co., Ltd, ("Techteam Investment"). Techteam Investment is a holding company owned and controlled by Mr. Tao Li, Chairman and CEO of the Company. 900LH.com focuses on the production and sales of high-end organic agricultural products. It has contracted with more than 200 planting and breeding bases globally and prefers to utilize and promote the Company's fertilizers. The scope of the Project includes the development of Panlong Valley farm of 900LH.com, where the Company showcases its products. Panlong Valley is located at Shiquan County, Shaanxi Province, 150 miles southwest of Xi'an.
During the first phase of the foregoing project, 900LH.com will focus on building an ecological farm base. The base will include leisure farming, sightseeing, and sales of agriculture products. The total investment of the first phase would be one billion RMB (160 million USD approximately) including the cost of relocating local residents. In the second phase, the ecological farm will develop into a modern agriculture farm. The modern farm’s operation will include but not limit to, planting, breeding, agricultural products processing, and tourism. The investment of the second phase would be two billion RMB (320 million USD approximately).
The Company and 900LH.com have entered into an agreement that the Company’s fertilizers will be exclusively supplied to all plants and agricultural products in the Project and 900LH.com will promote the Company’s fertilizers to all its affiliated farms. In the Project, 900LH.com, the Company, and the government in Shaanxi Province will collaborate closely.
A New Business Model
The Company has made progress on its proprietary online sales platform of agriculture basic materials. Distributors of the Company will be able to set up stores on the platform to sell the Company’s products and other types of products such as pesticides and seeds they distribute for various manufacturers. The Company will compensate the distributors for their online sales performance of the Company's products accordingly. The platform began operating in March 2015.
Results of Operations
Year ended June 30, 2015 Compared to the Year ended June 30, 2014.
FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30
Net Sales
Total net sales for the year ended June 30, 2015 were $263,354,288, an increase of $29,952,200 or 12.8%, from $233,402,088 for the year ended June 30, 2014. This increase was due to an increase in Gufeng’s and Jinong’s net sales.
For the year ended June 30, 2015, Jinong’s net sales increased $12,649,135, or 10.7%, to $130,355,168 from $117,706,033 for the year ended June 30, 2014. This increase was mainly attributable to the greater sales of humic acid fertilizer products including our liquid and powder fertilizers during this period as a result of our aggressive marketing strategy and the increased number of our distributors.
For the year ended June 30, 2015, Gufeng’s net sales were $128,675,606, an increase of $16,664,373, or 14.9% from $112,011,233 for the year ended June 30, 2014. The increase was mainly attributable to Gufeng’s expanding of its marketing promotion strategy, especially the large amount sale to Sino-agri Group during the last fiscal year.
For the year ended June 30, 2015, Yuxing’s net sales were $4,323,514, an increase of $638,692 or 17.3%, from $3,684,822 for the year ended June 30, 2014. The increase was mainly attributable to the increase in market demand and the higher prices on Yuxing’s top grade flowers during the last fiscal year.
Cost of Goods Sold
Total cost of goods sold for the year ended June 30, 2015 was $159,398,386, an increase of $17,195,071, or 12.1%, from $142,203,315 for the year ended June 30, 2014. This increase was mainly due to the 13.7% increase in net sales.
Cost of goods sold by Jinong for the year ended June 30, 2015 was $51,948,851, an increase of $3,319,756, or 6.8%, from $48,629,095 for the year ended June 30, 2014. The increase in cost of goods was primarily attributable to Jinong’s higher net sales.
Cost of goods sold by Gufeng for the year ended June 30, 2015 was $104,361,828, an increase of $13,613,288, or 15.0%, from $90,748,540 for the year ended June 30, 2014. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in the cost of raw materials and an increase in the sales of fertilizer products.
For year ended June 30, 2015, cost of goods sold by Yuxing was $3,087,707, an increase of $262,027, or 9.3%, from $2,825,680 for the year ended June 30, 2014. This increase was mainly due to the increase in Yuxing’s net sales.
Gross Profit
Total gross profit for the year ended June 30, 2015 increased by $12,757,129 to $103,955,902, as compared to $91,198,773 for the year ended June 30, 2014. Gross profit margin was 39.5% and 39.1% for the year ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Gross profit generated by Jinong increased by $9,329,379, or 13.5%, to $78,406,317 for the year ended June 30, 2015 from $69,076,938 for the year ended June 30, 2014. Gross profit margin from Jinong’s sales was approximately 60.1% and 58.7% for the year ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in gross profit margin was mainly due to the increased weight for higher-margin products sales in Jinong’s total sales due to Jinong’s sales strategy. Jinong has adjusted its production process to focus on producing high-margin liquid fertilizer during the last fiscal year.
For the year ended June 30, 2015, gross profit generated by Gufeng was $24,313,778, an increase of $3,051,085, or 14.3%, from $21,262,693 for the year ended June 30, 2014. Gross profit margin from Gufeng’s sales was approximately 18.9% and 19.0% for the year ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The decrease in gross profit percentage was not significant.
For the year ended June 30, 2015, gross profit generated by Yuxing was $1,235,807, an increase of $376,665, or 43.8% from $859,142 for the year ended June 30, 2014. The gross profit margin was approximately 28.6% and 23.3% for the year ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in gross profit percentage was mainly due to the higher priced top grade flowers that Yuxing sold during the last fiscal year.
Selling Expenses
Our selling expenses consisted primarily of salaries of sales personnel, advertising and promotion expenses, freight-out costs and related compensation. Selling expenses were $9,010,486, or 3.4%, of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2015, as compared to $8,812,457 or 3.8% of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $198,029, or 2.2%. The selling expenses of Yuxing were $45,594 or 1.1% of Yuxing’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2015, as compared to $50,760, or 1.4% of Yuxing’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014. The selling expenses of Gufeng were $1,152,297 or 0.9% of Gufeng’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2015, as compared to $1,304,511, or 1.2% of Gufeng’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014. The selling expenses of Jinong for the year ended June 30, 2015 were $7,812,595 or 5.9% of Jinong’s net sales, as compared to selling expenses of $7,457,186, or 6.3% of Jinong’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014. The increase in Jinong’s selling expenses was due to Jinong’s expanded marketing efforts and the increase in shipping costs which was caused by the increased sales.
Selling Expenses - amortization of deferred assets
Our selling expenses - amortization of our deferred assets were $41,902,052, or 15.8%, of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2015, as compared to $27,390,957 or 11.7% of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $14,511,095, or 53.0%. This increase was due to the increased amortization of the deferred tax assets for the year ended June 30, 2015 related to our business strategy implemented since December 2013 that assists distributors in certain marketing efforts and develops standard stores to expand our competitive advantages and market shares.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consisted primarily of related salaries, rental expenses, business development, depreciation and travel expenses incurred by our general and administrative departments and legal and professional expenses including expenses incurred and accrued for certain litigations. General and administrative expenses were $11,330,440, or 4.3% of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2015, as compared to $14,515,884, or 6.2%, of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of $3,185,444, or 21.9%. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the related expense in the stock compensation awarded to the employees which amounted to $5,186,870 for the year ended June 30, 2015 as compared to $8,119,724 for the year ended June 30, 2014.
Total Other Expenses
Total other expenses consisted of income from subsidies received from the PRC government, interest income, interest expenses and bank charges. Total other expense for the year ended June 30, 2015 was $1,350,983, as compared to $1,742,019 for the year ended June 30, 2014, a decrease in expense of $391,036, or 22.4%. The decrease in total other expense partly resulted from an increase in interest income by $162,201 or 115.6%, to $302,511 during the year ended June 30, 2015 as compared to $140,310 during the year ended June 30, 2014, due to the increased deposit in the banks as a result of our increased net income. There is also a $59,176 other income during the year ended June 30, 2015, as compared to a loss of $501,500 during the year ended June 30, 2014, The difference was mainly due to the decrease in non operating expense from $362,866 during the year ended June 30, 2014 to $8,767, as a result of our cost-control process.
Income Taxes
Jinong is subject to a preferred tax rate of 15% as a result of its business being classified as a High-Tech project under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT”) that became effective on January 1, 2008. Jinong incurred income tax expenses of $4,262,040for the year ended June 30, 2015, as compared to $4,249,206 for the year ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $12,834, or 0.3%. The increase was not significant.
Gufeng is subject to a tax rate of 25%, incurred income tax expenses of $4,654,774 for the year ended June 30, 2015, as compared to $3,811,740 for the year ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $843,034, or 22.1%, which was primarily due to Gufeng’s increased net income.
Yuxing has no income tax for the years ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 as a result of being exempted from paying income tax due to its products fall into the tax exemption list set out in the EIT.
Net Income
Net income for the year ended June 30, 2015 was $31,445,126, an increase of $5,930,431, or 23.2%, compared to $25,541,695 for the year ended June 30, 2014. The increase was attributable to the increase in net sales, offset by an increase in selling expenses and selling expenses - amortization of deferred asset. Net income as a percentage of total net sales was approximately 11.9% and 10.9% for the year ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Year ended June 30, 2014 Compared to the Year ended June 30, 2013.
FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30
Net Sales
Total net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014 were $233,402,088, an increase of $16,504,132, or 7.6%, from $216,897,956 for the year ended June 30, 2013. This increase was due to an increase in Gufeng’s and Jinong’s net sales.
For the year ended June 30, 2014, Jinong’s net sales increased $7,121,011, or 6.4%, to $117,706,033 from $110,585,022 for the year ended June 30, 2013. This increase was mainly attributable to the greater sales of humic acid fertilizer products including our liquid and powder fertilizers during this period as a result of our increased number of distributors and the aggressive marketing strategy.
For the year ended June 30, 2014, net sales at Gufeng were $112,011,233, an increase of $9,095,819 or 8.8% from $102,915,414 for the year ended June 30, 2013. The increase was mainly attributable to Gufeng’s expanding of its marketing promotion strategy.
For the year ended June 30, 2014, Yuxing’s net sales were $3,684,822, an increase of $287,302 or 8.5%, from $3,397,520 for the year ended June 30, 2013. The increase was mainly attributable to the development in sales of Yuxing’s top-grade flowers.
Cost of Goods Sold
Total cost of goods sold for the year ended June 30, 2014 was $142,203,315, an increase of $4,689,213, or 3.4%, from $137,514,102 for the year ended June 30, 2013.
Cost of goods sold by Jinong for the year ended June 30, 2014 was $48,629,095, a decrease of $3,254,840, or 6.3%, from $51,883,935 for the year ended June 30, 2013. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower product costs for the mix of products being sold.
Cost of goods sold by Gufeng for the year ended June 30, 2014 was $90,748,540, an increase of $7,728,093, or 9.3%, from $83,020,447 for the year ended June 30, 2013. The increase was proportional to Gufeng’s sales increase for the year ended June 30, 2014.
For year ended June 30, 2014, cost of goods sold by Yuxing was $2,825,680, an increase of $215,960, or 8.3%, from $2,609,720 for the year ended June 30, 2013. The increase was proportional to Yuxing’s increased sales for the year ended June 30, 2014.
Gross Profit
Total gross profit for the year ended June 30, 2014 increased by $11,814,919 to $91,198,773, as compared to $79,383,854 for the year ended June 30, 2013. Gross profit margin was 39.1% and 36.6% for the year ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Gross profit generated by Jinong increased by $10,375,851, or 17.7%, to $69,076,938 for the year ended June 30, 2014 from $58,701,087 for the year ended June 30, 2013. Gross profit margin from Jinong’s sales was approximately 58.7% and 53.1% for the year ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase in gross profit margin was mainly due to the increased weight for higher-margin products sales in Jinong’s total sales.
For the year ended June 30, 2014, gross profit generated by Gufeng was $21,262,693, an increase of $1,367,726, or 6.9%, from $19,894,967 for the year ended June 30, 2013. Gross profit margin from Gufeng’s sales was approximately 19.0% and 19.3% for the year ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The decrease in gross profit percentage was not significant.
For the year ended June 30, 2014, gross profit generated by Yuxing was $859,142, an increase of $71,342, or 9.1% from $787,800 for the year ended June 30, 2013. The gross profit margin was approximately 23.3% and 23.2% for the year ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase in gross profit percentage was not significant.
Selling Expenses
Our selling expenses consisted primarily of salaries of sales personnel, advertising and promotion expenses, freight-out costs and related compensation. Selling expenses were $8,812,457, or 3.8%, of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $4,395,154 or 2.0% of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $4,417,303, or 100.5%. The selling expenses of Yuxing were $50,759 or 1.4% of Yuxing’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $60,656, or 1.8% of Yuxing’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2013. The selling expenses of Gufeng were $1,304,511 or 1.16% of Gufeng’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $1,136,672, or 1.10% of Gufeng’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2013. The selling expenses of Jinong for the year ended June 30, 2014 were $7,457,187 or 6.3% of Jinong’s net sales, as compared to selling expenses of $3,197,826, or 2.9% of Jinong’s net sales for the year ended June 30, 2013. The increase in Jinong’s selling expenses was due to Jinong’s expanded marketing efforts and the increase in shipping costs.
