UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

☒     annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016

       

or

 

☐      Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from  ____________ to ____________

 

Commission File Number: 001-37459

       

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED
(Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

 

Cayman Islands   N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. employer
identification number)
     

Eastern End of Xiwuzhuang Village

Jiaodian Town, Xinhua Area

Pingdingshan, Henan Province

People’s Republic of China

   
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code +86-375-8888988

 

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

 

Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered
Ordinary shares, $0.00125 par value   NASDAQ Capital Market

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
(Do not check if smaller reporting company)   Emerging growth company

 

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

 

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

 

As of August 21, 2017, the registrant had 12,055,324 shares of ordinary shares outstanding.

 

 

  

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2016

 

    Page
PART I   1
Item 1. Business 1
Item 1A. Risk Factors 16
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 34
Item 2. Properties 34
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 35
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 40
     
PART II   37
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 37
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 39
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations 39
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 47
Item 8. Financial Statements 48
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 49
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 49
Item 9B. Other Information 50
     
PART III   51
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 58
Item 11. Executive Compensation 58
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 60
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 60
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Service 62
     
PART IV   64
Item 15. Exhibits, and Financial Statement Schedules 64
     
Signatures 65

 

 

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This annual report on Form 10-K (the “Report”) and other reports (collectively the “Filings”) filed by the registrant from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) contain or may contain forward looking statements and information that are based upon beliefs of, and information currently available to, the registrant’s management as well as estimates and assumptions made by the registrant’s management. When used in the filings the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions as they relate to the registrant or the registrant’s management identify forward looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the registrant with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors (including the risks contained in the section of this Report entitled “Risk Factors”) relating to the registrant’s industry, the registrant’s operations and results of operations and any businesses that may be acquired by the registrant. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned.

 

Although the registrant believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable, the registrant cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, the registrant does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the registrant’s financial statements and the related notes thereto included in this Report.

 

 

 

 

Conventions That Apply to this report

 

Except where the context otherwise requires and for purposes of this Report only:

 

“ordinary shares” or “shares” refers to Yulong’s ordinary shares, par value $0.00125 per share;

 

we ,” “ us ,” “ our company ,” or “ Company ” refers to Yulong and its subsidiaries and consolidated entities;

 

Yulong ” refers to Yulong Eco-Materials Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company;

 

Yulong BVI ” refers to China Xing De (BVI) Limited, a British Virgin Islands company which is wholly-owned by Yulong;

 

Yulong HK ” refers to China Xing De (Hong Kong) Limited, a Hong Kong company which is wholly-owned by Yulong BVI;

 

Yulong WFOE ” refers to Zhengzhou Xing De Enterprise Management & Consulting Co., Ltd., a PRC company which is wholly-owned by Yulong HK;

 

Yulong Bricks ” refers to Henan Jianyida Industrial Co., Ltd., a PRC company which is contractually controlled by Yulong WFOE;

 

Yulong Concrete ” refers to Pingdingshan Hengji Concrete Co., Ltd., a PRC company which is contractually controlled by Yulong WFOE;

 

Yulong Transport ” refers to Pingdingshan Hengji Industrial Co., Ltd., a PRC company which is contractually controlled by Yulong WFOE;

 

Yulong Renewable ” refers to Pingdingshan Xulong Renewable Resource Co., Ltd., a PRC company which is contractually controlled by Yulong WFOE;

 

Yulong Group ” and “ our consolidated affiliated entities ” refer to Yulong Bricks, Yulong Concrete, Yulong Transport and Yulong Renewable, collectively;

 

PRC ” or “ China ” or “ Chinese ” refers to the People’s Republic of China, and, for the purposes of this Report, excludes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan;

 

RMB ” refers to the legal currency of the PRC;

 

U.S. dollars ,” “ US$ ” or “ $ ” refers to the legal currency of the United States;

 

m 3 ” refers to cubic meter or cubic meters;

 

Securities Act ” refers to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and

 

Exchange Act ” refers to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

 

General Overview

 

We are a vertically integrated manufacturer of eco-friendly building products located in the city of Pingdingshan in Henan Province, China. We are the leading producer of fly-ash bricks and concrete in Pingdingshan. In late April 2015, we launched our construction waste hauling operations in Pingdingshan, and with the collected construction waste, have added crushed construction waste, or recycled aggregates, and bricks made from recycled aggregates, or recycled bricks, to our product offerings. Since then, we have also expanded our hauling and recycling operations beyond Pingdingshan.

 

Our Corporate History and Structure

 

Yulong

 

Yulong is a holding company and was incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on March 10, 2011. In March 2011, Yulong sold and issued 800,000 ordinary shares to its founding shareholder. In May 2011, Yulong sold and issued 360,000 ordinary shares to 10 investors.

 

Through a corporate restructuring in December 2011, the shareholders of Yulong BVI exchanged all of their outstanding ordinary shares of Yulong BVI for 6,840,000 ordinary shares of Yulong pursuant to the terms and conditions of a share exchange agreement dated December 11, 2011, or the Exchange Agreement. As a result, Yulong acquired all of the equity interests in Yulong BVI and Yulong BVI became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yulong.

 

On July 1, 2015, we closed our initial public offering of 2,250,000 ordinary shares at $6.25 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $14 million before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us.

 

Yulong BVI

 

Yulong BVI is a holding company and was incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, or BVI, on June 15, 2011.  The company was established to negate the payment of stamp tax necessary to transfer the shares of Yulong HK.  The transfer of shares in a Hong Kong entity incurs a 2% stamp tax pursuant to Hong Kong tax laws, whereas there is no stamp tax payable for transfer of shares in a BVI entity pursuant to BVI tax laws.  Mr. Yulong Zhu is the sole director of Yulong BVI.  The company currently does not have any employees or officers.

 

Yulong HK

 

Yulong HK is a holding company and was incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or Hong Kong, on July 21, 2011.  The company was established to minimize Chinese withholding tax on dividends.  Pursuant to the tax treaty between Hong Kong and China, a withholding tax rate of 5% for distribution of dividends may apply on dividends received by Yulong HK if certain requirements under such tax treaty are met, while the withholding tax rate is 10% for dividends to be received by companies incorporated in most other jurisdictions.  Mr. Yulong Zhu is the sole director of Yulong HK.  The company currently does not have any employees or officers.

 

Yulong WFOE

 

Yulong WFOE is a limited liability company that was formed under the laws of the PRC on September 2, 2011, and controls Yulong Group through a series of contractual arrangements, or the VIE Agreements.  Because it is wholly owned by Yulong HK, Yulong WFOE is a wholly foreign owned enterprise, or WFOE, under Chinese law. The approved business scope as set forth in its business license includes construction engineering technology consulting and enterprise management consulting.  Other than activities relating to the VIE Agreements, the company has no other separate operations of its own.  Mr. Yulong Zhu is the sole director of Yulong WFOE.  The company currently does not have any employees or officers.

 

Although current PRC regulations do not restrict or prohibit foreign investment in domestic companies engaging in businesses such as those of our consolidated affiliated entities, there is substantial uncertainty regarding the interpretation and application of such regulations.  For example, we source construction waste for Yulong Renewable’s recycling plant through our exclusive agreement with Pingdingshan Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, or Pingdingshan Development Bureau.  While no regulation prohibits foreign investment in Yulong Renewable, in practice, local governments will only enter into such contract if Yulong Renewable remains a domestic company.  As such, Yulong WFOE has entered into the VIE Agreements with Yulong Group and their shareholders.  We do not own any equity interests in Yulong Bricks, Yulong Concrete, Yulong Renewable or Yulong Transport, but control and receive the economic benefits of their respective business operations through the VIE Agreements.  The VIE Agreements enable us to provide these companies with consulting services on an exclusive basis, in exchange for all of their quarterly profits, if any.  In addition, we are able to appoint their senior executives and approve all matters requiring approval of their shareholders.  The VIE Agreements are comprised of an Exclusive Consulting and Operating Agreement, Equity Pledge Agreement, Option Agreement and Voting Rights Proxy and Financial Supporting Agreement, and are described in further detail under “ Contractual Arrangements ” below.

 

  1  

 

 

Under current Chinese laws and regulations, we believe that the VIE Agreements are not subject to any government approval.  The shareholders of Yulong Group were required to register with SAFE when they established Yulong BVI, and have obtained such SAFE registration in May 2011. They were also required to update such SAFE registration when we issued ordinary shares to them in connection with the Exchange Agreement, although such SAFE update has not been completed as of the date of this Report.  These shareholders have also registered their equity pledge arrangement as required under the Equity Pledge Agreement with Yulong WFOE (see “ Contractual Arrangements ” below). 

 

Yulong Group

 

All of our business operations are conducted through our four consolidated affiliated entities, namely, Yulong Concrete which commenced operations in 2004, Yulong Bricks in 2006, Yulong Transport in 2009, and Yulong Renewable in late April 2015.  All four companies have subsequently become our consolidated variable interest entities, or VIEs, through the VIE Agreements described below.

 

Yulong Bricks is a limited liability company established in China, and its business scope includes production and sales of fly-ash bricks and sales of building materials, steel, general merchandise and hardware. As of the date of this Report, Yulong Bricks is 54% held by Mr. Yulong Zhu, and 46% held by Mr. Hu Zhu.  The current management members of this company include Mr. Hu Zhu as executive director and general manager, Mr. Lei Zhu as supervisory director.

 

Yulong Concrete is a limited liability company established in China, and its approved business scope includes production and sales of ready-mixed concrete.  As of the date of this Report, Yulong Concrete is 80% held by Ms. Liping Zhai, and 20% held by Mr. Dangwei Wang, both of whom are cousins of our founder.  The current management members of this company include Mr. Yulong Zhu as president, Ms. Zhai as executive director, Mr. Wang as supervisory director, Mr. Ya Zhou as plant manager, Mr. Guangjian Zhu as purchase manager, Mr. Xixin Zhang as production manager, and Mr. Yaofeng Ren as quality control manager.

 

Yulong Renewable is a limited liability company established in China, and its business scope includes the production and sales of bricks, road curb bricks, running track bricks, water permeable bricks; the recycling of waste resources and metals (unless prohibited by the state); the transportation for general goods; clean-up and transportation of construction waste within planning areas; and housing demolition (excluding explosion).  As of the date of this Report, Yulong Renewable is 68.3% held by our founder, and 31.7% held by Mr. Wei Yi.  The current management members of this company include Mr. Yulong Zhu as president and general manager, and Mr. Wei Yi as supervisory director.

 

On October 30, 2015, Pingdingshan Xulong Renewable Resource Co., Ltd. Shangqiu Branch was established and incorporated in the People’s Republic of China. The entity is wholly owned by Pingdingshan Xulong Renewable Resource Co., Ltd. (“Yulong Renewable”) and engages in construction waste hauling and processing for the city center in Shangqiu district.

 

In late March 2016, the central government of the People’s of Republic of China passed Air Pollution Control Act and enforced Air Pollution Control Action Plan. The province of Henan of People’s Republic of China implemented “Province of Henan Blue Sky Action Plan” on various industries such as construction materials, coal mining.   Due to this regulation and action plan, Yulong Renewable’s operation and its construction projects have been hindered. The Company has assessed the impact of this new regulations on its financial conditions. See “ Item 7- Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial conditions and Results of Operations and Item 8-Financial Statements.”

 

Yulong Transport is a limited liability company established in China, and its business scope includes leasing and maintenance of mechanical equipment; general cargo transport; and special transport of goods (canned).  As of the date of this Report, Yulong Transport is 60% held by Mr. Aimin Shi, our founder’s uncle, and 40% held by Ms. Liping Zhai.  The current management members of this company include Mr. Shi as executive director, and Ms. Zhai as supervisory director.

 

Since inception, all four companies have been solely capitalized by our founder, with the other shareholders holding their respective equity interests on behalf of our founder.  Our founder believes that such arrangements are necessary to retain some measure of privacy locally. The other shareholders disclaim all of the rights and obligations associated with their equity interests, which rights and obligations are borne solely by our founder.  Additionally, the other shareholders may not transfer their equity interests without our founder’s written consent.  These arrangements are established through a Silent Shareholder Investment Agreement, or Investment Agreement, between our founder and the other shareholders.  The Investment Agreement was entered into in July 2009 with respect to Yulong Transport, in September 2012 with respect to Yulong Concrete, in March 2013 with respect to Yulong Bricks, and in August 2013 with respect to Yulong Renewable. As its purpose is to govern the relationships between our founder and other shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entities, the Investment Agreement will have no effect on the rights of our shareholders, including rights to the revenue generated by our consolidated affiliated entities or interests in their assets. Such rights and interests will instead be dependent entirely on the contractual arrangements through which we control our consolidated affiliated entities, and the exercise and enforcement of our rights under such contractual arrangements (see “ Contractual Arrangements ” below). Except through such exercise and enforcement, neither we nor you have any other right to the revenue or assets of our consolidated affiliated entities, since we do not have any ownership of them. However, reliance on the contractual arrangements may not always be effective. See “ Risk Factors–Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure–Our contractual arrangements with our consolidated affiliated entities may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership. ” In addition, because the contractual arrangements are governed by Chinese laws, enforcement of our rights may be uncertain. See “ Risk Factors–Risks Related to Doing Business in China–Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us .”

 

  2  

 

 

The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure as of the date of this Report:

 

 

 

  (1) Silent shareholder investment agreement
  (2) Exclusive consulting and operating agreement
  (3) Equity pledge agreement
  (4) Option agreement
  (5) Voting rights proxy agreement

 

Contractual Arrangements

 

While we do not have any equity interest in our consolidated affiliated entities, we have been and are expected to continue to be dependent on them to operate our business as long as there is uncertainty in the interpretation and application by local governments of regulations concerning foreign investments in companies such as our consolidated affiliated entities.  We rely on our consolidated affiliated entities to maintain or renew their respective qualifications, licenses or permits necessary for our business in China. We believe that under the VIE Agreements, we have substantial control over our consolidated affiliated entities and their respective shareholders to renew, revise or enter into new contractual arrangements prior to the expiration of the current arrangements on terms that would enable us to continue to operate our business in China after the expiration of the current arrangements, or pursuant to certain amendments and changes of the current applicable PRC laws, regulations and rules on terms that would enable us to continue to operate our business in China legally. While we currently do not anticipate any changes to PRC laws in the near future that may impact our ability to carry out our business in China, no assurances can be made in this regard. See “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations. ” and “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us. ” For a detailed description of the risks associated with our corporate structure and the contractual arrangements that support our corporate structure, see “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure .”

 

  3  

 

 

The following is a summary of the VIE Agreements among Yulong WFOE, the four Yulong Group companies, and their shareholders.

 

Exclusive Consulting Services and Operating Agreements.   Pursuant to exclusive consulting services and operating agreements among Yulong WFOE, Yulong Group companies and their shareholders:

 

  Yulong WFOE has the exclusive right to provide consulting services relating to, among other things, general business operation, human resources and business development, to each Yulong Group company.

 

  Yulong WFOE exclusively owns all intellectual property rights resulting from the performance of this agreement.

 

  Without Yulong WFOE’s prior written consent, each Yulong Group company shall not conduct any transaction that may materially affects its assets, obligations, rights or operations, including but not limited to, (i) incurrence or assumption of any indebtedness, (ii) sale or purchase of any assets or rights, (iii) incurrence of any encumbrance on any of its assets or intellectual property rights in favor of a third party, (iv) issuance, purchase or redemption of its equity or debt securities, (v) winding up, liquidation or dissolution, (vi) declaration or payment of dividend, or return of capital, (vii) loans or investments other than in the ordinary course of business, (viii) transactions with affiliates, (ix) amendment or modification of its charter documents, (x) engagement in activities outside the scope of its business license, and (xi) transfer of any rights or obligations under this agreements to a third party.

 

  Each Yulong Group company agrees to follow the proposal provided by Yulong WFOE from time to time relating to employment, daily operation and financial management.

 

  Each Yulong Group company shall appoint the candidates designated by Yulong WFOE as its general manager, chief financial officer and any other senior officers.

 

  At its discretion, Yulong WFOE may guaranty the performance by a Yulong Group company of such company’s obligations under any agreement with a third party.

 

  Each Yulong Group company agrees to pay a service fee in an amount equal to its net profit each fiscal quarter to Yulong WFOE, payable upon request in RMB and without setoff into an account specified by Yulong WFOE.  

 

  Yulong WFOE shall not be entitled to a service fee from a Yulong Group company for any fiscal quarter in which such company has net loss, and shall absorb such loss as well as pay an amount equal to such loss to such company upon request, although Yulong WFOE currently does not maintain any funds to make such payment.

 

  The term of this agreement shall continue unless all parties thereto agree its termination.

 

Equity Pledge Agreements.   Pursuant to equity pledge agreements between Yulong WFOE and each of the Yulong Group shareholders:

 

  The shareholders have pledged all of their equity interests in Yulong Group companies to Yulong WFOE, to guarantee each Yulong Group company’s performance of its obligations under the exclusive consulting services and operating agreement.

 

  If a Yulong Group company breaches its contractual obligations under the aforesaid agreement, Yulong WFOE, as the pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights and entitlements, including the priority in receiving payments by the evaluation or proceeds from the auction or sale of whole or part of the pledged equity interests of such Yulong Group company in accordance with legal procedures.

 

  Without Yulong WFOE’s prior written consent, the shareholders shall not transfer or assign the pledged equity interests, or incur or allow any encumbrance that would jeopardize Yulong WFOE’s interests.

 

  While this agreement is in effect (see below), Yulong WFOE is entitled to collect all of the dividends or other distributions, if any, derived from the pledged equity interests, whether or not there has been a default under this agreement.

 

  4  

 

 

  The equity interest pledge has been registered with the competent local branch of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce or SAIC, and, with respect to each Yulong Group company, expires on the earlier of: (i) two years from the date on which such Yulong Group company has fully performed its obligations under the exclusive consulting services and operating agreement; or (ii) the completion of the transfer of all equity interests of such Yulong Group company by its shareholders to another individual or legal entity designated by Yulong WFOE pursuant to the option agreement, and no equity interest of such Yulong Group company is held by such shareholders.

 

Option Agreements. Pursuant to option agreements between Yulong WFOE and each of the Yulong Group shareholders:

 

  The shareholders have granted Yulong WFOE an exclusive option to purchase, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of their equity interests in Yulong Group companies, at the lowest price then permitted by PRC law.  Proceeds from exercise of the option will ultimately be received by our founder pursuant to the Investment Agreement.

 

  Yulong WFOE has sole discretion as to when to exercise such options, either in part or in full, and is entitled to exercise the options for unlimited times until all of the equity interests of Yulong Group companies have been acquired, and can freely transfer the options, in whole or in part, to any third party.  Equity interests purchased by such third party would be held by such third party. 

 

  Without Yulong WFOE’s consent, the shareholders shall not transfer, donate, pledge, or otherwise dispose their equity shareholdings in Yulong Group companies in any way.

 

  This agreement will remain in full force and effect until the earlier of: (i) the date on which the option has been exercised in full, or (ii) termination by Yulong WFOE.  The key factor for our decision to exercise the option is whether the current interpretation and practice by the local governments with respect to foreign investment in domestic companies such as our consolidated affiliated entities will be relaxed in the future, which we cannot predict.  If such restrictions are relaxed, we will, through Yulong WFOE, exercise the option and purchase all or part of the equity interests in Yulong Group companies.

 

Voting Rights Proxy and Financial Supporting Agreements.   Pursuant to voting rights proxy and financial supporting agreements between Yulong WFOE and each of the Yulong Group shareholders:

 

  The shareholders irrevocably grant their rights to vote and attend shareholder meetings to Yulong WFOE or its designee.

 

  In consideration for the rights granted by the shareholders, Yulong WFOE agrees to arrange for funding necessary to operate the businesses of Yulong Group companies, which do not need to be repaid if such businesses fail.

 

  This agreement will remain in full force and effect until the earlier of: (i) the date on which the option under the option agreement has been exercised in full, or (ii) termination by Yulong WFOE.

 

In the opinion of our PRC legal counsel:

 

  the corporate structure of Yulong WFOE and Yulong Group companies in China comply with all existing PRC laws and regulations;

 

  the VIE Agreements are valid, binding and enforceable under PRC law, and will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and

 

  Each of Yulong WFOE and Yulong Group companies has all necessary corporate power and authority to conduct its business as described in its business scope under its business license.  Each such business license is in full force and effect.  Each of Yulong WFOE and Yulong Group companies is capable of suing and being sued and may be the subject of any legal proceedings in PRC courts.  To the best of our PRC counsel’s knowledge after due inquiries, none of Yulong WFOE, Yulong Group companies or their respective assets is entitled to any immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty, from any action, suit or other legal proceedings; or from enforcement, execution or attachment.

 

We have been advised by our PRC legal counsel, however, that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules.  Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to the above opinion of our PRC legal counsel.  If the PRC government finds that the foregoing agreements that establish the structure for operating our PRC business do not comply with applicable PRC regulations, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations.  See “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Our contractual arrangements with our consolidated affiliated entities may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership. ” and “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.

 

  5  

 

 

Our Business

 

Fly-ash Bricks

 

We produce fly-ash bricks through Yulong Bricks, which operates our brick plant located adjacent to our headquarters in Pingdingshan.  Our bricks are used in and around Pingdingshan in connection with commercial, industrial, and residential constructions.  We refer to our bricks as “fly-ash” bricks because they are produced in part from reclaimed fly-ash.  When power plants use coal to generate electricity, fly-ash is the lightweight and powdery residue from the coal combustion process.  Fly-ash is typically disposed of in landfills and ash ponds, although some may be released directly into the atmosphere.  With ever-rising energy demand fueled by Pingdingshan’s economic growth, however, power plants are generating fly-ash at levels that threaten to overwhelm available landfill and ash pond sites.  By recycling fly-ash for our bricks, we believe that our brick-making process is a viable and environmentally friendly solution to the fly-ash disposal problem by helping to reduce landfill space.

 

Traditional bricks in China are made up primarily of cement, which is mixed with water and silt, pressed into a mold for shaping, and then fired in a kiln, or furnace, at temperature of between 900 and 1000 degree Celsius to harden and achieve strength.

 

We use reclaimed fly-ash primarily as a substitute for cement, and at least 30% of each of our bricks is fly-ash.  We believe that fly-ash reduces both the density and heat conductivity of our bricks without sacrificing their durability and strength.  In addition, because the fly-ash is reclaimed wastes, we believe that our bricks are consistent with government policies such as the national energy conservation policy that the Chinese central government announced at the beginning of calendar year 2013.  We also believe the availability of fly-ash in coal-rich Pingdingshan allows us to manage any seasonal and other fluctuations in cement supply.

 

In addition to cement and fly-ash, our bricks contain gypsum, quicklime and aluminum powder in accordance with industry standards and requirements.  The following illustrates our production process:

 

 

 

  (1) We currently have four production lines, each with an oven approximately 31 meters in length, holding up to the equivalence of 18 uncut blocks per load.  Each production line can produce approximately 300 m 3 of bricks per day and 100,000 m 3 of bricks per year, although actual production may vary due to maintenance and repairs.  

 

The Housing and Urban-Rural Construction Department of Henan Province has certified our use of reclaimed fly-ash, which certification also signifies our conformance with the central government’s policy to foster and support resource conservation and management.  We also believe that our bricks are environmentally friendly because they require less energy and generate fewer pollutants to produce, and are more cost effective, than traditional fired cement bricks. Our production process is ISO:9000 certified by Beijing ZhongDaHuaYuan Certification Center, which certification is nationally recognized, including by the Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision of Henan Province.

 

  6  

 

 

We currently produce 13 standard sizes of bricks, ranging from 0.015 to 0.045 m 3 .  Our bricks are primarily used in industrial, commercial and residential construction for foundation and structural walls.  We also produce custom-size bricks to order, although their productions have historically not been significant at less than 1% of the bricks produced.  We generally operate our plant on two shifts of eight hours each, with some overtime operation as deemed necessary during the year.  

 

We also have arrangements with a third-party manufacturer to produce on our behalf.  Under such arrangements, the manufacturer uses its employees and equipment to produce bricks using our pre-formulated raw material blends that we provide and under our supervision, and allows us to stage the finished products onsite until our customers take delivery.  In return, we pay a fee for every m 3 of bricks that the manufacturer produces for us.  In fiscal 2015 and 2016, approximately 119,200 m 3 and 155,720 m 3 of bricks were produced under such arrangements, respectively, although orders did not exceed our production during such periods. Instead, we used the manufacturer at the request of one of our suppliers to which it is affiliated. Our suppliers are generally the largest suppliers locally and many of them are state-owned enterprises. As such, it may be difficult to replace them with other local suppliers in terms of the quantity and quality of their raw materials and their pricing. We have agreed to the supplier’s request to use its affiliate in order to maintain good relationships and to ensure that we can access sufficient raw materials as necessary. Approximately 24.5% and 34.4% of our bricks sold in fiscal 2015 and 2016, respectively, were produced under such arrangements.

 

Our standard operating procedures allow us to exercise quality control during every step of the production process, and we train our personnel to strictly operate by such procedures.  We also maintain a sample of each production batch in the event of any quality issue that may develop.

 

The cost of transportation and storage that our customers incur usually limits the market area for our bricks to within approximately 120 kilometers of our plant site and, therefore, sales are generally driven by the level of construction activity within Pingdingshan.

 

Ready-Mixed Concrete

 

We produce ready-mixed concrete through Yulong Concrete, which operates our concrete plant approximately five kilometers from our headquarters, and distribute the concrete through Yulong Transport, which operates our fleet of concrete mixer trucks.  Our ready-mixed concrete consists of proportioned mixes we prepare in accordance with each customer’s specifications and deliver in an unhardened plastic state for placement and shaping into designed forms at the job site.

 

Selecting the optimum mix for a job entails determining not only the ingredients that will produce the desired permeability, strength, appearance and other properties of the concrete after it has hardened and cured, but also the ingredients necessary to achieve a workable consistency considering the weather and other conditions at the job site.  We believe we can achieve product differentiation for the mixes we offer because of the variety of mixes we can produce, our volume production capacity and our scheduling, delivery and placement reliability.

 

Concrete is primarily a mixture of paste (comprising of cement and water) and aggregates (comprising of sand and gravel.  Aggregates comprise approximately 60% to 80% of the total volume of concrete.  Proper proportioning of paste to aggregates is crucial to achieving strong and durable concrete.  Using insufficient amount of paste, for example, will result in porous concrete with rough, honeycombed surface.  Excessive paste, on the other hand, will reduce the concrete’s strength and durability.  Properly proportioned concrete has the ideal malleability for placement with the necessary strength and durability once hardened and cured.

 

The type and size of the aggregate mixture determines the thickness and purpose of the concrete, with a continuous gradation of particle size being desirable for efficient use of the paste.  The strength of the paste depends on the ratio of water to cement, with lesser water being desirable generally.  We produce ready-mixed concrete by combining cement, aggregates, and other cementitious materials (described below) with water and, typically, one or more admixtures. These admixtures, such as chemicals, minerals and fibers, determine the usefulness of the product for particular applications.

 

We use a variety of chemical admixtures to achieve one or more of five basic purposes:

 

  relieve internal pressure and increase resistance to cracking in subfreezing weather;

 

  retard the hardening process to make concrete more workable in hot weather;

 

  strengthen concrete by reducing its water content;

 

  accelerate the hardening process and reduce the time required for curing; and

 

  facilitate the placement of concrete having low water content.

  

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Most common chemical admixtures we use include pumping agent, super-plasticizer, and expansive admixtures.

 

We frequently use various mineral admixtures as supplements to cement, which we refer to as cementitious materials, to alter the permeability, strength and other properties of concrete. These materials include (i) fly ash; (ii) ground slag, a byproduct of iron and steel manufacturing; and (iii) silica fume, a waste byproduct from the manufacture of silicon or ferro-silicon metal.  These materials also reduce the amount of cement content used which results in a reduction in CO 2 emissions.

 

Our concrete is delivered premixed, or ready-mixed, to a customer’s jobsite.  The following illustrates our standard operating procedure after an order is placed and delivery date is confirmed:

 

 

 

We currently operate two mixing towers at our plant. Each tower is designed to produce approximately 750 m 3 daily and 200,000 m 3 annually, although actual production may vary due to maintenance and repairs.  Once mixed, the concrete can remain in a plastic state in a mixer truck for approximately six hours. We produced 494,147 m 3 and 420,189 m 3 of concrete in fiscal 2015 and 2016, respectively.  Our production process is ISO:9000 certified by Beijing ZhongDaHuaYuan Certification Center, which certification is nationally recognized, including by the Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision of Henan Province.

 

We generally operate our plant on two shifts of eight hours each, with some overtime operation as deemed necessary during the year.  We also have arrangements with a third-party manufacturer to make concrete for us with its employees and equipment usually when demand exceeds our production, which was the case in fiscal 2015 and 2016. Our arrangement with the manufacturer is identical to that we have with the third-party brick manufacturer described earlier. Approximately 182,146 m 3 and 110,130 m 3 of concrete were produced for us under such arrangement in fiscal 2015 and 2016, respectively. Approximately 26.9% and 20.8% of our concrete sold in fiscal 2015 and 2016, respectively, were produced under such arrangement.

  

We emphasize quality control, pre-job planning, customer service and coordination of supplies and delivery. We perform testing to determine which mix design is most appropriate to meet the required specifications.  The test results enable us to select the mixture that has the lowest cost and meets or exceeds the job specifications.  We create and maintain a project file that details the mixture we will use when we produce the concrete for the job.  For quality control purposes, we also create and maintain batch samples of concrete we have delivered to a job site, which help to ensure consistent results and minimize the need to correct completed work.

 

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Construction Waste Hauling and Recycling

 

We haul and process construction waste, and produce recycled aggregates and recycled bricks, through Yulong Renewable, which operates our new recycling and brick plants on a campus approximately 15 kilometers from our headquarters. The campus also houses our research and development center, which was completed in April 2015, as well as the buildings for our new headquarters and employee dormitory when completed.

 

We have an exclusive right granted by Pingdingshan Development Bureau, to clean up and process construction waste in the built-up area of Pingdingshan (subject to exclusions imposed by special municipal regulations). The built-up area encompasses four districts, namely, Shilong, Weidong, Xinhua and Zhanhe, and two special districts, namely, Gaoxing Technology Industry Development District and Xincheng, that are administered by the municipal government. Our exclusivity is for 20 years, commencing concurrently with the formal operations of our recycling plant in late April 2015, but may be extended subject to agreement with Pingdingshan Development Bureau prior to the expiration or termination of our exclusive agreement. Additionally, we have two licenses from Pingdingshan Construction Wastes Management Office, which is a department of Pingdingshan Development Bureau and is in charge of the city’s construction waste. Specifically, we have an exclusive license to clean up, transport and process constructions waste within the city’s planning area (in this case being the built-up area of Pingdingshan), and a qualification license as required by Pingdingshan Development Bureau. Both licenses expire on October 30, 2032.

 

We operate a fleet of trucks to haul construction waste, consisting primarily bricks and concrete, from construction and demolition sites throughout the built-up area, to our recycling plant to be processed into recycled aggregates. We currently have 50 trucks. The following illustrates our recycling process:

 

 

 

  (1) Non-aggregates primarily consist of metal (such as reinforcement bars and mesh) and wood.

 

We currently produce 5 sizes of recycled aggregates: 0-5 cm, 5-8 cm, 8-12 cm, 12-14 cm and 12-24 cm. The largest size aggregates are used primarily as road base, while the other three sizes are used primarily to make paving bricks. The following illustrates our production process for recycled bricks:

 

 

 

We are also actively looking to expand our hauling and recycling business beyond Pingdingshan:

 

  In July 2015, we won a contract from an agency under the Chinese central government to haul construction waste from a section of the proposed high-speed rail line connecting the cities of Zhengzhou in Henan, and Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province. Specifically, we are responsible for the Liangyuan District section in Shangqiu, Henan, approximately 260 kilometers from Pingdingshan. The section is projected to generate over 1.3 million metric tons of construction waste through its completion, and we will receive 19 RMB per metric ton of hauled waste. We have deployed 15 trucks as well as a mobile recycling station to service this contract beginning in July 2015. The mobile station is located on a site designated by the Shangqiu municipal government, and can produce up to 2 million metric tons of recycled aggregates per year, which will be stored onsite and sold to local construction companies, although no sale has been made as of the date of this Report.

 

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  In September 2015, pursuant to a contract with Zhengdong New District Municipal Construction Office, we began processing construction waste stored at a dumping station in Gaozhuang Village, an administrative village of Zhengdong New District located east of Zhengzhou. The contract calls for us to process waste in such amount as determined, and from villages within the district as assigned, by the Construction Office, for which we will receive 15 RMB per metric ton of processed waste. We have deployed another mobile recycling station to Gaozhuang Village.

 

Customers and Sales

 

Our products are primarily sold to developers of commercial, residential and infrastructural projects, and include both state-owned and private enterprises.  Our hauling customers include government agencies and private real estate developers. For fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, no customers accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue.  The largest brick customer, No. 4 Construction Co. Limited of China Construction Seventh Bureau, accounted for 6.3% of our brick revenue and 1.7% of our total revenue.  The largest concrete customer, Henan Construction Group Co., Ltd., accounted for 15% of our concrete revenue and 8% of our total revenue.  The largest hauling customer, Shangqiu Projects, accounted for 31.9% of our hauling revenue and 1.4% of our total revenue.  The largest waste processing services customer, Zhengdong New District and Urban Construction Office, accounted for 71.2% of our waste processing services revenue and 8.7% of our total revenue. The largest customer of recycled aggregates, Mr. Huijie Geng, accounted for 32.8% of our recycled aggregates revenue and 0.09% of our total revenue.  The largest customer of recycled bricks, Mr. Wei Zhang, accounted for 20.9% of our recycled brick revenue and 0.2% of our total revenue.  None of our customers is related to or affiliated with us.

 

We generally identify potential customers from the membership rosters of industry associations such as Pingdingshan Construction Association, although we also have referrals from existing customers and suppliers, and other potential customers initiate contact with us.  After consideration of a potential customer’s business, operational and financial background, the manager of our sales department will authorize sales staff to initiate contact and negotiate with the customer.  The sales manager must also approve any agreement with the customer prior to execution. An agreement is typically for one year or less, depending on our assessment of a customer’s creditworthiness.  After a customer has signed an agreement with us, the customer may order from us at any time under such agreement, specifying the amount, pricing and delivery date of the order.

 

Suppliers

 

We source all of our raw materials locally. Based on our agreements with our customers at the beginning of each calendar year, we estimate our requirements for the year and then contract with our suppliers on a monthly basis throughout the year to control inventory levels.

