UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
S
|
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
For the fiscal year ended
December
31, 2011
or
£
|
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
For the transition period from _____________
to ________________
Commission file number:
001-34445
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
Delaware
|
|
14-1961536
|
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
|
incorporation or organization)
|
|
|
|
|
|
c/o Lihua Holdings Limited
|
|
|
Houxiang Five-Star Industry District,
Danyang City, Jiangsu Province,
PRC
|
|
212312
|
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
|
(Zip Code)
|
Registrant’s telephone number,
including area code:
(86) 511 86317399
Securities registered pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Name of each
exchange on which registered:
NASDAQ Capital Market
Securities registered pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes
¨
No
¨
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
Act. Yes
¨
No
¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes
x
No
¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive
Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§229.405 of this chapter) during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes
x
No
£
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III
of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
£
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large
accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act.
Large accelerated filer
¨
|
Accelerated filer
x
|
|
|
Non-accelerated filer
¨
|
Smaller reporting company
¨
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
£
No
x
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting
stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2011 was approximately $96,459,206.
The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s
common stock as of March 9, 2012 was 30,084,883.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the Year Ended December 31, 2011
|
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
|
1
|
PART I
|
|
2
|
ITEM 1.
|
BUSINESS
|
2
|
|
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
|
21
|
|
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
|
34
|
ITEM 2.
|
PROPERTIES
|
34
|
ITEM 3.
|
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
|
34
|
ITEM 4.
|
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
|
34
|
PART II
|
|
35
|
ITEM 5.
|
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
|
35
|
ITEM 6.
|
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
|
37
|
ITEM 7.
|
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
|
39
|
|
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
|
51
|
ITEM 8.
|
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
|
52
|
ITEM 9.
|
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
|
52
|
|
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
|
52
|
|
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
|
53
|
PART III
|
|
53
|
ITEM 10.
|
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
|
53
|
ITEM 11.
|
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
60
|
ITEM 12.
|
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
|
69
|
ITEM 13.
|
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
|
70
|
ITEM 14.
|
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
|
71
|
PART IV
|
|
73
|
ITEM 15.
|
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
|
73
|
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. We have attempted to identify
forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “can”,
“continue”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”,
“plans”, “potential”, “predict”, “should” or “will” or the negative
of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Uncertainties and other factors, including
the risks outlined under Risk Factors contained in Item 1A of this Form 10-K, may cause our actual results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
A variety of factors, some of which
are outside our control, may cause our operating results to fluctuate significantly. They include:
|
·
|
changes
in end-user demand for the products manufactured and sold by our customers;
|
|
·
|
general and cyclical economic and business conditions, domestic or
foreign, and, in particular, those in China’s copper industries;
|
|
·
|
the rate of introduction of new products by our competitors and customers;
|
|
·
|
the rate of introduction of enabling technologies by our suppliers;
|
|
·
|
changes in our pricing policies or the pricing policies of our competitors
or suppliers;
|
|
·
|
our ability to compete effectively with our current and future competitors;
|
|
·
|
our ability to manage our growth effectively, including possible growth
through acquisitions;
|
|
·
|
our ability to enter into and renew key corporate and strategic relationships
with our customers and suppliers;
|
|
·
|
foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
|
|
·
|
adverse changes in the securities markets; and
|
|
·
|
legislative or regulatory changes in China.
|
Although we believe that the expectations
reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance
or achievements. Our expectations are as of the date this Form 10-K is filed, and we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the filing date to conform these statements to actual results, unless required by law.
We file annual reports on Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and proxy and information statements and amendments to reports filed
or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You may read and copy these
materials at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on
the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website
(http://www.sec.gov)
that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding us and other companies that file materials
with the SEC electronically. You may also obtain copies of reports filed with the SEC, free of charge, via a link included on our
website at
http://www.lihuaintl.com.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Company Overview
Business Overview
We were one of the first vertically
integrated companies in China to develop, design, manufacture, market and distribute low cost, high quality refined copper products
including copper anode, copper rod, pure superfine copper wire, and copper-clad aluminum superfine wire (“CCA”), which
is an alternative to pure superfine copper wire. We also use recycled scrap copper as a raw material to produce refined copper
products including copper anode and copper rod. Copper anode is the raw material for copper cathode, which is the fundamental
building block for most pure copper products. We currently use copper rod produced internally for the production of pure copper
superfine wire. Primarily because of its high electrical conductivity, pure copper wire is used in many components in a wide variety
of motorized and electrical appliances such as dishwashers, microwaves and automobiles. In most instances, our CCA wire and refined
copper rod and wire products are an excellent, less costly substitute for pure copper cable and wire products.
We sell copper anode primarily to
a few copper conglomerates in China. We sell our wire products directly to small and micro electronic motor manufacturers who in
turn sell to the consumer electronics, white goods, automotive, utility, telecommunications and specialty cable industries. Our
track record and reputation for producing high quality products in large quantities has paved the way for expansion of our customer
base. In the PRC, the market for copper products, which includes the copper wire industry, is large and growing. As a result, there
is strong demand for all of our products, and essentially all of our product sales are made to domestic customers in the PRC.
Prior to 2009, our business focused
primarily on CCA. Our CCA business consists of acquiring CCA with a line diameter of 2.60 mm from our suppliers as a raw material,
reducing the diameter of the CCA by drawing it and then annealing and coating it. Our final CCA product typically has diameters
from 0.03 mm to 0.18 mm, depending on customer specifications.
In the first quarter of 2009, we
began production of copper rod from recycled scrap copper. The copper rod we produce meets the national purity standard for pure
copper cable and wire. In August of 2010, we began production and sales of copper anode, another refined copper product produced
from recycled scrap copper, and increased our refined copper smelting capacity to 50,000 tons per annum. In October
2011, we completed capacity efficiency improvements to our two smelters and had increased annual production capacity of copper
anode and copper rod to 35,000 tons and 50,000 tons, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, our scrap copper refinery capacity
was approximately 85,000 tons per annum. To the extent our downstream wire-drawing capacity allows, we process our copper rod into
copper wire. Until the first half of 2010, because our output of copper rod exceeded our capacity to process it into
copper wire, we sold our excess copper rod to other wire manufacturers for further processing. Starting in the third
quarter of 2010, after we completed the wire drawing capacity expansion and reached 20,000 – 25,000 tons of annual drawing
capacity for wires with diameters ranging from 0.03mm – 1.60mm, we started using our copper rod output exclusively for internal
copper wire drawing. With the October 2011 copper rod capacity expansion to 50,000 tons per annum, we expect to sell excess copper
rod to the open market.
Because copper anode is the raw material
for copper cathode, which is the fundamental building block for most pure copper products, copper anode is an upstream product,
and the end market for copper anode covers most of the copper consumption market in the PRC. Our markets for our other
three main products overlap to a degree, and are characterized by their breadth and depth, with a very large number of current
and potential customers for each product category. Our refined copper products, copper anode and copper rod, which are manufactured
from recycled scrap copper, compete directly with the same products made from “virgin” (e.g. newly mined) pure copper.
To date, our raw material costs for bulk scrap copper have been lower than prices for virgin pure copper, which we believe provides
us with a pricing advantage in the market. Most of our copper anode customers are domestic copper conglomerates. Most
of our copper rod customers are producers of smaller diameter copper wire used in power cables ranging in size from high voltage
power transmission cables to white good applications such as internal wiring in household appliances and consumer electronics.
Our copper wire, which is sold in a variety of diameters and may undergo further in-line processing such as coating with plastic,
is sold to many of the same types of end-use customers who purchase copper wire from our copper rod customers. These include manufacturers
of a wide range of power cables and products that incorporate wiring, such as household appliances, automobiles, consumer electronics
and telecommunications equipment. Our CCA wire is sold to many of these manufacturers as well. CCA wire sells at a lower cost per
unit of weight than pure copper wire, due to the relatively lower density of the aluminum core which makes up most of the volume
of CCA wire. Our CCA wire offers conductivity performance characteristics that are only marginally below those of pure copper wire,
which means they are attractive in a wide variety of product applications where a slight reduction in conductivity standard is
tolerable (such as most household appliance, automotive, consumer electronics and telecommunications applications). One low tolerance
product category that requires pure copper wire rather than our less costly CCA wire is electric motors, which require pure copper
wire windings. The markets for each of our product lines are growing rapidly, due both to growing demand in the PRC for overall
copper consumption and all types of basic wire raw materials and the relative cost advantages our product lines carry over “virgin”
pure copper competitive products.
We believe that we are well positioned
to continue capturing further market share in the larger copper consumption market and the copper wire industry. We
generated sales of $637.1 million, $370.5 million and $161.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
We achieved net income of $53.1 million, $38.5 million and $13.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009,
respectively. In 2011, we had a $0.1 million non-cash gain on extinguishment of warrant liabilities and non-cash gain of $3.1 million,
which resulted from the change in the fair value of the warrants issued to investors in conjunction with the Company’s issuance
of convertible Preferred Stock in October 2008. Excluding the warrant related non-cash gain, net income for 2011 was $50.0 million,
up 25.9% from the same period last year of $39.7 million, which excluded net $1.3 million of non-cash charges related to changes
in the fair value of warrants.
Currently, our ability to increase
production and sales of our copper anode, copper rod, copper wire (drawn from copper rod) and CCA wire products (drawn from larger
diameter CCA wire) is limited by the equipment we have installed to produce these products. Our refined copper products are made
from bulk scrap copper, which is cleaned, purified and smelted in large capacity smelter units. At the present time we have two
smelting facilities, each of which was originally capable of producing approximately 25,000 tons of refined copper products per
year. In October 2011, we completed efficiency improvements to the two smelters, and have increased the production capacities of
each. As a result, the annual production capacity of the copper anode smelter has increased to 35,000 tons, and the annual production
capacity of the copper rod smelter has increased to 50,000 tons, after adding a vertical smelter on top of the original horizontal
one. As of December 31, 2011, we operated approximately 80 high speed wire drawing machines, which draw larger diameter copper
rod or CCA rod into much finer diameter wire, with a total capacity of approximately 7,500 tons per annum of superfine CCA wire
and approximately 20,000 to 25,000 tons per annum of superfine copper wire, with a diameter range of 0.03mm to 1.60mm. The above
referenced copper wire production capacity does not include the production of the thickest class of copper wire, that with diameter
range of 1.65mm to 1.75mm. Certain of these drawing machines incorporate additional production steps such as coating, annealing
or magnetizing the fine wire produced. These drawing machines are manufactured to our design and specifications by custom equipment
manufacturers located in the PRC. We are not dependent on any single custom equipment manufacturer for the fabrication
of our drawing lines. We started construction on a new plant, adjacent to the current plant, in November 2010, where
we initially plan to add two new smelters with annual capacity of 25,000 – 30,000 tons each. The two new smelters
will be dedicated to copper anode production. We are anticipating the new smelters to be completed and to start production
by the end of April 2012. We are also constructing more facilities on site to house production equipment for our new CCA cable
and wire product, as well as warehousing of materials. We expect to complete the construction of the entire new plant site in 2013.
We continuously pursue technological
innovations and improvements in our manufacturing processes. We have obtained one utility model patent in the PRC and have two
pending invention patent applications in the PRC related to our wire production process. We have formed R&D partnerships with
Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute and Beijing Modern Recycle Economy Research Institute. We believe that our emphasis
on technological innovations and production efficiency has contributed significantly to our leading industry position in the PRC
and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Further, significant barriers to entry make it difficult for newcomers to
successfully compete with our scrap copper refinery and superfine wire businesses. With respect to our scrap copper refinery business,
our proprietary cleaning process enhances scrap copper purity during the smelting process, and enables us to produce high
purity refined copper products, which meet the industry standard for pure copper product. With respect to CCA, during
the process of drawing, annealing and coating CCA, it is challenging to maintain the integrity of copper and aluminum weight and
volume distribution without breakage, especially for finer diameter wires. Our knowledge and experience in successfully generating
high quality CCA fine and super fine wires put us at a significant advantage over would-be competitors. With respect to pure copper
wire, our proprietary recycling technology offers us a unique ability to produce high quality pure copper wire from scrap copper.
This enables us to have a lower raw material cost base compared to pure copper wire produced from “virgin” pure copper
sourced from copper mines. Our experience and technology allow us to offer products that are, in most instances, more cost-effective
to those that our potential competitors can produce. Because we are already an approved vendor for many of our customers and qualifying
new vendors can be time-consuming for customers, we believe we are further advantaged vis-à-vis potential competitors.
To minimize exposure to copper commodity
risk, we seek to minimize our raw material inventory. In addition, we charge a fixed dollar processing fee for most of our products
thus enabling us to pass most of the underlying copper price exposure to our customers, and minimize our exposure to copper price
fluctuation. We further confirm raw material purchase orders for scrap copper or CCA with suppliers for each sales order only when
the applicable sales order has been received. On the other hand, our principal CCA and scrap copper suppliers usually dedicate
portions of their inventories as reserves to meet our manufacturing requirements. We have built a large network of reliable suppliers
that deliver high quality raw materials, and accordingly, are not dependent upon any one supplier.
We believe that our experienced management
team will continue to leverage our leading technologies and increase capacity to manufacture, produce, market and distribute cost-effective,
high quality refined copper and superfine copper and CCA wire products. If worldwide demand for alternatives to pure copper wire
grows as we anticipated, and we continue to innovate and improve our processes, we believe we will be well positioned to compete
in the copper consumption and copper wire market on a global scale.
Our Strengths
We believe that the following strengths
have contributed to our competitive position in China:
Leading market position and
early-mover advantage
. We are one of the few scrap copper refineries in China that can produce high
purity refined copper products with a purity level as high as 99.96%, exceeding the national pure copper wire
standard. We believe we were one of the first companies in China to produce CCA superfine wire on a commercial
scale, and currently we are one of the leading CCA superfine wire producers in China, as measured by our current annual CCA
superfine wire production capacity of 7,500 tons.
The early-mover advantage coupled
with our reputation for high quality products has enabled us to establish a wide array of customer and supplier relationships and
to expand our relationships with our existing customers. We believe we are well positioned to leverage our increasing production
scale and to expand our customer base and product portfolio, to meet China’s growing demand for copper products including
copper cable and wire products.
Proprietary automated and efficient
production facility that can be scaled to meet increased demand
. To cope with increased demand, we have rapidly
continued to expand our production facility: our CCA wire production capacity increased from 2,200 tons per annum in 2006 to 7,500
tons per annum as of December 31, 2011. In March 2009 we launched scrap copper refinery production and have since built refined
copper production capacity to 85,000 tons per annum, and pure copper superfine wire drawing capacity to 20,000 – 25,000 tons
per annum, as of December 31, 2011. We are planning to add two new smelting facilities by end of April 2012, increasing
our scrap copper refinery capacity to between 135,000 and 145,000 tons.
Efficient proprietary production
technology
. We continually pursue technological improvements to our manufacturing processes via our strong
in-house development teams. We have obtained one utility model patent for our wire manufacturing process, and have two other pending
invention patents related to our wire production processes. In addition, we have entered into technology cooperation agreements
with research institutes to develop new techniques and processes. Our research and development (“R&D”) efforts
have generated technological improvements that have been instrumental in controlling our production costs and increasing our operational
efficiency. The combination of our trade secrets and our proprietary production technology enables us to use lower-cost recycled
copper feedstock and to produce wire with a smaller line diameter.
Rigorous quality control
standards
. Consistent with our continuing commitment to quality, we impose rigorous quality control standards
at each stage of our production process. Since January 2007, our plant has maintained ISO9001:2000, a certification of quality
management systems maintained by the International Organization of Standardization and administered by certification and accreditation
bodies, which is subject to annual review. In addition, our plant has obtained ISO14001 environmental management standard certification.
For copper magnet wire, we obtained
a National Industrial Production License for copper magnet wire in January 2009 and satisfied the UL standard in October 2008.
According to a test report dated April 17, 2008, China’s Machinery Industry Quality Supervision and Test Center For Electrical
Material and Special Wire and Cable, a government inspection and testing agency, recycled copper rod produced by us satisfied the
national standard for electrical copper wire, GB/T3952-1998. We believe these testing results demonstrate our commitment to producing
high-quality products as well as provide us with a competitive advantage over certain domestic competitors in the event China implements
stricter fuel-quality standards in the future.
Strong technology improvement
and R&D capabilities
. Our technology improvement and R&D infrastructure includes a team of more than
30 professionals focusing on quality assurance, equipment maintenance, process maintenance and improvement, and new product and
process R&D. We have formed R&D partnerships with Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute and Beijing Modern Recycle
Economy Research Institute. We absorb most of the technology related expenses in our production costs, and thus have only incurred
R&D costs at very low levels in past years. We were granted one utility model patent and have two pending invention patents
relating to our production process. We believe our knowledge and experience in R&D are the key reasons why we were able to
become one of the earliest and leading CCA manufacturers in China and enabled us to expedite the launch of our refined superfine
copper wire production. In addition, our scrap copper refinery operation utilizes a proprietary cleaning solution to cleanse and
refine recycled scrap copper to high purity copper rod product which meets the national industry standard for pure copper. As a
result, we have been able to take advantage of this emerging market opportunity given the growth in China’s copper consumption.
Experienced management and operations
teams with local market knowledge
. Our senior management team and key operating personnel have extensive management
skills, relevant operating experience and industry knowledge. Mr. Zhu, our founder, Chairman and CEO, has extensive experience
managing and operating companies in the cable and wire industry. We believe our management team’s in-depth knowledge of the
Chinese market will enable us to formulate sound expansion strategies and to take advantage of market opportunities.
Our Strategies
We will continue to strive to be
a leading supplier of copper replacement products in the PRC, while maximizing shareholder value and pursuing a growth strategy
that includes:
Developing market driven new products
and processes
. We consistently pursue technological improvements to our manufacturing processes and new product
development through our strong in-house technology development team. Our R&D efforts have generated technological improvements
that have been instrumental in controlling our production costs and increasing our operational efficiency. Our combination of trade
secrets and proprietary production technology enables us to use lower-cost feedstock and to attain higher product quality. We have
formed R&D partnerships with Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute and Beijing Modern Recycle Economy Research Institute.
Through innovation and further production efficiencies, we believe our emphasis on R&D will enable us to maintain our position
as a leading copper replacement product supplier in the PRC.
Reliable supplier network for
low cost raw materials
. We maintain long-term supply relationships with several key suppliers. We believe
many of our suppliers prefer to sell raw materials to us due to our track record for prompt payment as well as our ability to accept
large quantities of raw materials. Our long-standing supplier relationships provide us with a competitive advantage in China, and
we intend to broaden these relationships to parallel our efforts to increase the scale of our production facilities, thereby maintaining
a diverse supplier network while leveraging our purchasing power to obtain favorable price and delivery terms. With the launch
of the scrap copper refinery business, we have also established a scrap copper warehouse in one of the largest scrap metal markets
in China. In anticipation for future scrap copper refinery capacity expansion, we have obtained scrap metal import license in 2011.
However, we are not likely to ramp up direct scrap copper import volume until we are able to obtain trade letters of credits from
banks with reasonable terms.
Production capacity expansion
. In
order to accommodate the rapidly increasing demand for our products, we have expanded, and plan to continue to expand, our manufacturing
capacity. An increase in capacity has a significant effect on our results of operations, both in allowing us to produce and sell
more products and achieve higher revenues, and in lowering our manufacturing costs resulting from economies of scale. We have expanded
rapidly since we launched our CCA wire production in 2006. The following table sets forth information on the historical development
of our production facilities:
|
|
Plant 1
|
|
Plant 2
|
|
Plant 3
|
Location
|
|
Danyang, Jiangsu
|
|
Danyang, Jiangsu
|
|
Danyang, Jiangsu
|
Began construction
|
|
March 1999
|
|
March 2008
|
|
November 2010
|
Began production
|
|
January 2006
|
|
March 2009
|
|
Smelters construction
expected to be
completed by end of April 2012; with
remaining site
construction expected
to be completed in
2013
|
Capacity as of December, 2011 (metric tons per year)
|
|
CCA wire-7,500
|
|
Copper refinery-85,000
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
|
Copper wire-20,000 – 25,000
|
|
|
Site area (square meters)
|
|
11,000
|
|
66,000
|
|
125,000
|
We believe our expansion strategy
will enable us to benefit from continued growth in overall copper demand in the PRC. The following sets out our plans to ramp up
our annual manufacturing capacity:
Selectively pursue acquisition
opportunities
. Although we have not identified a potential acquisition target(s), we may in the future look to acquire
businesses or assets that may enhance our market position.
Strengthening our relationships
with key customers and diversifying our customer base
. We intend to strengthen our existing relationships with key
customers while further expanding our customer base. We plan to continue providing high-quality and cost-competitive products to
our existing customers and use our existing customer network and strong industry reputation to expand geographically to strategic
locations across China. We plan to increase our sales service personnel to further expand our supplier and customer base and to
provide increased coverage of the market. To assist our efforts, we intend to continue to use customer feedback to improve our
service quality and strengthen our long-term customer base.
Competition
The PRC is the world’s largest
country for copper products consumption and is also the largest producer and market for cable and wire. Our sales are predominantly
in the PRC, and as a result, our primary competitors are PRC domestic companies. To a lesser degree we face competition from international
companies.
We believe we are the leading CCA
superfine wire manufacturer in China in terms of market share, and we will soon become one of the leading scrap copper recyclers
in the nation, with our aggressive growth in scrap copper refinery capacity.
We believe being located in the PRC
provides us with a number of competitive advantages within our industry, such as:
|
·
|
Pricing. Low cost of shipping from being geographically
close to our customers and low cost of raw material and labor provide us with cost and pricing advantage;
|
|
·
|
Technology. Developed proprietary technologies from
being in the PRC copper industry and possess good knowledge of the supply and demand trend in the local market; and
|
|
·
|
Barriers to entry. Strong customer relationships
and superior product quality benefiting from our proprietary technology, as well as access to capital from being a public company.
|
Competition in the bimetallic and
scrap copper recycling and refinery industry, particularly in the PRC, can be characterized by rapid growth and a concentration
of manufacturers. We believe we differentiate ourselves by being an early mover in the industry, and by offering superior product
quality, timely delivery and better value. We believe we have the following advantages over our competitors:
|
·
|
the performance and cost effectiveness of our products;
|
|
·
|
our ability to manufacture and deliver products in required volumes,
on a timely basis, and at competitive prices;
|
|
·
|
superior quality and reliability of our products;
|
|
·
|
our after-sale support capabilities, from both an engineering and
an operational perspective;
|
|
·
|
excellence and flexibility in operations;
|
|
·
|
effectiveness of customer service and a seasoned sales force to assist
our customers; and
|
|
·
|
overall management capability.
|
Corporate Structure
The following diagram illustrates
our corporate structure as of December 31, 2011. All of our subsidiaries are owned directly by us.
Manufacturing
Process
Copper recycling
Our copper recycling pre-treatment
phase utilizes our proprietary cleaning technology with respect to which we have applied for an invention patent. The process involves
manually or mechanically sorting, stripping, shredding and magnetically separating the scrap copper. The scrap copper is then compacted
and pre-treated with chemicals. Following the pre-treatment phase, the metal is smelted and fire refined in a furnace. The furnace
refining process commences with loading the furnace with the pre-treated metal, smelting it, and then refining and reducing it.
Thereafter, the molten copper is continually belt cast and further treated, and the refined copper product is ultimately molded
or shaped for further processing or sale.
Wire processing
Our fine and superfine wire drawing
process utilizes either our recycled copper rod or CCA and involves drawing the wire to the desired final diameter. Whether using
recycled copper rod or CCA, the drawing process entails multiple steps, including heat treating, annealing, baking, cooling, quenching
and spooling, as may be necessary to achieve the desired wire diameter and other customer specifications. The CCA drawing process,
however, is more complex than the process for using recycled copper rod, and utilizes our proprietary trade secrets to ensure that
the wire maintains the original bimetallic bond from the raw material. The fine or superfine wire is either sold to customers or
is coated and further processed to become magnet wire.
The following illustration is a simplified
outline of our process:
Products
We were one of the first vertically
integrated companies in the PRC to develop, design, manufacture, market and distribute low cost, high quality refined copper products. Our
products consist of high purity copper products refined from scrap and bi-metallic copper products.
Copper Anode
An anode is an electrode through
which electric current flows into a polarized electrical device. Copper anode is the raw material for the production
of copper cathode, which is the fundamental building block of most of the pure copper products. The copper anode we
produce is in a very heavy, dull looking copper pallet form.
In July of 2010, we completed the
construction of a scrap copper smelter dedicated to the production of copper anode. We started manufacturing and selling
copper anode in August of 2010, mainly to the larger copper entities which produce and sell copper cathode to domestic PRC copper
products manufacturers.
Copper Rod and Copper Wire
In March 2009, we launched the manufacturing
of copper rod from our newly acquired continuous production system for fire refining, melting and rod casting. We use scrap copper
as the raw material for the refined pure copper rod. We use copper rod produced internally as raw material for pure copper wire.
The
following table has set out the end uses of copper rod based wire products:
Cable
|
·
|
telephone drop wire and conductors;
|
|
·
|
electric utilities; transmission lines, grid wire, fence and structured
grounds;
|
|
·
|
industrial drop wire, magnet wire, battery cables, automotive wiring
harnesses; and
|
|
·
|
electronics: radio frequency shielding
|
Magnet wire
|
·
|
Used in electronic motors, transformers, water pumps, automobile meters,
energy, industrial, commercial, and residential industries.
|
The superfine pure copper wire we
manufacturer is stretched from the copper rod we produce from the scrap copper refinery. We produce and distribute pure
copper superfine wire in the following forms:
|
·
|
Fine wire.
Fine wire is sold to smaller wire manufacturers
for further processing; and
|
|
·
|
Magnet wire.
Magnet wire can be fine or super fine
and is the basic building block of a wide range of motorized appliances and is mainly used for its electrical conductivity.
|
|
·
|
Tin plated wire.
Tin plated wire is mainly used
for the transmission of audio and visual signals.
|
We produce in accordance with
customer orders and we customize our products based on customer specifications.
Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA) Superfine Wire
CCA is an electrical conductor consisting
of an outer sleeve of copper that is metallurgically bonded to a solid aluminum core. This structure is set out in the following
CCA illustration:
Note: The illustration is not drawn to scale.
Since approximately year 2005, CCA
in China has become a viable and popular alternative to pure copper wire. In comparison with solid copper wire, CCA raw material
costs are generally 35% to 40% lower per ton. CCA and pure copper raw materials are purchased based on weight. Since aluminum accounts
for approximately eighty six percent (86%) by volume of CCA wire, each ton of CCA wire can yield 2.5 times the length of each ton
of solid copper wire. Our CCA products are a cost effective substitute for pure copper wire in a wide variety of applications such
as wire and cable, consumer electronic products, white goods, automotive parts, utility applications, telecommunications, and specialty
cables.
We produce CCA wire with the line
diameter in the range of 0.03 mm to 0.18 mm. We produce and distribute wire in the following forms:
|
·
|
Fine wire.
Fine wire is sold to smaller wire manufacturers
for further processing; and
|
|
·
|
Magnet wire.
Magnet wire can be fine or super fine
and is the basic building block of a wide range of motorized appliances and is mainly used for its electrical conductivity.
|
|
·
|
Tin plated wire.
Tin plated wire is mainly used
for the transmission of audio and visual signals.
|
We produce our wire products in accordance
with customer orders and we customize our products based on customer specifications. Customer specifications vary depending on
the end use of the CCA wire, but are primarily determined based upon two measurements, the thickness of the copper layer on the
aluminum core and the diameter of the CCA wire.
Quality Control
We apply rigorous quality control
standards and have implemented safety procedures at all phases of our production process. Since January 2007, our plant has maintained
ISO9001:2000, a certification of quality management systems maintained by the International Organization of Standardization and
administered by certification and accreditation bodies. In addition, our plant has obtained ISO14001 environment management standard
certification.
Quality assurance efforts have been made on various
lines of products in the following ways:
|
·
|
Copper magnet wire.
We strictly follow the mandatory
national product standard in China, and obtained National Industrial Production License for copper magnet wire in January 2009
and satisfied UL standards in October 2008.
|
|
·
|
Scrap copper refinery.
According to a test report
dated April 17, 2008 of China’s Machinery Industry Quality Supervision and Test Center For Electrical Material and Special
Wire and Cable, a government inspection and testing agency, our copper rod satisfied the national standard for electrical copper
wire, GB/T3952-1998.
|
|
·
|
CCA wire.
We strictly follow the industry recommended
standards.
|
We believe the testing results we
have obtained demonstrate our commitment to producing high-quality products and provide us with a competitive advantage over certain
domestic competitors in the event China implements stricter quality standards in the future.
Raw Materials and Suppliers
For the superfine CCA wire product
we produce, we primarily use CCA wire with a line diameter of 2.60 mm, produced by our bimetallic wire suppliers, to manufacture
superfine CCA wire. Our raw material procurement policy is to use only long-term suppliers who have demonstrated quality control,
reliability and maintain multiple supply sources so that supply problems with any one supplier will not materially disrupt our
operations. In order to avoid copper price volatility exposure, we do not maintain raw material inventory of CCA. We confirm raw
material purchase orders with suppliers only when the relevant sales orders are received from our customers. On the other hand,
because of the long-term relationship that we have maintained with our suppliers, our principal suppliers usually dedicate portions
of their inventories as reserves to meet our manufacturing requirements. Suppliers are generally paid with a credit term of 30
days. We use pure copper rod produced internally as raw material for the pure copper wire product.
For our scrap copper refinery, we
primarily use No. 2 scrap copper in our production of two types of recycled copper products: copper anode and copper rod, which
is the raw material for our pure copper wire product. We purchase the materials through dealers and the scrap metal market. We
have recently established a scrap copper raw material warehouse in one of China’s largest scrap metal markets. Scrap copper
is generally purchased with cash on delivery terms. We believe that we will have access to an adequate supply of scrap copper on
satisfactory commercial terms due to the numerous scrap dealers located throughout Guangdong Province in the PRC.
For each of the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, our five largest suppliers accounted for 74%, 51% and 73% of our total purchases, respectively,
and our single largest supplier accounted for 20%, 13% and 38% of our total purchases, respectively. We believe that we will
have access to an adequate supply of raw material on satisfactory commercial terms. In 2011, our top five suppliers were as follows:
|
·
|
Wanyuye Import & Export Co.
|
|
·
|
Yian Recycling Metal Co., Ltd.
|
|
·
|
Zhaoqing Golsen Trumpet Shell Recycling Co.,
Ltd
|
|
·
|
Nanhai Meiyada Metal Co., Ltd.
|
|
·
|
Nanhai Tianyuanhe Metal Co., Ltd.
|
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
Chinese domestic market sales account
for a majority of our revenue. We target our sales efforts primarily in the coastal provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui
and Jiangsu, as well as Shanghai region, where the majority of our customers are located. We have a sales staff of approximately
43 employees. We maintain ten sales offices in the PRC, including five in Guangdong, two in Zhejiang, one in Fujian, one in Shandong,
and one in Anhui. We participate in industry expositions in which we showcase our products and services and from which we obtain
new customers.
We have a small fleet of trucks that
deliver merchandise to customers located within three hours of our production facilities. Alternatively, we contract with independent
third-party trucking companies to deliver our products when necessary.
Customers
We sell our products in China either
directly to manufacturers or through distributors in the wire and cable industries and manufacturers in the consumer electronics,
white goods, automotive, utility, telecommunications and specialty cable industries. Our customer base in the wire category has
been very diversified with over 100 customers in total as of December 31, 2011. Since we started offering copper anode
in August 2010, we are seeing some customer concentration since by the nature of the product, most of our anode customers are domestic
copper conglomerates.
For the years ended December
31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, our five largest customers accounted for 6.9%, 36.5% and 49.0% of our total sales, respectively, and
the single largest customer accounted for 1.6%, 12.7% and 25.3% of our total sales, respectively. We generally extend
unsecured credit for 30 days to large or established CCA wire customers with good credit history. In terms of the refined
copper products, we typically do not extend credit terms for more than 7 days. Historically the Company had not
experienced customer payment delays or delinquencies, however management reviews its accounts receivable on a regular basis
to determine if adequate allowance for doubtful accounts should be created.
Research and Development
Our scrap copper recycling and superfine
wire manufacturing technology were developed and refined in-house by our technology improvement and R&D team. This team comprises
over 30 professionals focusing on quality assurance, equipment maintenance, process maintenance and improvement, and new product
and process R&D.
We absorb most of the development
technology related expenses in our production costs, and thus have only reported R&D costs at very low levels in the past years.
For each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, we reported R&D costs of $141,258, $184,441 and $ 954,299.
The material increase in 2011 R&D costs from that of 2010 is mainly the result of the R&D expenses incurred for our new
CCA cable and wire product we were developing in partnership with Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute.
We believe our commitment to, and
knowledge and experience in, R&D are the key reasons why we were one of the earliest and leading CCA wire manufacturers. This
expertise has enabled us to expedite the launch and expansion of our superfine copper wire production as well as scrap copper refinery
production. Therefore, we were able to take advantage of the market given the continued growth in copper products demand in China.
We plan to continue our R&D efforts,
to maintain and strengthen our leading position in China, and to expand into new products and markets.
On December 18, 2006, Lihua Electron
entered into a long term technology cooperation agreement (the “Long Term Technology Cooperation Agreement”) with China
Jiangsu University whereby Jiangsu University and Lihua Electron agreed to enter into future technology project agreements and
establish a “Co-Lab Center of Jiangsu University-DanyangLihua Electron Co. Ltd.”, which is the Research Centre and
Training Centre for Jiangsu University’s students. The Long Term Technology Cooperation Agreement commenced on January 1,
2007 and terminated on December 31, 2011.
In 2011, Lihua Electron entered into
research and development agreements with Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute for the research and development of new CCA
products. Lihua Copper cooperated with Beijing Modern Recycling Economy Research Institute in the development and planning of long-term
copper recycling technology.
Financial Information About Segments
For financial information regarding
our segments, please refer to Note 23 to our financial statements included in this Annual Report, which is incorporated herein
by reference.
Intellectual Property
Our manufacturing processes are based
on technology substantially developed in-house by our R&D and engineering personnel. We rely on a combination of patent, trade
mark, domain names and confidentiality agreements to protect our intellectual property. We require all members of our senior management
and our key R&D personnel to sign agreements with us which stipulate, among other things, confidentiality obligations and restrictions
on the assignment of intellectual property.
We were granted a utility model patent
(patent no.: ZL 2008 2 0034139.8) by the State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC for our “Oxygen-free copper rod pressure
cut off device,” effective as of April 16, 2008. The term of this patent is 10 years from the effective date. We have no
foreign patents. We currently have the following two invention patent applications pending in the PRC:
Name of IP right
|
|
Application
Number
|
|
Company
|
|
Date of Application
|
|
Status of
Applica
tion
|
1. The production process for copper clad aluminum magnet wire
|
|
200710131529.7
|
|
Lihua Electron
|
|
September 4, 2007
|
|
Patent pending
|
2. Production technology of copper clad magnesium aluminum wire
|
|
200810023487.X
|
|
Lihua Electron
|
|
April 16, 2008
|
|
Patent pending
|
|
·
|
We are currently using the trademark “Lihua” for all our
products. We have applied to register the trademarks “Mei Lihua” in the PRC.
|
|
·
|
We are not aware of any material infringement of our intellectual
property rights.
|
Employees
As of December 31, 2011, we had 354 full time
employees.
Insurance
We maintain various insurance policies
to safeguard against risks and unexpected events. In protecting against work-related casualties and injuries, we purchase accidental
injury insurance policies for our employees. In addition, we provide social security insurance including pension insurance, unemployment
insurance, work related injury insurance and medical insurance for our employees. We also maintain insurance for our plants, machinery,
equipment, inventories and motor vehicles. We do not have product liability insurance for our products. All of our products have
met the relevant regulatory requirements under PRC laws and we have not been subject to any material fines or legal action involving
product non-compliance.
Financial Information About Geographic Areas
We produce and sell all our products to PRC based customers.
Industry and Market Overview
Copper
Copper ranks
third in the world consumption of metals after iron and aluminum and is broadly used in a variety of industries and applications.
According to preliminary data from the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) global mines produced approximately 16 million tons
of copper in 2010 and nearly 14.6 million tons of copper from January through November 2011; copper smelter production reached
over 14.5 million tons and refinery production rose to 19 million tons in 2010 and 17.9 million tons through the first 11 months
of 2011. The global demand for copper continues to grow due to expanding industries such as electrical and electronic products,
building construction, industrial machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, and consumer and general products.
As a malleable
and ductile metal, copper is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity that is corrosion resistant and antimicrobial while
maintaining exceptional strength. Copper’s chemical, physical and aesthetic properties make it an attractive choice for a
wide range of applications including electronics and communications, construction, transportation, and industrial equipment.
The chief commercial
use of copper is based on its electrical conductivity, which is second only to that of silver among all metals. Electrical uses
account for majority of copper consumption, including power transmission and generation, building wiring, telecommunication, and
electrical and electronic products. Copper is an essential component of energy efficient generators, motors, transformers and renewable
energy production. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, fuel cells and other technologies are all heavily
reliant on copper due to its excellent conductivity. Copper is also heavily relied upon as a raw material in constructions, transportation,
industrial machinery and equipment and consumer products and white goods.
The following
chart shows the global consumption of copper from 2000 – 2009, by geographic region.
According to
the World Bureau of Metal Statistics, in 2011, the PRC consumed nearly 7.91 million tons of copper, accounting for 40% of worldwide
copper consumption. The PRC’s consumption continues to outpace its production of copper, making it among the largest importers
of the non-precious metal. In 2009 the PRC was the world’s leading importer of refined copper, copper ore and copper concentrates.
The shortfall in production was satisfied through recycling of scrap copper as well as copper imports, which are more expensive
due to freight costs. Lihua believes that the PRC’s continued urbanization should continue to drive strong copper consumption
within the PRC, as well as China's 12th Five-Year Plan in which the Chinese government has earmarked investment of over RMB10 trillion
over the next five years to stimulate commercial opportunities across seven core industries, all of which will require an accelerated
need for copper. According to PRC copper industry analyst, the PRC copper consumption in 2012 will increase by 6.4% over prior
year.
The following chart shows the global
consumption of copper in 2009, by geographic region.
2009 World Copper Consumption
Source: ICSG, World Copper Factbook
2010
Refined Copper
The dynamics of constrained supply
and growing demand in the PRC, as well as the resulting price surge, has contributed to the continued search for cost effective
alternatives to pure copper. Manufacturers in the cable and wire industry have begun pursuing and adopting alternative technologies,
including the use of scrap copper. According to ICSG, refined copper usage (usage by semi plants or the first users of copper)
accounted for approximately 19.4 million tons in 2010 and 18.3 million tons through the first 11 months of 2011.
Copper is also one of the most recycled
of all metals. Recycled copper (also known as secondary copper) represents scrap copper that has been fire-refined, or that has
been converted to anode at the smelter level and then electrolytically refined. The recovery process for recycling and refining
scrap copper is divided into four separate operations:
|
·
|
Scrap pre-treatment:
the pre-treatment process includes the
cleaning and consolidation of scrap in preparation for smelting.
|
|
·
|
Smelting:
Smelting consists of heating and treating the scrap
for separation and purification of specific metals.
|
|
·
|
Alloying:
Alloying involves the addition of other metals to
copper to obtain desirable qualities characteristic of the combination of metals.
|
|
·
|
Casting:
In the casting process, the molten metal is poured
into molds for being turned into different shapes.
|
We use recycled
scrap copper as raw material to produce our refined copper products including copper anode and copper rod. To produce
pure copper superfine wire products, we primarily use copper rod. These products provide a cost effective alternative to newly
mined copper products and lower raw material costs, while meeting the requirements of pure copper products based on the employment
of our proprietary recycling technology.