Selling Expenses - amortization of deferred assets
Our selling expenses - amortization of our deferred assets were $27,390,957, or 11.7%, of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $9,970,715 or 4.6% of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $17,420,242, or 174.7%. The increase in selling expenses was due to the increased amortization of the deferred tax assets for the year ended June 30, 2014 related to our business strategy implemented since December 2013 that assists distributors in certain marketing efforts and develops standard stores to expand our competitive advantages and market shares.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consisted primarily of related salaries, rental expenses, business development, depreciation and travel expenses incurred by our general and administrative departments and legal and professional expenses including expenses incurred and accrued for certain litigations. General and administrative expenses were $14,515,884, or 6.2% of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $9,632,523, or 4.4%, of net sales for the year ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $4,883,361, or 50.7%. The increase in general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the related expense in the stock compensation awarded to the employees which amounted to $8,119,724 for the year ended June 30, 2014 as compared to $3,489,687 for the year ended June 30, 2013.
Impairment of assets
During the year ended June 30, 2014, we determined that the fair value of the assets held for sale deducted by disposal costs was less than the carrying amounts of the assets, hence we took an impairment charge of $5,161,815. Such an impairment was due to the facts that: 1) Most of Jintai’s greenhouse facilities could not be used during the migration process; 2) most piping systems could not be reused in the future; 3) the pavement and lawn property which were sold in the asset purchase contract could not be used again. There was no such impairment charge during the year ended June 30, 2013.
Total Other Expenses
Total other expenses consisted of income from subsidies received from the PRC government, interest income, interest expenses and bank charges. Total other expense for the year ended June 30, 2014 was $1,742,019, as compared to $427,426 for the year ended June 30, 2013, an increase in expense of $1,314,593, or 307.6%. The increase in total other expense resulted from a decrease by $1,114,508 in other income, to a loss of $501,500 during the year ended June 30, 2014, as compared to other income of $613,008 during the year ended June, 2013, which was mainly due to the $362,866 non operating expense; a decrease in interest income by $170,413 or 54.8%, to $140,310 during the year ended June 30, 2014 as compared to $310,723 during the year ended June 30, 2013, which was due to the decreased deposit in the banks; and an increase in interest expenses by $29,672 or 2.2% to $1,380,829 during the year ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $1,351,157 during the year ended June 30, 2013, which was mainly due to the interest expense from Gufeng’s outstanding short-term loans.
Income Taxes
Jinong is subject to a preferred tax rate of 15% as a result of its business being classified as a High-Tech project under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT”) that became effective on January 1, 2008. Jinong incurred income tax expenses of $249,206 for the year ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $6,654,038 for the year ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of $2,404,832, or 36.1%. The decrease was mainly due to the increased selling expense.
Gufeng is subject to a tax rate of 25%, incurred income tax expenses of $3,811,740 for the year ended June 30, 2014, as compared to $3,529,950 for the year ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $281,790, or 7.98%, which was primarily due to Gufeng’s increased net income.
Yuxing has no income tax for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 as a result of being exempted from paying income tax due to its products fall into the tax exemption list set out in the EIT.
Net Income
Net income for the year ended June 30, 2014 was $25,514,695, a decrease of $19,259,353, or 43.0%, compared to $44,774,048 for the year ended June 30, 2013. The decrease was attributable to the increase in selling expenses and the impairment charge related to the write-down of assets held for sale. Net income as a percentage of total net sales was approximately 10.9% and 20.6% for the year ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Discussion of Segment Profitability Measures
As of June 30, 2015, we were engaged in the following businesses: the production and sale of fertilizers through Jinong and Gufeng and the production and sale of high-quality agricultural products by Yuxing. For financial reporting purpose, our operations were organized into three main business segments based on locations and products: Jinong (fertilizer production), Gufeng (fertilizer production) and Yuxing (agricultural products production). Each of the segments has its own annual budget with regard to development, production and sales. Jintai has not been in operation since the ongoing relocation commenced in March 1, 2012 and now the relocation and dissolution process were completed.
Each of the three operating segments referenced above has separate and distinct general ledgers. The chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) makes decisions with respect to resources allocation and performance assessment upon receiving financial information, including revenue, gross margin, operating income and net income produced from the various general ledger systems; however, net income by segment is the principal benchmark to measure profit or loss adopted by the CODM.
For Jinong, the net income increased 0.9% by $220,283 to $23,489,745 for year ended June 30, 2015, from $23,269,462 for the year ended June 30, 2014. The difference was due to the increase in net sales offset by an increase in selling expenses.
For Gufeng, the net income increased by $2,493,052 or 22.1% to $13,764,794 for year ended June 30, 2015 from $11,271,742 for year ended June 30, 2014. The difference was due to the increase in net sales and the decrease in selling expenses.
For Yuxing, the net income increased 608.4% by $645,313 to $751,372 for year ended June 30, 2015 from $106,059 for year ended June 30, 2014. The increase was mainly due to the increased price of Yuxing’s top grade flowers for the year of 2015, offset by the decrease in its general and administrative expenses is a result of Yuxing’s more cost-control measures taken for the year ended June 30, 2015.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity include cash from operations, borrowings from local commercial banks and net proceeds of offerings of our securities consummated in July 2009 and November/December 2009 (collectively the “Public Offerings”).
As of June 30, 2015, cash and cash equivalents were $92,982,564, an increase of $66,092,243, or 245.8%, from $26,890,321 as of June 30, 2014.
On January 30, 2015, we paid $2,161,904 on dividend previously announced on October 1, 2014 to our stockholders of common stock on October 31, 2014, the record date. Certain stockholders, including the Company’s Chairman, Mr. Li, elected to waive the dividend payment and directed the Company to retain the funds for working capital purposes.
We intend to use some of the remaining net proceeds from the Public Offerings, as well as other working capital if required, to acquire new businesses, upgrade production lines and complete Yuxing’s new greenhouse facilities for agriculture products located on 88 acres of land in Hu County, 18 kilometers southeast of Xi’an city. Yuxing purchased a set of agricultural products test equipment for the year of 2015. We believe that we have sufficient cash on hand and positive projected cash flow from operations to support our business growth for the next twelve months to the extent we do not have further significant acquisitions or expansions. However, if events or circumstances occur and we do not meet our operating plan as expected, we may be required to seek additional capital and/or to reduce certain discretionary spending, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our business objectives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may seek additional financing as necessary for expansion purposes and when we believe market conditions are most advantageous, which may include additional debt and/or equity financings. There can be no assurance that any additional financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. Any equity financing may result in dilution to existing stockholders and any debt financing may include restrictive covenants.
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
Operating Activities
Net cash provided in operating activities was $67,534,917 for the year ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $50,922,565, or 306.5% from cash provided by operating activities of $16,612,352 for the year ended June 30, 2014. The increase was mainly attributable to the increase in net income, which was caused by the increased net sales, an increase in account receivable and taxes payable during the year ended June 30, 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended June 30, 2015 was $3,094,544, a decrease of $70,569,621, or 95.8% from cash used in investing activities of $73,664,165 for the year ended June 30, 2014. This decrease was due to the $6,595,134 other receivable. During the year ended June 30, 2015, Jinong assisted its distributors in marketing to expand its competitive product advantage and market share by advancing them $9,239,387 during the year ended June 30, 2015 compared to $72,061,705 during the year ended June 30, 2014.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided in financing activities for the year ended June 30, 2015 was $1,125,649, a decrease of $7,387,591 or 86.8% from cash provided by financing activities of $8,513,240 for the year ended June 30, 2014. During the year ended June 30, 2015, we received $21,844,890 from the proceeds from loans and repaid loans of $22,431,330 compared to $35,145,885 of proceeds and $27,282,645 repayments during the year ended June 30, 2014. In addition, during the year ended June 30, 2015, we sold 1,362,495 shares of our common stock for proceeds of $2,946,746 to our employees under our employee stock purchase plan and received $626,847 from the sale of 326,483 shares of our common stock to our Chairman, Mr. Li. In addition, we paid $2,161,904 cash dividend during the year ended June 30, 2015.
As of June 30, our loans payable were as follows:
Accounts Receivable
We had accounts receivable of $68,528,598 as of June 30, 2015, as compared to $88,781,608 as of June 30, 2014, a decrease of $20,253,010 or 22.8%. As of June 30, 2015, Gufeng had accounts receivable of $895,580, a decrease of $17,761,578, or 95.2%, comparing to $18,657,158 as of June 30, 2014. The decrease is mainly due to a number of large clients paid up their account payable to Gufeng during this year.
Allowance for doubtful accounts in account receivable for the year ended June 30, 2015 was $307,923, an increase of $70,329 or 29.6% from $237,594 as of June 30, 2014. And the allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of accounts receivable was 0.45% as of June 30, 2015 and 0.27% as of June 30, 2014.
Deferred assets
We had deferred assets of $51,527,209 as of June 30, 2015, as compared to $83,680,425 as of June 30, 2014. During the twelve months we assisted the distributors in certain marketing efforts and developing standard stores to expand our competitive advantage and market shares. Based on the distributor agreements, the amount owed by the distributors in certain marketing efforts and store development will be expensed over three years as long as the distributors are actively selling our products. If a distributor defaults, breaches, or terminates the agreement with us earlier than the contractual terms, the unamortized portion of the amount owed by the distributor is payable to us immediately. The Company’s Chairman and CEO, Mr. Li, provided credit backup guarantee toward potential losses to the Company of any amounts due from distributors in this matter.
Inventories
We had inventories of $101,302,947 as of June 30, 2015, as compared to $75,486,898 as of June 30, 2014, an increase of $25,816,049, or 34.2%. The principal reason for the increase is attributed to Gufeng’s inventory. As of June 30, 2015, Gufeng’s inventory was $82,342,457 as a result of the acquisition of raw materials at lower prices for the expected production and accumulation of finished fertilizer products in expecting a huge demand in the near future. These products are expected to be sold and shipped during the coming year.
Advances to Suppliers
We had advances to suppliers of $40,910,837 as of June 30, 2015 as compared to $32,630,865 as of June 30, 2014, representing an increase of $8,279,972 or 25.4% due to the large acquisition of raw material this year. To ensure our ability to deliver compound fertilizer to the distributor timely prior to the planting season, we need to have sufficient raw material in stock to stabilize the production. To build up the inventory, we typically make advance payment to the suppliers to secure the supply of raw material of basic fertilizer. Our inventory level may fluctuate from time to time, depending how fast the raw material gets consumed and replenished during the production process, and how fast the finished goods get sold. The replenishment of raw material relies on the management’s estimate of numerous factors, including but not limited to, the raw material’s future price, and spot price along with their volatility, as well as the seasonal demand and future price of finished fertilizer products. Such estimate may not be accurate, and the purchase decision of raw materials based on the estimate can cause excessive inventories in slow sales and insufficient inventories in peak times.
Accounts Payable
We had accounts payable of $2,372,130 as of June 30, 2015 as compared to $3,378,248 as of June 30, 2014, representing a decrease of $1,006,118, or 29.8%. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in Jinong’s account payable from $1,127,962 as of June 30, 2014 to $541,098 as of June 30, 2015, and the decrease in account payable was result from the different timing of payments to vendors.
Unearned Revenue
We had unearned revenue of $19,129,853 as of June 30, 2015 as compared to $25,700,586 as of June 30, 2014, representing a decrease of $6,570,733, or 25.6%. The decrease was mainly attributable to Gufeng’s $18,811,820 unearned revenue as of June 30, 2015, compared to $25,503,430 unearned revenue during the same period last year, caused by the advancement deposits made by client. We expect to deliver products to our customers during the next three months at which time we will recognize the revenue.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. Our financial statements reflect the selection and application of accounting policies which require management to make significant estimates and judgments. See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements, “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.” We believe that the following paragraphs reflect the more critical accounting policies that currently affect our financial condition and results of operations:
Use of estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management makes these estimates using the best information available at the time the estimates are made. However, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Revenue recognition
Sales revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, we have no other significant obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are satisfied are recorded as unearned revenue.
Our revenue consists of invoiced value of goods, net of a value-added tax (VAT). No product return or sales discount allowance is made as products delivered and accepted by customers are normally not returnable and sales discounts are normally not granted after products are delivered.
Cash and cash equivalents
For statement of cash flows purposes, we consider all cash on hand and in banks, certificates of deposit and other highly-liquid investments with maturities of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash and cash equivalents.
Accounts receivable
Our policy is to maintain reserves for potential credit losses on accounts receivable. Management reviews the composition of accounts receivable and analyzes historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment patterns to evaluate the adequacy of these reserves. Any accounts receivable of Jinong and Gufeng that is outstanding for more than 180 days will be accounted as allowance for bad debts, and any accounts receivable of Yuxing that is outstanding for more than 90 days will be accounted as allowance for bad debts.
Assets held for sale
Assets held for sale represent certain equipment from our Jintai facility that has been relocated. The carrying amount of the assets held for sale equals the fair value of the assets less disposal costs. These assets were sold prior to June 30, 2015.