 

The following suppliers each accounted for 10% or more of our total spending on supplies in fiscal 2016:

 

Supplier   % of total
spending on
supplies
    Raw material
Pingdingshan Coal Shenma Construction Group Tianyuan Cement Co., Ltd.     25.56 %   Cement (for bricks, concrete and recycling)
Henan Dadi Cement Co., Ltd.     17.76 %   Cement (for bricks and concrete)
Pingdingshan City WeiTeng Trading Co. Ltd.     15.89 %   Cement (for bricks and concrete)

 

None of our suppliers is related to or affiliated with us. We believe that our relationships with our suppliers are good. However, because many of them are the largest in Pingdingshan, we may have difficulty replacing any of them with another local supplier in terms of the quantity and quality of their raw materials and their pricing. See “ Risk Factors–Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry–We depend on third parties for supplies essential to operate our business.”

 

Typically, the highest-cost component in a m 3 of fly-ash brick is quicklime, while cement represents the highest-cost material used to produce a m 3 of ready-mixed concrete.  Nevertheless, we did not purchase quicklime in a sufficient quantity from any one supplier to account for 10% or more of our total spending on supplies in fiscal 2016, which is also the case with our purchase of fly-ash.

 

Since the imposition of the New Energy Policy at the beginning of calendar year 2013 (see “ Regulations – New Energy Policy ” below), there has been shortage of some raw materials in Pingdingshan with attendant price increase, which we believe will continue so long as such policy is in effect. As long as we can maintain our relationship with our current suppliers and are willing to pay the prevailing market price (or higher), we believe that the shortage can be overcome. However, we may choose not to do so in order to protect our margins. Because the implementation of the New Energy Policy is nationwide, we do not believe that sourcing raw materials from outside Pingdingshan would be practicable, in addition to uncertainty with the quality of raw materials from such suppliers and potential harm to our reputation.

 

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Intellectual Property

 

We currently do not own or license any significant intellectual property, including patent, registered trademark or copyright, in connection with our operations.

 

Competition

 

Based on internal research of published government data and our customers’ purchases, and including the bricks and concrete produced for us by third-party manufacturers, we commanded approximately 51% of the brick market and 30% of the concrete market in Pingdingshan in fiscal 2015 and 2016.  Of the numerous manufacturers currently doing business in the city, we believe that only two brick manufacturers and two concrete manufacturers have the capabilities to effectively compete against us.  Our principal brick competitors are Pingdingshan Zhengrui Industry Co, Ltd., and Pingdingshan Yinghao Building Materials Co., Ltd.  Our principal concrete competitors are Pingdingshan Xinruiqi Concrete Co., Ltd., and Pingdingshan Shijixing Concrete Co., Ltd. We have one competitor for recycled bricks, Pingdingshan Fuxing Modern Building Materials Co., Ltd., and no competitor for recycled aggregates or for hauling services within the areas where we have exclusive rights.

 

Competitors having lower operating costs than we do or having the financial resources to enable them to accept lower margins than we do will have a competitive advantage over us.  Competitors having greater financial resources or less financial leverage than we do may be able to invest more in production equipment or pay for acquisitions which could provide them a competitive advantage over us.  See “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry—Competition in Pingdingshan’s building and construction materials industry could adversely affect our results of operations .”

 

Seasonality

 

Our fiscal third quarter sales and results of operations are usually lower than other quarters due to the general slowdown in business activities in China during the Chinese New Year period.  See “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry—Our operating results may vary significantly from one reporting period to another and may be adversely affected by the seasonal and cyclical nature of the markets we serve .”

 

Our Employees

 

We had 259 full-time employees for all of our business operations combined as of June 30, 2016.

 

Yulong Bricks had 88 employees as of such date, categorized by function as follows:

 

Function   Number of
 employees
 
Administrative     12  
Accounting     2  
Plant operations     1  
Production     67  
Inventory/purchasing     2  
Quality control     1  
Sales     3  
Total     88  

 

Yulong Concrete had 59 employees as of such date, categorized by function as follows:

 

Function   Number of
 employees
 
Administrative     7  
Accounting     2  
Plant operations     1  
Production     34  
Purchasing     7  
Quality control     6  
Sales     2  
Total     59  

 

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Yulong Transport had 34 employees as of such date, all of whom are concrete mixer truck operators.

 

Yulong Renewable had 78 employees as of such date, categorized by function as follows: 

 

Function   Number of
 employees
 
Administrative     8  
Accounting     2  
Plant operations     1  
Hauling operations     66  
Purchasing/sales     1  
Total     78  

 

Since our inception, we have not experienced any strikes or other disruptions of employment.  We believe our relationships with our employees are good.

 

In accordance with applicable regulations in China, we participate in a pension contribution plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a personal injury insurance plan, maternity insurance and a housing reserve fund for the benefit of all of our employees.

 

Regulations

 

This section summarizes the principal current PRC laws and regulations relevant to our business and operations.

 

Qualification of Construction Enterprise

 

According to the Construction Law of PRC issued by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on November 1, 1997, effective on March 1, 1998, and as amended on April 22, 2011, building construction enterprises, survey units, design units and project supervision units that engage in building operations shall have the following qualifications: (1) a registered capital conforming to state provisions; (2) specialized technical personnel with qualifications for legal operations that commensurate with the building operations being engaged in; (3) technical equipment for engaging in related building operations; and (4) other qualifications as may be prescribed by laws and administrative regulations. In addition, building construction enterprises, survey units, design units and project supervision units that engage in building operations shall be classified into different grades of quality in accordance with such quality qualifications as the registered capital, specialized technical personnel, technical equipment in their possession and achievements in construction projects completed, and may engage in building operations within the scope permitted by their respective quality grades on acquisition of the corresponding grade quality certificates upon passing qualification examination.

 

Pursuant to the Administration Rules Regarding Qualification of Construction Enterprise issued by Ministry of Construction of PRC on June 26, 2007, and effective on September 1, 2007, a construction enterprise may conduct its construction business after the receipt of qualification which is classified into three categories, with each category having several grades. Since the new Standard Regarding Qualification of Construction Enterprise became effective on January 1, 2015, however, pre-mix concrete will no longer be graded. Yulong Concrete’s Qualification Certificate for Construction Enterprise issued by Henan Province Housing and Urban and Rural Development Bureau will remain in effect until a new certificate can be issued under the new standard by the end of 2015.

 

Road Transportation Operation Permit

 

Pursuant to The Regulation of the People’s Republic of China on Road Transport issued by the State Council on April 14, 2004 and effective on July 1, 2004, an applicant who conducts road freight business shall meet the following conditions: (A) to have tested and qualified vehicles which are adapting to its business operation; (B) to employ drivers who have satisfied the conditions under this regulation; (C) to have a proper and heath safety management system. The governmental agency issues Road Transportation Operation Permit for the entity which is engaging in road freight business. Yulong Transport’s Road Transportation Operation Permit is currently valid through December 27, 2017.

 

New Energy Policy

 

On January 1, 2013, the State Council issued Notification for Twelfth Five Year Plan on Energy Development , or the New Energy Policy, the basic principles of which are establishing the priority of the country as conservation, being domestically oriented, diversification, environmental protection, reform in depth, technology innovation, international cooperation and improvement of the people’s livelihood. The New Energy Policy aims to control both the efficiency and amount of energy consumption. Total energy consumption for 2015 is set at 4 billion metric tons of coal and 6,150 billion kilowatts of electricity, and the rate of consumption per GDP is set at 16% less than that in 2010. In order to improve energy conservation, energy saving construction practices will be enforced, and green building standards, evaluation and certification will be promoted.

 

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The New Energy Policy imposes production limits on some of our raw materials in order to control pollution generated by their production, which as a result has created both shortage and price increase of the affected raw materials, such as quicklime and cement.    As long as we can maintain our relationship with our current suppliers and are willing to pay the prevailing market price (or higher), we believe that the shortage can be overcome. However, we may choose not to do so in order to protect our margins. Because the implementation of the New Energy Policy is nationwide, we do not believe that sourcing raw materials from outside Pingdingshan would be practicable, in addition to uncertainty with the quality of raw materials from such suppliers and potential harm to our reputation. We expect that the New Energy Policy to have ongoing impact on our business and our industry until China’s pollution can be better controlled.

 

In late March 2016, the central government of the People’s of Republic of China passed Air Pollution Control Act and enforced Air Pollution Control Action Plan. The province of Henan of People’s Republic of China implemented “Province of Henan Blue Sky Action Plan” on various industries such as construction materials, coal mining.   Due to this regulation and action plan, Yulong Renewable’s operation and its construction projects have been hindered. The Company has assessed the impact of this new regulations on its financial conditions. See “ Item 7- Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial conditions and Results of Operations and Item 8-Financial Statements.”

 

Regulations on Tax

 

On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress, the PRC legislature, enacted the Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the Enterprise Income Tax Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, and on December 6, 2007, the State Council promulgated the Implementation Rules to the Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the Implementation Rules, which also became effective on January 1, 2008.  Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and the Implementation Rules, unless otherwise specified, foreign invested enterprises and domestic companies are subject to a uniform income tax rate of 25%.  In addition, the dividends payable to foreign investors are subject to PRC withholding tax at the rate of 10% unless the foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with the PRC that provides for a reduced withholding tax rate.  According to the Hong Kong Tax Treaty, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, will be subject to withholding income tax at a rate of 5% on dividends it receives from its PRC subsidiary if it holds a 25% or more interest in that particular PRC subsidiary.  However, the SAT promulgated Circular 601 and Announcement 30, which provide that tax treaty benefits will be denied to “conduit” or shell companies without business substance, and a beneficial ownership analysis will be used based on a “substance-over-the-form” principle to determine whether or not to grant tax treaty benefits. Therefore, it is unclear at this stage whether the reduced rate of 5% under the Hong Kong Tax Treaty could apply to dividends from Yulong WFOE paid to us through our Hong Kong subsidiary.  See “ Risk Factors—Risk Factors Related to Regulations Applicable to Us—We may not be able to obtain certain treaty benefits on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiary to us through our Hong Kong subsidiary .”

 

The Enterprise Income Tax Law created a new “resident enterprise” classification which if applied could treat our Cayman Islands holding company or any of our other overseas holding companies in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes.  We believe that none of Yulong and its subsidiaries outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. Yulong is not controlled by a PRC enterprise or PRC enterprise group and as such we do not believe that Yulong meets all of the conditions to be deemed a PRC resident enterprise. For the same reasons, we believe our other subsidiaries outside of China are not PRC resident enterprises either. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a similar corporate structure to ours ever having been deemed a PRC “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.”

 

If the PRC tax authorities determine that our Cayman Islands holding company or any of our other overseas holding companies is a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow.  One example is the possibility of a 10% withholding tax being imposed on dividends we pay to our non-PRC enterprise shareholders and with respect to gains derived by our non-PRC enterprise shareholders from transferring our shares. See “ Risk Factors—Risk Factors Related to Doing Business in China— Our global income and the dividends that we may receive from our PRC subsidiary, dividends distributed to our non-PRC shareholders, and gains recognized by such shareholders, may be subject to PRC taxes under the Enterprise Income Tax Law, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Regulations on Foreign Exchange

 

Foreign exchange activities in China are primarily governed by the following regulations:

 

  Foreign Exchange Administration Rules (1996), as amended in August 2008, or the Exchange Rules; and

 

  Administration Rules on the Settlement, Sale and Payment in Foreign Exchange (1996), or the Administration Rules.

 

Under the Administration Rules, if documents certifying the purposes of the conversion of RMB into foreign currency are submitted to the relevant foreign exchange conversion bank, the RMB will be convertible for current account items, including the distribution of dividends, interest and royalties payments, and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions.  Conversion of RMB for capital account items, such as direct investment, loans, securities investment and repatriation of investment, however, is subject to the approval of, or registration with, SAFE or its local counterpart.  Capital investments by PRC entities outside of China, after obtaining the required approvals of the relevant approval authorities, such as the Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission or their local counterparts, are also required to register with SAFE or its local counterpart.

 

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Under the Administration Rules, foreign-invested enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign currencies at banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business after providing valid commercial documents and, in the case of capital account item transactions, obtaining approval from or being registered with SAFE or its local counterpart.

 

In July 2015, we completed the process to increase the registered capital of Yulong WFOE from $100,000 to $10 million, and have contributed the net proceeds from our initial public offering of our ordinary shares to Yulong WFOE as a capital contribution. As such, the funds are available to support the operations of our consolidated affiliated entities.

 

On March 30, 2015, SAFE issued the Circular on the Reform of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises , or SAFE Circular 19, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 19, foreign-invested enterprises may either continue to follow the payment-based foreign currency settlement system under the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises , which has been replaced by SAFE Circular 19, or elect to follow the “conversion-at-will” of foreign currency settlement system. Where a foreign-invested enterprise follows the conversion-at-will of foreign currency settlement system, it may convert any or 100% amount of the foreign currency in its capital account into RMB at any time. The converted RMB will be kept in a designated account known as “Settled but Pending Payment Account,” and if the foreign-invested enterprise needs to make further payment from such designated account, it still needs to provide supporting documents and go through the review process with its bank. In addition, foreign-invested enterprises shall not use its capital and RMB obtained from foreign exchange settlement for purposes within the following negative list: (a) directly or indirectly for expenditures outside of its business scope or expenditures prohibited by national laws and regulations; (b) directly or indirectly for investment in securities, except as otherwise prescribed by applicable laws and regulations; (c) directly or indirectly for the disbursing RMB entrusted loans (other than as permitted in its business scope); (d) for repayment of inter-corporate borrowings (including money advanced by third parties) and the repayment of certain RMB bank loans that have been sub-lent to third parties; and (e) for the expenditures related to the purchase of real estate which is not for self-use, unless it is a foreign-invested real estate enterprise.

 

We expect that if we convert the net proceeds from our initial public offering into RMB pursuant to SAFE Circular 19, our use of RMB funds will be within the approved business scope of our PRC subsidiary.  Since Circular 19 was only recently promulgated, however, there are uncertainties on how it will be interpreted and implemented in practice.

 

Regulations on Dividend Distribution

 

The principal regulations governing dividend distributions of wholly foreign-owned enterprises include:

 

  the Company Law (2013 Amendment);

 

  the Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law (2000 Amendment); and

 

  the Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law Implementing Rules (2001 Amendment).

 

Under these regulations, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in the PRC may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations.  In addition, these wholly foreign-owned enterprises are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital.

   

Regulations on Offshore Investment by PRC Residents

 

On July 14, 2014, SAFE issued the SAFE Circular Relating to Foreign Exchange Administration of Offshore Investment, Financing and Return Investment by Domestic Residents Utilizing Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular No. 37. SAFE Circular No. 37 repeals and replaces SAFE’s Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents to Engage in Financing and Inbound Investment via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, generally known as SAFE Circular No. 75, which had been the governing rule for nearly a decade.

 

Under SAFE Circular No. 37, (a) a PRC citizen who holds a PRC identification card, military identification or armed police identification, and offshore individual who does not have legal PRC identification papers but habitually resides in the PRC for economic interests, who is referred to as a domestic resident individual in SAFE Circular No. 37, can form a special purpose vehicle, or SPV, before registration with the SAFE but shall not make any capital contribution before completing the initial foreign exchange registration; (b) when the domestic resident individual contributes the assets of, or his or her equity interests in, a domestic enterprise into a SPV, or engages in overseas financing after contributing assets or equity interests into the SPV, such domestic resident individual shall register his or her interest in the SPV and the change thereof with the local branch of SAFE; and (c) when the SPV undergoes a material event outside of China, such as change in share capital, merger or division, the domestic resident individual shall register such change with the local branch of SAFE in a timely manner.  

 

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Under SAFE Circular No. 37, failure to comply with the registration procedures above may result in penalties, including imposition of a fine of up to RMB 50,000 against a domestic resident individual. In addition, to the extent that any capital inflow or outflow resulted from such irregularities, SAFE may order rectification of such misconduct (including the return of such amount to China if there is a capital outflow) or impose a fine up to an amount equal to the amount of capital inflow or outflow. In the event of a capital outflow, criminal liability may be imposed if the related violation is severe.

 

Labor Laws and Social Insurance

 

Pursuant to the PRC Labor Law and the PRC Labor Contract Law, employers must execute written labor contracts with full-time employees. All employers must compensate their employees with wages equal to at least the local minimum wage standards. All employers are required to establish a system for labor safety and sanitation, strictly abide by state rules and standards and provide employees with workplace safety training.

 

In addition, under the PRC Labor Contract Law, an employee shall be paid severance pay based on the number of years worked with his or her employer at the rate of one month’s wage for each full year worked. Any period of more than six months but less than one year shall be counted as one year. Any period of less than six months shall be paid with half of the monthly wage. If the monthly wage of an employee is three times greater than the average monthly wage of employees as published by the people’s government at the level of municipality directly under the central government or municipality divided into districts where the employer is located, the severance pay rate shall be three times the average monthly wage of employees, provided that no more than 12 years of work shall be paid. The term “monthly wage” shall mean the employee’s average monthly wage for the 12 months prior to the termination or ending of his or her employment contract.

 

Violations of the PRC Labor Contract Law and the PRC Labor Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative liabilities. Criminal liability may arise for serious violations.

 

In addition, employers in China are obliged to provide employees with welfare schemes covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing funds.

 

Regulations on Overseas Listing

 

In August 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies jointly adopted the Provisions on the Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rule.  As amended in 2009, this rule requires that, if an overseas company established or controlled by PRC domestic companies or citizens intends to acquire equity interests or assets of any other PRC domestic company affiliated with the PRC domestic companies or citizens, such acquisition must be submitted to the Ministry of Commerce, rather than local regulators, for approval.  In addition, this regulation requires that an overseas company controlled directly or indirectly by PRC companies or citizens and holding equity interests of PRC domestic companies needs to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to listing its securities on an overseas stock exchange.

 

While the application of the M&A Rule remains unclear, based on their understanding of current PRC laws, regulations, and additional procedures announced by the CSRC on September 21, 2006, our PRC counsel has advised us that we are not required to submit an application to the CSRC for its approval of the listing and trading of our ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market on the basis that:

 

  the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like our initial public offering are subject to this regulation; and

 

  no provision in this regulation clearly classified contractual arrangements as a type of transaction subject to its regulation.

 

If, conversely, it is determined that CSRC approval is required, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek CSRC approval prior to completing our initial public offering in July 2015.  These sanctions may include fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, delays or restrictions on the repatriation into the PRC of the proceeds from our initial public offering, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our PRC subsidiary, or other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ordinary shares.  See “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission may be required in connection with our initial public offering under a regulation adopted in August 2006, and, if required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval.

 

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Regulations on Concentration in Merger and Acquisition Transactions

 

The M&A Rule established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex.  These rules require, among other things, that the Ministry of Commerce be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor will take control of a PRC domestic enterprise or a foreign company with substantial PRC operations, if certain thresholds under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of Undertakings issued by the State Council on August 3, 2008 are triggered.

 

Complying with these requirements could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.  See “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Certain regulations in the PRC may make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. You should consider and read carefully all of the risks and uncertainties described below, as well as other information included in this Report, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing at the end of this Report, before making an investment decision.  Any of the following risks could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In any such case, the market price of our ordinary shares could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. This Report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks we face as described below and elsewhere in this Report.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry

 

The substantial and continuing losses, and significant operating expenses incurred in the past few years may cause us to be unable to pursue all of our operational objectives if sufficient financing and/or additional cash from revenues is not realized. This raises doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

We have an accumulated deficit of US$32.0 million as of June 30, 2016 and a negative working capital (total consolidated current liabilities assets exceeding total consolidated current assets) of US$14.5 million, as of June 30, 2016. 

 

Although we have previously been able to attract financing as needed, such financing may not continue to be available at all, or if available, on reasonable terms as required. Further, the terms of such financing may be dilutive to existing shareholders or otherwise on terms not favorable to us or existing shareholders. If we are unable to secure additional financing, as circumstances require, or do not succeed in meeting our sales objectives, we may be required to change or significantly reduce our operations or ultimately may not be able to continue our operations. As a result of our historical accumulated deficit and negative working capital, these conditions raise substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. 

 

We are, and expect in the future to become, subject to Substantial and Extensive Governmental Laws and Regulations, many of which are continuously evolving, which increases our compliance costs and could subject us to claims or otherwise harm or suspend our business.

 

In late March 2016, the central government of the People’s of Republic of China passed Air Pollution Control Act and enforced Air Pollution Control Action Plan. The province of Henan of People’s Republic of China implemented “Province of Henan Blue Sky Action Plan” on various industries such as construction materials, coal mining. Due to this regulation and action plan, Yulong Renewable’s operation and its construction projects have been hindered. These laws can be costly to comply with, require significant management attention, and could subject us to claims, government enforcement actions, civil and criminal liability, or other remedies, including revocation of licenses and suspension of business operations. As a result, we may not be able to conduct normal business operations and may be required to incur significant expenses in order to resume normal business operations, and consequently, our revenues and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

 

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We have incurred significant losses in our revenue future due to impairments in the value of our goodwill, intangibles and property, plant and equipment, which may continue. We expect to incur more losses for the foreseeable future.

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination. We test goodwill for impairment annually, and more frequently when events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Additionally, our other long-lived assets which include intangibles and property, plant and equipment are evaluated for impairments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Either of these situations may occur for various reasons, including changes in actual or expected income or cash. We continue to evaluate current conditions to assess whether any impairment exists. Impairments could occur in the future if any of the following occur: market or interest rate environments deteriorate, significant adverse changes in business climate, unanticipated competition, loss of key customers, changes in technology, expected future cash flows of our reporting units decline, or reporting unit carrying values change materially compared with changes in respective fair values.

 

Our current operations are primarily limited to the city of Pingdingshan .

 

Because we currently operate and sell our products primarily in and around Pingdingshan, we remain dependent on the economic growth and stability of the city.  A downturn in the local economy or the implementation of local policies unfavorable to real estate development may cause a decrease in the demand for our bricks and concrete, which could have a negative impact on our profitability and business.

 

Our income will decrease if the construction and building material industries in Pingdingshan experience a downturn, or if such industries do not realize an increase in demand at the pace we expect.

 

Our fly-ash brick and concrete products serve as key components in construction and building projects for a wide range of industries and private and public sector projects in Pingdingshan.  Therefore, we are subject to the general changes in economic conditions affecting many segments of the local as well as the overall Chinese economy.  Demands for bricks and concrete are typically affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to:  

 

  the level of residential and commercial construction in and around Pingdingshan, including reductions in the demand for new residential housing construction below current or historical levels;

 

  the availability of state funds for public or infrastructure construction;

 

  the changes in mix of our customers and business, which result in periodic variations in the margins of jobs performed during any particular quarter; and

 

  the budgetary spending patterns of customers.

 

Many of these factors are beyond our control.  If there is a decline in construction activity in Pingdingshan or a rise in the costs of doing business in China, demand for our products may decline which in turn could have material adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Moreover, our operating results in any particular quarter may not be indicative of the results that you can expect for any other quarter or for the entire year. 

 

Our operating results may vary significantly from one reporting period to another and may be adversely affected by the seasonal and cyclical nature of the markets we serve.

 

The construction materials business is seasonal.  In particular, our first quarter sales and results of operations are usually lower than other quarters due to the general slowdown in business activities in China during the Chinese New Year period.  In addition, demand for our products during the winter months is typically lower than in other months because of inclement winter weather.  Sustained periods of inclement weather or permitting delays could postpone or delay projects, and consequently, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  The relative demand for our products is a function of the highly cyclical construction industry.   As a result, our revenues may be adversely affected by declines in the construction industry generally and in Pingdingshan in particular.

 

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Competition in Pingdingshan’s building and construction materials industry could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

We are the market leader in Pingdingshan’s building and construction materials industry with respect to bricks and concrete, and we believe there are currently only two brick manufacturers and two concrete manufacturers that have the capabilities to effectively compete against us. If any one of them can operate at lower costs than us, or can access financial resources to be able to accept lower margins than us, then it will have a competitive advantage over us. Although we believe our products are superior to those from the four companies that we deem competitors as well as any other bricks and concrete producers in Pingdingshan, there is no assurance that existing or new competitors may not overtake our current market position by reason of events and factors beyond our control.

 

Our growth strategy is capital intensive; without additional capital on favorable terms we may not accomplish our strategic plan.

 

Our growth strategy is premised upon investing and upgrading our existing operations as well constructing new plants to increase capacity and product offerings, all of which will require significant amount of capital.  Although we have met our capital needs historically through our operations, bank loans and loans from some of the shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entities, there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so in the future, despite our current level of revenue and net income, and our track record of performance.  Our inability to raise sufficient capital or inability to raise capital on acceptable terms to fund our strategy would negatively impact our projected revenues and our projected growth.

 

Our overall profitability is sensitive to price changes of our raw materials.

 

Our products are price-sensitive to raw material costs, which, for example, account for approximately 74% and 71% of our production cost for bricks, respective, and approximately 95% and 94.6% for concrete, in fiscal 2015 and 2016, respectively.  Raw material prices are subject to changes in response to relatively minor fluctuations in supply and demand (such as the shortage brought on the national energy conservation policy at the beginning of 2013), general economic conditions and market conditions, all of which are beyond our control.  While we were able to pass along increased raw material costs to our brick customers in fiscal 2015 and 2016, we were unable to do so entirely to our concrete customers, and there is no assurance that we can continue to do so in the future. If we are unable to pass along any increase in raw material costs to our customers, our profitability could be materially and adversely affected.

 

We depend on third parties for supplies essential to operate our business.

 

We rely on third parties to provide us with supplies, including cement and other raw materials, necessary for our operations.  We cannot assure you that our favorable working relationships with our current suppliers will continue in the future.  Because many of them are the largest suppliers in Pingdingshan, we may have difficulty replacing any of them with another local supplier that can match their quantity and quality of raw materials or their pricing. Additionally, there have historically been periods of supply shortages in the construction industry, particularly in a strong economy.  The adoption of new government policies such as the national energy conservation policy at the beginning of 2013 has also led to both supply shortage and price increase for some raw materials such as quicklime and cement, which we believe will continue while the policy is in effect. One of our suppliers has requested that we use its affiliate to make our bricks, which we have agreed to in order to ensure that we can access sufficient raw materials in light of the likelihood of ongoing shortage.

 

If any of our suppliers stop doing business with us for any reason such that we are unable to source sufficient raw materials for our needs, or if our suppliers experience disruptions to their business, such as labor disputes, supply shortages or distribution problems, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.

 

We depend on third parties to produce some of our products.

 

We use third-party manufacturers generally when orders exceed our production capacities. Such was the case for concrete in fiscal 2015 and 2016. Such third-party manufacturers use their employees and equipment with our pre-formulated raw material blends and under our supervision, and allow us to stage the finished products (in the case of bricks) onsite until our customers take delivery.  In return, we pay them a fee for every m 3 of finished product.

 

We currently have one manufacturer for bricks and one for concrete, and believe that our relationships with them are good. In addition, we believe that we currently have more bargaining power over them in that the brick manufacturer lacks a sales department to develop business in the local market, while we are one of the concrete manufacturer’s principal customers. As such, their fees have not materially affected our cost of revenue and resulting gross profit. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to maintain our arrangements with these manufacturers indefinitely. While there are other local manufacturers, we may need to expend considerable time to determine if a replacement candidate can produce at the capacity and quality to suit our purpose. Our inability to timely replace a manufacturer could materially disrupt our operations. Furthermore, there is no assurance that a replacement manufacturer will accept fee comparable to what we are currently paying. Higher fee will increase our cost of revenue and negatively impact our gross profit.

 

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Our operations are subject to various hazards that may cause personal injury or property damage and increase our operating costs, and which may exceed the coverage of our insurance.

 

There are inherent risks to our operations.  For example, operating mixer trucks and hauling trucks, particularly when loaded, exposes our drivers and others to traffic hazards.  Our drivers are subject to the usual hazards associated with providing services on construction sites, while our plant personnel are subject to the hazards associated with moving and storing large quantities of heavy raw materials and finished products.  Operating hazards can cause personal injury and loss of life, damage to or destruction of property, plant and equipment and environmental damage.  Although we conduct training programs designed to reduce these risks, we cannot eliminate these risks.  We maintain vehicle and commercial insurance to cover property damages and personal injuries resulting from traffic accidents, and rely on state mandated social insurance for work-related injuries of our employees.  However, any claim that exceeds the scope of our insurance coverage, if successful and of sufficient magnitude, could result in the incurrence of substantial costs and the diversion of resources, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, we do not have any business liability, disruption, litigation or property insurance coverage for our operations. Any uninsured occurrence of loss or damage to property, or litigation or business disruption may also materially and adversely affect our ability to operate.

 

We may incur material costs and losses as a result of claims our products do not meet regulatory requirements or contractual specifications.

 

Our operations involve providing products that must meet building code or other regulatory requirements and contractual specifications for durability, stress-level capacity, weight-bearing capacity and other characteristics.  If we fail or are unable to provide products meeting these requirements and specifications, we may face economic penalties, including price adjustments, rejection of deliveries and/or termination of contracts, and our reputation could be damaged.  In the past, we have not had any claims of this kind asserted against us, although no assurance can be given that no such claim will be made in the future.  If a significant product-related claim or claims are made and resolved against us in the future, such resolution may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Our operations may incur substantial liabilities to comply with environmental laws and regulations.

 

Our operations are subject to laws and regulations relating to the release or disposal of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection.  Our failure to have complied with the applicable laws may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the incurrence of investigatory or remedial obligations and the imposition of injunctive relief. Resolution of these matters may require considerable management time and expense.  In addition, changes in environmental laws and regulations occur frequently and any changes that result in more stringent or costly manufacturing, storage, transport, disposal or cleanup requirements could require us to make significant expenditures to reach and maintain compliance and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on our industry in general and on our own results of operations, competitive position or financial condition.

 

The loss of services of the senior management and key personnel of our consolidated affiliated entities could severely disrupt our business and growth or if such persons compete against us.

 

Our future success is significantly dependent upon the continued service of the senior management and key technical personnel of our consolidated affiliated entities.  In particular, we rely heavily on our founder, Yulong Zhu, to continue to manage our business, operations and sales and marketing activities as well as to maintain personal and direct relationships with many of our major customers.  While the departure of Mr. Zhu is unlikely while he remains the beneficial owner of 100% of the equity interests of our consolidated affiliated entities, he may choose to reduce his level of involvement, or not to take part at all, especially if a conflict of interest or other disagreement arises between him and us. See “ —Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—The shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entities may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business. ” In addition, Mr. Zhu may act, or cause our consolidated affiliated entities and/or their shareholders to act, detrimentally against, our interests. See “ —Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entities may breach, or cause our consolidated affiliated entities to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and our consolidated affiliated entities.  Any failure by our consolidated affiliated entities or their shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

 

The loss of Mr. Zhu’s services or those of any other members of the senior management or key personnel of our consolidated affiliated entities may materially and adversely affect our business and operations.  For instance, it could jeopardize our relationships with customers and result in the loss of customer engagements.  If we lose the service of any such senior management member or key personnel, we may not be able to locate and obtain the service of qualified replacements, and may incur additional expenses to recruit and train new personnel, which could severely disrupt our business and growth.  In addition, if any of such senior management or key technical personnel joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose customers, know-how, key professionals and employees.

  

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If we are not able to complete our acquisition of the land use rights underlying our facilities, we may have to incur substantial costs in order to enforce our rights or lose access to the land and thus our facilities.

 

While we have paid in full to the relevant villagers committees for the land use rights to the lands underlying the facilities of Yulong Bricks and Yulong Concrete pursuant to written agreements such committees, the transfer registration for such rights has not been completed as of the date of this Report. In addition, we have made only partial payment for the land use right to the land underlying the facilities of Yulong Renewable, pursuant to a written agreement with the holder of such right. If we cannot, for any reason, complete the transfer registration for the land used by Yulong Bricks or Yulong Concrete, or cannot complete our purchase of the land used by Yulong Renewable, we would need to rely on our written agreements with the holders of the underlying land use rights to exercise our rights. If any such holder decides to breach its agreement with us, we may have to pay additional money to such holder to ensure continuing access to our facilities and avoid any disruption to operations, which would in turn increase our production costs and thereby reduce our profitability. There can be no assurance, however, that such breach can be resolved on terms acceptable to us. Any efforts to enforce our rights in a court in China can be protracted and involve substantial costs, and there can be no assurance that the outcome would be favorable to us. See “– Risks Related to Doing Business in China–Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”  

 

If, as a result of any of the foregoing, we can no longer access our facilities, all or substantially all of our investments in them could be lost, and we would not be able to continue operations.

 

Severe weather can reduce construction activity and lead to a decrease in demand for our products.

 

Our business and the demand for our products are affected by weather conditions in the areas that we operate. Sustained adverse weather conditions such as rain, extreme cold or snow could disrupt or curtail outdoor construction activity which in turn could reduce demand and the quality of our products and have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial performance or prospects.

 

The ongoing and projected slowdown in our collection of accounts receivable may materially and negatively impact our future operating cash flow and revenue.

 

Since the quarter ended September 30, 2014, our collection of accounts receivable has slowed, and we believe that this may continue for the next two to three fiscal quarters until bank lending to small- and medium-size enterprises ease and/or other lending options become more readily available to our customers. As a result, the slowdown may negatively impact our future operating cash flow. In addition to monitoring our accounts receivable collection process very closely, we are also requiring many of our customers to pay off most, and in some cases all, of their balances before making additional sales to them. Doing so, however, may force some of these customers to buy from our competitors and to stop doing business with us in the future. Should a sufficient number of our customers stop doing business with us and to the extent we are unable to attract new business to replace any such lost customers, our future revenue would be materially and negatively impacted.

 

If our exclusive right to collect and process construction waste is terminated or expires, we may have difficulty sourcing the discarded bricks and concrete in quantities that we may need for our new facilities or on terms acceptable to us.

 

We currently have a 20-year exclusive right to haul and process construction waste in the built-up area of Pingdingshan consisting of the four districts and two special districts under the administration of the municipal government (subject to exclusions imposed by special municipal regulations) pursuant to our agreement with Pingdingshan Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau and licenses issued by Pingdingshan Construction Wastes Management Office, which exclusive right has commenced concurrently with the formal operations of our recycling plant in late April 2015.  Such right, however, may be terminated if, for example, we were to breach our obligations and fail to correct such breach within a specified time period, or if we were to fail to expand our operations as needed to meet the city’s requirements. Should our right terminate, or expire without being renewed, we may not be able to source discarded bricks and concrete in quantities that we may require for Yulong Renewable’s current and future operations and/or on terms that are acceptable to us. Should that happen, we would be unable to carry out our business plans, which in turn would have a material negative impact our projected revenues and growth.

 

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Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure

 

If the Chinese government determines that the contractual arrangements through which we control our consolidated affiliated entities do not comply with applicable regulations, our business could be adversely affected.