A price spread between refined copper
and scrap copper, reflecting the profit for the recycling process, fluctuates in relation to the movement of copper prices, as
well as scrap consumption. To minimize its exposure to copper commodity risk, we maintain minimal raw material inventory and charges
a fixed-dollar processing fee for most of its products. In doing so, we are able to pass through nearly 100% of the underlying
copper price exposure to its customers, so that our profit and margins are not impacted by fluctuating copper prices.
The
PRC is
a net importer of copper and has deficient copper reserves. In recent years, the PRC has significantly grown its
refining capacity. To meet increased demand, the PRC has been importing raw materials including scrap copper to fill the gap.
In the first
eleven months of 2011, the PRC’s scrap copper imports advanced to 4.24 million tons, a 7.9% increase compared with the comparable
period in 2010. The PRC government has also established industrial policies to encourage the use of scrap copper. In 2007 the import
duty on scrap copper in the PRC, historically 1.5%, was removed. China’s 11th Five-Year (2006 – 2010) Plan
encouraged the greater use of scrap metals to help alleviate a shortfall in supplies and set the target consumption of secondary
copper at 35% of total national copper consumption. China’s 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015) places an emphasis on internal
markets and domestic demand including industrial structures that emphasize added value, including a focus on energy, environmental
and next generation telecom equipment industries, all of which bode well for heightened copper demand and consumption.
Source: General Administration of Customs, October 2010
Copper Clad Aluminum (“CCA”) Wire
CCA bimetallic materials are an ideal
substitute for pure copper, a major raw material component of magnet wire, and a prime alternative to satisfy China’s demand.
Bimetallic materials have been in existence for decades, but until recently they have only been selectively adopted due to higher
production costs and historically low copper prices. However, as the price of copper increased in recent years, companies have
started to use CCA bimetallic materials as an alternative.
CCA wire is the wire composed of
an inner aluminum core and outer copper cladding. CCA wire has a significant cost advantage over copper because its main constituent,
aluminum is a cheaper metal. In addition to the cost advantages, the properties of CCA wire include:
|
·
|
Lighter than pure copper wire;
|
|
·
|
Higher conductivity and strength than pure aluminum wire; and
|
|
·
|
Better solderability than aluminum, due to the lack of an oxide layer
which prevents solder adhesion when soldering bare aluminum.
|
However, CCA wire has a high fabrication
cost, as the cladding process is more complex than conventional wire-drawing. As a result, developed economies have not widely
used CCA since the higher fabrication costs offsets the lower cost of raw material.
As a result of the changes in the
market conditions in recent years, PRC-based companies perceived a potential market opportunity and added capacity for production
of CCA wire. This has in turn resulted in improvements in the production process and made increased production volumes of CCA wire
available from the PRC. As a result of the increased production capacity, the PRC has become leading global supplier in CCA market.
Our Corporate History and Background
From the date of our incorporation
until October 31, 2008, we were a “blank check” company with nominal assets. We were originally incorporated in the
State of Delaware on January 24, 2006 under the name of Plastron Acquisition Corp. for the purpose of raising capital to be used
to merge, acquire, or enter into a business combination with an operating business.
Ally Profit was incorporated in the
British Virgin Islands on March 12, 2008 under the Business Companies Act of 2004. In June 2008, Ally Profit became the parent
holding company of a group of companies comprised of Lihua Holdings, a company organized under the laws of Hong Kong and incorporated
on April 17, 2008, which is the 100% shareholder of each of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper, each a limited liability company organized
under the existing laws of the PRC. Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper were incorporated on December 30, 1999 and August 31, 2007,
respectively. We changed our name from Plastron Acquisition Corp. to Lihua International, Inc. on September 22, 2008.
On September 4, 2009, the Company’s
common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol LIWA.
As of December 31, 2011, details
of our subsidiaries are as follows:
Subsidiaries’ names
|
|
Domicile and date of
incorporation
|
|
Paid-up
capital
|
|
Effective
ownership
|
|
|
Principal activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ally Profit Investments Limited (“Ally Profit”)
|
|
British Virgin Islands March 12, 2008
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
Holding company of other subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lihua Holdings Limited (“Lihua Holdings”)
|
|
Hong Kong
April 17, 2008
|
|
HK$
|
100
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
Holding company of other subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danyang Lihua Electron Co., Ltd. (“Lihua Electron”)
|
|
People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) December 30, 1999
|
|
$
|
10,500,000
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
Manufacturing and sales of pure copper wire and bimetallic composite conductor wire such as copper clad aluminum (CCA) wire and enameled CCA wire
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jiangsu Lihua Copper Industry Co., Ltd. (“Lihua Copper”)
|
|
PRC
August 31, 2007
|
|
$
|
46,000,000
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
Manufacturing and sales of refined copper products
|
Government Regulation
Overview
Manufacturing
Our manufacturing operations are
subject to numerous laws, regulations, rules and specifications relating to human health and safety and the environment. These
laws and regulations address and regulate, among other matters, wastewater discharge, air quality and the generation, handling,
storage, treatment, disposal and transportation of solid and hazardous wastes and releases of hazardous substances into the environment.
We are in compliance with all material respects of such laws, regulations, rules, specifications and have obtained all material
permits, approvals and registrations relating to human health and safety and the environment. In addition, third parties and governmental
agencies in some cases have the power under such laws and regulations to require remediation of environmental conditions and, in
the case of governmental agencies, to impose fines and penalties. We make capital expenditures from time to time to stay in compliance
with applicable laws and regulations.
Environmental Matters
Given the nature of our business,
we generate waste water, exhaust fumes and noise during our production process. We have implemented a comprehensive set of environmental
protection measures to treat emissions generated during our production process to minimize the impact of our production process
on the environment. These measures include the following:
|
·
|
Waste water.
Waste water processed by our facilities meets the Chinese standard for discharge. To conserve
water resources, we also recycle and reuse waste water generated during our production process, which decreases our consumption
of water and reduces the discharge of waste water into the environment;
|
|
·
|
Exhaust fumes.
We generate exhaust fumes during our production process. Exhaust fumes generated during our
production process are filtered to reduce dust, sulfur dioxide, total suspended particulate, nitrogen oxide and organic elements.
In each case, exhaust fumes are treated to comply with national air quality standards; and
|
|
·
|
Noise.
We generate noise through the operation of our heating, ventilation and pumping systems. We typically
reduce the noise generated by these activities to a range of 60 decibels to 80 decibels by employing various noise reduction measures
that comply with applicable law.
|
Foreign Investment in PRC Operating Companies
The Foreign Investment Industrial
Catalogue jointly issued by MOFCOM and the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) in 2007 classified various
industries/business into three different categories: (i) encouraged for foreign investment; (ii) restricted to foreign investment;
and (iii) prohibited from foreign investment. For any industry/business not covered by any of these three categories, they will
be deemed industries/business permitted to have foreign investment. Except for those expressly provided restrictions, encouraged
and permitted industries/business are usually 100% open to foreign investment and ownership. With regard to those industries/business
restricted to or prohibited from foreign investment, there is always a limitation on foreign investment and ownership. The reason
that our business is not subject to limitation on foreign investment and ownership is as follows:
(i) our business falls under the
class of “manufacturing of materials for processing beryllium copper straps, lines, pipes and rods”, which is open
to 100% foreign investment and ownership;
(ii) our business does not fall under
the industry categories that are restricted to, or prohibited from foreign investment; and
(iii) whether a business is subject
to foreign investment restriction is subject to interpretation by MOFCOM and/or the NDRC, restructuring of each of our operating
entities into a wholly foreign owned enterprise, each of which has been approved by the local MOFCOM, can also directly evidence
no limitation on foreign investment and ownership to our business.
Share Exchange
Restructuring
In June 2008, Magnify Wealth, a British
Virgin Islands holding company, which was 100% owned by Mr. Chu, developed a restructuring plan (the “Restructuring”).
At that time, Magnify Wealth was the parent company and sole shareholder of Ally Profit, which was the parent company and sole
shareholder of Lihua Holdings. The Restructuring was accomplished in two steps. The first step was the PRC Subsidiary Acquisition.
After the PRC Subsidiary Acquisition, the second step was for Magnify Wealth to enter into and complete a share exchange transaction
with a US public reporting company, whereby the US company would acquire Ally Profit, Lihua Holdings and the PRC Operating Companies.
PRC Subsidiary Acquisition
The PRC Subsidiary Acquisition was
structured to comply with PRC M&A Laws. Under PRC M&A laws, the acquisition of PRC Operating Companies by foreign companies
that are controlled by PRC citizens who are affiliated with the PRC Operating Companies, is strictly regulated and requires approval
from MOFCOM. However, such restrictions do not apply to foreign entities controlled by foreign persons. These restrictions apply
only at the time that PRC Operating Companies are acquired by a foreign entity. In our case, this was July 10, 2008 when the PRC
Operating Companies were acquired by Lihua Holdings, which was ultimately beneficially owned by Mr. Chu, a Hong Kong citizen, as
the sole shareholder of Magnify Wealth.
Lihua Holdings acquired 100% of the
equity interests in the PRC Operating Companies from companies owned by our current CEO, Mr. Zhu, and the Minority Shareholders
of the PRC Operating Companies. In addition to being the sole shareholder of Magnify Wealth, Mr. Chu was also a 45.5% owner of
Lihua Electron, prior to the consummation of the PRC Subsidiary Acquisition. The aggregate consideration payable by Lihua Holdings
to the shareholders of Lihua Electron was $2,200,000, and the aggregate consideration payable by Lihua Holdings to the shareholders
of Lihua Copper was $4,371,351.
The Share Transfer Agreement enabled
Mr. Zhu to receive consideration for selling his interest in the PRC Operating Companies to Lihua Holdings by allowing him to earn
back an indirect interest in the PRC Operating Companies without violating PRC laws. At the time of the PRC Subsidiary Acquisition,
Mr. Zhu did not have any equity interest in Lihua Holdings. As a PRC citizen, Mr. Zhu would not have been permitted to immediately
receive shares in Lihua Holdings or in Magnify Wealth in exchange for his interests in the PRC Operating Companies. Subject to
registering with SAFE prior to the exercise and issuance of the Option Shares under the Share Transfer Agreement, which is an administrative
task, there is no prohibition under PRC laws for Mr. Zhu to earn an interest in Magnify Wealth after the PRC Subsidiary Acquisition
was consummated, in compliance with PRC laws. Pursuant to the original terms of the Share Transfer Agreement, Mr. Chu granted to
Mr. Zhu the option to purchase all of the 3,000 ordinary shares of Magnify Wealth then held by Mr. Chu at the nominal price of
$1.00 per share, subject to the achievement of certain net income targets.Since our consolidated net income targets were reached,
as of February 14, 2011 all of the Options Shares vested and are fully exercisable.
Also on October 22, 2008, Mr. Chu
and Europe EDC entered into subscription agreements to purchase shares in Magnify Wealth at a nominal price of $1.00 per share.
Pursuant to these subscription agreements, Mr. Chu and Europe EDC will be issued the shares of Magnify Wealth for which they subscribed
in tranches on February 14, 2009, 2010 and 2011 of 25%, 25% and 50%, respectively, which are the same dates the Option Shares are
exercisable. The number of subscription shares issuable to Mr. Chu and Europe EDC in the aggregate, are 632 shares and 32 shares,
respectively, and was determined based on the proportion of capital contributed by each of them in the PRC Operating Companies.
As of February 14, 2010, Mr. Chu was issued 316 shares of Magnify Wealth and Europe EDC was issued 16 shares of Magnify Wealth,
which equals 50% of the shares of Magnify Wealth which have been issued as per the subscription agreements. The subscription agreements
enable Mr. Chu, a Hong Kong citizen, and Europe EDC, a Dutch company, to receive an interest in Magnify Wealth in consideration
for the sale of their respective interests in the PRC Operating Companies to Lihua Holdings. Because Mr. Chu is a Hong Kong Citizen
and Europe EDC is a Dutch company, there is no prohibition or restriction under PRC laws against non-PRC residents or citizens
acquiring shares in Magnify Wealth in consideration for the sale of their respective interests in the PRC Operating Companies to
Lihua Holdings.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves
a great deal of risk. Careful consideration should be made of the following factors as well as other information included in this
annual report before deciding to purchase our common stock. You should pay particular attention to the fact that we conduct all
of our operations in the PRC and are governed by a legal and regulatory environment that in some respects differs significantly
from the environment that may prevail in other countries. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be affected
materially and adversely by any or all of these risks.
THE FOLLOWING MATTERS MAY HAVE A
MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OR PROSPECTS, FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE.
REFERENCE TO THIS CAUTIONARY STATEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF A FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT OR STATEMENTS SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A STATEMENT
THAT ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS MAY CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENT OR STATEMENTS.
Risks Related
to Our Business
We have a limited operating history.
Our limited operating history and
the early stage of development in the CCA industry and the scrap copper recycling industry in which we operate makes it difficult
to evaluate our business and future prospects. Although our revenues have grown rapidly, we cannot assure you that we will maintain
our profitability or that we will not incur net losses in the future. We expect that our operating expenses will increase as we
expand. Any significant failure to realize anticipated revenue growth could result in operating losses.
We will continue to encounter
risks and difficulties in implementing our business model.
We believe that our business model
will allow us to become a leader in the CCA and the scrap copper recycling industries in which we operate. However, we cannot assure
you that our business model will be effective. We are susceptible to risks, including the failure to create awareness of our products,
protect our reputation and develop customer loyalty, the inability to manage our expanding operations, the failure to maintain
adequate control of our expenses, and the inability to anticipate and adapt to changing conditions in the markets in which we operate
as well as the impact of any changes in government regulation, mergers and acquisitions involving our competitors, technological
developments, and other significant competitive and market dynamics. If we are not successful in addressing any or all of these
risks, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
Our quarterly operating results
may fluctuate.
Our quarterly results of operations
may fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, including fluctuation in the demand for and shipments of our products and changes
in the prices of copper which directly affect the price of our products and may influence the demand for our products. Therefore,
quarter-to-quarter comparisons of results of operations have been and will be impacted by the volume of such orders and shipments.
In addition, our operating results could be adversely affected by the following factors, among others, such as variations in the
mix of product sales, price changes in response to competitive factors, increases in raw material costs and other significant costs,
increases in utility costs (particularly electricity) and interruptions in plant operations resulting from the interruption of
raw material supplies, narrowing of the price spread between our raw material price and average sales price of our products, and
other factors. Our operating results are also impacted during the summer months and first few months of each year, when production
at our factory declines due to the hot weather in Southern China, and Chinese New Year vacation, respectively.
Fluctuating copper prices and
the price spread between pure copper and scrap copper impact our business and operating results.
Copper prices, which have increased
quite rapidly over the past several years, declined during 2008 but have been on the upswing in the recent years from its low during
2008. Such prices may continue to vary significantly in the future because the copper industry is highly volatile and cyclical
in nature. This affects our business both positively and negatively. For example, since our products are a substitute for pure
copper wire, higher copper prices usually increase demand for our CCA products, while lower copper prices can decrease
demand for CCA products. Numerous factors, most of which are beyond our control, influence copper prices. These factors include
general economic conditions, industry capacity, utilization, import duties and other trade restrictions. We cannot predict copper
prices in the future or the effect of fluctuations in the costs of copper on our future operating results. Consequently, fluctuations
in copper prices and the narrowing of price spread between pure copper and scrap copper can significantly affect our business and
operating results.
We may encounter substantial competition
in our business and our failure to compete effectively may adversely affect our ability to generate revenue.
The CCA and scrap copper recycling
industries are becoming increasingly competitive. Our competitors may have greater market recognition and substantially greater
financial, technical, marketing, distribution, purchasing, manufacturing, personnel and other resources than we do. Furthermore,
some of our competitors have manufacturing and sales forces that are geographically diversified, allowing them to reduce transportation
expenses, tariff costs and currency fluctuations for certain customers in markets where their facilities are located. The principal
elements of competition in the refined copper and bimetallic industry are, in our opinion, pricing, product availability and quality.
In order to succeed in the bimetallic industry, we must be competitive in our pricing, product availability and quality. If we
fail to do so, we will not be able to compete effectively and will lose market share. In such case we may be forced to reduce our
margins to retain or acquire that business, which could decrease our revenues or slow our future revenue growth and lead to a decline
in profitability. Further, to the extent that, whether as a result of the increased cost of copper, the relative strength of the
Chinese currency, shipping costs or other factors, we are not able to price our products competitively, our ability to sell our
products in both the Chinese domestic and the international markets will suffer.
We may not be able to effectively
control and manage our growth.
If our business and markets grow
and develop it may be necessary for us to finance and manage expansion in an orderly fashion. In addition, we may face challenges
in managing expanding product offerings. Such circumstances will increase demands on our existing management and facilities.
Failure to manage this growth and expansion could interrupt or harm our operations and cause production backlogs, longer product
development time frames and administrative inefficiencies.
Shortages or disruptions in the
availability of raw materials could harm our business.
We expect that raw materials of CCA
and recycled copper will continue to account for a significant portion of our cost of goods sold in the future. The prices of raw
materials fluctuate because of general economic conditions, global supply and demand and other factors causing monthly variations
in the costs of our raw materials purchases. The macro-economic factors, together with labor and other business interruptions experienced
by certain suppliers, have contributed to periodic shortages in the supply of raw materials, and such shortages may increase in
the future. If we are unable to procure adequate supplies of raw material to meet our future production needs and customer demand,
shortages could result in a material loss of customers and revenues and adversely impact our results of operations. In addition,
supply shortages or disruptions or the loss of suppliers may cause us to procure our raw materials from less cost effective sources
and may harm our business, revenues and results of operations.
We depend on a few suppliers for
a significant portion of our principal raw materials and we do not have any long-term supply contracts in excess of one year. Interruptions
of production at our key suppliers may harm our results of operations and financial performance.
We rely on a limited number of suppliers
for most of the raw materials we use. Interruptions or shortages of supplies from our key suppliers of raw materials could disrupt
production or impact our ability to increase production and sales. We do not have long-term or volume purchase agreements in excess
of one year with most of our suppliers. Identifying and accessing alternative sources may increase our costs. Interruptions at
our key suppliers could negatively impact our results of operations, financial performance and the price of our common stock.
Due to increased volatility of
raw material prices, the timing lag between the raw material purchase and product pricing can negatively impact our profitability.
Volatility in the prices of raw materials,
among other factors, may adversely impact our ability to accurately forecast demand and may have a material adverse impact on our
results of operations. We mitigate the impact of changing raw material prices by passing changes in prices to our customers by
adjusting prices daily to reflect changes in raw material prices, as is customary in the industry. We may not be able to adjust
our product prices rapidly enough in the short-term to recover the costs of increases in raw materials. Our future profitability
may be harmed to the extent we are unable to pass on higher raw material costs to our customers.
Increases in raw materials prices
will increase our need for working capital.
As the prices of raw materials increase,
our working capital requirements increase. Increases in our working capital requirements can materially adversely impact our results
of operations, our cash flow and our available liquidity to fund other business needs. Furthermore, there is no assurance we would
be able to finance additional working capital requirements or finance such working capital requirements on favorable terms. If
we were unable to obtain financing on favorable terms, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected. See “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations —Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.
Increases in raw materials prices
may increase credit and default risk with respect to our customers.
Increases in the price of our products,
as raw material prices rise, may place additional demands on the working capital and liquidity needs of our customers. Accordingly,
our customers’ cash flow may be negatively impacted which may have an adverse effect on the timing and amount of payment
on our accounts receivable, which would in turn, harm our results of operations.
If the scrap copper recycling
or CCA industry does not grow or grows at a slower speed than we project, our sales and profitability may be harmed.
We derive most of our profits from
sales of our products in China. The continued development of our business depends, in large part, on continued growth in the copper
consumption market in China. Although China’s copper consumption market has grown rapidly in the past, it may not continue
to grow at the same growth rate or at all in the future. Any reduced demand for our products, any downturn or other adverse
changes in China’s copper consumption market or related industries could severely harm the profitability of our business.
Potential environmental liability
could harm our operations and financial condition.
As a manufacturer, we are subject
to various Chinese environmental laws and regulations on air emission, waste water discharge, solid wastes and noise. Although
we believe that our operations are in compliance with current environmental laws and regulations, and our plant has ISO14001 environmental
management system certification, we may not be able to comply with these regulations at all times as the Chinese environmental
legal regime is evolving and becoming more stringent. Therefore, if the Chinese government imposes more stringent regulations in
the future, we may have to incur additional and potentially substantial costs and expenses in order to comply with new regulations,
which may negatively affect our results of operations. Further, no assurance can be given that all potential environmental liabilities
have been identified or properly quantified or that any prior owner, operator, or tenant has not created an environmental condition
unknown to us. If we fail to comply with any of the present or future environmental regulations in any material aspects, we may
suffer from negative publicity and be subject to claims for damages that may require us to pay substantial fines or have
our operations suspended or even be forced to cease operations.
We may be unable to retain key
employees who are essential to growing our business.
Mr. Jianhua Zhu, Ms.
Yaying Wang and Ms. Daphne Huang, along with Ms. Zhu Junying, and Mr. Xingwei Fan, are essential to our
ability to continue to grow our business. Each of these key employees has established relationships within the industries in
which we operate. Each of these employees has agreed to non-solicitation and non-compete restrictions during the course of
their employment with us, however, these restrictions only extend for a one year period from termination. Further, we do
not maintain, or intend to maintain, key person life insurance for any of our officers or key employees. If any of them were
to leave us, our growth strategy might be hindered, which could limit our ability to increase revenue. In addition, we
face competition for attracting skilled personnel. If we fail to attract and retain qualified personnel to meet current and
future needs, this could slow our ability to grow our business, which could result in a decrease in market share.
We have derived a material
portion of our revenues from a small group of customers. If we were to become dependent again upon a few customers, such dependency
could negatively impact our business, operating results and financial condition.
As a result of our copper anode product
offering in 2010, our customer base has become more concentrated since we currently produce and sell to a few large copper anode
customers. For the year ended December 31, 2011 and each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007, our
five largest customers accounted for 49.0%, 36.5%, 6.9%, 20.2% and 14.5% of our total sales, respectively, and the single largest
customer accounted for 25.3%, 12.7%, 1.6%, 6.6% and 3.0% of our total sales, respectively. As our customer base may change from
year-to-year, during such years that the customer base is highly concentrated, the loss of, or reduction of our sales to, any of
such major customers could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
We may need additional financing,
which may not be available on satisfactory terms or at all.
Our capital requirements may be accelerated
as a result of many factors, including timing of development activities, underestimates of budget items, unanticipated expenses
or capital expenditures, future product opportunities with collaborators, future licensing opportunities and future business combinations.
Consequently, we may need to seek additional debt or equity financing, which may not be available on favorable terms, if at all,
and which may be dilutive to our stockholders.
We may seek to raise additional capital
through public or private equity offerings, debt financings or additional corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements. To
the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution. To the extent that
we raise additional capital by issuing debt securities, we may incur substantial interest obligations, may be required to pledge
assets as security for the debt and may be constrained by restrictive financial and/or operational covenants. Debt financing would
also be superior to our stockholders' interest in bankruptcy or liquidation. To the extent we raise additional funds through collaboration
and licensing arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish some rights to our technologies or product candidates, or grant licenses
on unfavorable terms.
If we fail to adequately protect
or enforce our intellectual property rights, or to secure rights to patents of others, the value of our intellectual property
rights could diminish.
Our success, competitive position
and future revenues will depend in part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection for our products, methods, processes
and other technologies, to preserve our trade secrets, to prevent third parties from infringing on our proprietary rights and to
operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties.
To date, we have one approved
utility model patent and two patent applications filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC. However, we
cannot predict the degree and range of protection patents will afford us against competitors. Third parties may find ways to invalidate
or otherwise circumvent our proprietary technology. Third parties may attempt to obtain patents claiming aspects similar to our
patent applications. If we need to initiate litigation or administrative proceedings, such actions may be costly whether we win
or lose.
Our success also depends on the skills,
knowledge and experience of our scientific and technical personnel, consultants, advisors, licensors and contractors. To help protect
our proprietary know-how and inventions for which patents may be unobtainable or difficult to obtain, we rely on trade secret protection
and confidentiality agreements. If any of our intellectual property is disclosed, our value would be significantly impaired, and
our business and competitive position would suffer.
If we infringe the rights of third
parties, we could be prevented from selling products, forced to pay damages and compelled to defend against litigation.
If our products, methods, processes
and other technologies infringe proprietary rights of other parties, we could incur substantial costs, and may have to obtain licenses
(which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all), redesign our products or processes, stop using the subject
matter claimed in the asserted patents, pay damages, or defend litigation or administrative proceedings, which may be costly whether we
win or lose. All of the above could result in a substantial diversion of valuable management resources.
We believe we have taken reasonable
steps, including comprehensive internal and external prior patent searches, to ensure we have freedom to operate and that our development
and commercialization efforts can be carried out as planned without infringing others’ proprietary rights. However, we cannot
guarantee that no third party patent has been filed or will be filed that may contain subject matter of relevance to our development,
causing a third party patent holder to claim infringement. Resolving such issues has traditionally resulted, and could in our case
result, in lengthy and costly legal proceedings, the outcome of which cannot be predicted accurately.
One shareholder owns a large percentage
of our outstanding stock and could significantly influence the outcome of our corporate matters.
Currently, Magnify Wealth beneficially
owns approximately 44.0% of our outstanding common stock. Mr. Zhu, our Chairman and CEO, is the sole director of Magnify Wealth.
As the sole director of Magnify Wealth, Mr. Zhu has the sole power to vote the shares of our common stock owned by Magnify Wealth,
and as a result, is able to exercise significant influence over all matters that require us to obtain shareholder approval, including
the election of directors to our board and approval of significant corporate transactions that we may consider, such as a merger
or other sale of our company or its assets. Additionally, pursuant to the Share Transfer Agreement, Mr. Zhu has a fully vested
option to purchase up to 3,000 shares of Magnify Wealth from Mr. Chu (the “Option Shares”). At such time as Mr. Zhu
exercises and acquires all of the Option Shares, he will own shares representing 81.9% of Magnify Wealth’s issued and outstanding
shares. Once the Option Shares are exercised, Mr. Zhu will then also have a controlling equity interest in Magnify Wealth. This
concentration of ownership in our shares by Magnify Wealth will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and may have
the effect of delaying or preventing a third party from acquiring control over us.
If we are unable to maintain appropriate
internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in the
restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanction, cause investors
to lose confidence in our reported financial information.
Effective internal controls are necessary
for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. As a public company, we have significant
additional requirements for enhanced financial reporting and internal controls. We are required to document and test our internal
control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires annual
management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting and a report by our independent registered
public accounting firm addressing these assessments. The process of designing and implementing effective internal controls is a
continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments
and to expend significant resources to maintain a system of internal controls that is adequate to satisfy our reporting obligations
as a public company.
We cannot assure you that we will
not, in the future, identify areas requiring improvement in our internal control over financial reporting. We cannot assure you
that the measures we will take to remediate any areas in need of improvement will be successful or that we will implement and maintain
adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future as we continue our growth. If we are unable to establish
appropriate internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley and meet
our reporting obligations, result in the restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, subject us to regulatory
scrutiny and sanction, and cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information.
Due to lower profit margins associated
with the sale of refined copper products, we expect our overall gross profit margin to decline as we continue the capacity expansion
in the scrap copper refinery segment.
Our gross margin is affected by our
product mix. As a result of significant costs associated with production in our scrap recycling business, copper anode and rod
contribute a lower gross profit margin compared to our finished wire products. As we continue to expand the capacity of our scrap
copper refineries, we expect that as the sales of the refined copper products increase over time, there will be a decline in our
gross margin, unless we are able to add additional processing capacity.
Risks Associated
With Doing Business In China
There are substantial risks associated
with doing business in China, as set forth in the following risk factors.
Our operations and assets in China
are subject to significant political and economic uncertainties.
Changes in PRC laws and regulations,
or their interpretation, or the imposition of confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency conversion, imports and sources of
supply, devaluations of currency or the nationalization or other expropriation of private enterprises could have a material adverse
effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Under our current leadership, the Chinese government has
been pursuing economic reform policies that encourage private economic activity and greater economic decentralization. There is
no assurance, however, that the Chinese government will continue to pursue these policies, or that it will not significantly alter
these policies from time to time without notice.
We derive a substantial portion
of our sales from China and a slowdown or other adverse developments in the PRC economy may materially and adversely affect our
customers, demand for our services and our business.
Substantially all of our sales are
generated from China. We anticipate that sales of our products in China will continue to represent a substantial proportion of
our total sales in the near future. Although the PRC economy has grown significantly in recent years, we cannot assure you that
such growth will continue. The industry which we are involved in the PRC is relatively new and growing, but we do not know
how sensitive we are to a slowdown in economic growth or other adverse changes in the PRC economy which may affect demand for our
products. A slowdown in overall economic growth, an economic downturn or recession or other adverse economic developments in the
PRC may materially reduce the demand for our products and materially and adversely affect our business.
Currency fluctuations and restrictions
on currency exchange may adversely affect our business, including limiting our ability to convert Chinese Renminbi into foreign
currencies and, if Chinese Renminbi were to decline in value, reducing our revenue in U.S. dollar terms.
Our reporting currency is the U.S.
dollar and our operations in China use their local currency as their functional currencies. Substantially all of our revenue and
expenses are in Chinese Renminbi. We are subject to the effects of exchange rate fluctuations with respect to any of these currencies.
For example, the value of the Renminbi depends to a large extent on Chinese government policies and China’s domestic and
international economic and political developments, as well as supply and demand in the local market. Since 1994, the official exchange
rate for the conversion of Renminbi to the U.S. dollar had generally been stable and the Renminbi had appreciated slightly against
the U.S. dollar. However, on July 21, 2005, the Chinese government changed its policy of pegging the value of Chinese Renminbi
to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, Chinese Renminbi may fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain
foreign currencies. It is possible that the Chinese government could adopt a more flexible currency policy, which could result
in more significant fluctuation of Chinese Renminbi against the U.S. dollar. We can offer no assurance that Chinese Renminbi will
be stable against the U.S. dollar or any other foreign currency.
The income statements of our operations
are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates in each applicable period. To the extent the U.S. dollar strengthens
against foreign currencies, the translation of these foreign currencies denominated transactions results in reduced revenue, operating
expenses and net income for our international operations. Similarly, to the extent the U.S. dollar weakens against foreign currencies,
the translation of these foreign currency denominated transactions results in increased revenue, operating expenses and net income
for our international operations. We are also exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations as we convert the financial statements
of our foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars in consolidation. If there is a change in foreign currency exchange rates, the conversion
of the foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars will lead to a translation gain or loss which is recorded
as a component of other comprehensive income. In addition, we have certain assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies
other than the relevant entity’s functional currency. Changes in the functional currency value of these assets and liabilities
create fluctuations that will lead to a transaction gain or loss. We have not entered into agreements or purchased instruments
to hedge our exchange rate risks, although we may do so in the future. The availability and effectiveness of any hedging transaction
may be limited and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exchange rate risks.
The application of PRC regulations
relating to the overseas listing of PRC domestic companies is uncertain, and we may be subject to penalties for failing to request
approval of the PRC authorities prior to listing our shares in the U.S.
On August 8, 2006, six PRC government
agencies, namely, MOFCOM, SAIC, CSRC, SAFE, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and the State Administration
for Taxation, jointly issued the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (the “New
M&A Rules”), which became effective on September 8, 2006. The New M&A Rules purport, among other things, to require
offshore “special purpose vehicles”, that are (1) formed for the purpose of overseas listing of the equity interests
of PRC companies via acquisition and (2) are controlled directly or indirectly by PRC companies and/or PRC individuals, to obtain
the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of their securities on overseas stock exchanges. On September 21, 2006,
pursuant to the New M&A Rules and other PRC Laws, the CSRC published on its official website relevant guidance with respect
to the listing and trading of PRC domestic enterprises’ securities on overseas stock exchanges (the “Related Clarifications”),
including a list of application materials regarding the listing on overseas stock exchange by special purpose vehicles. Based on
our understanding of current PRC Laws and as advised by our PRC counsel, because (i) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive
rule or official interpretation concerning whether our offering is subject to the New M&A Rules and Related Clarifications;
(ii) we were and are not a special purpose vehicle formed or controlled by PRC individuals; and (iii) conversion of Lihua Electron
and Lihua Copper from a joint venture to a wholly foreign owned enterprise was and is not subject to the New M&A Rules in accordance
with Rule 55 of the New M&A Rules and Guidance Manual on Administration of Entry of Foreign Investment issued by the Department
of Foreign Investment Administration of the MOFCOM in December 2008, we were and are not required to obtain the approval of CSRC
under the New M&A Rules in connection with this offering.
However, there are substantial uncertainties
regarding the interpretation, application and enforcement of these rules, and CSRC has yet to promulgate any written provisions
or formally to declare or state whether the overseas listing of a PRC-related company structured similar to ours is subject to
the approval of CSRC. Any violation of these rules could result in fines and other penalties on our operations in China, restrictions
or limitations on remitting dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that may cause a material and adverse effect
to our business, operations and financial conditions.
The new mergers and acquisitions
regulations also established additional procedures and requirements that are expected to make merger and acquisition activities
by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex, including requirements in some instances 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
that owns well-known trademarks or China’s traditional brands. We may grow our business in part by acquiring other businesses.
Complying with the requirements of the new mergers and acquisitions regulations in completing this type of transactions could be
time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including CSRC approval, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such
transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.
We have granted stock
options to three of our PRC employees and our CEO, Mr. Zhu, who has options to purchase shares in our majority shareholder,
Magnify Wealth, which may require registration with SAFE. We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our
ability to issue equity compensation to our directors and employees and other parties who are PRC citizens or residents under
PRC law.
On April 6, 2007, SAFE issued the
“Operating Procedures for Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan or Stock
Option Plan of An Overseas Listed Company, also known as “Circular 78.” It is not clear whether Circular 78 covers
all forms of equity compensation plans or only those which provide for the granting of stock options. Further, it is also not clear
whether Circular 78 would require SAFE approval for stock options in Magnify Wealth that are granted to Mr. Zhu. For any equity
compensation plan which is so covered and is adopted by a non-PRC listed company after April 6, 2007, Circular 78 requires all
participants who are PRC citizens to register with and obtain approvals from SAFE prior to their participation in the Lihua International,
Inc. 2009 Omnibus Securities & Incentive Plan. In addition, Circular 78 also requires PRC citizens to register with SAFE and
make the necessary applications and filings if they participated in an overseas listed company’s covered equity compensation
plan prior to April 6, 2007. We have adopted an equity compensation plan and have begun to make option grants to some of our key
employees, three of whom are PRC citizens. Circular 78 may require PRC citizens who receive option grants to register with SAFE.
We believe that the registration and approval requirements contemplated in Circular 78 will be burdensome and time consuming. If
it is determined that any of our equity compensation plans, or the option grant from Magnify Wealth to Mr. Zhu are subject to Circular
78, failure to comply with such provisions may subject us and recipients of such options to fines and legal sanctions and prevent
us from being able to grant equity compensation to our PRC employees. In that case, our ability to compensate our employees and
directors through equity compensation would be hindered and our business operations may be adversely affected.
PRC SAFE Regulations regarding
offshore financing activities by PRC residents have undertaken continuous changes which may increase the administrative burden
we face and create regulatory uncertainties that could adversely affect our business.
Recent regulations promulgated by
SAFE regarding offshore financing activities by PRC residents have undergone a number of changes which may increase the administrative
burden we face. The failure by our stockholders and affiliates who are PRC residents, including Mr. Zhu, who has sole
voting power with respect to shares held by our majority shareholder, Magnify Wealth, to make any required applications and filings
pursuant to such regulations may prevent us from being able to distribute profits and could expose us and our PRC resident stockholders
to liability under PRC law.
In 2005, SAFE promulgated regulations
in the form of public notices, which require registrations with, and approval from, SAFE on direct or indirect offshore investment
activities by PRC resident individuals. The SAFE regulations require that if an offshore company directly or indirectly
formed by or controlled by PRC resident individuals, known as “SPC,” intends to acquire a PRC company, such acquisition
will be subject to strict examination by the SAFE. Without registration, the PRC entity cannot remit any of its profits out of
the PRC as dividends or otherwise. This could have a material adverse effect on us given that we are a publicly listed
company in the U.S.
Because our principal assets are
located outside of the United States and with the exception of one director and one officer, the rest of our directors and officers
reside outside of the United States, it may be difficult for you to enforce your rights based on the United States Federal securities
laws against us and our officers and directors in the United States or to enforce judgments of United States courts against us
or them in the PRC.
With the exception of one director
and one officer, the rest of our officers and directors reside outside of the United States. In addition, our operating subsidiaries
are located in the PRC and all of their assets are located outside of the United States. China does not have a treaty with United
States providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts. It may therefore be difficult for investors
in the United States to enforce their legal rights based on the civil liability provisions of the United States Federal securities
laws against us in the courts of either the United States or the PRC and, even if civil judgments are obtained in courts of the
United States, to enforce such judgments in PRC courts. Further, it is unclear if extradition treaties now in effect between the
United States and the PRC would permit effective enforcement against us or our officers and directors of criminal penalties, under
the United States Federal securities laws or otherwise.
We may have limited legal
recourse under PRC law if disputes arise under our contracts with third parties.
The Chinese government has enacted
some laws and regulations dealing with matters such as corporate organization and governance, foreign investment, commerce, taxation
and trade. However, their experience in implementing, interpreting and enforcing these laws and regulations is limited, and our
ability to enforce commercial claims or to resolve commercial disputes is unpredictable. If our new business ventures are unsuccessful,
or other adverse circumstances arise from these transactions, we face the risk that the parties to these ventures may seek ways
to terminate the transactions, or, may hinder or prevent us from accessing important information regarding the financial and business
operations of these acquired companies. The resolution of these matters may be subject to the exercise of considerable discretion
by agencies of the Chinese government, and forces unrelated to the legal merits of a particular matter or dispute may influence
their determination. Any rights we may have to specific performance, or to seek an injunction under PRC law, in either of these
cases, are severely limited, and without a means of recourse by virtue of the Chinese legal system, we may be unable to prevent
these situations from occurring. The occurrence of any such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations. Although legislation in China over the past 30 years has significantly improved the protection
afforded to various forms of foreign investment and contractual arrangements in China, these laws, regulations and legal requirements
are relatively new and their interpretation and enforcement involve uncertainties, which could limit the legal protection available
to us, and foreign investors, including you. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements could
result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital and could have a material adverse impact on our operations.
We must comply with the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act.