Deferred assets
Deferred assets represent amounts the Company advanced to the distributors in their marketing and stores development to expand our competitive advantage and market shares. Based on the distributor agreements, the amount owed by the distributors in certain marketing efforts and store development will be expensed over three years as long as the distributors are actively selling our products. If a distributor defaults, breaches, or terminates the agreement with us earlier than the realization of the contractual terms, the unamortized portion of the amount owed by the distributor has to be refunded to us immediately. The Company’s Chairman and CEO, Mr. Li, provided credit backup guarantee toward potential losses to the Company of any amounts due from distributors in this matter.
Segment reporting
FASB ASC 280 requires use of the “management approach” model for segment reporting. The management approach model is based on the way a company’s management organizes segments within the company for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Reportable segments are based on products and services, geography, legal structure, management structure, or any other manner in which management disaggregates a company.
As of June 30, 2015, we were organized into three main business segments: Jinong (fertilizer production), Gufeng (fertilizer production) and Yuxing (agricultural products production).
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS
Disclosures About Market Risk
We may be exposed to changes in financial market conditions in the normal course of business. Market risk generally represents the risk that losses may occur as a result of movements in interest rates and equity prices. We currently do not use financial instruments in the normal course of business that are subject to changes in financial market conditions.
Currency Fluctuations and Foreign Currency Risk
Substantially all of our revenues and expenses are denominated in RMB. However, we use the U.S. dollar for financial reporting purposes. Conversion of RMB into foreign currencies is regulated by the People’s Bank of China through a unified floating exchange rate system. Although the PRC government has stated its intention to support the value of RMB, there can be no assurance that such exchange rate will not again become volatile or that RMB will not devalue significantly against the U.S. dollar. Exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect the value, in U.S. dollar terms, of our net assets and income derived from our operations in the PRC.
Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. Except for the U.S. holding companies, all of our consolidated revenues, consolidated costs and expenses, and our assets are denominated in RMB. As a result, we are exposed to foreign exchange risk as our revenues and results of operations may be affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate between U.S. dollars and RMB. If the RMB depreciates against the U.S. dollar, the value of our RMB revenues, earnings and assets as expressed in our U.S. dollar financial statements will decline. Assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates at the balance sheet dates and revenue and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates and shareholders’ equity is translated at historical exchange rates. Any resulting translation adjustments are not included in determining net income but are included in determining other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’ equity. As of June 30, 2015, our accumulated other comprehensive income was $25.6 million. We have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign exchange risk. The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions.. In August 2015, China’s currency dropped by a cumulative 4.4% against the U.S. dollar on hopes of boosting the domestic economy, making Chinese exports cheaper and imports into China more expensive by that amount. The effect on trade can be substantial. Moreover, it is possible that in the future, the PRC authorities may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the Renminbi exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.
Interest Rate Risk
We deposit surplus funds with Chinese banks earning daily interest. We do not invest in any instruments for trading purposes. All of our outstanding debt instruments carry fixed rates of interests. The amount of short-term debt outstanding as of June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014 was $23.6 million and $24.0 million, respectively. We are exposed to interest rate risk primarily with respect to our short-term bank loans. Although the interest rates, which are based on the banks’ prime rates with respect to our short-term loans are fixed for the terms of the loans, the terms are typically three to twelve months for short-term bank loans and interest rates are subject to change upon renewal. There were no material changes in interest rates for short-term bank loans renewed during the three months ended June 30, 2015. The original loan term on average is one year, and the remaining average life of the short term-loans is nine months.
Management monitors the banks’ prime rates in conjunction with our cash requirements to determine the appropriate level of debt balances relative to other sources of funds. We have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to interest rate risk.
Credit Risk
We have not experienced significant credit risk, as most of our customers are long-term customers with superior payment records. Our receivables are monitored regularly by our credit managers.
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, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues if the selling prices of our products do not increase with these increased costs.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Balance sheets, as of June 30, 2015 and 2014, and statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, together with the related notes and the reports of independent registered public accounting firms, are set forth on the “F” pages of this report.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
At the conclusion of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this Report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective and adequately designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms and that such information was accumulated and communicated to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in a manner that allowed for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Any system of internal control, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility that a control can be circumvented or overridden and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected in a timely manner. Also, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control will provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. In addition, the design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. Therefore, any current evaluation of controls cannot and should not be projected to future periods.
Management assessed our internal control over financial reporting as of the year ended June 30, 2015. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) (2013) in the report entitled "Internal Control-Integrated Framework." The 2013 COSO framework summarizes each of the components of a company’s internal control system, including (i) the control environment, (ii) risk assessment, (iii) control activities, (iv) information and communication, and (v) monitoring.
Based on management’s assessment using the 2013 COSO criteria, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of June 30, 2015 to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We are not required to have our internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2015 audited by our auditors because we are a smaller reporting company.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fourth fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2015 that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B.OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Set forth below are the names of our directors, executive officers and significant employees of our company as of the date of this Form 10-K, their ages, all positions and offices that they hold with us, the periods during which they have served as such, and their business experience during at least the last five years.
Name
Position with the Company
Age
Term as Director of
Company
Tao Li
Chairman of the Board of Directors
2007- Present
Ken Ren
Chief Financial Officer
2010- Present
Ale Fan
Director
2015- Present
Yiru Shi
Director
2011- Present
Chairman of the Audit Committee
Compensation Committee Member
Nominating Committee Member
Lianfu Liu
Director
2007- Present
Chairman of the Nominating Committee
Audit Committee Member
Compensation Committee Member
Jianlei Shen
Director
2015- Present
Chairman of the Compensation Committee
Audit Committee Member
Nominating Committee Member
Name Position with the Company and Principal Occupations
Tao Li Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President since December 26, 2007. Mr. Li has served as the President and CEO of Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary (“Jinong”), since 2000. Mr. Li established Xi’an TechTeam Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. in 1996 and established Jinong in 2000. Mr. Li is also currently the Chairman of Kingtone Wirelessinfo Solution Holding Ltd, a NASDAQ listed company. He graduated from Northwest Polytechnic University in Xi’an, China with a Master’s degree in heat and metal treatment. Mr. Li is the current Vice Chairman of the China Green Food Association. Previously, he has held positions at the World Bank Loan Office of China Education Commission, National Key Laboratory for Low Temperature Technology, and Northwest Polytechnic University. Mr. Li is active in Shaanxi Province business and trade organizations including as a member of the CPPCC Shaanxi Committee, the Shaanxi Provincial Decision-Making Consultation Committee, Vice Chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, Vice President of the Shaanxi Overseas Friendship Association, Vice Chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Credit Association, Vice Chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Youth Entrepreneurs Association, Vice Chairman of the Xi’an Municipal Federation of Industry and Commerce and Vice Chairman of the Xi’an Municipal Youth Entrepreneurs Association. Mr. Li, as the founder of our company, has been critical to our success and his experience brings to the board of directors an irreplaceable perspective with respect to our business and the industry in which we compete. These attributes make Mr. Li an ideal candidate to serve as our Chairman.
Ken Ren
Mr. Ren has served as the Chief Financial Officer of our company since April 23, 2010. Prior to joining our company, he served as a capital market analyst for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines since April 2009, where he analyzed, priced, and assisted in trading investments and issuing debt, conducted hedges and performed relative value analysis in the bank’s capital market group. From March 2008 to April 2009, Mr. Ren served as a senior investment associate at an asset management subsidiary of Wells Fargo, which provides money management services to institutional clients. Prior to that, Mr. Ren served as a portfolio analyst at Risk, Valuation and Analytics department, GMAC-ResCap from January 2007 through December 2007, where he was responsible for risk analytics in managing the credit residual portfolio. He worked in the ABS task force for Commerzbank from December 2007 to March 2008. Mr. Ren received a Ph.D. degree in Operations Research in 2006, and a M.S. degree in Computational Finance in 2004, both from Purdue University. We believe Mr. Ren is a good fit to serve as our Chief Financial Officer, given his credentials mentioned above.
Ale Fan
Director. Ms. Fan had served as the Director of Finance at Jinong since January 2013. Ms. Fan had served as the deputy Director of Finance at Jinong since January 2013. She has also served as comptroller of the financial department at Jinong from September 2007 to December 2012. Prior to that, she worked as an accountant at Jinong from August 2003. Ms. Fan holds a degree in Accounting from Baoji University of Arts and Sciences. We believe that Ms. Fan’s knowledge of the Company’s history and day-to-day operations and her experience in accounting and finance in the PRC qualify her to serve a director of our company.
Lianfu Liu Director, Chairman of Nominating Committee, Audit Committee Member and Compensation Committee Member. Mr. Liu has served as a director of our company since December 26, 2007. Mr. Liu has served as the Chairman of the China Green Food Association since 1998. From 1992 to 1998, Mr. Liu was a Director and Senior Engineer for the China Green Food Development Center. Prior to that, Mr. Liu was a Vice Director of the PRC Ministry of Agriculture. Mr. Liu graduated from Beijing Forestry University and studied soil conservation. We believe Mr. Liu's experience in the agricultural industry in the PRC allows him to bring a unique perspective as an independent director of our company.
Yiru Shi
Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee Member and Nominating Committee Member. Ms. Shi has served as a director of our company since December 9, 2011. Ms. Shi previously served as an independent director for Kingtone Wirelessinfo Solution Holding Ltd (Nasdaq: KONE) from March 2010 to July 2011. Prior to that, Ms. Shi served as Chief Financial Officer at China Infrastructure Construction Inc. from December 2009 to October 2010 and Chief Financial Officer at Shengtai Pharmaceutical Inc. from 2008 to December 2009. Prior to that, Ms. Shi served as Audit Manager at Kabani & Co. Inc. from 2005 to 2008. Ms. Shi graduated from the University of California, Irvine with an MBA degree in 2003 and Beijing Polytechnic University in 1997 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and International Trade and Business. Ms. Shi is a CPA in the United States and is fluent in English and Chinese. We believe Ms. Shi’s technical accounting background, strong academic credentials and substantial experience as a director and officer of other public companies qualifies Ms. Shi to serve on, and be a significant addition to, our Board of Directors.
Jianlei Shen Director, Chairman of Compensation Committee, Audit Committee Member and Nominating Committee Member. Mr. Shen has four years of experience in online sales of agriculture materials. He has been working on developing an national e-commerce transaction platform of fertilizer since 2011. He worked on integrating fertilizer producers with online financial service and distributors in order to help the fertilizer producers survive and transit with the development of the e-commerce in the Chinese agriculture industry. Prior to that, Mr. Shen was working in China Medical Instrument Company(CMIC), and he was in charge of the enterprise information-based construction, including the development of the national medical apparatus and instruments online sales platform. Before that, Mr. Shen worked in the State Pharmaceutical Administration. Mr. Shen also worked at the Ministry of Science and Technology from 1991 to 1997. He graduated with a Master’s degree in industrial engineering from Changchun University of Technology in 2000. We believe Mr. Shen’s extensive e-commerce experience in agriculture industry qualifies Mr. Shen to serve as an independent director of our company.
All directors of our company hold office until the next annual meeting of our shareholders or until their successors have been elected and qualified. The executive officers of our company are appointed by our board of directors and hold office until their death, resignation or removal from office.
Family Relationships
There is no family relationship among any of our officers or directors.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To the best of our knowledge, none of our directors or executive officers was involved in any legal proceedings during the last 10 years as described in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities (“Reporting Persons”), to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. The Reporting Persons are also required to furnish us with copies of all such reports. Based solely on our review of the reports received by us, we believe that, during the year ended June 30, 2015, our directors, executive officers and holders of ten percent (10%) or more of our common stock complied with Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them except as follows: the Form 4s filed on December 23, 2014 by five of our directors, executive officers and holders of ten percent or more of our common stock, which reported certain shares granted under the Company’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan and were due on October 2, 2014, were not timely filed; the Form 4 filed on August 17, 2015 by Ms. Yiri Shi which reported certain shares sold and were due on August 10, 2015, was not timely filed.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our employees and officers, and the members of our Board of Directors, which was amended and restated in 2010. The Amended and Restated Code of Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) is available on our website at www.cgagri.com. Printed copies are available upon request without charge. Any amendment to or waiver of the Code of Ethics will be disclosed on our website promptly following the date of such amendment or waiver.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our employees and officers, and the members of the Board, which was amended and restated in 2010. The Amended and Restated Code of Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) is available on our website at www.cgagri.com. Printed copies are available upon request without charge. Any amendment to or waiver of the Code of Ethics will be disclosed on our website promptly following the date of such amendment or waiver.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is responsible for: (i) overseeing the corporate accounting and financial reporting practices; (ii) recommending the selection of our registered public accounting firm; (iii) reviewing the extent of non-audit services to be performed by the auditors; and (iv) reviewing the disclosures made in our periodic financial reports. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Jianlei Shen, Lianfu Liu and Ms. Yiru Shi, each of whom is an independent director within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition, the Board has determined that Ms. Shi qualifies as an Audit Committee Financial Expert under applicable SEC Rules. The Chairman of the Audit Committee is Mr. Shi. The Audit Committee held four meetings during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. The Audit Committee carries out its responsibilities in accordance with the terms of its Audit Committee Charter, a copy of which was attached as Annex A to our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2010 Annual Meeting, filed with the SEC on October 28, 2010, and is also available on our website at www.cgagri.com.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee determines matters pertaining to the compensation of executive officers and other significant employees, and administers our stock and incentive plans. The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Jianlei Shen, Lianfu Liu and Ms. Yiru Shi. The Chairman of the Compensation Committee is Ms. Shen. The Compensation Committee held one meeting during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) under the Internal Revenue Code. The Compensation Committee carries out its responsibilities pursuant to a written charter, a copy of which was attached as Annex C to our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2009 annual meeting, filed with the SEC on October 28, 2009, and is also available on our website at www.cgagri.com.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee identifies and nominates candidates to serve on our Board. The members of the Nominating Committee are Messrs. Jianlei Shen, Lianfu Liu and Ms. Yiru Shi. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee is Mr. Liu. The Nominating Committee held one meeting during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. A copy of our Nominating Committee Charter was attached as Annex B to our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2010 annual meeting, filed with the SEC on October 28, 2010, and is also available on our website at www.cgagri.com. See “Director Nominations” below for the procedures for the nomination of directors.