 

There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to the laws, rules and regulations governing the validity and enforcement of the contractual arrangements with the Yulong Group companies and their shareholders. Although we have been advised by our PRC counsel that based on their understanding of the current PRC laws, rules and regulations, the contractual arrangements, as well our ability to enforce our rights thereunder, comply with all applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, and do not violate, breach, contravene or otherwise conflict with any applicable PRC laws, rules or regulations, we cannot assure you that the PRC regulatory authorities will not determine that our corporate structure and contractual arrangements violate PRC laws, rules or regulations. If the PRC regulatory authorities determine that our contractual arrangements are in violation of applicable PRC laws, rules or regulations, they will become invalid or unenforceable. In addition, new PRC laws, rules and regulations may be introduced from time to time to impose additional requirements that may be applicable to our contractual arrangements.

 

The Chinese 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 Chinese 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 Chinese 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. 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.

 

If we or Yulong Group are determined to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws, rules or regulations or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required governmental permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including:

 

  revoking the business and operating licenses of Yulong Group and/or voiding the contractual arrangements;

 

  discontinuing or restricting the operations of Yulong Group;

 

  imposing conditions or requirements with which we or Yulong Group may not be able to comply;

 

  requiring us to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations;

 

  restricting or prohibiting our use of the proceeds from our initial public offering to finance our business and operations in China; or

 

  imposing fines or other forms of economic penalties.

  

As we do not have direct ownership of Yulong Group, the imposition of any of these penalties may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Our contractual arrangements with our consolidated affiliated entities may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership.

 

We have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with Yulong Group companies and their shareholders to operate our business.  For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “ Our Corporate History and Structure—Contractual Arrangements .”  These contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with control over these affiliated entities as direct ownership.  If we had direct ownership of these entities, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors, which in turn could effect changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management level.  However, under the current contractual arrangements, we rely on the performance by these entities and their shareholders of their contractual obligations to exercise control over our consolidated affiliated entities.  Therefore, our contractual arrangements with our consolidated affiliated entities may not be as effective in ensuring our control over our China operations as direct ownership would be.

 

Shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entities may breach, or cause our consolidated affiliated entities to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and our consolidated affiliated entities.  Any failure by our consolidated affiliated entities or their shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

 

Our founder Yulong Zhu beneficially owns 100% of the equity interests in each of our consolidated affiliated entities, including through the Silent Shareholders Investment Agreement with their other shareholders. Under such agreement, these other shareholders disclaim all of the rights and obligations associated with their equity interests, which rights and obligations are borne solely by Mr. Zhu. As such, Mr. Zhu may breach, or cause our consolidated affiliated entities and/or the other shareholders to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and our consolidated affiliated entities.  If our consolidated affiliated entities or their shareholders fail to perform their obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend resources to enforce our rights under the contracts.  We may have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief and claiming damages, which may not be effective.  For example, if Mr. Zhu or the other shareholders of a Yulong Group company (at Mr. Zhu’s direction) were to refuse to transfer their equity interests in in such company to us or our designee when we exercise the call option pursuant to these contractual arrangements, if they transfer the equity interests to other persons against our interests, or if they were otherwise to act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations. Mr. Zhu currently owns approximately 40.41% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares. There can be no assurance, however, that such holding will effectively deter Mr. Zhu from causing a breach of the contractual arrangements.

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All of these contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC.  Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures.  The legal system in the PRC is not as developed as in other jurisdictions, such as the United States.  As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements.  Under PRC law, rulings by arbitrators are final, parties cannot appeal the arbitration results in courts, and the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in PRC courts through arbitration award recognition proceedings, which would incur additional expenses and delay.  In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over our consolidated affiliated entities, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected.

 

Contractual arrangements our Chinese subsidiary has entered into with our consolidated affiliated entities may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and a finding that we or our consolidated affiliated entities owe additional taxes could substantially reduce our consolidated net income and the value of your investment.

 

Under PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC tax authorities within ten years after the taxable year when the transactions are conducted.  We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the contractual arrangements among Yulong WFOE, our consolidated affiliated entities and the shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entities do not represent arm’s-length prices and consequently adjust Yulong WFOE’s or our consolidated affiliated entities’ income in the form of a transfer pricing adjustment.  A transfer pricing adjustment could, among other things, result in a reduction, for PRC tax purposes, of expense deductions recorded by our consolidated affiliated entities, which could in turn increase their tax liabilities.  In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment fees and other penalties on Yulong WFOE or our consolidated affiliated entities for any unpaid taxes.  Our consolidated net income may be materially and adversely affected if Yulong WFOE or our consolidated affiliated entities’ tax liabilities increase or if they are subject to late payment fees or other penalties. 

 

The shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entities may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business.

 

The shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entities include Yulong Zhu, our director and chief executive officer.  Mr. Zhu is also a beneficial owner of our holding company and a PRC citizen.  He directly holds 54% of the equity interests in Yulong Bricks, and 68.3% in Yulong Renewable, but through the Silent Shareholders Investment Agreement, controls 100% of the equity interests in each of our consolidated affiliated entities.  See “ Business—Our Corporate History and Structure—Contractual Arrangements. ”  Conflicts of interest may arise between his roles as director, officer and/or beneficial owner of our holding company and as a shareholder of our consolidated affiliated entities.  We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, any or all of these equity holders will act in the best interests of our company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor.  Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between such equity holder and our company.  We rely on Mr. Zhu to comply with the laws of China, which protect contracts, provide that directors and executive officers owe a duty of loyalty and a duty of diligence to our company and require them to avoid conflicts of interest and not to take advantage of their positions for personal gains.  We also rely on the laws of Cayman Islands, which provide that directors owe a duty of care and a duty of loyalty to our company.  If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest or dispute between us and the shareholders of our consolidated affiliated entities, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.

 

We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiary to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have.  Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.

 

We are a holding company and may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity to be paid by our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary, Yulong WFOE, for our cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur.  If Yulong WFOE incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. We may also sell our ordinary shares, or request our founder Yulong Zhu to advance funds on our behalf to meet our cash and financial requirements, although there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so.

 

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Under PRC laws and regulations, each of Yulong WFOE and our consolidated affiliated entities is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. In addition, Yulong WFOE may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to enterprise expansion fund and staff bonus and welfare fund at its discretion. Each of our consolidated affiliated entities may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a discretionary surplus fund at its discretion. The statutory reserve funds and the discretionary funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned company out of China is subject to examination by the banks designated by SAFE.  As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, Yulong WFOE and our consolidated affiliated entities had collectively appropriated $3,922,228 and $3,922,228 of retained earnings for their statutory reserves, respectively.

 

Any limitation on the ability of our consolidated affiliated entities to make payments to Yulong WFOE under the contractual arrangements, or the ability of Yulong WFOE to pay dividends or make other distributions to us, could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

 

If our PRC subsidiary or consolidated affiliated entities become the subject of a bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding, we may lose the ability to use and enjoy all of their assets, which could reduce the size of our operations and materially and adversely affect our business, ability to generate revenues and the market price of our ordinary shares.

 

As part of the contractual arrangements with Yulong Group companies and their shareholders, Yulong Group companies hold operating permits and licenses and all of the assets that are important to the operation of our business.  We expect to continue to be dependent on Yulong Group companies to operate our business in China.  If our consolidated affiliated entities go bankrupt and all or part of their assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, we may be unable to continue some or all of our business activities, which would materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.  If our consolidated affiliated entities undergo a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, their equity holders or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which would materially and adversely affect our business, our ability to generate revenues and the market price of our ordinary shares. As a holder of our ordinary shares, you would not have rights with respect to the assets of our consolidated affiliated entities.

 

We may not be able to obtain certain treaty benefits on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiary to us through our Hong Kong subsidiary.

 

Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law, dividends generated from retained earnings after January 1, 2008 from a PRC company to a foreign parent company are subject to a withholding tax rate of 10% unless the foreign parent’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a preferential withholding arrangement.  Pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, or the Hong Kong Tax Treaty, which became effective on December 8, 2006, as amended, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, such as Yulong HK, will be subject to withholding income tax at a rate of 5% on dividends it receives from its PRC subsidiary if it holds a 25% or more interest in that particular PRC subsidiary, or 10% if it holds less than a 25% interest in that subsidiary.  On October 27, 2009, the SAT promulgated a tax notice or Circular 601, which provides that tax treaty benefits will be denied to “conduit” or shell companies without business substance, and a beneficial ownership analysis will be used based on a “substance-over-the-form” principle to determine whether or not to grant tax treaty benefits.  On June 29, 2012, the SAT further issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation regarding Recognition of “Beneficial Owner” under Tax Treaties, or Announcement 30, which provides that a comprehensive analysis should be made when determining the beneficial owner status based on various factors that are supported by various types of documents including the articles of association, financial statements, records of cash movements, board meeting minutes, board resolutions, staffing and materials, relevant expenditures, functions and risk assumption as well as relevant contracts, patent and copyright certificates and other information.  As a result, although our PRC subsidiary Yulong WFOE is wholly owned by Yulong HK, we cannot assure you that we would be entitled to the tax treaty benefits and enjoy the favorable 5% rate applicable under the Hong Kong Tax Treaty on dividends payable by Yulong WFOE.  If Yulong HK cannot be recognized as the beneficial owner of the dividends to be paid by our PRC subsidiary to us, such dividends will be subject to a normal withholding tax of 10% as provided by the Enterprise Income Tax Law.

 

If our consolidated affiliated entities were to incur net losses, Yulong WFOE’s inability to absorb such losses and to remit funds equal to such losses to them could result in our inability to continue as a going concern and Yulong WFOE’s breach of its contractual obligations, in which case you could lose your entire investment.

 

Pursuant to the contractual arrangements through which we control Yulong Group, Yulong WFOE is obligated to absorb the net losses of, and, upon request, to remit funds equal to such losses to, our consolidated affiliated entities. However, because we rely entirely upon Yulong Group for our revenues, Yulong WFOE’s inability to absorb such net losses could result in our management’s determination that there is substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. Should that happen, our ability to continue as a going concern would depend, in large part, on our ability to obtain additional financing or replace Yulong Group with other operating entity or entities, neither of which prospects would be certain. Additionally, because Yulong WFOE currently does not maintain any funds to make payments to our consolidated affiliated entities, such inability could result in a breach by Yulong WFOE of its obligations under the contractual arrangements, which in turn could be the basis upon which our consolidated affiliated entities may seek to terminate the contractual arrangements. If we were unable to continue as a going concern, or if our consolidated affiliated entities were to succeed in terminating the contractual arrangements due to a breach by Yulong WFOE of its obligations, your entire investment could become worthless.

 

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If Yulong WFOE were to transfer its exclusive option to acquire the equity interests of our consolidated affiliated entities to a third party, we may potentially lose control over such entities.

 

Under the option agreements between Yulong WFOE and each of the Yulong Group shareholders, Yulong WFOE has exclusive option to purchase all or part of such shareholders’ equity interests in Yulong Group, which option Yulong WFOE may freely transfer to any third party. While we believe that Yulong WFOE would not act against its own interest by transferring such option to a third party unless, after exercise of such option, Yulong WFOE can continue to have the same control over Yulong Group that it has prior to exercise, we cannot guarantee that Yulong WFOE will act accordingly.

 

If Yulong WFOE were to transfer the option to a third party without taking steps to ensure its continuing ability to control Yulong Group post-exercise of such option, we could potentially lose control over them. As we rely entirely on Yulong Group for our revenue as well as to fund our cash and other financing needs, such loss would have a severe and detrimental effect on our continuing business viability under our current corporate structure, which in turn may affect the value of your investment.

 

The eventual enactment of a new Foreign Investment Law may require us to change our corporate structure and/or impose periodic reporting obligations on us and our non-PRC shareholders.

 

The PRC Ministry of Commerce published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law in January 2015 aiming to, upon its enactment, replace the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law , the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law , together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The draft Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments.

 

The Ministry of Commerce is currently soliciting comments on this draft and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation. It may take some time to go through a number of complicated procedures before the draft Foreign Investment Law can be enacted and be officially promulgated by the National People’s Congress. It is also likely that there will be a number of changes between the draft Foreign Investment Law as released in January 2015 and the Foreign Investment Law that may ultimately be enacted. The current draft of Foreign Investment Law, if enacted as proposed, may materially impact the entire legal framework regulating foreign investments in China.

 

Among other things, the draft Foreign Investment Law expands the definition of foreign investment and introduces the principle of “actual control” in determining whether a company is considered a foreign invested enterprise, or an FIE. The draft Foreign Investment Law specifically provides that entities established in China but “controlled” by foreign investors will be treated as FIEs, whereas an entity set up in a foreign jurisdiction would nonetheless be, upon market entry clearance by the Ministry of Commerce, treated as a PRC domestic investor provided that the entity is “controlled” by PRC entities and/or citizens. Once an entity is determined to be an FIE, and its investment amount exceeds certain thresholds or its business operation falls within a “negative list” to be separately issued by the State Council in the future, market entry clearance by the Ministry of Commerce or its local counterparts would be required. Otherwise, all foreign investors may make investments on the same terms as Chinese investors as mandated by the existing foreign investment legal regime.

 

The “variable interest entity” structure, or VIE structure, has frequently been adopted by many PRC-based companies, including us, in order to obtain necessary licenses and permits in industries that are currently subject to foreign investment restrictions in China. Under the draft Foreign Investment Law, variable interest entities that are controlled via contractual arrangements would also be deemed as FIEs, if they are ultimately “controlled” by foreign investors. Therefore, for any companies with a VIE structure in an industry category that is on the “negative list,” the existing VIE structure may be deemed legitimate only if the ultimate controlling person(s) is/are of PRC nationality (either PRC state owned enterprises or agencies, or PRC citizens). Conversely, if the actual controlling person(s) is/are of foreign nationalities, then the variable interest entities will be treated as FIEs and any operation in the industry category on the ’‘negative list’’ without market entry clearance may be considered as illegal.

 

However, the draft Foreign Investment Law has not taken a position on what will happen to the existing companies with a VIE structure, although a few possible options were proffered to solicit comments from the public. Under these options, a company with a VIE structure and in the business on the “negative list” at the time of enactment of the new Foreign Investment Law has either the option or obligation to disclose its corporate structure to the authorities, while the authorities, after reviewing the ultimate control structure of the company, may either permit the company to continue its business by maintaining the VIE structure (when the company is deemed ultimately controlled by PRC citizens), or require the company to dispose of its businesses and/or VIE structure based on circumstantial considerations. Moreover, it is uncertain whether the businesses that we currently operate or that we may operate in the future through our variable interest entities will be subject to the foreign investment restrictions or prohibitions set forth in the “negative list” to be issued. If the enacted version of the Foreign Investment Law and the final “negative list” mandate further actions, such as Ministry of Commerce market entry clearance, to be completed by companies with existing VIE structure like us, we face uncertainties as to whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all.

 

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The draft Foreign Investment Law, if enacted as proposed, may also materially impact our corporate governance practice and increase our compliance costs. For instance, the draft Foreign Investment Law imposes stringent ad hoc and periodic information reporting requirements on foreign investors and the applicable FIEs. Aside from investment implementation report and investment amendment report that are required at each investment and alteration of investment specifics, an annual report is mandatory, and large foreign investors meeting certain criteria are required to report on a quarterly basis. Any company found to be non-compliant with such information reporting obligations may potentially be subject to fines and/or administrative or criminal liabilities, and the persons directly responsible may be subject to criminal liabilities.

 

However, because the draft Foreign Investment Law and its explanations are currently only subject to discussion and have not yet been promulgated, their interpretation and application remain substantially uncertain. As a result, we cannot draw a clear conclusion on its possible impact on companies with an investment scheme and/or corporate structure similar to ours. Investors are cautioned to take the potential change in law into account when making an investment decision. 

 

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

 

Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

 

All of the assets and operations of our consolidated affiliated entities are located in China.  Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in China generally and by continued economic growth in China as a whole.

 

The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the level of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources.  Although the Chinese government has implemented measures since the late 1970s emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the Chinese government.  In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies.  The Chinese government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.

 

While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy.  The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us.  For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations.  In addition, in the past the Chinese government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate increases, to control the pace of economic growth.  These measures may cause decreased economic activity in China, which may adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.

 

We conduct our business primarily through our PRC subsidiary and consolidated affiliated entities in China.  Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations.  Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us.  In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general.  The overall effect of legislation over the past several decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China.  However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China.  In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties.  Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy.  Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all, which may have a retroactive effect.  As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation.  In addition, any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.

 

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Fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on your investment.

 

All of our revenues and costs are denominated in RMB.  The conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including $, is based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China.  The PRC government allowed the RMB to appreciate by more than 20% against the $ between July 2005 and July 2008.  Between July 2008 and June 2010, and between July 2013 and June 2015, this appreciation was halted and the exchange rate between the RMB and the $ remained within a narrow band.  As a consequence, the RMB fluctuated significantly during that period against other freely traded currencies, in tandem with the $.  Since June 2010, the PRC government has again allowed the RMB to appreciate slowly against the $.  It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the $ in the future.

 

There remains significant international pressure on the Chinese government to substantially liberalize its currency policy, which could result in further appreciation in the value of the RMB against the $.  To the extent that we need to convert $ into RMB for capital expenditures and working capital and other business purposes, appreciation of the RMB against the $ would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we would receive from the conversion.  Conversely, if we decide to convert RMB into $ for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares, strategic acquisitions or investments or other business purposes, appreciation of the $ against the RMB would have a negative effect on the $ amount available to us.

 

Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.  To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk.  While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to adequately hedge our exposure or at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currency.  As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on your investment.

 

Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively and affect the value of your investment.

 

The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China.  We receive all of our revenues in RMB.  Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior SAFE approval by complying with certain procedural requirements.  Therefore, Yulong WFOE is able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE.  However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities may be required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies.  The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future.  If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ordinary shares.

 

The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission may be required in connection with our initial public offering under a regulation adopted in August 2006, and, if required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval.

 

On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including the CSRC, promulgated the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, which became effective on September 8, 2006 and was amended on June 22, 2009.  These regulations, among other things, require offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, formed for the purpose of an overseas listing through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals, to obtain CSRC approval prior to listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange.  The application of these regulations remains unclear.  Our PRC counsel has advised us that, based on their understanding of the current PRC laws, rules and regulations, we are not required to submit an application to the CSRC for its approval of the listing and trading of our ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market on the grounds that:

 

  Yulong WFOE was incorporated as a wholly foreign-owned enterprise by means of direct investment rather than by merger or acquisition of equity interest or assets of a PRC domestic company owned by PRC companies or individuals as defined under the M&A Rules that are our beneficial owners; and

 

  no provision in the M&A Rules clearly classifies contractual arrangements as a type of transaction subject to the regulation.

 

However, because there has been no official interpretation or clarification of the M&A Rules since their adoption, there is uncertainty as to how these regulations will be interpreted or implemented.  If it is determined that the CSRC approval is required for our initial public offering, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek the CSRC approval prior to completing the offering in July 2015.  These sanctions may include fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, delays or restrictions on the repatriation of the proceeds from the offering into the PRC, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our China subsidiary, or other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ordinary shares.  

 

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Certain regulations in the PRC may make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions.

 

Among other things, the M&A Rules and certain regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex.  For example, the M&A Rules require that the Ministry of Commerce be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise or a foreign company with substantial PRC operations, if certain thresholds under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of Undertakings, issued by the State Council on August 3, 2008, are triggered. According to the Implementing Rules Concerning Security Review on the Mergers and Acquisitions by Foreign Investors of Domestic Enterprises issued by the Ministry of Commerce in August 2011, mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors involved in an industry related to national security are subject to strict review by the Ministry of Commerce.  These rules also prohibit any transactions attempting to bypass such security review, including by controlling entities through contractual arrangements.  We believe that our business is not in an industry related to national security.  However, we cannot preclude the possibility that the Ministry of Commerce or other government agencies may publish interpretations contrary to our understanding or broaden the scope of such security review in the future.  Although we have no current plans to make any acquisitions, we may elect to grow our business in the future in part by directly acquiring complementary businesses in China.  Complying with the requirements of these regulations to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the Ministry of Commerce, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions.

 

Regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our ability to acquire PRC companies and could adversely affect our business.

 

In July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration Over the Overseas Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment by Domestic Residents Via Special Purpose Vehicles, or Circular 37, which replaced Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Corporate Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles, or Circular 75. Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, referred to in Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle” for the purpose of holding domestic or offshore assets or interests. Circular 37 further requires amendment to a PRC resident’s registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as an increase or decrease in the capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. Under these regulations, PRC residents’ failure to comply with specified registration procedures may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant PRC entity, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent, as well as restrictions on capital inflows from the offshore entity to the PRC entity, including restrictions on its ability to contribute additional capital to its PRC subsidiaries. Further, failure to comply with the SAFE registration requirements could result in penalties under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange regulations.

 

We cannot assure you that all of our shareholders or beneficial owners who are domestic resident individuals will at all times comply with, or in the future make or obtain any applicable registrations or approvals required by, SAFE Circular No. 37.  The failure or inability of such individuals to comply with the registration procedures set forth in the regulation may subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrictions on our cross-border investment activities or our PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute dividends to, or obtain foreign-exchange-dominated loans from, our company, or prevent us from making distributions or paying dividends.  As a result, our business operations and our ability to make distributions to you could be materially and adversely affected.

 

However, as the promulgation of Circular 37 is relatively recent, it is unclear how these regulations will be interpreted and implemented.

 

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Our global income and the dividends that we may receive from our PRC subsidiary, dividends distributed to our non-PRC shareholders, and gains recognized by such shareholders, may be subject to PRC taxes under the Enterprise Income Tax Law, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with “de facto management bodies” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its global income.  The implementation rules define the term “de facto management bodies” as “establishments that carry out substantial and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel, accounting, properties, etc. of an enterprise.”  The SAT issued the Notice Regarding the Determination of Chinese-Controlled Offshore Incorporated Enterprises as PRC Tax Resident Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies, or SAT Circular 82, on April 22, 2009.  SAT Circular 82 provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a Chinese-controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise is located in China.  Although SAT Circular 82 only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises, not those controlled by PRC individuals, the determining criteria set forth in Circular 82 may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises or individuals.  Although we do not believe that our legal entities organized outside of the PRC constitute PRC resident enterprises, it is possible that the PRC tax authorities could reach a different conclusion.  In such case, we may be considered a PRC resident enterprise and may therefore be subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our global income.  If we are considered a PRC resident enterprise and earn income other than dividends from our PRC subsidiary, a 25% enterprise income tax on our global income could significantly increase our tax burden and materially and adversely affect our cash flow and profitability.

 

Pursuant to the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, dividends generated after January 1, 2008 and payable by a foreign-invested enterprise in China to its foreign investors, which are non-PRC tax resident enterprises without an establishment in China, or whose income has no connection with their institutions and establishments inside China, are subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement.  We are a Cayman Islands holding company and conduct all of our business through Yulong WFOE, 100% of which is owned by Yulong HK, our wholly-owned subsidiary located in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.  The Cayman Islands currently does not have any tax treaty with China with respect to withholding tax.  As long as Yulong HK is considered a non-PRC resident enterprise and holds at least 25% of the equity interest of Yulong WFOE, dividends that it receives from Yulong WFOE may be subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%.

 

As uncertainties remain regarding the interpretation and implementation of the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, we cannot assure you that if we are regarded as a PRC resident enterprise, any dividends to be distributed by us to our non-PRC shareholders would not be subject to any PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%.  Similarly, any gain recognized by such non-PRC shareholders on the sale of shares may also be subject to PRC withholding tax.  If we are required under the Enterprise Income Tax Law to withhold PRC income tax on our dividends payable to our non-PRC enterprise shareholders, or on gain recognized by such non-PRC shareholders, such investors’ investment in our ordinary shares may be materially and adversely affected.

 

Risk Factors Related to Our Ordinary Shares

 

 

Our ordinary share has been suspended trading on The NASDAQ Stock Market and transferred to the Pink Sheets electronic quotation service, which may, among other things, reduce the price of our ordinary share and the levels of liquidity available to our stockholders.

 

As a result of our inability to timely file our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended June 30, 2016 and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q for the periods ended September 30, and December 31, 2016, respectively (the “Delinquent Reports”), NASDAQ issued a Staff Determination to us that, in the absence of a request for a hearing, would have resulted in suspension of trading of our ordinary share, and filing of a Form 25-NSE with the SEC to remove our securities from listing and registration on The NASDAQ Global Market.

 

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An oral hearing was held at our request on May 25, 2017. At the hearing, we requested an extension of time to cure our SEC filing deficiency. The NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel, or the Panel, granted the Company’s request for continued listing on Nasdaq, subject to the Company’s timely compliance with a number of interim milestones and, ultimately, the Company’s full compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq, including the filing of annual report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and quarterly reports for fiscal periods ended September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, by no later than August 31, 2017. On July 7, 2017, we received a letter advising us that the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel had determined to delist our shares from The NASDAQ Stock Market, and trading of our shares was suspended effective at the open of business on July 11, 2017. Our ordinary share has been quoted on the Pink OTC Markets Inc. electronic quotation service since July 11, 2017. Consequently, it could become more difficult to dispose of, or obtain accurate price quotations for, our common stock, and there would likely also be a reduction in our coverage by securities analysts and the news media, which could cause the price of our common stock to decline further. Also, it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital if we are not listed on a major exchange.

 

There is no assurance that we will regain listing of our ordinary share on a public exchange. If we regain listing and thereafter fail to keep current in our SEC filings or to comply with the applicable continued listing requirements, our ordinary share might be and subsequently would trade in the Pink Sheets electronic quotation service, or the Pink Sheets. The trading of our ordinary share in the Pink Sheets may reduce the price of our ordinary share and the levels of liquidity available to our stockholders. In addition, the trading of our ordinary share in the Pink Sheets would materially adversely affect our access to the capital markets, and the limited liquidity and potentially reduced price of our ordinary share could materially adversely affect our ability to raise capital through alternative financing sources on terms acceptable to us or at all. Stocks that trade in the Pink Sheets are no longer eligible for margin loans, and a company trading in the Pink Sheets cannot avail itself of federal preemption of state securities or “blue sky” laws, which adds substantial compliance costs to securities issuances, including pursuant to employee option plans, stock purchase plans and private or public offerings of securities. If we regain listing and are delisted in the future and transferred to the Pink Sheets, there may also be other negative implications, including the potential loss of confidence by suppliers, customers and employees, and the loss of institutional investor interest in our company.

 

We cannot assure you that our ordinary share will resume trading, or that once trading is resumed, it will remain listed.

 

As a result of the delay in filing our periodic reports with the SEC, we were unable to comply with the listing standards of NASDAQ and our ordinary share was suspended from trading effective July 11, 2017. On July 21, 2017, we have submitted an appeal request requesting the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council to review the Panel’s determination and stay any Panel action to suspend the Company’s listing; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to resume trading of our ordinary share in an expeditious manner or at all. Even if our ordinary share resumes trading, unless we are able to timely comply with our SEC reporting obligations in the future, our ordinary share may again be suspended or de-listed. If our ordinary share cannot resume trading on NASDAQ, the price of our ordinary share will be adversely affected and there may be a decrease in the liquidity of our ordinary share.

 

Our ordinary shares may be thinly traded and you may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all if you need to sell your shares to raise money or otherwise desire to liquidate your shares.

 

Our ordinary shares may be “thinly-traded”, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our shares at or near bid prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent.  This situation may be attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a small company which is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and might be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we became more seasoned.  As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price.  Broad or active public trading market for our ordinary shares may not develop or be sustained.

 

You may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ordinary shares.

 

Our board of directors has absolute discretion to refuse to register a transfer of any share to a person for any reason; provided, however, that if a transfer is refused, the board must provide a notice of such refusal to both the transferor and intended transferee. As such, your ability to transfer your ordinary shares may be restricted.

 

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If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they change their recommendations regarding our shares adversely, our share price and trading volume could decline.

 

The trading market for our ordinary shares will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business.  If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our shares, our share price would likely decline.  If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.

 

Substantial future sales of our ordinary shares in the public market could cause our share price to fall.

 

Future sales of our ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our ordinary shares to decline.  We currently have 12,055,324 ordinary shares outstanding.  4,133,481 shares are freely transferable without restriction or additional registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares held by our affiliates as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.  The remaining shares include those held by our affiliates as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act , as well as shares that will be eligible for sale at various times upon the expiration of lock-up agreements as described below and subject to the requirements of Rule 144 or Rule 701.

 

 At any time and without public notice, Axiom Capital Management, Inc. may in its sole discretion release some or all of the securities from these lock-up agreements prior to the expiration of the lock-up period.  As resale restrictions end, the market price of our ordinary shares could decline if the holders of those shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them.  In addition, the holders of 1,160,000 of our ordinary shares are entitled to contractual rights to cause us to register the sale of those shares under the Securities Act.  As of the date of this Report, 90,338 of these shares are subject to the 90-day lock-up period, and 979,775 of these shares are subject to the 180-day lock-up period.  Subject to such lock-up periods, registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration statement.

 

You may face difficulties in protecting your interests as a shareholder, as Cayman Islands law provides substantially less protection when compared to the laws of the United States.

 

Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and by the Companies Law (Revised) and common law of the Cayman Islands.  The rights of shareholders to take legal action against our directors and us, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands.

 

The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, which has persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the Cayman Islands.  The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the United States.  In particular, the Cayman Islands have a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and provide significantly less protection to investors.  In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action before the United States federal courts.

 

As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against us or our officers, directors or major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.

 

Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.

 

We are a Cayman Islands company and all of the assets of our consolidated affiliated entities are located outside of the United States.  All such assets and our operations are conducted, and all of our revenue has been generated through sales, in China.  In addition, both Yulong Zhu, our chief executive officer, and Zan Wu, our chief financial officer, as well as most of our directors, are nationals and residents of China, and do not have any of their assets in the United States.  As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the United States federal securities laws or otherwise.  Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of China may render you unable to enforce a judgment against the assets of our consolidated affiliated entities or the assets of Messrs. Zhu and Wu or any of our directors outside of the United States.  There is no statutory recognition in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will generally recognize and enforce a non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits.  Moreover, the PRC does not have treaties with the United States or many other countries providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgment of courts.  

 

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Our articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could adversely affect the rights of our shareholders.

 

Our articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, contain provisions to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions, including, among other things:

 

  provisions that authorize our board of directors, without action by our shareholders, to issue additional ordinary shares and preferred shares with preferential rights determined by the board;

 

  provisions that impose advance notice requirements, minimum shareholding periods and ownership thresholds, and other requirements and limitations on the ability of shareholders to propose matters for consideration at shareholder meetings; and

 

  any director that simultaneously serves as our chief executive officer is not subject to retirement or re-election.

  

These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction.

 

We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.

 

We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act.  As such, we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to U.S. domestic public companies.  For example:

 

  we are not required to provide as many Exchange Act reports, or as frequently, as a domestic public company;

 

  we are not required to provide the same level of disclosure on certain issues, such as executive compensation;

 

  for interim reporting, we are permitted to comply solely with our home country requirements, which are less rigorous than the rules that apply to domestic public companies;

 

  we are not required to comply with the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; and

 

  we are not required to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and establishing insider liability for profits realized from any “short-swing” trading transaction.

  

We intend to file annual reports on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2016, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for fiscal periods ended September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016 similar to U.S. domestic reporting companies and disclose the information required to be disclosed in those reports.  However, on May 15, 2017, we have elected to file annual reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K as a foreign private issuer.

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” and may elect to comply with reduced public company reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, as well as a smaller reporting company, which could make our ordinary shares less attractive to investors.

 

In addition to being a foreign private issuer, we are also an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act enacted in April 2012, and, for as long as we continue to be an “emerging growth company,” we may choose to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies but not to “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.  We could be an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, or until the earliest of (1) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1 billion, (2) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter and we have been publicly reporting for at least 12 months, or (3) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three-year period.

 

Even if we no longer qualify for the exemptions for an emerging growth company, we may still be, in certain circumstances, subject to scaled disclosure requirements as a smaller reporting company. For example, smaller reporting companies, like emerging growth companies, are not required to provide a compensation discussion and analysis under Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K or auditor attestation of internal controls over financial reporting.  We cannot predict if investors will find our ordinary shares less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions.  If some investors find our ordinary shares less attractive as a result of any choices to reduce future disclosure, there may be a less active trading market for our ordinary shares and our share price may be more volatile.

 

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Being a public company will increase our costs, which could adversely affect our business.

 

As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company.  In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules implemented by the SEC, requires certain corporate governance practices for public companies.  In addition to these rules, the NASDAQ Stock Market has certain corporate governance requirements for companies that are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.  Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, may also cause us to incur additional costs and subject us to risks if we are unable to fully comply.

 

We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs, and to make some operating and administrative activities more time consuming and costly, though we are not currently able to estimate these additional costs.  Since becoming a public company, we have created several board committees and adopt additional internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures.  We now also have all of the internal and external costs of preparing and distributing periodic public reports.  We also expect these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage.  These rules and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee, and qualified executive officers.

 

We are obligated to develop and maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting. If analysis of our internal control over financial reporting concludes that these internal controls are not effective, investor confidence in our company may be adversely affected which in turn may affect the value of our ordinary shares.

 

We will be required, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for fiscal 2016, the first fiscal year beginning after our initial public offering. This assessment will need to include disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal control over financial reporting and, after we cease to be an “emerging growth company,” a statement that our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an opinion on our internal control over financial reporting.

 

During the evaluation and testing process, if we identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we will be unable to assert that our internal controls are effective. If we are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if, when required, our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal controls, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which would cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline, and we may be subject to investigation or sanctions by the SEC.

  

We will be required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis. However, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until the later of the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC, or the date we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, if we take advantage of the exemptions contained in the JOBS Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years. However,  if the market value of our ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any December 31 before that time, our revenues exceed $1 billion, or we issue more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in a three year period, we would cease to be an “emerging growth company” as of the following June 30. To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we may need to undertake various actions, such as implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring accounting or internal audit staff.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until the later of the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC, or the date we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed or operating. Our remediation efforts may not enable us to avoid a material weakness in the future.

 

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If we become directly subject to the recent scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have to expend significant resources to investigate and resolve the matter which could harm our business operations and our reputation and could result in a loss of your investment in our stock, especially if such matter cannot be addressed and resolved favorably.

 

U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China, have in the past been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC.  Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity has centered around financial and accounting irregularities, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud.  As a result of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, became virtually worthless.  Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations.  It is not clear what effect this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity will have on our company and our business.  If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend the Company.  This situation may be a major distraction to our management.  If such allegations are not proven to be groundless, our company and business operations will be severely hampered and your investment in our stock could be rendered worthless.

 

Our failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, and other anticorruption laws could result in penalties which could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

We are subject to the FCPA which prohibits companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or keeping business and/or other benefits, along with various other anticorruption laws.  We are in the process of implementing policies and procedures designed to ensure that we, our employees and other intermediaries comply with the FCPA and other anti-corruption laws to which we are subject.  Such policies or procedures may not work effectively or protect us against liability under the FCPA or other laws for actions taken by our employees and other intermediaries with respect to our business or any businesses that we may acquire.  Because we do business with state-owned enterprises and government agencies, we have and will continue to have frequent contact with persons who may be considered “foreign officials” under the FCPA, resulting in an elevated risk of potential FCPA violations.  Any investigation of a potential violation of the FCPA or other anticorruption laws by the United States or foreign authorities could have an adverse impact on our reputation, and if we are not in compliance with the FCPA and other laws governing the conduct of business with government entities we may be subject to criminal and civil penalties and other remedial measures, which could have an adverse impact on our reputation, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Because we operate entirely in the PRC, this may give rise to elevated compliance risks on anti-bribery.  In recent years, commercial bribery has increasingly been identified as a key risk in doing business in the PRC.  If Chinese regulatory authorities determine that our marketing or other activity violates the anti-bribery or anticorruption laws, we may be penalized or ordered to cease such activity, which could have an adverse impact on our business.

 

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our ordinary shares and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our ordinary shares.

 

Yulong has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its ordinary shares and does not currently intend to do so for the foreseeable future.  We currently intend to invest our future earnings, if any, to fund our growth.  Therefore, you are not likely to receive any dividends on your ordinary shares for the foreseeable future and the success of an investment in our ordinary shares will depend upon any future appreciation in their value.  There is no guarantee that our ordinary shares will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which our shareholders have purchased their shares.

 

We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequence to U.S. holders of ordinary shares.

 

Depending upon the value of our ordinary shares and the nature and composition of our income and assets over time, we could be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year.  Based on assumptions as to our projections of the value of our outstanding ordinary shares and our expected use of the proceeds from our initial public offering and of the other cash that we will hold and generate in the ordinary course of our business, we do not expect to be a PFIC for the taxable year 2015 or in the foreseeable future.  However, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the taxable year 2015 or any future taxable year as PFIC status is tested each taxable year and depends on the composition of our income and the value of our assets in such taxable year.  Our PFIC status for the current taxable year 2015 will not be determinable until the close of the taxable year ending December 31, 2015.

 

We will be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year if either: (a) the average quarterly value of our gross assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50% of the average quarterly value of our total gross assets (the “asset test”), or (b) 75% or more of our gross income for the taxable year is passive income (such as certain dividends, interest or royalties).  For purposes of the asset test: (a) any cash and cash invested in short-term, interest bearing debt instruments, or bank deposits that are readily convertible into cash will generally count as producing passive income or as held for the production of passive income, and (b) the total value of our assets is calculated based on our market capitalization.  Therefore, a drop in the market price of our ordinary shares would cause a reduction in the value of our non-passive assets for purposes of the asset test.  Accordingly, we may become a PFIC if our market capitalization were to decrease significantly while we hold substantial cash and cash equivalents.  Until we deploy the net proceeds we receive from this offering, we may retain a significant portion of those net proceeds in the form of short-term investments or bank deposits for a prolonged period, which could affect our PFIC status in the 2015 taxable year and in future taxable years.  

 

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If we are classified as a PFIC in any taxable year in which you hold our ordinary shares, and you are a U.S. Holder, you would generally be subject to additional taxes and interest charges on certain “excess” distributions we make and on any gain recognized on your disposition or deemed disposition of our ordinary shares in a later year, even if we are not a PFIC in the year of disposition or distribution.  Further, if we were a PFIC for any year during which you hold our ordinary shares, we would continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which you hold our ordinary shares unless we cease to meet the requirements for PFIC status and you make a “deemed sale” election with respect to such ordinary shares. Moreover, if we are classified as a PFIC in any taxable year in which you hold our ordinary shares, certain non-corporate U.S. shareholders would not be able to benefit from any preferential tax rate with respect to any dividend distribution received from us on our ordinary shares in that year or in the following year.  Finally, you would also be subject to special U.S. tax reporting requirements. A U.S. shareholder of a PFIC generally may mitigate these adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences by making a “qualified electing fund” election, or, to a lesser extent, a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our ordinary shares. We do not intend to provide the information necessary for U.S. Holders to make “qualified electing fund” elections if we are classified as a PFIC.

 

We do not maintain our books under U.S. GAAP, and because most of our directors and all of our accounting personnel have very limited, or no, U.S. GAAP experience, and we rely on consultants to prepare our financial statements, there is a higher risk that our financial statements will not accurately describe our financial condition.

 

Our financial records are not maintained under U.S. GAAP. Other than our chief financial officer, we do not internally retain individuals that prepare our financial statements, and instead utilize an external contract-based consulting firm whose employees have knowledge of U.S. GAAP. Additionally, until the appointment of a director who will chair our audit committee, our board of directors and all of our accounting personnel have very limited, or no, relevant U.S. GAAP experience. These factors contribute to a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by our company’s internal control over financial reporting, therefore leading to errors or omissions in our financial information.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

The table below lists our current facilities, all of which are in Pingdingshan, Henan Province:

 

Location   Usage   Space
(in square meters)
 
The Eastern End of Xiwuzhuang Village, Jiaodian Town,
Xinhua District (1)
  Headquarters/fly-ash brick plant/fly-ash and coal storage facilities     37,333 (2)
             
North of Gaozhuang Village, Jiaodian Town, Xinhua District (3)   Concrete plant/mixer truck parking and loading yard     13,766 (4)
             
Southeast of Twelvth Mine Road, Lvzhuang Village, Donggongren Town, Weidong District (5)   Construction waste recycling plant/brick production plant/research and development center/office building  (6)     37,407  

 

(1) Pursuant to a land compensation agreement dated January 15, 2007, the Villagers Committee of Xiwuzhuang Village agreed to sell the underlying land use rights to Yulong Bricks for $1.7 million (RMB 11.2 million).  As of the date of this Report, we have paid in full but have not completed the transfer registration.  In February 2014, we entered into a supplemental land compensation/lease agreement with the Villagers Committee, which allows our purchase price to be accounted as lease expenses over 50 years (expiring December 2058) for $2,902 (RMB 18,666) per month, until we can complete the transfer registration.

 

(2) Our headquarters occupy an onsite office building with approximately 1,800 square meters of workspace. Our fly-ash brick plant occupies an onsite factory building with approximately 6,000 square meters of workspace.  We also have an employee dormitory and cafeteria onsite, as well as space to store raw materials and stage finished products.

 

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(3) Pursuant to a land compensation agreement dated January 8, 2009, the Villagers Committee of Gaozhuang Village agreed to sell the underlying land use rights to Yulong Concrete for $0.7 million (RMB 4.6 million).  As of the date of this Report, we have paid in full but have not completed the transfer registration.  In February 2014, we entered into a supplemental land compensation/lease agreement with the Villagers Committee, which allows our purchase price to be accounted as lease expenses over 50 years (expiring December 2058) for $1,192 (RMB 7,666) per month, until we can complete the transfer registration.

 

(4) Our concrete plant occupies an onsite factory building with approximately 610 square meters of workspace.

 

(5) Pursuant to a land compensation agreement dated June 6, 2012, the Villagers Committee of Lvzhuang Village agreed to sell the underlying land use rights to Yulong Renewable for $2.2 million (RMB 14.6 million).  As of the date of this Report, we have paid approximately $256,000 (RMB 1.7 million) and have not begun the transfer registration, and will not do so until after full payment of our purchase consideration.  In September 2015, we entered into a supplemental land compensation/lease agreement with the Villagers Committee, which allows our purchase price to be accounted as lease expenses over 50 years (expiring April 2055) for $3,780 (RMB 24,314) per month, until we can complete the transfer registration.  

 

(6)

We completed the research and development (“R&D”) center, employee dormitory, as well as our office building in April 2015.  We are currently renovating the R&D center and office building, and such work is expected to finish by the end of June 2017.  Once completed, the office building will serve as our new headquarters.  

 

(7)

We entered into an agreement with Henan Sanjian Construction Group in February 2016 for a project of construction of a solid waste resource utilization center in Zhengzhou. The project was commenced in March 2016. The project was placed on hold in August 2016.

 

In late March 2016, the central government of the People’s of Republic of China passed Air Pollution Control Act and enforced Air Pollution Control Action Plan. The province of Henan of the People’s Republic of China implemented “Province of Henan Blue Sky Action Plan” on various industries such as construction materials, coal mining. Due to the regulations and Blue Sky Action Plan, Yulong Renewable is required to comply with new environmental regulations and its construction projects have been idled since August 2016.

   

We believe that these facilities are adequate for our current needs.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 3016, three of the four Yulong operating companies were subject to 10 civil lawsuits with judgment amounts of approximately $2,224,585 (RMB 14,780,875) in the aggregate, of which unpaid amounts of approximately $108,547 (RMB 721,225) has already been included in capital lease obligations regarding lease agreement for purchasing 10 vehicles from Xuchang Tongli, and approximately $292,327 (RMB 1,942,317) already included in other payables as of June 30, 2016. The remaining balances included $1,821,756 (RMB 12,104,346) related to the guarantee with details disclosed in notes ‘Guarantees’, and $1,955 (RMB 12,988) sued by individuals.

 

As for the events occurred after June 30, 2016, three of the four Yulong operating companies were subject to 26 civil lawsuits with judgment amounts of approximately $1,719,202 (RMB 11,422,947) in the aggregate, of which unpaid amounts of approximately $347,812 (RMB 2,310,979) has already been included in short term loans, and approximately $127,929 (RMB 850,000) already included in other payables as of June 30, 2016. The remaining balances included $25,402 (RMB 168,780) related to the illegal occupation of land, $129,841 (RMB 862,708) related to purchase commitment, and $1,088,218 (RMB 7,230,480) related to wages or borrowing complaints filed by individuals.

 

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Illegal occupation of land

 

On October 18, 2016, Pingdingshan Land Resources Bureau applied to the court to enforce the execution of Ping Guo Tu Zi Fa Zi (2016) no.65 Administrative Penalty Decision that the Company shall:

 

(1) return 7,137.26 square meters of land which the Company occupied illegally;

 

(2) dismantle the new buildings and other facilities on the 7,137.26 square meters of land which the Company occupied illegally, and restore the original appearance of the land;

 

(3) pay a fine on the basis that illegal occupation of 5,951.4 square meters of general cultivated land at a fine of RMB 16.00 per square meter, i.e. $14,331.38 (RMB 95,222.40), and 1,185.86 square meters of other land fines per square meter RMB 3.00, i.e. $535.43 (RMB 3,557.58), resulting in a total of $14,866.81 (RMB 98,779.98).

 

On November 29, 2016, Pingdingshan Environmental Protection Bureau filed a claim to the court to enforce the execution of Ping Huan Fa Zi (2015) no.26 Administrative Penalty Decision that the Company shall:

 

(1) cease its trial production;

 

(2) pay a fine of $10,535.30 (RMB 70,000).

 

Total unpaid amounts related to illegal occupation of land were approximately $25,402 (RMB 168,780).

 

Purchase commitment

 

On November 10, 2012, the Company entered into a sales and purchase contract with an unrelated third party, Xian Oriental Fuxing Machinery Co., Ltd (“Xian Oriental Fuxing”) with a contract amount of $419,907 (RMB 2,790,000). As of June 30, 2016, the Company already paid $293,483 (RMB 1,950,000) to Xian Oriental Fuxing. According to the verdict issued on September 24, 2016, the court ruled that the Company was required to pay the remaining amount of $126,424 (RMB 840,000) and litigation costs of $3,418 (RMB 22,708).

 

Guarantees

 

As of June 30, 2016, the Company guaranteed approximately $3.0 million for a bank loan of unrelated third-parties as follows:

 

Name   Guaranteed amount     Guarantee expiration date
Pingdingshan Yushi Automobile Accessory Sales Co., Ltd (1)   $ 1,204,034     December 29, 2016
Pingdingshan Orr Business Co., Ltd (2)     1,821,756     January 5, 2018
Total   $ 3,025,790      

 

(1) The Company did not, however, accrue any liability in connection with such guarantee because the borrower has been current in its repayment obligations and the Company has not experienced any loss from providing such guarantees in the past. The Company has evaluated the guarantee and has concluded that the likelihood of it having to make payments under the guarantee is remote and that the fair value of the stand-ready obligation under such commitment is not material.

 

(2) According to the verdict issued on March 16, 2017, the court ruled that the borrower was required to remit the loan principal in an amount of $1,806,051 (RMB 12 million) and the litigation in an amount of $15,705 (RMB 104,346) in litigation costs. As the loan term being from January 5, 2015 to January 6, 2016, and the guarantee will expire on January 5, 2018, the Company has accrued a liability in connection with such guarantee.

 

Except the above mentioned litigations and claims, we know of no material, existing or pending legal proceedings against us, nor are we involved as a plaintiff in any material proceeding or pending litigation. There are no proceedings in which any of our directors, officers or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial stockholder, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our company.

 

ITEM  4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

The information required by Item 4 is not applicable to us, as we have no mining operations in the United States.

 

  36  

 

 

PART II

 

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

 

Market Information

 

Our ordinary shares commenced trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “YECO” on June 26, 2015. We received a notice from the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) on July 7, 2017 indicating that it has determined to suspend the Company’s ordinary shares, from trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market, effective at the open of business on July 11, 2017. As a result of the notice, the Company’s ordinary shares are currently trading on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol “YECOF.”

 

The following table sets forth the high and low bid information for our ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market:

 

   

Year Ended

June 30, 2016

   

Year Ended

June 30, 2015

 
    High     Low     High     Low  
                         
First Quarter Ended September 30   $ 2.50     $ 2.15     $ -     $ -  
Second Quarter Ended December 31   $ 4.59     $ 3.96     $ -     $ -  
Third Quarter Ended March 31   $ 4.09     $ 3.99     $ -     $ -  
Fourth Quarter Ended June 30   $ 2.21     $ 1.62     $ 6.26     $ 6.00  

 

Holders

 

As of August 21, 2017, there were approximately 19 shareholders of record of our ordinary shares. This number does not include an indeterminate number of shareholders whose shares are held by brokers in street name.

  

Dividends

 

We have not paid dividends on our ordinary shares since inception. The decision to pay dividends on ordinary shares is within the discretion of the board of directors. It is our current policy to retain any future earnings to finance the operations and growth of our business.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

Please see the discussion in Item 12 titled “Equity Compensation Plan Information” below.

 

  37  

 

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

On July 1, 2015, we issued an aggregate of 1,619,938 shares of restricted ordinary shares as follows:

 

  An aggregate of 1,593,538 shares to five shareholders who are parties to a certain indebtedness conversion agreement with us dated as February 27, 2015, pursuant to which these shareholders, including our founder, agreed to convert certain obligations owed to them by our consolidated affiliated entities into our ordinary shares at our initial public offering price of $6.25 per share;

 

  20,000 shares to our Chief Financial Officer pursuant to the terms of his restricted stock award agreement dated as of January 27, 2015;

 

  3,200 shares to our non-executive director Alice Wu pursuant to the terms of her amended and restated director offer letter dated as of February 9, 2015; and

 

  3,200 shares to our non-executive director Michael Harlan pursuant to the terms of his director offer letter dated as of February 9, 2015.

 

On November 24, 2015, we issued 1,733,426 shares to Wenge Du;

 

On January 21, 2016, we issued 134,367 and 31,279 shares to Horizons Consulting Associates LLC and Yale Yu pursuant to the consulting agreements dated as of January 11, 2016;

 

On May 19, 2016, we issued 16,854 shares to Yong Jun Kim;

 

On May 27, 2016, 15,156, 12,125, 11,215 and 7,578 shares were issued to David Kiachko, Chris Sun, John Sun and Caroline Di Diego & James Ferris, respectively;

 

On June 9, 2016, we issued 4,016,768 shares to Fast Balance-Cede & Co.;

 

32,239 shares and 58,140 shares were issued to Yingtao Miao and a consulting firm on August 8, 2016 and August 15, 2016, respectively. 

 

The foregoing issuances were exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.  The Company made this determination based on the representations of each of these shareholders, which included, in pertinent part, that such shareholder is either (a) an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, or (b) not a “U.S. person” as that term is defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, and that such shareholder is acquiring the shares for investment purposes for his or her own account and not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution thereof, and that such shareholder understood that the shares may not be sold or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act or an applicable exemption therefrom.

 

  38  

 

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

As a small reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure under this item.

 

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

 

The following discussion and analysis of the results of our operations and financial condition for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 should be read in conjunction with the Selected Financial Data, our financial statements, and the notes to those financial statements that are included elsewhere in this Report. All monetary figures are presented in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

The statements in this discussion that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” The words “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “estimate,” “continue,” the negative forms thereof, or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements are identified by those words or expressions. Forward-looking statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond our control. Actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements depending on a variety of important factors, including, but not limited to, weather, levels of construction activities and demand for construction materials in the region that we operate, availability of financing and interest rates, competition, changes in, or failure to comply with, government regulations, costs, uncertainties and other effects of legal and other administrative proceedings, and other risks and uncertainties. We are not undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

 

Trends in Our Business

 

On a macro level, the Chinese government announced a series of new policies at controlling production and development of various industries in China for the purpose of enhancing environmental quality in the territory. The province of Henan implemented the Blue Sky Action Plan in late March 2016 and enforced stricter environmental requirements on industries that conduct business in Henan province including construction materials. Additionally, Yulong Renewable received a notice from the Environmental Protection Bureau of the city of Pingdingshan that the Company is required to clean up its job sites and install environmental protection infrastructure and equipment. The environmental policies and action notice has significantly limited the Company’s capacity to maintain the production of its bricks, concrete and recycled construction materials. Subsequent to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, Yulong Bricks, Yulong Concrete and Yulong Renewable have been focusing on upgrading the facilities of their job sites to further comply with the stringent environmental requirements. Sales revenue of Yulong Bricks and Yulong Concrete has been significantly impacted subsequent to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016. Both entities have resumed and gradually increased their productions beginning late April 2017. Three major construction projects of Yulong Renewable have been halted since August 2016 and Yulong Renewable’s operation has been placed on hold since January 2017. Yulong Renewable is still upgrading its job site and infrastructures and plans to offer for sale or transfer its renewable’s business in fiscal year 2018.

 

  39  

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The tables in the following discussion summarize our consolidated statements of operations for the periods by amount and as a percentage of our total net revenue.  This information should be read together with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.  The operating results in any period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.

 

Revenue

 

Our revenue decreased by $3,585,953 or 7.76% to $42,644,431, as compared to a year ago. Revenue attributable to bricks, concrete and construction waste recycling for such periods are as follows:

 

    Revenue        
    Bricks     Concrete     CWM     Total  
                Hauling     Recycled Aggregates     Recycled
Bricks
    Waste Processing Services        
Revenue                                          
Year ended June 30, 2015   $ 15,586,654     $ 29,967,622     $ 443,328     $ 81,953     $ 150,827     $ -     $ 46,230,384  
Year ended June 30, 2016     11,913,095       23,131,224       1,921,275       114,011       361,133       5,203,693       42,644,431  
(Decrease) increase in $   $ (3,673,559 )   $ (6,836,398 )   $ 1,477,947     $ 32,058     $ 210,306     $ 5,203,693     $ (3,585,953 )
(Decrease) increase in %     (23.57 )%     (22.81 )%     333.38 %     39.12 %     139.44 %     N/A       (7.76 )%

 

Overall revenue was reduced by 3,585,953 or 7.76%. Brick and concrete sales dropped by 3,673,559 or 23.57% and 6,836,398 or 22.81%, respectively while construction waste management sales grew by 6,924,004. The change was primarily triggered by the depreciation of the RMB against the United States dollars as compared to a year ago as well as the environmental protection policy in China in the last quarter in 2016. Due to the policy, the Company shifted its focus on its construction waste management operation. The construction waste management operation commenced in April 2015 which consisted of hauling construction wastes, sales of recycled aggregates and recycled bricks and fragmentation.

 

The following tables present the average selling prices and quantities sold for our products and services for the periods indicated:

 

    Bricks     Concrete  
Average selling price            
Year ended June 30, 2015   $ 32.1     $ 44.3  
Year ended June 30, 2016     26.0       42.2  
Decrease in $   $ (6.1 )   $ (2.1 )
Decrease in %     (19.0 )%     (4.81 )%
                 
Quantity sold (m 3 )                
Year ended June 30, 2015     486,114       676,294  
Year ended June 30, 2016     458,206       530,318  
Decrease     (27,908 )     (145,976 )
Decrease in %     (5.7 )%     (21.58 )%

 

  40  

 

    CWM  
    Hauling     Recycled
Aggregates
    Recycled Bricks     Waste
Processing
Services
    Waste
Processing
Services
 
Average selling price   Truckload     m 3     m 3     Jobsite     m 3  
Year ended June 30, 2015   $ 73.0     $ 2.2     $ 39.2     $ -     $ -  
Year ended June 30, 2016     42.7       2.9       29.3       573.6       2.2  
Increase (decrease) in $   $ (30.3 )   $ 0.7     $ (9.9 )   $ 573.6     $ 2.2  
Increase (decrease) in %     (41.5 )%     31.8 %     (25.3 )%     N/A       N/A  
                                         
Quantity sold                                        
Year ended June 30, 2015     6,075       38,047       3,843       -       -  
Year ended June 30, 2016     45,040       38,689       12,348       2,616       1,661,540  
Increase (decrease) in $     38,965       642       8,505       2, 616       1,661,540  
Increase (decrease) in %     641.4 %     1.7 %     222.3 %     N/A       N/A  

 

Cost of Revenue

 

Cost of revenue decreased by 10.9%, to $26,165,513, as compared to last year. Such cost, in terms of our revenue separately from bricks, concrete and construction waste management, is as follows:

 

    Cost of Revenue        
    Bricks     Concrete     CWM     Total  
                Hauling    

Recycled

Aggregates

   

Recycled

Bricks

   

Waste

Processing

Services

       
Cost of Revenue                                          
Year ended June 30, 2015   $ 6,139,759     $ 22,883,040     $ 298,152     $ 10,724     $ 31,310     $ -     $ 29,362,985  
Year ended June 30, 2016     5,644,755       17,306,275       1,661,961       116,518       439,632       996,372       26,165,513  
Increase (decrease) in $   $ (495,004 )   $ (5,576,765 )   $ 1,363,809     $ 105,794     $ 408,322     $ 996,372     $ (3,197,472 )
Increase (decrease) in %     (8.1 )%     (24.4 )%     457.4 %     986.5 %     1304.1 %     N/A       (10.9 )%

 

The cost of brick and concrete revenue decreased mainly due to lower sales volume while the cost of construction waste management increased as the construction waste management commenced in the last quarter in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. Yulong Renewable introduced waste processing services and this segment also sold a more variety of recycled bricks and aggregates with higher unit cost in fiscal year ended June 30, 3016.

 

The average unit cost per cubic meter of bricks and concrete decreased as follows, mainly due to lower market prices for some raw materials (e.g., cement, coal and reclaimed lubricant for bricks, and cement and expansive admixtures for concrete):

 

    Average unit cost  
    Bricks     Concrete  
Year ended June 30, 2015   $ 12.6     $ 33.8  
Year ended June 30, 2016     12.3       32.2  
(Decrease) in $   $ (0.3 )   $ (1.6 )
(Decrease) in %     (2.2 )%     (4.6 )%

 

    Average unit cost  
    CWM  
    Hauling     Recycled
Aggregates
    Recycled Bricks     Waste
Processing
Services
    Waste
Processing
Services
 
    Truckload     m 3     m 3     Jobsite     m 3  
Year ended June 30, 2015   $ 49.1     $ 0.3     $ 8.1     $ -     $ -  
Year ended June 30, 2016     36.9       3.0       35.6       108.14       0.44  
Increase (decrease) in $   $ (12.2 )   $ 2.7     $ 27.4     $ 108.14     $ 0.44  
Increase (decrease) in %     (24.8 %)     968.5 %     337.0 %     N/A       N/A  

 

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We also use third-party manufacturers generally when orders exceed our production capacities. Such third-party manufacturers produce bricks and concrete with their employees and equipment using our pre-formulated raw material blends and under our supervision, and allow us to stage the finished products (in the case of bricks) onsite until our customers take delivery.  In return, we pay them a fee for every m 3 of finished product, which is negotiated individually with each manufacturer. To date, such fees have been lower than our overhead and direct labor cost to produce a m 3 of brick or concrete on our own. Based on the fees we paid in 2015 and 2016, which remained consistent during such periods (i.e., $0.90 for bricks and $1.0 and $0.9, respectively for concrete), such fees were approximately $2.3 and $2.2 lower per unit for bricks, respectively, and $1.0 and $0.8 lower per unit for concrete, respectively. Thus, were we to entirely produce internally during such periods, our cost of revenues would have increased by approximately $278,000 and $337,000 for bricks, respectively, and $181,000 and $86,000 for concrete, respectively, and our gross profit would have decreased accordingly. These fees, however, may change in the future depending on how much bricks or concrete we produce and thus how much overhead and direct labor cost we allocate to each resulting product unit. The brick manufacturer that we have been using lacks a sales department to develop business in the local market, while we are a principal customer of the concrete manufacturer that we have been using. Thus, we believe that we currently have more bargain power with respect to the fees that we pay these manufacturers.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit was $16,478,918, a decrease of $388,481 or 2.3% from a year ago. Gross profit margin increased to approximately 38.6% from 36.5% in 2016.

 

Gross profit attributable to bricks was $6,268,340, a decline of $3,178,555 or 33.65%, from a year ago. Gross profit margin was 52.62%, a decrease of 7.99%, from 60.6% a year ago. Gross profit attributable to concrete was $5,824,949, a decrease of $1,259,633 or 17.78%, from a year ago. Gross profit margin was 25.18%, an increase of 1.54%, from 23.6% a year ago. Gross profit attributable to recycling was $4,385,629 for the year ended June 30, 2016, a significant growth of 4,049,707 or 1205.55% from prior year due to the shift to and concentration on recycling operation in the last quarter of the year. Gross profit margin was 57.7% for the year ended June 30, 2016 compared to 49.68% in prior year.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses, which consist of selling, general and administrative (“G&A”) and impairment loss expenses, was $65,979,142, an increase of $61,970,195 or 1,545.80% as compared to a year ago. G&A expenses, which increased by $9,467,343 or 280.55%, was $12,841,900. The rise in G&A expense primarily was attributable to $2,480,832 reserve for prepayment, additional $4,085,307 in bad debt allowance, $1,883,624 in litigation, $948,106 in staff salary and benefit, $486,989 in business development, $534,237 in stock-based compensation related to the additional restricted shares issued to consultants incurred in the year ended June 30, 2016. Such increase was offset by decrease in depreciation expense, $530,648 and the start-up cost, $716,771, which solely incurred in the year ended June 30, 2015. Selling expense was $451,927, which reduced by 182,463 as compared to a year ago. The decline was mainly attributed to the decrease in depreciation of office furniture, $151,975 and gasoline, $31,010.

 

Due to the suspension of Yulong Renewable’s construction project in August 2016 and reduction of its production, we provided an impairment reserves for non-current assets including $50,357,301 of long-lived assets and construction in progress as well as $2,328,014 of impairment reserve to its land use rights for the year ended June 30, 2016.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Other income (expense) includes finance expense (which consist of interest and other finance expenses, net of interest income), and income (expense) not related to our principal operations.

 

We had other expense of $332,560, a decrease of $948,302 or 74.0% from a year ago. Other expense consisted of $1,028,761 in interest expense and $22,969 in other finance and non-operating expense, offset by $111,332 in interest income, $409,775 in change in fair value of warrant liabilities and $198,063 in other income.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

Provision for income taxes increased by $459,220 to $3,357,239, as compared to a year ago due to higher income before tax. While we incurred G&A expenses at our Cayman Islands holding company level (i.e., Yulong), we will probably not be able to utilize the resulting net operating loss in the future. Therefore, the realization of our deferred tax assets is unlikely, since we are not subject to any income tax or credit under current Cayman Islands laws, and we have provided for a full valuation allowance against such deferred tax assets.

 

Net (Loss) Income

 

Net loss for the year ended June 30, 2016 was $(53,190,023), as compared to net income $8,679,571 for the same period last year. The net loss was primarily attributable to the impairment reserve provided for the long-lived assets and intangible assets of Yulong Renewable.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Capital Resources

 

To date, we have financed our daily operations and capital investment in connection with Yulong Renewable’s new facilities, primarily through cash flow from operations, bank financing and financial support from our founder, including through some of his relatives and another company that he owns. We also completed the initial public offering of our ordinary shares on July 1, 2015, with gross proceeds of approximately $14 million before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us.

 

We will require cash of approximately $22.5 million within the next twelve months, including $5.7 million to repay outstanding short-term bank loans, $12.8 million to satisfy accounts payable and other payables and $4 million to satisfy capital lease obligations. As of June 30, 2016, we had cash and cash equivalent approximately $3.2 million, accounts receivable of $5.7 million and prepayment of $15.7 million which will be refundable to us by one of our construction vendors. The significant decrease in cash balance as of June 30, 2016 was primarily due to an investment in our new construction of our solid waste resource utilization center in Zhengzhou, Henan for our renewable business. As of June 30, 2016, we had paid approximately $34 million in this investment. The founder has provided approximately $1.7 million (RMB 11.6 million) to fund the Company’s operations subsequent to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016. The Company may also continue to raise fund through private placement or issuance of shares to support the Company’s operational needs. As a result, we believe that our current working capital is sufficient to support routine operations for the next 12 months.

 

Short-term Loans – Banks

 

We had $5.7 million and $8.0 million in short-term bank loans as of June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Such loans mature in one year and must be repaid in full upon maturity.  Based on our borrowing history, we believe the banks we work with will renew their loans to us after our current loans mature, as they did in the past.

 

For additional discussion regarding our loans, please refer to Note 10 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Report.

 

Cash Flows

 

As of June 30, 2016, our cash was $2,734,540 as compared to $16,470,299 as of June 30, 2015. The following table presents a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

    For the years ended
June 30,
 
    2016     2015  
Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 13,275,874     $ 6,200,843  
Net cash (used in) investing activities     (36,600,435 )     (1,998,492 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     10,624,027       (7,593,596 )

 

Net Cash (Used in) Provided by   Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities, $13.3 million, for the year ended June 30, 2016, is primarily attributable to non- cash items such as depreciation and amortization expense, $2.2 million, $4.1 million provision for doubtful accounts, $2.9 million reserve for prepayments and change in fair value of warrant liabilities, $(0.4) million. The increase in net cash related to operating activities is also caused by an increase in accrued liabilities, $2.3 million, increase in payroll payable, $1.1 million, cash inflow from customer deposits, $2.7 million and payment related to other payables $0.2 million offset by additional accounts receivable, $1.1 million.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended June 30, 2015, was primarily attributable to $8.6 million of net income, $1.8 million in non-cash adjustments for depreciation expense of our plant and equipment and deferred tax benefit pertaining to an increase in our deferred tax assets, cash inflows of $1.2 million in other payables and accrued liabilities as we accrued additional expenses in connection with our initial public offering and interest on our capital leases, offset by cash outflows of $0.3 million increase in deposits and other receivables for security deposits we made during the period for 30 hauling trucks, $0.4 million decrease in customer deposits, and slower collection from customers that resulted in increased accounts receivable of $4.1 million.

 

As of June 30, 2016, our outstanding days in sales were approximately 49 days, from 74 days as of June 30, 2015. Such decrease was mainly the result of increased provision for doubtful debts during the current year.

 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

For the year ended June 30, 2016, we made payments approximately $36.6 million for construction-in-progress and prepayments to various construction vendors relating to Yulong Renewable’s new facilities.

 

For the year ended June 30, 2015, we made prepayments of approximately $1.5 million, and payments of approximately $0.5 million, for construction-in-progress relating to Yulong Renewable’s new facilities.

 

  43  

 

 

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

 

For the year ended June 30, 2016, net cash provided by financing activities, $10.6 million, resulted from $11.5 million proceeds received from our initial public offering and $1.4 million loan from our related parties, offset by $1.7 million in bank loan repayments as they became due and $0.6 million in principal repayments on capital lease obligations.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

As of June 30, 2016, the annual future minimum payments under certain of our contractual obligations were as follows:

 

    Payments due by period  
Contractual obligations   Total     Less than 1 year     1 – 2 years     More than 2 years  
Construction-in-progress (1)     29,328,448       3,848,798       25,479,650                -  
Short term loan-bank     5,674,011       5,674,011       -       -  
Capital lease obligations     4,091,143       4,062,291       28,852       -  
Total   $ 39,093,602     $ 13,585,100     $ 25,508,502     $ -  

 

(1) For Yulong Renewable’s new facilities, and Yulong Bricks’ autoclave.

 

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of June 30, 2016, we guaranteed two bank loans of unrelated third parties in the aggregate amount of $3.0 million, which guarantees are set to expire on December 29, 2016 and January 5, 2018. For the bank loan that we offered guarantee for Pingdingshan Yushi Automobile Accessory Sales Co., Ltd, we did not, however, accrue any liability in connection with such guarantee because the borrower has been current in their repayment obligations and we have not experienced any losses from providing such guarantees in the past. We have evaluated the guarantee and have concluded that the likelihood of our having to make payments under the guarantee is remote and that the fair value of the stand-ready obligation under these commitment is not material. We agreed to provide the guarantee due to our long-term relationship with and the credit worthiness of the borrower.

 

We have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to its shares and classified as shareholder’s equity or that are not reflected in its consolidated financial statements.  Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity.  We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or that engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with us.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported net sales and expenses during the reporting periods.  On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions.  We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

While our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report, we believe that the following accounting policies are the most critical to aid you in fully understanding and evaluating our management’s discussion and analysis:

 

  44  

 

 

Principles of consolidation

 

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Yulong, its subsidiaries, and our VIEs. All significant intercompany transactions and balances between Yulong, its subsidiaries and our VIEs are eliminated upon consolidation. Since Yulong WFOE and our VIEs are under common control, the contractual arrangements among Yulong WFOE, our VIEs and their shareholders have been accounted for as a reorganization of entities, and the consolidation of our VIEs through the contractual arrangements has been accounted for at historical cost and prepared on the basis as if these agreements became effective as of the beginning of the first period presented in our consolidated financial statements.

 

Variable interest entities

 

A VIE is an entity that either has a total equity investment that is insufficient to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or whose equity investors lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, such as through voting rights, right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity or obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity. The variable interest holder, if any, that has a controlling financial interest in a VIE is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of, and must consolidate, the VIE. Yulong WFOE is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in and be the primary beneficiary of each Yulong Group company because it has both of the following characteristics:

 

  (1) The power to direct activities at each Yulong Group company that most significantly impact such entity’s economic performance, and

 

  (2) The obligation to absorb losses of, and the right to receive benefits from, each Yulong Group company that could potentially be significant to such entity.

 

Pursuant to the contractual arrangements with Yulong Group, each Yulong Group company pays service fees equal to all of its net profit after tax payments to Yulong WFOE. At the same time, Yulong WFOE is obligated to absorb all of their losses. Such contractual arrangements are designed so that the Yulong Group companies operate for the benefit of Yulong WFOE and ultimately, us.

 

Accordingly, the accounts of the Yulong Group companies are consolidated in our financial statements pursuant to ASC 810-10, Consolidation. In addition, their financial positions and results of operations are included in our financial statements.

 

Revenue recognition

 

We recognize revenue in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition , regarding revenue recognition which specifies that revenue is realized or realizable and earned.  Sales revenue is recognized at the date of delivery to customers when a formal arrangement exists, price is fixed or determinable, 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 met, are recorded as customer deposits.

 

We sell concrete and bricks primarily to major local real estate development and/or construction companies.  Sales agreements are signed with each customer.  Each agreement lists out general terms and conditions, with delivery date and quantity to be specified when a purchase order is issued under such agreement.  We do not sell products to customers on a consignment basis.  There is no right of return after products are delivered and accepted.

 

Sales revenue represents the invoiced value of goods, net of a value added tax (“VAT”).

 

Accounts and other receivables and allowance for doubtful accounts

 

We extend unsecured credit to our customers as a normal course of business.  Management reviews our accounts and other receivables each reporting period to determine if the allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate.  An estimate for doubtful accounts is recorded when collection of the full amount is no longer probable.  Known bad debts are written off against allowance for doubtful accounts after all collection effort has ceased.  Our reserves are consistent with historical experience and considered adequate by management.  We estimate that most accounts receivable are collected within six months. Accounts receivable are considered past-due after 90 days. For accounts receivable that are past-due for more than one year, we reserve 100% allowance.

 

  45  

 

 

Impairment for long-lived assets

 

Long-lived assets, including buildings and improvements, equipment and intangible assets with finite live, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances (such as a significant adverse change to market conditions that will impact the future use of the assets) indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.  We assess the recoverability of an asset based on the undiscounted future cash flow such asset is expected to generate, and recognize an impairment loss when estimated undiscounted future cash flow expected to result from the use of the asset plus net proceeds expected from disposition of the asset, if any, is less than the carrying value of the asset.  When we identify an impairment, we reduce the carrying amount of the asset to its estimated fair value based on a discounted cash flow approach or, when available and appropriate, to comparable market value. In Q2 2017, due to Air Pollution Control Act passed by the central government of the People’s Republic of China and the Blue Sky Project Plan enforced by the province of Henan, Yulong Renewable placed construction projects of factory and solid waste facilities on hold on August 2016 and gradually reduced its production. Since January 2017, Yulong Renewable suspended its operation to further upgrade its technique and facility to comply with the stricter environmental regulations. It provided an impairment reserve in an amount of approximately $50.4 million as of June 30, 2016.

 

Use of estimates and assumptions

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our accompanying consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in this Report. Significant accounting estimates reflected in our consolidated financial statements include the useful lives and impairment of property, plant and equipment, collectability of receivables, realization of deferred tax assets, inventory valuation, and the present value of the net minimum lease payments of the capital lease. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Revenue Recognition: In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606 (ASU 2014-09), to supersede 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 that is expected to be received for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, it is possible more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP, including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 is effective for us in our first quarter of fiscal 2018 using either of two methods: (i) retrospective to each prior reporting period presented with the option to elect certain practical expedients as defined within ASU 2014-09 (full retrospective method); or (ii) retrospective with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of initial application and providing certain additional disclosures as defined per ASU 2014-09 (modified retrospective method). We are currently assessing the impact to our consolidated financial statements, and have not yet selected a transition approach.

 

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. The objective is to clarify the two aspects of Topic 606: identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, while retaining the related principles for these areas. The ASU affects the guidance in ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which is not yet effective. The effective date and transition requirements for this ASU are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in Topic 606 (and any other Topic amended by ASU 2014-09). ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. Management is evaluating the effect, if any, on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Going Concern Uncertainties : In August 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Preparation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern . Under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), continuation of a reporting entity as a going concern is presumed as the basis for preparing financial statements unless and until the entity’s liquidation becomes imminent. Preparation of financial statements under this presumption is commonly referred to as the going concern basis of accounting. If and when an entity’s liquidation becomes imminent, financial statements should be prepared under the liquidation basis of accounting in accordance with Subtopic 205-30, Presentation of Financial Statements-Liquidation Basis of Accounting. Even when an entity’s liquidation is not imminent, there may be conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. In those situations, financial statements should continue to be prepared under the going concern basis of accounting, but the amendments in this Update should be followed to determine whether to disclose information about the relevant conditions and events. The amendments in this Accounting Standards Update are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-15 to have material impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

  46  

 

 

Inventory : In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, an amendment to Topic 330 for simplifying the measurement of inventory. The update requires that inventory be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value where net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method.  The amendment is intended to provide clarification on the measurement and disclosure of inventory in Topic 330 and not intended for those clarifications to result in any changes in practice. The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  Early application is permitted for all entities and should be applied prospectively. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-11 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

Financial Instruments: In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments–Overall (Subtopic825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities . The main objective in developing this ASU is enhancing the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. The amendments in this ASU address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. For public business entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption for public entities if the entity should present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk if the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-01 to have material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Leases : In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The main objective is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, for (1) public business entities, (2) not-for-profit entities that have issued, or are conduit bond obligors for, securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an over-the-counter market, and (3) employee benefit plans that file financial statements with the SEC. For all other entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-02 to have material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Stock-based Compensation : In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The new guidance requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. It also requires the Company to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur.

 

Statement of Cash Flows : In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Restricted Cash , which require that a statement of cash flows to explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this ASU is applied using a retrospective approach. As a result, the Company will no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash in the consolidated cash flow statements.

 

Business Combination: In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01), which revises the definition of a business and provides new guidance in evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. This guidance will be effective for us in the first quarter of 2018 on a prospective basis, and early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Stock-based Compensation :    In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock compensation (Topic 718): Scope of modification accounting” (“ASU 2017-09”). The purpose of the amendment is to clarify which changes to the terms or condition of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. For all entities that offer share based payment awards, ASU 2017-09 are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2017-09 on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Except for the ASU above, in the period from January 1, 2017 to August 2017, the FASB has issued ASU No. 2017-01 through ASU 2017-011, which are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As a small reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure under this item.  

 

  47  

 

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Index to consolidated financial statements

  

 

Page

Number

   
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms F-1
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2016 and 2015 F-2
   
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (loss) for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 F-3
   
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 F-4
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 F-5
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-6

 

  48  

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders

Yulong Eco-Materials Limited

 

We have audited   the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Yulong Eco-Materials Limited and Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2016, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive loss, cash flows and equity for the year ended June 30, 2016. Yulong Eco-Materials Limited’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit 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 are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Yulong Eco-Materials Limited and Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2016 and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the period ended June 30, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in the financial statements, the Company has suffered significant losses from operations, has a working capital deficiency, and insufficient cash to meet its short-term obligations. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

/s/ KSP Group, Inc.

 

August 25, 2017  

 

  F- 1  

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders

Yulong Eco-Materials Limited

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Yulong Eco-Materials Limited and Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, cash flows and equity for each of the years in the year period ended June 30, 2015. Yulong Eco-Materials Limited’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. 

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Yulong Eco-Materials Limited and Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2015, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the year ended June 30, 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 

 

/s/ Friedman LLP

 

New York, New York

September 28, 2015

 

  F- 2  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    June 30,     June 30,  
    2016     2015  
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 2,734,540     $ 16,470,299  
Restricted cash     500,000       -  
Accounts receivable, net     5,728,334       9,329,495  
Deposits and other receivables     1,002,713       286,153  
Inventories     364,891       364,254  
Advances to suppliers     222,239       17,421  
Prepaid expenses     108,716       373,617  
Total current assets     10,661,433       26,841,239  
                 
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net     7,425,445       41,267,655  
                 
OTHER ASSETS                
Other receivable, non-current     15,727,696       -  
Prepayments, net     15,050       3,658,748  
Prepaid expenses, non-current     50,000       -  
Intangible assets, net     2,163,791       4,913,376  
Deferred tax asset, net     388,970       520,147  
Long-term deposit     10,716       397,300  
Total other assets     18,356,223       9,489,571  
                 
Total assets   $ 36,443,101     $ 77,598,465  
                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY  
CURRENT LIABILITIES                
Short term loan - bank   $ 5,674,011     $ 7,972,190  
Accounts payable, trade     1,710,881       1,726,158  
Other payables and accrued liabilities     7,601,354       4,817,399  
Other payables - related parties     1,965,237       2,584,104  
Customer deposits     2,571,846       -  
Taxes payable     1,498,083       1,098,093  
Capital lease obligation-current portion     4,062,291       4,615,083  
Dividends payable     -       7,994,125  
Warrant liabilities     65,605       -  
Total current liabilities     25,149,308       30,807,152  
                 
LONG TERM LIABILITIES                
Capital lease obligation-net of current portion     28,852       138,952  
Total long term liabilities     28,852       138,952  
                 
Total liabilities     25,178,160       30,946,104  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                
                 
EQUITY                
Common stock, $0.00125 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 11,997,184 and 8,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively *     14,997       10,000  
Subscription receivable     (10,000 )     (10,000 )
Additional paid-in capital     40,497,594       19,011,464  
Statutory reserves     3,922,228       3,922,228  
Stock to be issued     37,500       -  
Retained earnings     (31,978,194 )     21,211,829  
Accumulated other comprehensive income     (1,219,184 )     2,506,840  
Total Yulong Eco-Materials Limited’s equity     11,264,941       46,652,361  
                 
Total liabilities and equity   $ 36,443,101     $ 77,598,465  

 

* Giving retroactive effect to the 4-for-5 reverse stock split effected on March 3, 2015 and initial public offering on July 1 2015.

 

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

  F- 3  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

    For the Years Ended
June 30,
 
    2016     2015  
REVENUES            
Bricks   $ 11,913,095     $ 15,586,654  
Concrete     23,131,224       29,967,622  
Recycling     7,600,112       676,108  
TOTAL REVENUES     42,644,431       46,230,384  
                 
COST OF REVENUES                
Bricks     5,644,755       6,139,759  
Concrete     17,306,275       22,883,040  
Recycling     3,214,483       340,186  
TOTAL COST OF REVENUES     26,165,513       29,362,985  
                 
GROSS PROFIT     16,478,918       16,867,399  
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES:                
Selling     451,927       634,390  
General and administrative     12,841,900       3,374,557  
Impairment loss-fixed assets & CIP     50,357,301       -  
Impairment loss - intangible assets     2,328,014       -  
                 
Total operating expenses     65,979,142       4,008,947  
                 
(LOSS) INCOME FROM OPERATIONS     (49,500,224 )     12,858,452  
                 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), net                
Bank charges     (9,504 )     (1,094 )
Interest income     111,332       70,065  
Interest expense     (1,028,761 )     (1,297,102 )
Other finance expense     (7,527 )     -  
Exchange gain/(loss)     (5,938 )     -  
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     409,775       -  
Other income/(expense), net     198,063       (52,731 )
Total other expense, net     (332,560 )     (1,280,862 )
                 
(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES     (49,832,784 )     11,577,590  
                 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES     3,357,239       2,898,019  
                 
NET (LOSS) INCOME     (53,190,023 )     8,679,571  
                 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)                
Foreign currency translation adjustments     (808,327 )     326,188  
                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)   $ (53,998,350 )   $ 9,005,759  
                 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES                
Basic and diluted*     11,926,956       8,000,000  
                 
(LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE                
Basic and diluted*   $ (4.46 )   $ 1.08  

 

* Giving retroactive effect to the 4-for-5 reverse stock split effected on March 3, 2015.

 

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

 

  F- 4  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

 

                                        Retained     Accumulated        
                      Additional     Stock             earnings/     other        
    Common Stock     Subscription     paid-in     to be     Statutory     (Accumulated     comprehensive        
    Shares*     Par Value     receivable     capital     issued     reserves     deficit)     income (loss)     Total  
BALANCE, July 1, 2014     8,000,000     $ 10,000     $ (10,000 )   $ 19,011,464     $ -     $ 3,771,665     $ 12,682,821     $ 2,180,652     $ 37,646,602  
Net income                                                     8,679,571               8,679,571  
Appropriation of statutory reserve                                             150,563       (150,563 )             -  
Foreign currency translation adjustments                                                             326,188       326,188  
BALANCE, June 30, 2015     8,000,000     $ 10,000     $ (10,000 )   $ 19,011,464     $ -     $ 3,922,228     $ 21,211,829     $ 2,506,840     $ 46,652,361  
Issuance of shares for cash     2,250,000       2,813               11,507,344                                       11,510,157  
Stock based compensation expenses     153,646       192               496,545       37,500                               534,237  
Convertible to ordinary shares     1,593,538       1,992               9,957,621                                       9,959,613  
Allocation to warrant liabilities                             (475,380 )                                     (475,380 )
Net loss                                                     (53,190,023 )             (53,190,023 )
Appropriation of statutory reserve                                                                     -  
Foreign currency translation adjustments                                                             (3,726,024 )     (3,726,024 )
BALANCE, June 30, 2016     11,997,184     $ 14,997     $ (10,000 )   $ 40,497,594     $ 37,500     $ 3,922,228     $ (31,978,194 )   $ (1,219,184 )   $ 11,264,941  

 

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

 

  F- 5  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

    For the Years Ended
June 30,
    2016   2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                
Net (loss) income   $ (53,190,023 )   $ 8,679,571  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation     2,114,469       1,697,465  
Amortization     103,417       55,186  
Deferred tax benefit     92,181       (328,761 )
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     (409,775 )     -    
Stock based compensation expenses     534,237       -    
Allowance for doubtful accounts     4,067,144       -    
Reserve for prepayments     2,860,642          
Impairment loss on fixed assets & CIP     50,357,301       -    
Impairment loss on intangible assets     2,328,014       -    
Change in operating assets and liabilities                
Accounts receivable     (1,124,425 )     (4,089,754 )
Restricted cash     (500,000 )        
Deposits and other receivables     (397,719 )     (330,309 )
Inventories     (30,984 )     60,562  
Advances to suppliers     (212,367 )     52,659  
Prepaid expense     209,698       (300,630 )
Accounts payable, trade     127,937       (107,346 )
Other payables and accrued liabilities     3,185,235       1,239,321  
Customer deposits     2,656,337       (403,490 )
Taxes payable     504,555       (23,631 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     13,275,874       6,200,843  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                
Payment for equipment and construction in progress     (20,375,923 )     (514,924 )
Proceeds from disposal of equipment     20,469       -    
Prepayments for construction-in-progress     (16,244,390 )     (1,500,468 )
Repayments from related parties     -         26,674  
Payment for land use rights     (591 )     (9,774 )
Net cash (used in) investing activities     (36,600,435 )     (1,998,492 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                
Proceeds from short-term loans – bank     4,197,115       4,479,750  
Payments of short-term loan – bank     (5,907,051 )     (4,316,850 )
Proceeds from (payments to) related parties     1,416,849       (6,522,453 )
Principal payments on capital lease obligations     (593,043 )     (1,234,043 )
Proceeds from issuance of IPO shares, net     11,510,157       -    
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     10,624,027       (7,593,596 )
                 
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH     (1,035,225 )     128,774  
                 
CHANGES IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS     (13,735,759 )     (3,262,471 )
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year     16,470,299       19,732,770  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year   $ 2,734,540     $ 16,470,299  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:                
Cash paid for income tax   $ 2,596,981     $ 3,195,373  
Cash paid for interest   $ 196,120     $ 1,066,738  
                 
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES                
Reclassification of construction-in-progress from prepayments-construction   $ 675,425     $ 3,266,054  
Additions to fixed assets and construction-in-progress through other payables   $ 853,445     $ 2,333,976  
Acquisition of machinery, equipment and intangible asset by capital leases   $ 294,506     $ 4,281,859  
Repayments from related parties offset with other payable-related parties   $ -       $ 912,240  
Reclassification of intangible assets from prepayment-land use rights   $ -       $ 379,434  
Conversion of shareholders’ debt to 1,593,538 ordinary shares   $ 9,959,613     $ -    
Issuance of ordinary shares for deferred compensation   $ 75,068     $ -    
Valuation of 112,500 warrants allocated to warrant liabilities from additional paid-in capital   $ 475,380     $ -    
Reclassification of payables for litigations from other payables - related parties   $ 177,903     $ -    
Other receivable-related parties offset with other payable-related parties   $ 229,878     $ -    

 

 

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

F- 6

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 – Nature of business and organization

 

Yulong Eco-Materials Limited (“Yulong Eco-Materials” or the “Company”) is a holding company incorporated on March 10, 2011, under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Company has no substantive operations other than holding all of the outstanding share capital of China Xing De (BVI) Limited (“Yulong BVI”). In turn, Yulong BVI is a holding company holding all of the outstanding share capital of China Xing De (Hong Kong) Limited (“Yulong HK”). Yulong HK is also a holding company holding all of the outstanding equity capital of Zhengzhou Xing De Enterprise Management & Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Yulong WFOE”).

 

The Company is a vertically integrated manufacturer of eco-friendly building products. The Company operates principally from the city of Pingdingshan, Henan Province, in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”). The Company produces fly-ash bricks and ready-mixed concrete, and since April 2015, hauls and processes construction waste, with which it produces crushed construction waste or recycled aggregates, and bricks made from recycled aggregates, or recycled bricks. All of the Company’s business activities are carried out by domestic Chinese companies that the Company controls through contractual arrangements as follows: (1) Henan Jianyida Industrial Co., Ltd. (“Yulong Bricks”), which carries out the bricks business, (2) Pingdingshan Hengji Concrete Co., Ltd. (“Yulong Concrete”) and Pingdingshan Hengji Industrial Co., Ltd. (“Yulong Transport”), which carry out the concrete business, and (3) Pingdingshan Xulong Renewable Resource Co., Ltd. (“Yulong Renewable”), which carries out the construction waste hauling and processing, or recycling, business. The contractual arrangements are comprised of a series of agreements entered into by each of these four companies and their shareholders, on the one hand, and Yulong WFOE on the other hand (see “Contractual Arrangements” and “Note 3 – Variable Interest Entities” below).

 

On October 30, 2015, Pingdingshan Xulong Renewable Resource Co., Ltd. Shangqiu Branch was established and incorporated in the People’s Republic of China. The entity is wholly owned by Pingdingshan Xulong Renewable Resource Co., Ltd. (“Yulong Renewable”) and engages in construction waste hauling and processing for the city center in Shangqiu district.

 

Contractual Arrangements

 

Although current PRC regulations do not restrict or prohibit foreign investment in domestic Chinese companies that engage in businesses such as those of Yulong Bricks, Yulong Concrete, Yulong Transport and Yulong Renewable (each a “Yulong operating company” and collectively the “Yulong operating companies”), there is substantial uncertainty regarding the interpretation and application of such regulations. As such, the Yulong operating companies are controlled through contractual arrangements in lieu of direct equity ownership by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Such contractual arrangements are a series of four agreements (collectively the “Contractual Arrangements”) which significant terms are as follows:

 

Exclusive Consulting Services and Operating Agreements

 

Pursuant to the exclusive consulting and service agreement among Yulong WFOE, each Yulong operating company and its shareholders, Yulong WFOE is engaged as exclusive provider of management consulting services to such Yulong operating company. For such services, the Yulong operating company agrees to pay service fees determined based on all of its net profit after tax payments to Yulong WFOE or Yulong WFOE has obligation to absorb all of the Yulong operating companies’ losses. The agreement remains in effect until and unless all parties agree to its termination. Until such termination, the Yulong operating company may not enter into another agreement for the provision of management consulting services without the prior consent of Yulong WFOE.

 

Option Agreements

 

Pursuant to the exclusive equity option agreement between the shareholders of each Yulong operating company and Yulong WFOE, such shareholders jointly and severally grant Yulong WFOE an option to purchase their equity interests in such Yulong operating company. The purchase price shall be the lowest price then permitted under applicable PRC laws. If the purchase price is greater than the registered capital of such Yulong operating company, the shareholders are required to immediately return any amount in excess of the registered capital to Yulong WFOE or its designee. Yulong WFOE may exercise such option at any time until it has acquired all equity interests of such Yulong operating company, and freely transfer the option to any third party. The agreement will terminate at the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the equity interests of such Yulong operating company has been transferred to Yulong WFOE or its designee or (ii) the unilateral termination by Yulong WFOE.

 

  F- 7  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Equity Pledge Agreements

 

Pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreement between the shareholders of each Yulong operating company and Yulong WFOE, such shareholders pledge all of their equity interests in such Yulong operating company to Yulong WFOE as collateral to secure the obligations of such Yulong operating company under the exclusive consulting services and operating agreement. The shareholders may not transfer or assign transfer or assign the pledged equity interests, or incur or allow any encumbrance that would jeopardize Yulong WFOE’s interests, without Yulong WFOE’s prior approval. In the event of default, Yulong WFOE as the pledgee will be entitled to certain rights and entitlements, including the priority in receiving payments by the evaluation or proceeds from the auction or sale of whole or part of the pledged equity interests of such Yulong operating company. The agreement will terminate at the earlier of (i) the date the shareholders have transferred all of their pledged equity interests pursuant to the option agreement or (ii) two years from the satisfaction by such Yulong operating company of all its obligations under the exclusive consulting and service agreement.

 

Voting Rights Proxy and Financial Supporting Agreements

 

Pursuant to the voting rights proxy and financial supporting agreement between the shareholders of each Yulong operating company and Yulong WFOE, such shareholders have given Yulong WFOE an irrevocable proxy to act on their behalf on all matters pertaining to such Yulong operating company and to exercise all of their rights as shareholders of such Yulong operating company, including the right to attend shareholders meeting, to exercise voting rights and to transfer all or a part of their equity interests in such Yulong operating company. In consideration of such granted rights, Yulong WFOE agrees to provide the necessary financial support to such Yulong operating company whether or not such Yulong operating company incurs loss, and agrees not to request for repayment if such Yulong operating company is unable to do so. The agreement will terminate at the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the equity interests of such Yulong operating company have been transferred to Yulong WFOE or (ii) the unilateral termination by Yulong WFOE.

 

As a result of the foregoing contractual arrangements, which give Yulong WFOE effective control of the Yulong operating companies, obligate Yulong WFOE to absorb all of the risk of loss from their activities, and enable Yulong WFOE to receive all of their expected residual returns, the Company accounts for each Yulong operating company as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). Additionally, as the parent company of Yulong WFOE, the Company is considered the primary beneficiary of the Yulong operating companies. Accordingly, the Company consolidates the accounts of the Yulong operating companies for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, in accordance with Regulation S-X-3A-02 promulgated by the Securities Exchange Commission, and Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810-10, Consolidation.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the activities of Yulong Eco-Materials and each of the following entities:

 

Name   Background   Ownership
Yulong BVI   A British Virgin Islands company   100%
    Incorporated on June 15, 2011    
Yulong HK   A Hong Kong company   100%
    Incorporated on July 21, 2011    
Yulong WFOE   A PRC limited liability company and deemed a wholly foreign owned enterprise (“WFOE”)   100%
    Incorporated on September 2, 2011    
    Registered capital of $9,935,303 fully funded    
Yulong Bricks   A PRC limited liability company   VIE by contractual
    Incorporated on September 20, 2006   arrangements
    Registered capital of $4,395,000 (RMB 30,000,000) fully funded    
    Production and sales of fly-ash bricks    
Yulong Concrete   A PRC limited liability company   VIE by contractual
    Incorporated on December 7, 2004   arrangements
    Registered capital of $2,830,000 (RMB 20,000,000) fully funded    
    Production and sales of ready-mixed concrete    
Yulong Transport   A PRC limited liability company   VIE by contractual
    Incorporated on July 13, 2009   arrangements
    Registered capital of $1,465,464 (RMB 10,010,000) fully funded    
    Provide ready-mixed concrete transportation services    
Yulong Renewable   A PRC limited liability company   VIE by contractual
    Incorporated on August 16, 2011   arrangements
    Registered capital of $9,510,000 (RMB 60,000,000) fully funded    
    Hauling of construction waste; production and sales of recycled aggregates and recycled bricks    
    Commenced operation in April 2015    

 

  F- 8  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies

 

Basis of presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

 

Principles of consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries, and the VIEs. All intercompany transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries and the VIEs are eliminated upon consolidation.


Use of estimates and assumptions

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and footnotes. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include the useful lives and impairment of property, plant and equipment, collectability of receivables, realization of deferred tax assets, inventory valuation, warrant liabilities, stock-based compensation, and the present value of the net minimum lease payments of the capital lease. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Going concern consideration

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern basis. The going-concern basis assumes that assets are realized and liabilities are extinguished in the ordinary course of business at amounts disclosed on the financial statements. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern depends on the liquidation of its current assets. The Company’s operation scale particularly Yulong Renewable was significantly downsized subsequent to June 30, 2016 due to environmental act passed by the central government of PRC and Blue Sky Action Plan implemented by the province of Henan, PRC. The remaining business of Yulong Bricks and Yulong Concrete has not sufficiently made up the cessation of Yulong Renewable’s business which raises a substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

In an effort to maintain its financial position and operations, the Company has successfully entered into a remittance agreement with one of its vendors to refund the prepayment for one of its construction projects in an amount of $15.7 million (RMB104.5 million). Moreover, the Company is working to pursue the potential acquirers for Yulong Renewable’s business. Beginning January 2017, Yulong Bricks and Yulong Concrete gradually resumed their sales revenue by 15% from the Q1 and Q2 2017 level. The Company has initiated negotiations with its financial institutions and lessors to extend the due date of the loan and lease obligations. The founder has provided approximately $1.7 million (RMB 11.6 million) to fund the Company’s operations. The Company may also continue to raise fund through private placement or issuance of shares to support the Company’s operational needs. Management believes that the foregoing actions would enable the Company to continue as a going concern.

 

Foreign currency translation

 

The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The Company’s Chinese subsidiary and the VIEs use the local currency, Renminbi (RMB), as their functional currency as determined based on the criteria of ASC 830, “Foreign Currency Translation”. Assets and liabilities are translated at the unified exchange rate as quoted by the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”) at the end of the period. Income and expense accounts are translated at the average translation rates and the equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the statement of equity. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred.

 

Translation adjustments included in accumulated other comprehensive income amounted to $(1,219,184) and $2,506,840 as of June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The balance sheet amounts, with the exception of equity, at June 30, 2016 and 2015 were translated at 6.64 RMB and 6.11 RMB to $1.00, respectively. The equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rate applied to statement of income and other comprehensive income accounts for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was 6.44 RMB and 6.14 RMB, respectively. Cash flows are also translated at the average translation rate for the periods, therefore, amounts reported on the statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the consolidated balance sheet.

 

  F- 9  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, demand deposits and time deposits placed with banks with state owned banks within the PRC and with banks in Hong Kong which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use and have original maturities of less than three months. 

 

Balances at financial institutions or state owned banks within the PRC are not covered by insurance. Balances at financial institutions in Hong Kong may, from time to time, exceed Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board’s insured limits. As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company had approximately $2,734,015 (RMB18,165,703) and $16,393,414 (RMB100,143,029), respectively, of cash deposits which were not covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

 

Restricted cash

 

Restricted cash consists of a third-party escrow account in the United States of America. The usage of the amount in the escrow account needs approval from the underwriter.

 

Accounts and other receivables, net

 

During the normal course of business, the Company extends unsecured credit to its customers and others, as further discussed in Note 4. Management reviews its accounts receivable balances each reporting period to determine if an allowance for doubtful accounts is required. An estimate for doubtful accounts is recorded based on the collectability of all accounts receivables, which takes into account the number of days past due, collection history, identification of specific customer exposure and current economic trends. Bad debts are written off against the allowance after all collection efforts have ceased. For the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded in the aggregate of approximately $3.9 million and $0 of allowances for doubtful accounts against its accounts receivable and other receivables. The current year provision is based on the past due period over 9 months of its customers.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories consist of raw materials and finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost or market, as determined using the weighted average cost method. Management compares the cost of inventories with the market value and an allowance is made for writing down the inventory to its market value, if lower than cost. On an ongoing basis, inventories are reviewed for potential write-down for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventories equal to the difference between the costs of inventories and the estimated net realizable value based upon forecasts for future demand and market conditions. When inventories are written-down to the lower of cost or market, it is not marked up subsequently based on changes in underlying facts and circumstances. As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company determined that no reserves for obsolescence were necessary.

 

Advances to suppliers

 

The Company advances money to certain suppliers for raw material purchases. Such advances are interest-free and unsecured. Management regularly reviews the aging of such advances as well as delivery trends of purchased materials, and records an allowance when it believes that delivery of materials due is at risk. Advances aged over one year and considered uncollectible are written off after exhaustive efforts at collection. No allowance for doubtful accounts was considered necessary at the balance sheet dates.

 

Plant and equipment

 

Plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful life of each class of depreciable assets and is computed using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets are as follows:

 

    Useful Life
Buildings and improvements   10-30 years
Machinery and equipment   5-10 years
Transportation equipment   5-10 years
Office equipment   3-5 years

 

The Company accounts for all significant leases as either operating or capital. At lease inception, if the lease meets any of the following four criteria, the Company will classify it as a capital lease; otherwise it will be treated as an operating lease: (a) transfer of ownership to lessee at the end of the lease term, (b) bargain purchase option, (c) lease term is equal to 75% or more of the estimated economic life of the leased property, or (d) the present value of the minimum lease payments is 90% or more of the fair value of the leased asset.

 

The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets sold or otherwise retired are eliminated from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.  Construction-in-progress represents labor costs, materials, and capitalized interest incurred in connection with the construction. Interest incurred during construction is capitalized into construction in progress. All other interest is expensed as incurred. No depreciation is provided for construction in progress until it is completed and placed into service. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to earnings as incurred while additions, renewals and betterments are capitalized.

 

  F- 10  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Prepayments

 

Prepayments represent advances made to certain suppliers for equipment purchases or advance made to contractors in connection with the Company’s construction-in-progress. Prepayments also include advances made to a village committee in connection with acquiring land use rights. Management regularly reviews aging of prepayments and records an allowance when management believes collection of equipment, land use rights, or services to be performed due are at risk. Advances aged over one year and considered uncollectible are written off after exhaustive efforts at collection. No allowance for doubtful accounts is considered necessary at the balance sheet dates.

 

Intangible assets

Intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization.

 

The Company accounts for all significant leases of land use rights for purposes of classification as either operating or capital. At lease inception, if the lease meets either of the following two criteria, the Company will classify it as a capital lease: (a) transfer of ownership to lessee at the end of the lease term, or (b) bargain purchase option. Otherwise, the lease will be treated as an operating lease.

 

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized using a straight-line method of amortization that reflects the estimated pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are to be consumed. The original estimated useful life for the land use rights of each entity is as follows:

 

Entity   Description of assets   Estimated useful life  
Yulong Bricks   Land use right     50  
Yulong Concrete   Land use right     50  
Yulong Renewable   Land use right     50  

 

Intangible assets are reviewed at least annually, more often when circumstances require, to determine whether their carrying values have become impaired. The Company considers an asset to be impaired if its carrying value exceeds the future projected cash flows from related operations. The Company also re-evaluates the periods of amortization to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives.  

 

Impairment for long-lived assets

 

Long-lived assets, including buildings and improvements, equipment and intangible assets with finite lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances (such as a significant adverse change to market conditions that will impact the future use of the assets) indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company assesses the recoverability of the assets based on the undiscounted future cash flows the assets are expected to generate and recognizes an impairment loss when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset plus net proceeds expected from disposition of the asset, if any, are less than the carrying value of the asset. When the Company identifies an impairment, the Company reduce the carrying amount of the asset to its estimated fair value based on a discounted cash flows approach or, when available and appropriate to comparable market values. As of June 30, 2016, the Company has recorded $50.4 million provision on impairment on its long-lived assets on Yulong Renewable’s buildings and improvements, equipment, vehicles and construction in progress for the year ended June 30, 2016.

 

  F- 11  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

 

ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments (“Topic 825”) requires disclosure of fair value information of financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheets, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instruments. Topic 825 excludes certain financial instruments and all non-financial assets and liabilities from its disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts do not represent the underlying value of the Company.

 

The accounting standards define fair value, establish a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosures of fair value measurement and enhance disclosure requirements for fair value measures. The three levels are defined as follow:

 

Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

 

Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.

 

Level 3 inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value.

 

The Company considers the carrying amount of cash, accounts receivable, other receivables, accounts payable, notes payable and other short-term payables, to approximate their fair values because of the short period of time between the origination of such instruments and their expected realization. The Company determined that the carrying value of the noncurrent capital lease obligations approximated their fair value using level 2 inputs by comparing the stated loan interest rate to the rate charged by the PBOC on similar loans.

 

The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2016:

 

    Carrying value at June 30,
2016
    Fair value measurement at
June 30, 2016
 
          Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
Warrant liabilities   $ 65,605     $       -     $       -     $ 65,605  

 

Certain inputs used in the valuation of the Company’s warrants are observable and therefore considered level 2. However, as the Company is a newly listed public reporting company and thus lacks historical volatility data, management concluded that level 3 fair valuation measurement is appropriate.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of warrant liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using observable inputs as of June 30, 2016:

 

    June 30,
2016
 
Beginning fair value   $ -  
Recognized fair value at issuance on July 1, 2015     475,380  
Realized gain recorded in earnings     (409,775 )
Ending fair value   $ 65,605  

 

  F- 12  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Revenue recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition , regarding revenue recognition which specifies that revenue is realized or realizable and earned. 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, the Company has no other obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are recorded as customer deposits.

 

Revenue represents the invoiced value of goods, net of a value added tax (“VAT”).

 

The Company sells concrete and bricks primarily to major local real estate development and/or construction companies. Sales agreements are signed with each customer. Each agreement has specific terms and conditions with the exception of delivery date and quantity, which are provided when the customer issues an order pursuant to the agreement. The Company does not sell products to customers on consignment basis. There is no right of return after products are delivered and accepted by the customer.

 

The Company also provides transportation services for its concrete customers. Revenue is recognized upon delivery of the concrete. Transportation services revenue is immaterial to the Company’s consolidated revenues for the periods presented in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Revenue from the CWM business includes sales of recycled aggregates and recycled bricks. Sales agreements are signed with each customer. Revenue is recognized similar to sales of concrete and bricks.

 

CWM revenue also includes revenue from the following activities:

 

  Hauling construction waste. The Company operates a fleet of trucks to haul the waste, consisting primarily of bricks and concrete, from construction and demolition sites. Revenue is recognized upon completion of hauling per truckload.

 

  Processing construction waste at mobile recycling stations. Revenue is recognized either per cubic meter of waste processed or when processing at a jobsite is completed, depending on the contract terms.

 

  Subcontracting waste hauling projects. The Company occasionally subcontracts waste hauling projects, whereby the subcontractors are the primary obligors to complete these projects, and the Company does not have any general credit risk as the services are prepaid by the customers. Sales and subcontracting costs from these subcontract arrangements are recorded at the net amount in accordance with ASC 605-45.

 

Recycling revenues includes sales of recycled aggregates and recycled bricks. Sales agreements are signed with each customer. Revenue is recognized similar to sales of concrete and bricks.

 

Recycling revenue also include hauling services of construction waste. The Company operates a fleet of trucks to haul construction waste, consisting primarily of bricks and concrete, from construction and demolition sites. Revenue is recognized upon completion of hauling from the construction and demolition sites per truckloads.

 

Shipping and handling

 

Shipping and handling costs pertaining to raw material purchases are included in cost of revenue.

 

  F- 13  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Shipping costs incurred in the delivery of products and depreciation expenses for transportation equipment (under Yulong Transport) are included in selling expense. Shipping costs amounted to $285,246 and $316,256 for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Depreciation expense amounted to $36,687 and $188,662 for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Concentration of risk

 

Credit risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, $2,734,015 and $16,393,414 were deposited with various major financial institutions located in the PRC, respectively. While management believes that these financial institutions are of high credit quality, it also continually monitors their credit worthiness. Historically, deposits in Chinese banks are secure due to state policy to protect depositor interests. However, China promulgated a Bankruptcy Law in August 2006 that came into effect on June 1, 2007, which contains a separate article expressly stating that the State Council may promulgate implementation measures to provide for the bankruptcy of Chinese banks based on the Bankruptcy Law. Under the current Bankruptcy Law, a Chinese bank may file bankruptcy if it deems itself to be insolvent. In addition, since China’s concession to the World Trade Organization, foreign banks have been gradually permitted to operate in China and have intensified competition in many aspects, especially since the opening of the Renminbi business to foreign banks in late 2006. Therefore, the risk of bankruptcy at the institutions that the Company maintains deposits has increased. In the event of bankruptcy, the Company is unlikely to reclaim its deposits in full since it is unlikely to be classified as a secured creditor under PRC laws.

 

Accounts receivable are typically unsecured and derived from revenue earned from customers, thereby exposed to credit risk. The risk is mitigated by the Company’s assessment of its customers’ creditworthiness and its ongoing monitoring of outstanding balances. The Company maintains reserves for estimated credit losses, and such losses have generally been within expectations.

 

Customer and vendor concentration risk

 

For the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, no customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues.

 

As of June 30, 2016, two customers accounted for 26% and 19% of the Company’s total accounts receivable, respectively. As of June 30, 2015, two customers accounted for 12% and 11% of the Company’s total accounts receivable, respectively.

 

For the year ended June 30, 2016, four major suppliers accounted for 26%, 18%, 16% and 10% of the Company’s total purchases. For the year ended June 30, 2015, four major suppliers accounted for 19%, 19%, 14% and 13% of the Company’s total purchases.

 

As of June 30, 2016, five suppliers accounted for 21%, 19%, 16%, 16% and 11% of the Company’s accounts payable balances. As of June 30, 2015, three suppliers accounted for 32%, 23% and 18% of the Company’s accounts payable balances.   

 

Income taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates that will be in effect in the period in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company records a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

  F- 14  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Company applies ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes , to account for uncertainty in income taxes and 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 litigation 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 likelihood 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.

 

As of June 30, 2016, Yulong WFOE and the VIEs have each filed income tax returns in China for the years ended December 31, 2010 to 2015. All such tax returns are subject to examination by the Chinese taxing authorities.

 

Warrant liabilities

 

A contract is designated as an asset or a liability and is carried at fair value on a company’s balance sheet, with any changes in fair value recorded in a company’s results of operations.  The Company then determines which options, warrants and embedded features require liability accounting and records the fair value as a derivative liability. The changes in the values of these instruments are shown in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as “change in fair value of warrant liabilities”.

 

The Company adopted the provisions of an accounting standard regarding instruments that are indexed to an entity’s own stock.  This accounting standard specifies that a contract that would otherwise meet the definition of a derivative but is both (a) indexed to the Company’s ordinary shares and (b) classified in stockholders’ equity in the statement of financial position would not be considered a derivative financial instrument.  It provides a new two-step model to be applied in determining whether a financial instrument or an embedded feature is indexed to an issuer’s own stock and thus able to qualify for the scope exception within the standards. All warrants issued with the strike price denominated in US dollar were recorded as derivative liability because the strike price of the warrants is denominated in US dollar, a currency other than the Company’s functional currency RMB.

 

Earnings per share

 

Earnings per share are calculated in accordance with ASC 260-10, Earnings per Share . Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income attributable to holders of ordinary shares by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per ordinary share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities to issue ordinary shares were exercised. The dilutive effect of outstanding share-based awards is reflected in the diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method.

 

Comprehensive income

 

Comprehensive income is defined to include all changes in shareholders’ equity except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Among other disclosures, ASC 220-10, Comprehensive Income , requires that all items that are required to be recognized under current accounting standards as components of comprehensive income be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other financial statements. The Company adopted ASU No. 2011-05 by presenting items of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement, the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

 

  F- 15  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Employee benefit

 

The full-time employees of Yulong WFOE and the VIEs are entitled to staff welfare benefits including medical care, housing fund, pension benefits and unemployment insurance, which are government mandated defined contribution plans. The Company is required to accrue for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ respective salaries, subject to certain ceilings, in accordance with the relevant PRC regulations, and make cash contributions to the state-sponsored plans out of the amounts accrued. Total expense for the plans was $55,540 and $118,410 for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Recent accounting pronouncements

 

Revenue Recognition: In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606 (ASU 2014-09), to supersede 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 that is expected to be received for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, it is possible more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP, including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 is effective for us in our first quarter of fiscal 2018 using either of two methods: (i) retrospective to each prior reporting period presented with the option to elect certain practical expedients as defined within ASU 2014-09 (full retrospective method); or (ii) retrospective with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of initial application and providing certain additional disclosures as defined per ASU 2014-09 (modified retrospective method). We are currently assessing the impact to our consolidated financial statements, and have not yet selected a transition approach.

 

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. The objective is to clarify the two aspects of Topic 606: identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, while retaining the related principles for these areas. The ASU affects the guidance in ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which is not yet effective. The effective date and transition requirements for this ASU are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in Topic 606 (and any other Topic amended by ASU 2014-09). ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. Management is evaluating the effect, if any, on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Going Concern Uncertainties : In August 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Preparation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern . Under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), continuation of a reporting entity as a going concern is presumed as the basis for preparing financial statements unless and until the entity's liquidation becomes imminent. Preparation of financial statements under this presumption is commonly referred to as the going concern basis of accounting. If and when an entity's liquidation becomes imminent, financial statements should be prepared under the liquidation basis of accounting in accordance with Subtopic 205-30, Presentation of Financial Statements-Liquidation Basis of Accounting. Even when an entity's liquidation is not imminent, there may be conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern. In those situations, financial statements should continue to be prepared under the going concern basis of accounting, but the amendments in this Update should be followed to determine whether to disclose information about the relevant conditions and events. The amendments in this Accounting Standards Update are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-15 to have material impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

  F- 16  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Inventory : In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, an amendment to Topic 330 for simplifying the measurement of inventory. The update requires that inventory be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value where net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method.  The amendment is intended to provide clarification on the measurement and disclosure of inventory in Topic 330 and not intended for those clarifications to result in any changes in practice. The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  Early application is permitted for all entities and should be applied prospectively. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-11 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

Financial Instruments: In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments–Overall (Subtopic825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities . The main objective in developing this ASU is enhancing the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. The amendments in this ASU address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. For public business entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption for public entities if the entity should present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk if the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-01 to have material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Leases : In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The main objective is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, for (1) public business entities, (2) not-for-profit entities that have issued, or are conduit bond obligors for, securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an over-the-counter market, and (3) employee benefit plans that file financial statements with the SEC. For all other entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-02 to have material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Stock-based Compensation : In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The new guidance requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. It also requires the Company to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur.

 

Statement of Cash Flows : In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Restricted Cash , which require that a statement of cash flows to explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this ASU is applied using a retrospective approach. As a result, the Company will no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash in the consolidated cash flow statements.

 

Business Combination: In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01), which revises the definition of a business and provides new guidance in evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. This guidance will be effective for us in the first quarter of 2018 on a prospective basis, and early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Stock-based Compensation :    In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock compensation (Topic 718): Scope of modification accounting” (“ASU 2017-09”). The purpose of the amendment is to clarify which changes to the terms or condition of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. For all entities that offer share based payment awards, ASU 2017-09 are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2017-09 on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Except for the ASU above, in the period from January 1, 2017 to August 2017, the FASB has issued ASU No. 2017-01 through ASU 2017-011, which are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

 

  F- 17  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 3 – Variable interest entities

 

On September 2, 2011, Yulong WFOE entered into the Contractual Arrangements with each Yulong operating company and its shareholders. The Contractual Arrangements were subsequently amended on April 21, 2014, and again on June 24, 2015, with respect to Yulong Renewable. The significant terms of the Contractual Arrangements are summarized in “Note 1 - Nature of business and organization” above. As a result of the Contractual Arrangements, the Company classifies each Yulong operating company as a VIE.

 

VIEs are entities that have either a total equity investment that is insufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or whose equity investors lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, such as through voting rights, right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity or obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity. The variable interest holder, if any, that has a controlling financial interest in a VIE is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and must consolidate the VIE. Yulong WFOE is deemed to have a controlling financial interest and be the primary beneficiary of each Yulong operating company because it has both of the following characteristics:

 

  (1) The power to direct activities at each Yulong operating company that most significantly impact such entity’s economic performance, and

 

  (2) The obligation to absorb losses of, and the right to receive benefits from, each Yulong operating company that could potentially be significant to such entity.

 

Pursuant to the Contractual Arrangements, each Yulong operating company pays service fees equal to all of its net profit after tax payments to Yulong WFOE. At the same time, Yulong WFOE is obligated to absorb all of their losses. The Contractual Arrangements are designed so that the Yulong operating companies operate for the benefit of Yulong WFOE and ultimately, the Company.

 

Accordingly, the accounts of the Yulong operating companies are consolidated in the accompanying financial statements pursuant to ASC 810-10, Consolidation. In addition, their financial positions and results of operations are included in the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Yulong operating companies are owned and controlled by their founder, with the other shareholders holding equity interests on behalf and for the benefits of the founder. Such arrangements are memorialized in agreements between the founder and the other shareholders entered into prior to the completion of the share exchange transaction between the Company and Yulong BVI in December 2011 (see “Note 1 – Nature of business and organization – Share Exchange Agreement” above). Through such arrangements, the founder can direct and cause Yulong WFOE and the Yulong operating companies to enter into the Contractual Arrangements, and to amend such agreements as necessary, at any time. Accordingly, beginning on July 1, 2011, Yulong BVI has been consolidating the accounts of the Yulong operating companies because they were under common control since such time in accordance with ASC 805-50, Business Combination. For this reason, the Contractual Arrangements have been accounted for as a reorganization of entities and the consolidation of the Yulong operating companies through the Contractual Arrangements has been accounted for at historical cost and prepared on the basis as if the Contractual Arrangements became effective as of the beginning of the first period presented on July 1, 2011 in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

The carrying amount of the VIEs’ consolidated assets and liabilities are as follows for the years indicated:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Current assets   $ 10,068,142     $ 26,547,906  
Plant and equipment, net     7,425,446       41,267,655  
Other noncurrent assets     18,306,223       9,489,571  
Total assets     35,799,810       77,305,132  
Total liabilities     33,130,293       29,529,680  
Net assets   $ 2,669,518     $ 47,775,452  

 

  F- 18  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The VIEs’ liabilities consist of the following for the years indicated:

 

    June 30,  
    2016     2015  
Current liabilities:            
Short term loan - banks     5,674,011       7,972,190  
Accounts payable     1,710,881       1,726,158  
Other payables and accrued liabilities     5,973,602       3,711,210  
Payroll Payable     546,990       -  
Other payables - related parties     1,907,458       2,273,869  
Customer deposits     2,571,846       -  
Taxes payable     1,497,583       1,098,093  
Capital lease obligations-current     4,062,291       4,615,083  
Intercompany payable     9,156,779       7,994,125  
Total current liabilities     33,101,441       29,390,728  
                 
Long term liabilities:                
Capital lease obligations-non-current     28,852       138,952  
Total long term liabilities     28,852       138,952  
Total liabilities     33,130,293       29,529,680  

 

The operating results of the VIEs are as follows:

 

    Years ended
June 30,
 
    2016     2015  
Revenue   $ 42,644,431     $ 46,230,384  
Gross profit   $ 16,478,918     $ 16,867,399  
(Loss) Income from operations   $ (47,246,203 )   $ 13,964,941  
Net (loss) income   $ (51,341,078 )   $ 9,786,060  

  

Note 4 – Accounts receivable, net

 

Accounts receivable, net consists of the following for the years indicated:  

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Accounts receivable   $ 9,666,112     $ 9,329,495  
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts     (3,937,778 )     -  
Total accounts receivable, net   $ 5,728,334     $ 9,329,495  

 

Movement of allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows for the years indicated:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Beginning balance   $ -     $ -  
Charge to expense (benefit)     4,067,144       -  
Exchange rate effect     (129,366 )     -  
Ending balance   $ 3,937,778     $ -  

 

  F- 19  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 5 – Deposits and other receivables

 

Deposits and other receivables consisted of the following:

  

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Refundable deposits for equipment purchase   $ 444,439     $ 126,856  
Deposit for outsourcing agreement (1)     235,176       147,330  
Deposit for new project     63,739       8,185  
Advances to employees (2)     240,474       3,782  
Insurance compensation     15,874       -  
Deposit with government agency     3,011       -  
Total   $ 1,002,713     $ 286,153  

 

Other receivables, non-current consisted of the following:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Refundable deposit – construction (3)   $ 15,727,696     $ -  
Total   $ 15,727,696     $ -  

 

(1) In December 2011, Yulong Bricks agreed to outsource some brick production to Pingdingshan Hongrui New Construction Materials Co., Ltd., an unrelated third party, and paid approximately $235,176 (RMB 900,000) as security deposit, which is due on demand.
   
(2)

The Company entrusts funds to its employees to pay certain of its expenses in the normal course of business, particularly for projects or jobsites beyond Pingdingshan.

 

(3) $15,727,696 (RMB104 million) related to the purchase of equipment, in connection with the construction of Yulong Renewable's waste recycling plant and factory construction, would be refundable based on the agreement entered with the contractor, Pingdingshan City HuaShen Trading Co. Ltd., subsequently on July 4, 2017 (see Note 8). The agreement stipulated that the contractor would refund the amount in five (5) equal installment amount on July 10, 2017, October 10, 2017, January 10, 2018, April 10, 2018 and July 10, 2018. The first installment of $3,010,085 was received subsequently in July 2017 as per the refund schedule.

 

Note 6 – Inventories

 

Inventories consisted of the following for the years indicated:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Raw materials   $ 285,459     $ 267,560  
Semi-finished byproduct     34,236       6,196  
Finished goods     45,196       90,498  
Total inventories   $ 364,891     $ 364,254  

 

Raw materials for bricks consist primarily of cement, gypsum, quicklime, aluminum powder and reclaimed fly-ash. Raw materials for concrete consist primarily of cement, admixture, sand and pebble. The cost of finished goods includes direct costs of raw materials as well as direct labor used in production. Indirect production costs at normal capacity such as utilities and indirect labor related to production such as assembling, shipping and handling costs for purchasing are also included in the cost of inventory.

 

As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, management believed that no inventory allowance was deemed necessary.

 

  F- 20  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 7 – Plant and equipment, net

 

Plant and equipment consisted of the following for the years indicated:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Building and improvements   $ 24,735,204     $ 17,959,588  
Machinery and equipment     7,335,708       7,861,193  
Machinery and equipment under capital lease     2,099,839       1,883,535  
Transportation equipment     855,598       938,202  
Transportation equipment under capital lease     2,687,620       2,923,262  
Office equipment     109,993       107,128  
Construction-in-progress     27,111,181       16,889,716  
     Subtotal     64,935,143       48,562,624  
Less: accumulated depreciation     (8,754,140 )     (7,294,969 )
Less: impairment reserve for fixed assets & CIP     (48,755,558 )     -  
     Total   $ 7,425,445     $ 41,267,655  

 

As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, Yulong Renewable has impairment reserves for its building and improvements, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment and construction-in-progress of $48,755,558 and $0, respectively.

 

Construction-in-progress represents labor costs and materials incurred in connection with the construction of office building, employee facilities, equipment and machinery for Yulong Renewable, office building for Yulong Concrete, and an autoclave for Yulong Bricks. No depreciation is provided for construction-in-progress until it is completed and placed into service. Approximately in Q4 2016, the central government of the People's of Republic of China passed Air Pollution Control Act and enforced Air Pollution Control Action Plan. The province of Henan of People's Republic of China implemented "Province of Henan Blue Sky Action Plan" on various industries such as construction materials, coal mining. Due to the Air Pollution Control Act and Blue Sky Action Plan, Yulong Renewable is required to comply with the new environmental regulations and its construction projects were placed on hold since August 2016. Yulong Renewable CIP primarily included the following projects:

 

Yulong Renewable commenced a construction of the waste recycling plant and brick production plant in 2015. Total budget for these constructions is approximately $44.4million, of which approximately $8.2 million (RMB 54.4 million) was transferred to fixed assets in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016. The entity placed the plant construction on hold in August 2016 and accordingly, provided an impairment reserve for the related construction-in-progress amount, $7.8 million (RMB 51.6 million) as of June 30, 2016.

 

In March 2016, the Company commenced a construction of environmental product testing and solid waste resource utilization center in Zhengzhou, PRC. Total budget for the construction of this center is approximately 45.2 million (RMB 300 million). As of June 30, 2016, the Company has incurred approximately $34.8 million (RMB 231.7 million) in construction-in-progress pertinent to this construction and has paid $34.3 million (RMB 227.7 million) to the contractor. In August 2016, the Company placed this construction project on hold. In July 2017, the Company signed a cancellation agreement with the contractor by which the project prepayment, $15.7 million (RMB 104 million) would be refundable by the contractor in five (5) equal installments commencing in July 2017. The first installment of $3,010,085 was received subsequently in July 2017 as per the refund schedule. This amount of $15,727,696 was presented as other receivable, non-current, on the consolidated balance sheets. The remaining construction-in-progress balance related to this construction, approximately $19.1 million (RMB126.8 million), was considered suspended and the Company recorded an impairment provision for the entire amount, $19.1 million (RMB 126.8 million).

 

Additional Yulong Renewable placed other CIP projects on hold in August 2016 and placed an impairment reserve against the related CIP expenditures such as designer's fee, exploration fee and equipment in a total amount of $0.2 million (RMB 1.56 million).

 

Construction-in-progress consisted of the following as of June 30, 2016:

 

Construction-in-progress description   Value     Estimated
completion date
  Estimated additional cost to complete  
Office buildings, staff facilities, equipment and machinery  (1)   $ 4,251     Early 2018   $        -  
Autoclave installation (2)   $ 7,106     Early 2018   $ -  
Total   $ 11,357         $ -  

 

Depreciation expense is $2,114,469 and $1,697,465 for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

  F- 21  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Machinery and equipment under capital lease

 

In March 2014, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease an excavator for two years for approximately $149,000 (RMB 908,240). The lease requires a one-time payment of $37,952 and an additional $5,828 as a security deposit paid in March 2014, monthly lease payments of approximately $5,000 from June 2014 to May 2016, with interest rate per annum of 8.8%. The ownership of the trucks will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12). As of June 30, 2016, the outstanding balance of the capital lease obligation is $28,535.

 

In March 2014, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease a loader for eighteen months for approximately $57,000 (RMB 345,780). The lease requires a one-time payment of $17,758 and an additional $5,549 as a security deposit paid in March 2014, monthly lease payments of approximately $3,000 from June 2014 to November 2015, with interest rate per annum of 8.5%. The ownership of the trucks will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12). As of June 30, 2016, the Company paid off the lease and ownership of the machines was transferred to the Company.

 

In September 2014, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease an excavator for two years for approximately $210,000 (RMB 1,285,000). The lease requires a one-time payment of $54,506 and an additional $8,414 as a security deposit paid in October 2014, monthly lease payments of approximately $8,000 from November 2014 to October 2016, with interest rate per annum of 8.7%. The ownership of the excavator will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12). As of June 30, 2016, the outstanding balance of the capital lease obligation is $137,504.

 

In September 2014, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease an excavator for two years for approximately $146,000 (RMB 890,000). The lease requires a one-time payment of $37,952 and an additional $5,828 as a security deposit paid in October 2014, monthly lease payments of approximately $5,000 from November 2014 to October 2016, with interest rate per annum of 8.7%. The ownership of the excavator will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12). As of June 30, 2016, the outstanding balance of the capital lease obligation is $95,236.

 

In September 2014, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease a loader for eighteen months for approximately $55,000 (RMB 339,000). The lease requires a one-time payment of $17,758 and an additional $5,549 as a security deposit paid in October 2014, monthly lease payments of approximately $3,000 from November 2014 to April 2016, with interest rate per annum of 8.3%. The ownership of the loader will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12). In May 2016, the lessor verbally agreed to extend the due date to October 2016. As of June 30, 2016, the outstanding balance of the capital lease obligation is $38,733.

 

In September 2014, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease a loader for eighteen months for approximately $55,000 (RMB 338,000). The lease requires a one-time payment of $17,706 and an additional $5,533 as a security deposit paid in October 2014, monthly lease payments of approximately $3,000 from November 2014 to April 2016, with interest rate per annum of 8.3%. The ownership of the loader will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12). As of June 30, 2016, the outstanding balance of the capital lease obligation is $38,619.

 

In June 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease a loader for eighteen months for approximately $49,666(RMB 330,000). The lease requires a one-time payment of $15,893 which includes $4,967 as a security deposit paid in June 2015, monthly lease payments of approximately $2,359 from August 2015 to January 2017, with interest rate per annum of 9.525%. The ownership of the loader will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12).

 

In June 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease a loader for eighteen months for approximately $50,658 (RMB 336,600). The lease requires a down payment of $16,182 which includes $5,056 as a security deposit paid in June 2015, monthly lease payments of approximately $2,401 from August 2015 to Jan 2017, with interest rate per annum of 9.525%. The ownership of the loader will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12).

 

In June 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease a digging machine for eighteen months for approximately $136,690 (RMB 908,240). The lease requires a down payment of $34,893 which includes $5,358 security deposit paid in June 2015, monthly lease payments of approximately $4,886 from August 2015 to July 2017, with interest rate per annum of 9.6%. The ownership of the loader will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12).

 

In June 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease a digging machine for eighteen months for approximately $136,694 (RMB 908,240). The lease requires a one-time down payment of $34,893 which includes 5,358 security deposit paid in June 2015, monthly lease payments of approximately $4,886 from August 2015 to July 2017, with interest rate per annum of 9.6%. The ownership of the loader will transfer to the Company if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12).

 

  F- 22  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Transportation equipment under capital leases

 

In October 2012, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party to lease ten waste hauling trucks for two years for approximately of $673,000 (RMB 4,114,208), including $52,057 (RMB 318,000) as security deposits and $67,936 (RMB 415,000) for insurance. The lease also requires a one-time payment of $163,701 in April 2013 and monthly lease payments of approximately $26,000 originally from June 2013 to May 2015, with interest rate at 18.2% per annum. The ownership of the trucks has been transferred to the Company with an attached lien that will be removed if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the extended lease term (see Note 12). As of June 30, 2016, the Company paid off the lease and ownership of the machines was transferred to the Company. The Company placed these machines into service in June 2013, and they have accordingly been capitalized.

 

In November 2012, the Company entered into another lease agreement with a third party to lease ten waste hauling trucks for two years for approximately of $659,000 (RMB 4,027,225), including $52,057 (RMB 318,000) as security deposits and $56,968 (RMB 348,000) for insurance. The lease also requires a one-time payment of $163,704 on April 30, 2013, monthly lease payments of approximately $32,000 from July 2013 to June 2014, and monthly lease payments of approximately $16,000 originally from July 2014 to June 2015, with interest rate at 16.8 % per annum. The ownership of the trucks has been transfer to the Company with an attached lien that will be removed if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the extended lease term (see Note 12). As of 30 June 2016, the amount outstanding was $122,362 (RMB 813,036).

 

In January 2014, the Company entered into a memorandum of understanding to lease 100 waste hauling trucks with a third party for approximately $68,000 (RMB 418,000) per truck. In July 2014, the Company entered into a binding agreement with the same party to lease the first 30 trucks for two years for approximately $1,820,000 (RMB 11,115,000), or approximately $61,000 (RMB 370,500) per truck. The lease also requires a one-time payment of $383,058 (RMB 2,340,000) as security deposit paid in July 2014 and monthly lease payments of approximately $89,000 from August 2014 to July 2016, with interest rate at 15.6% per annum. The Company has an option to purchase the vehicles for $491 if there is no default of the lease payments at the end of the lease term (see Note 12). As of June 30, 2016, 30 trucks have been leased.  

  

Purchase of Mobile Recycling Stations

 

The Company recognized approximately $123,478 and $297,000 of interest expense related to the above capital lease equipment for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

The Company recognized approximately $762,560 and $693,000 of depreciation expense related to the above capital lease equipment for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

  

The carrying value of leased assets under capital leases consists of the following for the years indicated:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Machinery and equipment   $ 2,099,839     $ 1,883,535  
Transportation equipment     2,687,620       2,923,262  
     Subtotal     4,787,459       4,806,797  
Less: accumulated depreciation     (1,691,606 )     (1,036,884 )
Less: impairment provision     (3,095,853 )     -  
     Total   $ -     $ 3,769,913  

 

  F- 23  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 8 – Prepayments, net

 

Prepayments consisted of the following for the years indicated:  

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Prepayment for equipment purchase   $ 15,050     $ 21,281  
Prepayment for construction (a)     2,769,652       3,637,467  
      Subtotal     2,784,702       3,658,748  
Reserve for prepayment for construction (a)     (2,769,652 )     -  
Total prepayment, net   $ 15,050     $ 3,658,748  

 

(a) Prepayment for construction in advance was made in connection with the construction factory of Yulong Renewable. We had prepaid the construction fees in advance approximately $2,769,652 (RMB18,402,479) to our construction vendors, Henan Sanjian and Henan Guangshen. Due to the new environmental regulations and policies implemented by the central government of PRC and the Environmental Protection Bureau of Henan Province (see Note 7), the factory construction project was placed on hold since August 2016.  We placed a reserve for the entire amount of the prepaid construction fee, $2,769,652 (RMB 18,402,479) as there is an uncertainty in the refundable status of the construction vendors.

  

Note 9 – Intangibles, net

 

Intangible assets consisted of the following for the years indicated:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Land use rights under capital lease   $ 4,843,458     $ 5,267,495  
Less: accumulated amortization     (425,701 )     (354,119 )
Less: impairment reserve     (2,253,966 )     -  
     Total   $ 2,163,791     $ 4,913,376  

  

Land use rights under capital leases

 

All land in the PRC is state-owned, but the government can grant “land use rights”. The Company acquired three land use rights in 2007, 2009 and 2015 for a total of $4,974,614 (RMB 30,388,600) and incurred $292,881 (RMB 1,789,135) of associated costs. The Company has not completed the ownership transfer registration for such rights. Pursuant to supplement land usage reimbursement agreements between Yulong Bricks and the Villagers’ Committee of Xiwuzhuang Village dated February 12, 2014, between Yulong Concrete and the Villagers’ Committee of Gaozhuang Village dated February 12, 2014, and between Yulong Renewable and the Villagers’ Committee of Lvzhuang Village dated September 6, 2015, the purchase price may be accounted for as lease expenses over 50 years, which will expire in December 2058 with respect to Yulong Bricks and Yulong Concrete, and in March 2065 with respect to Yulong Renewable, until the Company can complete such registration.

 

Amortization expense for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $103,416 and $55,186, respectively.

 

The estimated amortization expenses for each of the five succeeding years is as follows:

 

Year ending June 30,   Estimated
amortization expense
 
       
2017     52,661  
2018     52,661  
2019     52,661  
2020     52,661  
2021     52,661  
Thereafter     1,900,486  
Total   $ 2,163,791  

 

Note 10 – Short-term loans

 

Short-term loans represented amounts due to various banks, normally due within one year. The principal of the loans are due at maturity but can be renewed at the bank’s option. Interest is due monthly.

 

  F- 24  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Short term loans due to banks consisted of the following as of the years indicated:

 

Due to banks

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
             
Loan from Pingdingshan Bank, which was originally due in April 2015, with loan amount $602,017 (RMB 4,000,000) and annual interest of 12%. The Company repaid $270,908 (RMB 1,800,000) in April 2015 and obtained the Bank’s approval to extend the remaining $331,109 (RMB 2,200,000) until April 2016. Interest rate is 11.5% per annum.  The loan is guaranteed by Yulong Bricks, the executive director of Yulong Bricks, a third party, the Company founder and his relatives. The Company is settling with the bank on loan extension subsequently.   $ 331,109     $ 360,140  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Rural Credit Cooperative Union, originally matured in June 2014 and obtained the bank’s approval to extend the balance until June 2015. Interest rate of 12.1% per annum.  The Company repaid the loan in July 2015. The loan was guaranteed by Yulong Bricks, Yulong Renewable, the founder and a company that he owns.     -       2,373,650  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Bank, original loan amount $752,521 (RMB 5,000,000) matured in January 2015. The Company repaid $75,252 (RMB 500,000) in January 2015 and extended the remaining $677,269 (RMB 4,500,000), which matured in July 2015, with interest rate of 10.8% per annum. The Company repaid the loan in August 2015 with a new loan. The loan was guaranteed by Yulong Bricks, the executive director of Yulong Bricks, a third party, the Company founder and his relatives.     -       736,650  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Rural Credit Cooperative Union, matured in May 2015. Interest rate of 12.1% per annum. The Company repaid $59,600 in May 2015 and obtained approval from the Union to extend the remaining balance through May 2016 . The company repaid the loan in August 2016 with a new loan. The loan was guaranteed by Yulong bricks, Yulong Concrete and the founder.     -       736,650  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Bank, matured in August 2015. Interest rate of 10.8% per annum. Guaranteed by Yulong Concrete, Yulong Transport, Yulong Renewable, the executive director of Yulong Bricks, the founder and his relatives. The loan was paid in full as of September 2015 .     -       818,500  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Rural Credit Cooperative Union, matures in December 2015. Interest rate of 12.6% per annum. Guaranteed by Yulong Transport, a third party, the founder and the executive director of Yulong Bricks. The loan was repaid in full in April 2016.     -       1,637,000  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Bank, matures in March 2016. Interest rate is 10.2% per annum.  Guaranteed by Yulong Concrete, Yulong Renewable, the executive director of Yulong Bricks, the founder and his relative. The loan was repaid as is March 2016.     -       654,800  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Rural Credit Cooperative Union, matures in July 2016. Interest rate is 12.1% per annum. The loan is guaranteed by Yulong Bricks, Yulong Renewable, the founder and a company that he owns. The company repaid the loan by obtaining a new loan in January 2017.     2,182,312       -  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Bank, orginal loan amount $677,269 (RMB 4,500,000), at an interest rate 8.73% per annum, matures in August 2016. The loan is guaranteed by Yulong Bricks, the executive director of Yulong bricks, his relative and a third party.  The Company is settling with the bank on loan extension subsequently.     677,269       -  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan rural credit cooperative union, original loan amount $677,269 (RMB 4,500,000) at an interest rate 9%, matures in August 2017. The loan is guaranteed by Yulong Concrete, Yulong Bricks and the company’s founder.     677,269       -  
                 
Loan from China Construction Bank, original loan amount $602,017 (RMB4,000,000), matures in June 2016. Interest rate is 6.1% and 6.4% per annum as of 30 June 2015 and 30 June 2016, respectively.  Guaranteed by Yulong Concrete and a third party. The Company is settling with the bank on loan extension subsequently.     602,017       654,800  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Bank, original loan amount $602,017 (RMB4,000,000), matures in September 2016. Interest rate is 8.3% per annum. Guaranteed by Yulong Concrete, Yulong Industry and Yulong Renewable.  The Company is settling with the bank on loan extension subsequently.     602,017       -  
                 
Loan from Pingdingshan Bank, original loan amount $602,017 (RMB4,000,000), matures in March 2017. Interest rate is 8.7% per annum. Guaranteed by Yulong Renewable, Yulong Industry and Yulong Concrete.  The Company is settling with the bank on loan extension subsequently.     602,017       -  
                 
Total short-term loans - bank   $ 5,674,011     $ 7,972,190  

  F- 25  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Interest expense on debts for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $783,190 and $1,000,326, respectively. No interest expense has been capitalized into construction-in-progress due to all borrowings were for working capital purposes.

 

Note 11 – Related party transactions

 

Other payables - related parties

 

Other payables – related parties are nontrade payables arising from transactions between the Company and certain related parties, such as loans from such related parties. The loans are unsecured and non-interest bearing. Current payables are due on demand.

 

Other payables - related parties consisted of the following:

 

Name of related parties   Relationship   Nature of
transactions
  June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
                     
Yulong Zhu   Founder   Loan for operating cash flows   $ 1,488,794     $ 2,342,541 (1)
Henan Yuliang Hotel Co., Ltd.   Owned by founder   Loan for operating cash flows     15,050       21,281  
Lei Zhu   Relative of founder   Loan for operating cash flow     461,393       220,282 (2)
Total other payables           $ 1,965,237     $ 2,584,104  

  

(1) Converted approximately $1.5 million into the Company’s ordinary shares concurrently with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering of its ordinary shares on July 1, 2015 (the “IPO”), at the IPO price per share of $6.25 (the “IPO Price”).
   
(2) Fully converted into shares of the Company’s ordinary shares concurrently with the closing of the IPO at the IPO Price.

 

  F- 26  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 12 – Capital lease obligations

 

Capital lease obligations consisted of the following:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
             
Lease obligations for ten waste hauling trucks expired May 2015, lease payment at $24,208 (RMB160,847) per month with interest at 18.2% per annum. The lease obligation was previously extended to December 2015 and was entirely paid off in August 2015.   $ -     $ 334,323  
Lease obligations for ten waste hauling trucks expired June 2015, lease payment at $29,450 (RMB195,676) and $15,152 (RMB100,676) per month from July 2013 to June 2014 and from July 2014 to June 2015, respectively, with interest at 16.8% per annum. In June 2015, lessor verbally agreed to extend due date for the unpaid balance to June 2016. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor.     122,366       290,552  
Lease obligations for a loader expired in November 2015, lease payment at $2,423 (RMB16,101) per month with interest at 8.5% per annum. The lease obligation was paid off.     -       28,073  
Lease obligations for an excavator expired in May 2016, lease payment at $4,886 (RMB32,462) per month with interest at 8.8% per annum. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor.     28,535       82,442  
Lease obligations for thirty waste hauling trucks expiring in July 2016, lease payment at $81,882 (RMB544,050) per month with interest at 15.6% per annum. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor subsequently.     1,449,258       1,673,890  
Lease obligation for a loader expired in April 2016, lease payment at $2,423 (RMB16,101) per month with interest at 8.3% per annum. In May 2016, the lessor verbally agreed to extend the due date for the unpaid balance to October 2016. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor subsequently.     38,733       43,107  
Lease obligation for a loader expired in April 2016, lease payment at $2,416 (RMB16,053) per month with interest at 8.3% per annum. In May 2016, the lessor verbally agreed to extend the due date for the unpaid balance to October 2016. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor subsequently.     38,619       42,979  
Lease obligation for an excavator expiring in October 2016, lease payment at $7,054 (RMB46,870) per month with interest at 8.7% per annum. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor subsequently.     137,504       156,228  
Lease obligation for an excavator expiring in October 2016, lease payment at $4,886 (RMB32,462) per month with interest at 8.7% per annum. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor subsequently.     95,236       108,204  
Lease obligation for a land use right which the Company expects to pay in full in late 2017.     1,927,500       2,109,864  
Lease obligation for an excavator commenced on August 1, 2015 expiring on July 1, 2017, total obligation is approximately $107,159 (RMB712,000), lease payment at $4,886 (RMB32,462) per month with interest at 9.6%. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor subsequently.     98,587       -  
Lease obligation for an excavator commenced on August 1, 2015 expiring on July 1, 2017, total obligation is approximately $107,159 (RMB712,000), lease payment at $4,886 (RMB32,462) per month with interest at 9.6%. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor subsequently.     98,587       -  
Lease obligation for a loader commenced on August 1, 2015 expiring on January 1, 2017, total obligation is approximately $40,455 (RMB 268,800), lease payment at $2,402 (RMB15,958) per month with interest at 9.5%. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor subsequently.     34,672       -  
Lease obligation for a loader commenced on August 1, 2015 expiring on July 1, 2017, total obligation is approximately $39,733 (RMB 264,000), lease payment at $2,359 (RMB15,673) per month with interest at 9.5%. The Company is arranging a repayment plan with the lessor subsequently.     34,052       -  
Subtotal     4,103,649       4,869,662  
Less: deferred interest     (12,506 )     (115,627 )
Capital lease obligations, net     4,091,143       4,754,035  
Less: capital lease obligations - current     (4,062,291 )     (4,615,083 )
Capital lease obligations – non-current   $ 28,852     $ 138,952  

 

As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company has accrued interest of $66,388 and $179,264, respectively, in connection with the capital lease obligations, and were classified in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets under the caption “Other payables and accrued liabilities”. Interest expenses on capital lease obligations for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $123,478 and $296,776, respectively.

 

Future annual capital lease payments approximately consist of the following:

 

Twelve months ending June 30,   Amount  
2017   $ 4,062,291  
2018     28,852  
Total   $ 4,091,143  

 

  F- 27  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 13 – Taxes

 

Income taxes

 

Cayman Islands

 

Yulong Eco-Materials is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and conducts all of its business through its PRC subsidiary and VIEs. Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on income or capital gains. In addition, upon payments of dividends by these entities to their shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax will be imposed.

 

British Virgin Islands

 

Yulong BVI is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and conducts all of its businesses through its PRC subsidiary and VIEs. Under the current laws of the British Virgin Islands, Yulong BVI is not subject to tax on income or capital gains. In addition, upon payments of dividends by these entities to their shareholders, no British Virgin Islands withholding tax will be imposed.

 

Hong Kong

 

Yulong HK is incorporated in the Hong Kong and conducts all of its businesses through its PRC subsidiary and VIEs. Companies registered in Hong Kong are subject to Hong Kong Profits Tax on the taxable income as reported in their respective statutory financial statements adjusted in accordance with relevant Hong Kong tax laws. The applicable tax rate is 16.5% in Hong Kong. Under Hong Kong tax law, Yulong HK is exempted from income tax on its foreign derived income and there are no withholding taxes in Hong Kong on remittance of dividends.

 

The net operating losses carried forward incurred by Yulong Hong Kong were approximately US$1,110,033 and US$0 as of June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which can be carried forward indefinitely under the pertinent Hong Kong profit tax laws. A full valuation allowance, $183,155, has been recorded because it is considered more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized through sufficient future earnings of the entity to which the operating losses relate.

 

PRC

 

Yulong WFOE and the VIEs are governed by the income tax laws of the PRC and the income tax provision in respect to operations in the PRC is calculated at the applicable tax rates on the taxable income for the periods based on existing legislation, interpretations and practices in respect thereof. Under the Enterprise Income Tax Laws of the PRC (the “EIT Laws”), Chinese enterprises are subject to income tax at a rate of 25% after appropriate tax adjustments.

 

Yulong Bricks utilizes recycled raw materials to produce bricks and is qualified for preferential income tax granted by the State Administration of Taxation: only 90% of revenue attributable to utilization of recycled materials counts for taxable revenue.

 

Under the EIT Laws, dividends paid by PRC enterprises out of profits earned post-2007 to non-PRC tax resident investors are subject to PRC withholding tax of 10%. A lower withholding tax rate may be applied based on applicable tax treaty with certain countries.

 

The EIT Laws also provide that enterprises established under the laws of foreign countries or regions and whose “place of effective management” is located within the PRC are considered PRC tax resident enterprises and subject to PRC income tax at the rate of 25% on worldwide income. The definition of “place of effective management” refers to an establishment that exercises, in substance, overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting, properties, and other aspects of an enterprise. No detailed interpretation or guidance has been issued to define “place of effective management”. Furthermore, the administrative practice associated with interpreting and applying the concept of “place of effective management” is unclear. If the Company is deemed as a PRC tax resident, it would be subject to PRC tax under the EIT Law. The Company has analyzed the applicability of this law, and for each of the periods presented, the Company has not accrued for PRC tax on such basis. The Company will continue to monitor changes in the interpretation and/or guidance of this law.

 

The net operating losses carried forward incurred by the Company's PRC subsidiaries and VIEs were approximately US$427,556 and US$194,076 at June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which loss carry forwards gradually expire over time, the last of which expires in 2021. The related deferred tax assets were calculated based on the respective net operating losses incurred by each of the PRC subsidiaries and VIEs and the respective corresponding enacted tax rate that will be in effect in the period in which the losses are expected to be utilized. The Company recorded approximately US$14,634,601 and US$48,519 net valuation allowance for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, because it is considered more likely than not that this portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized through sufficient future earnings of the entities to which the operating losses relate. 

 

  F- 28  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes is comprised of the following:

 

    For the years ended
June 30,
 
    2016     2015  
             
Current   $       $      
Domestic     -       -  
Foreign     3,265,059       3,226,780  
Deferred                
Domestic     -       -  
Foreign     92,180       (328,761 )
Total provision for income taxes   $ 3,357,239     $ 2,898,019  

 

The following table reconciles the statutory rates in China to the Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
             
Computed tax expense (benefit) with statutory tax rate     25.0 %     25.0 %
Changes in valuation allowance     (29.6 %)     (2.9 )%
Foreign tax differential     0.4 %     -  
Tax effect of non-deductible items     (1.0 %)     2.9 %
PY Adjustment/True-up     (0.2 %)     -  
Effective income tax rates     (5.4 %)     25.0 %

 

Deferred taxes

 

Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
             
Deferred tax assets            
Non-current            
Startup cost     201,217       218,861  
Plant and equipment     140,283       351,583  
Intangible assets     (49,556 )     (50,297 )
Staff Education     1,493       -  
Provision for doubtful accounts     1,184,219       -  
Impairment provision for long-lived assets, intangible assets, and reserve for prepayment, non-current     13,444,794       -  
Net operating loss carryforward in China     284,276       48,519  
Total non-current deferred tax assets     15,206,726       568,666  
Valuation allowance     (14,817,756 )     (48,519 )
Total non-current deferred tax assets, net     388,970       520,147  
Total deferred tax assets   $ 388,970     $ 520,147  

 

Uncertain tax positions

 

Aggregate undistributed earnings of Yulong WFOE and the VIEs that are available for distribution to the Company are approximately ($32.0) and $23.1 million as of June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Such undistributed earnings are considered to be indefinitely reinvested, because the Company does not have any present plan to pay any cash dividends on its ordinary shares in the foreseeable future and intends to retain most of its available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of its business. Accordingly, no deferred tax liability has been accrued for the Chinese dividend withholding taxes that would be payable upon the distribution of those amounts to the Company as of June 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

  F- 29  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  

In addition, a deferred tax liability should be recorded for taxable temporary differences attributable to the excess of financial reporting amounts over tax basis amount in the PRC subsidiary. However, recognition is not required in situations where the tax law provides a means by which the reported amount of that investment can be recovered tax-free and the enterprise expects that it will ultimately use that means. The Company has not recorded any such deferred tax liability attributable to the undistributed earnings of its financial interest in the VIEs because it believes such excess earnings can be distributed in a manner that would not be subject to income tax.

 

There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of June 30, 2016 and 2015. Management does not anticipate any potential future adjustments in the next twelve months which would result in a material change to its tax positions. For the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company did not incur any interest and penalties.

 

Value added tax

 

Enterprises or individuals who sell commodities, engage in repair and maintenance or import and export goods in the PRC are subject to a value added tax in accordance with PRC laws. The value added tax (“VAT”) standard rates range from 13% to 17% of the gross sales price. A credit is available whereby VAT paid on the purchases of semi-finished products or raw materials used in the production of the Company’s finished products can be used to offset the VAT due on sales of the finished product.

 

Yulong Bricks’ products qualify for “specified building materials” under the PRC law of [2008] No. 156 and is therefore eligible for VAT tax exemption. Yulong Concrete’s products are mainly produced with cement and are eligible for a VAT at the rate of 6% of the gross sale prices under the PRC law of [2009] No. 9. Yulong Concrete’s VAT rate decreased to 3% starting in November 2014.

 

Taxes payable

 

Taxes payable consisted of the following:

 

    June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
             
Income taxes payable   $ 1,126,157     $ 983,767  
VAT taxes payable     223,307       102,077  
Other taxes payable     148,619       12,249  
     Total   $ 1,498,083     $ 1,098,093  

 

Note 14 – Equity

 

Restricted net assets

 

The Company’s ability to pay dividends is primarily dependent on the Company receiving distributions of funds from its subsidiaries. Relevant PRC statutory laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by Yulong WFOE and the VIEs only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. The results of operations reflected in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP differ from those reflected in the statutory financial statements of Yulong WFOE and the VIEs.

 

Each of Yulong WFOE and the VIEs is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. In addition, Yulong WFOE may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to enterprise expansion fund and staff bonus and welfare fund at its discretion. Each of the VIEs may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a discretionary surplus fund at its discretion. The statutory reserve funds and the discretionary funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned company out of China is subject to examination by the banks designated by SAFE.

 

As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, Yulong WFOE and the VIEs collectively appropriated $3,922,228 and $3,922,228 of retained earnings for their statutory reserves, respectively.

 

As a result of the foregoing restrictions, Yulong WFOE and the VIEs are restricted in their ability to transfer their net assets to the Company.

 

  F- 30  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Foreign exchange and other regulation in the PRC may further restrict Yulong WFOE and the VIEs from transferring funds to the Company in the form of dividends, loans and advances. As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, amounts restricted are the net assets of Yulong WFOE and the VIEs, which amounted to $3,453,575 and $47,875,838, respectively.

 

Initial Public Offering

 

On July 1, 2015, the Company completed the IPO of 2,250,000 shares of its ordinary shares for gross proceeds of $14,062,500 and, less costs of $2,552,343, for net proceeds of $11,510,157.

 

In connection with the closing of the IPO, the Company:

 

  granted a 45-days option to its underwriters to purchase up to 337,500 shares of ordinary shares, to cover over-allotments, which expired on August 15, 2015 without being exercised;

 

  granted warrants to purchase up to 112,500 shares of ordinary shares in the aggregate, or 5% of the ordinary shares sold in the IPO, to the representative of its underwriters and an independent financial adviser for the IPO (the “warrants”);

 

  granted 26,400 shares of ordinary shares in the aggregate to its CFO (20,000 shares vested concurrently with the closing of IPO) and two non-executive board members (3,200 shares each vesting quarterly from the closing of IPO) at $6.25 per share and valued at $165,000 in total; and

 

  converted $9,959,613 in indebtedness to five shareholders, including its founder, into 1,593,538 shares of ordinary shares.

 

Stock-based compensation expenses amounted to $165,000 and $0 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

Conversion in related party indebtedness

 

On February 27, 2015, five shareholders of the Yulong operating companies, including the Company’s founder, agreed to convert the RMB equivalent of $9,892,692, including dividends payable and due to related parties, due to them in the aggregate from the Yulong operating companies into the Company’s ordinary shares concurrently with the closing of the IPO at the IPO Price.

 

Dividends payable consisted of the following:

 

Name of shareholders   June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
             
Yulong Zhu   $ -     $ 3,462,665  
Hu Zhu     -       2,212,315  
Guangjian Zhu     -       1,773,900  
Yingtao Miao     -       545,245  
Total dividends payable   $ -     $ 7,994,125  

 

The dividend payable was settled in a form of ordinary shares upon the IPO on July 1, 2015. The equivalent number of ordinary shares converted is 1,279,060 at the stock price on the IPO date, $6.25 per share at $7,994,125 in total.

 

  F- 31  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Warrants

 

The Company follows the provisions of the accounting standard relating to instruments that are indexed to an entity’s own securities.  This accounting standard specifies that a contract that would otherwise meet the definition of a derivative but is both (a) indexed to the Company’s ordinary shares and (b) classified in stockholders’ equity in the statement of financial position would not be considered a derivative financial instrument. The Company determined its warrants would be recorded as derivative instruments on the issuance dates because the strike price of the warrants is denominated in US dollars, a currency other than the Company’s functional currency RMB. Therefore the warrants are not considered indexed to the Company’s ordinary shares, and as such, all changes in the fair value of these warrants are recognized currently in earnings from the issuances date until such time as the warrants are exercised or expire.

 

The value of the warrant liabilities was $65,605 at June 30, 2016 and $475,380 at the issuance date on July 1, 2015. The decrease resulted in a $409,775 gain on change in fair value of warrants for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

Because the warrants are not traded on an active securities market, the Company estimates their fair value using the Binomial Option Pricing Model on June 30, 2016 and on July 1, 2015 as follows:

 

    June 30,
2016
    July 1,
2015
 
Number of shares exercisable     112,500       112,500  
Exercise price   $ 6.25     $ 6.25  
Stock price   $ 1.71     $ 6.00  
Expected term (years)     4.00       5.00  
Risk-free interest rate     0.89 %     1.63 %
Expected volatility     84.83 %     92 %

 

Due to the short trading history of the Company’s ordinary shares, the expected volatility is based primarily on other similar public companies’ historical volatilities, which are traded on United States stock markets. Historical volatility was computed using daily pricing observations for recent periods that correspond to the term of the warrants. The Company believes this method produces an estimate that is representative of the Company’s expectations of future volatility over the expected term of the warrants. The Company currently has no reason to believe future volatility over the expected remaining life of the warrants is likely to differ materially from historical volatility. The expected life is based on the remaining term of the warrants. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury securities according to the remaining term of the warrants.

 

A summary of changes in warrant activity is presented as follows:

 

    Fiscal year
Ended
June 30,
2016
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
 
                   
Outstanding, beginning balance     -       -       -  
Granted     112,500     $ 6.25       5.00  
Forfeited     -       -       -  
Exercised     -       -       -  
Outstanding, ending balance     112,500     $ 6.25       4.00  

 

Stock-based compensation – consulting services

 

On January 19, 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved the following issuances of restricted shares of the Company’s ordinary shares:

 

  31,279 shares to a consultant for services pertaining to business growth and strategies for the calendar years ending December 31, 2017 and 2016; and

 

  F- 32  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

  95,967 shares to a consultant for services rendered previously and for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016 pertaining to financial reporting and internal control over financial reporting.

 

The shares were valued at $3.20 per share, based on the average closing price of the ordinary shares for the three months immediately preceding the board’s approval.

 

On July 6, 2016, the Company entered into a consulting agreement for services in conjunction with the pre-audit and consulting services for the periods ended June 30, 2016, September 30, 2016, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017. Total service fee is $150,000 or $37,500 per quarter and will be settled in a form of stock-based payment equivalent to 58,140 shares of the Company's common stock. The shares were valued at $2.58 per share based on the average closing price of the ordinary shares on the date the service agreement was entered.

 

Stock-based compensation expenses for consulting services amounted to $534,237 and $0 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

Note 15 — (Loss) Earnings per share

 

The basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share are as follows:

 

    For the year ended
June 30,
2016
    For the year ended
June 30,
2015
 
             
Net (loss) income   $ (53,190,023 )   $ 8,679,571  
Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic and Diluted     11,926,956       8,000,000  
(Loss) Earnings per share - Basic and Diluted   $ (4.46 )   $ 1.08  

 

There were no potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

  F- 33  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 16 – Commitments and contingencies

 

Contingencies

 

From time to time, the Company may be subject to certain legal proceedings, claims and disputes that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the outcomes of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted, the Company does not believe these actions, in the aggregate, will have a material adverse impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Three of the four Yulong operating companies were subject to 10 civil lawsuits with judgment amounts of approximately $2,224,585 (RMB 14,780,875) in the aggregate, of which unpaid amounts of approximately $108,547 (RMB 721,225) has already been included in capital lease obligations regarding lease agreement for purchasing 10 vehicles from Xuchang Tongli, and approximately $292,327 (RMB 1,942,317) already included in other payables as of June 30, 2016. The remaining balances included $1,821,756 (RMB 12,104,346) related to the guarantee with details disclosed in notes 'Guarantees', and $1,955 (RMB 12,988) sued by individuals.

 

As for the events occurred after June 30, 2016, three of the four Yulong operating companies were parties to 26 civil lawsuits with judgment amounts of approximately $1,719,202 (RMB 11,422,947) in the aggregate, of which unpaid amounts of approximately $347,812 (RMB 2,310,979) has already been included in short term loans, and approximately $127,929 (RMB 850,000) already included in other payables as of June 30, 2016. The remaining balances included $25,402 (RMB 168,780) related to the illegal occupation of land, $129,841 (RMB 862,708) related to purchase commitment, and $1,088,218 (RMB 7,230,480) related to wages or private placement complaints filed by individuals.

 

Illegal occupation of land

 

On October 18, 2016, Pingdingshan Land Resources Bureau applied to the court to enforce the execution of Ping Guo Tu Zi Fa Zi (2016) no.65 Administrative Penalty Decision that the Company shall:

 

(1) return 7,137.26 square meters of land which the Company occupied illegally;

 

(2) dismantle the new buildings and other facilities on the 7,137.26 square meters of land which the Company occupied illegally, and restore the original appearance of the land;

 

(3) pay a fine on the basis that illegal occupation of 5,951.4 square meters of general cultivated land at a fine of RMB 16.00 per square meter, i.e. $14,331.38 (RMB 95,222.40), and 1,185.86 square meters of other land fines per square meter RMB 3.00, i.e. $535.43 (RMB 3,557.58), resulting in a total of $14,866.81 (RMB 98,779.98).

 

On November 29, 2016, Pingdingshan Environmental Protection Bureau filed a claim to the district court to enforce the execution of Ping Huan Fa Zi (2015) no.26 Administrative Penalty Decision that the Company shall:

 

(1) cease its trial production;

 

(2) pay a fine of $10,535.30 (RMB 70,000).

 

Total unpaid amounts related to illegal occupation of land were approximately $25,402 (RMB 168,780).

 

  F- 34  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Purchase commitment

 

On November 10, 2012, the Company entered into a sales and purchase contract with an unrelated third party, Xian Oriental Fuxing Machinery Co., Ltd ("Xian Oriental Fuxing") with a contract amount of $419,907 (RMB 2,790,000). As of June 30, 2016, the Company already paid $293,483 (RMB 1,950,000) to Xian Oriental Fuxing. According to verdict issued on September 24, 2016, the court ruled that the Company lost the case and was required to pay the remaining amount of $126,424 (RMB 840,000) and litigation costs of $3,418 (RMB 22,708).

 

Guarantees

 

As of June 30, 2016, the Company guaranteed approximately $3.0 million for a bank loan of unrelated third-parties as follows:

 

Name   Guaranteed amount     Guarantee expiration date
Pingdingshan Yushi Automobile Accessory Sales Co., Ltd (1)   $ 1,204,034     December 29, 2016
Pingdingshan Orr Business Co., Ltd (2)     1,821,756     January 5, 2018
Total   $ 3,025,790      

 

(1) The Company did not, however, accrue any liability in connection with such guarantee because the borrower has been current in its repayment obligations and the Company has not experienced any loss from providing such guarantees in the past. The Company has evaluated the guarantee and has concluded that the likelihood of it having to make payments under the guarantee is remote and that the fair value of the stand-ready obligation under such commitment is not material. The guarantee expired on December 29, 2016 and there was no default on this loan.

 

(2) According to the verdict issued on March 16, 2017, the court ruled that the borrower was required to remit the loan principal in an amount of $1,806,051 (RMB 12 million) and the litigation cost in an amount of $15,705 (RMB 104,346) in litigation costs. As the loan term being from January 5, 2015 to January 6, 2016, and the guarantee will expire on January 5, 2018, the Company has accrued a liability in connection with such guarantee.

 

Variable interest entity structure

 

In the opinion of management, (i) the corporate structure of the Company is in compliance with existing PRC laws and regulations; (ii) the Contractual Arrangements are valid and binding, and do not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and (iii) the business operations of Yulong WFOE and the VIEs are in compliance with existing PRC laws and regulations in all material respects.

 

However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the Company cannot be assured that PRC regulatory authorities will not ultimately take a contrary view to the foregoing opinion of its management. If the current corporate structure of the Company or the Contractual Arrangements is found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws and regulations, the Company may be required to restructure its corporate structure and operations in the PRC to comply with changing and new PRC laws and regulations. In the opinion of management, the likelihood of loss in respect of the Company’s current corporate structure or the Contractual Arrangements is remote based on current facts and circumstances.

 

Note 17 – Segments

 

The Company follows ASC 280 – Segment Reporting, which requires that companies disclose segment data based on how management makes decision about allocating resources to segments and evaluating their performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker evaluates performance and determines resource allocations based on a number of factors, the primary measure being income from operations of the Yulong operating companies.

 

The Company’s operations currently include three business segments encompassing three different divisions. Such reportable divisions are consistent with the way the Company manages its business, with each division operating under separate management and producing discrete financial information. The accounting principles applied at the operating division level in determining income from operations is generally the same as those applied at the consolidated financial statement level.

 

  F- 35  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The operation and products of the three divisions are as follow:

 

  1. Yulong Bricks: production and sales of fly-ash bricks;

 

  2. Yulong Concrete and Yulong Transport: production and sales of ready-mixed concrete; and

 

  3. Yulong Renewable: hauling and processing of construction waste, and production and sales of recycled aggregates and recycled bricks.

 

The following represents results of divisional operations for the following years ended June 30:

 

Revenues:   2016     2015  
Yulong Bricks   $ 11,913,095     $ 15,586,654  
Yulong Concrete and Yulong Transport     23,131,224       29,967,622  
Yulong Renewable     7,600,112       676,108  
Consolidated revenues   $ 42,644,431     $ 46,230,384  

 

Gross profit:   2016     2015  
Yulong Bricks   $ 6,268,340     $ 9,446,895  
Yulong Concrete and Yulong Transport     5,824,949       7,084,582  
Yulong Renewable     4,385,629       335,922  
Consolidated gross profit   $ 16,478,918     $ 16,867,399  

 

Income (loss) from operations:   2016     2015  
Yulong Bricks   $ 3,000,133     $ 9,112,875  
                 
Yulong Concrete and Yulong Transport     3,362,105       6,042,286  
                 
Yulong Renewable     (53,608,441 )     (1,190,220 )
Subtotal     (47,246,203 )     13,964,941  
                 
Yulong Eco-Materials     (2,254,021 )     (1,106,489 )
                 
Consolidated (loss) income from operations   $ (49,500,224 )   $ 12,858,452  

 

Net income (loss):   2016     2015  
Yulong Bricks   $ 1,470,553     $ 6,872,096  
Yulong Concrete and Yulong Transport     2,041,042       4,159,835  
Yulong Renewable     (54,852,671 )     (1,245,871 )
                 
Subtotal     (51,341,076 )     9,786,060  
                 
Yulong Eco-Materials     (1,848,947 )     (1,106,489 )
Consolidated net (loss) income   $ (53,190,023 )   $ 8,679,571  

 

Depreciation and amortization:   2016     2015  
Yulong Bricks   $ 522,294     $ 535,938  
Yulong Concrete and Yulong Transport     188,591       374,776  
Yulong Renewable     1,507,000       841,937  
Consolidated depreciation and amortization   $ 2,217,885     $ 1,752,651  

 

  F- 36  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Interest expenses:   2016     2015  
Yulong Bricks   $ 509,151     $ 513,819  
Yulong Concrete and Yulong Transport     397,948       486,507  
Yulong Renewable     121,568       296,776  
Interdivision     94       -  
Consolidated interest expenses   $ 1,028,761     $ 1,297,102  

 

Capital expenditures:   2016     2015  
Yulong Bricks   $ 1,155,000     $ 168,677  
Yulong Concrete and Yulong Transport     5,170       40,275  
Yulong Renewable     96,583       1,816,214  
Consolidated capital expenditures   $ 1,256,753     $ 2,025,166  

 

The following represents assets of division as of June 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

Total Assets as of:   June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
Yulong Bricks   $ 11,131,177     $ 37,840,558  
Yulong Concrete and Yulong Transport     4,416,866       26,391,895  
Yulong Renewable     20,251,768       40,638,270  
Interdivision assets     590       (27,565,591 )
Yulong Eco-Materials     642,700       293,333  
Total Assets   $ 36,443,101     $ 77,598,465  

 

Note 18 – Subsequent events

 

In late March 2016, the central government of the People's of Republic of China passed Air Pollution Control Act and enforced Air Pollution Control Action Plan. The province of Henan of People's Republic of China implemented "Province of Henan Blue Sky Action Plan" on various industries such as construction materials, coal mining. Due to the Air Pollution Control Act and Blue Sky Action Plan, Yulong Renewable is required to comply with the new environmental regulations. It placed its construction projects on hold and downsized its production since August 2016.

 

On February 11, 2017, three of the board of directors, Ms. Alice Io Wai Wu, Mr. Michael W. Harlan and Mr. Guosheng Liu (together the “Former Directors”) resigned as directors of the Company. The Company elected Ms. Junfeng Ma, Ms. Yang Li and Mr. Qingsheng Liu to replace the Former Directors. There is no family relationship among any of the New Directors and any of the Company’s other directors or executive officers. In addition, the Board has approved the appointment of Ms. Junfeng Ma as Company’s interim chairperson of the Audit Committee. While Company believe Ms. Ma’s accounting experience qualifies her to be the chairperson of the audit committee, the Company is actively searching for a candidate who is an expert with U.S. GAAP rules to chair the Audit Committee. Ms. Ma will serve as the chairperson of the Audit Committee during the Company’s search.

 

  F- 37  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

On March 15, 2017, Yulong Eco-Materials Limited (the “Company”) received a deficiency letter (the “Letter”) from the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (the “Nasdaq”) regarding the Company’s failure to comply with NASDAQ List Rule 5605(c)(2), pursuant to which an audit committee must have at least three members and be comprised only of independent directors. Due to the resignation of Alice Io Wai Wu, and Michael W. Harlan on February 11, 2017, the Company failed to meet the aforesaid requirement.

 

Under Rule 5605(c)(4) and 5810(c)(3)(E), the Company has been provided a cure period to regain compliance as follow (the “Cure Period”):

 

  until the earlier of the Company’s next annual shareholders’ meeting or February 11, 2018; or
     
  if the next annual shareholders’ meeting is held before August 10, 2017, then the Company must evidence compliance no later than August 10, 2017.

 

The Company addressed this deficiency by providing a notice of annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on June 29, 2017. The Company has announced the results of its annual general meeting for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 on June 30, 2017.

 

On March 31, 2017, Yulong Eco-Materials Limited (the “Company”) received a determination letter (the “Letter”) from the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (the “NASDAQ”) notifying the Company of the NASDAQ Staff’s determination (the “Determination”) to delist the Company’s securities from The NASDAQ Capital Market due to its failure to regain compliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) (the “Rule”) because it had not filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended June 30, and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q for the periods ended September 30, and December 31, 2016, respectively (the “Delinquent Reports”). Pursuant to the Letter, unless the Company requests an appeal of the Determination by 4:00 Eastern Time on April 7, 2017, trading of the Company’s common stock will be suspended at the opening of business on April 11, 2017, and a Form 25-NSE will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), causing the Company’s securities to be removed from listing and registration on The NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

As previously reported, on October 14 and November 22, 2016, the Company received two notification letters (the “Notice”) from NASDAQ advising the Company that it did not comply with the “Rule” because it had not filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended June 30, and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q for the periods ended September 30, and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Company was provided an exception until April 12, 2017, to regain compliance with the Rule. On March 24, 2017, the Company advised that it would be unable to regain compliance with the Rule by April 12, 2017. As of the date of this report, the Company has not regained compliance with the Rule though it is in the process of preparing its annual report.

 

On April 6, 2017, Yulong Eco-Materials Limited received a notification letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) indicating that the Company is not in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Rule”) because the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market has been below $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days. The Nasdaq notification has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company’s common stock, which will continue to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “YECO”.

 

The Company has 180 calendar days, or until October 3, 2017, to regain compliance. If, at any time before that date, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock is at least $1.00 per share or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, NASDAQ will notify the Company that it has achieved compliance with the Rule.

 

If the Company does not regain compliance by October 3, 2017, the Company may be eligible for a second compliance period of 180 calendar days. To qualify, the Company will be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards for The Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the bid price requirement, and will need to provide NASDAQ written notice of its intention to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period.

 

  F- 38  

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

If it appears to the NASDAQ staff that the Company will not be able to cure the deficiency, or if the Company does not cure the deficiency following the additional time, NASDAQ will notify the Company that its common stock will be subject to delisting. At that time, the Company may appeal the Staff’s delisting determination to a Hearings Panel. If the Company timely appeals, it would remain listed pending the Hearing Panel’s decision.

 

The Company intends to monitor the closing bid price of its common stock and may consider implementing available options to regain compliance with the Rule. This information is being provided to comply with NASDAQ Listing Rules requiring public announcement of the Company’s receipt of the notification letter from NASDAQ. 

 

On May 15, 2017, Yulong Eco-Materials Limited determines that it qualifies as a “foreign private issuer” as defined under Rule 3b-4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Accordingly, effective immediately after the filing of this Form 8-K, the Company will begin reporting under the Exchange Act as a foreign private issuer, including the filing of annual reports on Form 20-F and current reports on Form 6-K.

 

On June 12, 2017, Yulong Eco-Materials Limited - (Nasdaq: YECO) announced that following a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “ Panel ”) on May 25, 2017, the Panel granted the Company’s request for continued listing on Nasdaq, subject to the Company’s timely compliance with a number of interim milestones and, ultimately, the Company’s full compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq, including the filing of annual report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and quarterly reports for fiscal periods ended September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, by no later than August 31, 2017.

 

The Company is diligently working to timely evidence compliance with the terms of the Panel’s decision; however, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to do so.

 

On July 7, 2017, the Company received a notice from the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) indicating that it has determined to suspend the Company’s ordinary shares, from trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market, effective at the open of business on July 11, 2017. As a result of the notice, the Company's ordinary shares are currently trading on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol “YECOF.” For quotes or additional information on the OTC Pink market, visit http://www.otcmarkets.com.

 

The Company has a right to appeal the Panel’s determination. The Company has not yet decided whether to request a review of the decision by the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council. The right to request the review expires on July 24, 2017. In the event the Company does not appeal or the appeal is unsuccessful, Nasdaq will effect the delisting of the Company’s securities by filing a Form 25-NSE (Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) after applicable appeal periods have lapsed.

 

As previously reported, the Company is not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), which requires listed companies to timely file all required periodic financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Notwithstanding the Panel’s determination, the Company expects to file its annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and quarterly reports for fiscal periods ended September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016 as soon as possible and apply to be quoted on the OTCQB market after these delinquent filings are completed.

 

On July 21, 2017, the Company submitted an appeal request requesting the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council to review the Panel’s determination and stay any Panel action to suspend the Company’s listing. In addition, the Company intends to submit an updated plan to regain compliance (“Updated Plan”) with Nasdaq’s Listing Rules. The Company is working diligently on its Updated Plan and plans to submit it to the Panel by August 4, 2017.

 

  F- 39  

 

 

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

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure of Controls and Procedures

 

We, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of June 30, 2016. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed: (i) to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms; and (ii) to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Based on their evaluations, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of June 30, 2016 due to the following material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting:

 

  Inadequate U.S. GAAP expertise. The current accounting staff is inexperienced in applying U.S. GAAP standard as they are primarily engaged in ensuring compliance with PRC accounting and reporting requirement for our consolidated operating entities, and thus require substantial training. The current staff’s accounting skills and understanding as to how to fulfill the requirements of U.S. GAAP-based reporting, including subsidiary financial statements consolidation, are inadequate and resulted in a number of adjustments identified by our independent auditors during the audit.

 

  Inadequate internal audit resources. While we have developed the scope of our internal audit function, it has not yet been fully implemented as we have not been able to hire sufficient qualified resources to do so. And due to limited availability of qualified resources in the geographical region where we operate, we may not be able to make sufficient hiring within a short period of time.

 

Despite the existence of the material weaknesses discussed above, our management have concluded that the consolidated financial statements included in this Report present, in all material aspects, our financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the periods presented, in conformity with U.S. GAAP.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

  pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;

 

  provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and members of our board of directors; and

 

  provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process, and it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

 

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Our management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2016. In making this assessment, management used the 2013 framework set forth in the report entitled Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO. The 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.

 

As a result of such material weaknesses, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of June 30, 2016.

 

This Report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. We are currently not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only our management’s report in this Report.

 

Management Plan to Remediate Material Weaknesses

 

We have taken the following remediation actions that we believe will improve the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting:

 

  engaged an outside professional consulting firm to supplement our efforts to improve our internal control over financial reporting;

 

  initiated implementation of the 2013 COSO framework for internal controls, which formalized the principles embedded in the original framework more explicitly, incorporated business and operating environment changes over the past two decades, and improved the framework’s ease of use and application; and

 

  initiated comprehensive program and development plan to provide ongoing company-wide trainings regarding internal control, with particular emphasis on our accounting staff.

 

Management believes the foregoing efforts should effectively remediate the material weaknesses described above.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

 

On August 25, 2017, Mr. Zan Wu resigned from his position of Chief Financial Officer. On the same date, Mr. Shuai Wang was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. T he following sets forth biographical information for Mr. Shuai Wang:

 

Mr. Shuai Wang, age 30, has served as the executive assistant of the CEO of the Company from November 2013 to August 2017. From April 2011 to October 2013, Mr. Wang served as the assistant general manager of Henen Jianyida Industrial Limited. Mr. Wang obtained bachelor degree in Economics from China Youth University of Political Studies in 2009.

 

Mr. Wang does not have any family relationship with any director or executive officer of the Company and has not been involved in any transaction with the Company during the past two years that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

Mr. Wang has entered into an employment agreement (the “Wang Employment Agreement”) with the Company, which sets his annual compensation at $60,000 per year and establishes other terms and conditions governing her service on the Company’s Board. The Wang Employment Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the agreement, which is filed hereto as Exhibits 10.9.

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Board of Directors and Management

 

The Board of Directors oversees our management and our business affairs in order to ensure that our stockholder’s interests are best served. Our Board does not involve itself in our day-to-day operations. It establishes with management the objectives and strategies to be implemented and monitors management’s general performance and conduct.

 

The following table includes the names, positions held, and ages of our current executive officers and directors as of June 30, 2016:

 

 Name    Age    Position   

Held Position

Since 

Yulong Zhu   44   Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer   March 2011
Zan Wu    (1)   38   Chief Financial Officer   June 2014
Alice Io Wai Wu (2)    44   Director   July 2015
 Michael W. Harlan (3)   55   Director   July 2015
 Wenge Du   48   Director   October 2015
Guosheng Liu (4)   64   Director   December 2015
Qiang Liu   47   Director   December 2015

 

(1) Mr. Wu resigned as Chief Financial Officer of the Company on August 25, 2017 and was replaced by Shuai Wang.

(2) Ms. Wu resigned as a director of the Company on February 11, 2017 and was replaced by Ms. Junfeng Ma.

(3) Mr. Harlan resigned as a director of the Company on February 11, 2017 and was replaced by Ms. Yang Li.

(4) Mr. Liu resigned as a director of the Company on February 11, 2017 and was replaced by Mr. Qingsheng Liu.

 

Yulong Zhu , 44, is our founder and has been the president of Yulong Bricks, Yulong Concrete and Yulong Renewable since their inceptions. In addition, he is the sole director of each of our subsidiaries. Mr. Zhu is actively involved in government/quasi-government and business/civic organizations at both the provincial and municipal levels. He has been a member of Henan Province Youth League Union since 2007, and was promoted to a standing member in 2013. He is also the vice president of the Middle and Small Entrepreneurs Union of Pingdingshan, Xinhua Area since 2009, and secretary of the Chinese Association of Comprehensive Resource Utilization since 2011. Mr. Zhu is a member of the Pingdingshan branch of the National People’s Congress, including as a member of the standing committee’s law committee. He has been a PhD candidate in economics at Sichuan University since 2011, and is the president of the Song Chamber of Commerce, a local business association since September 2013. In addition to being our founder, we determined that Mr. Zhu’s active involvements with and contacts within the local government and industry organizations qualify him to be a member of our board of directors.

 

Zan Wu , 38, was engaged as our chief financial officer effectively on June 1, 2014. From February 2010 to April 2014, Mr. Wu was chief financial officer of SinoCoking Coal and Coke Chemical Industries, Inc., a U.S. public company that sells coal and coke in China. From 2006 to 2009, he was the chief representative of Global American, Inc. (China Representative Office). From 2004 to 2006, he was assistant manager and financial manager at Domino Scientific Equipment Ltd. From 2003 to 2004, he was a financial analyst at VIR Consultancy Ltd. From 2000 to 2001, he worked as an auditor at the Zhong Rui Hui Accounting Firm. Mr. Wu holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Capital University of Economics and Business and a master’s degree in financial management and control from Aston Business School.

 

Alice Io Wai Wu , 44, is member of the Yulong’s board of directors. Ms. Wu has been providing accounting, consulting and advisory services to public and private companies since September 2011 through her company Wu & Company, Inc. In February 2015, she joined The Future Education Group Inc., a Chinese provider of online and mobile education platforms and contents, as its chief financial officer. Ms. Wu also has had extensive experience auditing the financial statements and internal controls of public and private companies, including as a partner at Anton & Chia, LLP from August 2013 to May 2014, a partner at Cacciamatta Accounting Corporation from January 2009 to July 2013, and as an audit manager of Moore Stephens Wurth Frazer and Torbet, LLP from January 2005 to May 2008. Ms. Wu is a 2004 graduate of California State University, Fullerton, with a degree with in business administration with accounting concentration. We believe that Ms. Wu’s accounting background and familiarity with financial reporting obligations of a United States public company qualifies her to be a member of our board of directors.

 

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Michael W. Harlan , 55, is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Principle Energy Services, LLC, a private equity-backed oilfield services company that provides engineered noise mitigation solutions for oil and natural gas drilling, completions and production and that operates in five states and serves a wide range of customers from small, independent exploration companies to the major oil and gas companies. Mr. Harlan also serves as President of Harlan Capital Advisors, LLC, a private consulting firm focused on advising companies on strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity investments and capital-raising initiatives. Prior to forming Harlan Capital Advisors, Mr. Harlan served as President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Concrete, Inc., a publicly traded producer of concrete, aggregates and related concrete products to all segments of the construction industry, from May 2007 until August 2011. From April 2003 until May 2007, Mr. Harlan served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Concrete, Inc. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Concrete from May 1999 until November 2004 after founding U.S. Concrete in August 1998. Mr. Harlan also served as a Director of U.S. Concrete from June 2006 until August 2011. U.S. Concrete, Inc. operated under the provisions of Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code from April 29, 2010 until confirmation of its plan of reorganization on August 31, 2010. In August 2013, Mr. Harlan joined the Board of Directors of Travis Acquisition, LLC, the parent of Travis Body & Trailer, Inc., a manufacturer of specialized trailers used in the construction, environmental services, agriculture and energy industries in the United States. Prior to founding U.S. Concrete, Mr. Harlan held several senior financial positions with public companies, including chief financial officer, treasurer and controller. Mr. Harlan began his career with an international public accounting firm. Mr. Harlan previously served on the Board of Trustees for the RMC Research and Education Foundation, where he is a past Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors of the National Steering Committee for the Concrete Industry Management education program, and the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. Mr. Harlan also serves on the University of Houston Honors College Advisory Board. Mr. Harlan is a Certified Public Accountant and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Accounting degree.

 

Wenge Du , 48, was appointed as a member of the Yulong’s board of directors in October 2015. Ms. Du is currently the Administrative Manager for Singapore Liang & Dong Pte. Ltd., an import-export company, for which she handles business communications and business relations for the company with corresponding Chinese business partners. From October 2006 to October 2013, Ms. Du was a Project Manager for Henan Jiangshan Land Development Ltd., for which she managed and developed overseas hotel and farmland investment projects. From February 2003 to October 2006, Ms. Du was a Marketing Manager for Rich Mark Development (Group) Pty Ltd., an Australian company engaged mainly in the mineral ores business, including exports of iron ores to businesses in Henan Province. Ms. Du graduated in 1991 with Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from the Zhengzhou Institute of Light Industry and completed a training course in international economics and trade at the Henan Institute of Finance and Economics in January 2000. We believe that Ms. Du’s project development, business communications and business marketing experience as well as her engineering background qualifies her to be a member of our board of directors.

 

Guosheng Liu , 64, was appointed as a member of Yulong’s board of directors in December 2015. Mr. Liu graduated from the mechanical engineering department of Henan University of Technology (formerly Zhengzhou Institute of Technology) in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree. From 1977 to 2012, Mr. Liu served in various capacities with the transportation department of Henan Province, including as a technician, commissioner of road transport management, chief of the road transport bureau, and commissioner of technology. In July 1993, Mr. Liu was invited to participate in training on highway engineering at the University of Kansas. Mr. Liu has extensive experience about the construction, review and acceptance inspection of expressways and highways. Mr. Liu was also engaged in research and development, evaluation, examination and promotion of the scientific and technological achievements on transportation in Henan. Mr. Liu is certified as a road traffic specialist senior engineer. Mr. Liu retired in June 2012. We believe that Mr. Li’s knowledge and expertise in transportation-related construction and engineering qualifies him to be a member of our board of directors.

 

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Qiang Liu , 47, was appointed as a member of Yulong’s board of directors in December 2015. Mr. Qiang Liu was born on August 21, 1969, and now he lives in Beijing. Mr. Liu graduated from China School of Journalism in 1993, and graduated from The Party School of CPC, majoring in science of law. He is a member of CPC. Now, Mr. Liu serves as secretary-general of the board of China Construction News, and he also serves as the director of reporter station of Henan branch of China Construction News. We believe that Mr. Liu’s familiarity with and standing with the government and within the local construction industry as a result of his work with the China Construction News qualifies him to be a member of our board of directors.

 

Effective February 11, 2017, the Company’s board of directors appointed Ms. Junfeng Ma, Mr. Yang Li and Mr. Qingsheng Liu (the “New Directors”) as a new members of the Company’s board of directors to replace the Former Directors.  There is no family relationship among any of the New Directors and any of the Company’s other directors or executive officers. In addition, the Board has approved the appointment of Ms. Junfeng Ma as Company’s interim chairperson of the audit committee. While Company believe Ms. Ma’s accounting experience qualifies her to be the chairperson of the audit committee, the Company is actively searching for a candidate who is an expert with U.S. GAAP rules to chair the audit committee. Ms. Ma will serve as the chairperson of the audit committee during Company’s search

 

Junfeng Ma , 41, was appointed as a member of Yulong’s board of directors on February 11, 2017. Ms. Ma has been the Vice President of Henan Zhonglian Accounting Firm since January of 2017. Ms. Ma is currently leading large audit projects such as those for the Zhengzhou Pediatric Hospital Center and Luoyang Joint Disease Hospital. From November 2012 to December 2016, Ms. Ma worked for the Zhengzhou Municipal Branch of Ping An Bank for which Ms. Ma served as client manager, small business department chair and also branch president. From January 2000 to October 2012, Ms. Ma served as an auditor for Da Hua CPAs’s Henan provincial branch. Ms. Ma participated in the audit of more than 100 companies, including Henan Sinian Group, Datang Power Group and Aluminum Corporation of China. Ms. Ma obtained her bachelor degree from Henan University in 1996. She is a certified public accountant and valuation appraiser in China. We believe that Ms. Ma’s accounting experience qualifies her to be a member of our board of directors.

 

Yang Li , 29, was appointed as a member of Yulong’s board of directors on February 11, 2017. Since February 2012, Ms. Li has been the General Manager of Henan Yuliang Hotel, managing the general operation of the hotel. From October 2010 to January 2012, Ms. Li worked for Star Cruises Limited, a Singaporean cruise line, as client manager, primarily responsible for the relationship management of VIP clients for the Japan-Taiwan cruise lines. Ms. Li is currently an EMBA candidate at the Zhengzhou University and obtained her bachelor degree from Henan University in 2012. We believe that Ms. Li’s business experience and communication skills qualifies her to be a member of our board of directors.

 

Qingsheng Liu, 60, accepted his appointment as a director for the Company effective on February 11, 2017.  Mr. Liu has served as the Deputy Commissioner of Henan Provincial Human Resource and Environment Bureau since November 2009. In this capacity, Mr. Liu is responsible for research relating to policy issues involving population growth, environmental protection and resource allocation. Mr. Liu obtained his bachelor degree in foreign language from Zhengzhou University in 1984.

 

Board Composition

 

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board.  Subject to any rights applicable to any then outstanding preferred shares, our board of directors will consist of a number of directors to be fixed from time to time by special resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of 66 2/3% of the Ordinary Shares entitled to vote that are present in person or represented by proxy at a duly notice general shareholders’ meeting at which a proper quorum is present. Our Board currently consists of six (6) members. The directors will stand for election every year at our annual general meeting of shareholders.

 

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Director Independence

 

The rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, or NASDAQ, generally require that a majority of the members of a listed company’s board of directors be independent within specified periods following the completion of an initial public offering.  In addition, the listing rules generally require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation, and governance committees be independent.

 

Audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.  In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee: accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries; or be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that none of our non-employee directors, namely Junfeng Ma, Yang Li, Guosheng Liu, Wenge Du, Qiang Liu, Alice Wu and Michael Harlan, has a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of them is “independent” as that term is defined under the rules of the NASDAQ.

 

Meetings of the Board

 

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, the Board met thirteen times and took action by unanimous written consent four times.

 

Family relationship

 

There are no family relationships, or other arrangements or understandings between or among any of the directors, executive officers or other person pursuant to which such person was selected to serve as a director or officer.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

No director, person nominated to become a director, executive officer, promoter or control person of the Company has, during the last ten years: (i) been convicted in or is currently subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (ii) been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to any Federal or state securities or banking or commodities laws including, without limitation, in any way limiting involvement in any business activity, or finding any violation with respect to such law; (iii) has any bankruptcy petition been filed by or against the business of which such person was an executive officer or a general partner, whether at the time of the bankruptcy or for the two years prior thereto; (iv) been the subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of:  (a) Any Federal or State securities or commodities law or regulation; or (b) Any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order; or (c) Any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; nor (v) been the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26))), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1(a)(29))), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member. (covering stock, commodities or derivatives exchanges, or other SROs).

 

Board Committees

 

As of June 30, 2016, our Board has three committees: the Compensation Committee, the Nominations Committee and the Audit Committee. The Board has determined that each current member of each committee meets the applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules and regulations regarding “independence” and that each member is free of any relationship that would impair his or her individual exercise of independent judgment with regard to the Company. Below is a description of each Board committee as it is presently constituted.

 

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Compensation Committee

 

Our Compensation Committee consists of Michael Harlan, Qiang Liu and Alice Wu.  Mr. Harlan was the chairperson of our Compensation Committee. Effective February 11, 2017, Mr. Harlan and Ms. Wu were replaced by Ms. Yang Li and Ms. Junfeng Ma, respectively. Ms. Li became the chairperson of our Compensation Committee.

 

The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter, a copy of which is available on our website at http://www.yulongecomaterials.com under the tabs “Investor Relations” – “Corporate Governance” – “Nominations Committee Charter.” The Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

  reviewing and approving our overall compensation policies;

  

  reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our chief executive officer, evaluating our chief executive officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, reporting the results of such evaluation to the board of directors and determining our chief executive officer’s compensation level based on this evaluation;

 

  determining the compensation level of our other executive officers;

 

  making recommendations to the board of directors with respect to our incentive-compensation plan and equity-based compensation plans;

 

  administering our equity-based compensation plans in accordance with the terms thereof; and

 

  such other matters that are specifically delegated to the compensation committee by our board of directors from time to time.

 

Nominations Committee

 

Our Nominations Committee consists of Qiang Liu, Guosheng Liu and Alice Wu. Mr. Qiang Liu is the chairperson of our Nominations Committee. Effective February 11, 2017, Mr. Guosheng Liu and Ms. Alice Wu were replaced by Mr. Qingsheng Liu and Ms. Junfeng Ma, respectively. Mr. Qingsheng Liu became the chairperson of our Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee operated under a written charter, a copy of which is available on our website at http://www.yulongecomaterials.com under the tabs “Investor” – “Corporate Governance” – “Nominations Committee Charter.” Our Board has affirmatively determined that each member of our nominations committee meets the definition of an “independent director” under the NASDAQ listing rules.  The nominations committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

  seeking and evaluating qualified individuals to become new directors as needed;

 

  reviewing and making recommendations to the board of directors regarding the independence and suitability of each board member for continued service; 

 

  evaluating the nature, structure and composition of other Board committees; and

 

  advising the Board on corporate governance principles and practices applicable to the Company.

  

The Nominations Committee is responsible for reviewing the criteria for the selection of new directors to serve on the Board and reviewing and making recommendations regarding the composition and size of the Board. When our Board decides to seek a new member, whether to fill a vacancy or otherwise, the Nominations Committee will consider recommendations from other directors, management and others, including shareholders. In general, the Nominations Committee looks for directors possessing superior business judgment and integrity who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields and who have knowledge or experience in the areas of building products manufacturing, construction waste recycling or other aspects of the Company’s business, operations or activities. In selecting director candidates, the Nominations Committee also considers the interplay of the candidate’s experience with the experience of the other Board members.

 

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The Nominations will consider, for director nominees, persons recommended by shareholders, who may submit recommendations to the Nominations Committee in care of the Company’s Secretary, at Eastern End of Xiwuzhuang Village, Jiaodian Town, Xinhua Area, Pingdingshan, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China. To be considered by the Nominations Committee, such recommendations must be accompanied by a description of the qualifications of the proposed candidate and a written statement from the proposed candidate that he or she is willing to be nominated and desires to serve if elected. Nominees for director who are recommended by shareholders to the Nominations Committee will be evaluated in the same manner as any other nominee for director.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of the members of our Compensation Committee is an officer or employee of our company, nor have they ever been an officer or employee of our Company.  None of the executive officers of our Company has served on the Compensation Committee, or any other committee serving an equivalent function, of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as members of our Board or our Compensation Committee.

  

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act to oversee the Company’s corporate accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of its financial statements. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter, a copy of which is available on our website at http://www.yulongeco.com under the tabs “Investor Relations” – “Corporate Governance” – “Audit Committee Charter”, and was composed of our three (3) independent directors, Alice Wu, Michael Harlan and Guosheng Liu. Effective February 11, 2017, Ms. Alice Wu and Mr. Michael Harlan and Mr. Guosheng Liu were replaced by Ms. Junfeng Ma, Ms. Yang Li and Ms. Wengu Du, respectively.

 

Our Board has determined, based on information furnished by Ms. Wu and Ms. Ma and other available information, that Ms. Wu and Ms. Ma meet the requirements of an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in the rules promulgated under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and has accordingly designated them as such. Our Board also appointed Ms. Wu the chairperson of the Audit Committee. Effective February 11, 2017, our board appointed Ms. Ma the interim chairperson of the Audit Committee.

 

Our Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

  selecting the independent registered public accounting firm and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

  reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response;

 

  reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions, as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act;

 

  discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm;

  

  reviewing major issues as to the adequacy of our internal control and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; and

 

  meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The charter provides, among other things, that the Audit Committee has full authority to engage the independent auditor. In discharging its oversight responsibilities regarding the audit process, the Audit Committee:

 

  reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management;

 

  discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by the statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA,  Professional Standards , Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T;

  

  received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant's independence; and

 

  based on the review and discussions referred to above, recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

The Audit Committee of the Board

 

/s/ Junfeng Ma , Chairperson of the Audit Committee

/s/ Wenge Du , Member of the Audit Committee

/s/ Yang Li , Member of the Audit Committee

 

The foregoing Audit Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material or to be “filed” with the Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C (17 CFR 240.14a-1 through 240.14b-2 or 240.14c-1 through 240.14c-101), other than as provided in Item 407 of Regulation S-K, or to the liabilities of section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r) and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing of our company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this Audit Committee Report by reference therein.

   

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, as amended, requires our directors and certain of our officers, as well as persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities (“Reporting Persons”), to file reports with the SEC. To our knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and written representations that no other reports were required, and all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders were complied with during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, except as set forth below:

 

Mr. Guosheng Liu was late for filing his Form 3, and he resigned on February 11, 2017.

 

Mr. Qiang Liu was late for filing his Form 3.

 

Code of Ethical Conduct

 

We have adopted a code of ethical conduct, which applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including those officers responsible for financial reporting.  Our code of ethical conduct addresses, among other things, competition and fair dealing, conflicts of interest, financial matters and external reporting, company funds and assets, confidentiality and corporate opportunity requirements and a “whistleblower policy” which includes the process for reporting violations of the code of ethical conduct, employee misconduct, conflicts of interest or other violations.

 

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Role of the Board in Risk Oversight

 

One of the key functions of our board of directors is informed oversight of our risk management process. The Board does not have a standing risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through the Board as a whole, as well as through its standing committees that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight.  In particular, our Board is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure.  Our audit committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and management is undertaken.  The audit committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, in addition to oversight of the performance of our external audit function.  Our nominations committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines.  Our compensation committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The following table provides disclosure concerning all compensation paid for services to Yulong Group companies in all capacities for our fiscal years ended June 30, 2015 and 2016, provided by (i) each person serving as our principal executive officer, or PEO, (ii) each person serving as our principal financial officer, or PFO, and (iii) our two most highly compensated executive officers other than our PEO and PFO whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 (collectively with the PEO, referred to as the “named executive officers” in this “ Executive Compensation ” section).

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and 
Principal Position
  Fiscal 
Year
   

Salary

($)

    Bonus 
($)
    Stock 
Awards 
($)
    Option 
Awards 
($)
    Other 
Compensation ($)
    Total 
($)
 
                                           
Yulong Zhu (CEO)  (1)     2015          -          -           -         -              -          -  
      2016       300,000       -       -       -       -       300,000  
                                                         
Zan Wu (CFO)     2015       97,740       -       -       -       -       97,740  
      2016       180,000       -       125,000       -       -       305,000  

 

(1) Mr. Zhu did not receive any compensation from us or any of our subsidiaries or consolidated affiliated entities for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015.  

 

Grants of Plan Based Awards in the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2016

 

As of this annual report, we currently have a 2015 equity incentive plan pursuant to which no shares were authorized.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

No individual grants of stock options or other equity incentive awards have been made to our officers and directors for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

Employment Agreements

 

As of this annual report, we have entered into an employment agreement dated January 27, 2015 with our chief executive officer, Yulong Zhu, and an employment agreement dated July 28, 2014 with our chief financial officer, Zan Wu.

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Director Compensation

 

The following table provides compensation information for our directors during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016:

 

Name   Fees 
Earned or 
Paid in Cash
($)
    Stock 
Awards 
($)
    Option 
Awards 
($)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
    Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
    All Other
Compensation
($)
    Total
($)
 
Yulong Zhu (1)   $       -     $       -     $       -     $       -     $       -     $       -     $       -  
Alice Io Wai Wu (2)   $ 25,000     $ 20,000     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 45,000  
Michael W. Harlan (3)   $ 25,000     $ 20,000     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 45,000  
Wenge Du (4)   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  
Guosheng Liu (5)   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  
Qiang Liu (6)   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

 

(1) Mr. Zhu’s compensation is reflected in the Summary Compensation Table for our executive officers above.
(2)

Ms. Wu was appointed as a director of the Company in July 2015 and shall receive annual compensation at $25,000. Ms. Wu resigned from the Board of Directors on February 21, 2017 and was replaced by Ms. Junfeng Ma.

(3)

Mr. Harlan was appointed as a director of the Company in July 2015 and shall receive annual compensation at $25,000. Mr. Harlan resigned from the Board of Directors on February 21, 2017 and was replaced by Ms. Yang Li.

(4)

Ms. Du was appointed as a director of the Company in October 2015 and did not receive any compensation from us or any of our subsidiaries or consolidated affiliated entities.

(5)

Mr. Liu was appointed as a director of the Company in December 2015 and did not receive any compensation from us or any of our subsidiaries or consolidated affiliated entities. Mr. Liu resigned from the Board of Directors on February 21, 2017 and was replaced by Mr. Qingsheng Liu.

(6)

Mr. Liu was appointed as a director of the Company in December 2015 and did not receive any compensation from us or any of our subsidiaries or consolidated affiliated entities.

  

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

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of July 26, 2017 by our officers, directors and 5% or greater beneficial owners of common stock. There is no other person or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock.

 

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. The person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any security of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Unless otherwise indicated, the person identified in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by him, subject to applicable community property laws.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner     Number Common Stock Beneficially Owned     Percent of Class Beneficially Owned (1)  
Directors and Executive Officers:            
Yulong Zhu, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors     4,871,533       40.41 %
Zan Wu, Chief Financial Officer     20,000       *  
Junfeng Ma, Director     -       -  
Yang Li, Director     -       -  
Wenge Du, Director     1,733,426       14.38 %
Qingsheng Liu, Director     -       -  
Qiang Liu, Director     -       -  
All officers and directors as a group (seven persons)     6,624,959       54.95 %

 

* Represents less than 1%
(1) Applicable percentage of ownership is based on 12,055,324 shares of common stock outstanding as of July 26, 2017, together with securities exercisable or convertible into ordinary shares within sixty (60) days as of the date hereof for each stockholder.

  

Grants of Plan Based Awards in the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2016

 

We currently have a 2015 equity incentive plan pursuant to which no shares were authorized.

 

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

 

We control each of our consolidated affiliated entities through contractual arrangements between Yulong WFOE, our PRC subsidiary, and each of each of our consolidated affiliated entities and their shareholders.  Although current PRC regulations do not restrict or prohibit foreign investment in domestic companies engaging in businesses such as those of our consolidated affiliated entities, there is substantial uncertainty regarding the interpretation and application of such regulations especially by local governments.  To address such uncertainty, we operate in China through contractual arrangements, thereby avoiding the applicability of those PRC regulations governing foreign investments in domestic enterprises. 

 

Share Exchange Agreement  

 

On December 22, 2011, we entered into the Exchange Agreement with the following six individuals who are current or former shareholders of Yulong Group:  

 

Name of related parties   Relationship
     
Yulong Zhu   Founder
Guangjiang Zhu   Relative of founder
Hu Zhu   Relative of founder
Yingtao Miao   Relative of founder
Aimin Shi   Relative of founder and Executive Director of Yulong Transport
Liping Zhai   Relative of founder, Executive Director of Yulong Concrete and Supervisory Director of Yulong Transport

 

Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, we issued to such Shareholders and their assignees 6,840,000 Ordinary Shares in the aggregate (giving effect to the 4-for-5 reverse stock split effected on March 3, 2015) in exchange for 10,000 Ordinary Shares of Yulong BVI held by them, and as a result, Yulong BVI became our wholly owned subsidiary.

 

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Other Related Transactions

 

Loans from related parties

 

We have also borrowed from related parties on occasions, which are unsecured, non-interest bearing and due on demand.  Such loans consisted of the following amounts as of the periods indicated:

 

Name of related parties   Relationship   Nature of transactions   June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
                     
Yulong Zhu (1)   Founder   Loan from founder for operating cash flows   $ 1,488,794     $ 2,342,541  
Henan Yuliang Hotel Co., Ltd.   Owned by founder   Loan from founder's entity for operating cash flows     15,050       21,281  
Lei Zhu (2)   Relative of founder   Loan from relative of founder for operating cash flow     461,393       220,282  
Hu Zhu   Relative of founder   Loan from relative of founder for operating cash flow     -       -  
Total             1,965,237       2,584,104  
Total other payables - related parties - current             (1,965,237 )     (2,584,104 )
Total other payables - related parties - non-current           $ -     $ -  

 

(1)

Converted approximately $1.6 million into shares of the Company’s ordinary shares concurrently with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering of its ordinary shares on July 1, 2015 (the “IPO”), at the initial public price per share of $6.25 (the “IPO Price”).

   
(2)

Fully converted into shares of the Company’s ordinary shares concurrently with the closing of the IPO at the IPO Price.

 

The Company’s founder who is also its chief executive officer and majority shareholder has agreed to support the Company financially on an as needed basis, as he has done in the past.

 

Non-cash transactions with related parties

  

There were no non-cash transactions between related parties for the year ended June 30, 2016.

 

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Dividends payable to related parties

 

We have declared dividends for the benefits of our related parties, although they have agreed not to require payment thereof until December 31, 2016. The dividends payables consisted of the following amounts as of the periods indicated:

 

Name of related parties   Relationship   June 30,
2016
    June 30,
2015
 
                 
Yulong Zhu   Founder   $       -     $ 3,462,665  
Hu Zhu   Relative of Founder     -       2,212,315  
Guangjian Zhu   Relative of Founder; Purchase Manager of Yulong Concrete     -       1,773,900  
Yingtao Miao   Relative of Founder     -       545,245  
Total dividends payable       $ -     $ 7,994,125  

 

In connection with the closing of the IPO on July 1, 2015, the Company converted $9,959,613 other payable-related party which consists of five shareholders, including the founder, into 1,593,538 shares of ordinary shares. Out of the total other payable-related party, $9,959,613, the dividend payable, $7,994,125 was converted to equivalent to 1,279,060 shares of ordinary shares.

 

Review, Approval or Ratification of Related Party Transactions

 

Our audit committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all related party transactions that are required to be disclosed under the applicable rules of the SEC and NASDAQ, when appropriate, and authorizing or ratifying all such transactions in accordance with written policies and procedures established by our board of directors from time to time.  The audit committee may approve or ratify related party transaction only if it determines in good faith that under all the circumstances, the transaction is fair to us. 

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

On February 24, 2017, the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company appointed KSP Group, Inc. (“KSP”) as its new independent registered public accounting firm to audit and review the Company’s financial statements. During the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and any subsequent interim periods through the date hereof prior to the engagement of KSP, neither the Company, nor someone on its behalf, has consulted KSP regarding:

 

i. either: the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and either a written report was provided to the Company or oral advice was provided that the new independent registered public accounting firm concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or

 

ii. any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement as defined in paragraph 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K or a reportable event as described in paragraph 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

Simultaneously with the appointment of KSP, on February 24, 2017, Friedman LLP (“Friedman”) was terminated as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company. The decision to change audit firms from Friedman to KSP was approved by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

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Audit Fees. The following table shows the fees that were billed for audit and other services provided by KSP Group, Inc. our current independent registered public accounting firm and Friedman LLP, our former independent registered public accounting firm during the following fiscal years.

 

    For the Fiscal Years ended
June 30,
 
    2016     2015  
Audit Fees (1)   $ 70,000     $ 156,000  
Audit-related Fees (2)     -       118,320  
Tax Fees (3)     -       -  
All Other Fees (4)     -       -  
Total   $ 70,000     $ 274,320  

 

(1) Audit Fees - This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements, review of financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and services that are normally provided by independent auditors in connection with the engagement for the fiscal years. This category also includes advice on audit and accounting matters that arose during, or as a result of, the audit or the review of interim financial statements.  Audit fees for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 were billed by KSP Group, Inc.  Audit fees for the interim periods ended March 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015 were billed by Friedman LLP. Audit fees, $274,320, for fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 were billed by Friedman LLP.  

 

(2) Audit-Related Fees - This category consists of assurance and related services by our independent auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported above under "Audit Fees." The services for the fees disclosed under this category include review of financial statements in connection with the our initial Form S-1 Registration Statement and our correspondence with the SEC. Audit-related fees for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 were billed by Friedman LLP.  

 

(3) Tax Fees - This category consists of professional services rendered by our independent auditors for tax compliance and tax advice. The services for the fees disclosed under this category include tax return preparation and technical tax advice.

 

(4) All Other Fees - This category consists of fees for other miscellaneous items.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)    The following documents are included in this Report:

 

  (1) The items listed on the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 48 are filed as part of this Report.

 

  (2) Schedules are omitted because the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule or because the information required is given in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

  (3) The exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and Item 15(b) of this Report are listed in the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page of this Report and are incorporated herein. We have identified in the Exhibit Index each management contract and compensation plan filed as an exhibit to this Report in response to Item 15(a) (3) of Form 10-K.

 

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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.

 

 

YULONG ECO-MATERIALS LIMITED

(Registrant)

     
Date: August 25, 2017 By: /s/ Yulong Zhu
   

Yulong Zhu

Chief Executive Officer

 

Date: August 25, 2017 By: /s/ Shuai Wang
   

Shuai Wang

Chief Financial Officer

 

In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name   Title   Date
         
/s/ Yulong Zhu   Chief Executive Officer / Director    August 25, 2017
Yulong Zhu        
         
/s/ Shuai Wang   Chief Financial Officer   August 25, 2017
Shuai Wang        
         
/s/ Junfeng Ma   Director   August 25, 2017
Junfeng Ma        
         
/s/ Wenge Du   Director   August 25, 2017
Wenge Du        
         
/s/ Yang Li   Director   August 25, 2017
Yang Li        
         
/s/ Qingsheng Liu   Director   August 25, 2017
Qingsheng Liu        
         
/s/ Qiang Liu   Director   August 25, 2017
Qiang Liu        

 

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Document

3.1   Memorandum and Articles of Association of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of our DRS/A, filed on November 10, 2014);
4.1   Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for Ordinary Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registration statement on our Form S-1/A, filed on February 13, 2015);
4.2   Registration Rights Agreement between the registrant and other parties therein dated as of May 11, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of our DRS/A, filed on September 24, 2014);
4.3   Registration Rights Agreement between the registrant and other parties therein dated as of May 16, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of our DRS/A, filed on September 24, 2014).
10.1   Amendment to Option Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2015, among Yulong HK, Yulong WFOE and the shareholders of Yulong Renewable
10.2   Amendment to Voting Rights Proxy and Financial Supporting Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2015, among Yulong HK, Yulong WFOE and the shareholders of Yulong Renewable
10.3   English translation of Land Compensation/Lease Agreement executed on September 6, 2015
10.4   Employment Agreement between the registrant and Zan Wu dated July 28, 2014
10.5   Restricted Stock Award Agreement between the registrant and Zan Wu dated January 27, 2015
10.6   Employment Agreement between the registrant and Yulong Zhu dated January 27, 2015
10.7   English translation of Product Processing Agreement between Yulong Bricks and Zhongping Nenghua Group Hongrui New Construction Materials Co., Ltd., dated February 25, 2015
10.8   English translation of Agreement between Yingtao Miao and Yulong Concrete dated December 31, 2014
10.9*   Employment Agreement, dated August 25, 2017 by and between the Company and Shuai Wang
14*   Code of Ethics
21*   Subsidiaries of the registrant
31.1*   Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) (4) of Chief Executive Officer
31.2*   Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) (4) of Chief Financial Officer
32.1*   Certification Pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code of Chief Executive Officer
32.2*   Certification Pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code of Chief Financial Officer
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

 

* Filed herein.

 

 

66