We are required to comply with the
United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits U.S. companies from engaging in bribery or other prohibited payments
to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business and requires that we maintain adequate financial records
and internal controls to prevent such prohibited payments. Foreign companies, including some of our competitors, are not subject
to these prohibitions. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs, theft and other fraudulent practices occur from time-to-time in
mainland China. If our competitors engage in these practices, they may receive preferential treatment from personnel of some companies,
giving our competitors an advantage in securing business or from government officials who might give them priority in obtaining
new licenses, which would put us at a disadvantage. Although we inform our personnel that such practices are illegal, we cannot
assure you that our employees or other agents will not engage in such conduct for which we might be held responsible. If our employees
or other agents are found to have engaged in such practices, we could suffer severe penalties.
Due to various restrictions under
PRC laws on the distribution of dividends by our PRC operating companies, we may not be able to pay dividends to our stockholders.
The Wholly-Foreign Owned Enterprise
Law (1986), as amended and The Wholly-Foreign Owned Enterprise Law Implementing Rules (1990), as amended and the Company Law of
the PRC (2006) contain the principal regulations governing dividend distributions by wholly foreign owned enterprises. Under these
regulations, wholly foreign owned enterprises, such as Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper, may pay dividends only out of their accumulated
profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Additionally, Lihua Electron and Lihua
Copper are required to set aside a certain amount of their accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds.
These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation and cannot be used for working capital
purposes. The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies
out of the PRC. We may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit
foreign currency for the payment of dividends from the profits of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper.
Furthermore, if our subsidiaries
in China incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or
make other payments. If we or our subsidiaries are unable to receive all of the revenues from our operations due to the above mentioned
government controls, we may be unable to pay dividends on our common stock.
In November 2011 our Board of Directors
approved the issuance of two special dividends to our shareholders. The first dividend of approximately $0.5 million was paid on
January 13, 2012 to our shareholders of record on December 31, 2011, and the second dividend with an expected amount of approximately
$0.5 million will be payable on April 13, 2012 to our shareholders of record on March 31, 2012.
We have no additional plans to pay
any dividends and we plan to retain earnings, if any, for use in the development of the business. Payment of future dividends,
if any, will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors after taking into account of various factors, including dividend issuance
criteria of the state of the Delaware, where our parent holding company is registered in, current financial condition, operating
results, current and anticipated cash needs and regulations governing dividend distributions by wholly foreign owned enterprises
in the PRC.
Changes in foreign exchange regulations
in the PRC may affect our ability to pay dividends in foreign currency or conduct other foreign exchange business.
We receive substantially all of our
revenues in Renminbi, the Chinese currency, which is currently not a freely convertible currency. The restrictions on
currency exchanges may limit our ability to use revenues generated in RMB to make dividends or other payments in United States
dollars. The PRC government strictly regulates conversion of RMB into foreign currencies. Over the years,
foreign exchange regulations in the PRC have significantly reduced the government’s control over routine foreign exchange
transactions under current accounts. In the PRC, SAFE regulates the conversion of the RMB into foreign currencies. Pursuant
to applicable PRC laws and regulations, foreign invested enterprises incorporated in the PRC are required to apply for “Foreign
Exchange Registration Certificates.” Currently, conversion within the scope of the “current account”
(e.g. remittance of foreign currencies for payment of dividends, etc.) can be effected without requiring the approval of SAFE.
However, conversion of currency in the “capital account” (e.g. for capital items such as direct investments, loans,
securities, etc.) still requires the approval of SAFE. In addition, failure to obtain approval from SAFE for currency
conversion on the capital account may adversely impact our capital expenditure plans and our ability to expand in accordance with
our desired objectives.
The PRC government also may at its
discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange
control system prevents us from obtaining foreign currency, we may be unable to pay dividends or meet obligations that may be incurred
in the future that require payment in foreign currency.
The Chinese government exerts
substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities.
We are dependent on our relationship
with the local government in the province in which we operate our business. The Chinese government has exercised and
continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our
ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental
regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. We believe that our operations in China are in material compliance
with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, the central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose
new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on
our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future,
including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or
regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions
in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.
Future inflation in China may inhibit
our ability to conduct business in China. In recent years, the Chinese economy has experienced periods of rapid expansion and high
rates of inflation. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising inflation. If
prices for our products rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies, it may have an
adverse effect on profitability. These factors have led to the adoption by Chinese government, from time to time, of
various corrective measures designed to restrict the availability of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. High
inflation may in the future cause Chinese government to impose controls on credit and/or prices, or to take other action, which
could inhibit economic activity in China, and thereby harm the market for our products.
We may have difficulty establishing
adequate management, legal and financial controls in the PRC.
The PRC historically has been deficient
in Western style management and financial reporting concepts and practices, as well as in modern banking, and other control systems. We
may have difficulty in hiring and retaining a sufficient number of qualified employees to work in the PRC. As a result
of these factors, we may experience difficulty in establishing management, legal and financial controls, collecting financial data
and preparing financial statements, books of account and corporate records and instituting business practices that meet Western
standards. We may have difficulty establishing adequate management, legal and financial controls in the PRC. Therefore,
we may, in turn, experience difficulties in implementing and maintaining adequate internal controls as required under Section 404
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other applicable laws, rules and regulations. This may result in significant deficiencies
or material weaknesses in our internal controls which could impact the reliability of our financial statements and prevent us from
complying with SEC rules and regulations and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Any such deficiencies,
weaknesses or lack of compliance could have a materially adverse effect on our business and the public announcement of such deficiencies
could adversely impact our stock price.
It may be difficult to protect
and enforce our intellectual property rights under PRC law.
Intellectual property rights in China
are still developing, and there are uncertainties involved in the protection and the enforcement of such rights. We
will need to pay special attention to protecting our intellectual property and trade secrets. Failure to do so
could lead to the loss of a competitive advantage that could not be compensated by a damages award.
Under PRC law, we are required
to obtain permits and business licenses, and our failure to do so would adversely impact our ability to conduct business in China.
We hold various permits, business
licenses, and approvals authorizing our operations and activities, which are subject to periodic review and reassessment by the
Chinese authorities. Standards of compliance necessary to pass such reviews change from time to time and differ from
jurisdiction to jurisdiction, leading to a degree of uncertainty. If renewals, or new permits, business licenses or
approvals required in connection with existing or new facilities or activities, are not granted or are delayed, or if existing
permits, business licenses or approvals are revoked or substantially modified, we will suffer a material adverse effect. If new
standards are applied to renewals or new applications, it could prove costly to us to meet any new level of compliance.
If our land use rights are
revoked, we would have no operational capabilities.
Under Chinese law land is owned by
the state or rural collective economic organizations. The state issues to tenants the rights to use property. Use rights can be
revoked and the tenants forced to vacate at any time when redevelopment of the land is in the public interest. The public interest
rationale is interpreted quite broadly and the process of land appropriation may be less than transparent. Each of our two operating
subsidiaries rely on these land use rights as the cornerstone of their operations, and the loss of such rights would have a material
adverse effect on our company.
Because we may not be able to
obtain business insurance in the PRC, we may not be protected from risks that are customarily covered by insurance in the United
States.
Business insurance is not readily
available in the PRC. To the extent that we suffer a loss of a type which would normally be covered by insurance in the United
States, such as product liability and general liability insurance, we would incur significant expenses in both defending any action
and in paying any claims that result from a settlement or judgment.
We are subject to the environmental
protection law of China.
Our manufacturing process may produce
by-products such as effluent, gases and noise, which are harmful to the environment. We are subject to multiple laws
governing environmental protection, such as “The Law on Environmental Protection in the PRC” and “The Law on Prevention
of Effluent Pollution in the PRC,” as well as standards set by the relevant governmental authorities determining
the classification of different wastes and proper disposal. We have properly attained a waste disposal permit for our
manufacturing facility, which details the types and concentration of effluents and gases allowed for disposal.
China is experiencing substantial
problems with environmental pollution. Accordingly, it is likely that the national, provincial and local governmental
agencies will adopt stricter pollution controls. There can be no assurance that future changes in environmental laws
and regulations will not impose costly compliance requirements on us or otherwise subject us to future liabilities. Our
profitability may be adversely affected if additional or modified environmental control regulations are imposed upon us.
Any recurrence of severe acute
respiratory syndrome, or SARS, or another widespread public health problem, could adversely affect our operations.
A renewed outbreak of SARS or another
widespread public health problem in the PRC, where all of our revenue is derived, could have an adverse effect on our operations.
Our operations may be impacted by a number of health-related factors, including quarantines or closures of some of our offices
that could leave us without many employees to conduct our business, which would materially and adversely affect our operations
and financial condition.
Risks Related
to the Common Stock
Techniques Employed by Manipulative
Short Sellers in Chinese Small Cap Stocks May Drive Down the Market Price of Our Common Stock
Short selling
is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has, supposedly, borrowed from a third party with
the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from
a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares,
as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. As it is therefore
in the short seller’s best interests for the price of the stock to decline, many short sellers (sometime known as “disclosed
shorts”) publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects
in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a stock short. While traditionally
these disclosed shorts were limited in their ability to access mainstream business media or to otherwise create negative market
rumors, the rise of the Internet and technological advancements regarding document creation, videotaping and publication by weblog
(“blogging”) have allowed many disclosed shorts to publicly attack a company’s credibility, strategy and veracity
by means of so-called research reports that mimic the type of investment analysis performed by large Wall Street firm and independent
research analysts. These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market, on occasion in large
scale and broad base. Issuers with business operations based in the PRC and who have limited trading volumes and are
susceptible to higher volatility levels than U.S. domestic large-cap stocks, can be particularly vulnerable to such short attacks.
These short
seller publications are not regulated by any governmental, self-regulatory organization or other official authority in the U.S.,
are not subject to the certification requirements imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Regulation AC (Regulation
Analyst Certification) and, accordingly, the opinions they express may be based on distortions of actual facts or, in some cases,
fabrications of facts. In light of the limited risks involved in publishing such information, and the enormous profit
that can be made from running just one successful short attack, unless the short sellers become subject to significant penalties,
it is more likely than not that disclosed shorts will continue to issue such reports.
While we intend
to strongly defend our public filings against any such short seller attacks, oftentimes we are constrained, either by principles
of freedom of speech, applicable state law (often called “Anti-SLAPP statutes”), or issues of commercial confidentiality,
in the manner in which we can proceed against the relevant short seller. You should be aware that in light of the relative
freedom to operate that such persons enjoy – oftentimes blogging from outside the U.S. with little or no assets or identity
requirements – should we be targeted for such an attack, our stock will likely suffer from a temporary, or possibly long
term, decline in market price should the rumors created not be dismissed by market participants.
There is a substantial
short interest in our common stock, with approximately 2.1 million shares short on February 15, 2012, representing approximately
13% of our public float as of February 15, 2012. Accordingly, the price and trading volume of our stock is vulnerable
to extreme fluctuations. We have been the target of internet blogs in the past, such as one particular series of articles
published by a short seller in October and November 2009, and strewn with inaccurate facts and misleading allegations against the
Company. Although we responded to these allegations, the closing price of one share of our common stock fell from $8.77
on October 16, 2009, prior to the release of this series of negative articles, to a closing price of $6.26 on October 29, 2009. Again,
on August 1, 2011, another short seller issued a false and misleading attack on the Company, which caused the price of our common
stock to close down nearly 11% on the day the report was released, before closing up on August 4, 2011, after we responded publicly
to repudiate the attack, 15.1% higher than the August 1, 2011 closing price. Although we will strive to respond quickly and effectively
to these types of inaccurate and misleading allegations, the price of our stock remains vulnerable to the continuing attacks by
this and any other short seller.
The market price for our securities
may be subject to wide fluctuations.
The securities
of a number of Chinese companies and companies with substantial operations in China have experienced wide fluctuations in their
stock price. Among the factors that could affect the price of our common stock are risk factors described in this section and other
factors, including:
|
·
|
announcements of competitive developments, by our competitors;
|
|
·
|
regulatory developments of our industry affecting us, our customers or our competitors;
|
|
·
|
actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results;
|
|
·
|
failure of our quarterly financial and operating results to meet market expectations or failure to meet our previously announced
guidance, if any;
|
|
·
|
changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;
|
|
·
|
changes in the economic performance or market valuations of our competitors;
|
|
·
|
additions or departures of our executive officers and other key personnel;
|
|
·
|
announcements regarding intellectual property litigation (or potential litigation) involving us or any of our directors and
officers;
|
|
·
|
fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the Renminbi; and
|
|
·
|
release or expiration of the underwriters’ post-offering lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding common
stock.
|
In addition, the securities markets
have from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance
of particular industries or companies. For example, the capital and credit markets have been experiencing volatility and disruption
for more than 12 months. Starting in September 2008, the volatility and disruption have reached extreme levels, developing into
a global crisis. As a result, stock prices of a broad range of companies worldwide, whether or not they are related to financial
services, have declined significantly. These market fluctuations may also have a material adverse effect on the market price of
our securities.
We may need additional capital
and may sell additional securities or other equity securities or incur indebtedness, which could result in additional dilution
to our shareholders or increase our debt service obligations.
We may require additional cash resources
due to changed business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue.
If our cash resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities
or obtain a credit facility. The sale of additional equity securities or equity-linked debt securities could result in additional
dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result
in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available
in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
Substantial future sales of our
securities in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the price of our securities to decline.
Additional sales of our securities
in the public market or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our securities to decline. As
of March 9, 2012 had 30,084,883 shares of our common stock outstanding. Of that amount, 14,390,832 shares of Common
stock are freely transferable without restriction upon resale. None of our shares are subject to any lock-up restrictions,
although 15,694,051 of them are subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rule 144 under the Securities
Act. In addition, we may grant or sell additional options, restricted shares or other share-based awards in the future under our
share incentive plan to our management, employees and other persons, the settlement and sale of which may further dilute our shares
and drive down the price of our securities.
As of March 14, 2012 we had options
outstanding to purchase an aggregate of 715,000 shares of our common stock, of which 157,500 are currently exercisable and
warrants to purchase 283,956 shares of common stock. To the extent that the options and warrants are exercised, they may be exercised
at prices below the price of our shares of common stock on the public market, resulting in a significant number of shares entering
the public market and the dilution of our securities.
If NASDAQ were to delist our securities
from trading on its exchange, such action could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject
us to additional trading restrictions.
Our common stock is currently
listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market. We cannot assure you that our securities will meet the continued listing requirements
be listed on NASDAQ in the future.
If NASDAQ delists our common stock
from trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences including:
|
·
|
a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
|
|
·
|
a determination that our common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our common stock
to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market
for our common stock;
|
|
·
|
a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and
|
|
·
|
a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
|
If our shares of common stock
become subject to the SEC’s penny stock rules, broker-dealers may experience difficulty in completing customer transactions
and trading activity in our securities may be adversely affected.
If our common stock were removed
from listing with the Nasdaq Capital Market, it may be subject to the so-called “penny stock” rules. The SEC has adopted
regulations that define a “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price per share of less than $5.00,
subject to certain exceptions, such as any securities listed on a national securities exchange. For any transaction involving a
“penny stock,” unless exempt, the rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers, subject to
certain exceptions. If our common stock were delisted and determined to be a “penny stock,” a broker-dealer may find
it more difficult to trade our common stock and an investor may find it more difficult to acquire or dispose of our common stock
on the secondary market. Investors in penny stocks should be prepared for the possibility that they may lose their whole investment.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Under the current PRC law, land is
owned by the state, and parcels of land in rural areas which is known as collective land is owned by the rural collective economic
organization “Land use rights” are granted to an individual or entity after payment of a land use right fee is made
to the applicable state or rural collective economic organization. Land use rights allow the holder the right to use the land for
a specified long-term period.
We occupy our properties located
in Danyang City, Jiangsu Province, PRC under land use rights for purposes of production, R&D and employee living quarters.
We have land use rights, all expiring in 2058, for a total of approximately 77,000 square meters of land for all of our existing
plants and plants under construction.
On April 12, 2009, Lihua Copper entered
into a lease agreement for a cargo yard located at Liangdong Industrial Development Area, LiangQingTang, Dali, Guangdong Province,
Nanhai District in China. The lease is for a five year term, which began on May 2, 2009 and terminates on May 1, 2014. From May
2, 2009 to May 1, 2012, the monthly rent is RMB 28,000 ($4,105), from May 2, 2012 to May 1, 2013, the monthly rent is RMB 31,000
($4,544), and from May 2, 2013 to May 1, 2014, the monthly rent is RMB 33,000 ($4,837).
On November 5, 2010, Lihua
Copper entered into a Land Expropriation Contract with Houxiang Township People’s Government, Danyang City, Jiangsu
Province, relating to the transfer to Lihua Copper of a 50-year right to use a parcel of land located in Wuxing Village and
Jide Village, Houxiang Township, for consideration of $4,834,893 (RMB 32,399,100). The size of the land being
transferred is 119,988 square meters, or 180 mu, and the land will be used for the extension of Lihua Copper’s existing
factory buildings. Lihua Copper paid $4,476,877 (RMB30,000,000) as a deposit for the above land use right. Not all the
relevant formalities were completed prior to December 31, 2011, and therefore as of year-end Lihua Copper had not yet
obtained the legal title to the land use rights of 80 mu of the total 180 mu land leased. For more information on the Prepaid
Land Use Rights, please refer to Note 9 to the Financial Statements contained on page F-19 of this report.
We believe that our existing facilities
and equipment are well maintained and in good operating condition, and are sufficient to meet our needs for the foreseeable future.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We may be subject to legal proceedings,
investigations and claims incidental to the conduct of our business from time to time. We are not currently a party to any material
litigation or other legal proceedings brought against us. We are also not aware of any legal proceeding, investigation or claim,
or other legal exposure that has a more than remote possibility of having a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition or results of operations.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON
EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock has been quoted
on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the trading symbol “LIWA” since September 4, 2009. The closing
price for our common stock on Nasdaq on March 12, 2012 was $5.72 per share.
The following table shows by each
fiscal quarter and partial period, where applicable, the range of high and low sales prices reported by Nasdaq for each full quarterly
period within the two most recent fiscal years, through March 12, 2012.
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First quarter (through March 12)
|
|
$
|
6.89
|
|
|
$
|
4.80
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
6.39
|
|
|
$
|
3.69
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$
|
8.89
|
|
|
$
|
4.28
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$
|
9.29
|
|
|
$
|
5.19
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
11.95
|
|
|
$
|
8.28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
13.05
|
|
|
$
|
8.24
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$
|
9.46
|
|
|
$
|
7.48
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$
|
9.44
|
|
|
$
|
7.25
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
11.77
|
|
|
$
|
7.50
|
|
Holders of Record
At March 12,
2012, there were 30,084,883 shares of our common stock outstanding. Our shares of common stock are held by approximately 39 stockholders
of record. The number of record holders was determined from the records of our transfer agent and does not include beneficial owners
of common stock whose shares are held in the names of various security brokers, dealers, and registered clearing agencies.
Dividends
In November 2011 our Board of Directors
approved the issuance of two special dividends to our shareholders. The first dividend of approximately $0.5 million was paid on
January 13, 2012 to our shareholders of record on December 31, 2011, and the second dividend with an expected amount of approximately
$0.5 million will be payable on April 13, 2012 to our shareholders of record on March 31, 2012.
We have no plans to pay any additional
dividends and we plan to retain earnings, if any, for use in the development of the business. Payment of future dividends, if any,
will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors after taking into account various factors, including dividend issuance criteria
of the state of the Delaware, where our parent holding company is registered in, current financial condition, operating results,
current and anticipated cash needs and regulations governing dividend distributions by wholly foreign owned enterprises in the
PRC.
Performance Graph
The graph below
charts the cumulative total return of our common stock listed on Nasdaq, the Nasdaq Composite index and the Copper index, for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. Our stock began trading on Nasdaq on September 4, 2009.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company
There were no purchases of equity securities made by
the Company in the 4
th
quarter of 2011.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected
consolidated statement of financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007, which
are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance
with U.S. GAAP. Our historical results for any period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any future period.
You should read the following selected financial information in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related
notes and the information under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”
included elsewhere in this annual report.
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
% of Sales
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
% of Sales
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
% of Sales
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
% of Sales
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
% of Sales
|
|
|
|
(in thousands, except for percentages, per share and operating data)
(All periods are audited)
|
|
Consolidated Statement of Income Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCA and Copper wire
|
|
|
335,574
|
|
|
|
52.7
|
%
|
|
|
243,133
|
|
|
|
65.6
|
%
|
|
|
109,398
|
|
|
|
67.7
|
%
|
|
|
50,006
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
32,677
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
287,269
|
|
|
|
45.1
|
%
|
|
|
97,614
|
|
|
|
26.3
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Refined Copper rod
|
|
|
14,250
|
|
|
|
2.2
|
%
|
|
|
29,785
|
|
|
|
8.0
|
%
|
|
|
52,146
|
|
|
|
32.3
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Total sales
|
|
|
637,093
|
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
370,532
|
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
161,544
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
50,006
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
32,677
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCA and Copper wire
|
|
|
(285,851
|
)
|
|
|
-44.9
|
%
|
|
|
(192,199
|
)
|
|
|
-51.9
|
%
|
|
|
(78,081
|
)
|
|
|
-48.3
|
%
|
|
|
(33,202
|
)
|
|
|
-66.4
|
%
|
|
|
(22,911
|
)
|
|
|
-70.1
|
%
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
(262,045
|
)
|
|
|
-41.1
|
%
|
|
|
(89,107
|
)
|
|
|
-24.0
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Refined Copper rod
|
|
|
(13,483
|
)
|
|
|
-2.1
|
%
|
|
|
(27,124
|
)
|
|
|
-7.3
|
%
|
|
|
(47,230
|
)
|
|
|
-29.2
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Total cost of sales
|
|
|
(561,379
|
)
|
|
|
-88.1
|
%
|
|
|
(308,430
|
)
|
|
|
-83.2
|
%
|
|
|
(125,311
|
)
|
|
|
-77.6
|
%
|
|
|
(33,202
|
)
|
|
|
-66.4
|
%
|
|
|
(22,911
|
)
|
|
|
-70.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
75,714
|
|
|
|
11.9
|
%
|
|
|
62,102
|
|
|
|
16.8
|
%
|
|
|
36,233
|
|
|
|
22.4
|
%
|
|
|
16,804
|
|
|
|
33.6
|
%
|
|
|
9,766
|
|
|
|
29.9
|
%
|
Selling expenses
|
|
|
(2,486
|
)
|
|
|
-0.4
|
%
|
|
|
(2,058
|
)
|
|
|
-0.6
|
%
|
|
|
(1,722
|
)
|
|
|
-1.1
|
%
|
|
|
(700
|
)
|
|
|
-1.4
|
%
|
|
|
(417
|
)
|
|
|
-1.3
|
%
|
Administrative expenses
|
|
|
(6,650
|
)
|
|
|
-1.0
|
%
|
|
|
(5,747
|
)
|
|
|
-1.6
|
%
|
|
|
(3,992
|
)
|
|
|
-2.5
|
%
|
|
|
(1,907
|
)
|
|
|
-3.8
|
%
|
|
|
(455
|
)
|
|
|
-1.4
|
%
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
66,578
|
|
|
|
10.5
|
%
|
|
|
54,297
|
|
|
|
14.7
|
%
|
|
|
30,519
|
|
|
|
18.9
|
%
|
|
|
14,197
|
|
|
|
28.4
|
%
|
|
|
8,894
|
|
|
|
27.2
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
523
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
254
|
|
|
|
0.07
|
%
|
|
|
174
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
Interest expenses
|
|
|
(144
|
)
|
|
|
-0.02
|
%
|
|
|
(131
|
)
|
|
|
-0.04
|
%
|
|
|
(335
|
)
|
|
|
-0.2
|
%
|
|
|
(515
|
)
|
|
|
-1.0
|
%
|
|
|
(97
|
)
|
|
|
-0.3
|
%
|
Exchange expenses
|
|
|
235
|
|
|
|
0.04
|
%
|
|
|
(112
|
)
|
|
|
-0.03
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Merger cost
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(259
|
)
|
|
|
-0.5
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Change in fair value of warrants
|
|
|
3,062
|
|
|
|
0.5
|
%
|
|
|
(1,449
|
)
|
|
|
-0.4
|
%
|
|
|
(11,877
|
)
|
|
|
-7.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Gain/(loss) on extinguishment of warrant liabilities
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
%
|
|
|
187
|
|
|
|
0.05
|
%
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
0.001
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Other income (expenses)
|
|
|
115
|
|
|
|
0.02
|
%
|
|
|
(80
|
)
|
|
|
-0.02
|
%
|
|
|
501
|
|
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before tax
|
|
|
70,457
|
|
|
|
11.1
|
%
|
|
|
52,966
|
|
|
|
14.4
|
%
|
|
|
18,981
|
|
|
|
11.7
|
%
|
|
|
13,495
|
|
|
|
27.0
|
%
|
|
|
8,813
|
|
|
|
27.0
|
%
|
Income tax
|
|
|
(17,324
|
)
|
|
|
-2.7
|
%
|
|
|
(14,500
|
)
|
|
|
-3.9
|
%
|
|
|
(5,248
|
)
|
|
|
-3.2
|
%
|
|
|
(1,793
|
)
|
|
|
-3.6
|
%
|
|
|
(1,089
|
)
|
|
|
3.3
|
%
|
Net income
|
|
|
53,134
|
|
|
|
8.3
|
%
|
|
|
38,466
|
|
|
|
10.4
|
%
|
|
|
13,733
|
|
|
|
8.5
|
%
|
|
|
11,702
|
|
|
|
23.4
|
%
|
|
|
7,724
|
|
|
|
23.6
|
%
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
|
(in thousands, except for percentages, per share and operating data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—Basic
|
|
|
1.78
|
|
|
|
1.38
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
|
|
|
0.75
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
—Diluted
|
|
|
1.77
|
|
|
|
1.34
|
|
|
|
0.72
|
|
|
|
0.70
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Consolidated Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit margin
|
|
|
11.9
|
%
|
|
|
16.8
|
%
|
|
|
22.4
|
%
|
|
|
33.6
|
%
|
|
|
29.9
|
%
|
Operating profit margin
|
|
|
10.5
|
%
|
|
|
14.7
|
%
|
|
|
18.9
|
%
|
|
|
28.4
|
%
|
|
|
27.2
|
%
|
Net profit margin
|
|
|
8.3
|
%
|
|
|
10.4
|
%
|
|
|
8.5
|
%
|
|
|
23.4
|
%
|
|
|
23.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shipment volume (ton)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCA and Copper wire
|
|
|
34,743
|
|
|
|
28,388
|
|
|
|
15,353
|
|
|
|
5,966
|
|
|
|
4,065
|
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
31,943
|
|
|
|
12,330
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Refined Copper rod
|
|
|
1,876
|
|
|
|
3,994
|
|
|
|
9,630
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Average selling price ($ per ton)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCA and Copper wire
|
|
|
9,659
|
|
|
|
8,565
|
|
|
|
7,126
|
|
|
|
8,382
|
|
|
|
8,039
|
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
8,993
|
|
|
|
7,917
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Refined Copper rod
|
|
|
7,596
|
|
|
|
7,457
|
|
|
|
5,414
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
105,638
|
|
|
|
90,609
|
|
|
|
34,615
|
|
|
|
26,042
|
|
|
|
3,214
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
31,082
|
|
|
|
32,974
|
|
|
|
10,996
|
|
|
|
5,043
|
|
|
|
5,385
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
15,502
|
|
|
|
16,156
|
|
|
|
17,534
|
|
|
|
587
|
|
|
|
2,598
|
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
20,566
|
|
|
|
18,189
|
|
|
|
18,424
|
|
|
|
7,441
|
|
|
|
5,948
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
238,289
|
|
|
|
178,285
|
|
|
|
91,167
|
|
|
|
56,813
|
|
|
|
30,075
|
|
Secured short-term bank loans
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
2,265
|
|
|
|
2,197
|
|
|
|
6,145
|
|
|
|
4,107
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
18,652
|
|
|
|
25,127
|
|
|
|
23,661
|
|
|
|
9,021
|
|
|
|
10,992
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
219,637
|
|
|
|
153,158
|
|
|
|
67,506
|
|
|
|
34,675
|
|
|
|
19,082
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
238,289
|
|
|
|
178,285
|
|
|
|
91,167
|
|
|
|
56,813
|
|
|
|
30,075
|
|
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
We are principally engaged in the
production of copper replacement products which include refined copper products, copper wire produced from refined scrap copper
and CCA wire.
We manufacture and sell four major
types of refined copper products and copper alternative products: copper anode, pure copper rod, pure copper wire and CCA wire. Copper
anode, pure copper rod and pure copper wire products are produced from refined scrap copper utilizing our proprietary scrap copper
recycling and cleaning technology and process.
In the first quarter of 2009, with
the completion of a 25,000 ton per annum capacity smelter, we introduced a new production process and product line which enables
us to produce pure copper products from scrap copper. The new production process involves the fire refining of bulk
recycled copper into high purity, low oxygen content copper rods (also known as fire-refined high-conductivity rods). We
then either sell these large diameter (8mm) copper rods into a range of markets, or further process these rods into much smaller
diameter (e.g., 0.03 mm) copper wire (also known as “superfine” copper wire). We believe this recycled superfine copper
wire is generally a more cost effective product for our customers, compared with pure copper wire manufactured from newly mined
copper. We launched production of copper anode in July 2010, in conjunction with the completion of our second
scrap copper smelter, with an initial annual capacity of 25,000 tons. The completion of this second smelter doubled our recycled
copper refining and manufacturing capacity to 50,000 tons per year. In October 2011, we completed an efficiency upgrade of the
smelters and increased the copper anode smelting capacity to 35,000 tons per annum, and the copper rod smelting capacity to 50,000
tons per annum. The latest upgrade brought our total smelting capacity to 85,000 tons per annum. Copper anode is the fundamental
building block for almost all pure copper products, and holds a wide range of potential end market uses. We believe
that our pricing advantage on our refined copper products can be maintained regardless of fluctuations in the commodity price of
copper.
We believe we were among the first
manufacturers to commercialize CCA superfine wire production in China. Currently we have three different CCA products: CCA fine
wire, CCA magnet wire and CCA tin plated wire. CCA fine wire is the raw material for CCA magnet wire and CCA tin plated wire. In
the case of CCA magnet wire, we coat the CCA fine wire with a special magnetic coating, while in the case of CCA tin plated wire,
we plate the CCA fine wire with a very thin layer of tin. The value added nature of our CCA superfine wire products
lies in our ability and technology to draw down from much larger diameter CCA raw wire, and further process it to produce super
fine CCA magnet wire and CCA tin plated wire. As a result, CCA magnet wire and CCA tin plated wire command higher market prices
and higher gross margins than plain CCA fine wire. We draw pure copper wire from the refined pure copper rod we produce. The
pure copper wire we produce has three main sub categories of products: fine wire, magnet wire and tin plated wire. These three
copper wire products have the similar characteristics as the three CCA wire products mentioned above.
We have expanded our business from
the CCA superfine wire segment into the scrap copper refinery business because we believe that the scrap copper refinery business
allows us to sell into the much bigger pure copper products market and offers us the ability to grow more rapidly while utilizing
the proprietary equipment and technology that we possess relating to both the scrap copper cleaning as well as superfine wire drawing.
We believe that the ability to sell into the large and growing copper and copper replacement products market in China offers us
substantial opportunity to increase our sales in the future. We anticipate that we will continue to expand production
capacity in both refined copper products and CCA wire, but that the majority of our investment and resulting planned growth in
sales volume will occur in the refined copper products business, which caters to a much bigger pure copper products market, compared
with the CCA wire market.
We sell our products primarily in
China, either through distributors or directly to users, including distributors in the wire and cable industries and copper conglomerates
as well as manufacturers in the consumer electronics, white goods, automotive, utility, telecommunications and specialty cable
industries.
Our market for copper anode is
very large and diverse as copper anode is the raw material for copper cathode, which in turn is the foundation for most pure
copper products. For our other three main product categories (copper rod, copper wire and CCA wire), our markets
overlap to a degree, and are characterized by their breadth and depth, with a very large number of current and potential
customers for each product category. Copper rod is a raw material used in wire and cable production. Our refined
copper products (copper anode, copper rod and copper wire), which are manufactured from recycled scrap copper, compete
directly with copper products made from “virgin” (e.g. newly mined) copper. To date, our raw material
costs for bulk scrap copper have been lower than prices for “virgin” copper, which provides us with a pricing
advantage in the market for the refined copper products we produce from scrap copper. During 2011, we sold copper
anode to a few copper conglomerates, which use our product to produce copper cathode. We sold copper rod to a few
customers, most of which are producers of smaller diameter copper wire used in power cables ranging in size from high voltage
power transmission cables to white good applications such as internal wiring in household appliances and consumer
electronics. Our copper wire, which is sold in a variety of diameters and may have undergone further in-line
processing such as coating with plastic, is sold to many of the same types of end-use customers who purchase copper wire from
our copper rod customers. These include manufacturers of a wide range of power cables and products that
incorporate wiring, such as household appliances, automobiles, consumer electronics and telecommunications
equipment. Our CCA wire is sold to many of these manufacturers also. CCA wire sells at a lower cost per
unit of weight than pure copper wire, due to the relatively lower density of the aluminum core which makes up most of the
volume of CCA wire. Our CCA wire offers conductivity performance characteristics that are only marginally below
those of pure copper wire, which means they are attractive in a wide variety of product applications where a slight reduction
in conductivity standards is tolerable (such as most of the household appliance, automotive, consumer electronics and
telecommunications applications). Examples of relatively high tolerance product applications where our CCA wire
would not provide an acceptable replacement option for pure copper wire would be military/space equipment and wiring in
nuclear power plants. One low tolerance product category that requires pure copper wire rather than our less
costly CCA wire is electric motors, which require pure copper wire windings. The markets for each of our product
lines are growing rapidly, due both to growing demand in China for copper products including all types of basic wire raw
materials and the relative cost advantages our product lines carry over “virgin” pure copper competitor
products.
We believe that we are well positioned
to continue to capture further market share in the copper and replacement product industry. Our refined copper products produced
from recycled copper and CCA wire are increasingly being accepted as cheaper alternatives to pure copper products. As a result,
our sales and net income have increased substantially during the last three years. We generated sales of $161.5 million, $370.5
million and $637.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 and 2011, respectively. We achieved net income of $13.7
million, $38.5 million and $53.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. In 2010
and 2009, we had non-cash charges of $1.3 million and $11.9 million, respectively, which resulted from the extinguishment and the
change in the fair value of the warrants issued to investors in conjunction with our issuance of convertible preferred stock in
October 2008. Excluding the impact of these non-cash charges, net income for 2010 and 2009 were $39.7 million and $25.6 million,
respectively, up 55.1% and 118.8%, respectively, from the prior year. In 2011, we had a non-cash gain of $3.2 million,
which resulted from extinguishment and the change in the fair value of the warrants. Excluding the impact of these non-cash gains,
net income for 2011 was $50.0 million, up 25.8% from the prior year.
Our capacity to sell our copper anode,
copper rod, recycled copper wire products (drawn from copper rod) and CCA wire products (drawn from larger diameter CCA wire) is
limited by the number and capacity of the equipment we have installed to produce these products. Our copper anode and
copper rod are made from bulk scrap copper, which is cleaned, purified and smelted in large capacity smelter units. At
the present time we have two smelting facilities allocated to copper rod and copper anode production. The copper anode smelter
is capable of producing 35,000 tons per year and the copper rod smelter is capable of producing 50,000 tons per annum. In
2011, we sold 31,943 tons of copper anode and 30,283 tons of copper rod and wire. As of December 31, 2011, we operated
approximately 80 high speed wire drawing machines, which draw larger diameter copper rod or CCA rod into much finer diameter wires,
with a total capacity of approximately 7,500 tons per annum of CCA wire and approximately 20,000 – 25,000 tons per annum
of 0.03mm – 1.60mm diameter range copper wire. The above referenced copper wire production capacity does not include the
production of the thickest class of copper wire we produce, that with a diameter range of 1.65mm – 1.75mm. In 2011, we sold
6,336 tons of CCA wire. Certain of these drawing machines incorporate additional production steps such as coating, annealing or
magnetizing the fine wire produced. These drawing machines are manufactured to our design and specifications by custom
equipment manufacturers located in China. We are not dependent on any single custom equipment manufacturer for the fabrication
of our drawing lines. In the first half of 2010, we added six high-capacity copper wire drawing production lines, all
of which are used to draw copper wire from our copper rod, and increased our annual capacity to 20,000 – 25,000 tons of copper
wire. In the third quarter of 2010, we added a new smelter with 25,000 tons of annual capacity and started copper anode production. In
October 2011 we increased the production efficiency and capacity of each smelter and increased the total smelting capacity to 85,000
tons. As a result, the copper rod production capacity is more than that for superfine copper wire and we are expecting to see some
copper rod sales in the sales mix going forward, should we produce more copper rod than the copper wire drawing capacity can absorb
as raw material. On the new plant construction site, we are adding two new smelters with 25,000 - 30,000 tons of annual capacity
each, which are anticipated to be completed by the end of April 2012. Accordingly, we do not anticipate that our sales
will be capacity-constrained in the near future, even if we continue to experience rapid sales growth.
Historically, we have taken a conservative
approach in estimating the annual capacity of each main product category. Specifically, in the wire product categories (CCA and
copper wire), our historical total annual capacity estimate was based upon the capacity assumption on drawing the thinnest superfine
wire, even though we often produced and sold larger millimeters of wire. Since drawing the thinnest diameter of superfine wire
(i.e. 0.03 mm) takes the longest time, the estimated annual capacity that we have disclosed assumes only the smallest possible
wire production capacity that we could attain.
We produce and sell a wide variety
of superfine CCA and copper wire products according to customer order specifications. In 2011, the average CCA and copper wire
diameters we produced and sold was in the range of 0.03 mm to 2.6 mm, which were thicker than the thinnest wire diameter we can
produce. As a result, the actual sales volume of these two products exceeded our estimated production capacity, since such estimate
is based upon the thinnest wire diameter production. We are capable of producing annual production capacities for CCA and copper
wire in the range of 6,000 – 8,000 tons and 20,000 – 25,000 tons ((in the thickness range of 0.03mm – 1.60mm),
respectively. This capacity estimate does not include the drawing capabilities of the thickest copper wire in the range of 1.65mm
– 1.75mm.
Given the production capacity estimates
are conservative based upon the assumptions that are used, as described above, management does not expect the current CCA and copper
wire capacity to limit potential sales. However, such analysis and determination will be performed by us regularly in future years
and any changes will be timely disclosed. Currently we do not have plans to expand the production capacity for the existing CCA
and copper wire products. We are in the process of completing construction and addition of two new smelters with 25,000 –
30,000 tons of capacity each, which are anticipated to be completed by the end of April 2012. We have completed the research and
development of new products in the CCA cable and wire category, and are in the process of obtaining manufacturing permits while
planning to add capacity for the new products. Currently we are planning to launch this new product in the next 12 to 18 months.
The timing of this launch is dependent on various factors, including but not limited to: receipt of production license, our capital
investment plan, as well as working capital needs.
Significant Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
The most significant factors that affect our financial
condition and results of operations are:
·
product mix and implications on gross margins;
·
supply and costs of principal raw materials;
·
copper prices and supply and demand of copper;
·
production capacity; and
·
economic conditions in China;
Product mix and effect on gross margins
Our gross margin is affected by our product mix. We produce
and sell products according to customer orders. In our wire products (pure copper wire and CCA wire), magnet wire and
tin plated wire are final products from which we will derive the highest production markup, or gross profit. We also
generate a significant portion of revenue from selling semi-finished products such as fine wire at a lower production cost markup,
or gross profit.