Board Leadership Structure and Board’s Role in the Oversight of Risk Management
Our Board believes it is important to select our Chairman and our Chief Executive Officer in the manner it considers in the best interests of our company at any given point in time. Due to Mr. Li’s substantial experience in the industry, our Board has determined that the most effective leadership structure for our company is for Mr. Li to serve as both our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Our Board benefits from the Chairman having direct knowledge of the operations of, and opportunities and challenges facing, our business on a regular and company-wide basis. Mr. Li’s combined role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer fosters greater communication between the Board and management and provides unified leadership for carrying out our company’s strategic initiatives and business plans.
To counterbalance the potential for ineffective Board oversight, we have adopted a governance structure that includes: (i) a designated lead independent director; (ii) annual elections of directors by a majority of votes cast at the annual meeting of shareholders; (iii) committees composed entirely of independent directors; and (iv) established corporate governance and ethics guidelines. Our Board appointed Ms. Yiru Shi to serve as the Board’s lead independent director. The lead independent director acts as an intermediary between the Board and senior management. Among other things, the lead independent director is responsible for facilitating communication among directors and between the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, working with the Chief Executive Officer to provide an appropriate information flow to the Board, and chairing executive sessions of the independent directors. Executive sessions of our independent directors occur following regularly scheduled quarterly audit committee meetings, and at such other times as the independent directors deem appropriate. However, the Board recognizes that circumstances may change over time and as they do, changes to the leadership structure may be warranted.
The Board has an active role, directly and through its committees, in the oversight of our risk management efforts. The Board carries out this oversight role through several levels of review. The Board regularly reviews and discusses with members of management information regarding the management of risks inherent in the operations of our businesses and the implementation of our strategic plan, including our risk mitigation efforts.
In accordance with corporate governance standards of the NYSE, the Audit Committee charter assigns to that committee the responsibility to review our policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including major financial risk exposures, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. Additionally, each of the Board’s committees also oversees the management of our risks that are under each committee’s areas of responsibility. For example, the Audit Committee oversees management of accounting, auditing, external reporting, internal controls, and cash investment risks. The Nominating Committee oversees our compliance policies, Code of Conduct, conflicts of interests, director independence and corporate governance policies. The Compensation Committee oversees risks arising from compensation practices and policies. In this manner the Board is able to coordinate its risk oversight.
Director Nominations
The Nominating Committee recommends director candidates and will consider for such recommendation director candidates proposed by management, other directors and stockholders. All director candidates will be evaluated based on the criteria identified below, regardless of the identity of the individual or the entity or person who proposed the director candidate.
The selection of director nominees includes consideration of factors deemed appropriate by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board. We may engage a firm to assist in identifying, evaluating, and conducting due diligence on potential board nominees. Factors will include integrity, achievements, judgment, intelligence, personal character, any prior contact or relationship between a candidate and a current or former director or officer of our company, the interplay of the candidate’s relevant experience with the experience of other Board members, the willingness of the candidate to devote adequate time to Board duties and the likelihood that he or she will be willing and able to serve on the Board for a sustained period. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider the candidate’s independence, as defined by the rules of the SEC and the NYSE. In connection with the selection, due consideration will be given to the Board’s overall balance of diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Experience, knowledge, and skills to be represented on the Board include, among other considerations, financial expertise (including an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the SEC’s rules), financing experience, related industry experience, strategic planning, business development, and community leadership.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Overview
This section contains a discussion of the material elements of compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer, and our other executive officers whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. Accordingly, our “Named Executive Officers” are Mr. Tao Li, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Ken Ren, our Chief Financial Officer.
Our Board established the Compensation Committee to assist with the analysis and determination of the compensation structure for our executive officers. Our Compensation Committee, consisting of three independent directors, reviews and approves, or in some cases recommends for the approval of the full Board, the annual compensation for our executive officers. Typically, management recommends to the Compensation Committee compensation package proposals based on prevailing compensation standards in our industry, which in turn reviews and approves such proposals. Our Compensation Committee may consult with the executive officers to form consensus on such packages. Our executive officers may discuss any disagreements and needed amendment to such proposals with our Compensation Committee before such proposals are finalized and approved by the Compensation Committee.
Compensation Objectives
Our compensation objectives are as follows:
· We strive to provide competitive executive compensation programs that will help to attract highly qualified individuals necessary for our continued growth. Once an executive is hired, our goal is to retain and motivate them to achieve higher levels of performance and be appropriately rewarded for that effort.
· Compensation and benefits are competitive with the local labor markets in which we compete, and focus also will be given to companies that operate in the agriculture, feed, and fertilizer industries. Peer companies will typically have annual revenues that are one-half to double that of us, for the purposes of compensation benchmarking.
· We provide an executive compensation package consisting of base salary, incentives (short term & long term), and benefits that are consistent with similar positions at our recognized competitors. Each component addresses individual and company performance with a focus on long-term profitable growth and shareholder return, competitive conditions, and our overall financial performance.
· All compensation programs are administered without regard to race, religion, national origin, color, sex, age, or disability, and adhere to all local laws and regulations.
Elements of Compensation
Base Salary
Our approach is to pay our executives a base salary that is competitive with those of other executive officers in similar positions and with similar responsibilities in our peer group of competitive companies. We believe that a competitive base salary is a necessary element of any compensation program that is designed to attract and retain talented and experienced executives. We also believe that attractive base salaries can motivate and reward executives for their overall performance.
Stock-Based Awards under the Equity Incentive Plan
In addition to base salary, the other key component of executive compensation we provide to our Named Executive Officers is equity-based compensation. In October 2009, our Board adopted our 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which was approved by our shareholders at our annual shareholders meeting in December 2009 and amended in December 2012, December 2013 and June 2015. The Plan gives us the ability to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock and other stock-based awards to employees or consultants of our company or of any subsidiary of our company and to non-employee members of our advisory board or our Board or the board of directors of any of our subsidiaries. The Board and the Compensation Committee believe the ability to grant restricted stock, stock options and make other stock-based awards under the Plan is an important factor in attracting, stimulating and retaining qualified and distinguished personnel with proven ability and vision to serve as employees, officers, consultants or members of the Board or advisory board of our company and our subsidiaries, and to chart our course towards continued growth and financial success.
During the year ended June 30, 2014, effective September 28, 2013, the Compensation Committee granted (i) 480,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Tao Li, the Company’s CEO; (ii) 200,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Ken Ren, the CFO, (iii) 40,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Yizhao Zhang, 30,000 shares of restricted stock to Ms. Yiru Shi, and 20,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Lianfu Liu, each is an independent director of the Company; and (iv) 980,000 shares of restricted stock to 420 employees (the “Stock Grants”). The Stock Grants are subject to time-based vesting schedules, vesting in various installments until March 31, 2014 for the CFO and the three independent directors, until March 31, 2015 for the CEO and until December 31, 2015 for the employees.
On September 30, 2014, the Company granted an aggregate of 1,750,000 shares of restricted stock under the Plan to certain executive officers, directors and employees, among which (i) 240,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Tao Li, the CEO; (ii) 100,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Ken Ren, the CFO, (iii) 40,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Yizhao Zhang, 30,000 shares of restricted stock to Ms. Yiru Shi, and 20,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Lianfu Liu, each an independent director of the Company; and (iv) 1,320,000 shares of restricted stock to key employees. The stock grants are subject to time-based vesting schedules, vesting in various installments until March 31, 2015 for the CFO and the three independent directors, until June 30, 2015 for the CEO and until December 31, 2016 for the employees.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
On August 9, 2012 the Board adopted the Company’s 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), which became effective as of such date. The Board adopted the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Restated ESPP”) on May 15, 2015. The Restated ESPP reserved a total of 3,750,000 shares of Common Stock, including 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock that was increased the third time. Shareholder approval is not required with respect to the issuance under the ESPP pursuant to Sections 303A.08 or 312.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manuel. The ESPP has been delegated to be administered by the Compensation Committee since October 19, 2012. Any employee of the Company or any parent (if any) and subsidiary corporation of the Company (the “Affiliate”), who is not a natural person resident in the United States, who has been in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate for such continuous period as required by the Board preceding the grant of rights under the ESPP is eligible to participate in the ESPP during the applicable offering period, subject to administrative rules established by the Compensation Committee.
The ESPP is implemented by sequential offerings, the commencement and duration of which are determined by the Compensation Committee. The purchase price at which each share of Common Stock may be acquired in an offering period upon the exercise of all or any portion of a purchase right are established by the Compensation Committee. However, the purchase price on each purchase date shall not be less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the purchase date.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, the Company firstly issued 118,778 shares of common stock at the market price of $4.42 per share to Mr. Tao Li ($525,000 in total), the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer under the ESPP on September 26,2013. The Company then issued 533,165 shares of common stock at the market price of $2.35 per share to certain employees enrolled in the ESPP ($1,252,938 in total) on May 26, 2014. During the year ended June 30, 2015, the Company issued 1,362,495 shares of common stock to its employees under the ESPP for cash of $2,946,746 and the Company issued 326,483 shares of common stock to its Chairman, Mr. Li, for cash proceeds of $626,847 under the ESPP.
Retirement or Pension Benefits
Currently, we do not provide any company sponsored retirement benefits to any employee, including the Named Executive Officers.
Deferred Compensation
We do not have any qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plans.
Perquisites
Historically, we have provided our Named Executive Officers with minimal perquisites and other personal benefits that we believe are reasonable. We do not view perquisites as a significant component of compensation, but do believe they can be useful in attracting, motivating and retaining the executive talent for which we compete. We believe that these additional benefits assist our Named Executive Officers in performing their duties and provide time efficiencies for them. It is expected that our historical practices regarding perquisites will continue and will be subject to periodic review by our Board.
Summary Compensation Table- Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
The following table sets forth information concerning cash and non-cash compensation we and/or Jinong paid to our principal executive officer and our other most highly paid executive officer (the “named executive officers”) for services rendered in all capacities during the noted periods. No other executive officers received total annual salary and bonus compensation in excess of $100,000 during each of the three fiscal years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
(1) The amounts reported in this column reflect the fair value on the grant date of the restricted stock awards granted to our Named Executive Officers. These values are determined by multiplying the number of shares granted by the closing price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the grant date. The dollar amounts do not necessarily reflect the dollar amounts of compensation actually realized or that may be realized by our Named Executive Officers.
The Company has not used a compensation consultant to determine or recommend the amount or form of executive or director compensation but its management believes that its executive officer compensation package is comparable to similar businesses in our location of operations.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth information regarding grants of awards to Named Executive Officers during the year ended June 30, 2015:
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
(1)
With respect to the restricted stock awards, the grant date fair value is calculated by multiplying the number of shares granted by the closing price on the trading day immediately preceding the grant date.
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
Employment Agreement
The following is a summary of the material terms of the written employment by and between Jinong and Mr. Tao Li.
Tao Li. Pursuant to an employment agreement between Jinong and Mr. Tao Li dated January 16, 2008, Mr. Li is employed by Jinong as its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for a term of five years. The agreement will be automatically renewed on the same terms and conditions for successive additional five-year periods unless either party provides written notice of termination at least 60 days prior to the end of any five-year term. No such written notice was provided by either party at the end of the initial term under the agreement. The agreement is terminable immediately, or upon 30-days prior written notice, upon the occurrence of certain events. The agreement provides for an annual salary of RMB 60,000 (approximately $8,508).
Description of Plan Based Awards
The equity incentive awards reported in the above table entitled “Grants of Plan Based Awards” were granted under, and are subject to, the terms of our 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has authority to interpret the plan provisions and make all required determinations under the Plan.
With respect to all restricted stock grants disclosed herein, if we terminate the grantee’s employment or affiliation with us for any reason, all unvested portions of such restricted stock grants are forfeited. Any shares of restricted stock that do not vest for failure to meet the requisite performance targets will also be forfeited.
With respect to all non-qualified stock option grants disclosed herein, if we terminate the grantee’s employment or affiliation with us for any reason, all unvested options are forfeited. If the grantee’s employment or affiliation with us is terminated voluntarily by the grantee or by us for cause, all vested options are also terminated. In the event we terminate the grantee’s employment or affiliation with us without cause, the grantee has the lesser of ninety (90) days or the remaining term of the option to exercise any vested options. If we terminate the grantee’s employment or affiliation with us due to death or disability, the grantee has the lesser of twelve (12) months or the remaining term of the option to exercise any vested options. In the case of non-qualified options subject to performance based vesting, any options which do not vest for failure to meet the requisite performance targets will be forfeited.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table provides information on all restricted stock and stock option awards held by our Named Executive Officers as of June 30, 2015.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
Option Exercises and Stock Vested During the Fiscal Year
(1)
Represents the vesting of (i) 226,000 shares of restricted stock on September 30, 2014 with a market value of $1.98per share on such date, (ii) 250,000 shares of restricted stock on December 31, 2014 with a market value of $1.52 per share on such date, and (iii) 130,000 shares of restricted stock on March 31, 2015 with a market value of $1.76 per share on such date. (iv) 60,000 shares of restricted stock on June 30, 2015 with a market value of $2.12 per share on such date.
(2)
Represents the vesting of (i) 50,000 shares of restricted stock on September 30, 2014 with a market value of $1.98 per share on such date, (ii) 25,000 shares of restricted stock on December 31, 2014 with a market value of $1.52 per share on such date, and (iii) 25,000 shares of restricted stock on March 31, 2015 with a market value of $1.76 per share on such date.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
As of June 30, 2015, there were no outstanding options to purchase any shares of common stock granted under the Plan. Options granted in the future under the Plan are within the discretion of our Board or our compensation committee. The following table summarizes the number of shares of our common stock authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans as of June 30, 2015.
Director Compensation
The following table sets forth information concerning cash and non-cash compensation we paid to our directors during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015.
(1) The amounts reported in this column reflect the fair value on the grant date of the restricted stock awards granted to our directors. These values are determined by multiplying the number of shares granted by the closing price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the grant date. The dollar amounts do not necessarily reflect the dollar amounts of compensation actually realized or that may be realized by our directors.
(2)
Represents 40,000, 30,000, 20,000 shares of restricted shares to three independent directors respectively which granted by the Company on September 30, 2014.
(3)
The director’s appointment was effective on June 30, 2015. Consequently, there are no applicable numbers to be filled our herein.
The directors will also be reimbursed for all of their out-of-pocket expenses in traveling to and attending meetings of the Board and committees on which they serve.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The members of the Compensation Committee during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 were Ms. Yiru Shi and Messrs. Jianlei Shen and Lianfu Liu. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015:
· none of the members of the Compensation Committee was an officer (or former officer) or employee of our company or any of its subsidiaries;
· none of the members of the Compensation Committee had a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction in which we were a participant and the amount involved exceeded $120,000;
· none of our executive officers served on the compensation committee (or another board committee with similar functions or, if none, the entire board of directors) of another entity where one of that entity’s executive officers served on our Compensation Committee;
· none of our executive officers was a director of another entity where one of that entity’s executive officers served on our Compensation Committee; and
· none of our executive officers served on the compensation committee (or another board committee with similar functions or, if none, the entire board of directors) of another entity where one of that entity’s executive officers served as a director on our Board.
Changes in Control
The following table reflects amounts payable to our Named Executive Officers (1) assuming their employment was terminated without cause on June 30, 2015, and (2) assuming a change in control on June 30, 2015.
(1)
Represents the payment made pursuant to contractual agreements with the Named Executive Officer as described below in this subsection.
(2)
Amounts in this column reflect the value of unvested restricted stock that would be accelerated upon a change of control. The amounts are calculated based on the closing market price of a share of our common stock on June 30, 2015, i.e., $2.12 per shares, multiplied by the number of unvested shares.
(3)
Represents the vesting of 666,000 shares of restricted stock.
Termination Clauses in Employment Agreements
Tao Li. Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Li’s employment agreement with Jinong, Jinong may terminate Mr. Li’s employment for any reason upon 30 days prior written notice, in which case no termination payment is due. Alternatively, Jinong may terminate his employment immediately upon the payment of one month’s salary. In the case of termination for cause as defined therein, we may terminate Mr. Li’s employment immediately without pay.
2009 Equity Incentive Plan Change in Control Provisions
In the event of a change in control of our company, and except as otherwise set forth in the applicable award agreement, all unvested portions of awards shall vest immediately. Awards, whether or not then vested, shall be continued, assumed, or have new rights as determined by our Compensation Committee or a committee of the Board designated to administer the Plan, and restrictions to which any shares of restricted stock or any other award granted prior to the change in control are subject shall not lapse. Awards shall, where appropriate at the discretion of the Committee, receive the same distribution of our common stock on such terms as determined by the Compensation Committee. Upon a change in control, the Committee may also provide for the purchase of any awards for an amount of cash per share of common stock issuable under the award equal to the excess of the highest price per share of our common stock paid in any transaction related to a change in control of our company over the exercise price of such award.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information as of September 15, 2015, the latest applicable date, with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock, the sole outstanding class of our voting securities, by (i) any person or group owning more than 5% of each class of voting securities, (ii) each director, (iii) each executive officer and (iv) all executive officers and directors as a group.
As of September 15, 2015, an aggregate of 35,928,413 shares of our common stock were outstanding.
* Represents a percentage that is less than 1%.
(1) Unless otherwise stated, each beneficial owner has sole power to vote and dispose of the shares and the address of such person is c/o China Green Agriculture, Inc., 3rd Floor, Borough A, Block A. No. 181, South Taibai Road, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People’s Republic of China 710065.
(2) In determining the percent of common stock owned by the beneficial owners, (a) the numerator is the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by such owner, including shares the beneficial ownership of which may be acquired, within 60 days upon the exercise of the options, if any, held by the owner; and (b) the denominator is the sum of (i) the total 35,928,413 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 15, 2015, and (ii) the number of shares underlying the options, which such owner has the right to acquire upon the exercise of the options within 60 days (for those who have options), if any.
(3) Includes (i) 497,387 shares held by Mr. Li’s wife, and (ii) 897,387 shares held by Mr. Li’s son. Mr. Li disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to the shares held by his wife and son.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
As of June 30, 2015 and 2014, the amount due to related parties was $2,068,102 and $1,758,336, respectively. At June 30, 2015 and 2014, $1,184,643 and $1,136,800, respectively were amounts that Gufeng borrowed from a related party, Xi’an Techteam Science & Technology Industry (Group) Co. Ltd., a company controlled by Mr. Tao Li, Chairman and CEO of the Company, representing unsecured, non-interest bearing loans that are due on demand. These loans are not subject to written agreements.
On November 1, 2013, Yuxing entered into an agreement with Xi'an Techteam Investment Holding Group (“Techteam Investment”), a holding company owned and controlled by Mr. Tao Li, Chairman and CEO of the Company, to delegate Techteam Investment to procure certain inventories from the market from November 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 (the “Agreement Period”). During the Agreement Period, Techteam Investment advances procurement payment to vendors, and Yuxing repays the outstanding procurement amount to Techteam Investment periodically. Techteam Investment receives no commission or compensation in this process. The total amount under this Agreement is at $133,168.
On June 29, 2014, Jinong signed an office lease with Kingtone Information. Pursuant to the lease, Jinong rented 612 square meters (approximately 6,588 square feet) of office space from Kingtone Information. The lease provided for a two-year term effective as of July 1, 2014 with monthly rent of RMB 24,480 (approximately $4,007).
Our executive offices located at 3/F, Area A, Block A, No. 18 South Taibai Road, Xi’an 710065, the People’s Republic of China are leased from Kingtone Information for a term of two years from July 1, 2014 at monthly rent of RMB 24,480 (approximately $4,000) for 612 square meters (approximately 6,588 square feet) of office space.
On October 1, 2014, the audit committee and the Board approved a private placement investment in the Common Stock from Mr. Tao Li, pursuant to which the Company will issue 496,445 shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.001 to Mr. Li, pending the approval from its stockholders. The purchase price for each share is $2.25, the closing price of the Common Stock that day, and the aggregate purchase price for shares is $1,117,000.
Procedures for Approval of Related Party Transactions
In November 2010, we adopted a written Related Party Transactions Policy (the “Policy”). According to the Policy, a “Related Party Transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we (including any of our subsidiaries) are, were or will be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related party had, has or will have a direct or indirect “material” interest. The Policy’s definition of a “Related Party” is in line with the definition set forth in the instructions to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
Under the Policy, our Chief Financial Officer is responsible for determining whether a proposed transaction, as submitted by a Related Party is a Related Party Transaction that requires the consideration and discussion of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for evaluating and assessing a proposed transaction based on the facts and circumstances including those listed in the Policy, including comparing the terms of the proposed transaction and the terms available to unrelated third parties or to employees generally. The Policy states that the Audit Committee shall approve only those Related Party Transactions that are in, or are not inconsistent with, the best interests of our company and our stockholders. No member of the Audit Committee shall participate in any review, consideration or approval of any Related Party Transaction in which he or she or any immediate family member directly or indirectly is involved.
In the event that we become aware of a Related Party Transaction that has not been previously approved under the Policy, such transaction will be presented to the Audit Committee. A Related Party Transaction entered into without pre-approval of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed to violate the Policy, or be invalid or unenforceable, so long as the transaction is brought to the Audit Committee as promptly as reasonably practical after it is entered into and is subsequently ratified by the Audit Committee.
Communications with the Board
Interested parties may communicate with any of our directors, our Board as a group, our independent directors as a group or any committees of the Board by sending an e-mail to Ran Liu, Secretary to the Board of Directors, at liuran@cgagri.com and indicating the intended recipient in the subject line, or by writing to Ms. Liu at China Green Agriculture, Inc., 3rd Floor, Borough A, Block A. No. 181, South Taibai Road, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People’s Republic of China 710065. The Board has given Ms. Liu, as Secretary to the Board of Directors, the discretion to distribute communications to the director or directors, after ascertaining whether the communications are appropriate to duties and responsibilities of the Board. Communications that relate to ordinary business matters that are not within the scope of the Board’s responsibilities will be forwarded to the appropriate employee within our company. Solicitations, junk email and obviously frivolous or inappropriate communications will not be forwarded. You will receive a written acknowledgement from the Secretary to the Board upon receipt of your communication.
Independence of the Board
Our Board is currently composed of five (5) members. Jianlei Shen, Yiru Shi and Lianfu Liu qualify as independent directors in accordance with the published listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The NYSE independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not, and has not been for at least three years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his or her family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, as further required by NYSE rules, our Board has made an affirmative determination as to each independent director that no relationships exist which, in the opinion of our Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our directors reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and us with regard to each director’s business and personal activities as they may relate to us and our management. Our directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Board Meetings
The Board held four meetings, by telephone, in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. In addition, the Board unanimously approved fourteen written consents on matters between meetings. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and applicable committee meetings (held during the period for which he or she was a director) on which he or she served. We do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of the Board at the annual meeting of stockholders, but we encourage all members of the Board to attend the meetings.
Promoters and Certain Control Persons
We did not have any promoters at any time during the past five fiscal years.
Except as set forth in our discussion above, none of our directors or executive officers has been involved in any transactions with us or any of our directors, executive officers, affiliates or associates which are required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following are the fees billed to us by our auditors during fiscal years ended June 30, 2015 and 2014:
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Kabani &Company, Inc. for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, for the reviews of the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, for our Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 compliance audit, and for services in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $230,000 and $375,000 for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Audit-Related Fees
The aggregate fees billed by our principal accountants for audit-related services was $10,000 and $5,000 for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
Tax Fees
We did not engage our principal accountants to provide tax or related services during the last two fiscal years.
All Other Fees
We did not engage our principal accountants to render services to us during the last two fiscal years, other than as reported above.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, all audit and non-audit services performed by our auditors must be approved in advance by our Audit Committee to assure that such services do not impair the auditors’ independence from us. In accordance with its policies and procedures, the Audit Committee pre-approved the audit service performed by Friedman for our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended June 30, 2015.
The Company’s principal accountant, Kabani & Company, Inc., did not engage any other persons or firms other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15.EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1) Financial Statements
The following financial statements of China Green Agriculture, Inc. and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are presented in the “F” pages of this Report:
(2)Financial Schedules
None.
Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are either not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes hereto.
(3)Exhibits
The exhibits listed in the accompanying index to exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Report.