Generally, copper anode and copper rod products
contribute a lower gross profit margin compared to the wire products. However, given the quick turnover and large
volume production of the refined copper products, as well as primarily cash on delivery payment terms with our customers, the
return on invested capital for the refined copper products and working capital turnover are much better than that of the wire
products.
Supply and costs of principal raw materials
Our ability to manage our operating costs depends significantly
on our ability to secure affordable and reliable supplies of raw materials. We have been able to secure a sufficient supply of
raw materials, which consist primarily of scrap copper and CCA raw material wire.
The price of our primary raw materials varies with reference
to copper prices, and changes in copper price affect our cost of sales. However, we are able to price our copper and
CCA products based on our material procurement costs plus a fixed dollar mark-up, which is essentially our gross profit. Therefore,
despite the implications of copper price movement on our gross and net profit margin figures, during the past three years the mark-up,
or our gross and net profit in absolute dollars, have not been materially affected by the change in copper prices.
Copper prices and supply and demand of copper
Generally the price of our products is set at a certain
discount to local retail copper prices, and we believe our products replace or supplement copper. For these reasons, our products
are affected by the market price, demand and supply of copper.
We price our refined copper and CCA wire products based
on the market price for materials plus a fixed dollar mark-up, which is essentially our gross profit. As copper prices rise, our
fixed dollar mark-up per ton processed represents a relatively lower percentage of our gross sales (which is generally based on
tons processed) and therefore our gross profit margin as a percentage of sales is relatively lower; as copper prices decline, the
inverse is true and we report relatively higher gross profit margins on a percentage basis. Despite the implications
of copper price volatility on our gross and net profit margins in percentage terms, during the past three years the markup, or
our gross and net profit in absolute dollar terms, has not been materially affected by the change of copper prices. Shanghai Changjiang
Commodity Market, one of the major metal trading markets in the PRC, publishes the copper trading prices twice daily. These prices
typically set the range for the prices of our materials as well as finished products, and are generally followed by all industry
participants.
Production capacity
In order to capture the market opportunity for our products,
we have expanded, and plan to continue to expand, our production capacity. Increased capacity has had, and could continue to have,
a significant effect on our results of operations, by allowing us to produce and sell more products to generate higher revenues
and net income.
Economic conditions in the PRC
We operate our manufacturing facilities in the PRC and
derive the majority of our revenues from sales to customers in the PRC. As such, economic conditions in the PRC will affect virtually
all aspects of our operations, including the demand for our products, the availability and prices of our raw materials and our
other expenses. The PRC has experienced significant economic growth, achieving a CAGR of 14.8% in gross domestic product from 1999
through 2011 according to National Bureau of Statistics of China. Domestic demand for and consumption of copper and CCA products
have increased substantially as a result of this growth. We believe that economic conditions in the PRC will continue to affect
our business and results of operations.
PRINCIPAL INCOME STATEMENT COMPONENTS
Sales
Our sales are derived from sales of our products net
of value-added taxes.
The most significant factors that affect our sales are
shipment volume and average selling prices.
Our collection practices generally consist of cash payment
on delivery. However, we also extend credit for 30 days to 60 days to certain of our established customers in the CCA wire category.
Cost of sales
Our cost of sales primarily consists of direct material
costs, and, to a lesser extent, direct labor costs and manufacturing overhead costs. Direct material costs generally accounted
for the majority of our cost of sales.
Gross Profit
Our gross profit is affected primarily by the cost of
raw materials, which is defined with reference to the cost of copper. We are also able to price our products based on
the market price for materials plus a fixed dollar mark-up, which is essentially our gross profit.
Operating expenses
Our operating expenses consist of selling, general and
administrative expenses, and research and development expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Our selling expenses include shipping expenses, salaries
and traveling expenses for our sales personnel. Our general and administrative expenses include administrative staff
costs and other benefits, depreciation of office equipment, professional service fees and other miscellaneous expenses related
to our administrative corporate activities.
Our sales activities are conducted through direct selling
by our internal sales staff. Because of the strong demand for our products, we have not had to start to aggressively
market and distribute our products, and our selling expenses have been relatively small as a percentage of our revenues.
We anticipate that our selling, general and administrative
expenses will increase with the anticipated growth of our business and continued upgrades to our information technology infrastructure.
We expect that our selling, general and administrative expenses will also increase as a result of compliance, investor-relations
and other expenses associated with being a publicly listed company.
Other income and expense
Other income and expense includes interest income, interest
expense, merger costs, foreign currency translation adjustments, and other income.
Our interest expense consists of expenses related to
our short term bank borrowings. We expense all interest as it is incurred.
Change in fair value of warrants
The fair value of the Company’s issued and outstanding
Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants, and the Warrants issued to placement agents in conjunction with the Company’s initial
public offering in September 2009, decreased to $615,000 as of December 31, 2011 and the Company recognized a $3,065,575 gain,
which is a non-cash gain from the change in fair value of these warrants for the year ended December 31, 2011. In future periods,
we may experience significant gains or losses, as the value of these warrants fluctuates in response to changes in our stock price.
As of December 31, 2011, all of the Series A Warrants have been exercised and none remained outstanding.
Income taxes
Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands and British
Virgin Islands, we are not subject to any income or capital gains tax, and dividend payments we make are not subject to any withholding
tax in the Cayman Islands or British Virgin Islands. Under the current laws of Hong Kong, we are not subject to any income or capital
gains tax and dividend payments we make are not subject to any withholding tax in Hong Kong.
The PRC New Tax Law imposes a 10% withholding income
tax for dividends distributed by a foreign invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside the PRC for distribution
of earnings generated after January 1, 2008. Under the New Tax Law, the distribution of earnings generated prior to January 1,
2008 is exempt from the withholding tax. As our subsidiaries in the PRC will not be distributing their earnings to the Company
for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 to the Company, no deferred tax liability has been recognized for the undistributed
earnings of these PRC subsidiaries through December 31, 2011. Total undistributed earnings of these PRC subsidiaries at December
31, 2011 was RMB937,148,032 ($148,732,408).
Our two operating subsidiaries are governed by the PRC
income tax laws and are subject to the PRC enterprise income tax (“EIT”). Each of the two entities files
its own separate tax return. According to the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, foreign invested enterprises
established prior to January 1, 2008 were entitled to full exemption from income tax for two years beginning from the first year
when enterprises become profitable and have accumulative profits and a 50% income tax reduction for the subsequent three years. Being
converted into a Sino-foreign joint equity enterprise in 2005, Lihua Electron was thus entitled to the EIT exemption in 2005 and
2006, and has been subject to the 50% income tax reduction for the period from 2007 to 2009. Set out in the following
table are the EIT rates for our two PRC Operating Companies from 2006 to 2011:
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2011
|
|
Lihua Electron
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
12
|
%
|
|
|
12.50
|
%
|
|
|
12.50
|
%
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
Lihua Copper
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2010
Sales
Our business for the year ended December 31, 2011 continued
to demonstrate robust growth. Net sales increased by 71.9% from $370.5 million in 2010 to $637.1 million in 2011. This
growth was primarily driven by: (i) strong market demand for our CCA and copper wire products; (ii) the launch of the new smelting
capacity in the third quarter of 2010, which operated a full year in 2011 and allowed us to keep up with increased product demand;
(iii) the further increase in the smelting capacity in October 2011, and (iv) the increase of copper prices during 2011 relative
to 2010. Please see the table below for more details regarding the product sales breakdown by specific category.
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
In thousands, except for percentage
and average price
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
Volume
(m.t.)
|
|
|
Average
price
|
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
Volume
(m.t.)
|
|
|
Average
price
|
|
CCA and copper wire
|
|
$
|
335,574
|
|
|
|
34,743
|
|
|
$
|
9,659
|
|
|
$
|
243,133
|
|
|
|
28,388
|
|
|
|
8,565
|
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
287,269
|
|
|
|
31,943
|
|
|
|
8,993
|
|
|
|
97,614
|
|
|
|
12,330
|
|
|
|
7,917
|
|
Copper rod
|
|
|
14,250
|
|
|
|
1,876
|
|
|
|
7,596
|
|
|
|
29,785
|
|
|
|
3,994
|
|
|
|
7,457
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
637,093
|
|
|
|
68,562
|
|
|
$
|
9,292
|
|
|
$
|
370,532
|
|
|
|
44,712
|
|
|
$
|
8,287
|
|
The overall sales volume increase of 53% in 2011 over
2010 is the result of additional production volume in our existing products in 2011 as a result of the capacity addition incurred
throughout 2010 in both our wire products and copper anode product, and smelting capacity expansion in October 2011, partially
offset by the reduction in copper rod sales as a result of increased use of rod internally as raw material for copper wire. Sales
volume of CCA and copper wire in 2011 has grown 22% from fiscal year 2010 as a result of wiring drawing capacity expansion in the
first half of 2010. We added six new copper wire drawing production lines in the first half of 2010 and thus expanded copper wire
production capacity from 18,000 tons (expanded in October 2009) per annum to 20,000 – 25,000 tons per annum, for production
of the wires in the thickness range of 0.03mm – 1.60mm. We began production and sales of copper anode in August 2010, and
sold 31,943 tons and 12,330 tons of copper anode in 2011 and 2010, respectively. Since we expanded our copper wire production capacity
in the first half of 2010, beginning in the third quarter of 2010, we nearly fully utilized all copper rod produced for internal
copper wire production, thereafter greatly reduced the sales volume of copper rod to outside customers. With the copper rod production
capacity increase in October 2011, to the extend our copper rod production capacity exceeds copper wire production capacity, we
anticipate that we will sell copper rod to the market in future periods.
We sell our products based on the prevailing market price
at the time of the sale. Factors impacting average selling prices of our products are copper price fluctuation, and in the case
of the wire products, the average diameter of the wire products we sold during the period - the thicker the wire diameter the lower
the sale price, and vice versa.
Cost of Sales and Gross Margin
The following table sets forth our cost of sales and
gross profit, both in amounts and as a percentage of total sales for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
In thousands, except for percentage
|
|
Cost of Sales
|
|
|
%
of
Sales*
|
|
|
Cost of Sales
|
|
|
%
of
Sales*
|
|
CCA and copper wire
|
|
$
|
285,851
|
|
|
|
85.2
|
%
|
|
$
|
192,199
|
|
|
|
79.1
|
%
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
262,045
|
|
|
|
91.2
|
%
|
|
|
89,107
|
|
|
|
91.3
|
%
|
Copper rod
|
|
|
13,483
|
|
|
|
94.6
|
%
|
|
|
27,124
|
|
|
|
91.1
|
%
|
Total
|
|
$
|
561,379
|
|
|
|
88.1
|
%
|
|
$
|
308,430
|
|
|
|
83.2
|
%
|
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
In thousands, except for percentage
|
|
Gross Profit
|
|
|
%
of
Sales*
|
|
|
Gross Profit
|
|
|
%
of
Sales*
|
|
CCA and copper wire
|
|
$
|
49,723
|
|
|
14.8
|
%
|
|
$
|
50,934
|
|
|
20.9
|
%
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
25,224
|
|
|
|
8.8
|
%
|
|
|
8,507
|
|
|
|
8.7
|
%
|
Copper rod
|
|
|
767
|
|
|
|
5.4
|
%
|
|
|
2,661
|
|
|
|
8.9
|
%
|
Total
|
|
$
|
75,714
|
|
|
|
11.9
|
%
|
|
$
|
62,102
|
|
|
|
16.8
|
%
|
* Percentage
of sales of respective product category
Average gross profit margin
decreased to 11.9% in 2011 as compared to 16.8% in 2010, primarily as a result of the addition of copper anode, which is a lower
margin product compared to the wire products. In addition, as a result of the copper wire capacity addition, copper wire products
sales have increased significantly as a percentage of total sales in 2011, when compared with fiscal year 2010. Since
copper wire is a lower gross margin product than CCA wire, the increase in copper wire sales also contributed to the decrease in
average CCA and copper wire gross margin as well as overall gross margin.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
The following table sets forth operating expenses and
income from operations both in amounts and as a percentage of total sales for Selling, General and Administrative Expenses for
the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
Change in
year ended
December 31,
2011
compared to
year ended
December 31,
2010
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
In thousands, except for percentage
|
|
US$
|
|
|
% of Sales
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
% of Sales
|
|
|
%
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
$
|
75,714
|
|
|
|
11.9
|
%
|
|
$
|
62,102
|
|
|
|
16.8
|
%
|
|
|
21.9
|
%
|
Operating Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling expenses
|
|
|
(2,486
|
)
|
|
|
(0.4
|
)%
|
|
|
(2,058
|
)
|
|
|
(0.6
|
)%
|
|
|
20.8
|
%
|
General & administrative expenses
|
|
|
(6,650
|
)
|
|
|
(1.0
|
)%
|
|
|
(5,747
|
)
|
|
|
(1.5
|
)%
|
|
|
15.7
|
%
|
Total operating expense
|
|
|
(9,136
|
)
|
|
|
(1.4
|
)%
|
|
|
(7,805
|
)
|
|
|
(2.1
|
)%
|
|
|
17.0
|
%
|
Income from operations
|
|
$
|
66,578
|
|
|
|
10.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
54,297
|
|
|
|
14.7
|
%
|
|
|
22.6
|
%
|
Total selling, general and administrative expenses were
$9,136,120 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $7,805,501 for the same period last year, an increase of 17.0%.
Selling expenses were $2,485,978 for the year ended December
31, 2011, an increase of 20.8% compared to the same period last year. The increase was attributable to:
|
·
|
Increased costs related to product distribution and insurance as a
result of expanded business volume; and
|
|
·
|
Increased staffing costs as we continued to expand the sales force
during the period.
|
Included in selling expenses were shipping and handling
costs of $2,051,193 and $1,630,898 in 2011 and 2010, respectively, representing an increase of 26%, while tons of products sold
by us increased 53% compared to 2010. Excluding the sale of copper anode, which was launched in the second half of 2010, tons of
CCA and copper wire and rod products sold increased 13% in 2011. Copper anode sales have only been made to three customers, all
of whom are located in nearby cities and/or provinces that are within close proximity to our production location. Due to their
proximity to our facilities, the costs of shipping and handling for copper anode sales were significantly less than the costs of
sales for our other products to customers that are located further from our facility. , Depending on customer’s requests
on a case-by-case basis, shipping and handling costs for our products may either be borne by us or by our customers. The greater
percentage increase in shipping and handling costs compared to the percentage increase in tons of products of wire and rod products
sold during 2011 was attributable to more customers requesting us to bear these costs compared to last year.
General & administrative expenses were $6,650,142
for the year ended December 31, 2011, an increase of 15.7% compared to the same period last year. The main factors which caused
this increase were (i) higher administrative and professional fees associated with the Company being a public reporting company
and our expanded scale of operations; and (ii) higher research and development costs as we have completed R&D for new CCA products
and developed R&D partnerships with Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute and Beijing Modern Recycling Economy Research
Institute in 2011.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $143,779 for the year ended December
31, 2011, compared to $131,106 for the same period last year. The increase was mainly due to the increase in interest rates.
Income Tax
For the year ended December 31, 2011, income tax expense
was $17,323,700, reflecting an effective tax rate of 24.6%. The effective tax rate for the same period in 2010was 27.4%.
Excluding the non-taxable fair value change on warrants and the operating loss of the US entity, the effective tax rate was 24.9%
and 25.4% for 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Commencing in 2010, both Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper
have been subject to an EIT rate of 25%.
Net Income
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $53.1
million, or 8.3% of net revenue, compared to $38.5 million, or 10.4% of net revenue, in the same period in 2010. The net income
for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was impacted by a $3.1 million non-cash gain and $1.3 million non-cash charge, respectively,
as a result of the change of the fair value of the warrants. Excluding the impact of these non-cash items, net income for the year
ended December 31, 2011 was $50.0 million, up 25.8% from the prior year.
Foreign Currency Translation Gains
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the RMB rose
against the US dollar, and we recognized a foreign currency translation gain of $9.2 million.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2009
Sales
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
In thousands, except for percentage
and average price
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
Volume
(m.t.)
|
|
|
Average
price
|
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
Volume
(m.t.)
|
|
|
Average
price
|
|
CCA and copper wire
|
|
$
|
243,133
|
|
|
|
28,388
|
|
|
$
|
8,565
|
|
|
$
|
109,398
|
|
|
|
15,353
|
|
|
|
7,126
|
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
97,614
|
|
|
|
12,330
|
|
|
|
7,917
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Copper rod
|
|
|
29,785
|
|
|
|
3,994
|
|
|
|
7,457
|
|
|
|
52,146
|
|
|
|
9,630
|
|
|
|
5,414
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
370,532
|
|
|
|
44,712
|
|
|
$
|
8,287
|
|
|
$
|
161,544
|
|
|
|
24,983
|
|
|
$
|
6,466
|
|
The overall sales volume increase of 79% in 2010 over
2009 is the result of capacity addition in our existing products, as well as production and sale of new product in 2010, partially
offset by the reduction in copper rod sales as a result of increased use of rod internally as raw material for copper wire. Sales
volume of CCA and copper wire in 2010 has grown 85% from fiscal year 2009 as a result of capacity expansion in the first half of
2010. We added six new copper wire drawing production lines in the first half of 2010 and thus expanded copper wire production
capacity from 18,000 tons (expanded in October 2009) per annum to 20,000 – 25,000 tons per annum. We began production and
sales of copper anode in August 2010, and sold 12,330 tons of copper anode in 2010. Since we have expanded the copper wire production
capacity in the first half of 2010, beginning in the third quarter of 2010, we were able to fully utilize copper rod for internal
copper wire production, and subsequently no longer sold copper rod to outside customers for the remainder of 2010.
We sell our products based on the prevailing market price
at the time of the sale. Factors impacting average selling prices of our products are fluctuations in copper prices, and in the
case of the wire products, the average diameter of the wire products we sold during the period - the thicker the wire diameter
the lower the sale price, and vice versa.
Cost of Sales and Gross Margin
The following table sets forth our cost of sales and
gross profit, both in amounts and as a percentage of total sales for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
In thousands, except for percentage
|
|
Cost of Sales
|
|
|
%
of Sales*
|
|
|
Cost of Sales
|
|
|
%
of Sales*
|
|
CCA and copper wire
|
|
$
|
192,199
|
|
|
|
79.1
|
%
|
|
$
|
78,081
|
|
|
|
71.4
|
%
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
89,107
|
|
|
|
91.3
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Copper rod
|
|
|
27,124
|
|
|
|
91.1
|
%
|
|
|
47,230
|
|
|
|
90.6
|
%
|
Total
|
|
$
|
308,430
|
|
|
|
83.2
|
%
|
|
$
|
125,311
|
|
|
|
77.6
|
%
|
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
In thousands, except for percentage
|
|
Gross Profit
|
|
|
%
of Sales*
|
|
|
Gross Profit
|
|
|
%
of Sales*
|
|
CCA and copper wire
|
|
$
|
50,934
|
|
|
|
20.9
|
%
|
|
$
|
31,317
|
|
|
|
28.6
|
%
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
8,507
|
|
|
|
8.7
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Copper rod
|
|
|
2,661
|
|
|
|
8.9
|
%
|
|
|
4,916
|
|
|
|
9.4
|
%
|
Total
|
|
$
|
62,102
|
|
|
|
16.8
|
%
|
|
$
|
36,233
|
|
|
|
22.4
|
%
|
* Percentage of sales of respective product
category
Average gross profit margin has decreased to 16.8% in
2010 as compared to 22.4% in 2009, primarily as a result of the addition of copper anode, which is a lower margin product compared
to the wire products. In addition, as a result of the copper wire capacity addition, the copper wire product sales have increased
significantly as a percentage of total sales in 2010, when compared with fiscal year 2009. Since copper wire is a lower
gross margin product than CCA wire, the increase in copper wire sales also contributed to the decrease in average CCA and copper
wire gross margin as well as overall gross margin.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
The following table sets forth operating expenses and
income from operations both in amounts and as a percentage of total sales for Selling, General and Administrative Expenses for
the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
Change in
year ended
December 31,
2010
compared to
year ended
December 31,
2009
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
In thousands, except for percentage
|
|
US$
|
|
|
% of Sales
|
|
|
US$
|
|
|
% of Sales
|
|
|
%
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
$
|
62,102
|
|
|
|
16.8
|
%
|
|
$
|
36,233
|
|
|
|
22.4
|
%
|
|
|
71.4
|
%
|
Operating Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling expenses
|
|
|
(2,058
|
)
|
|
|
(0.6
|
)%
|
|
|
(1,722
|
)
|
|
|
(1.1
|
)%
|
|
|
19.5
|
%
|
General & administrative expenses
|
|
|
(5,747
|
)
|
|
|
(1.5
|
)%
|
|
|
(3,992
|
)
|
|
|
(2.5
|
)%
|
|
|
44.0
|
%
|
Total operating expense
|
|
|
(7,805
|
)
|
|
|
(2.1
|
)%
|
|
|
(5,714
|
)
|
|
|
(3.6
|
)%
|
|
|
36.6
|
%
|
Income from operations
|
|
$
|
54,297
|
|
|
|
14.7
|
%
|
|
$
|
30,519
|
|
|
|
18.9
|
%
|
|
|
77.9
|
%
|
Total selling, general and administrative expenses were
$7,805,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $5,714,000 for the prior year, an increase of 36.6%.
Selling expenses were $2,058,000 for the year ended December
31, 2010, an increase of 19.5% compared to the prior year. The increase was attributable to:
|
·
|
Increased costs related to product distribution and insurance as a
result of expanded business volume; and
|
|
·
|
Increased staffing costs as we continued to expand the sales force
during the period.
|
Included in selling expenses were shipping and handling
costs of $1,630,898 and $1,303,346 in 2010 and 2009 respectively, representing an increase of 25%, while tons of products sold
by us increased 79% compared to 2009. Excluding the sale of copper anode which was launched in the second half of 2010, tons of
CCA and copper wire and rod products sold increased 30% in 2010. Copper anode sales have only been made to three customers, all
of whom are located in nearby cities and/or provinces that are within close proximity to our production location. Due to their
proximity to our facilities, the costs of shipping and handling for copper anode sales were significantly less than the costs of
sales for our other products to customers that are located father from our facility. Depending on customer’s requests on
a case-by-case basis, shipping and handling costs for our products may either be borne by us or by our customers. The lesser percentage
increase in shipping and handling costs compared to the percentage increase in tons of products of wire and rod products sold during
2010 was attributable to fewer customers requesting us to bear these costs compared to 2009.
General & administrative expenses were $5,747,000
for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of 44.0% compared to the prior year. Factors which caused this increase
were higher administrative and professional fees associated with the Company being a public reporting company and our expanded
scale of operations.
Interest Expense
Interest expense
was $131,106 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $335,335 for the prior year. The decrease was mainly due to
the repayment of short term bank loans which were used for working capital purposes.
Income tax
For the year ended December 31, 2010, income tax expense
was $14,499,576, reflecting an effective tax rate of 27.4%. The effective tax rate for the same period in 2009 was 27.6%.
Excluding the non-taxable fair value change on warrants and the operating loss of the US entity, the effective tax rate was 25.4%
and 16.0% for 2010 and 2009, respectively.
In 2009, Lihua Electron was subject to an EIT rate of
12.5%, and Lihua Copper was subject to an EIT rate of 25%. Starting 2010, both entities’ EIT rate was 25%.
Net Income
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $38.5 million,
or 10.4% of net revenue, compared to $13.7 million, or 8.5% of net revenue, in the same period in 2009. The net income for
the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was impacted by a non-cash charge of $1.3 million and $11.9 million, respectively, as
a result of the change of the fair value of the warrants. Excluding the impact of these non-cash charges, net income for the year
ended December 31, 2010 was $39.7 million, up 55.1% from the prior year.
Foreign Currency Translation Gains
During the year
ended December 31, 2010, the RMB rose against the US dollar, and we recognized a foreign currency translation gain of $4.6 million.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We have historically financed our operations and capital
expenditures through cash flows from operations, bank loans and fund raising through issuing new shares in the capital markets.
The Company has not transferred cash between our operating
subsidiaries and the offshore parent company. As of December 31, 2011, total cash held in Renminbi and U.S. dollars was RMB665.6
million (or $105.6 million based on the conversion rate of US$1 = RMB6.3009 on the same date). We maintain cash in U.S. dollars
in an offshore account in Hong Kong, to pay for U.S. related expenses such as legal fees and external investor relation firm fees
for being a public company in the U.S.
As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately
$105.6 million in cash, up $15 million from $90.6 million at December 31, 2010. Starting November 2010, the Company commenced
construction of a 180 mu (approximately 30 acre) new plant. Two new copper anode smelters with 25,000 – 30,000 tons of
annual capacity each will be added on this new plant, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of April 2012. In
addition, the Company plans to add new production facilities for its new CCA cable and wire product on the new plant
site. The estimated additional capital spending for the remaining infrastructure for the smelting facilities,
planned capacity addition of the new CCA cable and wire products, as well as the completion of the construction of the entire
new plant site, is $35 – 40 million. As a result of expanded production capacity following the completion of the new
plant, the Company is expecting higher sales, higher depreciation and other operating costs, and an overall increase in net
income in the year 2012 and beyond.
The following table summarizes our cash flows for each
of the periods indicated:
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
(US$)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
33,377,997
|
|
|
$
|
29,704,698
|
|
|
$
|
8,427,074
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(20,309,900
|
)
|
|
|
(12,044,070
|
)
|
|
|
(5,094,444
|
)
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
|
|
(2,550,960
|
)
|
|
|
35,870,817
|
|
|
|
5,210,460
|
|
Effect of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
4,511,150
|
|
|
|
2,463,057
|
|
|
|
29,899
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
90,609,340
|
|
|
|
34,614,838
|
|
|
|
26,041,849
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
105,637,627
|
|
|
$
|
90,609,340
|
|
|
$
|
34,614,838
|
|
Operating activities
For the year ended December 31, 2011, cash provided by
operating activities totaled $33.4 million compared to $29.7 million and $8.4 million in the same period of 2010 and 2009, respectively.
This was primarily attributable to: i) $53.1 million in net earnings; ii) a $3.5 million accounts receivable decrease, which was
mainly caused by the shorter credit terms we granted to our wire customers as our raw material cost increased and a tightening
credit market in China; iii) a $1.4 million inventory decrease, resulting from more efficient use of raw materials and finished
goods; offset by iv) a $21.3 million prepayments for raw material purchases, which was primarily caused by advanced payment for
the importation of our raw material from overseas; and (v) a $1.8 million increase in other receivables, deposits and prepayments,
which was primarily caused by prepaid R&D costs paid to research institutes.
Investing activities
For the year ended December 31, 2011, cash used in investing
activities totaled $20.3 million compared to $12.0 million and $5.1 million in the same period of 2010 and 2009, respectively.
This was primarily attributable to a total net cash outflow of $20.3 million for the purchase of and deposits paid for property,
plant and equipment and construction in progress, primarily as a result of capital investment in new equipment and machinery
and building of new workshops, all being part of our planned expansion.
Financing activities
For the year ended December 31, 2011, cash used in financing
activities totaled $2.6 million compared to cash inflow of $35.9 million and $5.2 million in the same period of 2010 and 2009,
respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we spent $2.1 million for stock repurchase and $2.3 million for repayment of
short term bank loans and we received proceeds of $1.9 million from the exercise of warrants of the PIPE investors.
In January 2011, the Board of Directors authorized management
to repurchase stock over a 12-months period with a total value of up to $15 million (the “Repurchase Program”). The
Company has purchased 264,047 shares in the open market at aggregate cost of $2.1 million. The initial repurchases were funded
with US dollars the Company had in its Hong Kong bank account, and the subsequent repurchases were funded by an aggregate of $1.3
million loans, denominated in U.S. dollars, from Magnify Wealth Enterprise Limited (“Magnify Wealth”), a British Virgin
Islands corporation and an entity affiliated with Mr. Jianhua Zhu, our CEO and Chairman. The Company repaid Magnify Wealth in
full, in RMB. While the Company’s operating subsidiaries in the PRC have substantial cash reserves available, the laws of
the PRC restrict the conversion of RMB to U.S. dollars, such that the Company has encountered difficulty funding the Repurchase
Program with U.S. dollars from cash held by its PRC subsidiaries. The Company explored possible alternative arrangements for funding
the Repurchase Program in U.S. dollars with financial institutions, but Company management determined that such alternatives would
have been costly or otherwise not appropriate for the Company. The Repurchase Program expired in January 2012.
Capital expenditures
Our capital expenditures are principally directed for
expansion of production facilities, including construction and purchases of property, plant and equipment. In 2009, 2010 and 2011,
we funded our capital expenditures primarily through cash flows from operating activities and the proceeds of bank borrowings,
and equity issuance.
In 2012, as we accelerate our expansion, we expect continued
capital expenditures for maintaining existing machines and adding manufacturing equipment in our 180 mu new plant site, which is
adjacent to our existing plant. We currently have two smelting facilities which can produce a total of 85,000 tons of refined copper
products per year. We plan to complete the addition of smelting facilities on the new plant site by the end of April
2012 and increase our refined copper capacity to 135,000 – 145,000 tons per year. With our current capacity of production
lines, we can produce 7,500 tons of CCA wire and 20,000 - 25,000 tons of copper wire with the diameter range of 0.03mm –
1.60mm. We have completed the research and development of a new CCA cable and wire product and are in the process of
completing production license application and capacity addition for the new product on our new plant site. At the present time
we estimate that this new product will be launched in 12 to 18 months. Construction of the entire 180 mu (approximately 30 acres)
new plant site construction is anticipated to be completed in year 2013. The estimated additional capital spending for the remaining
infrastructure spending for the smelting facilities, planned capacity addition of the new CCA cable and wire products, as well
as the completion of the construction of the entire new plant site, is $35 – 40 million. For the future planned capacity
expansion, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and cash flows from operations and our revolving credit facility
will be sufficient to meet our presently anticipated future cash needs to bring all of our facilities into full production. We
may, however, require additional cash resources due to changing business conditions or other future developments, including any
investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue.
Accounts receivable
In 2011, we sold 34,743 tons of CCA and copper wire,
31,943 tons of copper anode and 1,876 tons of copper rod. In 2010, we sold 28,388 tons of CCA and copper wire, 12,330
tons of copper anode and 3,994 tons of copper rod. As CCA is an emerging product in the PRC, Lihua extends credit terms to some
of its larger customers. However, pure copper products, such as our copper anode, copper rod and copper wire, are in such high
demand that we don’t have to extend credit terms. Our customers often purchase more than one type of product from us (for
example, one customer may purchase both CCA wire and copper wire). CCA wire purchases are generally accorded 30 to 60
day payment terms, depending upon the creditworthiness of the customer, while the copper wire (and copper rod and anode) purchases
are payable upon delivery to the customer, which may occur two to seven days after we ship the product and recognize our revenue.
This decision to extend terms or to collect payment upon receipt (essentially a “cash sale”, although due to the shipping
time this effectively becomes a very short receivable), is based primarily upon the product type. We may extend terms for CCA purchases
to a credit-worthy customer, but for that same customer require payment upon delivery for purchases of copper anode, rod and/or
copper wire.
The table below shows the breakdown of accounts receivable
by products:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCA wire and copper wire
|
|
$
|
17,998,205
|
|
|
$
|
19,855,809
|
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
11,752,531
|
|
|
|
13,117,895
|
|
Copper rod
|
|
|
1,331,724
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
31,082,460
|
|
|
$
|
32,973,704
|
|
Off-balance sheet arrangements
As of December 31, 2011, we have no off-balance sheet
arrangements.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK
Foreign Exchange Risk
Substantially all of our revenues
and expenditures are denominated in Renminbi. As a result, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollars and Renminbi
will affect our financial results in U.S. dollars terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results
of operations. The Renminbi’s exchange rate with the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by, among other things,
changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions. The exchange rate for conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies
is heavily influenced by intervention in the foreign exchange market by the People’s Bank of China. From 1995 until July
2005, the People’s Bank of China intervened in the foreign exchange market to maintain an exchange rate of approximately
8.3 Renminbi per U.S. dollar. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed this policy and began allowing modest appreciation of
the Renminbi versus the U.S. dollar. However, the Renminbi is restricted to a rise or fall of no more than 0.5% per day versus
the U.S. dollar, and the People’s Bank of China continues to intervene in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant
short-term fluctuations in the Renminbi exchange rate. Nevertheless, under China’s current exchange rate regime, the Renminbi
may appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term. There remains significant
international pressure on the PRC government to adopt a substantial liberalization of its currency policy, which could result in
a further and more significant appreciation in the value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar.
Any devaluation of the Renminbi against
the U.S. dollar would consequently have an adverse effect on our financial performance and asset values when measured in terms
of U.S. dollars. On the other hand, the appreciation of the Renminbi could make our customers’ products more expensive to
purchase because many of our customers are involved in the export of goods, which may have an adverse impact on their sales. A
decrease in sales by our customers could have an adverse effect on our operating results. In addition, as of December 31, 2011
and 2010, we had cash denominated in Renminbi amounting to RMB665.4 million ($105.6 million) and RMB595.2 million ($89.9 million),
respectively.
We recognized a foreign currency
translation adjustment of approximately RMB59.1 million ($9.2 million) for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Very limited hedging transactions
are available in the PRC to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions
in an effort to reduce its exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in
the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedging transactions may be limited and we may not be able to successfully
hedge our exposure at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that
restrict our ability to convert Renminbi into foreign currency.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to interest rate risk
arising from short-term variable rate borrowings from time to time. Our future interest expense will fluctuate in line with any
change in our borrowing rates. We believe our exposure to interest rate risk and other relevant market risks is not material. We
did not have short term bank borrowing outstanding as of December 31, 2011. However, we may incur short-term bank borrowings under
our working capital revolving line of credit from time to time.
Inflation
In recent years, the PRC has not
experienced significant inflation, and thus inflation has not had a material impact on our results of operations. According to
the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the change in Consumer Price Index in China was -0.7%, 3.3% and 5.4% in 2009,
2010 and 2011 respectively.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY
DATA
Our consolidated financial statements
and the notes thereto begin on page F-1 of this Annual Report.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH
ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the
participation of management, including our chief executive officer, who is our principal executive officer, and the chief financial
officer, who is our principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of
our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of December 31,
2011. Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls
and procedures were effective, as of December 31, 2011, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that
we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer
and chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control
Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for
establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Using the Integrated
Framework adopted by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (
"COSO"
), our management
assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting, as of December 31, 2011, and determined
it to be effective.
Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm
Our independent registered public
accounting firm, Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited, has audited the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2011, as stated in their report which appears on pages F-1(a) of this annual report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Controls
In addition, no change in our internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the 1934 Act) occurred during the fourth quarter of
the year ended December 31, 2011, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control
over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information about our
directors and executive officers as of March 15, 2012.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jianhua Zhu
|
|
50
|
|
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daphne Huang
|
|
41
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yaying Wang
|
|
49
|
|
Chief Operating Officer, Secretary and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert C. Bruce*
|
|
49
|
|
Independent Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jonathan P. Serbin*
|
|
42
|
|
Independent Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kelvin Lau*
|
|
49
|
|
Independent Director
|
* Indicates member of Audit, Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee and Compensation Committee.
Our directors are appointed for a
one-year term to hold office until the next annual meeting of our stockholders or until they resign or are removed from office
in accordance with our bylaws. Our officers serve at the discretion of our Board of Directors.
Set forth below is information regarding certain significant
employees.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xingwei Fan
|
|
38
|
|
Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
Junying Zhu
|
|
33
|
|
VP of Sales and Marketing
|
Set forth below are the respective
principal occupations or brief employment histories of each of our directors and the periods during which each has served as a
director of the Company, as well as for our named executive officers and certain significant employees.
Jianhua Zhu
, President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Zhu has served as a director of the
Company since October 31, 2008. Mr. Zhu has over 20 years of experience in the PRC’s copper industry. From Lihua Electron’s
inception in October 1999 and from Lihua Copper’s inception in September 2007 until June 6, 2008, Mr. Zhu served as the sole
member of the board of directors. Mr. Zhu currently serves as the Executive Director of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper. In addition
to overall management of the Company, Mr. Zhu is responsible for corporate and product development and governmental regulations.
As our founder and CEO, we believe that Mr. Zhu’s extensive experience in the copper industry provides him with significant
insights into our business which make him qualified to be the Chairman of our Board of Directors.
Daphne Huang,
Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer. Ms. Huang has served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since October 23, 2011 and as Executive
Vice President of Finance and Director of Investor Relations since October 2009. From April 2003 through February 2009, Ms. Huang
worked at GE Capital Markets, Inc., a broker dealer, where she served as Assistant Vice President and then Vice President of the
Debt Capital Markets group and was responsible for debt product structuring and syndication in the U.S. capital markets. From 2000
to 2002, Ms. Huang was an Associate and then a Senior Associate at Fleet Securities, Inc., an investment bank that was acquired
by Bank of America. Ms. Huang also served as a Senior Auditor in the Capital Markets Group of PriceWaterhouseCoopers from 1997
to 2000, an Equity Research Analyst at SG Cowen & Company from 1996 to 1997 and a Financial Analyst at Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter from 1995 to 1996. Ms. Huang earned an MBA in Finance and Management from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New
York University, a BBA in Accounting from Baruch College, and holds an inactive CPA license in the State of New York. She is also
fluent in Mandarin.
Yaying Wang
,
Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors. Ms. Wang has served as a director of the Company, Secretary
and COO since October 31, 2008. Ms. Wang has over 20 years of experience in the PRC’s copper industry. Ms. Wang has
strong technical knowledge of copper and extensive industry relationships. In addition to her responsibilities as COO, Ms.
Wang is responsible for the Sales and Production Departments. We believe that Ms. Wang’s extensive experience in the
copper industry provides her with significant insights into our business, which are needed by our Board of Directors.
Robert C. Bruce
, Independent
Director. Mr. Bruce has served as a director of the Company since April 14, 2009. Mr. Bruce is Founder, President and CEO of Zylo
Media, LLC, an early stage digital advertising and marketing company headquartered in Portland, Maine. Mr. Bruce also serves as
President of Oakmont Advisory Group, LLC, a financial management consulting firm located in Portland, Maine. Prior to founding
Oakmont Advisory Group, from 1999 through 2004, Mr. Bruce served as Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and Director for Enterix
Inc., a privately-held, venture-funded medical device and laboratory services company that was purchased by Quest Diagnostics.
He also previously served as Chief Financial Officer for Advantage Business Services (1997 to 1998), a privately-held national
payroll processing and tax filing business that was subsequently acquired by PayChex. Mr. Bruce previously served as a member of
the board of directors of ImmuCell Corporation (NASDAQ: ICCC) and China North East Petroleum Holdings Ltd. (NYSE Amex: NEP). Mr.
Bruce received his MBA from the Yale School of Management, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University. We believe
that Mr. Bruce’s experience as a former director of two other public companies and his extensive finance experience provides
him with a unique and valuable perspective from which he helps advise the Board of Directors.
Jonathan P.
Serbin
, Independent Director. Mr. Serbin has served as a director of the Company since April 14, 2009. Mr. Serbin was
most recently the head of Media and Telecom Investment Banking Asia division for Oppenheimer & Co. Previously, he was the Chief
Executive Officer of D Mobile, Inc., a seller of mobile content in the PRC. Prior to D Mobile, Inc., Mr. Serbin was Chief
Financial Officer at EBT Mobile from July 2004 through December 2007. He was also previously the Chief Financial Officer of
Hana Biosciences, a biotech development company from January 2004 through July 2004. Mr. Serbin holds a B.A. from Washington
University, St. Louis, a J.D. from Boston University and an MBA from Columbia University. We believe that Mr. Serbin’s
significant experience in senior management, extensive finance experience and familiarity with working in the PRC provides
him with a unique and valuable perspective from which he helps advise the Board of Directors.
Siu Ki “Kelvin” Lau
,
Independent
Director. Mr. Lau has served as a director of the Company since October 20, 2009. Mr. Lau has substantial experience in capital
markets, corporate finance, investments and mergers & acquisitions, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. He has worked
for a few international and regional investment banks since 1990 and has been providing advisory service to listed and private
companies with regard to public listing, corporate takeover, equity fund raising and other corporate activities. From January 1990
to May 1993, Mr. Lau worked for a leading local investment bank in Hong Kong. During May 1993 and May 1997, he worked as a director for a European
investment bank, and since May 1997, he has been working for Asian investment banks with global network. Mr. Lau was
Managing Director of DBS Asia Capital Limited during April 2002 and December 2008. Since December 2008, he has
been working in the Equity Capital Markets and Corporate Finance department of Mizuho Securities Asia Limited, which is a
major Japanese investment banking and securities company with global distribution network. Mr. Lau is a fellow member of
the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants of the United Kingdom and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public
Accountants. He majored in economies. Mr. Lau is currently based in Hong Kong and principally covers fund raising and corporate
activities of listed and private companies in the Greater China region. We believe that Mr. Lau’s strong exposure in investment
banking, corporate finance and corporate governance and his substantial experience of working with PRC corporates provides him
with a unique and valuable perspective as an important member of the Board of Directors.
Significant Employees
Junying Zhu
, VP of
Sales and Marketing. Ms. Zhu has served as the VP of sales of Lihua Electron since its inception in 1999. Ms. Zhu has more than
10 years working experience in Copper Clad Aluminum magnet wire industry. She had held various executive management positions since
Lihua Electron was established, including VP of operations, from 2001 to 2005. During her career, Ms. Zhu has focused on the business
development, strategic market planning, key account management, contract negotiation and loss prevention. Ms. Zhu graduated from
Changzhou Accounting College with a degree in marketing.
Xingwei Fan
, Vice
President. Mr. Fan has served as the Vice President of Lihua Electron since January 2011. Mr. Fan has over 15 years working experience
in the cable and wire metals industry in China. He had held executive management positions with a number of cable and wire manufacturers
prior to joining our company. Prior to joining Lihua Electron, Mr. Fan was the Chief Operating Officer of Jiangsu JingCheng Electronics
Ltd. since June of 2003. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Fan was the Vice President of Huihua Metal Products Ltd. Earlier in his career,
Mr. Fan held technical manager and production manager positions with two companies in the cable and wire industry. Mr. Fan graduated
from Changsha University of Science and Technology in 1993 with a major in Electrical Engineering.
Family Relationships
Mr. Jianhua Zhu, our Chief Executive
Officer, President and Chairman, and Ms. Yaying Wang, our Chief Operating Officer and a director, are married. There are no other
family relationships among our executive officers, directors and significant employees.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To the best of our knowledge, there
have been no events under any bankruptcy act, no criminal proceedings and no judgments, injunctions, orders or decrees material
to the evaluation of the ability and integrity of any director, executive officer, promoter or control person of our Company during
the past ten years.
Corporate Governance
Board Leadership Structure
The Board of Directors believes that
Mr. Zhu’s service as both Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is in the best interest of the Company and its
stockholders. Mr. Zhu possesses detailed and in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing the Company
and its business and is thus best positioned to develop agendas that ensure that the Board’s time and attention are focused
on the most critical matters. His combined role enables decisive leadership, ensures clear accountability, and enhances the Company’s
ability to communicate its message and strategy clearly and consistently to the Company’s stockholders, employees, customers
and suppliers.
The board has not designated a lead
director. Given the limited number of directors comprising the board, the independent directors call and plan their executive sessions
collaboratively and, between board meetings, communicate with management and one another directly. In the circumstances, the directors
believe that formalizing in a lead director functions in which they all participate might detract from rather than enhance performance
of their responsibilities as directors.
Risk Oversight
The Board of Directors is responsible
for the oversight of risk management related to the company and its business and accomplishes this oversight through regular reporting
by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors by periodically reviewing the accounting, reporting
and financial practices of the company, including the integrity of our financial statements, the surveillance of administrative
and financial controls and the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Through its regular meetings
with management, including the finance and internal audit functions, the Audit Committee reviews and discusses all significant
areas of our business, including credit policies, inventory management practices, internal controls, accounting policies and procedures
and summarizes for the Board of Directors areas of risk and the appropriate mitigating factors.
Board Practices
Our business and affairs are managed
under the direction of our board of directors. The primary responsibilities of our board of directors are to provide oversight,
strategic guidance, counseling and direction to our management.
Board Committees and Independence
The Board of Directors has an Audit
Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a Compensation Committee, each of which was formed on April 14, 2009.
Our board of directors has determined that Robert C. Bruce, Jonathan P. Serbin, and Kelvin Lau, the members of these committees,
are “independent” under the current independence standards of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Marketplace Rules of The NASDAQ
Stock Market, LLC and meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A(m)(3) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Our board of directors has also determined that these persons have no material
relationships with us — either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of any entity — which could be inconsistent
with a finding of their independence as members of our board of directors.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee was established
in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The audit committee members consist
of Robert C. Bruce, Jonathan P. Serbin and Kelvin Lau. Each of these members would be considered “independent” as defined
by Rule 5605 of NASDAQ’s Marketplace Rules, as determined by our board of directors. During the fiscal year ended December
31, 2011, the Audit Committee met four times.
The audit committee oversees our
financial reporting process on behalf of the board of directors. The committee’s responsibilities include the following functions:
|
·
|
approve and retain the independent auditors to conduct the annual
audit of our books and records;
|
|
·
|
review the proposed scope and results of the audit;
|
|
·
|
review and pre-approve the independent auditors’ audit and non-audited
services rendered;
|
|
·
|
approve the audit fees to be paid;
|
|
·
|
review accounting and financial controls with the independent auditors
and our internal auditors and financial and accounting staff;
|
|
·
|
review and approve transactions between us and our directors, officers
and affiliates;
|
|
·
|
recognize and prevent prohibited non-audit services; and
|
|
·
|
meet separately and periodically with management and our internal
auditor and independent auditors.
|
The Audit Committee operates under
a written charter, which is available at our website at http://www.lihuaintl.com. Robert C. Bruce serves as the Chairman of our
Audit Committee.
Our board of directors has determined
that we have at least one audit committee financial expert, as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ, serving
on our audit committee, and that Robert C. Bruce is the “audit committee financial expert”. We have also determined
that Robert C. Bruce is “independent” under the current independence standards of Rule 5606(a)(2) of the Marketplace
Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC and meets the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A(m)(3) of the U.S. Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.
Audit Committee Report
The role of the Audit Committee is
to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process. As set forth in the Charter,
management of the Company is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company’s financial statements,
accounting and financial reporting principles and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting
standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent auditors are responsible for auditing the Company’s financial
statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
In the performance of this oversight
function, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2011 with management, and has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committee, as currently in effect. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures
and the letter from the independent auditors required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions
with Audit Committees, as currently in effect, and has discussed with the independent auditors the independent auditors’
independence; and based on the review and discussions referred above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors
that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2011 for filing with the SEC.
The members of the Audit Committee
are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting, are not experts in the fields of accounting or auditing,
including in respect of auditor independence. Members of the Committee rely without independent verification on the information
provided to them and on the representations made by management and the independent accountants. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s
oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial
reporting principles or appropriate internal control and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and
applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s consideration and discussions referred to above do not
assure that the audit of the Company’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles or that the Company’s auditors are in fact “independent”.
Based upon the reports, review and
discussions described in this report, and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Committee referred
to above and in the Charter, the Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The members of the Audit Committee are:
Jonathan P. Serbin
Robert. C. Bruce
Kelvin Lau
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Governance Committee
is responsible for identifying potential candidates to serve on our board and its committees. The committee’s responsibilities
include the following functions:
|
·
|
making recommendations to the board regarding the size and composition
of the board;
|
|
·
|
identifying and recommending to the board nominees for election or
re-election to the board, or for appointment to fill any vacancy;
|
|
·
|
establishing procedures for the nomination process;
|
|
·
|
advising the board periodically with respect to corporate governance
matters and practices, including periodically reviewing corporate governance guidelines to be adapted by the board; and
|
|
·
|
establishing and administering a periodic assessment procedure relating
to the performance of the board as a whole and its individual members.
|
Each of Messrs. Bruce, Serbin and
Lau are the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operate
under a written charter, which is available on our website at http://www.lihuaintl.com. Mr. Lau is the Chairman of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee will consider director candidates recommended by security holders. Potential nominees to the Board of Directors are required
to have such experience in business or financial matters as would make such nominee an asset to the Board of Directors and may,
under certain circumstances, be required to be “independent”, as such term is defined under Rule 5605 of the listing
standards of NASDAQ and applicable SEC regulations. Security holders wishing to submit the name of a person as a potential nominee
to the Board of Directors must send the name, address, and a brief (no more than 500 words) biographical description of such potential
nominee to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee at the following address: Kelvin Lau, Chairman, Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, Lihua International, Inc., Flat E 9/F Tower 1, The Waterfront, 1 Austin Road West, TsimShaTsui, Kowloon,
Hong Kong. Potential director nominees will be evaluated by personal interview, such interview to be conducted by one or more members
of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and/or any other method the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
deems appropriate, which may, but need not, include a questionnaire. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may solicit
or receive information concerning potential nominees from any source it deems appropriate. The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee need not engage in an evaluation process unless (i) there is a vacancy on the Board of Directors, (ii) a director is
not standing for re-election, or (iii) the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not intend to recommend the nomination
of a sitting director for re-election. A potential director nominee recommended by a security holder will not be evaluated differently
from any other potential nominee. Although it has not done so in the past, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may
retain search firms to assist in identifying suitable director candidates.
The Board does not have a formal
policy on Board candidate qualifications. The Board may consider those factors it deems appropriate in evaluating director nominees
made either by the Board or stockholders, including judgment, skill, strength of character, experience with businesses and organizations
comparable in size or scope to the Company, experience and skill relative to other Board members, and specialized knowledge or
experience. Depending upon the current needs of the Board, certain factors may be weighed more or less heavily. In considering
candidates for the Board, the directors evaluate the entirety of each candidate’s credentials and do not have any specific
minimum qualifications that must be met. “Diversity,” as such, is not a criterion that the Committee considers. The
directors will consider candidates from any reasonable source, including current Board members, stockholders, professional search
firms or other persons. The directors will not evaluate candidates differently based on who has made the recommendation.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee is responsible
for making recommendations to the board concerning salaries and incentive compensation for our officers and employees and administers
our stock option plans. Its responsibilities include the following functions:
|
·
|
reviewing and recommending policy relating to the compensation and
benefits of our officers and employees, including reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation
of our chief executive officer and other senior officers; evaluating the performance of these officers in light of those goals
and objectives; and setting compensation of these officers based on such evaluations;
|
|
·
|
administering our benefit plans and the issuance of stock options
and other awards under our stock plans; and reviewing and establishing appropriate insurance coverage for our directors and executive
officers;
|
|
·
|
recommending the type and amount of compensation to be paid or awarded
to members of our board of directors, including consulting, retainer, meeting, committee and committee chair fees and stock option
grants or awards; and
|
|
·
|
reviewing and approving the terms of any employment agreements, severance
arrangements, change-of-control protections and any other compensatory arrangements for our executive officers.
|
Each of Messrs. Bruce, Serbin and Lau are the members
of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter, which is available on our website at
http://www.lihuaintl.com. Mr. Serbin is Chairman of Compensation Committee. Our executive officers have no formal role in suggesting
their salaries.
Compensation Committee Report
The goal of the Company’s executive
compensation policy is to ensure that an appropriate relationship exists between executive compensation and the creation of stockholder
value, while at the same time attracting, motivating and retaining experienced executive officers.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed
and discussed the discussion and analysis of the Company’s compensation which appears above with management, and, based on
such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the above disclosure
be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
The members of the Compensation Committee
are:
Jonathan P. Serbin, Chairman
Robert C. Bruce
Kelvin Lau
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of our Compensation Committee
has at any time been an officer or employee of ours or our subsidiaries. No interlocking relationship exists between our Board
of Directors or Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of any other company, nor has any interlocking
relationship existed in the past.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, requires our executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more
than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of
ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and other equity securities. These executive officers, directors,
and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms filed
by such reporting persons.
Based solely on our review of such
forms furnished to us and written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that all filing requirements applicable
to our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were complied with during 2011, other than one Form
3 for Daphne Huang, which was not timely filed, and five Form 4s by Magnify Wealth Enterprise Ltd., four Form 4s by Jianhua Zhu,
two Form 4s by Kelvin Lau, and one Form 4 by each of Jonathan Serbin, Robert Bruce, and Roy Yu, which were not timely filed.
Code of Ethics
We adopted a Corporate Code of Ethics
and Conduct on December 31, 2007. The Code of Ethics is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote ethical conduct and full, fair,
accurate, timely and understandable reports that the Company files or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission and others.
A copy of the Code of Ethics is included as Exhibit 14.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, filed with the SEC on February 26,
2008. A copy of the Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.lihuaintl.com. A printed copy of the Code of Ethics may also
be obtained free of charge by writing to us at our headquarters located at Houxiang Five-Star Industry District, Danyang City,
Jiangsu Province, PRC 212312.
Meetings of the Board and Committees
During the fiscal year ended December
31, 2011, the Board of Directors met two times and took action by written consent on four occasions. All of the directors participated
in the board meetings. Each director is expected to participate, either in person or via teleconference, in meetings of our Board
of Directors and meetings of committees of our Board of Directors in which each director is a member, and to spend the time necessary
to properly discharge such director’s respective duties and responsibilities. We do not have a written policy with regard
to directors’ attendance at annual meetings of stockholders; however, all directors are encouraged to attend the annual meeting.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Stockholders can mail communications
to the Board of Directors, c/o Peng Zhu, EVP and Board Secretary, Lihua International, Inc., Houxiang Five-Star Industry District,
Danyang City, Jiangsu Province, PRC 212312, who will forward the correspondence to each addressee.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
We strive to provide our named executive
officers with a competitive base salary that is in line with their roles and responsibilities.
We believe that other peer companies
in the PRC which are listed on U.S. stock markets would be the most appropriate to use for salary comparison purposes. However,
none of our direct competitors are public companies in the U.S. We have looked at Fushi International (Dalian) Bimetallic Cable
Co., Ltd., one of our suppliers, which is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The salaries of Fushi’s CEO and CFO are $240,000
and $200,000 per year, respectively. Fushi’s CEO and CFO are each entitled to 100% cash bonuses, according to their compensation
plan. In addition, Fushi’s CFO is awarded 30,000 shares of stock and 150,000 stock options. Fushi has lower revenues than
we do and therefore, taking this into consideration, we believe that the compensation of our executive officers is appropriate.
It is not uncommon for companies
with operations primarily in the PRC to have base salaries and bonuses as the sole and only form of compensation. The base salary
level is established and reviewed based on the level of responsibilities, the experience and tenure of the individual and the current
and potential contributions of the individual. The base salary is compared to similar positions within comparable peer companies
and with consideration of the executive’s relative experience in his or her position. Based on an evaluation of available
information with respect to the base salaries of executives of our competitors, the base salary and bonus paid to our named executive
officers is in line with our competitors. Base salaries are reviewed periodically and at the time of promotion or other changes
in responsibilities.
On April 14, 2009, the Company adopted
the Lihua International, Inc. 2009 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”). The 2009 Plan includes:
Distribution Equivalent Rights, Options, Performance Share Awards, Performance Unit Awards, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted
Stock Unit Awards, Stock Appreciation Rights, Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights, Unrestricted Stock Awards or any combination of
the foregoing. We will consider other elements of compensation, including without limitation, short and long term compensation,
cash and non-cash, and other equity-based compensation. We believe our current compensation package is comparative to our peers
in the industry and aimed to retain and attract talented individuals.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the
compensation paid or accrued by us for each of the Company’s last three completed fiscal years to our Chief Executive Officer
and each of our three other officers whose compensation exceeded $100,000.
Name and
Principal
Position(1)
|
|
Fiscal
Year
|
|
|
Salary
($)(1)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
(4)
($)
|
|
|
Non-equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Jianhua Zhu,
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
191,667
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
191,667
|
|
CEO and President(2)
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Daphne Huang,
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
116,667
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
334,286
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
465,953
|
|
Chief Financial Officer (3)
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
28,719
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
128,719
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
16,666
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
16,666
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Yang “Roy” Yu,
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
148,571
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
298,571
|
|
Former Chief Financial
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
Officer (2), (3)
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Yaying Wang,
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
158,333
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
158,333
|
|
Chief Operating Officer(2)
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
(1)
|
Some of our named executive officers reside in the PRC and therefore
may receive their annual compensation in RMB.
|
|
(2)
|
Messrs. Zhu and Yu and Ms. Wang entered into new employment agreements with the Company on October 23, 2011. Therefore, their
salaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 are pro-rated in U.S. dollars from based on their salaries received before
and after October 23, 2011.
|
|
(3)
|
Ms. Huang replaced Roy Yu as an executive officer of the Company on October 23, 2011. Therefore, Ms. Huang’s salary as
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer is pro-rated in U.S. dollars from October 23, 2011 through December 31, 2011. Ms. Huang’s
compensation also includes those amounts received in her capacity as Executive Vice President of Finance and Director of Investor
Relations between October 31, 2009 through October 22, 2011.
|
|
(4)
|
Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards determined in accordance with ASC Topic 718.
|
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment,
and Change-In-Control
The following employment agreements were entered into
by the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and the following executive officers:
Jianhua Zhu
The Company’s PRC subsidiaries
entered into an employment agreement with Jianhua Zhu on June 24, 2008 to serve as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the
board of directors for a term of three (3) years. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Zhu will receive annual compensation equal to
$180,000. In addition, Mr. Zhu is entitled to participate in any and all benefit plans, from time to time, in effect for employees,
along with vacation, sick and holiday pay in accordance with policies established and in effect from time to time. In the event
that either of the PRC Subsidiaries terminate the employment agreement without cause (as defined therein), Mr. Zhu will be entitled
to a severance payment of one year’s salary from the date of termination plus all medical and dental benefits for that time
period as well. In addition, if he is no longer employed by the Company, Mr. Zhu has agreed that neither he, nor any of his affiliates
shall directly or indirectly employ, solicit, or induce any individual, consultant, customer or supplier who is, or was at any
time during the one year period prior to his termination date, an employee or consultant of the Company, a customer of the Company
or a supplier of the Company, cause such employee, consultant, customer or supplier to refrain from continuing their relationship
with the Company. Mr. Zhu has also agreed to a non-compete clause whereby he shall not engage or assist others to engage in related
businesses within Beijing and Danyang, PRC, the prescribed territory, however, he may own up to 5% of the outstanding shares of
a company engaged in a similar business if such shares are listed on a national securities exchange. On September 26, 2008, Mr.
Zhu entered in an amendment to the Employment Agreement with the PRC Subsidiaries whereby certain clerical errors were corrected.
On October 23, 2011, Mr. Zhu entered
into a 3 year employment agreement with the Lihua Electron. All of the material terms of this agreement are identical to the prior
agreement, except that Mr. Zhu shall receive annual cash compensation of $250,000.
Yang “Roy” Yu
The Company’s PRC subsidiaries
entered into an employment agreement with Yang Yu on June 24, 2008 to serve as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board
of directors for a term of three (3) years. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Yu will receive annual compensation equal to USD$150,000.
In addition, Yang Yu is entitled to participate in any and all benefit plans, from time to time, in effect for employees, along
with vacation, sick and holiday pay in accordance with policies established and in effect from time to time. In the event that
either of the PRC Subsidiaries terminate the employment agreement without cause (as defined therein), Yang Yu will be entitled
to a severance payment of one year’s salary from the date of termination plus all medical and dental benefits for that time
period as well. In addition, if he is no longer employed by the Company, Mr. Yu has agreed that neither he, nor any of his affiliates
shall directly or indirectly employ, solicit, or induce any individual, consultant, customer or supplier who is, or was at any
time during the one year period prior to his termination date, an employee or consultant of the Company, a customer of the Company
or a supplier of the Company, cause such employee, consultant, customer or supplier to refrain from continuing their relationship
with the Company. Mr. Yu has also agreed to a non-compete clause whereby he shall not engage or assist others to engage in related
businesses within Beijing and Danyang, PRC, the prescribed territory, however, he may own up to 5% of the outstanding shares of
a company engaged in a similar business if such shares are listed on a national securities exchange. On September 26, 2008, Mr.
Yu entered in an amendment to the Employment Agreement with the PRC subsidiaries whereby certain clerical errors were corrected.
On October 23, 2011, Mr. Yu entered
into a new employment agreement with the Company’s PRC subsidiaries to serve as Executive Vice President of Finance of Lihua
Electron and of the Company. The agreement is for a one-year term, renewable annually at the Company’s option up to an additional
two years. Mr. Yu will receive annual cash compensation of $150,000 and will be awarded a stock option to purchase up to 100,000
shares of common stock at $4.50 per share, which shall vest in installments of 30,000, 40,000 and 40,000 shares on October 22,
2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, so long as Mr. Yu is serving as Executive Vice President of Finance, or as an officer of the
Company at each such time. Additionally, Mr. Yu is eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus of $30,000. Lihua Electron
will provide Mr. Yu with insurance, medical, dental, sick leave, holiday and other benefits as may be given and amended from time
to time to other senior management of Lihua Electron, and he will be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary business expenses. Pursuant
to the agreement, Mr. Yu must devote all of his time during business hours, to Lihua Electron and the Company, and he is subject
to non-compete and non-solicitation covenants during employment and for one-year from his termination date. In the event of Mr.
Yu’s termination by Lihua Electron and the Company other than for cause, disability or death, or by Mr. Yu for good reason,
Mr. Yu is entitled to continue to receive his salary and benefits through the first anniversary of his termination date.
Daphne Huang
The Company entered into an employment
agreement with Daphne Huang on October 23, 2011, to serve as Chief Financial Officer. The agreement is for a one-year term, renewable
annually at the Company’s option up to an additional two years. Ms. Huang will receive annual cash compensation of $200,000
and will be awarded a stock option to purchase up to 225,000 shares of common stock at $4.50 per share, which shall vest in equal
installments on October 22, 2012, 2013 and 2014, so long as Ms. Huang is serving as CFO at each such time. Additionally, Ms. Huang
received a one-time signing bonus of $15,000. Pursuant to the agreement, Ms. Huang must devote all of her time during business
hours to the Company and is subject to non-compete, non-interference and non-solicitation covenants during the term of her employment
with the Company and for one year subsequent to the termination of her employment with the Company. In the event that Ms. Huang’s
employment was terminated by the Company without cause, by Ms. Huang for good reason, or by her death or disability, Ms. Huang
would be entitled to continue to receive severance pay equal to her base salary for a period of six months after the termination
date, subject to her entry into a separation agreement and general release with the Company.
Yaying Wang
The Company’s PRC
subsidiaries entered into an employment agreement with Yaying Wang on June 24, 2008 to serve as Chief Operating Officer and a
member of the board of directors for a term of three (3) years. Pursuant to the agreement, Ms. Wang will receive annual
compensation equal to $150,000. In addition, Ms. Wang is entitled to participate in any and all benefit plans, from time to
time, in effect for employees, along with vacation, sick and holiday pay in accordance with policies established and in
effect from time to time. In the event that either of the PRC Subsidiaries terminate the employment agreement without cause
(as defined therein), Ms. Wang will be entitled to a severance payment of one year’s salary from the date of
termination plus all medical and dental benefits for that time period as well. In addition, if she is no longer employed by
the Company, Ms. Wang has agreed that neither she, nor any of her affiliates shall directly or indirectly employ, solicit, or
induce any individual, consultant, customer or supplier who is, or was at any time during the one year period prior to her
termination date, an employee or consultant of the Company, a customer of the Company or a supplier of the Company, cause
such employee, consultant, customer or supplier to refrain from continuing their relationship with the Company. Ms. Wang has
also agreed to a non-compete clause whereby she shall not engage or assist others to engage in related businesses within
Beijing and Danyang, PRC, the prescribed territory, however, she may own up to 5% of the outstanding shares of a company
engaged in a similar business if such shares are listed on a national securities exchange. On September 26, 2008, Ms. Wang
entered in an amendment to the Employment Agreement with the PRC Subsidiaries whereby certain clerical errors
were corrected.
On October 23, 2011, Ms. Wang entered
into a 3 year employment agreement with the Company’s PRC subsidiaries. All of the material terms of this agreement are identical
to the prior agreement, except that Ms. Wang shall receive annual cash compensation of $200,000.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Assuming the employment of our named
executive officers were to be terminated without cause or for good reason, as of December 31, 2011, the following individuals would
have been entitled to payments in the amounts set forth opposite to their name in the below table through December 31, 2012:
Cash Payments
|
|
|
|
Mr. Jianhua Zhu
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
(1)
|
Mr. Yang “Roy” Yu
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
(1)
|
Daphne Huang
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
(1)
|
Ms. Yaying Wang
|
|
$
|
200,000
|
(1)
|
(1) Subject compliance with non-solicitation, non-compete,
non-disclosure and non-use provisions of the executive’s employment agreement, as well as a general release.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth information regarding
each award made to the named executive officers, under the Company’s 2009 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan during 2011.
2011 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under
Equity Incentive Plan Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Shares
of
Stocks
or Units
|
|
|
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
|
|
|
Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
|
|
|
Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock and Option
|
|
Daphne Huang (1)
|
|
|
October 23, 2011
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
_NA]
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
225,000
|
|
|
|
225,000
|
|
|
|
225,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
225,000
|
|
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
$
|
334,286
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yang “Roy” Yu (2)
|
|
|
October 23, 2011
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
$
|
148,571
|
|
|
(1)
|
includes an option to purchase up to 225,000 shares, which vests in three equal installments of 75,000 shares each, on October
23, 2012, October 23, 2013, and October 23, 2014, respectively.
|
|
(2)
|
includes an option to purchase up to 100,000 shares, which vests in installments of 40,000 shares, 30,000 shares, and 30,000
shares on October 23, 2012, October 23, 2013, and October 23, 2014, respectively.
|
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table summarizes our
plan-based awards as of December 31, 2011.
Plan Category
|
|
Number of
Securities
To Be Issued
Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
(a)
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and Rights
(b)
|
|
|
Number of
Securities
Remaining
Available for
Future Issuance
Under
Equity
Compensation
Plans (Excluding
Securities Reflected
in
Column (a))
(c)
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options to purchase common stock
|
|
|
715,000
|
|
|
$
|
5.16
|
|
|
|
2,288,648
|
(1)
|
Series B Warrants to purchase common stock
|
|
|
380,500
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Warrants to purchase common stock
|
|
|
28,456
|
|
|
$
|
4.80
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,123,956
|
|
|
$
|
4.59
|
|
|
|
2,288,648
|
|
|
(1)
|
Based on 10% of the aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011, less aggregate
options issued and outstanding as of December 31 2011, pursuant to Section 5.1 of the 2009 Omnibus securities and Incentive Plan.
|
Exercise of Series A Warrants
In January 2011 the Company exercised
its contractual right to call the Series A Warrants then outstanding for redemption. By February 1, 2011, all such Series
A Warrants had been exercised by their holders.
Equity Compensation Plans not approved by Security
Holders
The Company’s Board of Directors
adopted the 2009 Plan on April 14, 2009. The 2009 Plan is described in detail under “The Lihua International, Inc. 2009 Omnibus
Securities and Incentive Plan,” below.
The Lihua International, Inc. 2009 Omnibus Securities
and Incentive Plan
Administration.
The 2009 Plan
is administered by the compensation committee of the board of directors, which consists of three members of the board of directors,
each of whom is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, an “outside
director” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and “independent” for purposes of any applicable listing
requirements. Among other things, the compensation committee has discretion, subject to the express limits of the 2009 Plan, to
determine which directors, employees and independent contractors are to be granted an award under the 2009 Plan, the type of award
to be granted, the terms and conditions of each award, the number of shares of common stock subject to each award, the exercise
price of each award which is a stock option and base price of each award which is a stock appreciation right (“SAR”),
the term of each award, the vesting schedule for an award, whether to accelerate vesting, the value of the common stock, and to
determine any required tax withholdings. The compensation committee may amend or modify any outstanding award, provided that the
U.S. Participant’s consent to such action is required if the action would materially and adversely impair the rights or entitlements
of the U.S. Participant. The compensation committee is also authorized to construe the award agreements, and may prescribe rules
relating to the 2009 Plan.
Grant of Awards; Shares Available
for Awards.
The 2009 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, SARs, performance share awards, performance unit awards,
distribution equivalent right awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards and unrestricted stock awards in an
amount not to exceed 10% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding. If any award expires, is cancelled,
or terminates unexercised or is forfeited, the shares subject thereto are again available for grant under the 2009 Plan. The number
of shares of common stock for which awards may be granted under the 2009 Plan to a participant cannot exceed 100,000 shares
in any calendar year.
Currently, there are 5 employees
and directors who would be entitled to receive stock options and/or restricted shares under the 2009 Plan. Future new
hires and consultants would be eligible to participate in the 2009 Plan as well. The number of stock options and/or restricted
shares to be granted to executives and directors cannot be determined at this time as the grant of stock options and/or restricted
shares is dependent upon various factors such as hiring requirements and job performance.
Stock Options.
Stock options
granted under the 2009 Plan are “nonqualified stock options” (“NQSOs”). NQSOs may be granted on such terms
and conditions as the Committee may determine; provided, however, that the per share exercise price of an NQSO may not be less
than the fair market value of a share of the underlying common stock on the date of grant of the NQSO and the term of an NQSO may
not exceed 10 years.
Stock Appreciation Rights.
A SAR entitles the participant, upon exercise, to receive an amount, in cash or common stock or a combination thereof, equal to
the increase in the fair market value of the underlying common stock between the date of grant and the date of exercise. SARs may
be granted in tandem with, or independently of, NQSOs granted under the 2009 Plan. A SAR granted in tandem with an NQSO (i) is
exercisable only at such times, and to the extent, that the related NQSO is exercisable in accordance with the procedure for exercise
of the related NQSO; (ii) terminates upon termination or exercise of the related option (likewise, the option granted in tandem
with a SAR terminates upon exercise of the SAR); and (iii) is transferable only upon surrender of the participant’s right
to exercise the equivalent portion of the related NQSO. A SAR that is not granted in tandem with an NQSO is exercisable at such
times as the compensation committee may specify.
Performance Shares or Performance
Unit Awards.
Performance share or performance unit awards awarded under the 2009 Plan entitle the participant to receive cash
or shares of common stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals. In the case of performance units, the right to acquire
the units is denominated in cash values.
Restricted Stock Awards or Restricted
Stock Unit Award.
A restricted stock award under the 2009 Plan is a grant or sale of common stock to the participant, subject
to the Company’s right to repurchase all or part of the shares at their purchase price (or to require forfeiture of such
shares if purchased at no cost) in the event that conditions specified by the compensation committee in the award are not satisfied
prior to the end of the time period during which the shares subject to the award may be repurchased by or forfeited to the Company.
A restricted stock unit entitles the participant to receive a cash payment equal to the fair market value of a share of common
stock, or award under the 2009 Plan one share of common stock for each restricted stock unit subject to such restricted stock unit
award, if the participant satisfies the applicable vesting requirement.
Unrestricted Stock Awards.
An unrestricted stock award under the 2009 Plan is a grant or sale of common stock to the participant that is not subject to transfer,
forfeiture or other restrictions.
Distribution Equivalent Right
Awards.
A distribution equivalent right award under the 2009 Plan entitles the participant to receive bookkeeping credits,
cash payments and/or common stock distributions equal in amount to the distributions that would have been made to the participant
had the participant held a specified number of shares of the common stock during the period the participant held the distribution
equivalent right. A distribution equivalent right may be awarded under the 2009 Plan as a component of another award, where, if
so awarded, such distribution equivalent right will expire or be forfeited by the participant under the same conditions as under
such other award.
Change-of-Control Provisions.
In connection with the grant of an award under the 2009 Plan, the compensation committee may provide that, in the event of
a “change in control” (as defined in the 2009 Plan), any outstanding awards that are unexercisable or otherwise unvested
will become fully vested and immediately exercisable.
Amendment and Termination.
The
Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the 2009 Plan, but no amendment will be made that adversely affects any rights
of a participant with respect to a previously granted award without the participant’s consent, other than amendments that
are necessary to permit the granting of awards in compliance with applicable laws. We have attempted to structure the 2009 Plan
so that remuneration attributable to stock options and other awards will not be subject to the deduction limitation contained in
Section 162(m) of the Code.
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences
of the 2009 Plan.
The following is a general summary
of the federal income tax consequences under current tax law to the Company and to participants in the 2009 Plan who are individual
citizens or residents of the United States for federal income tax purposes (“U.S. Participants”) of stock options which
are NQSOs, restricted stock, SARs, dividend equivalent rights, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and
unrestricted stock awards. It does not purport to cover all of the special rules that may apply, including special rules relating
to limitations on the ability of the Company to deduct certain compensation, special rules relating to deferred compensation, golden
parachutes, participants subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or the exercise of a stock option with previously –
acquired shares of common stock. This summary assumes that U.S. Participants will hold their shares of common stock
as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. In addition, this summary does not address the foreign,
state or local income or other tax consequences, or any U.S. federal non-income tax consequences, inherent in the acquisition,
ownership, vesting, exercise, termination or disposition of an award under the 2009 Plan, or shares of common stock issued pursuant
thereto. Participants are urged to consult with their own tax advisors concerning the tax consequences to them of an
award under the 2009 Plan or shares of common stock issued thereto pursuant to the 2009 Plan.
A U.S. Participant generally does
not recognize taxable income upon the grant of an NQSO. Upon the exercise of an NQSO, the U.S. Participant generally recognizes
ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares acquired on the date of exercise
over the exercise price thereof, and the Company will generally be entitled to a deduction for such amount at that time. If the
U.S. Participant later sells shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an NQSO, the U.S. Participant recognizes a long-term or
short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the period for which the shares were held thereby. A long-term capital gain is generally
subject to more favorable tax treatment than ordinary income or a short-term capital gain. The deductibility of capital
losses is subject to certain limitations.
A U.S. Participant generally does
not recognize income upon the grant of a SAR. The U.S. Participant recognizes ordinary compensation income upon exercise of the
SAR equal to the increase in the value of the underlying shares, and the Company will generally be entitled to a deduction for
such amount.
A U.S. Participant generally does
not recognize income on the receipt of a performance shares award, performance units award, restricted stock units award, unrestricted
stock award or dividend equivalent rights award until a cash payment or a distribution of shares is received thereby. At such time,
the U.S. Participant recognizes ordinary compensation income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares
received over any amount paid for the shares thereby, and the Company is generally entitled to deduct such amount at such time.
A U.S. Participant who receives a
restricted stock award generally recognizes ordinary compensation income equal to the excess, if any, of fair market value of such
shares of stock at the time the restriction lapses over any amount paid thereby for the shares. Alternatively, the U.S. Participant
may elect to be taxed on the fair market value of such shares at the time of this grant. The Company is generally entitled to a
deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the income is required to be included by the U.S. Participant.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table summarizes the
number of securities underlying outstanding plan awards for each named executive officer as of December 31, 2011.
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
|
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
|
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
|
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price ($)
|
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
|
Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested (#)
|
|
|
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That
Have Not
Vested ($)
(4)
|
|
|
Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested (#)
|
|
|
Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested ($)
|
|
Name
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jianhua Zhu
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Yang “Roy” Yu
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
|
|
10/23/2012
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
|
|
10/23/2013
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
|
|
10/23/2014
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Daphne Huang
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
|
|
10/23/2012
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
|
|
10/23/2013
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
|
|
10/23/2014
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Yaying Wang
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table summarizes stock
option exercises by our named executive officers in 2011 and shares of restricted stock that vested in 2011.
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)
|
|
|
Value
Realized on
Exercise
($)
|
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)
|
|
|
Value
Realized
on
Vesting
($)
)
|
|
Jianhua Zhu
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Yang “Roy” Yu
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Daphne Huang
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Yaying Wang
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Pension Benefits
We do not sponsor any qualified or
non-qualified defined benefit plans.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
We do not maintain any non-qualified
defined contribution or deferred compensation plans.
Director Compensation
The following table summarizes compensation
that our non-employee directors earned during 2011 for services as members of our board of directors.
Name
|
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards(1)
($)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Robert C. Bruce(2)
|
|
|
39,375
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
47,667
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
87,042
|
|
Jonathan P. Serbin(2)
|
|
|
34,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
47,667
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
82,167
|
|
Kelvin Lau (2)(3)
|
|
|
34,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
107,264
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
141,764
|
|
|
(1)
|
Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value to option awards granted to the directors, determined
in accordance with ASC Topic 718.
|
|
(2)
|
Pursuant to one-year agreements dated June 3, 2011, between the Company and each of Robert Bruce,
Kelvin Lau and Jonathan Serbin, each of Messrs. Bruce, Lau and Serbin received an option to purchase up to 20,000 shares of common
stock of the Company and an annual cash fee of $48,000 paid quarterly. Additionally, Mr. Bruce received quarterly, cash payments
of $12,000 per year for serving as Chair of the Audit Committee. The Company will also reimburse each of Messrs. Bruce,
Lau and Serbin for (i) expenses related to his attending meetings of the Board of Directors, meetings of committees of the Board
of Directors, executive sessions, stockholder meetings, and other Company-related travel, and (ii) up to $3,000 in expenses related
to attending bona fide director education seminars that each director, in his discretion, may select. The stock options
granted to each of Messrs. Bruce, Lau and Serbin have an exercise price of $6.49 per share, such options vesting in equal installments
on July 14, 2011, October 14, 2011, January 14, 2012 and April 14, 2012, so long as each director is, respectively, serving as
a member of the Board of Directors at each such time.
|
|
(3)
|
On January 14, 2011, the Company entered into an independent director agreement with Kelvin Lau,
effective as of October 20, 2010, pursuant to which Mr. Lau was to receive an annual cash fee of $25,000 paid quarterly. Additionally,
Mr. Lau was to receive quarterly, cash payments of $5,000 per year for serving on the Audit Committee, while Mr. Bruce, Chair of
the Audit Committee received $7,500 per year. The Company also agreed to (i) pay Mr. Lau $1,000 for each board meeting attended
by telephone, (ii) if Mr. Lau were to reside in China, to pay (a) $1,500 for each board meeting attended in person in China and
(b) $5,000 for each board meeting attended in person outside of China (iii) if such director resides outside of China, to pay (x)
$5,000 for each board meeting attended in person outside of the United States and (y) $1,500 for each board meeting attended in
person in the United States and (iii) reimburse each of Mr. Lau for expenses related to his attending meetings of the Board of
Directors, meetings of committees of the Board of Directors, executive sessions and stockholder meetings. Mr. Lau also received
an option grant to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $10.64 per share. The option award
vested in equal installments on December 3, 2010, January 16, 2011, March 1, 2011 and April 14, 2011, so long as Mr. Lau is serving
as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors at such time. The agreement terminated on April 13, 2011.
|
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth
as of March 12, 2012 the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by (i) each person who is known by us to be
the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Company’s common stock; (ii) each director; (iii) each of the
named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table; and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. As of
March 12, 2012, we had 30,084,883 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
Beneficial ownership is determined
in accordance with SEC rules and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Unless otherwise indicated,
the stockholders listed in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated. Unless otherwise
noted, the principal address of each of the stockholders, directors and officers listed below is c/o Lihua Holdings Limited, Houxiang
Five-Star Industry District, Danyang City, Jiangsu Province, PRC 212312, China.
All share ownership figures include
shares of our common stock issuable upon securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of our common stock within sixty (60)
days of March 12, 2012 which are deemed outstanding and beneficially owned by such person for purposes of computing his or her
percentage ownership, but not for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number of Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned(1)
|
|
|
Percentage of
Outstanding Shares
of Common
Stock(2) (3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Magnify Wealth Enterprises Limited (4)(5)
|
|
|
13,680,000
|
|
|
|
45.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CMHJ Technology Fund II, L.P. (6)
|
|
|
1,728,807
|
|
|
|
5.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jianhua Zhu (5)
|
|
|
13,680,000
|
|
|
|
45.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yaying Wang (7)
|
|
|
13,680,000
|
|
|
|
45.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert C. Bruce (8)
|
|
|
61,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jonathan P. Serbin (9)
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Siu Ki “Kelvin” Lau (10)
|
|
|
55,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daphne Huang (11)
|
|
|
240,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jon D. Gruber (12)
|
|
|
1,764,010
|
|
|
|
5.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Patterson McBane (12)
|
|
|
1,784,360
|
|
|
|
5.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Directors and Executive Officers, as a group (6 persons)
|
|
|
14,096,000
|
|
|
|
46.9
|
%
|
* Less than one percent
(1) Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect
to securities. Shares of Common Stock subject to securities anticipated to be exercisable or convertible at or within 60 days of
the date hereof, are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding such option or warrant but are not deemed
outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. The indication herein that shares are anticipated to be beneficially
owned is not an admission on the part of the listed stockholder that he, she or it is or will be a direct or indirect beneficial
owner of those shares.
(2) Based upon 30,084,883 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding.
(3) In determining the percent of Common Stock beneficially
owned on March 12, 2012, (a) the numerator is the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned (including shares that the
stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days of March 12, 2012), and (b) the denominator is the sum of (i) the 30,084,883
shares outstanding on March 12, 2012, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock which such stockholder has the right
to acquire within 60 days of March 12, 2012.
(4) The address of Magnify Wealth is Quastisky Building,
P.O. Box 4389, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. As the sole director of Magnify Wealth, Mr. Zhu, our CEO and President
has sole voting and investment power over the shares.
(5) Includes 13,680,000 shares owned by Magnify Wealth,
of which Mr. Zhu, as the sole director of Magnify Wealth, has sole voting and investment power over the shares. Mr. Zhu is deemed
to beneficially own all of the 13,680,000 shares of common stock owned by Magnify Wealth as a result of the vesting in full of
Mr. Zhu’s option to purchase all 3,000 shares of Magnify Wealth (the “Option Shares”) at $1.00 per share. While
the option to purchase the Option Shares has vested in full, Mr. Zhu has not yet exercised the option.
(6) CMHJ Partners L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership
(“CMHJ Partners”) and the general partners of CMHJ Technology Fund II, L.P. (the “Fund”), and CMHJ Partners
Ltd., a Cayman Islands limited liability company (“CMHJ”) and the general partner of CMHJ Partners, share voting and
investment power with the Fund with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the Fund. CMHJ Partners and CMHJ may each be deemed
to beneficially own the shares of common stock held by the Fund. CMHJ Partners and CMHJ each disclaims beneficial ownership of
such shares. The address for CMHJ is Suite 803, Lippo Plaza 222 HuaiHaiZhong Road Shanghai 200021, PRC based on the Schedule 13G/A
filed by CMHJ Partners L.P. on February 14, 2011.
(7) As Mr. Zhu’s wife, Ms. Wang is deemed to be
the beneficial owner of all shares of common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Zhu as a result of the vesting of 100% of Mr. Zhu’s
Option Shares. Ms. Wang disclaims beneficial ownership over the remaining 2,569,115 shares owned by Magnify Wealth over which
Mr. Zhu has sole voting and investment power.
(8) Consists of 2,000 shares of common stock held by
Mr. Bruce’s wife, 9,000 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Bruce and 50,000 shares of common stock underlying options
held by Mr. Bruce.
(9) Consists of 60,000 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(10) Consists of 55,000 shares of common stock underlying
options.
(11) Consists of shares of stock underlying
options.
(12) Based on the Schedule 13G/A filed February 17, 2012,
Jon D. Gruber and J. Patterson McBane are each managers of Gruber and McBaine Capital Management, LLC, with a business address
of 50 Osgood Place, Penthouse, San Francisco, CA 94133.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS,
AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
On May 19, 2011, Magnify Wealth,
an entity affiliated with Mr. Zhu, agreed to loan the Company up to $4 million pursuant to the terms of a demand promissory note
(the “Note”) to partially fund the Company’s previously announced $15 million stock repurchase program to make
open market purchases of the Company’s common stock (the “Repurchase Program”). While the Company’s PRC
subsidiaries have substantial cash reserves available, the laws of the PRC restrict the conversion of RMB to US dollars, such that
the Company has encountered difficulty funding the Repurchase Program with US dollars from cash held by its PRC subsidiaries. The
Company explored possible alternative arrangements for funding the Repurchase Program in US dollars with financial institutions,
but Company management determined that such alternatives would have been costly or otherwise not appropriate for the Company.
On May 23, 2011, Magnify Wealth loaned
$1 million under the Note, which amount the Company repaid in full on May 25, 2011 in RMB. On June 14, 2011, Magnify Wealth loaned
$300,000 under the Note, which amount the Company repaid in full on June 14, 2011 in RMB. The total amount repaid was RMB 8,434,660,
which was repaid at the average rate of 6.4822 RMB per US dollar, which was based upon the exchange rate between US dollars and
RMB as set forth by Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong. The loans under the Note were unsecured, payable on demand and bore an
interest rate of 2% per annum.
For the years ended December 31,
2011, 2010 and 2009, the sales included $620,295, $1,991,430, and $471,554, respectively that were made from Tianyi Telecom. The
controlling stockholders of Tianyi Telecom are related to Ms. Yaying Wang, our COO and one of our directors.
It is Company’s policy to not
enter any transaction (other than compensation arrangements in the ordinary course) with any director, executive officer, employee,
or principal stockholder or party related to them, unless authorized by a majority of the directors having no interest in the transaction,
upon a favorable recommendation by the Audit Committee (or a majority of its disinterested members).
Director Independence
Our board of directors has determined
that Robert C. Bruce, Jonathan P. Serbin, and Kelvin Lau, the members of the Company’s audit, compensation and nominating
and corporate governance committees, are “independent” under the current independence standards of Rule 5605(a)(2)
of the Marketplace Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC and meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A(m)(3) under
the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Our board of directors has also determined
that these persons have no material relationships with us — either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of any
entity — which could be inconsistent with a finding of their independence as members of our board of directors.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Public Accounting Fees
AGCA, Inc.
The following chart sets forth public accounting fees
paid to AGCA, Inc. during the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
AGCA, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2011
|
|
Audit Fees
|
|
$
|
7,500
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Audit-Related Fees
|
|
$
|
35,000
|
|
|
$
|
29,300
|
|
Tax Fees
|
|
$
|
11,500
|
|
|
$
|
8,800
|
|
All Other Fees
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Audit fees were for professional services rendered by
AGCA, Inc. for the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of the financial statements included in our quarterly
reports on Forms 10-Q, and services that are normally provided by AGCA in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements
for that fiscal year. AGCA billed for services provided in the preparation of consolidated tax returns.
Audit related fees consist of services by AGCA, Inc.
that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported above under
Audit Fees. We incurred these fees in connection with the preparation of registration statements, financings, and an acquisition
transaction.
Tax fees are the aggregate fees in each of the last two
years for the professional services rendered by AGCA, Inc. for the preparation and filing of our U.S. tax returns.
Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited
The following chart sets forth public accounting fees
paid and payable to Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited (“Crowe”) during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011:
Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2011
|
|
Audit Fees
|
|
$
|
325,000
|
|
|
$
|
399,000
|
|
Audit Related Fees
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
15,500
|
|
Tax Fees
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
All Other Fees
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Audit fees were for professional services rendered by
Crowe for the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports
on Forms 10-Q, and services that are normally provided by Crowe in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements
for that fiscal year.
Pre-Approval of Services
The Audit Committee appoints the independent accountant
each year and pre-approves the audit services. The Audit Committee chair is authorized to pre-approve specified non-audit services
for fees not exceeding specified amounts, if he promptly advises the other Audit Committee members of such approval. All of the
services described under the caption “Audit Fees” were pre-approved.
Audit of Financial Statements.
During fiscal 2009, AGCA, Inc. was our principal auditor
and no work was performed by persons outside of AGCA, Inc. On July 16, 2010, the Company engaged Crowe as its principal accountant
and dismissed AGCA, Inc. from that role, and no work was performed by persons outside of Crowe during fiscal 2010 and 2011.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The
following are filed with this report:
|
(1)
|
The financial statements listed on the Financial Statements’ Table of Contents
|
(b) Exhibits
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
|
|
DESCRIPTION
|
3.1
|
|
Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on January 24, 2006 (1)
|
3.2
|
|
By-Laws (1)
|
3.3
|
|
Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated September 19, 2008 (2)
|
3.4
|
|
Certificate of Designations, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Preferred Stock (2)
|
4.1
|
|
Form of Series A Warrant (2)
|
4.2
|
|
Form of Series B Warrant (2)
|
4.3
|
|
Common Stock Purchase Agreement by and between Plastron Acquisition Corp I and Scheduled Purchasers thereto, dated June 27, 2008. (3)
|
10.1
|
|
Form of Original Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, dated October 31, 2008 (4)
|
10.2
|
|
Form of Principal Shareholder Lock-Up Agreement, dated October 31, 2008 (4)
|
10.3
|
|
Share Transfer Agreement, dated October 22, 2008 (5)
|
10.4
|
|
Amendment to the Share Transfer Agreement, dated March 7, 2009 (5)
|
10.5
|
|
2010 Independent Director Agreement, Robert Bruce (10)
|
10.6
|
|
2010 Independent Director Agreement, Jonathan Serbin(10)
|
10.7
|
|
2010 Independent Director Agreement, Kelvin Lau (10)
|
10.8
|
|
Land Expropriation Contract dated November 5, 2010 (6)
|
10.9
|
|
Lihua International, Inc. 2009 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (10)
|
10.10
|
|
Demand Note to Magnify Wealth Enterprise Limited, dated May 19, 2011 (11)
|
10.11
|
+
|
2011 Independent Director Agreement, Robert Bruce
|
10.12
|
+
|
2011 Independent Director Agreement, Jonathan Serbin
|
10.13
|
+
|
2011 Independent Director Agreement, Kelvin Lau
|
10.14
|
|
Jianhua Zhu Employment Agreement, dated October 23, 2011(12)
|
10.15
|
|
Daphne Huang Employment Agreement, dated October 23, 2011 (12)
|
10.16
|
|
Yang “Roy” Yu Employment Agreement, dated October 23, 2011 (12)
|
10.17
|
|
Yaying Wang Employment Agreement, dated October 23, 2011 (12)
|
14
|
|
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (7)
|
16.1
|
|
Letter of AGCA to the SEC dated July 22, 2010 (9)
|
21
|
|
List of Subsidiaries (8)
|
23.1
|
+
|
Consent of Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited
|
23.2
|
+
|
Consent of AGCA, Inc.
|
31.1
|
+
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
31.2
|
+
|
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.1
|
+
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
|
32.2
|
+
|
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
|
+ Filed herewith.
|
(1)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-SB, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2007
|
|
(2)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2008
|
|
(3)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 3, 2008
|
|
(4)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, Amendment No. 1, filed with the SEC on
December 15, 2008
|
|
(5)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC April 2, 2009
|
|
(6)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 12, 2010.
|
|
(7)
|
Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2008
|
|
(8)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2010.
|
|
(9)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the SEC on July 22, 2010
|
|
(10)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2011.
|
|
(11)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 22, 2011
|
|
(12)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 27, 2011.
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
|
|
|
|
Dated: March 15, 2012
|
By:
|
/s/ Jianhua Zhu
|
|
Name:
|
Jianhua Zhu
|
|
Title:
|
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on
the dates indicated.
Dated: March 15, 2012
|
By:
|
/s/ Jianhua Zhu
|
|
Name:
|
Jianhua Zhu
|
|
Title:
|
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
Dated: March 15, 2012
|
By:
|
/s/ Daphne Huang
|
|
Name:
|
Daphne Huang
|
|
Title:
|
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
Dated: March 15, 2012
|
By:
|
/s/Yaying Wang
|
|
Name:
|
Yaying Wang
|
|
Title:
|
Director
|
|
|
|
Dated: March 15, 2012
|
By:
|
/s/ Jonathan Serbin
|
|
Name:
|
Jonathan Serbin
|
|
Title:
|
Director
|
|
|
|
Dated: March 15, 2012
|
By:
|
/s/ Robert Bruce
|
|
Name:
|
Robert Bruce
|
|
Title:
|
Director
|
|
|
|
Dated: March 15, 2012
|
By:
|
/s/ Kelvin Lau
|
|
Name:
|
Kelvin Lau
|
|
Title:
|
Director
|
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
|
|
DESCRIPTION
|
3.1
|
|
Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on January 24, 2006 (1)
|
3.2
|
|
By-Laws (1)
|
3.3
|
|
Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated September 19, 2008 (2)
|
3.4
|
|
Certificate of Designations, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Preferred Stock (2)
|
4.1
|
|
Form of Series A Warrant (2)
|
4.2
|
|
Form of Series B Warrant (2)
|
4.3
|
|
Common Stock Purchase Agreement by and between Plastron Acquisition Corp I and Scheduled Purchasers thereto, dated June 27, 2008. (3)
|
10.1
|
|
Form of Original Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, dated October 31, 2008 (4)
|
10.2
|
|
Form of Principal Shareholder Lock-Up Agreement, dated October 31, 2008 (4)
|
10.3
|
|
Share Transfer Agreement, dated October 22, 2008 (5)
|
10.4
|
|
Amendment to the Share Transfer Agreement, dated March 7, 2009 (5)
|
10.5
|
|
2010 Independent Director Agreement, Robert Bruce (10)
|
10.6
|
|
2010 Independent Director Agreement, Jonathan Serbin(10)
|
10.7
|
|
2010 Independent Director Agreement, Kelvin Lau (10)
|
10.8
|
|
Land Expropriation Contract dated November 5, 2010 (6)
|
10.9
|
|
Lihua International, Inc. 2009 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (10)
|
10.10
|
|
Demand Note to Magnify Wealth Enterprise Limited, dated May 19, 2011 (11)
|
10.11
|
+
|
2011 Independent Director Agreement, Robert Bruce
|
10.12
|
+
|
2011 Independent Director Agreement, Jonathan Serbin
|
10.13
|
+
|
2011 Independent Director Agreement, Kelvin Lau
|
10.14
|
|
Jianhua Zhu Employment Agreement, dated October 23, 2011(12)
|
10.15
|
|
Daphne Huang Employment Agreement, dated October 23, 2011 (12)
|
10.16
|
|
Yang “Roy” Yu Employment Agreement, dated October 23, 2011 (12)
|
10.17
|
|
Yaying Wang Employment Agreement, dated October 23, 2011 (12)
|
14
|
|
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (7)
|
16.1
|
|
Letter of AGCA to the SEC dated July 22, 2010 (9)
|
21
|
|
List of Subsidiaries (8)
|
23.1
|
+
|
Consent of Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited
|
23.2
|
+
|
Consent of AGCA, Inc.
|
31.1
|
+
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
31.2
|
+
|
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.1
|
+
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
|
32.2
|
+
|
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
|
+ Filed herewith.
|
(1)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-SB, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2007
|
|
(2)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2008
|
|
(3)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 3, 2008
|
|
(4)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, Amendment No. 1, filed with the SEC on
December 15, 2008
|
|
(5)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC April 2, 2009
|
|
(6)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 12, 2010.
|
|
(7)
|
Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2008
|
|
(8)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2010.
|
|
(9)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the SEC on July 22, 2010
|
|
(10)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2011.
|
|
(11)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 22, 2011
|
|
(12)
|
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 27, 2011.
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited
|
|
F – 1(a)
|
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – AGCA, Inc.
|
|
F – 1(b)
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
|
F – 2
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
|
|
F – 3
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
F – 4
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
|
|
F – 5
|
|
|
|
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
F-6 – F-40
|
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Lihua International, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated
balance sheets of Lihua International, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010,
and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of
the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2011. We also have audited Lihua International, Inc. and
Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in
Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(COSO). Lihua International, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ management is responsible for these financial statements, for
maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company's internal
control over financial reporting 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 audits to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal
control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining,
on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal
control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the
risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based
on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company's internal control over financial reporting
is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance
that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations
of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control
over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements
referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Lihua International, Inc. and
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for each of the
years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2011 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America. Also, in our opinion, Lihua International, Inc. and Subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited
Hong Kong, China
March 15, 2012
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Lihua International, Inc.
Danyang City, China
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Lihua
International, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statements of income and comprehensive income,
stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. Lihua International, Inc.’s management is responsible
for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these 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 audit included consideration
of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances,
but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal 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 financial statements referred to
above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Lihua International, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December
31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ AGCA, Inc.
Arcadia, California
March 30, 2010, except for Note 1(D)
as to which the date is July 12, 2010.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATEDBALANCE SHEETS
(AMOUNTS EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
105,637,627
|
|
|
$
|
90,609,340
|
|
Bills receivable, net
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
528,576
|
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
|
31,082,460
|
|
|
|
32,973,704
|
|
Prepayments for raw material purchases
|
|
|
21,882,977
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Other receivables, deposits and prepayments
|
|
|
1,882,864
|
|
|
|
21,967
|
|
Prepaid land use right – current portion
|
|
|
405,034
|
|
|
|
211,499
|
|
Deferred income tax assets
|
|
|
200,588
|
|
|
|
127,317
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
15,502,246
|
|
|
|
16,155,862
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
176,593,796
|
|
|
|
140,628,265
|
|
OTHER ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
20,565,875
|
|
|
|
18,189,255
|
|
Construction in progress
|
|
|
18,794,910
|
|
|
|
916,782
|
|
Deposits for plant and equipment
|
|
|
3,428,082
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Prepaid land use right – long-term portion
|
|
|
18,906,280
|
|
|
|
18,546,744
|
|
Intangible assets
|
|
|
170
|
|
|
|
3,547
|
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
|
61,695,317
|
|
|
|
37,656,328
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
238,289,113
|
|
|
$
|
178,284,593
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short term bank loans
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
2,264,937
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
6,066,261
|
|
|
|
6,012,035
|
|
Other payables and accruals
|
|
|
6,370,833
|
|
|
|
3,186,174
|
|
Income taxes payable
|
|
|
4,607,533
|
|
|
|
4,981,383
|
|
Dividend payable
|
|
|
992,846
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Warrant liabilities
|
|
|
615,000
|
|
|
|
8,682,441
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
18,652,473
|
|
|
|
25,126,970
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
18,652,473
|
|
|
|
25,126,970
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock: $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Common stock, $0.0001 par value: 75,000,000 shares authorized,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,036,481 and 29,385,326 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively
|
|
|
3,003
|
|
|
|
2,938
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
78,564,128
|
|
|
|
71,251,843
|
|
Treasury stock, at cost, 264,047 shares and nil as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively
|
|
|
(2,126,597
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Statutory reserves
|
|
|
10,418,476
|
|
|
|
7,556,187
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
116,369,487
|
|
|
|
67,091,089
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
|
16,408,143
|
|
|
|
7,255,566
|
|
Total stockholders' equity
|
|
|
219,636,640
|
|
|
|
153,157,623
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
|
$
|
238,289,113
|
|
|
$
|
178,284,593
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated
financial statements
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(AMOUNTS EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET REVENUE
|
|
$
|
637,093,439
|
|
|
$
|
370,531,685
|
|
|
$
|
161,543,434
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
(561,379,767
|
)
|
|
|
(308,429,530
|
)
|
|
|
(125,310,613
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GROSS PROFIT
|
|
|
75,713,672
|
|
|
|
62,102,155
|
|
|
|
36,232,821
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling expenses
|
|
|
(2,485,978
|
)
|
|
|
(2,058,323
|
)
|
|
|
(1,722,242
|
)
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(6,650,142
|
)
|
|
|
(5,747,178
|
)
|
|
|
(3,991,801
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
66,577,552
|
|
|
|
54,296,654
|
|
|
|
30,518,778
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expenses):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
522,722
|
|
|
|
253,964
|
|
|
|
173,807
|
|
Interest expenses
|
|
|
(143,779
|
)
|
|
|
(131,106
|
)
|
|
|
(335,335
|
)
|
Foreign exchange differences
|
|
|
234,763
|
|
|
|
(112,443
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Gain/(loss) on extinguishment of warrant liabilities
|
|
|
88,777
|
|
|
|
186,897
|
|
|
|
(398
|
)
|
Change in fair value of warrants
|
|
|
3,062,575
|
|
|
|
(1,448,819
|
)
|
|
|
(11,877,341
|
)
|
Other income (expenses)
|
|
|
114,623
|
|
|
|
(79,596
|
)
|
|
|
500,834
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other income (expenses)
|
|
|
3,879,681
|
|
|
|
(1,331,103
|
)
|
|
|
(11,538,433
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
70,457,233
|
|
|
|
52,965,551
|
|
|
|
18,980,345
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(17,323,700
|
)
|
|
|
(14,499,576
|
)
|
|
|
(5,247,647
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME
|
|
$
|
53,133,533
|
|
|
$
|
38,465,975
|
|
|
$
|
13,732,698
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustments
|
|
|
9,152,577
|
|
|
|
4,626,336
|
|
|
|
57,753
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
|
$
|
62,286,110
|
|
|
$
|
43,092,311
|
|
|
$
|
13,790,451
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
1.78
|
|
|
$
|
1.38
|
|
|
$
|
0.77
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
1.77
|
|
|
$
|
1.34
|
|
|
$
|
0.72
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
29,816,871
|
|
|
|
27,956,451
|
|
|
|
17,822,890
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
30,076,130
|
|
|
|
28,671,363
|
|
|
|
19,128,231
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated
financial statements.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
(AMOUNTS EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid-in
|
|
|
Statutory
|
|
|
Treasury
|
|
|
Retained
|
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Reserves
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At January 1, 2009
|
|
|
15,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,500
|
|
|
$
|
7,347,066
|
|
|
$
|
2,603,444
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
19,845,159
|
|
|
$
|
2,571,477
|
|
|
$
|
32,368,646
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
13,732,698
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
13,732,698
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
57,753
|
|
|
|
57,753
|
|
Issuance of common stock in public offering
|
|
|
2,300,000
|
|
|
|
230
|
|
|
|
7,572,392
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
7,572,622
|
|
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to common stock
|
|
|
6,818,183
|
|
|
|
682
|
|
|
|
13,115,946
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
13,116,628
|
|
Exercise of warrants
|
|
|
35,900
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
325,968
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
325,972
|
|
Share-based payments to employees and directors
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
331,440
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
331,440
|
|
Appropriation of statutory reserves
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,797,550
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,797,550
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2009
|
|
|
24,154,083
|
|
|
|
2,416
|
|
|
|
28,692,812
|
|
|
|
5,400,994
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
30,780,307
|
|
|
|
2,629,230
|
|
|
|
67,505,759
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
38,465,975
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
38,465,975
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,626,336
|
|
|
|
4,626,336
|
|
Issuance of common stock in public offering
|
|
|
4,285,715
|
|
|
|
428
|
|
|
|
32,069,089
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
32,069,517
|
|
Exercise of warrants
|
|
|
945,528
|
|
|
|
94
|
|
|
|
10,081,170
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10,081,264
|
|
Share-based payments to employees and
directors
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
408,772
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
408,772
|
|
Appropriation of statutory reserves
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,155,193
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,155,193
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2010
|
|
|
29,385,326
|
|
|
$
|
2,938
|
|
|
$
|
71,251,843
|
|
|
$
|
7,556,187
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
67,091,089
|
|
|
$
|
7,255,566
|
|
|
$
|
153,157,623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,133,533
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,133,533
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
9,152,577
|
|
|
|
9,152,577
|
|
Exercise of warrants
|
|
|
651,155
|
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
|
6,814,073
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6,814,138
|
|
Repurchase of common stock
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,126,597
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,126,597
|
)
|
Common stock dividend
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(992,846
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(992,846
|
)
|
Share-based payments to employees and directors
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
498,212
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
498,212
|
|
Appropriation of statutory reserves
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,862,289
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,862,289
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2011
|
|
|
30,036,481
|
|
|
$
|
3,003
|
|
|
$
|
78,564,128
|
|
|
$
|
10,418,476
|
|
|
$
|
(2,126,597
|
)
|
|
$
|
116,369,487
|
|
|
$
|
16,408,143
|
|
|
$
|
219,636,640
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated
financial statements.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH
FLOWS
(AMOUNTS EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
53,133,533
|
|
|
$
|
38,465,975
|
|
|
$
|
13,732,698
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
2,294,159
|
|
|
|
2,171,961
|
|
|
|
1,652,863
|
|
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
124,196
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Share-based compensation
|
|
|
498,212
|
|
|
|
408,772
|
|
|
|
331,440
|
|
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of warrant liabilities
|
|
|
(88,777
|
)
|
|
|
(186,897
|
)
|
|
|
398
|
|
Change in fair value of warrants
|
|
|
(3,062,575
|
)
|
|
|
1,448,819
|
|
|
|
11,877,341
|
|
Deferred income tax benefits
|
|
|
(65,136
|
)
|
|
|
(25,638
|
)
|
|
|
(74,621
|
)
|
(Increase) decrease in assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
3,487,873
|
|
|
|
(21,166,870
|
)
|
|
|
(5,946,526
|
)
|
Bills receivable
|
|
|
541,989
|
|
|
|
(517,114
|
)
|
|
|
322,061
|
|
Prepayments for raw material purchases
|
|
|
(21,347,998
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Other receivables, deposits and prepayments
|
|
|
(1,814,309
|
)
|
|
|
475,790
|
|
|
|
(492,804
|
)
|
Inventories
|
|
|
1,442,579
|
|
|
|
1,880,784
|
|
|
|
(16,939,820
|
)
|
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
(246,640
|
)
|
|
|
915,611
|
|
|
|
2,932,371
|
|
Other payables and accruals
|
|
|
(782,013
|
)
|
|
|
2,433,980
|
|
|
|
(150,322
|
)
|
Income taxes payable
|
|
|
(612,900
|
)
|
|
|
3,275,329
|
|
|
|
1,181,995
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
33,377,997
|
|
|
|
29,704,698
|
|
|
|
8,427,074
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and construction in progress
|
|
|
(16,965,626
|
)
|
|
|
(2,258,580
|
)
|
|
|
(5,094,444
|
)
|
Deposits for plant and equipment
|
|
|
(3,344,274
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
153,095
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Payments for land use rights
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(9,938,585
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(20,309,900
|
)
|
|
|
(12,044,070
|
)
|
|
|
(5,094,444
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New short-term bank loans
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,196,772
|
|
Repayments of short-term bank loans
|
|
|
(2,322,413
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(6,150,962
|
)
|
Release of restricted cash related to private placement
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
575,000
|
|
|
|
1,175,000
|
|
Repurchase of common stock
|
|
|
(2,126,597
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Proceeds from exercise of warrants
|
|
|
1,898,050
|
|
|
|
3,226,300
|
|
|
|
125,650
|
|
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of expenses
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
32,069,517
|
|
|
|
7,864,000
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
|
|
(2,550,960
|
)
|
|
|
35,870,817
|
|
|
|
5,210,460
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
4,511,150
|
|
|
|
2,463,057
|
|
|
|
29,899
|
|
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|
|
15,028,287
|
|
|
|
55,994,502
|
|
|
|
8,572,989
|
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, at the beginning of the year
|
|
|
90,609,340
|
|
|
|
34,614,838
|
|
|
|
26,041,849
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, at the end of the year
|
|
$
|
105,637,627
|
|
|
$
|
90,609,340
|
|
|
$
|
34,614,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MAJOR NON-CASH TRANSACTION:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation to employees and directors
|
|
$
|
498,212
|
|
|
$
|
408,772
|
|
|
$
|
331,440
|
|
Issuance of common stock to settle warrant liabilities
|
|
|
4,916,088
|
|
|
|
6,854,964
|
|
|
|
200,322
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest
|
|
$
|
143,779
|
|
|
$
|
131,106
|
|
|
$
|
335,335
|
|
Cash paid for income taxes
|
|
$
|
18,056,035
|
|
|
$
|
11,198,079
|
|
|
$
|
4,140,273
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated
financial statements.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 1 DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION
|
(A)
|
BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION
|
Lihua International, Inc. (“
Lihua
” or the “
Company
”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on January 24, 2006 under the name Plastron
Acquisition Corp. On September 22, 2008, the Company changed its name from Plastron Acquisition Corp. to Lihua International,
Inc. The Company conducts its business through two operating subsidiaries, Danyang Lihua Electron Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Lihua Copper
Industry Co., Ltd.
On September 4, 2009, the Company’s
common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “LIWA.”
As of December 31, 2011, details
of the subsidiaries of the Company are as follows:
Subsidiaries’ names
|
|
Domicile and date
of
Incorporation
|
|
Paid-up capital
|
|
Effective
Ownership
|
|
|
Principal activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ally Profit Investments Limited (“
Ally Profit
”)
|
|
British Virgin Islands
March 12, 2008
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
Holding company of other subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lihua Holdings Limited (“
Lihua Holdings
”)
|
|
Hong Kong
April 17, 2008
|
|
HK$
|
100
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
Holding company of other subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danyang Lihua Electron Co., Ltd. (“
Lihua Electron
”)
|
|
People’s Republic of China
(“PRC”)
December 30, 1999
|
|
$
|
10,500,000
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
Manufacturing and sales of pure copper wire and bimetallic composite conductor wire such as copper clad aluminum (CCA) wire and enameled CCA wire
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jiangsu Lihua Copper Industry Co., Ltd. (“
Lihua Copper
”)
|
|
PRC
August 31, 2007
|
|
$
|
46,000,000
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
Manufacturing and sales of refined copper
|
On October 31, 2008, the Company
entered into a share exchange agreement (“Share Exchange Agreement”) under which the Company issued 14,025,000 shares
of its Common Stock, par value $0.0001, to Magnify Wealth Enterprise Limited, the sole shareholder of Ally Profit (the “Ally Profit Shareholder” or “Magnify Wealth”) in exchange for all the issued and outstanding shares of Ally
Profit (the “Share Exchange”). As a result of the Share Exchange, Ally Profit has become the Company’s wholly-owned
subsidiary and Ally Profit Shareholder acquired a majority of the Company’s issued and outstanding stock. Concurrent with
the Share Exchange, Mr. Jianhua Zhu (the managing director of Ally Profit and all of its operating subsidiaries, “Mr. Zhu”) has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
As a result, the Share Exchange
has been accounted for as a reverse acquisition using the purchase method of accounting, whereby Ally Profit is deemed to be the
accounting acquirer (legal acquiree) and the Company to be the accounting acquiree (legal acquirer). The financial statements before
the date of the Share Exchange are those of Ally Profit with the results of the Company being consolidated from the date of the
Share Exchange. The equity section and earnings per share have been retroactively restated to reflect the reverse acquisition and
no goodwill has been recorded.
Ally Profit was incorporated in
the British Virgin Islands on March 12, 2008. In June 2008, pursuant to a restructuring plan set out below, Ally Profit has become
the holding company of a group of companies comprising Lihua Holdings, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, which holds 100% equity
interests in each of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper, each a limited liability company organized under the existing laws of the
PRC.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 1
DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION- CONTINUED
In June 2008, pursuant to a restructuring plan (“
Restructuring
”) intended to ensure compliance with the PRC rules and regulations, Ally Profit through its directly
wholly-owned subsidiary Lihua Holdings, acquired 100% equity interests in Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper from companies controlled
by Mr. Zhu and other minority shareholders.
The table below sets forth the proportion of equity interests
in all entities involved before and after the Restructuring based on subscribed registered capital:
|
|
Magnify
Wealth
|
|
|
Ally Profit
|
|
|
Lihua
Holdings
|
|
|
Lihua Electron
|
|
|
Lihua
Copper
|
|
|
|
Before
|
|
|
After
|
|
|
Before
|
|
|
After
|
|
|
Before
|
|
|
After
|
|
|
Before
|
|
|
After
|
|
|
Before
|
|
|
After
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
%
|
|
Shareholder
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Fo-Ho Chu (“
Mr. Chu
”)
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
45.46
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Magnify Wealth
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Ally Profit
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Lihua Holdings
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
Danyang Special Electronics Co., Ltd. (a)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
52.27
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Invest Unicorn Holdings Limited (b)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Imbis Europe B.V. h/o Asia Trading (EDC) (“
Europe EDC
”)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
2.27
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
(a)
|
Equity interests in Danyang Special Electronics Co., Ltd., a PRC domestic company, are held as to 60% by Mr. Zhu and 40% by
his wife. Mr. Zhu and his wife are acting in concert and considered parties to the same control group.
|
|
(b)
|
Invest Unicorn Holdings Limited, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, is 100% beneficially owned by Mr. Zhu.
|
As part of the Restructuring, Mr.
Zhu and Mr. Chu entered into a Share Transfer Agreement dated October 22, 2008, pursuant to which Mr. Chu granted to Mr. Zhu the
option to purchase all of the 3,000 ordinary shares of Magnify Wealth held by Mr. Chu at the nominal price of $1.00 per share (the
“Option Shares”). Pursuant to the Share Transfer Agreement, the Option Shares vest and become exercisable upon Lihua
Electron and Lihua Copper attaining consolidated net income performance targets for fiscal 2008, 2009, and 2010 of $8 million (“2008
Target”), $11 million and $14 million, respectively. If each performance target is met, the Option Shares vest 25%, 25% and
50%, respectively, 45 days after December 31 of each respective year.
On March 7, 2009, Mr. Zhu and Mr.
Chu entered into an amendment to the Share Transfer Agreement whereby alternate conditions for the achievement of the performance
targets were agreed. Under the amended agreement, as long as the audited consolidated net income of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper
for fiscal 2008 was 10% or more higher than the 2008 Target (“Alternate Performance Target”) regardless of whether
the performance targets for 2009 and 2010 were met or not, the Option Shares would vest and become exercisable. Mr. Zhu would then
be able to exercise the Option Shares in the same percentages and on the same dates as per the original agreement. Since our consolidated
net income for 2008 was $11,701,879, which met the Alternate Performance Target, 100% of the Option Shares were exercisable as
of February 14, 2011.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2010, 2009 AND 2008
NOTE 1
DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION - CONTINUED
|
(C)
|
RESTRUCTURING – CONTINUED
|
Also on October 22, 2008, the minority
shareholders, namely Mr. Chu and Europe EDC, respectively, entered into a subscription agreement (“Subscription Agreement”)
to purchase additional shares in Magnify Wealth at a nominal price of US$1.00 per share. Pursuant to these subscription agreements,
Mr. Chu and Europe EDC will only be entitled to exercise their subscription rights at the same time Mr. Zhu exercises his Option
Shares under the Share Transfer Agreement. The number of subscription shares exercisable by Mr. Chu and Europe EDC was determined
based on the proportion of capital contributed by each of Mr. Zhu, Mr. Chu and Europe EDC in Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper. The
purpose of the subscription agreements, together with the Share Transfer Agreement, is to enable Mr. Zhu, Mr. Chu and Europe EDC
to re-acquire their proportionate ultimate legal ownership of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper in compliance with the PRC rules
and regulations. As a result, there has been no ownership change of the minority interests of each of the two PRC Operating Companies.
As part of the Restructuring, Lihua
Holdings’ capital was established by way of contributions from Mr. Zhu and other minority shareholders, which aggregate amount
equaled the total transfer price they were entitled to receive for the transfer of their equity interests in Lihua Electron and
Lihua Copper to Lihua Holdings. Therefore, Mr. Zhu and the other minority shareholders, as the former stockholders of Lihua Electron
and Lihua Copper who gave up legal ownership thereof, have not received any net cash amount. Nor has there been any cash flow out
of the combined entity during the whole period from the date of transfer of legal ownership of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper
through the expiry of the Share Transfer Agreement and the Subscription Agreements., It is fully expected that Mr. Zhu and the
other minority shareholders will re-acquire their proportionate legal ownership of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper. As a result,
Mr. Zhu and other minority shareholders have continued to bear the residual risks of the combined entity.
Mr. Zhu has retained a financial
controlling interest in the combined entity through the above-discussed residual risks and rewards. Furthermore, during and after
the Restructuring, there has been no change to the composition of the board of directors of either Lihua Electron or Lihua Copper
and Mr. Zhu continues to act as the managing director of these companies as well as the sole director of Magnify Wealth, Ally Profit
and Lihua Holdings. Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper have remained under common operating, management and financial control. As
a result, the Restructuring has been accounted for as a combination of entities under common control and recapitalization of Lihua
Electron and Lihua Copper using the “as if” pooling method of accounting, with no adjustment to the historical basis
of the assets and liabilities of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper, and the operations were consolidated as if the Restructuring
occurred as of the beginning of the first accounting period presented in these financial statements.
NOTE 2
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principle of consolidation
These consolidated financial statements
include the financial statements of Lihua International, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances
or transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.
Basis of preparation
These consolidated financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 2
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – CONTINUED
Use of estimates
The preparation of these consolidated
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
date of these consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable
under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or
conditions. Significant estimates for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 include the allowance for doubtful accounts,
the useful life of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, recoverability of the carrying values of property, plant
and equipment and the fair values of share-based payments and warrants granted in connection with the private placement of preferred
stock in 2008 and the public offering of common stock in 2009.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist
of all cash balances and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Because of the short
maturity of these investments, the carrying amounts approximate their fair value. Restricted cash is excluded from cash and
cash equivalents.
Accounts and bills receivable
Accounts and bills receivable are
stated at cost, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated
losses, if any, resulting from the failure of customers to make required payments. The Company reviews the accounts and bills receivable
on a periodic basis and makes allowances where there is doubt as to the collectibility of individual balances. In evaluating the
collectibility of individual receivable balances, the Company considers many factors, including the age of the balance, the customer’s
payment history, its current credit-worthiness and current economic trends.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower
of cost, determined on a weighted average basis, or market. Costs of inventories include purchase and related costs incurred in
bringing the products to their present location and condition. Market value is determined by reference to selling prices after
the balance sheet date or to management’s estimates based on prevailing market conditions. Management will write down the
inventories to market value if it is below cost. Management also regularly evaluates the composition of its inventories to identify
slow-moving and obsolete inventories to determine if a valuation allowance is required.
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are
stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if any. Gains or losses on disposals are reflected
as gain or loss in the year of disposal. The cost of improvements that extend the life of buildings, machinery and equipment are
capitalized. These capitalized costs may include structural improvements, equipment and fixtures. All ordinary repair and maintenance
costs are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation for financial reporting
purposes is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
|
Useful Life
|
|
(In years)
|
Buildings
|
20
|
Machinery
|
5-10
|
Office equipment & motor vehicles
|
5
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 2
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – CONTINUED
Construction in progress
Construction in progress includes
direct costs of construction of buildings and equipment. Interest incurred during the period of construction, if material,
is also capitalized. Construction in progress is not depreciated until such time as the assets are completed and put into service.
Prepaid land use rights
Prepaid land use right represent
lump sum payments for land use rights in the PRC. The amount is expensed over the period the of land use rights of 50
years.
Intangible assets
The Company’s intangible assets
include computer software. The Company’s amortization policy on intangible assets is as follows:
|
|
Useful Life
|
|
|
|
(In years)
|
|
Computer software
|
|
5
|
|
The Company accounts for its intangible
assets pursuant to FASB ASC Subtopic 350-30, “General Intangibles Other Than Goodwill”. Under ASC 350-30-35, intangibles
with definite lives continue to be amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of their estimated useful lives or contractual
terms. Intangibles with indefinite lives are evaluated at least annually for impairment by comparing the asset's estimated
fair value with its carrying value, based on cash flow methodology.
Impairment of long-lived assets
The Company reviews and evaluates
its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not
be recoverable. Impairment is considered to exist if the total estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than
the carrying amount of the assets, including goodwill, if any. An impairment loss is measured and recorded based on discounted
estimated future cash flows. In estimating future cash flows, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there is identifiable
cash flows that are largely independent of future cash flows from other asset groups.
Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognized when the following
four revenue criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the selling price is fixed
or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured.
Sales revenue is recognized net
of value added tax, sales discounts and returns at the time when the merchandise is sold and delivered to the customer. Based on
historical experience, management estimates that sales returns are immaterial and has not made an allowance for estimated sales
returns.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 2
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – CONTINUED
Research and development costs
Research and development costs are
expensed as incurred, and charged to general and administrative expense. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009,
research and development costs were $954,299, $184,441and $141,258, respectively.
Advertising costs
The Company expenses all
advertising costs as incurred. The total amount of advertising costs charged to general and administrative expense were
$17,138, $5,265 and $21,797 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Shipping and handling costs
Substantially all costs of shipping
and handling of products to customers are included in selling expenses. Shipping and handling costs for the years ended
December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $2,051,193, $1,630,898 and$1,303,436, respectively.
Income taxes
The Company is subject to income
taxes in the United States and other foreign jurisdictions where it operates. The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance
with FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes”. FASB ASC Topic 740 requires an asset and liability approach for
financial accounting and reporting for income taxes and allows recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets based upon the
likelihood of realization of tax benefits in future years. Under the asset and liability approach, deferred taxes are
provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial
reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax
assets if it is more likely than not these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize their benefits, or that
future deductibility is uncertain.
The Company’s income tax returns
are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other tax authorities in the locations where
it operates. The Company assesses potentially unfavorable outcomes of such examinations based on the criteria of FASB ASC 740-10-25-5
through 740-10-25-7 and 740-10-25-13 (formerly FASB Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”) “Accounting for Uncertainty
in Income Taxes”) which the Company adopted on January 1, 2007. The interpretation prescribes a more-likely-than-not threshold
for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken (or expected to be taken) in a tax return. This interpretation
also provides guidance on de-recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax
assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim
periods and income tax disclosures.
Comprehensive income
FASB ASC Topic 220, “Comprehensive
Income”, establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income and its components in the consolidated financial
statements. Accumulated other comprehensive income includes foreign currency translation adjustments.
Stock based compensation
The Company accounts for share-based
compensation awards to employees in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation”,
which requires that share-based payment transactions with employees be measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity
instrument issued and recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period.
The Company accounts for share-based
compensation awards to non-employees in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and FASB ASC Subtopic 505-50, “Equity-Based Payments
to Non-employees”. Under FASB ASC Topic 718 and FASB ASC Subtopic 505-50, stock compensation granted to non-employees has
been determined as the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of equity instrument issued, whichever is more
reliably measured and is recognized as an expense as the goods or services are received.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 2
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – CONTINUED
Foreign currency
The Company uses the United States
dollar (“U.S. Dollar” or “US$” or “$”) for financial reporting purposes. The functional
currency of the parent company and Ally Profit is US$. The functional currency of Lihua Holdings is Hong Kong dollars. The PRC
subsidiaries maintain their books and records in their functional currency, Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”), being the lawful
currency in the PRC. Assets and liabilities of the PRC subsidiaries are translated from RMB into US Dollars using the
applicable exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Items on the statement of operations and cash flows
are translated at average exchange rates during the reporting period. Equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Adjustments
resulting from the translation of the Company’s financial statements are recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income.
The exchange rates used to translate
amounts in RMB into U.S. Dollars for the purposes of preparing the consolidated financial statements are based on the rates as
published on the website of People’s Bank of China and are as follows:
|
|
2011
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts
|
|
US$1=RMB 6.3009
|
|
US$1=RMB6.6227
|
|
US$1=RMB6.8282
|
|
Items in the statements of income and cash flows
|
|
US$1=RMB 6.4588
|
|
US$1=RMB6.7695
|
|
US$1=RMB6.8310
|
|
No representation is made that the
RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at the above rates. The value of RMB against U.S. dollars
and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions.
Any significant revaluation of RMB may materially affect the Company’s financial condition in terms of U.S. dollar reporting.
Segment reporting
The Company follows FASB ASC Topic
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 believes that during
the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, it operated mainly in one business segment – Manufacturing and sales
of refined copper rod and copper anode, as well as copper clad aluminum (CCA) wire and copper wire produced from refined copper
rod. Throughout the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, all of the Company’s operations were carried
out mainly in one geographical segment - China.
The Company’s major product
categories are (1) wire manufacturing, consisting of (a) CCA fine and superfine wire, which is an electrical conductor consisting
of an outer sleeve of copper that is metallurgically bonded to a solid aluminum core, and (b) copper fine and superfine wire, manufactured
from recycled copper rod; (2) refined copper rod; and (3) refined copper anode, the latter two of which are fire refined from scrap
copper. The manufacturing of refined copper was launched in the first quarter of 2009.
Dividends
Dividends are recognized when declared.
PRC regulations currently permit
payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations.
The Company’s PRC subsidiaries can only distribute dividends after they have met the PRC requirements for appropriation to
statutory reserves. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of
the conversion of the RMB into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade. As the majority of the Company’s
revenues are in RMB, any restrictions on currency exchange may limit the Company’s ability to use revenue generated in RMB
to fund its business activities outside China or to make dividend payments into U.S. dollars.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 2
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – CONTINUED
Earnings per common share
The Company reports earnings per
share in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings per Share”. FASB ASC Topic 260 requires presentation
of basic and diluted earnings per share in conjunction with the disclosure of the methodology used in computing such earnings per
share. Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted
average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share takes into account the potential dilution (using
the treasury stock method) that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised and converted
into common stock.
Commitments and contingencies
The Company follows FASB ASC Subtopic
450-20, “Loss Contingencies” in determining its accruals and disclosures with respect to loss contingencies. Accordingly,
estimated losses from loss contingencies are accrued by a charge to income when information available prior to issuance of the
financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability could have been incurred and the amount of the loss can
be reasonably estimated. Legal expenses associated with the contingency are expensed as incurred. If a loss contingency is not
probable or reasonably estimable, disclosure of the loss contingency is made in the financial statements when it is at least reasonably
possible that a material loss could be incurred.
Recent accounting pronouncements
In January 2011, the FASB issued
ASU No. 2011-01- Receivables (Topic 310): Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update
No. 2010-20. The amendments in this update temporarily delay the effective date of the disclosures about troubled debt restructurings
in ASU No. 2010-20, Receivables (Topic 310): Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for
Credit Losses, for public entities. The delay is intended to allow the FASB time to complete its deliberations on what constitutes
a troubled debt restructuring. The effective date of the new disclosures about troubled debt restructurings for public entities
and the guidance for determining what constitutes a troubled debt restructuring will then be coordinated. This deferral will have
no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In January 2011, the FASB issued
ASU No. 2011-02- Receivables (Topic 310): A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring Is a Troubled Debt Restructuring.
The amendments in this update provide additional guidance to assist creditors in determining whether a restructuring of a receivable
meets the criteria to be considered a troubled debt restructuring. For public companies, the new guidance is effective for interim
and annual periods beginning on or after June 15, 2011, and applies retrospectively to restructurings occurring on or after the
beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Early application is permitted. The adoption of the provisions in ASU 2011-02 will have
no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In May 2011, the FASB issued
ASU No. 2011-04 – Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and
Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. The amendments in this update intend to converge requirements for how to
measure fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in US GAAP with International Financial
Reporting Standards. For public entities, this ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15,
2011. The adoption of the provisions in ASU 2011-04 will have no material impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial statements.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05 – Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of
Comprehensive Income. The amendments in this update require (i) that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented
either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements (the current option
to present components of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’
equity is eliminated) and (ii) presentation of reclassification adjustments from OCI to net income on the face of the financial
statements. For public entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for years, and interim periods within those years, beginning
after December 15, 2011. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption
of the provisions in ASU 2011-05 will have no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 2
|
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – CONTINUED
|
Recent accounting pronouncements
(continued)
In September 2011, the FASB issued
ASU No. 2011-08 —Intangibles —Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). The amendments in this update will allow an entity to
first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment
test. Under these amendments, an entity would not be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity
determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount.
The amendments include a number of events and circumstances for an entity to consider in conducting the qualitative assessment.
The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December
15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of the provisions in this update will have a significant
impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2011, the FASB issued
ASU No. 2011-11 —Balance Sheet (Topic 210). The objective of this update is to provide enhanced disclosures that will enable
users of its financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity’s financial
position. This includes the effect or potential effect of rights of setoff associated with an entity’s recognized assets
and recognized liabilities within the scope of this update. The amendments require enhanced disclosures by requiring improved information
about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with either Section 210-20-45 or
Section 815-10-45 or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they
are offset in accordance with either Section 210-20-45 or Section 815-10-45. An entity is required to apply the amendments for
annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should
provide the disclosures required by those amendments retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The Company does not
expect the adoption of the provisions in this update will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2011, the FASB issued
ASU No. 2011-12 — Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). The amendments in this update supersede certain pending paragraphs in
ASU No. 2011-05, to effectively defer only those changes in ASU No. 2011-05 that relate to the presentation of reclassification
adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The amendments will be temporary to allow the Board time to redeliberate
the presentation requirements for reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income for annual and interim financial
statements for public, private, and non-profit entities. The amendments in this update are effective for public entities for fiscal
years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. For nonpublic entities, the amendments are effective
for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2012, and interim and annual periods thereafter. The Company does not expect the adoption
o f the provisions in this update will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Other accounting standards that
have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are
not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
NOTE 3
|
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
|
ASC Topic 820,
Fair Value Measurement
and Disclosures
, defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability
(an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market
participants on the measurement date. This topic also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires classification based on
observable and unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The fair value hierarchy distinguishes between assumptions based
on market data (observable inputs) and an entity’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three
levels:
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 3
|
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS – CONTINUED
|
|
·
|
Level one — Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
|
|
·
|
Level two — Inputs other than level one inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
|
|
·
|
Level three — Unobservable inputs developed using estimates and assumptions, which are developed by the reporting entity and reflect those assumptions that a market participant would use.
|
Determining which category an asset
or liability falls within the hierarchy requires significant judgment. The Company evaluates its hierarchy disclosures each quarter.
Changes in assets and liabilities
measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized as follows:
|
|
Warrant
liability
(Level 3)
|
|
|
Warrant
liability
(Level 2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Reclassification due to adoption of ASC 815-40-15-5 through 815-40-15-8 as of January 1, 2010
|
|
|
2,306,688
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Issue of warrants to public offering underwriter
|
|
|
291,378
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Change in fair value included in earnings
|
|
|
11,877,341
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Exercise of warrants
|
|
|
(199,924
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Transfer from Level 3 to Level 2 due to changes in the observability of significant in puts upon public trading of the Company’s stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market from September 4, 2009
|
|
|
(14,275,483
|
)
|
|
|
14,275,483
|
|
Balance at January 1, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,275,483
|
|
Change in fair value included in earnings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,448,819
|
|
Exercise of warrants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,041,861
|
)
|
Balance at December 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,682,441
|
|
Change in fair value included in earnings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,062,575
|
)
|
Exercise of warrants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,004,866
|
)
|
Balance at December 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
615,000
|
|
Before September 4, 2009, the Company’s
common stock had not been publicly traded. The Company has determined the fair value of its common stock as of January 1, 2009
based on retrospective valuations prepared consistent with the methods outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Practice Aids, “ Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation ” and based on a discounted
future cash flow approach that used the Company’s estimates of revenue, driven by assumed market growth rates, and estimated
costs as well as appropriate discount rates.
As the Company’s stock only
begun public trading on September 4, 2009, historical volatility information is limited and considered not representative of the
expected volatility. In accordance with ASC 718-10-30-2, the Company identified five similar public entities for which share and
option price information was available, and considered the historical volatilities of those public entities’ share prices
in calculating the expected volatility appropriate to the Company (i.e. the calculated value).
The risk-free rate of return reflects the interest rate
for United States Treasury Note with similar time-to-maturity to that of the warrants.
There were no assets or liabilities
measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
The carrying values of cash and
cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables, and short-term bank loans and debts approximate their fair values due to the
short maturities of these instruments.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 3
|
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS – CONTINUED
|
Derivative Instruments – Warrants
The Company’s warrants have
been classified as derivatives in accordance with the guidance provided in FASB ASC 815-40-15-7I, because they are denominated
in U.S. dollars, which is different from the Company’s functional currency (Renminbi).
For derivative financial instruments
that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value and is then re-valued
at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the consolidated statements of income.
The Company accounted for the exercise
of these warrants as extinguishment of debts in accordance with ASC 815-10-40-1, “Derivatives and Hedges – Derecognition”
and ASC 470-50-40, “Debt – Modification and Extinguishments – Derecognition”.
For stock-based derivative financial
instruments, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following assumptions to value the derivative instruments
at inception and on subsequent valuation dates:
|
|
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
December 31,
2010
|
|
Series A and B Warrants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market price of common stock:
|
|
$
|
4.76
|
|
|
$
|
11.24
|
|
Exercise price:
|
|
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
3.50
|
|
Remaining contractual life (years):
|
|
|
1.83
|
|
|
|
2.83
|
|
Dividend yield:
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expected volatility:
|
|
|
39.58
|
%
|
|
|
46.37
|
%
|
Risk-free interest rate:
|
|
|
0.22
|
%
|
|
|
0.92
|
%
|
Fair value – Series A and B Warrants
|
|
$
|
586,000
|
|
|
$
|
7,961,362
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriter Warrants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market price of common stock:
|
|
$
|
4.76
|
|
|
$
|
11.24
|
|
Exercise price:
|
|
|
4.80
|
|
|
|
4.80
|
|
Remaining contractual life (years):
|
|
|
2.68
|
|
|
|
3.68
|
|
Dividend yield:
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expected volatility:
|
|
|
36.39
|
%
|
|
|
43.94
|
%
|
Risk-free interest rate:
|
|
|
0.32
|
%
|
|
|
1.32
|
%
|
Fair value – Underwriter Warrants
|
|
$
|
29,000
|
|
|
$
|
721,079
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value – Total
|
|
$
|
615,000
|
|
|
$
|
8,682,441
|
|
In 2009, 35,900 warrants were exercised
at $3.50 each in cash.
In 2010, 921,800 warrants were exercised
at $3.50 each in cash and 41,880 warrants were exercised on a cashless basis to purchase 23,728 shares of common stock. The Company
accounted for the exercise of these warrants as extinguishment of debts in accordance with ASC 815-10-40-1, “Derivatives
and Hedges – Derecognition.” In accordance with ASC 470-50-40, “Debt – Modification and Extinguishments
– Derecognition,” an aggregate gain of $186,897 was recognized in 2010, for details please refer to the following table.
Exercise date:
|
|
January 14
|
|
|
March 12
|
|
|
October 27
|
|
|
November 26
|
|
|
December 30
|
|
Market price of common stock:
|
|
$
|
10.26
|
|
|
$
|
9.4
|
|
|
$
|
10.92
|
|
|
$
|
11.96
|
|
|
$
|
11.26
|
|
Exercise warrants:
|
|
|
700,000
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
35,880
|
|
|
|
211,500
|
|
|
|
10,300
|
|
Exercise price:
|
|
|
3.50
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
4.80
|
|
|
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
3.50
|
|
Remaining contractual life (years):
|
|
|
3.79
|
|
|
|
3.63
|
|
|
|
3.85
|
|
|
|
2.93
|
|
|
|
2.83
|
|
Dividend yield:
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expected volatility:
|
|
|
41.12
|
%
|
|
|
41.70
|
%
|
|
|
42.23
|
%
|
|
|
46.49
|
%
|
|
|
46.30
|
%
|
Risk-free interest rate:
|
|
|
1.87
|
%
|
|
|
1.77
|
%
|
|
|
0.91
|
%
|
|
|
0.75
|
%
|
|
|
0.97
|
%
|
Fair values:
|
|
$
|
6.9482
|
|
|
$
|
6.2975
|
|
|
$
|
6.7131
|
|
|
$
|
8.5925
|
|
|
$
|
7.9760
|
|
Gain on extinguishment of warrant liabilities
|
|
$
|
131,744
|
|
|
$
|
3,625
|
|
|
$
|
21,281
|
|
|
$
|
28,022
|
|
|
$
|
2,225
|
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 3
|
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS – CONTINUED
|
Derivative Instruments – Warrants - Continued
In 2011, 542,300 warrants were exercised
at $3.50 each in cash and 187,164 warrants were exercised on a cashless basis to purchase 108,855 shares of common stock. In accordance
with ASC 470-50-40, “Debt – Modification and Extinguishments – Derecognition”, an aggregate gain of $88,777
was recognized. For details, please refer to the following table.
Exercise date:
|
|
January 14,
|
|
|
March 3,
|
|
|
March 14,
|
|
|
March 17,
|
|
|
April 7,
|
|
|
December 21,
|
|
Market price of common stock:
|
|
$
|
10.64
|
|
|
$
|
10.98
|
|
|
$
|
10.19
|
|
|
$
|
9.79
|
|
|
$
|
8.39
|
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
Exercise warrants:
|
|
|
549,300
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
28,814
|
|
|
|
74,000
|
|
|
|
44,850
|
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
Exercise price:
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
$
|
4.80
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
$
|
4.80
|
|
|
|
3.50
|
|
Remaining contractual life (years):
|
|
|
2.79
|
|
|
|
2.66
|
|
|
|
3.47
|
|
|
|
2.62
|
|
|
|
3.41
|
|
|
|
1.86
|
|
Dividend yield:
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1.19
|
%
|
Expected volatility:
|
|
|
46.34
|
%
|
|
|
48.00
|
%
|
|
|
44.05
|
%
|
|
|
48.54
|
%
|
|
|
44.05
|
%
|
|
|
39.58
|
%
|
Risk-free interest rate:
|
|
|
0.90
|
%
|
|
|
1.09
|
%
|
|
|
1.27
|
%
|
|
|
0.86
|
%
|
|
|
1.46
|
%
|
|
|
0.22
|
%
|
Fair values:
|
|
$
|
7.2301
|
|
|
$
|
7.7083
|
|
|
$
|
6.0599
|
|
|
$
|
6.5324
|
|
|
$
|
4.4485
|
|
|
|
1.7342
|
|
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of warrant liabilities
|
|
$
|
48,210
|
|
|
$
|
8,153
|
|
|
$
|
5,722
|
|
|
$
|
(1,361
|
)
|
|
$
|
26,531
|
|
|
|
1,522
|
|
NOTE 4
|
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND BILLS RECEIVABLE, NET
|
Accounts receivable consisted of the following:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
$
|
31,082,460
|
|
|
$
|
32,973,704
|
|
Less: Allowance for doubtful debts
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
$
|
31,082,460
|
|
|
$
|
32,973,704
|
|
Bills receivable arose from sale
of goods and represented commercial drafts issued by customers to the Company that were guaranteed by customers’ banks. Bills
receivable are interest-free with maturity dates of 3 to 6 months from date of issuance. Bills receivable consisted of the following:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Bills receivable
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
528,576
|
|
Less: Allowance for doubtful debts
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Bills receivable, net
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
528,576
|
|
NOTE 5
|
PREPAYMENTS FOR RAW MATERIAL PURCHASES
|
Starting from the second quarter
of 2011, the Company initiated purchases of scrap copper from overseas via a third-party import-export company. Pursuant to the
terms of the Company’s purchase agreements with that third-party, the Company was required to make prepayments in advance
of delivery of the purchased scrap copper to the Company’s production facilities. As of December 31, 2011, such prepayments
were $21,882,977.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 6
|
OTHER RECEIVABLES, DEPOSITS AND PREPAYMENTS
|
Other receivables, deposits and prepayments consisted
of the following:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Prepaid research and development costs
|
|
$
|
1,154,704
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Recoverable input VAT
|
|
|
467,858
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Prepaid insurance
|
|
|
123,250
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Utility deposits
|
|
|
79,354
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Other prepayments
|
|
|
33,023
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Other receivables
|
|
|
24,675
|
|
|
|
21,967
|
|
Less: Allowance for valuation and doubtful debts
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,882,864
|
|
|
$
|
21,967
|
|
During the year ended December 31,
2011, the Company signed various research and development contracts with Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute. The service
periods of the contracts vary from approximately 1.5 years to 3 years, with installment payment terms. Prepaid research and development
costs as of December 31, 2011 represented aggregate installment payments made upon execution of the contracts, net of amortization
in 2011, pursuant to the terms of these contracts.
Inventories by major categories are summarized as follows:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Raw materials
|
|
$
|
9,371,850
|
|
|
$
|
9,177,495
|
|
Work in progress
|
|
|
556,816
|
|
|
|
531,616
|
|
CCA and copper wire
|
|
|
2,925,769
|
|
|
|
4,372,682
|
|
Copper rod and anode
|
|
|
2,647,811
|
|
|
|
2,074,069
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
15,502,246
|
|
|
$
|
16,155,862
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Computer software, cost
|
|
$
|
11,688
|
|
|
$
|
11,120
|
|
Less: Accumulated amortization
|
|
|
(11,518
|
)
|
|
|
(7,573
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
170
|
|
|
$
|
3,547
|
|
Amortization expense
for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $3,595, $3,154 and $1,405, respectively.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 9
|
PREPAID LAND USE RIGHTS
|
The Company has recorded as prepaid
land use rights the lump sum payments paid to acquire long-term interests to utilize the land underlying the building and production
facility. This type of arrangement is common for the use of land in the PRC. The prepaid land use rights
are expensed on the straight-line basis over the term of the land use rights of 50 years.
The amounts expensed on prepaid
land use rights for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $395,052, $206,912 and $172,433, respectively. The
estimated expense of the prepaid land use rights over each of the next five years and thereafter will be $405,034 per annum.
As of December 31, 2011, prepaid
land use rights included RMB32,399,100 ($5,141,980) representing payments made by Lihua Copper to a local authority to acquire
a 50-year right to use a parcel of land which will be used for expansion of its manufacturing facilities. As of December 31, 2011,
RMB2,399,100 ($380,755, included as other payables and accruals as of December 31, 2011 and 2010) remained unpaid. Apart from the
payment of $5,141,980 to the local authority, the Company also paid $5,758,041 to various local authorities primarily as compensation
to the local communities in connection with the Company’s acquisition of these land use rights.
The Company has completed all the
formalities in relation to the acquisition of the land use rights, except for paying the last payment of RMB2,399,910 ($380,755).
Based on the Company’s understanding of the process, each year the local government allocates certain area (mu) of land to
selected local manufacturers. However, the physical land use right certificates are not issued to those manufacturers until the
local government receives the formal annual land quota from the state government. The Company received a land use rights certificate
in November 2011 for 100 mu out of a total of 180 mu of land allocated to the Company, and management expects to receive the land
use rights certificate for the remaining 80 mu by the second quarter 2012. Upon receipt of the land use right certificates for
the remaining 80 mu of land, the Company will pay the remaining land use payments.
Based upon the local government
practice, as well as the Company’s prior experience obtaining land use rights after going through the same process, management
believes that the risk of losing the already allocated land use right is extremely low. In the unlikely event that the local government
is unable to issue the physical land use right certificate for the remaining 80 mu of land, we believe we would have the right
to receive a refund of the payment we made to the local government with respect to the land use right and, request to receive additional
monies from the local government for construction costs incurred to date on the land.
NOTE 10
|
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET
|
Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Cost:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buildings
|
|
$
|
11,399,913
|
|
|
$
|
10,026,230
|
|
Office equipment
|
|
|
383,797
|
|
|
|
348,433
|
|
Motor vehicles
|
|
|
688,283
|
|
|
|
604,869
|
|
Machinery
|
|
|
15,597,187
|
|
|
|
12,499,837
|
|
Total cost
|
|
|
28,069,180
|
|
|
|
23,479,369
|
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(7,503,305
|
)
|
|
|
(5,290,114
|
)
|
Net book value
|
|
$
|
20,565,875
|
|
|
$
|
18,189,255
|
|
Depreciation expense for the years
ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $1,895,512, $1,961,895 and $1,479,025, respectively.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 11
|
CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS
|
Construction in progress was related to the construction
of the new production plant and consisted of the following:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Construction of equipment
|
|
$
|
2,100,659
|
|
|
$
|
164,038
|
|
Construction of buildings
|
|
|
16,694,251
|
|
|
|
752,744
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
18,794,910
|
|
|
$
|
916,782
|
|
NOTE 12
|
SHORT TERM BANK LOANS
|
Short-term bank loans consisted of the following:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bank loan of RMB15,000,000 granted by Agricultural Bank of China, Danyang Branch with an interest rate of 6.31% (2010: 5.31%) p.a. and guaranteed by Mr. Jianhua Zhu and Tianyi Telecom (see note 20)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,264,937
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
2,264,937
|
|
|
Note:
|
According to the loan agreement
dated April 21, 2011, the loan expires on April 20, 2012. The Company
paid off this loan on December 21, 2011.
|
NOTE 13
|
OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUALS
|
Other payables and accruals consisted of the following:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Accrued staff costs
|
|
$
|
667,969
|
|
|
$
|
564,943
|
|
Other taxes payable
|
|
|
1,450,360
|
|
|
|
1,838,501
|
|
Construction cost payable
|
|
|
3,598,053
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Other payables (note 9)
|
|
|
654,451
|
|
|
|
599,389
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
183,341
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
6,370,833
|
|
|
$
|
3,186,174
|
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 14
|
COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS
|
The Company’s Article
of Incorporation grants the Board of Directors the authority, without any further vote or action by stockholders, to issue preferred
stock in one or more series, fix the number of shares constituting the series and establish the preferences, limitations and relative
rights, including dividend rights, dividend rate, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption price or prices, redemption rights
and liquidation preferences of the shares of the series.
Series A Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Stock
On October 31, 2008, the Company
entered into and completed a securities purchase agreement (“
Private Placement
”) with certain accredited investors
(the “
Investors
”) for the issuance and sale by the Company in a private placement of 6,818,182 shares of Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock (“
Preferred Shares
”) and Series A warrants to purchase 1,500,000 shares of Common
Stock. The Company received $13,656,538 in proceeds from this Private Placement after paying fees and expenses.
The principal terms of the Preferred
Shares are as follows:
Conversion:
At any time on or after issuance of Preferred Shares, each share of Preferred Shares will be convertible, at the option of the
holder thereof (subject to certain ownership percentage limitations set forth in the Certificate of Designations), into one share
of Common Stock, subject to adjustment from time to time, upon the occurrence of certain events described below. The rate of conversion
(the “
Conversion Rate
”) is determined by dividing $2.20 per share (the “
Liquidation Preference Amount
”)
by the conversion price of $2.20 (the “
Conversion Price
”), subject to adjustment as discussed below.
In the event the Company does not
timely convert and deliver Preferred Shares into shares of Common Stock after request of a holder to so convert, and the holder
must purchase shares of Common Stock, in excess of the price for which the holder sold such shares, the Company must make a payment
in cash to the holder in the amount of the excess paid and the Company will not honor the conversion request and will reinstate
the number of Preferred Shares for which such conversion was not honored.
If at any time, the Company consummates
a bona fide offering of shares of Common Stock of at least $5,000,000, all outstanding Preferred Shares shall automatically convert
to shares of Common Stock (subject to certain ownership percentage limitations set forth in the Certificate of Designations of
the Series A Preferred Shares).
Liquidation
Rights:
The Preferred Shares will, in the event of any distributions or payments in the event of the voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Lihua rank senior to Common Stock and to any other class or series of stock which may
be issued not designated as ranking senior to or
pari passu with
the Preferred Shares in respect of the right to participate
in distributions or payments upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Lihua. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares of Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive, out of assets available
for distribution to stockholders, an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference Amount before any payment shall be made or any
assets distributed to the holders of Common Stock or any stock which ranks junior to the Preferred Shares. In the event of a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of Lihua, the rights of holders of Preferred Shares to convert such shares into shares of Common Stock
shall terminate prior to the date fixed for the payment to the holders of Preferred Shares of any amounts distributable to them
in the event of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
Redemption
Rights:
None of Preferred Shares may be redeemed without the express written consent of each holder of such shares. If the
Company cannot issue shares of Common Stock upon a conversion because the Company does not have a sufficient number of shares of
Common Stock authorized and available, then with respect to the unconverted Preferred Shares, the holder of such Preferred Shares,
solely at such holder's option, may require the Company to redeem from such holder those Preferred Shares with respect to which the
Company is unable to issue Common Stock in accordance with such holder's conversion notice at a price per share payable in
cash equal to one hundred thirty percent of the Liquidation Preference Amount. Simultaneously with the occurrence of any merger,
consolidation or similar capital reorganization of Common Stock, each holder of Preferred Shares shall have the right, at such
holder's option, to require the Company to redeem all or a portion of such holder's Preferred Shares at a price per share equal
to one hundred ten percent of the Liquidation Preference Amount.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 14
|
COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS – CONTINUED
|
Series A Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Stock – continued
Dividend
Rights:
Preferred Shares will not be entitled to receive dividends unless the Company pays dividends to holders of our Common
Stock. If the Company pays dividends to holders of Common Stock, holders of Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive, on each
share of Preferred Shares held by them, dividends of equal amount or value as dividends that would have been payable on the number
of underlying shares of Common Stock into which such Preferred Shares would be convertible, if such shares of Preferred Shares
had been converted on the date for determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such dividends.
Adjustments
to Conversion Price; Conversion Rate and Other Similar Adjustments:
The number of shares of Common Stock into which the Series
A Preferred shall be converted, or the Conversion Price, as the case may be, shall be subject to upward or downward adjustment
from time to time, as applicable, in the event of a (i) combination, stock split, recapitalization or reclassification of the Common
Stock, (ii) merger, consolidation or similar capital reorganization of the Common Stock, (iii) distribution of stock dividends
or (iv) issuance of additional shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock at a price less than $2.20.
Voting Rights:
Holders of Preferred Shares shall vote together as a separate class on all matters which impact the rights, value, or ranking of
the Preferred Shares. Holders of Preferred Shares shall vote on an "as converted" basis, together with holders of Common
Stock, as a single class, in connection with any proposal submitted to stockholders to: (i) increase the number of authorized shares
of capital stock, (ii) to approve the sale of any of capital stock, (iii) adopt an employee stock option plan, or (iv) effect any
merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of assets, or related consolidation or combination transaction.
Conversion
Restriction:
Holders of Preferred Shares are restricted from converting to Common Stock if the number of shares of Common Stock
to be issued pursuant to such Conversion would cause the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such holder and its affiliates
at such time to equal or exceed 9.9% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that upon a
holder of the Series A Preferred providing the Company with sixty-one (61) days notice that such holder wishes to waive this restriction
such holder may be entitled to waive this restriction.
Accounting for Preferred Shares
Pursuant to the Securities Escrow
Agreement entered into by the Company as discussed below, if the Company fails to achieve certain net income thresholds for fiscal
years 2008 and/or 2009, additional shares of the Company’s common stock would be released to the holders of the Preferred
Shares. As a result, the holders of the Preferred Shares could acquire a majority of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding
common stock. In such a situation, the Company would not be able to control the approval of “any merger, consolidation
or similar capital reorganization of its common stock”, i.e. events which could trigger the right of Preferred Shares holder
to request for redemption. FASB ASC 480-10-S99 (formerly EITF D-98, “ Classification and Measurement of Redeemable Securities
”), provides that preferred securities that are redeemable for cash are to be classified outside of permanent equity if they
are redeemable upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the issuer. Therefore, as of December 31,
2008, the Preferred Shares were classified out of permanent equity in accordance with FASB ASC 480-10-S99 (formerly EITF D-98).
Conversion during 2009
On September 9, 2009, pursuant to
the completion of the Public Offering, as discussed below, and in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares, all outstanding
shares of the Preferred Stock were automatically converted into 6,818,183 shares of Common Stock.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 14
|
COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS – CONTINUED
|
Series A Warrants
In conjunction with the issuance
of the Preferred Shares, the Company issued Series A Warrants to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $3.50 per share . The Series A Warrants have a term of exercise expiring 5 years from October 31, 2008. The Series A Warrants
at the option of the holder, may be exercised by cash payment of the exercise price or, commencing 18 months following the closing
of the Private Placement, if the per share market value of one share of Common Stock is greater than the exercise price and a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the shares of Common Stock underlying the Series A Warrants is
not then declared ineffective by the SEC, in lieu of exercising the Series A Warrants by payment of cash, a holder may exercise
the Series A Warrant by a cashless exercise by surrender of the Series A Warrant, in which event the Company will issue to the
holder a number of shares of our Common Stock computed using the following formula:
|
X = Y -
(A)(Y)
B
|
|
Where
|
X =
|
the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder.
|
|
Y =
|
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series A Warrant in accordance with the terms of the Series A Warrant by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.
|
|
A =
|
the Exercise Price.
|
|
B =
|
the per share market value of one share of Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of such election.
|
The Company will not receive any
additional proceeds to the extent that the Series A Warrants are exercised by cashless exercise.
The exercise price and number of
shares of the Company’s Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series A Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances,
including in the event of a stock dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation and the issuance of rights
to purchase additional shares of our Common Stock or to receive other securities convertible into additional shares of Common Stock.
The Series A Warrants were originally
issued with an anti-dilution protection provision whereby, for a period of two years following the original issue date of the Series
A Warrants (the “Full Ratchet Period”), in the event the Company issued any additional shares of Common Stock or securities
exercisable, convertible or exchangeable for Common Stock at a price per share less than the exercise price then in effect or without
consideration, then the exercise price upon each such issuance would be adjusted to a price equal to the consideration per share
paid for such additional shares of Common Stock.
On December 22, 2009, the Company
and the holders of the Series A Warrants entered into agreements to amend certain provisions of the Warrants. The amendment to
the Series A Warrant removes the anti-dilution protection rights that were applicable if the Company were to issue new shares of
common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the Series A Warrant. In
addition, the amendment to the Series A Warrant added a provision to grant the holders of a majority of the Series A Warrants an
approval right until October 31, 2010, over any new issuance of shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per
share less than the exercise price of the Series A Warrant.
No fractional shares will be issued
upon exercise of the Series A Warrants. If, upon exercise of a Series A Warrant, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional
interest in a share, the Company will pay to the holder cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the then fair market value of
one full share.
Pursuant to the terms of the Series
A Warrants, the Company will not effect the exercise of any Series A Warrant, and no person who is a holder of any Series A Warrant
has the right to exercise the Series A Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person would beneficially
own in excess of 9.9% of the then outstanding shares of our Common Stock. However, the holder is entitled to waive this cap upon
61 days notice to the Company.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 14
|
COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS – CONTINUED
|
Series A Warrants - continued
The Company has the right to redeem
up to 9.9% of the Series A Warrants at a price equal to $0.01 per share of Common Stock underlying such warrants if (i) our Common
Stock is traded on a national securities exchange, (ii) the daily volume weighted average price of our Common Stock is above
$8.87 for 30 consecutive trading days ending on the date of the notice of redemption, and (iii) the average daily trading volume
for the trading period is greater than 300,000 shares per day ; provided, that all shares underlying such Series A Warrants are
registered pursuant to an effective registration statement and the Company simultaneously calls all of the Series A Warrants on
the same terms. The Company will have the right, but not the obligation, to redeem the Series A Warrants at any time, and from
time to time, provided that at such time, the foregoing conditions have been met, but in no event can the Company redeem the
Series A Warrants more than once in any thirty (30) trading day period.
Series B Warrants
In connection with the Private Placement,
Broadband Capital Management, LLC (“
Broadband
”) acted as the Company’s financial advisor and placement
agent. Broadband received Series B warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price
per share of $3.50.
On October 31, 2008, the Company
issued Series B Warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.50 to Penumbra
Worldwide Ltd. (“
Penumbra
”). Penumbra is not a broker dealer and the Series B Warrants were not issued as
compensation for underwriting activities, but as compensation for business and investor relations consulting services performed
by Penumbra.
The Series B Warrants have a term
of exercise expiring 5 years from October 31, 2008. The Series B Warrants, at the option of the holder, may be exercised by cash
payment of the exercise price or by “cashless exercise”. The Company will not receive any additional proceeds to the
extent that warrants are exercised by cashless exercise.
If the per share market value of
one share of Common Stock is greater than the exercise price and at the time of election, the average trading volume of Common
Stock exceeds 100,000 shares for the immediately preceding 30 trading days, in lieu of exercising the Series B Warrant by payment
of cash, the holder may exercise the Series B Warrant by cashless exercise by surrendering the Series B Warrant, in which event
the Company will issue to the holder a number of shares of our Common Stock computed using the following formula:
|
X = Y -
(A)(Y)
B
|
|
Where:
|
X =
|
the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Holder.
|
|
Y =
|
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series B Warrant in accordance with the terms of the Series B Warrant by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.
|
|
A =
|
the exercise price.
|
|
B =
|
the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for the 30 trading day period immediately preceding the date of such election.
|
The exercise price and number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances, including in the event
of a stock dividend, or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation and the issuance of rights to purchase additional
shares of Common Stock or to receive other securities convertible into additional shares of Common Stock.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 14
|
COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS – CONTINUED
|
Series B Warrants - continued
The Series B Warrants were originally
issued with an anti-dilution protection provision whereby for a period of two years following the original issue date of the Series
B Warrant (the “Weighted Average Period”), in the event the Company issued any additional shares of Common Stock or
securities exercisable, convertible or exchangeable for Common Stock at a price per share less than the exercise price then in
effect or without consideration, then the exercise price then in effect would be multiplied by a fraction (i) the numerator of
which shall be equal to the sum of (x) the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock immediately prior to the issuance of such
additional shares of Common Stock plus (y) the number of shares of Common Stock (rounded to the nearest whole share) which the
aggregate consideration price per share paid for the total number of such additional shares of Common Stock so issued would purchase
at a price per share equal to the exercise price then in effect and (ii) the denominator of which shall be equal to the number
of shares of outstanding Common Stock immediately after the issuance of such additional shares of Common Stock.
On December 22, 2009, the Company
and the holders of the Series B Warrants entered into agreements to amend certain provisions of the Warrants. The amendment to
the Series B Warrant removed the anti-dilution protection rights that were applicable if the Company were to issue new shares of
common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share less than the exercise price of the Series B Warrant.
No fractional shares will be issued
upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of a warrant, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a
share, the Company will pay to the holder cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the then fair market value of one full share.
Allocation of Proceeds from
Private Placement
In accordance with ASC Topic 470-20,
Debt with Conversion and Other Options
, (formerly EITF 00-27, “Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible
Instruments”), the proceeds from the Private Placement were first allocated between the Preferred Shares and the warrants
issued in connection with the Private Placement based upon their estimated fair values as of the closing date, resulting in an
aggregate amount of $539,910 being allocated to the Series A Warrants and the 250,000 Series B Warrants issued to Broadband.
Then, the fair value of the embedded
conversion feature of the Preferred Shares of $1,002,115 was calculated using the intrinsic value model in accordance with the
guidance provided in ASC Topic 470-20-30-6 (formerly EITF 00-27, “Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments”),
limited to the amount of the proceeds allocated to the convertible instrument. The intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion
feature was calculated by comparing the effective conversion price, which was determined based on the proceeds from the Private
Placement allocated to the convertible Preferred Shares, and the fair value of the Company’s common stock of $2.26 at the
commitment date, which was determined based on retrospective valuations prepared consistent with the methods outlined in the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aids, “
Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued
as Compensation
” and based on a discounted future cash flow approach that used the Company’s estimates of revenue,
driven by assumed market growth rates, and estimated costs as well as appropriate discount rates. The fair value of $1,002,115
of the beneficial conversion feature has been recognized as a reduction to the carrying amount of the convertible Preferred Shares
and an addition to paid-in capital.
The following table sets out the
accounting for the Preferred Shares and the movements during the period:
Proceeds of the Private Placement (net of fees and expenses)
|
|
$
|
13,656,538
|
|
Allocation of proceeds to Series A Warrants and 250,000 Series B Warrants
|
|
|
(539,910
|
)
|
Allocation of proceeds to beneficial conversion feature
|
|
|
(1,002,115
|
)
|
Amortization of discount resulting from the accounting for a beneficial conversion feature, deemed analogous to a dividend to the Preferred Shares holders
|
|
|
1,002,115
|
|
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
13,116,628
|
|
Automatic conversion to Common Stock pursuant to Public Offering, as discussed below
|
|
|
(13,116,628
|
)
|
Balance, December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 14
|
COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS – CONTINUED
|
Public Offering of Common Stock and Issuance of Warrants
On September 9, 2009, the Company
completed a public offering (“
Public Offering
”) of 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock and an additional 300,000
shares exercised by the underwriters as part of the over-allotment option, at an offering price of $4.00 per share and raised proceeds
of $7,864,000, net of legal fees, commission and other expenses directly related to this public offering.
In conjunction with the Public Offering,
the Company issued warrants to the underwriters to purchase up to 138,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a strike
price of $4.80 per share (“Underwriter Warrants”). These warrants are exercisable at any time during a 5-year term
commencing on the date that is six months from September 4, 2009. The shares underlying these warrants will have registration rights
incidental upon the Company proposing to register any of its securities (other than in connection with a registration on Form S-4
or S-8 or any successor forms). These warrants contain standard anti-dilution provisions for stock dividends, stock splits, stock
combination, recapitalization and a change of control transaction.
During the year ended December 31,
2011, all the then outstanding Series A Warrants were exercised by its holders and 542,300 shares of common stock were issued for
cash, 101,000 Series B Warrants were exercised on a cashless basis to purchase 67,632 shares of common stock, and 73,664 Underwriter
Warrants were exercised on a cashless basis to purchase 37,192 shares of common stock.
Warrants issued and outstanding
at December 31, 2011, and changes during the three years then ended, are as follows:
|
|
Warrants Outstanding
|
|
|
Warrants Exercisable
|
|
|
|
Number of
underlying shares
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
|
|
|
Number of
underlying
shares
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
|
|
Balance, January 1, 2009
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
4.17
|
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
4.17
|
|
Granted / Vested
|
|
|
138,000
|
|
|
|
4.80
|
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(35,900
|
)
|
|
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, December 31, 2009
|
|
|
2,102,100
|
|
|
$
|
3.59
|
|
|
|
3.93
|
|
|
|
1,964,100
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
3.86
|
|
Granted / Vested
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(963,680
|
)
|
|
|
3.55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, December 31, 2010
|
|
|
1,138,420
|
|
|
$
|
3.62
|
|
|
|
2.91
|
|
|
|
1,138,420
|
|
|
$
|
3.62
|
|
|
|
2.91
|
|
Granted / Vested
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(729,464
|
)
|
|
|
3.63
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, December 31, 2011
|
|
|
408,956
|
|
|
$
|
3.59
|
|
|
|
1.89
|
|
|
|
408,956
|
|
|
$
|
3.59
|
|
|
|
1.89
|
|
On April 14, 2010, the Company closed
an offering of 4,285,715 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $8.05 per share, which included the sale of 559,006
shares of its common stock as a result of the exercise of the over-allotment option by the underwriters. The Company received net
proceeds of approximately $32.1 million from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses.
The offering was underwritten by
Rodman & Renshaw, LLC, Chardan Capital Markets, LLC and Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC, pursuant to an underwriting agreement
with the Company dated April 8, 2010. The offering was made pursuant to the Company’s effective registration statement on
Form S-3, as amended (Registration Statement No. 333-164269), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and,
as disclosed in a prospectus supplement dated April 8, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 14
|
COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS – CONTINUED
|
On January 24, 2011, the Board of
Directors approved a one-year share repurchase program of up to $15 million of the Company’s common stock, pursuant to which
the Company was authorized to repurchase its outstanding common stock from time to time, depending on market conditions, share
price and other factors, on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Repurchased shares may be retired immediately
and will resume the status of authorized but unissued shares or they may be held by the Company as treasury stock. The repurchase
authorization may be modified, suspended, or discontinued by the Board of Directors at any time. During the year ended December
31, 2011, the Company repurchased 264,047 shares of its common stock under the share repurchase authorization at a weighted-average
price of $8.05 per share for an aggregate purchase cost of $2,126,597. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $12.9
million available under the existing $15 million share repurchase authorization.
Accounting for Series A Warrants, Series B Warrants
and Underwriter Warrants
The Company has performed a thorough
assessment of the terms of all its warrants with reference to the guidance provided in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging
– Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”, which has been effective from January 1, 2009. In particular, the Company
has considered the guidance in ASC 815-40-15-7I regarding the Company’s exposure to changes in currency exchange rates. This
assessment has led to management’s conclusion that the Company’s warrants should not be considered indexed to the Company’s
own stock because the warrants are denominated in U.S. Dollars, which is different from the Company’s functional currency,
Renminbi (the Chinese lawful currency). Therefore, the Company has classified Series A Warrants, Series B Warrants and Underwriter
Warrants as derivative liabilities and reported any changes in their fair value up to the earlier of the date of exercise or the
reporting date in earnings.
Make Good Escrow Agreement
In conjunction with the Private
Placement, the Company also entered into a make good escrow agreement with the Investors (the “ Securities Escrow Agreement”),
pursuant to which Magnify Wealth initially placed 6,818,182 of Common Stock (equal to 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock
underlying the Investor Shares) (the “ Escrow Shares ”) into an escrow account. The Escrow Shares are being held as
security for the achievement of $12 million in audited net income and $0.50 earnings per share for the fiscal year 2008 (the “
2008 Performance Threshold ”) and $18 million in audited net income and $0.76 earnings per share for the fiscal year 2009
(the “ 2009 Performance Threshold ”).
Because both 2008 and 2009 Performance
Thresholds have been met, the Escrow Shares have been released to Magnify Wealth.
Historically, SEC staff expressed
the view that an escrow share arrangement involving the release of shares to certain shareholders based on performance-related
criteria is presumed to be compensatory, equivalent to a reverse stock split followed by the grant of a restricted stock award
under a performance-based plan.
However, at the EITF meeting held
on June 18, 2009 (EITF Topic No. D-110, codified by FASB ASU No. 2010-05), the SEC staff announced that when evaluating whether
the presumption of compensation has been overcome, the substance of the arrangement, including whether the arrangement was entered
into for purposes unrelated to, and not contingent upon, continued employment, should be considered.
The Company evaluated the terms
of the Securities Escrow Agreement based on the guidance provided by the SEC staff announcement in EITF No. D-110. The Company
adopted EITF Topic No. D-110 on October 1, 2009. After a thorough review, the Company concluded that because the escrowed shares
would be released or distributed to the investor without regard to the continued employment of Mr. Zhu or any other officer of
the Company, the make good escrow arrangement was in substance an inducement to facilitate the Private Placement, rather than compensatory.
The Company accounted for the escrowed share arrangement under the Securities Escrow Agreement according to its nature, and therefore
was not recognized as a non-cash compensation charge as a result of the Company satisfying both the 2008 and 2009 performance thresholds.
On November 9, 2011, the Company
announced that the Board of Directors have adopted a resolution to approve the Company’s proposed distribution of a special
dividend to the shareholders of the Company of record as of December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012 as special dividends. The Company
accrued a dividend payable of $992,846 as of December 31, 2011. On January 13, 2012, the Company distributed and paid dividends
amounting to $498,757 to its shareholders of record as of December 31, 2011 (except for Magnify Wealth (note 1(B)) which agreed
to waive its entitlements).
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 15
|
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
|
Common Stock awarded to Employees by a Majority Shareholder
Pursuant to a contractual arrangement
between Magnify Wealth and Mr. Yang “Roy” Yu, the Company’s then Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Yu was entitled
to receive up to 450,000 shares of the Company’s common stock issued to Magnify Wealth in the Share Exchange. 112,500 of
such shares were transferred to Mr. Yu immediately upon consummation of the Share Exchange. 112,500 of such shares were released
to Mr. Yu on each of the first, second and third anniversary of the consummation of the Share Exchange. As of December 31, 2011,
all the 450,000 shares have been released to Mr. Yu. In connection with these share-based payments to Mr. Yu, the Company recognized
compensation expense of $211,875, $254,250 and $254,250 based on the grant-date fair value of the Company’s common stock
of $2.26 per share, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Options granted to Independent Directors and Employees
On April 14, 2009, the Company granted
options to each of its three independent directors, Mr. Liu Su (who resigned as a director of the Company effective as of October
11, 2009), Mr. Jonathan P. Serbin and Mr. Robert Bruce, to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a strike
price of $2.20 per share, in consideration of their services to the Company. These options vest quarterly at the end of each 3-month
period, in equal installments over the 12-month period from the date of grant and will expire 10 years from the date of grant. However,
upon a change of control of the Company, the options shall automatically become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of
such change of control.
On October 20, 2009, the Company
granted options to its independent director, Mr. Kelvin Siu Ki Lau, to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock
at a strike price of $8.24 per share, in consideration of his services to the Company. These options vest quarterly at the end
of each 3-month period, in equal installments over the 12-month period from the date of grant and will expire 10 years from the
date of grant.
On June 7, 2010, the Company granted
options to two of its employees, Ms. Daphne Huang and Mr. Chunming Chu, to each purchase 10,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock at a strike price of $7.85 per share, in consideration for their services to the Company. These options vest in equal quarterly
installments on the last day of the Company’s eight fiscal quarters commencing June 30, 2010 and will expire 10 years from
the date of grant.
On June 11, 2010, the Company granted
options to two of its independent directors, Mr. Robert Bruce and Mr. Jonathan Serbin, to each purchase 20,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock at a strike price of $8.81 per share, in consideration of their services to the Company. These options vest quarterly
at the end of each 3-month period, in equal installments over the 12-month period from the date of grant and will expire 10 years
from the date of grant.
In December 2010, the Company paid
Mr. Robert Bruce an aggregate of $88,750 for the cancellation of 10,000 of his vested options and recognized $68,345 as an expense.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 15
|
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION – CONTINUED
|
On January 14, 2011, the Company
granted options to one of its independent directors, Mr. Kelvin Lau to purchase 15,000 shares of the Company’s common stock
at a strike price of $10.64 per share, in consideration of his services to the Company. The options vest and become exercisable
in equal installments on December 3, 2010, January 16, 2011, March 1, 2011 and April 14, 2011 and will expire 10 years from the
date of grant.
On June 3, 2011, the Company granted
options to each of its independent directors, Mr. Robert Bruce, Mr. Jonathan Serbin and Mr. Kelvin Lau to purchase 20,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock at a strike price of $6.49 per share, in consideration of their services to the Company. The
options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on July 14, 2011, October 14, 2011, January 14, 2012 and April 14, 2012
and will expire 10 years from the date of grant.
On October 23, 2011, the Company
granted options to two of its employees, Mr. Peng Zhu and Mr. Chunming Chu, to purchase 100,000 shares each of the Company’s
common stock at a strike price of $4.50 per share, in consideration for their services to the Company. These options vest in installments
of 40,000, 30,000 and 30,000 shares on October 23, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, and will expire 10 years from the date of
grant.
On October 23, 2011, Ms. Daphne
Huang entered into an employment agreement with the Company to serve as Chief Financial Officer. The agreement is for a one-year
term, renewable annually at the Company’s option up to an additional two years. Ms. Huang will receive annual cash compensation
of $200,000 and will be awarded a stock option to purchase up to 225,000 shares of common stock at $4.50 per share, which shall
vest in equal installments on October 23, 2012, 2013 and 2014, so long as Ms. Huang is serving as CFO at each such time, and will
expire 10 years from the date of grant.
On October 23, 2011, Mr. Yu entered
into a new employment agreement with Lihua Electron to serve as Executive Vice President of Finance of Lihua Electron and of the
Company. The agreement is for a one-year term, renewable annually at the Company’s option up to an additional two years.
Mr. Yu will receive annual cash compensation of $150,000 and will be awarded a stock option to purchase up to 100,000 shares of
common stock at $4.50 per share, which shall vest in installments of 40,000, 30,000 and 30,000 shares on October 23, 2012, 2013
and 2014, respectively, so long as Mr. Yu is serving as Executive Vice President of Finance, or as an officer of the Company at
each such time, and will expire 10 years from the date of grant.
In accordance with the guidance
provided in ASC Topic 718, Stock Compensation, the compensation costs associated with these options are recognized, based on the
grant-date fair values of these options, over the requisite service period, or vesting period. Accordingly, the Company recognized
a compensation expense of $286,337, $174,927 and $77,190 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 15
|
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION – CONTINUED
|
Options issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011,
2010, and 2009 and their movements during the three years are as follows:
|
|
Number of
underlying
shares
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
|
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(1)
|
|
|
Weighted- Average
Contractual Life
Remaining in
Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at January 1, 2009
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
80,000
|
|
|
|
3.71
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(15,000
|
)
|
|
|
2.20
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2009
|
|
|
65,000
|
|
|
$
|
4.06
|
|
|
$
|
415,450
|
|
|
|
9.20
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
8.49
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10.00
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(10,000
|
)
|
|
|
2.20
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2010
|
|
|
115,000
|
|
|
$
|
6.74
|
|
|
$
|
517,450
|
|
|
|
9.00
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
|
4.85
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10.00
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2011
|
|
|
715,000
|
|
|
$
|
5.16
|
|
|
$
|
213,300
|
|
|
|
9.43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable at December 31, 2011
|
|
|
157,500
|
|
|
$
|
7.05
|
|
|
$
|
76,800
|
|
|
|
8.15
|
|
|
(1)
|
The intrinsic value of the stock options at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is the amount by which
the market value of the Company’s common stock of $4.76, $11.24 and $10.45 as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 exceeds
the exercise price of the option.
|
NOTE 16
|
STATUTORY RESERVES
|
The Company is required to make
appropriations to reserve funds, comprising the statutory surplus reserve, statutory public welfare fund and discretionary surplus
reserve, based on after-tax net income determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the PRC (the “PRC
GAAP”). Appropriation to the statutory surplus reserve should be at least 10% of the after tax net income determined in accordance
with the PRC GAAP until the reserve is equal to 50% of the entities’ registered capital or members’ equity. Appropriations
to the statutory public welfare fund are at a minimum of 5% of the after tax net income determined in accordance with PRC GAAP.
Commencing on January 1, 2006, the new PRC regulations waived the requirement for appropriating retained earnings to a welfare
fund. In accordance with the Chinese Company Law, the Company allocated 10% of income after taxes to the statutory surplus reserve
for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, statutory reserve activity
is as follows:
Balance – January 1, 2009
|
|
$
|
2,603,444
|
|
Addition to statutory reserves
|
|
|
2,797,550
|
|
Balance – December 31, 2009
|
|
|
5,400,994
|
|
Addition to statutory reserves
|
|
|
2,155,193
|
|
Balance – December 31, 2010
|
|
|
7,556,187
|
|
Addition to statutory reserves
|
|
|
2,862,289
|
|
Balance – December 31, 2011
|
|
$
|
10,418,476
|
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 17
|
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
|
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on sale of scraps
|
|
$
|
13,520
|
|
|
$
|
16,145
|
|
|
$
|
500,834
|
|
Donation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(41,872
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Other
|
|
|
101,103
|
|
|
|
(53,869
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
114,623
|
|
|
$
|
(79,596
|
)
|
|
$
|
500,834
|
|
The Company is subject to income
tax on an entity basis on income arising from the tax jurisdiction in which they operate.
Lihua is subject to taxes in the
U.S.
Ally Profit being incorporated in
the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) is not subject to any income tax in the BVI.
Lihua Holdings is generally subject
to Hong Kong income tax on its taxable income derived from trade or businesses carried out in Hong Kong at 16.5% for the two years
ended December 31, 2011. However, as Lihua Holdings has not generated any revenue or income, no provision for Hong Kong income
tax has been made.
The Company’s two operating
subsidiaries, Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper, are generally subject to PRC enterprise income tax (“EIT”). Before
January 1, 2008, Lihua Electron was subject to an EIT rate of 24% on its taxable income because it is located in an economic development
zone. Furthermore, Lihua Electron is a production-based foreign investment enterprise and was granted an EIT holiday
for the two years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and a 50% reduction on the EIT rate for the three years ended December 31, 2007,
2008 and 2009.
On March 16, 2007, the PRC government
promulgated a new tax law, China’s Unified Enterprise Income Tax Law (“New EIT Law”), which took effect from
January 1, 2008. Under the New EIT Law, foreign-owned enterprises as well as domestic companies are subject to a uniform tax rate
of 25%. The New EIT Law provides for a grandfathering and five-year transition period from its effective date for those enterprises
which were established before the promulgation date of the New EIT Law and which were entitled to a preferential EIT treatment.
Accordingly, Lihua Electron continued to be entitled to the 50% reduction on its EIT rate for the two years ended December 31,
2008 and 2009 and was subject to an EIT rate of 25% for the year ended December 31, 2011 under the New EIT Law.
Lihua Copper has been subject to
an EIT rate of 25% for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 under the New EIT Law.
The new Tax Law also imposes a 10%
withholding income tax for dividends distributed by a foreign invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside China
for distribution of earnings generated after January 1, 2008. Under the New Tax Law, the distribution of earnings generated prior
to January 1, 2008 is exempt from the withholding tax. As our subsidiaries in the PRC will not be distributing earnings to the
Company for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, no deferred tax liability has been recognized for the undistributed
earnings of these PRC subsidiaries at December 31, 2011 and 2010. Total undistributed earnings of these PRC subsidiaries at December
31, 2011 were RMB937,148,032 ($148,732,408).
No provision for other overseas
taxes is made as neither Lihua, Ally Profit or Lihua Holdings has any taxable income in the U.S., British Virgin Islands or Hong
Kong, respectively.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 18
|
INCOME TAXES – CONTINUED
|
The Company’s provision for income taxes consisted
of:
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
PRC income tax:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
$
|
17,077,406
|
|
|
$
|
14,525,214
|
|
|
$
|
5,322,268
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
246,294
|
|
|
|
(25,638
|
)
|
|
|
(74,621
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
17,323,700
|
|
|
$
|
14,499,576
|
|
|
$
|
5,247,647
|
|
A reconciliation of the provision
for income taxes determined at the local income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows:
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pre-tax income
|
|
$
|
70,457,233
|
|
|
$
|
52,965,551
|
|
|
$
|
18,980,345
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States federal corporate income tax rate
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
Income tax computed at United States statutory corporate income tax rate
|
|
|
23,955,459
|
|
|
|
18,008,287
|
|
|
|
6,453,317
|
|
Reconciling items:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Impact of tax holiday of Lihua Electron
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(3,011,804
|
)
|
Loss not recognized as deferred tax assets
|
|
|
771,079
|
|
|
|
989,985
|
|
|
|
688,443
|
|
Non-deductible expenses
|
|
|
175,696
|
|
|
|
82,520
|
|
|
|
49,424
|
|
Change in fair value of warrants
|
|
|
(1,071,460
|
)
|
|
|
429,053
|
|
|
|
4,038,161
|
|
Rate differential for PRC earnings
|
|
|
(6,260,780
|
)
|
|
|
(5,126,705
|
)
|
|
|
(2,948,838
|
)
|
Other
|
|
|
(246,294
|
)
|
|
|
116,436
|
|
|
|
(21,056
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective tax expense
|
|
$
|
17,323,700
|
|
|
$
|
14,499,576
|
|
|
$
|
5,247,647
|
|
The effect of the tax holiday
of Lihua Electron amounted to nil, nil and $3,011,804 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively,
equivalent to basic earnings per share of nil, nil and $0.17, respectively, and diluted earnings per share amount of nil, nil
and $0.16, respectively.
Deferred income taxes reflect the
net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes
and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of deferred income tax assets are as follows:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Deferred income tax assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net operating loss carry forward
|
|
$
|
3,631,132
|
|
|
$
|
2,860,053
|
|
Unrealized intercompany profit in inventory
|
|
|
13,142
|
|
|
|
74,363
|
|
Accrued R&D expenses
|
|
|
187,446
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Excess of accounting depreciation over tax depreciation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
52,954
|
|
Less: Valuation allowance
|
|
|
(3,631,132
|
)
|
|
|
(2,860,053
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
200,588
|
|
|
$
|
127,317
|
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 18
|
INCOME TAXES – CONTINUED
|
As of December 31, 2011 and 2010,
the Company’s U.S. entity, Lihua International, Inc., had net operating loss carryforward of $10,679,801 and $8,411,921,
respectively, available to reduce future taxable income which will expire in various years through 2030. It is more-likely-than-not
that the deferred tax assets cannot be utilized in the future because there will not be significant future earnings from the entity
which generated the net operating loss. Therefore, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets.
As of December 31, 2011 and 2010,
the Company has no material unrecognized tax benefits which would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods
and does not believe that there will be any significant increases or decreases of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve
months. No interest or penalties relating to income tax matters have been imposed on the Company during the years ended December
31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, and no provision for interest and penalties is deemed necessary as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
According to the PRC Tax Administration
and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational errors made
by the taxpayer or its withholding agent. The statute of limitations extends to five years under special circumstances, which are
not clearly defined. In the case of a related party transaction, the statute of limitations is ten years. There is no statute of
limitations in the case of tax evasion.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 19
|
EARNINGS PER SHARE
|
Basic earnings per common share
is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for
the period. Diluted income per common share is computed similarly to basic income per common share except that the denominator
is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive common
shares had been issued.
The following table is a reconciliation
of the net income and the weighted average shares used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods
presented:
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income available to common stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Basic and diluted
|
|
$
|
53,133,533
|
|
|
$
|
38,465,975
|
|
|
$
|
13,732,698
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of shares:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Basic
|
|
|
29,816,871
|
|
|
|
27,956,451
|
|
|
|
17,822,890
|
|
- Effect of dilutive securities - warrants, options and convertible preferred stock
|
|
|
259,259
|
|
|
|
714,912
|
|
|
|
1,305,341
|
|
- Diluted
|
|
|
30,076,130
|
|
|
|
28,671,363
|
|
|
|
19,128,231
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Basic
|
|
$
|
1.78
|
|
|
$
|
1.38
|
|
|
$
|
0.77
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Diluted
|
|
$
|
1.77
|
|
|
$
|
1.34
|
|
|
$
|
0.72
|
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 20
|
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
|
(1) Sales
For the years ended December
31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, sales included $620,295, $1,991,430 and $471,554, respectively that were made from Tianyi
Telecom. The controlling stockholder of Tianyi Telecom is related to Ms. Yaying Wang, our COO and one of our
directors.
(2) Guarantees
As of December 31, 2011 and 2010,
Mr. Jianhua Zhu, the Company’s CEO and director, and Tianyi Telecom provided guarantees for the Company’s short-term
bank loans of nil and $2,264,937, respectively (see Note 12 above).
(3) Loans
On May 19, 2011, Magnify Wealth Enterprise Limited (“Magnify
Wealth”), a British Virgin Islands corporation and an entity affiliated with Mr. Jianhua Zhu, the Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Company, agreed to loan the Company up to $4 million pursuant to the terms of a demand promissory note (the
“Note”) to partially fund the Company’s previously announced $15 million stock repurchase program to make open
market purchases of the Company’s common stock (the “Repurchase Program”) (See Note 14 above). While the Company’s
operating subsidiaries in the PRC have substantial cash reserves available, the laws of the PRC restrict the conversion of RMB
to US dollars, such that the Company has encountered difficulty funding the Repurchase Program with US dollars from cash held by
its PRC subsidiaries. The Company explored possible alternative arrangements for funding the Repurchase Program in US dollars with
financial institutions, but Company management determined that such alternatives would have been costly or otherwise not appropriate
for the Company.
On May 23, 2011, Magnify Wealth loaned $1 million under
the Note, which amount the Company repaid in full on May 25, 2011 in RMB. On June 14, 2011, Magnify Wealth loaned $300,000 under
the Note, which amount the Company repaid in full on June 14, 2011 in RMB. The total amount repaid was RMB8,434,660, which was
repaid at the average rate of 6.4822 RMB per US dollar, which was based upon the exchange rate between US dollars and RMB as set
forth by Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong. The loans under the Note were unsecured, payable on demand and bore interest at
2% per annum.
As of December 31, 2011, there was no outstanding loan
under the Note.
(4) Amount due to a related
party
In June 2011, Mr. Jianhua Zhu loaned the Company $140,000.
The loan was unsecured and non-interest bearing. The loan was repaid in August 2011.
NOTE 21
|
CERTAIN RISKS AND CONCENTRATION
|
Credit risk and major customers
As of December 31, 2011 and 2010,
substantially all of the Company’s cash including cash on hand and deposits in accounts were maintained within the PRC where
there is currently no rule or regulation in place for obligatory insurance to cover bank deposits in the event of a bank’s
failure. However, the Company has not experienced any such losses and believes it is not exposed to any significant risks on its
cash in bank accounts.
For the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, all of
the Company’s sales arose in the PRC. In addition, all accounts receivable as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 were
due from customers located in the PRC.
There were two customers who accounted for 25.32% and
10.64% of the Company’s revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011, respectively, There were two customers who accounted
for 12.7% and 11.4% of the Company’s revenue for the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively, There was no other single
customer who accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenue for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 or 2009.
There was one customer who accounted for 33.6% of total
accounts receivable of the Company as of December 31, 2011. There were two customers who accounted for 20.5% and 15.2%, respectively,
of total accounts receivable of the Company as of December 31, 2010. There was no other customer who accounted for 10% or more
of the Company’s accounts receivable as of December 31, 2011 or 2010.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 21
|
CERTAIN RISKS AND CONCENTRATION- CONTINUED
|
Risk arising from operations
in foreign countries
Substantially all of the Company’s
operations are conducted in China. The Company’s operations are subject to various political, economic, and other risks and
uncertainties inherent in China. Among other risks, the Company’s operations are subject to the risks of restrictions on
transfer of funds; export duties, quotas, and embargoes; domestic and international customs and tariffs; changing taxation policies;
foreign exchange restrictions; and political conditions and governmental regulations.
NOTE 22
|
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
|
Lease commitments
The Company has entered into tenancy
agreements for the lease of factory premises and warehouse with independent parties. The Company’s commitments for minimum
lease payments under these operating leases for the next five years and thereafter as of December 31, 2011 are as follows:
Payable within:
|
|
|
|
|
- fiscal year ending December 31, 2012
|
|
$
|
57,134
|
|
- fiscal year ending December 31, 2013
|
|
|
61,579
|
|
- fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 and thereafter
|
|
|
20,949
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
139,662
|
|
Capital commitments – contracted
but not provided for
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition or construction of buildings - within one year
|
|
$
|
2,982,114
|
|
|
$
|
1,664,997
|
|
Purchase of machinery - within one year
|
|
|
1,872,748
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,854,862
|
|
|
$
|
1,664,997
|
|
Other commitments
During 2011, the Company signed
various research and development contracts with Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute with a total contract amount of $3.02
million. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has paid $1.90 million. The Company expects to pay the remaining $1.12 million within
one year.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 23
|
SEGMENT DATA AND RELATED INFORMATION
|
The Company operates in one business
segment, the manufacturing and sale of refined copper rod and copper anode, as well as copper clad aluminum (CCA) wire and copper
wire produced from refined copper rod. The Company also operates in only one geographical segment – China, as all of the
Company’s products are sold to customers located in China and the Company’s manufacturing operations are located in
China.
The Company’s major product
categories are (1) wire manufacturing, consisting of (a) CCA fine and superfine wire, which is an electrical conductor consisting
of an outer sleeve of copper that is metallurgically bonded to a solid aluminum core, and (b) copper fine and superfine wire, manufactured
from recycled copper rod; (2) refined copper rod; and (3) refined copper anode, the latter two of which are fire refined from scrap
copper.
Management evaluates performance
based on several factors, of which net revenue and gross profit by product are the primary financial measures:
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Net revenue from unaffiliated customers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copper and CCA wire
|
|
$
|
335,574,034
|
|
|
$
|
243,132,742
|
|
|
$
|
109,397,857
|
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
287,269,353
|
|
|
|
97,613,692
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Refined copper rod
|
|
|
14,250,052
|
|
|
|
29,785,251
|
|
|
|
52,145,577
|
|
|
|
$
|
637,093,439
|
|
|
$
|
370,531,685
|
|
|
$
|
161,543,434
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copper and CCA wire
|
|
$
|
49,722,321
|
|
|
$
|
50,934,170
|
|
|
$
|
31,316,371
|
|
Copper anode
|
|
|
25,224,807
|
|
|
|
8,506,764
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Refined copper rod
|
|
|
766,544
|
|
|
|
2,661,221
|
|
|
|
4,916,450
|
|
|
|
$
|
75,713,672
|
|
|
$
|
62,102,155
|
|
|
$
|
36,232,821
|
|
NOTE 24
|
RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
|
The Company’s operations are
substantially conducted through Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper. Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper may only pay dividends out of
its retained earnings determined in accordance with the accounting standards and regulations in the PRC and after it has met the
PRC requirements for appropriation to statutory reserves (see Note 16).
In addition, Lihua Electron and
Lihua Copper’s business transactions and assets are primarily denominated in RMB, which is not freely convertible into foreign
currencies. All foreign exchange transactions take place either through the People’s Bank of China or other banks authorized
to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China. Approval of foreign currency
payments by the People’s Bank of China or other regulatory institutions requires submitting a payment application form together
with suppliers’ invoices, shipping documents and signed contracts. These currency exchange control measures imposed by the
PRC government may restrict the ability of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper to transfer their net assets to the Company through
loans, advances or cash dividends. The net assets of Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper in aggregate exceeded 25% of the Company’s
consolidated net assets. Accordingly, condensed parent company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule
5.04 and Rule 12-04 of SEC Regulation S-X.
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 24
|
RESTRICTED NET ASSETS – CONTINUED
|
The Company records its investment
in subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting. Such investment and long-term loans to subsidiaries are presented on the
balance sheet as “Investments in subsidiaries” and the income of the subsidiaries is presented as “Equity in
income of subsidiaries” on the statement of income.
These supplemental condensed parent
company financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have
been condensed or omitted.
As of December 31, 2011 and 2010,
there were no material contingencies, significant provisions for long-term obligations, or guarantees of the Company, except as
separately disclosed in the Consolidated Financial Statements, if any.
Supplemental Parent Company Financial
Information – Lihua International, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepayments
|
|
$
|
123,250
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
123,250
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Investments in subsidiaries
|
|
|
221,121,236
|
|
|
|
162,020,064
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
221,244,486
|
|
|
$
|
162,020,064
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
180,000
|
|
Dividend payable
|
|
|
992,846
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Warrant liabilities
|
|
|
615,000
|
|
|
|
8,682,441
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
1,607,846
|
|
|
|
8,862,441
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock: $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Common stock, $0.0001 par value: 75,000,000 shares authorized, 30,036,481 and
29,385,326 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively
|
|
|
3,003
|
|
|
|
2,938
|
|
Treasury stock, at cost, 264,047 shares and nil as of December 31,2011 and 2010, respectively
|
|
|
(2,126,597
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
78,564,128
|
|
|
|
71,251,843
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
126,787,963
|
|
|
|
74,647,276
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
|
16,408,143
|
|
|
|
7,255,566
|
|
Total stockholders' equity
|
|
|
219,636,640
|
|
|
|
153,157,623
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
|
$
|
221,244,486
|
|
|
$
|
162,020,064
|
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 24
|
RESTRICTED NET ASSETS – CONTINUED
|
Condensed Statements of Income
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative expenses
|
|
$
|
(2,267,880
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,911,720
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,024,833
|
)
|
Other expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in fair value of warrant liabilities
|
|
|
3,062,575
|
|
|
|
(1,448,819
|
)
|
|
|
(11,877,341
|
)
|
Gain/(loss) on extinguishment of warrant liabilities
|
|
|
88,777
|
|
|
|
186,897
|
|
|
|
(398
|
)
|
Equity in income of subsidiaries
|
|
|
52,250,060
|
|
|
|
42,639,617
|
|
|
|
27,635,270
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
53,133,533
|
|
|
$
|
38,465,975
|
|
|
$
|
13,732,698
|
|
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
$
|
(2,267,880
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,911,720
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,773,393
|
)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
2,496,427
|
|
|
|
(32,959,097
|
)
|
|
|
(7,391,257
|
)
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
|
|
(228,547
|
)
|
|
|
35,870,817
|
|
|
|
9,164,650
|
|
Cash, beginning of year
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cash, end of year
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
LIHUA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2011, 2010 AND 2009
NOTE 25
|
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
|
Selected quarterly financial data
for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are presented in the following table:
|
|
Three Months Ended,
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2011
|
|
December 31
|
|
|
September 30
|
|
|
June 30
|
|
|
March 31
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
177,579,159
|
|
|
$
|
155,570,657
|
|
|
$
|
167,012,527
|
|
|
$
|
136,931,096
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(157,877,953
|
)
|
|
|
(136,113,727
|
)
|
|
|
(147,365,064
|
)
|
|
|
(120,023,023
|
)
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
19,701,206
|
|
|
|
19,456,930
|
|
|
|
19,647,463
|
|
|
|
16,908,073
|
|
Selling expenses
|
|
|
(660,992
|
)
|
|
|
(633,584
|
)
|
|
|
(668,366
|
)
|
|
|
(523,036
|
)
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(2,239,462
|
)
|
|
|
(1,498,306
|
)
|
|
|
(1,339,062
|
)
|
|
|
(1,573,312
|
)
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
16,800,752
|
|
|
|
17,325,040
|
|
|
|
17,640,035
|
|
|
|
14,811,725
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
12,727,388
|
|
|
|
13,528,083
|
|
|
|
14,366,076
|
|
|
|
12,511,986
|
|
Earnings per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.43
|
|
|
$
|
0.45
|
|
|
$
|
0.48
|
|
|
$
|
0.42
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.42
|
|
|
$
|
0.45
|
|
|
$
|
0.48
|
|
|
$
|
0.41
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended,
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2010
|
|
December 31
|
|
|
September 30
|
|
|
June 30
|
|
|
March 31
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
135,471,182
|
|
|
$
|
96,337,451
|
|
|
$
|
75,502,350
|
|
|
$
|
63,220,702
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(114,812,441
|
)
|
|
|
(81,215,627
|
)
|
|
|
(61,002,044
|
)
|
|
|
(51,399,418
|
)
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
20,658,741
|
|
|
|
15,121,824
|
|
|
|
14,500,306
|
|
|
|
11,821,284
|
|
Selling expenses
|
|
|
(614,817
|
)
|
|
|
(422,209
|
)
|
|
|
(570,420
|
)
|
|
|
(450,877
|
)
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(1,776,457
|
)
|
|
|
(1,192,225
|
)
|
|
|
(1,484,893
|
)
|
|
|
(1,293,603
|
)
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
18,267,467
|
|
|
|
13,507,390
|
|
|
|
12,444,993
|
|
|
|
10,076,804
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
9,855,420
|
|
|
|
9,855,705
|
|
|
|
9,898,292
|
|
|
|
8,856,558
|
|
Earnings per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.34
|
|
|
$
|
0.34
|
|
|
$
|
0.35
|
|
|
$
|
0.35
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.33
|
|
|
$
|
0.33
|
|
|
$
|
0.34
|
|
|
$
|
0.34
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended,
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2009
|
|
December 31
|
|
|
September 30
|
|
|
June 30
|
|
|
March 31
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
51,252,416
|
|
|
$
|
40,913,348
|
|
|
$
|
48,827,343
|
|
|
$
|
20,550,327
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(40,208,034
|
)
|
|
|
(31,155,238
|
)
|
|
|
(39,095,534
|
)
|
|
|
(14,851,807
|
)
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
11,044,382
|
|
|
|
9,758,110
|
|
|
|
9,731,809
|
|
|
|
5,698,520
|
|
Selling expenses
|
|
|
(479,945
|
)
|
|
|
(451,689
|
)
|
|
|
(587,356
|
)
|
|
|
(203,252
|
)
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(1,171,295
|
)
|
|
|
(1,184,877
|
)
|
|
|
(1,093,499
|
)
|
|
|
(542,130
|
)
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
9,393,142
|
|
|
|
8,121,544
|
|
|
|
8,050,954
|
|
|
|
4,953,138
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
4,388,140
|
|
|
|
(1,336,448
|
)
|
|
|
6,705,029
|
|
|
|
3,975,977
|
|
Earnings (loss) per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
|
$
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.45
|
|
|
$
|
0.27
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
|
$
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.31
|
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
NOTE 26
|
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
|
In early 2012, in preparation for
the increase in working capital needs as a result of the near term production capacity expansion, Lihua Copper and Lihua Electron
entered into discussions with various banks about general banking facility arrangements. In January and February 2012, Lihua Copper
and Lihua Electron signed agreements to pledge their land use rights and buildings, with carrying values of $14.3 million and $7.4
million, respectively, as of December 31, 2011, for a period of 3-5 years in favor of various banks in China up to an aggregate
amount of RMB73.8 million ($11.7 million using February 29, 2012 exchange rate). As of March 12, 2012, Lihua Copper and Lihua Electron
have not yet entered into any lending agreements with these banks.