(b)Exhibits
See the Exhibit Index following the signature page of this report, which Index is incorporated herein by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
September 16, 2015
/s/ Tao Li
Tao Li, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and CEO (principal executive officer)
September 16, 2015
/s/ Ken Ren
Ken Ren, Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer and principal
accounting officer)
September 16, 2015
/s/ Ale Fan
Ale Fan, Director
September 16, 2015
/s/ Lianfu Liu
Lianfu Liu, Director
September 16, 2015
/s/ Jianlei Shen
Jianlei Shen, Director
September 16, 2015
/s/ Yiru Shi
Yiru Shi, Director
S-1
China Green Agriculture, Inc.
Exhibit Index to Annual Report on Form 10-K
For the Year Ended June 30, 2015
3.1 Articles of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB, for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2007, Exhibit 3.1).
3.2 Certificate of Change filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on December 18, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 2, 2008, Exhibit 4.2).
3.3 Certificate of Correction (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 8, 2008, Exhibit 4.1).
3.4 Articles of Merger (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 5, 2008, Exhibit 3.1).
3.5 Bylaws (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB, for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2007, Exhibit 3.2).
4.1 Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on June 8, 2009, Exhibit 4.1).
10.1 Employment Agreement, dated June 21, 2010, by and between the Company and Mr. Ken Ren (Incorporated herein by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 25, 2010)
10.2 Share Transfer Agreement, dated July 1, 2010, by and between Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd., Qing Xin Jiang and Qiong Jia (Incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 7, 2010).
10.3 Supplementary Agreement, dated July 1, 2010, by and between Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd., Qing Xin Jiang and Qiong Jia (Incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 7, 2010).
10.4 Employment Agreement by and between Beijing Gufeng Chemical Products Co., Ltd. and Qing Xin Jiang dated July 1, 2010. (Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2011).
10.5 Form of Non-Competition Agreement by and between Beijing Gufeng Chemical Products Co., Ltd. and its two major former shareholders. (Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2011).
10.6 Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement (Incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 11, 2010).
10.7 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Agreement (Incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 11, 2010).
10.8 Offer Letter dated March 28, 2011 between China Green Agriculture, Inc. and Yizhao Zhang. (Incorporated herein by reference to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 10, 2011).
10.9 Offer Letter dated March 28, 2011 between China Green Agriculture, Inc. and Lianfu Liu. (Incorporated herein by reference to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 10, 2011).
10.10
Offer Letter dated October 25, 2011 between China Green Agriculture, Inc. and Yiru Shi (Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 13, 2012).
10.11 Entrusted Management Agreement dated June 16, 2013 among Xi’an Hu County Yuxing Agriculture Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd. and Ms. Chen Lixiang (Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2013)
E-1
10.12 Exclusive Product Supply Agreement dated June 16, 2013 between Xi’an Hu County Yuxing Agriculture Science & Technology Co., Ltd. and Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd (Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2013)
10.13 Shareholder’s Voting Proxy Agreement dated June 16, 2013 between Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd. and Ms. Chen Lixiang (Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2013)
10.14 Option Agreement dated June 16, 2013 among Xi’an Hu County Yuxing Agriculture Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd. and Ms. Chen Lixiang (Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2013)
10.15 Equity Pledge Agreement dated June 16, 2013 between Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd. and Ms. Chen Lixiang (Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2013)
10.16 Procurement Delegation Agreement dated November 1, 2013 by and between Xi’an Hu Country Yuxing Agriculture Science & Technology Co., Ltd. and Xi’an TechTeam Investment Holding Group (Incorporated herein by reference to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on February 10, 2014.)
14.1 Amended and Restated Code of Ethics. (Incorporated herein by reference to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 12, 2010)
21.1 List of Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1 Consent of Kabani & Company, Inc., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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
E-2
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
China Green Agriculture Inc. and its subsidiaries
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of China Green Agriculture, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended June 30, 2015. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and schedules. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and schedules are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of China Green Agriculture, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of June 30, 2015 and 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended June 30, 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ KABANI & COMPANY, INC.
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Los Angeles, CA
September 16,
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF JUNE 30, 2015 AND 2014
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2015, 2014 AND 2013
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2015, 2014 AND 2013
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2015, 2014 AND 2013
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
China Green Agriculture, Inc. (the “Company”, “Parent Company” or “Green Nevada”), through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the research, development, production, distribution and sale of humic acid-based compound fertilizer, compound fertilizer, blended fertilizer, organic compound fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers, highly-concentrated water-soluble fertilizers and mixed organic-inorganic compound fertilizer and the development, production and distribution of agricultural products, such as top-grade fruits, vegetables, flowers and colored seedlings.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used in the notes to the financial statements of the Company, the following are the references herein of all the subsidiaries of the Company (i) Green Agriculture Holding Corporation (“Green New Jersey”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Nevada incorporated in the State of New Jersey; (ii) Shaanxi TechTeamJinongHumic Acid Product Co., Ltd. (“Jinong”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green New Jersey organized under the laws of the PRC; (iii) Xi’an Hu County Yuxing Agriculture Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Yuxing”), a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) in the PRC controlled by Jinong through contractual agreements; (iv) Beijing Gufeng Chemical Products Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jinong in the PRC (“Gufeng”), and (v) Beijing Tianjuyuan Fertilizer Co., Ltd., Gufeng’s wholly-owned subsidiary in the PRC (“Tianjuyuan”).
The Company’s corporate structure as of June 30, 2015 is set forth in the diagram below:
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
NOTE 2 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principle of consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Green New Jersey, Jinong, Gufeng, Tianjuyuan and VIE Yuxing. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Effective June 16, 2013, Yuxing was converted from being a wholly-owned foreign enterprise 100% owned by Jinong to a domestic enterprise 100% owned by one natural person, who is not affiliated to the Company (“Yuxing’s Owner”). Effective the same day, Yuxing’s Owner entered into a series of contractual agreements with Jinong pursuant to which Yuxing became the VIE of Jinong.
Use of estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management makes these estimates using the best information available at the time the estimates are made. However, actual results could differ materially from those results.
Cash and cash equivalents and concentration of cash
For statement of cash flows purposes, the Company considers all cash on hand and in banks, certificates of deposit with state owned banks in the Peoples Republic of China (“PRC”) and banks in the United States, and other highly-liquid investments with maturities of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains large sums of cash in two banks in China. The aggregate cash in such accounts and on hand as of June 30, 2015 and 2014 was $92,676,188 and $26,772,382, respectively. There is no insurance securing these deposits in China over $81,850 (RMB 500,000). In addition, the Company also had $306,376 and $117,939 in cash in two banks in the United States as of June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, with $500,000 secured by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Cash overdraft as of balance sheet date will be reflected as liabilities in the balance sheet. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant risks on its cash in bank accounts.
Accounts receivable
The Company's policy is to maintain reserves for potential credit losses on accounts receivable. Management regularly reviews the composition of accounts receivable and analyzes customer credit worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment patterns to evaluate the adequacy of these reserves at each year-end. Accounts considered uncollectible are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance. As of June 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company had accounts receivable of $68,528,598 and $88,781,608, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $307,923 and $237,594, respectively. The Company adopts no policy to accept product returns post to the sales delivery.
Other receivable
Other receivable relates to the amount due from the sale of certain equipment from the Company’s Jintai facility. The receivable balance is secured by the equipment that was sold and is non-interest bearing. The balance of other receivables was paid in full during the year ended June 30, 2015.
Inventories
Inventory is valued at the lower of cost (determined on a weighted average basis) or market price. Inventories consist of raw materials, work in process, finished goods and packaging materials. The Company reviews its inventories regularly for possible obsolete goods and establishes reserves when determined necessary. At June 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company had no reserve for obsolete goods.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Gains or losses on disposals are reflected as gain or loss in the year of disposal. The cost of improvements that extend the life of plant, property, and equipment are capitalized. These capitalized costs may include structural improvements, equipment, and fixtures. All ordinary repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation for financial reporting purposes is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets:
Estimated Useful Life
Building 10-25 years
Agricultural assets 8 years
Machinery and equipment 5-15 years
Vehicles 3-5 years
Construction in Progress
Construction in progress represents the costs incurred in connection with the construction of buildings or new additions to the Company’s plant facilities. Costs classified to construction in progress include all costs of obtaining the asset and bringing it to the location and condition necessary for its intended use. No depreciation is provided for construction in progress until such time as the assets are completed and are placed into service. Interest incurred during construction is capitalized into construction in progress.
Long-Lived Assets
The Company tests long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable through the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the assets. Whenever any such impairment exists, an impairment loss will be recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. At June 30, 2015, the Company determined that there were no impairments of its long-lived assets. During the year ended June 30, 2014, the Company determined that the fair value of certain equipment from the Company’s Jintai facility was less than the carrying amounts and took an impairment charge of $5,161,815. The Company sold the assets during the fourth quarter of 2014. Such an impairment was due to the facts that: 1) Most of Jintai’s greenhouse facilities could not be used during the migration process; 2) most piping systems could not be reused in the future; 3) the pavement and lawn property which were sold in the asset purchase contract could not be used again.
Deferred assets
Deferred assets represent amounts that the distributors owed to the Company in their marketing efforts and developing standard stores to expand the Company’s products’ competitiveness and market shares. The amount owed to the Company to assist its distributors will be expensed over three years which is the term as stated in the cooperation agreement, as long as the distributors are actively selling the Company’s products. For the year ended June 30, 2015, the Company amortized $41,902,052 of the deferred assets, as compared to $27,390,957 and $9,970,715 for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. If a distributor breaches, defaults, or terminates the agreement with the Company within the three-year period, the outstanding unamortized portion of the amount owed will become payable to the Company immediately. The Company’s Chairman, Mr. Li, guaranteed to the Company of amounts remaining unpaid due from distributors. These deferred assets are subject to annual impairment testing. The estimated amortization expense of the deferred assets for the twelve months ending June 30, 2016, 2017, and 2018 is $33,918,929, $16,838,331 and $769,949, respectively.
The deferred assets consist of items inside the distributors’ stores such as furniture, racks, cabinets, and display units, and items outside or attached to the distributors’ stores such as signage and billboards. These types of assets would be capitalized as fixed assets if the Company actually owned the stores or utilized the assets for its own operations. These assets would also be capitalized as leasehold improvements if the Company leased these stores from the distributors. Therefore, the Company believes that under the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, these types of assets purchases are properly capitalized. In addition, the Company believes that these assets are properly classified as deferred assets because if a distributor breaches, defaults, or terminates the agreement with the Company within a three-year period, a proportionate amount expended by the Company is to be repaid by the distributor. The Chairman of the Board of directors of the Company guaranteed to the Company of amounts remaining unpaid due from distributors.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
The assets inside the distributors’ stores are custom made to fit the layout of each individual store and the signage and billboards are also custom designed to fit the specific location. The assets were purchased by the Company directly from the manufacturers and installed in the distributors’ stores. The Company wants to maintain control over the quality of the items being purchased as well as making them uniform among all the distributor locations.
Intangible Assets
The Company records intangible assets acquired individually or as part of a group at fair value. Intangible assets with definitive lives are amortized over the useful life of the intangible asset, which is the period over which the asset is expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the entity’s future cash flows. The Company evaluates intangible assets for impairment at least annually and more often whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Whenever any such impairment exists, an impairment loss will be recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The Company has not recorded impairment of intangible assets as of June 30, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the underlying net assets of businesses acquired. Under accounting requirements, goodwill is not amortized but is subject to annual impairment tests. As of June 30, 2015, the Company performed the required impairment review which resulted in no impairment adjustment.
Summary of changes in goodwill by reporting segments is as follows:
Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures
Our accounting for Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures, defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. This topic also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires classification based on observable and unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The fair value hierarchy distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and an entity’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels:
Level one - Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level two - Inputs other than level one inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
Level three - Unobservable inputs developed using estimates and assumptions, which are developed by the reporting entity and reflect those assumptions that a market participant would use.
Determining which category an asset or liability falls within the hierarchy requires significant judgment. The Company evaluates its hierarchy disclosures each quarter. The Company had no assets and liabilities measured at fair value at June 30, 2015 and 2014.
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, trade and other payables approximate their fair values due to the short maturities of these instruments.
Revenue recognition
Sales revenue is recognized on the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations of the Company exist and collectability is reasonably assured.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
The Company's revenue consists of invoiced value of goods, net of a value-added tax (VAT). No product return or sales discount allowance are made as products delivered and accepted by customers are not returnable and sales discounts are not granted after products are delivered.
Customer deposits
Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are satisfied are recorded as customer deposits. When all revenue recognition criteria are met, the customer deposits are recognized as revenue. As of June 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company had customer deposits of $19,129,853 and $25,700,586, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
The costs of all employee stock options, as well as other equity-based compensation arrangements, are reflected in the consolidated financial statements based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the grant date. That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award-the requisite service period (usually the vesting period). Stock compensation for stock granted to non-employees is determined as the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured.
Income taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach which allows for the recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets based upon the likelihood of realization of tax benefits in future years. Under the asset and liability approach, deferred taxes are provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize their benefits, or that future deductibility is uncertain.
Under ASC 740, a tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The evaluation of a tax position is a two-step process. The first step is to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of any related appeals or litigations based on the technical merits of that position. The second step is to measure a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not threshold to determine the amount of benefit to be recognized in the financial statements. A tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be recognized in the first subsequent period in which the threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not criteria should be de-recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which the threshold is no longer met. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the year incurred. No significant penalties or interest relating to income taxes have been incurred during the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013. GAAP also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosures and transition.
Foreign currency translation
The reporting currency of the Company is the US dollar. The functional currency of the Company and Green New Jersey is the US dollar. The functional currency of the Chinese subsidiaries is the Chinese Yuan or Renminbi (“RMB”). For the subsidiaries whose functional currencies are other than the US dollar, all asset and liability accounts were translated at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date; stockholders’ equity is translated at the historical rates and items in the income statement and cash flow statements are translated at the average rate in each applicable period. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the statement of shareholders’ equity. The resulting translation 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.
Segment reporting
The Company utilizes the "management approach" model for segment reporting. The management approach model is based on the way a company's management organizes segments within the company for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Reportable segments are based on products and services, geography, legal structure, management structure, or any other manner in which management disaggregates a company.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
As of June 30, 2015, the Company, through its subsidiaries is engaged into three main business segments based on location and product: Jinong (fertilizer production), Gufeng (fertilizer production) and Yuxing (agricultural products production).
Fair values of financial instruments
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are categorized based on whether or not the inputs are observable in the market and the degree that the inputs are observable. The categorization of financial assets and liabilities within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The Company's financial instruments primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other receivables, advances to suppliers, accounts payable, other payables, tax payable, and related party advances and borrowings.
As of the balance sheet dates, the estimated fair values of the financial instruments were not materially different from their carrying values as presented on the balance sheets. This is attributed to the short maturities of the instruments and that interest rates on the borrowings approximate those that would have been available for loans of similar remaining maturity and risk profile at respective balance sheet dates.
Statement of cash flows
The Company's cash flows from operations are calculated based on the local currencies. As a result, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statement of cash flows may not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets.
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options and stock awards.
The components of basic and diluted earnings per share consist of the following:
Reclassification
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2015 consolidated financial statement presentation. Such reclassifications did not affect total revenues, operating income or net income or cash flows as previously reported.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
Recent accounting pronouncements
FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08
In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360). ASU 2014-08 amends the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations or that have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results should be presented as discontinued operations. This new accounting guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2014-08 on the Company's results of operations or financial condition.
FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements and has not yet determined the method by which it will adopt the standard beginning January 1, 2017.
FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-01
In January 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-01, Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual items (Subtopic 225-20), Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items (ASU 2015-01). The amendment eliminates from U.S. GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. This guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Early adoption is permitted and allows the Company to apply the amendment prospectively or retrospectively. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-02
In February, 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. ASU 2015-02 provides guidance on the consolidation evaluation for reporting organizations that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability corporations, and securitization structures (collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations, and mortgage-backed security transactions). ASU 2015-02 is effective for periods beginning December 15, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Early adoption is permitted.
FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-14
In August, 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The amendment in this ASU defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 for all entities for one year. Public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities, and certain employee benefit plans should apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim reporting periods with that reporting period.
Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, including its Emerging Issues Task Force, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Securities and Exchange Commission did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company's present or future financial statements.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
NOTE 3 - INVENTORIES
Inventories consisted of the following:
NOTE 4 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
Depreciation expenses for the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $4,319,185, $4,385,103 and $3,214,655, respectively.
Agriculture assets consist of reproductive trees that are expected to be commercially productive for a period of eight years.
NOTE 5- INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets consisted of the following:
LAND USE RIGHT
On September 25, 2009, Yuxing was granted a land use right for approximately 88 acres (353,000 square meters or 3.8 million square feet) by the People’s Government and Land & Resources Bureau of Hu County, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. The fair value of the related intangible asset was determined to be the respective cost of RMB73,184,895 (or $11,980,367). The intangible asset is being amortized over the grant period of 50 years using the straight line method.
On August 13, 2003, Tianjuyuan was granted a certificate of Land Use Right for a parcel of land of approximately 11 acres (42,726 square meters or 459,898 square feet) at Ping Gu District, Beijing. The purchase cost was recorded at RMB1,045,950 (or $171,222). The intangible asset is being amortized over the grant period of 50 years using the straight line method.
On August 16, 2001, Jinong received a land use right as a contribution from a shareholder, which was granted by the People’s Government and Land & Resources Bureau of Yangling District, Shaanxi Province. The fair value of the related intangible asset at the time of the contribution was determined to be RMB7,285,099 (or $1,192,571). The intangible asset is being amortized over the grant period of 50 years.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
The Land Use Rights consisted of the following:
TECHNOLOGY PATENT
On July 2, 2010, the Company acquired Gufeng and its wholly-owned subsidiary Tianjuyuan. The preliminary fair value on the acquired technology patent was estimated to be RMB 9,200,000 (or $1,506,040) and is amortized over the remaining useful life of six years using the straight line method.
The technology know-how consisted of the following:
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP
On July 2, 2010, the Company acquired Gufeng and its wholly-owned subsidiary Tianjuyuan. The preliminary fair value on the acquired customer relationships was estimated to be RMB 65,000,000 (or $10,640,500) and is amortized over the remaining useful life of ten years.
NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT
On July 2, 2010, the Company acquired Gufeng and its wholly-owned subsidiary Tianjuyuan. The preliminary fair value on the acquired non-compete agreement was estimated to be RMB 1,320,000 (or $216,084) and is amortized over the remaining useful life of five years using the straight line method.
TRADEMARKS
On July 2, 2010, the Company acquired Gufeng and its wholly-owned subsidiary Tianjuyuan. The preliminary fair value on the acquired trademarks was estimated to be RMB 40,700,000 (or $6,662,590) and is subject to an annual impairment test.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
AMORTIZATION EXPENSE
Estimated amortization expenses of intangible assets for the next five twelve months periods ended June 30, are as follows:
NOTE 6- ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER PAYABLES
Accrued expenses and other payables consisted of the following:
NOTE 7- AMOUNT DUE TO RELATED PARTIES
As of June 30, 2015 and 2014, the amount due to related parties was $2,068,102 and $1,758,336, respectively. At June 30, 2015 and 2014, $1,184,643 and $1,136,800, respectively were amounts that Gufeng borrowed from a related party, Xi’an Techteam Science & Technology Industry (Group) Co. Ltd., a company controlled by Mr. Tao Li, Chairman and CEO of the Company, representing unsecured, non-interest bearing loans that are due on demand. These loans are not subject to written agreements.
On June 29, 2014, Jinong signed an office lease with Kingtone Information. Pursuant to the lease, Jinong rented 612 square meters (approximately 6,588 square feet) of office space from Kingtone Information. The lease provided for a two-year term effective as of July 1, 2014 with monthly rent of RMB24,480 (approximately $4,007).
NOTE 8- LOAN PAYABLES
As of June 30, 2015, the short-term loan payables consisted of ten loans which mature on dates ranging from August 6, 2014 through April 29, 2016 with interest rates ranging from 5.60% to 7.80%. The loans No 6 and 10 are collateralized by Tianjuyuan’s land use right and building ownership right. The loan No.8 is collateralized by Gufeng’s deposit. The loan No.7 is collateralized by Jinong’s land use right and Jinong’s credit. The loan No. 2 and 9 are guaranteed by Jinong’s credit. The loans No.3, 4 and 5 are guaranteed by a bonding company in Zhongguancun Beijing, and counter guaranteed by Jinong’s credit. The loan No.1 is guaranteed by Jinong and Tianjuyuan’s deposit.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
As of June 30, 2014, the short-term loan payables consisted of eleven loans which mature on dates ranging from August 16, 2013 through April 24, 2015 with interest rates ranging from 6.00% to 7.80%. The loans No.7,10 and 11below are collateralized by Tianjuyan’s land use right and building ownership right. The loan No. 2 is collateralized by Gufeng and Tianjuyuan. The loan No.8 is collateralized by deposit. The loans No. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9 are guaranteed by Jinong’s credit. The loan No. 6 is collateralized by the land use rights of Jinong.
The interest expense from short-term loans was $1,712,639, $1,380,829 and $1,351,157 for the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
NOTE 9- TAXES PAYABLE
Enterprise Income Tax
Effective January 1, 2008, the Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) law of the PRC replaced the tax laws for Domestic Enterprises (“DEs”) and Foreign Invested Enterprises (“FIEs”). The EIT rate of 25% replaced the 33% rate that was applicable to both DEs and FIEs. The two year tax exemption and three year 50% tax reduction tax holiday for production-oriented FIEs was eliminated. Since January 1, 2008, Jinong became subject to income tax in China at a rate of 15% as a high-tech company, as a result of the expiration of its tax exemption on December 31, 2007. Accordingly, it made provision for income taxes for the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 of $4,262,040, $4,249,206 and $6,654,038, respectively, which is mainly due to the operating income from Jinong. Gufeng is subject to 25% EIT rate and thus it made provision for income taxes of $4,654,774, $3,811,740 and $3,529,950 for the year ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Value-Added Tax
All of the Company’s fertilizer products that are produced and sold in the PRC were subject to a Chinese Value-Added Tax (VAT) of 13% of the gross sales price. On April 29, 2008, the PRC State of Administration of Taxation (SAT) released Notice #56, “Exemption of VAT for Organic Fertilizer Products”, which allows certain fertilizer products to be exempt from VAT beginning June 1, 2008. The Company submitted the application for exemption in May 2009, which was granted effective September 1, 2009, continuing through December 31, 2015. On August 10, 2015 and August 28, 2015, the SAT released Notice #90. “Reinstatement of VAT for Fertilizer Products”, and Notice #97, “Supplementary Reinstatement of VAT for Fertilizer Products”, which restore the VAT of 13% of the gross sales price on certain fertilizer products starting from September 1, 2015, but granted tax payers a reduced rate of 3% September 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
Income Taxes and Related Payables
Taxes payable consisted of the following:
The provision for income taxes consisted of the following:
The components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:
The Company periodically evaluates the likelihood of the realization of deferred tax assets, and adjusts the carrying amount of the deferred tax assets by the valuation allowance to the extent the future realization of the deferred tax assets is not judged to be more likely than not. The Company considers many factors when assessing the likelihood of future realization of its deferred tax assets, including its recent cumulative earnings experience by taxing jurisdiction, expectations of future taxable income or loss, the carryforward periods available to the Company for tax reporting purposes, and other relevant factors.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
At June 30, 2015, based on the weight of available evidence, including cumulative losses in recent years and expectations of future taxable income, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that its deferred tax assets would not be realized and have a $9.6 million valuation allowance associated with its deferred tax assets.
Tax Rate Reconciliation
The Company’s effective tax rates were approximately 22.1%, 24.0% and 18.5% for years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Substantially all of the Company’s income before income taxes and related tax expense are from PRC sources. Actual income tax benefit reported in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income differ from the amounts computed by applying the US statutory income tax rate of 34% to income before income taxes for the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 for the following reasons:
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
NOTE 10- STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Stock
On September 26, 2013, the Company issued 118,778 shares of Common Stock at the market price of $4.42 per share to Mr. Tao Li as repayment for $ 200,000 he previously advanced the Company and $325,000 for unpaid compensation.
On September 28, 2013, the Company granted an aggregate of 1,750,000 shares of restricted stock under the 2009 Plan to certain executive officers, directors and employees. among which (i) 480,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Tao Li, the CEO; (ii) 200,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Ken Ren, the CFO, (iii) 40,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Yizhao Zhang, 30,000 shares of restricted stock to Ms. Yiru Shi, and 20,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Lianfu Liu, each an independent director of the Company; and (iv) 980,000 shares of restricted stock to 220 employees. The stock grants are subject to time-based vesting schedules, vesting in various installments until March 31, 2014 for the CFO and the three independent directors, until March 31, 2015 for the CEO and until December 31, 2015 for the employees.
During the year ended June 30, 2014, the Company issued 17,356 shares of common stock for consulting services valued at $65,535. The shares were valued at the market price on the date of issuance. On July 28, 2014, the Company issued 4,087 shares to its consultant for its consulting services valued at $12,950, and 19,665 shares of common stock to its counsel for the legal services valued at $41,494.13.
On September 30, 2014, the Company granted an aggregate of 1,750,000 shares of restricted stock under the 2009 Plan to certain executive officers, directors and employees, among which (i) 240,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Tao Li, the CEO; (ii) 100,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Ken Ren, the CFO, (iii) 40,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Yizhao Zhang, 30,000 shares of restricted stock to Ms. Yiru Shi, and 20,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Lianfu Liu, each an independent director of the Company; and (iv) 1,320,000 shares of restricted stock to key employees. The stock grants are subject to time-based vesting schedules, vesting in various installments until March 31, 2015 for the CFO and the three independent directors, until June 30, 2015 for the CEO and until December 31, 2016 for the employees. The value of the restricted stock awards was $3,675,000 and is based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. This amount is being amortized to compensation expense over the vesting periods for the various awards.
The table below summarized the restricted shares of common stock issued under the 2009 Plan:
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
As of June 30, 2015, the unamortized expense related to the grant of restricted shares of common stock was $1,797,992 which will be amortized into expense through December 31, 2016. The fair value of the restricted common stock awards was based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The fair value of the common stock awarded is amortized over the various vesting terms of each grant.
During the year ended June 30, 2014, the Company issued 17,356 shares of common stock for consulting services valued at $65,535. During the year June 30, 2015, the Company issued 103,686 shares of common stock for professional fees valued at $205,103. The shares were valued at the market price on the date of issuance.
In addition, during the year ended June 30, 2015, the Company issued 1,362,495 shares of common stock to its employees under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) for cash of $2,946,746 and the Company sold 326,483 shares of common stock to its Chairman, Mr. Li, for cash proceeds of $626,847 under the ESPP.
Dividend
On October 1, 2014, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share to the Company's stockholders of common stock. The dividend payable represents a total payment to the stockholders of $3,296,156. The cash dividend of $2,161,904 was paid on January 30, 2015 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on the record date of October 31, 2014. Certain stockholders, including the Company’s Chairman, Mr. Li, elected to waive the dividend payment due to them and directed the Company to retain the funds for working capital purposes.
Preferred Stock
Under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, the Board has the authority, without further action by stockholders, to designate up to 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, liquidation preference and sinking fund terms, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. If the Company sells preferred stock, it will fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series in the certificate of designation relating to that series and will file the certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock the Company offers before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock.
As of June 30, 2015, the Company had 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized, with a par value of $.001 per share, of which no shares are issued or outstanding.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
NOTE 11- STOCK OPTIONS
There were no issuances of stock options during the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Options outstanding and related weighted average price and intrinsic value are as follows:
NOTE 12-CONCENTRATIONS AND LITIGIATION
Market Concentration
All of the Company's revenue-generating operations are conducted in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environments in the PRC, and by the general state of the PRC's economy.
The Company's operations in the PRC are subject to specific considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in North America and Western Europe. These include risks associated with, among other things, the political, economic and legal environment and foreign currency exchange. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by, among other things, changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion and remittance abroad, and rates and methods of taxation.
Vendor and Customer Concentration
There were two vendors, Sino-agri Holding Co., Ltd and Beijing Baofengnian Agricultural Material Co. Ltd,, from which the Company purchased 16.9% and 10.5% of its raw materials for the year ended June 30, 2015. Total purchase from these two venders amounted to $47,116,232 as June 30, 2015. The total amount payable to these two venders as of June 30, 2015 was $13,126,582.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
There were two vendors, Beijing Dongqi Trade CenterCo., Ltd. and Beijing Baofengnian Agricultural Material Co. Ltd,, from which the Company purchased 11.6% and 10.7% of its raw materials for the year ended June 30, 2014. Total purchase from these two venders amounted to $31,597,539 as June 30, 2014. The total amount payable to these two venders as of June 30, 2014 was $8,803,074.
There were two vendors, Sino-agri Holding Co., Ltd.and_Beijing Baohenongxiang Agricultural Materials Co. Ltd., from which the Company purchased 14.6% and 13.6% of its raw materials for the year ended June 30, 2013.Total purchase from these two venders amounted to $33,832,070 as June 30, 2013. The total amount payable to these two venders as of June 30, 2013 was $9,426,904.
One customer,Sino-agri Holding Co., Ltd., accounted for $64,131,981, or 23.6% of the Company’s sales for the year ended June 30, 2015. One customer, Shaanxi TechTeam Jinong Humic Acid Product Co., Ltd. accounted for $28,503,063, or 11.2% of the Company’s sales for the year ended June 30, 2014. One customer, Beijing Baohenongxiang Agricultural Materials Co. Ltd., accounted for $39,735,292, or 18.3% of the Company’s sales for the year ended June 30, 2013.
Litigation
On October 15, 2010, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Company and certain of its current and former officers in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada (the "Nevada Federal Court") on behalf of purchasers of the Company’s common stock between November 12, 2009 and September 1, 2010. The last version of the complaint alleges that the Company and certain current and former officers and directors violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by making material misstatements and omissions in the Company’s financial statements, securities offering documents, and related disclosures during the class period. On October 7, 2011, the defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint and to strike portions of it. On November 2, 2012, the Court issued an order dismissing the claims for violation of sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 as to all defendants and dismissing two individual defendants from the complaint but allowing the claims for violations of section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to continue with respect to the Company and the remaining of the individual defendants. The Nevada Federal Court also denied the defendants’ motion to strike. The parties to the securities class action held mediation on March 7, 2013, which led to an agreement in principle to settle the case for a payment of $ 2.5 million by the Company’s insurers in exchange for a release of all claims against all defendants. On August 12, 2014, the Nevada Federal Court entered an order and final judgment granting final approval to the settlement and dismissing all claims in accordance with the settlement agreement. The Company’s insurers funded the full amount of the settlement of $2.5 million.
NOTE 13- SEGMENT REPORTING
As of June 30, 2015, the Company was organized into three main business segments (compared with four main business segments in 2012) based on location and product: Jinong (fertilizer production), Gufeng (fertilizer production), and Yuxing (agricultural products production). Each of the three operating segments referenced above has separate and distinct general ledgers. The chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) receives financial information, including revenue, gross margin, operating income and net income produced from the various general ledger systems to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance; however, the principal measure of segment profitability or loss used by the CODM is net income by segment.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
(1) Reconciling amounts refer to the unallocated assets or expenses of Green New Jersey.
(2) Reconciling amounts refer to the unallocated assets or expenses of the Parent Company.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
Total revenues from exported products currently account for approximately 0.1%, 0.1% and 0.2% of the Company’s total fertilizer revenues for the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
NOTE 14- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES AND UNCERTAINTIES
On June 29, 2014, Jinong signed an office lease with Kingtone Information. Pursuant to the lease, Jinong rented 612 square meters (approximately 6,588 square feet) of office space from Kingtone Information. The lease provided for a two-year term effective as of July 1, 2014 with monthly rent of $4,007 (RMB 24,480).
In February 2004, Tianjuyuan signed a fifty-year lease with the village committee of Dong Gao Village and Zhen Nan Zhang Dai Village in the Beijing Ping Gu District, at a monthly rent of $484 (RMB 2,958).
Accordingly, the Company recorded an aggregate of $53,636, $63,606 and $63,371 as rent expenses for the years ended June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Rent expenses for the next five years ended June 30, are as follows:
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
In the next two to three years, China’s growth performance could deteriorate because of the overhang of its real estate bubble, massive manufacturing overcapacity, and the lack of new growth engines. The International Monetary Fund and UBS estimate that the Chinese economy will grow by 6.8% in 2015. If China’s economy is further slowing down, it may negatively affect the Company’s business operation and financial results.
Furthermore, as the Company relies entirely on revenues earned in the PRC, any significant revaluation of RMB may materially and adversely affect its cash flows, revenues and financial condition. The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by changes in the PRC's political and economic conditions. In August 2015, the PRC Government devalued its currency by approximately 3%, represented the largest yuan depreciation for 20 years. Concerns remain that China’s slowing economy, and in particular its exports, will need a stimulus that can only come from further cuts in the exchange rate. Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to reduce the Company’s exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, the Company have not entered into any hedging transactions.
NOTE 15 VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Green Nevada through one of its subsidiaries, Jinong, entered into a series of agreements (the “VIE Agreements”) with Yuxing for it to qualify as a VIE, effective June 16, 2013. The VIE Agreements are as follows:
Entrusted Management Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of a certain Entrusted Management Agreement dated June 16, 2013 among Yuxing, Jinong and the shareholder of Yuxing (the “Entrusted Management Agreement”), Yuxing and its shareholder agreed to entrust the operations and management of its business to Jinong. According to the Entrusted Management Agreement, Jinong possesses the full and exclusive right to manage Yuxing’s operations, assets and personnel, has the right to control all of Yuxing's cash flows through an entrusted bank account, is entitled to Yuxing's net profits as a management fee, is obligated to pay all of Yuxing’s payables and loan payments, and bears all losses of Yuxing. The Entrusted Management Agreement will remain in effect until (i) the parties mutually agree to terminate the agreement; (ii) the dissolution of Yuxing or (iii) Jinong acquires all of the assets or equity of Yuxing (as more fully described below under “Exclusive Option Agreement”).
Exclusive Product Supply Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of a certain Exclusive Product Supply Agreement dated June 16, 2013 between Yuxing and Jinong (“the Exclusive Product Supply Agreement”), Jinong is the exclusive product provider to Yuxing. Yuxing agreed to pay Jinong all fees payable for products supply prior to making any payments under the Entrusted Management Agreement. Any payment from Yuxing to Jinong must comply with applicable Chinese laws. The Exclusive Product Supply Agreement shall remain in effect until (i) the parties mutually agree to terminate the agreement; (ii) the dissolution of Yuxing or (iii) Jinong acquires Yuxing (as more fully described below under “Exclusive Option Agreement”).
Shareholder’s Voting Proxy Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of a certain Shareholder’s Voting Proxy Agreement dated June 16, 2013 among Jinong and the shareholder of Yuxing (the “Shareholder’s Voting Proxy Agreement”), the shareholder of Yuxing irrevocably appointed Jinong as their proxy to exercise on such shareholder’s behalf all of her voting rights as shareholder pursuant to PRC law and the Articles of Association of Yuxing, including the appointment and election of directors of Yuxing. Jinong agreed that it shall maintain a board of directors the composition of which will be the members of the Board of Green Nevada, except those directors that are employed solely for the purpose of satisfying listing or financing requirements of Green Nevada, if any. The Shareholder’s Voting Proxy Agreement will remain in effect until Jinong acquires all of the assets or equity of Yuxing.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
Exclusive Option Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of a certain Exclusive Option Agreement dated June 16, 2013 among Jinong, Yuxing and the shareholder of Yuxing (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), the shareholder of Yuxing granted Jinong an irrevocable and exclusive purchase option (the “Option”) to acquire Yuxing’s equity interests and/or remaining assets, but only to the extent that the acquisition does not violate limitations imposed by PRC law on such transactions. The Option is exercisable at any time at Jinong’s discretion so long as such exercise and subsequent acquisition of Yuxing does not violate PRC law. The consideration for the exercise of the Option is to be determined by the parties and memorialized in the future by definitive agreements setting forth the kind and value of such consideration. To the extent Yuxing shareholder receive any of such consideration, the Option requires them to transfer (and not retain) the same to Yuxing or Jinong. The Exclusive Option Agreement may be terminated by mutual agreement or by 30 days written notice by Jinong.
Equity Pledge Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of a certain Equity Pledge Agreement dated June 16, 2013 among Jinong and the shareholder of Yuxing (the “Pledge Agreement”), the shareholder of Yuxing pledged all of her equity interests in Yuxing, including the proceeds thereof, to guarantee all of Jinong's rights and benefits under the Entrusted Management Agreement, the Exclusive Product Supply Agreement, the Shareholder’ Voting Proxy Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement. Prior to termination of the Pledge Agreement, the pledged equity interests cannot be transferred without Jinong's prior written consent. The Pledge Agreement may be terminated only upon the written agreement of the parties.
As a result of these contractual arrangements, Green Nevada is able to exercise control over Yuxing and was entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits of Yuxing through its subsidiary, Jinong. Therefore, Green Nevada consolidates Yuxing in accordance with ASC 810-10 (“Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”) since the date of the VIE Agreements.
The following financial statement amounts and balances of the VIE were included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2015 and 2014:
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
NOTE 16 - RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
The Company’s operations are primarily conducted through its PRC subsidiaries, which can only pay dividends out of their retained earnings determined in accordance with the accounting standards and regulations in the PRC and after it has met the PRC requirements for appropriation to statutory reserves. In addition, the Company’s businesses and assets are primarily denominated in RMB, which is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. All foreign exchange transactions take place either through the People’s Bank of China or other banks authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China. Approval of foreign currency payments by the People’s Bank of China or other regulatory institutions requires submitting a payment application form together with suppliers’ invoices, shipping documents and signed contracts. These currency exchange control procedures imposed by the PRC government authorities may restrict the ability of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries to transfer their net assets to the Parent Company through loans, advances or cash dividends.
The Company’s PRC subsidiaries net assets as of June 30, 2015 and 2014 exceeded 25% of the Company’s consolidated net assets. Accordingly, condensed Parent Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 5-04 and Rule 12-04 of SEC Regulation S-X, and are as follows.
Parent Company Financial Statements
PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC.
CHINA GREEN AGRICULTURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2015
Notes to Condensed Parent Company Financial Information
As of June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, there were no material contingencies, significant provisions for long-term obligations, or guarantees of the Company, except as separately disclosed in the Consolidated Financial Statements, if any. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted.
NOTE 18 - SELECTED QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED)