Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
EX-31.1 - China Architectural Engineering, Inc. | v187099_ex31-1.htm |
EX-32.1 - China Architectural Engineering, Inc. | v187099_ex32-1.htm |
EX-23.1 - China Architectural Engineering, Inc. | v187099_ex23-1.htm |
EX-31.2 - China Architectural Engineering, Inc. | v187099_ex31-2.htm |
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K/A
Amendment
No. 4
x ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR
THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______ TO ___________
COMMISSION
FILE NO. 001-33709
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
|
51-05021250
|
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
No.)
|
|
105
Baishi Road, Jiuzhou West Avenue, Zhuhai
People’s
Republic of China
|
519070
|
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
REGISTRANT’S
TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: 0086-756-8538908
SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
Title of Each Class
|
Name of Each Exchange on Which
Registered
|
|
Common
Stock, $0.001 par value
|
|
NASDAQ
Global Select 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 o No x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes o No x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this
chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes o No o
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.
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, accelerated
filer, non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the
definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
Large
accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated
filer o
|
Non-accelerated
filer x
|
Smaller
reporting company o
|
(Do
not check if a smaller
|
|||
reporting
company)
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x
The
aggregate market value of the registrant's issued and outstanding shares of
common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2009 (based
on the price at which the registrant’s common stock was last sold on such date)
was approximately $43.2 million.
There
were 55,156,874 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value
$0.001 per share, as of March 28, 2010. The registrant’s common
stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol
“CAEI”.
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None.
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This
Amendment No. 4 on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment No. 4”) is
being filed in order to (i) revise the date of the auditor report from April 30,
2010 to May 14, 2010 and (ii) to correct that date of the restatements to May
14, 2010. The Form 10-K was originally filed on March 4, 2010 (the
“Original Filing”) and it was amended by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 on the Form
10-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April
30, May 14, and May 27, 2010 (the “Amendments”). Other than as
indicated above, there have not been other changes to the annual report, as
previously amended, but the entire filing is restated in this Amendment No. 4
for ease of reference.
As a
result of this Amendment No. 4, the certifications pursuant to Section 302 and
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 have been revised, re-executed and
re-filed as of the date of this Amendment No. 4. Except as specifically
indicated in any amendments to the Original Filing, this Amendment No. 4
continues to describe conditions as of the date of the Original Filing, and the
disclosures contained herein have not been updated to reflect events, results or
developments that have occurred after the Original Filing, unless indicated in
the Amendments, or to modify or update those disclosures affected by subsequent
events unless otherwise indicated in this annual report. Among other
things, forward-looking statements made in the Original Filing have not been
revised to reflect events, results or developments that have occurred or facts
that have become known to us after the date of the Original Filing, and such
forward-looking statements should be read in their historical context. This
Amendment No. 4 should be read in conjunction with the Company’s filings made
with the SEC subsequent to the Original Filing, including any amendments to
those filings.
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K/A
For
the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009
ITEM
|
Page
|
|||
PART I
|
1
|
|||
Item
1.
|
Business
|
1
|
||
Item 1A.
|
Risk
Factors
|
9
|
||
Item 1B.
|
Unresolved
Staff Comments
|
27
|
||
Item
2.
|
Properties
|
27
|
||
Item
3.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
28
|
||
Item
4.
|
(Removed
and Reserved)
|
29
|
||
|
||||
PART II
|
30
|
|||
Item
5.
|
Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
|
30
|
||
Item
6.
|
Selected
Financial Data
|
32
|
||
Item
7.
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
33
|
||
Item
7A.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
45
|
||
Item
8.
|
Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
|
46
|
||
Item
9.
|
Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
|
46
|
||
Item
9A.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
46
|
||
Item
9B.
|
Other
Information
|
49
|
||
PART III
|
50
|
|||
Item
10.
|
Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
|
50
|
||
Item
11.
|
Executive
Compensation
|
53
|
||
Item
12.
|
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
|
62
|
||
Item
13.
|
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
|
63
|
||
Item
14.
|
Principal
Accounting Fees and Services
|
64
|
||
|
||||
PART IV
|
|
|||
Item
15.
|
Exhibits,
Financial Statement Schedules
|
|
||
|
||||
Signatures
|
65
|
i
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The
information contained in this report, including in the documents incorporated by
reference into this report, includes some statements that are not purely
historical and that are “forward-looking statements.” Such forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our and their
management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding
the future, including our financial condition and results of operations. In
addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other
characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying
assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,”
“believes,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,”
“might,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,”
“should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions, or the negatives of such
terms, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words
does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The
forward-looking statements contained in this report are based on current
expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and the potential
effects on the parties and the transaction. There can be no assurance that
future developments actually affecting us will be those anticipated. These
forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of
which are beyond the parties’ control) or other assumptions that may cause
actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or
implied by these forward-looking statements, including the
following:
|
·
|
Our dependence on government
contracts and government sponsored
contracts;
|
|
·
|
Fluctuation and unpredictability
of costs related to our products and
services;
|
|
·
|
Changes in the laws of the PRC
that affect our operations;
|
|
·
|
Our failure to meet or timely
meet contractual performance standards and
schedules;
|
|
·
|
Adverse capital and credit market
conditions;
|
|
·
|
Any occurrence of epidemic
diseases and other cross-region infectious
diseases;
|
|
·
|
Reduction or reversal of our
recorded revenue or profits due to “percentage of completion” method of
accounting;
|
|
·
|
Increasing provisions for bad
debt related to our accounts
receivable;
|
|
·
|
Our dependence on the steel and
aluminum markets;
|
|
·
|
Exposure to product liability and
defect claims;
|
|
·
|
Our ability to obtain all
necessary government certifications and/or licenses to conduct our
business;
|
|
·
|
Expenses and costs related to our
issuance of our bonds and bond
warrants;
|
|
·
|
Our intended acquisition of an
ownership interest in Shanghai ConnGame Network Co.
Ltd.;
|
|
·
|
The cost of complying with
current and future governmental regulations and the impact of any changes
in the regulations on our operations;
and
|
|
·
|
The other factors referenced in
this report, including, without limitation, under the sections entitled
“Risk Factors”, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations”, and
“Business”.
|
These
risks and uncertainties, along with others, are also described below under the
heading “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, or should any of the parties’ assumptions prove incorrect, actual
results may vary in material respects from those projected in these
forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities
laws.
ii
PART
I
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
Overview
We have
traditionally specialized in high-end curtain wall systems (including glass,
stone and metal curtain walls), roofing systems, steel construction systems,
eco-energy saving building conservation systems and related products, for public
works and commercial real estate projects. We provide timely, high
quality, reliable, fully integrated and cost-effective service solutions to our
clients using specialized technical expertise in the design, engineering,
fabrication, installation and construction of structural exterior cladding
systems. We compete on the strength of our reputation, relationships with
government and commercial clients, and our ability to give expression to the
vision of leading architects. By focusing on innovation while outsourcing
commoditized manufacturing work, we believe we are able to add artistic and
technological value to projects at cost-effective price points.
Proposed
Acquisition of 60% Equity Interest in ConnGame
In
December 2009, we and First Jet entered into a letter of intent for the
Acquisition (“Letter of Intent”) that set forth the principal terms under which
we would issue up to 25,000,000 shares of our common stock to First Jet to
acquire 60% of the equity interest of Shanghai ConnGame Network Co. Ltd., a
company formed under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“ConnGame”),
which is a developer and publisher of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role
Playing Game). In January 2010, our board of directors and stockholders approved
our acquisition of a 60% equity interest in ConnGame.
We
believe that our proposed acquisition of ConnGame will expand our core
capabilities and facilitate our planned transformation into a high-end
architectural design consultant and service provider, as we intend to leverage
ConnGame’s design engines and virtual applications to broaden our service
capabilities and scope of architectural collaborations. We intend to utilize
ConnGame's technology and online platform to provide technical consulting and
advisory services to architects, real estate developers and governments. We
believe our acquisition of ConnGame will enable us to strengthen our core
architectural engineering and design abilities. We believe that our planned
focus on design and construction will reduce our exposure to unpredictable
operational risks that relate to construction projects, in addition to providing
us with the tools to strengthen our ability to complete projects within budget
limitations. We also believe that the acquisition of ConnGame and its
technologies will enable us to better evaluate estimated profitable of
construction projects before we enter into contracts. We believe that our
technology profile will be strengthened, particularly with ConnGame’s virtual
and online and graphic technologies, and that the technology and capabilities
will permit us to render more animated, detailed, and interactive designs that
could assist us in attaining highly desirable projects from our bidding
competitors.
We
believe that our acquisition would also enable us to enter China's large online
game market, with ConnGame’s two to-be-released MMORPG games. We believe that
the online game industry and its related business model will be a growing market
in China.
If and
when the acquisition of the 60% interest of ConnGame is completed, we will seek
to divide our business services into the following:
|
·
|
Construction
and fabrication—We
intend conduct our construction and fabrication services within
China.
|
|
·
|
Construction
consulting and design services—We believe that we will be able
to utilize the technical skills and expertise of ConnGame to provide
unique consulting services for the design and fabrication projects
globally, with such services to include real-time and interactive
capabilities.
|
|
·
|
Online
Games—ConnGame has
targeted to launch its first game in mid-2010 and its second game in late
2010, subject to final
testing.
|
|
·
|
Network
Gaming and Home Decoration—We intend to develop a platform
to provide services on home decoration through an interactive style,
develop online games to provide to architects, other professionals, and
individual consumers the ability to design and interact with other
users.
|
Completion
of the proposed acquisition is subject to negotiation and execution of a
definitive equity transfer agreement, regulatory approvals, and other customary
closing conditions. Therefore, there can be no guarantee that the acquisition
will be consummated.
For
additional information regarding our planned operations after the proposed
acquisition, please see “Item
7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations—Proposed Acquisition of 60% Equity Interest in
ConnGame.”
1
International
and Domestic (China) Construction Market
Historically,
the relative growth of the Chinese economy had assisted in the growth of China’s
construction industry, especially in the commercial and public works sectors. As
architectural designs for these buildings have become more complex, challenging
and modern in scope, there has been an increased need for technology driven
companies providing high-end specialty curtain wall systems. In addition,
governmental agencies and international regulators are becoming more
environmentally conscious in the enactment of regulations governing new
construction. Awareness of fuel costs and environmental concerns have resulted
in regulation designed to ensure that new commercial and public works buildings
have a low environmental impact. Technologies such as solar lighting, advanced
shading systems and circulating sea water systems are constantly improving the
ability of structures to interact with the environment by taking advantage of
natural conditions, thus meeting the dual goals of reducing energy costs and
lessening environmental impact.
In 2009,
as China’s economy has also been negatively impacted by the global economic
crisis, investments in the construction sector have been significantly reduced
and, as a consequence, China’s construction industry has become a challenging
environment in which to operate. The government of the People's Republic of
China adopted an economic stimulus package designed to limit the amount of
damage that the global financial crisis could do to China’s economy, the third
largest economy in the world. The PRC government indicated that the stimulus
funds were to be invested in key areas such as housing, rural infrastructure,
transportation, health and education, environment, industry, disaster
rebuilding, income-building, tax cuts, and finance. We expect that we may be
able to benefit from the stimulus plans over the next few years. Preliminary
government spending plans indicate that there may be an opportunity for the use
of our products, especially on the infrastructure related projects such as large
scale railway stations and airport terminals, and public facilities, such as
libraries, museums, exhibition halls, stadiums, planetariums and science
centers.
The
recent trends in the global economy have had a significant adverse impact on the
commercial construction industry as a whole. As a result, the competitive
environment in which we operate has become more competitive, increasing the
number of re-bid construction projects and amount of time between bidding and
award of a project, reducing selling prices, and causing competitors to modify
the scope and type of projects on which they bid. In 2008 we increased the
number of international construction projects, but in 2009 the spread of the
global recession and reduction in the nature and scope of international
construction projects has led us to primarily focus our attention on domestic
projects in China. Dubai, Doha, Kuwait and other middle east region have been
suffered a great impact markedly under the global financial crisis. Our projects
suffered a certain degree of impact as well. However, we conducted our Dubai and
Doha Projects construction under the original schedule, and executed the design
for Kuwait project. After the completion of “soft-open” of Dubai Metro Rail
Project in September 2009, the contractor called bonds and refused to sign and
pay for the project payments, which have resulted in a cash flow difficulties
for our company. We dispute the contractor’s rights to call the bonds and
seeking remedies for its actions. In addition, after a thorough review and
analysis of the feasibility and profitability of the Singapore Project, we
determined that it was in the best interests of our company to withdraw from the
project.
We do not
believe that the international economy will experience a swift recovery in the
near future and therefore its negative impact on construction industry still
exists and will exist in the near future. As a result, we suspended the orders
of the construction of international projects, and shifted the focus of our
business to design and professional consulting services. We have taken steps to
continue our development and research of new technologies and to maintain our
company’s position in the industry. To develop projects and generate revenue, we
have sought to join new projects in the position of design and project
consultant and the role of material supplier.
Although
we believe that a global market opportunity still exists for our services and
products despite the difficult environment, we believe that it would be more
advantageous to our business to take advantage of our low design and production
cost in China. We believe that the Chinese market has faired much better than
most of the international markets. With the strength of our reputation and
history of notable projects in China, we are focusing our resources and efforts
in our domestic market. We believe that we have long-standing relationships with
leading Chinese and international architects, having completed high profile
projects in China, including the National Grand Theater in Beijing, the Shanghai
South Railway Station, the Shenzhen International Airport, the National Palace
Museum in Beijing, the Wuhan Qintai Grand Theatre and Wuhan International Horse
Racing Course. During the year 2009, we commenced certain landmark projects in
China, which consisted of the Changsha Train Station, Changsha Museum, Guangzhou
Science Town, and projects in Jinan and Inner Mongolia. These projects are
expected to be completed in 2010. We plan to continue to meet the needs of
government and private sector customers in the larger cities.
Products
and Services
We
specialize in high-end curtain wall systems (including glass, stone and metal
curtain walls), roofing systems, steel construction systems, eco-energy saving
building conservation systems and related products, for public works and
commercial real estate projects. We provide timely, high quality, reliable,
fully integrated and cost-effective service solutions to our clients using
specialized technical expertise in the design, engineering, fabrication,
installation and construction of structural exterior cladding systems. We design
and develop systems to offer custom-designed solutions for developers of
commercial and public works projects with special architectural features. In
terms of project management, we conduct overall project planning and control
over key areas of activities such as design and engineering, procurement,
production scheduling, quality control and site installation.
2
Concept
and Project Management
Initially,
we work with the architect to develop, clarify and enhance the overall creative
vision for the project. In the design of a curtain wall system, architects are
freely able to choose different structure systems to meet the requirements of
various architectural models. All contracts awarded are assigned a project
number, which was designed to track each component and man-hour associated with
the project through the entire construction process. All project drawings,
specifications and completion schedules on a project are reviewed by our senior
management team, and all projects are assigned to one or more project managers,
who assume primary responsibility for all aspects of the project. Reporting to
the project manager are construction supervisors, safety and administration
staff, quality control staff and project engineering staff. Each of these
project team members coordinates with internal functional departments and
outside suppliers as appropriate. Often a project manager assigned to a given
project will have significant experience in similar projects. A project manager
generally will be responsible for a number of projects in various stages of
completion at any given time, depending on the scope, complexity, and geographic
location of such projects. Each project is divided into critical sequences that
follow the anticipated curtain wall construction path. Each sequence follows a
timeline, the status of which is continually monitored. Project managers
coordinate and manage design changes or other changes in scheduled completion
deadlines in an effort to minimize overall project delays.
We hope
that the proposed acquisition of ConnGame will enable us to leverage ConnGame’s
design engines and virtual applications to broaden our service capabilities and
scope of architectural collaborations. We intend to utilize ConnGame's
technology and online platform to provide technical consulting and advisory
services to architects, real estate developers and governments.
Design
Specific
technical parameters of the concept are established as new design elements are
created and combined with existing technologies. During the design phase, our
engineers and technicians review preliminary and completed designs and make
recommendations regarding types of connections, possible savings on fabrication
techniques, and methods of installation. Operating state-of-the art
computer-aided design (CAD) stations, these individuals provide customized
design solutions in the form of structural calculations, drawings, fabrication
and installation details, together with technical advice and consultancy on
specifications, feasibility studies and material procurement. At the
implementation stage of the project, detailed fabrications/shop-drawings are
produced, discussed and agreed with the project architect/manager. These form
the blueprint for project execution and scheduling. Every order is scheduled for
production through CAD and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) systems with
progress tracked at each stage of the project process. Quality control and
assurance programs are a combination of our specifications with quality
inspectors working at all production stages.
Engineering
We
maintain significant in-house structural engineering and detailing capabilities
that enable us to implement and coordinate with our shop and field personnel
original project specifications and changes to building and structural designs
sought by our clients. These resources help influence critical determinations as
to the most cost-effective systems, designs, connections, and installation
procedures for a particular project. Our engineers work on-site with suppliers
to machine our patented curtain wall elements and to procure the appropriate raw
materials. Our detailers prepare detail shop drawings of the dimensions,
positions, locations, and connections, and the fabrication and installation
sequences, of each component utilized in a project, and continually update these
drawings to accommodate design and other changes. Our automated detailing
systems produce updated detail drawings electronically, which can be delivered
to our domestic and foreign field locations. Detailers coordinate directly with
customers and our suppliers and installation teams to determine and plan the
order of fabrication and installation of a project and associated personnel and
equipment requirements.
Fabrication
Although
we are responsible for hiring suppliers and manufacturers, we subcontract the
manufacture of parts made from glass, metal and other materials used in our
exterior cladding systems. Once parts have been manufactured by subcontracted
factories, we will occasionally process them further. This processing usually
entails procedures such as adding metal frames to or drilling holes in glass
panes, or cutting and bending steel rods into customized shapes. All of our
products are fabricated in accordance with applicable industry and specific
customer standards and specifications.
Installation
We have
38 full-time project managers/supervisors and approximately 500 part-time
on-site workers who are engaged on our projects. Our installation teams consist
of highly trained, skilled and experienced field operatives with established
lines of communication between the work site, the technical design department
and the factory, ensuring that clients are provided with optimum and
cost-effective practical solutions. Site installation is managed through our
trained project management staff, and each project has a dedicated project team.
On site there are a number of our supervisors who are each responsible for a
different section of the curtain wall project. The installation process
typically consists of pre-assembly of metal and glass component parts at the
project site, the lifting of components by crane to the appropriate location at
the site and the final assembly of major components. The installation team
coordinates its site delivery program with the main contract schedule to meet
completion deadlines.
Customer
Service
Our
quality control and assurance department is comprised of trained technicians who
are responsible for the quality assurance, including quality control of
in-process fabrication and site installation by a detailed inspection as well as
continued maintenance after project completion. We have adopted important safety
policies that are administered and enforced by our senior management and provide
training on safety procedures and techniques to our shop and field
personnel.
3
Product
Attributes
Our
exterior cladding systems products are highly engineered specialty wall systems
consisting primarily of a series of glass panels set in metal frames, stone
panels, or metal panels, as well as roofing systems and related products. A
curtain wall is fixed to the commercial building by mechanical connection,
either in a primarily inoperable mode or adjustable with special settings with
spring or press systems. Glass panels are connected to the metal support system
by metal clamps and fixing bolts. The support system of fixing bolts could be a
steel, aluminum and or glass structure, with glass flank or spidery tension rod
or cable.
We offer
a variety of support systems:
|
·
|
Glass Fin
Support System. The
facial glass mixing with the glass fin provides facade with maximum
transparence, which eliminates the differential expansion among glass
metal structures.
|
|
·
|
Metal
Structure Support System. This system utilizes both steel
post and steel truss of aluminum post in a metal structure. One of our
most popular support systems, its flexibility can fully meet the criteria
of demanding modern architecture. At the same time, the combination of
transparent glass and steady metal structure completely realizes a harmony
between beauty and force, elegance and
strength.
|
|
·
|
Spidery
Tension Rod/Cable Support System. This system utilizes a stainless
steel tension rod connector for connecting the tension rod or the tension
cable to the steel structure in order to form a stable spidery structure
for glass curtain wall supporting. A response to the challenge of modern
architecture, architects are able to create a smooth and transparent
facade.
|
We use a
variety of clamping devices to integrate the glass frame to the support system.
Metal “spider” clamps are cast from stainless or high-strength carbonic steel in
and provide the features of high strength, simple installment and easy
maintenance. Our metal clamps integrate the facial glass with the structure,
enhancing the hardness of an entity. Transferable cabling structure makes the
curtain wall stretch higher, meeting designers’ requirements for the larger size
of vertical space. The combination of steel and glass embodies the feature of
stability, lightness and transparency, expressing the majesty and originality of
a building.
Our
fixing bolts are made of stainless steel and are used for holding the glass
glazing. These specifically designed bolts transfer the wind loads, deflection
stress and the weight of glass itself to the metal support system, which helps
reduce the strain on the glass and ensure structural integrity. These bolts are
offered in both countersink and flat head. Countersink head fixing bolts they
provide a smooth surface when fit flush in the outward surfaces of the glass.
They are typically utilized in single and double glazed glass structures. The
cylindrical head of our flat head fixing bolts protrude from the surface of
glass, which provides more strength against wind force and shear force and can
use to fix laminated and insolated glass.
We offer
a variety of glass panels allowing a diverse selection of styles to meet the
architectural demands of our clients:
|
·
|
Insulating
Glass. Increases a
window’s thermal performance and sound insulation; constructed with two or
more pieces of glass separated by a desiccant-filled spacer and sealed
with an organic sealant. The desiccant absorbs the insulating glass unit’s
internal moisture.
|
|
·
|
Laminated
Glass. Consists of
two or more pieces of glass fused with a vinyl or urethane interlayer and
is used primarily for skylight, security and hurricane-resistant
application.
|
|
·
|
Energy-
Efficient Coated Glass. Provides solar control, both
minimizing heat gain and controlling thermal transfer, by adding coatings
to glass. In addition, coatings add color and varying levels of
reflectively.
|
|
·
|
Spandrel
Glass. The use of
full coverage paint on insulated glass or polyester opacifier film backing
on high performance coated glass for the non-vision areas of the
building.
|
Projects
General
Our work
is performed under cost-plus-fee contracts and fixed-price contracts. The length
of our contracts varies but typically has duration of one to two
years.
4
Approximately
95% of our sales are from fixed price contracts. Our remaining sales are from
cost-plus-fee contracts. Under fixed-price contracts, we receive a fixed price.
Approximately 70% of contracts are modified after they begin, usually to
accommodate requests from clients to increase project size and scope. In cases
where fixed-price contracts are modified, the fixed price is renegotiated and
adjusted upwards accordingly. A disadvantage of fixed-price contracts is that we
realize a profit only if we control our costs and prevent cost over-runs on the
contracts, which can oftentimes be out of our control, such as cost of
materials. An advantage of these contracts is that we can adjust the material
and technology that we use in the project, as long as we satisfy the
requirements of our customer, and there is a potential to benefit from lower
costs of materials.
Under
cost-plus-fee contracts, which may be subject to contract ceiling amounts, we
are reimbursed for allowable costs and fees, which may be fixed or
performance-based. If our costs exceed the contract ceiling or are not allowable
under the provisions of the contract or any applicable regulations, we may not
be reimbursed for all our costs. An advantage of cost-plus-fee contracts is that
the cost of materials generally has no effect on our profit, since we are
reimbursed for costs. A disadvantage is that the profit resulting from any cost
savings on the materials goes to the contractor and not us.
During
2009, we completed approximately 37 projects. Our three largest projects are
Dubai Metro Red Line, Guangdong Science City Headquarter Phase I, and Doha High
Rise Office Tower, which accounted for approximately 43.2 %, 9.2 % and 7.0% of
our sales, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2009. For the year
ended December 31, 2009, approximately 24% of our sales came from new
construction projects starting in 2009 and for the year ended December 31, 2008,
approximately 58% of our sales came from new construction projects starting in
2008.
Nine
Dragon Project
In May
2009, we entered into a Framework Agreement to undertake several large scale
constructions of projects at the Zhejiang Nine Dragon Holiday Resort in China.
Pursuant to the terms of the Framework Agreement, the projects are to include
the construction of a marine park, playland, movie city and hotel. In July 2009,
we entered into a Letter of Intent of Land Transfer with the affiliates of
Shanghai Nine Dragon, and we agreed to sell 17 million shares of our common
stock to affiliates of Nine Dragon, with the related proceeds being used as the
working capital for the construction of Nine Dragon Project. However, the
affiliates attempted to renegotiate the use of proceeds to instead be used for
the purchase the apartments of Nine Dragon. Such request was rejected by our
board of directors and majority of the stockholders, and as a result, the
transaction was not completed. We actively maintain communication with Shanghai
Nine Dragon, endeavoring to obtain the design and construction work contracts of
the project.
Sales
and Marketing
Sales
Sales
managers lead our sales and marketing efforts through our domestic headquarters
in Zhuhai, China, and our main regional sales offices in Beijing, Shanghai,
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Wuhan. We deal with overseas operational issues through
our subsidiaries in Hong Kong and USA, and establish local project departments
only when the project possesses substantial feasibility. We employ full-time
project estimators and chief estimators. Our sales representatives attempt to
maintain relationships with governments, developers, general contractors,
architects, engineers, and other potential sources of business to determine
potential new projects under consideration. Our sales efforts are further
supported by our executive officers and engineering personnel, who have
substantial experience in the design, engineering, fabrication, and installation
of high-end specialty curtain walls.
We
primarily compete for new project opportunities through our relationships and
interaction with our active and prospective customer base, which we believe
provides us with valuable current market information and sales opportunities. In
addition, we are often contacted by governmental agencies in connection with
public construction projects, and by large private-sector project owners and
general contractors and engineering firms in connection with new building
projects both in China and other countries, often at the recommendation of
architects and engineers we have worked with in the past.
Upon
selection of projects to bid or price, our estimating division reviews and
prepares projected costs of shop, field, detail drawing preparation, raw
materials, and other costs. On bid projects, a formal bid is prepared detailing
the specific services and materials we plans to provide, payment terms and
project completion timelines. Upon acceptance, our bid proposal is finalized in
a definitive contract. We experience an average accounts settlement period
ranging from three months to as high as one year from the time we provide
services to the time we receive payment from our customers. In contrast, we
typically need to place certain deposit with our suppliers on a portion of the
purchase price in advance and for some suppliers we must maintain a deposit for
future orders. We are typically paid by the contractor the entire amount due to
us for our services and products once the entire project is completed, which
could be significantly after we complete the curtain wall portion of the
project. China’s policy requires the contractor to pay 85% of our total contract
value to us before the project is completed, and the remainder may be paid when
the contractor completes the entire project. In addition, current national
policy in China dictates that for government projects sub-contractors will be
paid directly from the government budget offices, not through general
contractors and/or developers. Because our payment cycle is considerably shorter
than our receivable cycle, we may experience working capital shortages. We have
used bank loans, cash provided by operations and other financings to fund our
operations.
5
Marketing
Management
believes that we have developed a reputation for innovative technology and
quality in the specialty high-end curtain wall industry. Marketing efforts are
geared towards advancing us as a brand of choice for building the world’s most
modern and challenging projects. Our marketing plan has historically focused on
print advertising, participation in tradeshows, exhibitions, lecture and
technology briefings to architects and property owners. To better showcase our
diverse products to potential customers, we regularly exhibit at leading trade
shows and exhibitions. Our dynamic, state-of-the-art trade show exhibits are
developed internally to showcase our latest product offerings.
Production
Supplier
Selection
We
procure high quality glass panes, metal support beams, and other curtain wall
components from a number of regional and international suppliers, depending on
the requirements of the contract. Once the suppliers are chosen, our engineers
work with them to configure their production processes to manufacture anything
from a standard glass pane to a patented fixing bolt or connector. All
manufacturing is monitored and approved by our quality control and engineering
departments.
Component
Processing and Delivery
Once the
curtain wall components are produced, they are either shipped directly to the
site or sent to one of our facilities for further processing. Such processing
typically involves drilling holes in glass panes, affixing metal frame pieces to
glass panes, and cutting steel rods and bending them into customized shapes. The
project manager and project engineer jointly approve all factory
purchases.
Quality
Control
Our
manufacturing production facilities are designed and maintained with a view
towards conforming to good practice standards. To comply with the strict
requirements of our customer base, we have implemented a quality assurance plan
setting forth our quality assurance procedures. Our quality control department
is responsible for maintaining quality standards throughout the production
process. Quality control executes the following functions:
|
·
|
setting internal controls and
regulations for semi-finished and finished
products;
|
|
·
|
implementing sampling systems and
sample files;
|
|
·
|
maintaining quality of equipment
and instruments;
|
|
·
|
auditing production records to
ensure delivery of quality
products;
|
|
·
|
articulating the responsibilities
of quality control staff;
and
|
|
·
|
on-site evaluation of supplier
quality control systems.
|
We have
received the following certifications in recognition of our production and
quality assurance program:
|
·
|
ISO 9001 - International Quality
System Certification, valid from April 9, 2008 to April 8,
2011;
|
|
·
|
ISO 14001 - International
Environmental System Certification, valid from April 9, 2008 to April 8,
2011; and
|
|
·
|
ISO 18001 - International Safety
System Certification, valid from April 16, 2008 to April 15,
2011.
|
Research
and Development
Companies
such as us are under pressure from customers to respond more quickly with new
designs and product innovations to support rapidly changing consumer tastes and
regulatory requirements. We believe that the engineering and technical expertise
of our management and key personnel, together with our emphasis on continuing
research and development in support of our high-end curtain wall technologies,
allows us to efficiently and timely identify and bring new, innovative products
to market for our customers using the latest technologies, materials and
processes. We believe that continued research and development activities are
critical to maintaining our offering of technologically-advanced products to
serve a broader array of our customers.
For
example, in an effort to add value and create new markets, we are working to
develop high performance systems that reduce the need for air conditioning in
the summer and heat in the winter. Our products under development are designed
to both reduce the direct light and heat coming into the building and, through
the use of photovoltaic cells, to harness the energy collected from the sun and
further reduce external energy costs by generating power for use in other areas
of the building. Other features are designed to add a level of programmed
intelligence, automatically adjusting louvers/blinds and other façade controls
to achieve predetermined levels for user comfort. These efforts are made to meet
the demand for self-sustaining buildings and clean, renewable power in response
to climbing energy prices and declining energy reserves.
6
Our
research and development strategy relies primarily on internal innovation and
development, supplemented with collaboration with academic and research
institutions. For example, in 2001, we were appointed by the Chinese Ministry of
Construction to lead the committee tasked with establishing national standards
for the fixing bolt glass curtain wall technology industry. Luo Ken Yi, our
Chief Executive Officer was the Editor-in-Chief for the new standard code. Also,
in recognition of our contributions to the curtain wall industry, Luo Ken Yi and
two other of our engineers were appointed to senior posts at the Architectural
Glass and Metal Structure Institute of Qinghua University in Beijing, one of the
most prestigious research institutions in China, which we helped to create in
1999. We were able to incorporate many of the academic research results by the
Institute into our projects, including the National Grand Theater in Beijing and
the Hangzhou Grand Theater, both completed in 2007.
As of
December 31, 2009, we employed 108 designers and engineers. We currently
own 79 patents, of which 51 are approved, and 28 pending approval. Of the 51
approved, 48 are in China and 3 are in other countries.
We
expended $2,926, $711,318 and $111,129 on research and development activities
for each of the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
These amounts exclude design and construction of customized molds used to
manufacture the pieces used for a particular project, as well as sample and
testing costs.
Backlog
As of
December 31, 2009, our total backlog of orders considered to be firm was
approximately $39 million, compared with $176 and $106 million at December 31,
2008 and 2007, respectively. Of our 2009 amounts, 92 % of the backlog, or $36
million, is expected to generate revenues in fiscal 2010, compared to 66% of our
2008 backlog ($117 million) realized in fiscal 2009; 80% of our 2007 backlog
($85 million) realized in fiscal 2008 and 100% of our 2006 backlog ($10 million)
realized in fiscal 2007. The decrease in backlog is primarily due to the absence
of new international projects taken by the company. Our backlog as at December
31, 2009 consisted entirely of projects within our home market of
China.
We define
backlog as the total anticipated revenue from projects already begun and
upcoming projects for which contracts have been signed or awarded and pending
signing. We view backlog as an important statistic in evaluating the level
of sales activity and short-term sales trends in our business. However, as
backlog is only one indicator, and is not an effective indicator of the ultimate
profitability of our sales, we do not believe that backlog should be used as the
sole indicator of our future earnings. There can be no assurance that the
backlog at any point in time will translate into net revenue in any subsequent
period.
Competition
The
markets that we serve are highly competitive, price and lead-time sensitive and
are impacted by changes in the commercial construction industry, including
unforeseen delays in project timing and workflow. In addition, competition in
the markets of the building industry is intense. It is based primarily
on:
|
·
|
quality;
|
|
·
|
service;
|
|
·
|
delivery;
|
|
·
|
ability to provide added value in
the design and engineering of
buildings;
|
|
·
|
price;
|
|
·
|
speed of construction in
buildings and components;
and
|
|
·
|
personal relationships with
customers.
|
We
compete with several large integrated glass manufacturers, numerous specialty,
architectural glass and window fabricators, and major contractors and
subcontractors. We also compete with a number of other manufacturers of
engineered building systems ranging from small local firms to large national
firms. Many of our competitors have greater financial or other resources than we
do. In addition, we and other manufacturers of engineered high-end curtain walls
compete with alternative methods of building construction. If these alternative
building methods compete successfully against us, such competition could
adversely affect us.
7
Government
Regulation
Construction
industry
China’s
construction industry is heavily regulated by the national government. On
November 1, 1997, the National Government of the PRC published the Construction
Law of the PRC, Presidential Order No. 91, which is the basic construction law
of China. This law outlines the basic requirements and rules for all
construction activity in China. Underneath the National Government, the Ministry
of Construction also writes laws. On March 14, 2001, the Ministry of
Construction published Rule No. 87, which puts forth licensing requirements for
all construction companies operating in China. The Ministry of Construction also
writes specific standards for all different types of construction. The three
standards from the Ministry of Construction which are most relevant to our
business are: (i) the Curtain Wall Engineering and Design Licensing Standard,
and (ii) the Light-Duty Steel Building Structure Engineering and Design
Licensing Standard, and (iii) the Automated Building Control System Standard.
These standards stipulate the basic requirements for construction companies in
China in such areas as registered capital, tangible assets, liability insurance,
employee regulations and engineering certifications. The standards also have
graded levels of qualification. We have first class certification for the
Curtain Wall Standard and Second Class Certification for the Light Steel
Structure Standard. In addition, provincial and municipal governments may also
enact regulations through their own construction bureaus.
Business
license
Any
company that conducts business in the PRC must have a business license that
covers a particular type of work. Our business license covers our present
business, which is to design, fabricate and install curtain wall systems
(including glass, stone and metal curtain walls), roofing systems, steel
construction systems, eco-energy saving building conservation systems and
provision of related products, for public works and commercial real estate
projects. Prior to expanding our business beyond that of our business
license, we are required to apply and receive approval from the PRC
government.
Employment
laws
We are
required to contribute a portion of our employees’ total salaries to the Chinese
government’s social insurance funds, including medical insurance, unemployment
insurance and job injuries insurance, and a housing assistance fund, in
accordance with relevant regulations. We are required to contribute to
government social security, medical insurance, unemployment insurance,
disability insurance and so on for our employees based in Hong Kong, Australia
and the United States. Changes in Chinese labor laws that became effective
January 1, 2008 that results in an increase of labor costs and impose
restrictions on our relationship with our employees. There can be no assurance
that the labor laws will not change further or that their interpretation and
implementation will vary, which may have a negative effect upon our business and
results of operations.
Patent
protection in China
The PRC’s
intellectual property protection regime is consistent with those of other modern
industrialized countries. The PRC has domestic laws for the protection of rights
in copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade secrets.
The PRC
is also a signatory to most of the world’s major intellectual property
conventions, including:
|
·
|
Convention establishing the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO Convention) (June 4,
1980);
|
|
·
|
Paris Convention for the
Protection of Industrial Property (March 19,
1985);
|
|
·
|
Patent Cooperation Treaty
(January 1, 1994); and
|
|
·
|
The Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) (November 11,
2001).
|
Patents
in the PRC are governed by the China Patent Law and its Implementing
Regulations, each of which went into effect in 1985. Amended versions of the
China Patent Law and its Implementing Regulations came into effect in 2001 and
2003, respectively.
The PRC
is signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property,
in accordance with which any person who has duly filed an application for a
patent in one signatory country shall enjoy, for the purposes of filing in the
other countries, a right of priority during the period fixed in the
convention.
The
Patent Law covers three kinds of patents—patents for inventions, utility models
and designs. The Chinese patent system adopts the principle of first to file;
therefore, where more than one person files a patent application for the same
invention, a patent can only be granted to the person who first filed the
application. Consistent with international practice, the PRC only allows the
patenting of inventions or utility models that possess the characteristics of
novelty, inventiveness and practical applicability. For a design to be
patentable, it cannot be identical with or similar to any design which, before
the date of filing, has been publicly disclosed in publications in the country
or abroad or has been publicly used in the country, and should not be in
conflict with any prior right of another.
8
PRC law
provides that anyone wishing to exploit the patent of another must conclude a
written licensing contract with the patent holder and pay the patent holder a
fee. One broad exception to this rule, however, is that, where a party possesses
the means to exploit a patent but cannot obtain a license from the patent holder
on reasonable terms and in reasonable period of time, the PRC State Intellectual
Property Office, or SIPO, is authorized to grant a compulsory license. A
compulsory license can also be granted where a national emergency or any
extraordinary state of affairs occurs or where the public interest so requires.
SIPO, however, has not granted any compulsory license to date. The patent holder
may appeal such decision within three months from receiving notification by
filing a suit in a people’s court.
PRC law
defines patent infringement as the exploitation of a patent without the
authorization of the patent holder. Patent holders who believe their patent is
being infringed may file a civil suit or file a complaint with a PRC local
Intellectual Property Administrative Authority, which may order the infringer to
stop the infringing acts. Preliminary injunction may be issued by the People’s
Court upon the patentee’s or the interested parties’ request before instituting
any legal proceedings or during the proceedings. Damages in the case of patent
infringement is calculated as either the loss suffered by the patent holder
arising from the infringement or the benefit gained by the infringer from the
infringement. If it is difficult to ascertain damages in this manner, damages
may be reasonably determined in an amount ranging from one to more times of the
license fee under a contractual license. The infringing party may be also fined
by Administration of Patent Management in an amount of up to three times the
unlawful income earned by such infringing party.
Foreign
currency exchange
Under the
PRC foreign currency exchange regulations applicable to us, the Renminbi is
convertible for current account items, including the distribution of dividends,
interest payments, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions.
Conversion of Renminbi for capital account items, such as direct investment,
loan, security investment and repatriation of investment, however, is still
subject to the approval of the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or
SAFE. Foreign-invested enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign
currencies at those banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business after
providing valid commercial documents and, in the case of capital account item
transactions, obtaining approval from the SAFE. Capital investments by
foreign-invested enterprises outside of China are also subject to limitations,
which include approvals by the Ministry of Commerce, the SAFE and the State
Reform and Development Commission. We currently do not hedge our exposure
to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Dividend
distributions
Under
applicable PRC regulations, foreign-invested enterprises in China may pay
dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in
accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a
foreign-invested enterprise in China are required to set aside at least 10.0% of
their after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to its
general reserves until the accumulative amount of such reserves reach 50.0% of
its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.
The board of directors of a foreign-invested enterprise has the discretion to
allocate a portion of its after-tax profits to staff welfare and bonus funds,
which may not be distributed to equity owners except in the event of
liquidation
Employees
As of
December 31, 2009, we had 298 full-time employees. We now have a small
number of employees in Doha (Qatar), Dubai (the United Arab Emirates), the
United States and Australia. Approximately 36% of our employees are
designers and engineers, 10% are project managers/supervisors and the remaining
employees are supply chain and administrative staff. We believe that our
relationship with our employees is good.
Available
Information
The
Company maintains a website at www.caebuilding.com. This corporate website
provides free access to the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and, if applicable, amendments
to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as
reasonably practicable after electronic filing such material with, or furnishing
it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
Any
investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Investors should
carefully consider the risks described below and all of the information
contained in this report before deciding whether to purchase our securities. Our
business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially
adversely affected by these risks if any of them actually occur. The trading
price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and an
investor may lose all or part of his investment. Some of these factors have
affected our financial condition and operating results in the past or are
currently affecting our company. This report also contains forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a
result of certain factors, including the risks we face as described below and
elsewhere in this report. With respect to this discussion, the terms, “we,”
“us,” or “our” refer to China Architectural Engineering, Inc., and all of our
subsidiaries.
9
RISKS
RELATED TO OUR OPERATIONS
If
we are unable to accurately estimate and control our contract costs and
timelines, then we may incur losses on our contracts, which may result in
decreases in our operating margins and in a significant reduction or elimination
of our profits.
If we do
not control our contract costs, we may be unable to maintain positive operating
margins or experience operating losses. Approximately 95% of our sales are from
fixed-price contracts. The remaining 5% of our sales are from cost-plus-fee
contracts. Under fixed-price contracts, we receive a fixed price. Consequently,
we realize a profit on fixed-price contracts only if we control our costs and
prevent cost over-runs on the contracts. Approximately 70% of contracts are
modified after they begin, usually to accommodate requests from clients to
increase project size and scope. In cases where fixed-price contracts are
modified, the fixed price is renegotiated and adjusted upwards accordingly.
Under cost-plus-fee contracts, which may be subject to contract ceiling amounts,
we are reimbursed for allowable costs and fees, which may be fixed or
performance-based. If our costs exceed the contract ceiling or are not allowable
under the provisions of the contract or any applicable regulations, we may not
be reimbursed for all our costs. Under each type of contract, if we are unable
to estimate and control costs and/or project timelines, we may incur losses on
our contracts, which may result in decreases in our operating margins and in a
significant reduction or elimination of our profits.
Due
to global recession, its negative effect on the construction industry, and other
reasons, we do not intend to engage in any international projects in 2010, which
accounted for a majority of our revenues in 2009. We have shifted our
focus to projects located in mainland China and our contract revenues and net
income will be materially reduced if we are not able to secure sufficient
projects in China.
For
fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, revenue from sales of our products and services
internationally (for our purposes, outside of China) represented approximately
57%, 44.6% and 4.9%, respectively, of our total revenue. As a result of
our recent restructure and reorganization to turn back to local instead of
oversea market due to the recent change in international economic environments,
our Shenzhen office was down sized and moved out from the leasehold multi-floor
office building to a smaller leased place at minimal operations in September
2009. The set up of the Shenzhen office was originally for the support of the
overseas operations which we have decided to discontinue. As a result, the
current improvement works to the leasehold multi-floor office building were
stopped and was written off in the third quarter of 2009, a loss of $1.9
million. In addition, a substantial percentage of our revenue has been
derived from international projects in the past few years, and with the loss of
such sources of revenue going forward, our results of operations will suffer if
we are unable to secure a sufficient amount of projects in mainland China to
offset the void in revenue that we have received from international projects in
the past, which could negatively affect our stock price.
We
depend on a small number of customers for the vast majority of our sales. A
reduction in business from any of these customers could cause a significant
decline in our sales and profitability.
The vast
majority of our sales are generated from a small number of customers. For the
year ended December 31, 2009, we had three customers that each accounted for at
least 7.0% of the revenues that we generated, with one customer accounting for
43.2% of our revenue. These three customers accounted for a total of
approximately 59.4% of our revenue for that period. We expect that we will
continue to depend upon a small number of customers for a significant majority
of our sales for the foreseeable future. A reduction in business from any
of these customers could cause a significant decline in our sales and
profitability.
A
substantial portion of our assets has been comprised of construction contract
receivables representing amounts owed by a small number of customers. If any of
these customers fails to timely pay us amounts owed, we could suffer a
significant decline in cash flow and liquidity which, in turn, could cause us to
be unable to pay our liabilities and purchase an adequate amount of inventory to
sustain or expand our sales volume.
Our
construction contract receivables represented approximately 65.7% and 68.8% of
our total current assets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As of
December 31, 2009, our largest customer represented over 43.9% of the total
amount of our construction contract receivables. As a result of the substantial
amount and concentration of our construction contract receivables, if any of our
major customers fails to timely pay us amounts owed, we could suffer a
significant decline in cash flow and liquidity which could adversely affect our
ability to borrow funds to pay our liabilities and to purchase inventory to
sustain or expand our current sales volume.
The
growth of aging receivables and a deterioration in the collectability of these
accounts could adversely affect our results of operations.
We
provide for bad debts principally based upon the aging of accounts receivable,
in addition to collectability of specific customer accounts, our history of bad
debts, and the general condition of the industry. We recorded a general
provision for doubtful accounts amounting to approximately $5.2 million in 2008
and $1.4 million in 2009, which management believes is commensurate to cover the
associated credit risk in the portfolio of our construction contract related
receivables. As of December 31, 2009 our provision for doubtful accounts
was $6.6 million, which was 6.9% of our construction contract related
receivables of $95.8 million. We believed it was appropriate to increase the
reserve for doubtful accounts primarily due to an increase in the aging of our
accounts receivable, the growth of the outstanding balance of receivables as of
December 31, 2009, and the general decline in the domestic and global
economy. Due to the difficulty in assessing future trends, we could be
required to further increase our provisions for doubtful accounts. As our
accounts receivable age and become uncollectible our cash flow and results of
operations are negatively impacted.
10
Our
use of the “percentage-of-completion” method of accounting could result in
reduction or reversal of previously recorded revenues and profits.
A
substantial portion of our revenues and profits are measured and recognized
using the “percentage-of-completion” method of accounting, which is discussed
further in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our
“Financial Statements.” Our use of this method results in recognition of
revenues and profits ratably over the life of a contract, based generally on the
proportion of costs incurred to date to total costs expected to be incurred for
the entire project. The effect of revisions to revenues and estimated costs is
recorded when the amounts are known or can be reasonably estimated. There
are uncertainties inherent in the estimating process, and estimate revisions may
occur. Such revisions could occur in any period and their effects could be
material. As is customary in the construction industry, we intend to
conduct interim reviews on a rolling basis, and it may be determined during
these reviews that actual costs on a project or projects vary materially from
estimates, including reductions or reversals of previously recorded revenues and
profits. Our results of operations for current and past periods may be
negatively affected by revisions to estimates and reductions or reversals of
previously recorded revenues and profits, which could harm the value of our
securities.
Our
dispute with the master contractor on the Dubai Metro Rail Project may result in
costly and time-consuming litigation that could require significant time and
attention of management and a reversal of recognized revenue in accordance with
the “percentage of completion” method of accounting, either of which may have a
material adverse effect on our financial position and results of
operations.
Techwell,
our wholly owned subsidiary, was removed by the master contractor of the Dubai
Metro Rail Project, which was the primary focus of Techwell, and such master
contractor also called for and received payment of $2.1 million in performance
bonds and $7.3 million in advance payment bonds that were issued on Techwell's
behalf for the project. The calling of the advance payment bonds was based on
the master contractor's belief that it had paid in excess of the construction
work performed. We and certain of our subsidiaries are guarantor of the
bonds that were paid by the banks, and we are liable under the guarantee
agreements for such amounts paid by the banks. Although we do not believe
that the master contractor had a proper basis for calling the bonds, there can
be no assurance can be given that the dispute will be resolved in our
favor. With less than 5% of its contract remaining to be completed, we had
generated approximately $105.4 million in total revenue since construction began
in 2008 ($54.8 million in 2008 and $50.6 million in 2009), and depending on the
evolving status of the dispute, we may be required to reverse revenue that we
have recognized in previously periods under the “percentage of completion”
accounting method, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of
operations.
Our
failure to adequately recover on claims brought by us against project
contractors, such as the contractor of the Dubai Metro Rail Project, for
additional contract costs could have a negative impact on our liquidity and
profitability.
We have
brought claims against project contractors for additional costs exceeding the
contract price or for amounts not included in the original contract price.
These types of claims occur due to matters such as contractor- or owner-caused
delays or changes from the initial project scope, both of which may result in
additional cost. Often, these claims can be the subject of lengthy
arbitration or litigation proceedings, and it is difficult to accurately predict
when these claims will be fully resolved. For example, we are currently in
a dispute with the contractor of the Dubai Metro Rail Project for amounts that
we believe are owed to us but with which the project owner disagrees, including
additional contract costs. At dispute is approximately $42.1
million. When these types of events occur and unresolved claims are
pending, we have used working capital in projects to cover cost overruns pending
the resolution of the relevant claims. A failure to promptly recover on
these types of claims, if at all, could have a negative impact on our liquidity
and profitability.
In
2009, the contractor of the Dubai Metro Rail Project called bonds that were
established on our behalf, and our ability to maintain adequate bonding capacity
is necessary for us to successfully bid on and win contracts.
In line
with industry practice, we are often required to provide performance or payment
bonds to clients under contracts. These bonds indemnify the customer should we
fail to perform our obligations under the contract. If a bond is required for a
particular project and we are unable to obtain an appropriate bond, we cannot
pursue that project. In 2009, the contractor of Dubai Metro Rail Project called
for and received payment of $2.1 million in performance bonds and $7.3 million
in advance payment bonds that were issued on our behalf for the project. Such
action had a negative effect on our bonding capacity. We have experienced a
decrease in the trading price of our common stock, and as a result, the value of
the stock price has lead to insufficient collateral value of bonds and credits.
We believe that we still have bonding capacity but, as is typically the case,
the issuance of a bond is at the surety’s sole discretion. Moreover, due to
events that affect the insurance and bonding markets generally, bonding may be
more difficult to obtain in the future or may only be available at significantly
higher costs. There can be no assurance that our bonding capacity will continue
to be available to us on reasonable terms. Our inability to obtain adequate
bonding and, as a result, to bid on new contracts could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows.
11
If
we fail to timely complete, miss a required performance standard or otherwise
fail to adequately perform on a project, then we may incur a loss on that
project, which may affect our overall profitability.
We may
commit to a client that we will complete a project by a scheduled date. We may
also commit that a project, when completed, will achieve specified performance
standards. If the project is not completed by the scheduled date or subsequently
fails to meet required performance standards, we may either incur significant
additional costs or be held responsible for the costs incurred by the client to
rectify damages due to late completion or failure to achieve the required
performance standards. The uncertainty of the timing of a project can present
difficulties in planning the amount of personnel needed for the project. If the
project is delayed or canceled, we may bear the cost of an underutilized
workforce that was dedicated to fulfilling the project. In addition, performance
of projects can be affected by a number of factors beyond our control, including
unavoidable delays from weather conditions, unavailability of vendor materials,
changes in the project scope of services requested by clients or labor
disruptions. In some cases, should we fail to meet required performance
standards, we may also be subject to agreed-upon financial damages, which are
determined by the contract. To the extent that these events occur, the total
costs of the project could exceed our estimates and we could experience reduced
profits or, in some cases, incur a loss on that project, which may affect our
overall profitability.
We
have failed to make the required interest payment under our $28 million
convertible bonds. The bondholders may declare a default under the Bonds
and require us to pay the Bonds. We have entered into a waiver with the
bondholders, but if we are unable to meet the terms and condition of the waiver
agreement, which could result in bankruptcy or otherwise impair our ability to
maintain sufficient liquidity to continue our operations.
On
February 24, 2010, we and the holders of our Bonds and the 2008 Bond Warrants
entered into an Amendment and Waiver Agreement (the “Waiver”). Pursuant to
Waiver, which has a three month term, the bondholders and warrantholder agreed
to waive their right to a reduction in the conversion price of the Bonds and
exercise price of the 2008 Bond Warrants due to our proposed issuance of up to
25,000,000 shares of common stock to First Jet Investment Limited to acquire an
equity interest in ConnGame at a price per share less than the current
conversion prices of the Bonds and exercise price of the 2008 Bond
Warrants. Pursuant to the Waiver, we agreed to pay the bondholders the
interest in arrears owed on the Bonds as of March 31, 2010 in two equal payments
on March 31, 2010 and May 31, 2010 of approximately $1.26 million each and
to pay 100% of the interest payments on the Bonds that becomes due in April 2010
to be paid on April 15, 2010 of approximately $1.32 million, for aggregate
payments of approximately $3.84 million. We also agreed to repay the
principal and all accrued interest that we owe to ABN AMRO Bank (China) Co.,
Ltd., Shenzhen Branch (the “Overdraft Lender”) under an Overdraft Facility
letter in three equal separate installments. The total amount owed to the
Overdraft Lender is equal to approximately $4.91 million. The first installment
is due no later than March 31, 2010, the second installment is due on April 30,
2010 and the third installment is due on May 31, 2010.
We
further agreed that we will not repay or prepay any debt prior to its currently
scheduled due date until we make all of the payments specified in the Waiver and
the Bonds have been redeemed in full and that any new indebtedness incurred by
us for the purpose of repaying the overdraft facility shall (i) not exceed the
outstanding amount due and payable under the overdraft facility and (ii) be
subordinated to all amount owed under the Bonds.
If we
fail to make any of the payments specified in the Waiver or fail to uphold any
obligation in the Waiver, then the waiver will be null and void and the
bondholders are declare a default and call the bonds for payment. If we
are required to redeem all or a portion of the Bonds, we may be required to seek
third party financing to do so, and there can be no assurances that we will be
able to secure financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms, which would
have a material adverse effect on our results of operation, financial position,
and cash flows and liquidity, and could result in bankruptcy.
Mandatory
redemption of the Bonds could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity
and cash resources.
If we are
required to redeem all or any portion of the $8 million and $20 million
outstanding Bonds, this may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and
cash resources, and may impair our ability to continue to operate. In addition,
at any time after April 12, 2010, each holder of the 2007 Bonds can require us
to redeem the 2007 Bonds at 126.51% of the principal amount of the 2007 Bonds
and we are required to redeem any outstanding 2007 Bonds at 150.87% of its
principal amount on April 4, 2012. Also, on April 15 and October 15 of
each year on or after April 15, 2010, the holders of the 2008 Bonds may require
us to redeem the 2008 Bonds at 116.61% of their principal amount. We are
required to redeem any outstanding 2008 Bonds at 116.61% of its principal amount
on April 15, 2011. If a triggering event occurs and we are requested by
the holders to repurchase all or a portion of the 2007 or 2008 Bonds, we will be
required to pay cash to redeem all or a portion of the Bonds.
Pursuant
to the Waiver, upon our timely payment of all of the required payments under the
Waiver, the bondholders have agreed to commence negotiations in good faith with
us to waive their rights under the trust deed governing the 2007 Bonds to
require us to redeem the 2007 Bonds at 126.51% of the principal amount, plus all
accrued but unpaid interest, at any time after April 12, 2010, and their rights
under the trust deed governing the 2008 Bonds to require us to redeem the 2008
Bonds at 116.61% of the principal amount of the Bonds redeemed, plus all accrued
but unpaid interest, on any Interest Payment Date on or after April 15,
2010. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to reach an
agreement with the bondholders for their waiver of such rights. If we are
required to repurchase all or a portion of the Bonds and do not have sufficient
cash to make the repurchase, we may be required to obtain third party financing
to do so, and there can be no assurances that we will be able to secure
financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms, which could have a material
adverse effect on our financial performance, results of operations and stock
price.
12
There
are restrictive covenants in the trust deeds governing our outstanding Bonds and
the Waiver relating to our ability to incur future indebtedness.
Each of
the trust deeds governing the 2007 and 2008 Bonds does not limit our ability to
incur indebtedness, except that as long as any of such Bonds remains
outstanding, we agreed not to create any encumbrance upon our present or future
assets or revenues to secure any indebtedness or to secure any guarantee of or
indemnity in respect of any such indebtedness unless our obligations under the
Bonds are secured by the same encumbrance or have the benefit from a guarantee
or indemnity in substantially identical terms. The trust deeds do not contain
any financial or operating covenants or restrictions on the payment of
dividends, incurrence of indebtedness (other than as stated above), transactions
with affiliates, incurrence of liens, or the issuance or repurchase of
securities by us or any of our subsidiaries.
Pursuant
to the Waiver, we agreed that we will not repay or prepay any debt prior to its
currently scheduled due date until we make all of the payments required by the
Waiver and the Bonds have been redeemed in full. Additionally, we agreed
that any new indebtedness incurred by us for the purpose of repaying the amounts
owed to the Overdraft Lender under the overdraft facility letter (i) will not
exceed the amounts due under the facility and (ii) will be subordinated to all
amounts owed under the Bonds. Therefore, after we make all of the required
payments pursuant to the Waiver, we may incur additional debt, including secured
indebtedness or indebtedness by, or other obligations of, our subsidiaries to
which the Bonds would be structurally subordinate. A higher level of
indebtedness increases the risk that we may default on our indebtedness. We
cannot assure you that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flow to pay
the interest on our indebtedness or that future working capital, borrowings or
equity financing will be available to pay or refinance such
indebtedness.
We
issued convertible bonds that include features that will have the effect of
reducing our reported operating results during the term of the
bonds.
We issued
$10,000,000 Variable Rate Convertible Bonds due in 2012 in April 2007 (the “2007
Bonds”) and $20,000,000 12% Convertible Bonds due in 2011 in April 2008 (the
“2008 Bonds,” and collectively with the 2007 Bonds, the “Bonds”). At of December
31, 2009, $2 million of the 2007 Bonds have been converted. The terms of
2007 Bonds and 2008 Bonds include conversion features allowing the holders to
convert the Bonds into shares of our common stock. Certain of those conversion
features that allow for the reduction in conversion price upon the occurrence of
stated events constitute a “beneficial conversion feature” for accounting
purposes. The accounting treatment related to the beneficial conversion
and mandatory redemption features of the 2007 and 2008 Bonds and the value of
the warrants to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock expiring 2013 issued
in connection with the 2008 Bonds (the “2008 Bond Warrants”) will have an
adverse impact on our results of operations for the term of the Bonds. The
application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles required us to allocate
$2,171,429 to the beneficial conversion feature of the 2007 Bonds, and
$2,183,085 and $1,413,503 to the 2007 Bonds Warrants and 2008 Bond Warrants,
respectively, which have been reflected in our financial statements as an
interest discount. Also, we have determined that the total redemption premium
associated with the mandatory redemption feature of the 2007 and 2008 Bonds is
$4,138,418 and ($702,579), respectively. All of the aforementioned amounts
associated with the beneficial conversion and mandatory redemption feature of
the bonds and the value of the bond warrants are being amortized as additional
interest expense over the term of the bonds. This accounting will result in an
increase in interest expense in all reporting periods during the term of the
bonds, and, as a result, reduce our net income accordingly.
Because
we depend on governmental agencies for a significant portion of our revenue, our
inability to win or renew government contracts could harm our operations and
significantly reduce or eliminate our profits.
Revenues
from Chinese government contracts represented approximately 35.2% and 24.4% of
our revenues for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Our
inability to win or renew Chinese government contracts could harm our operations
and significantly reduce or eliminate our profits. Chinese government contracts
are typically awarded through a regulated procurement process. Some Chinese
government contracts are awarded to multiple competitors, causing increases in
overall competition and pricing pressure. The competition and pricing pressure,
in turn may require us to make sustained post-award efforts to reduce costs in
order to realize revenues under these contracts. If we are not successful in
reducing the amount of costs we anticipate, our profitability on these contracts
will be negatively impacted.
Adverse
capital and credit market conditions, in addition to the negative effects of our
rapid growth, may significantly affect our ability to meet liquidity needs,
access to capital and cost of capital.
The
capital and credit markets have been experiencing extreme volatility and
disruption in recent months, including, among other things, extreme volatility
in securities prices, severely diminished liquidity and credit availability,
ratings downgrades of certain investments and declining valuations of others.
Governments have taken unprecedented actions intended to address extreme market
conditions that have included severely restricted credit and declines in real
estate values. In some cases, the markets have exerted downward pressure on
availability of liquidity and credit capacity for certain issuers. While
currently these conditions have not impaired our ability to utilize our current
credit facilities and finance our operations, there can be no assurance that
there will not be a further deterioration in financial markets and confidence in
major economies such that our ability to access credit markets and finance our
operations might be impaired. Without sufficient liquidity, we may be forced to
curtail our operations. Adverse market conditions may limit our ability to
replace, in a timely manner, maturing liabilities and access the capital
necessary to operate and grow our business. As such, we may be forced to delay
raising capital or bear an unattractive cost of capital which could decrease our
profitability and significantly reduce our financial flexibility. Demand for our
services is cyclical and vulnerable to economic downturns. The
current tightening of credit in financial markets could adversely affect the
ability of our customers to obtain financing for purchases of our services and
could result in a decrease in or cancellation of orders for our services. We are
unable to predict the duration and severity of the current disruption in
financial markets and the global adverse economic conditions and the effect such
events might have on our business. Our results of operations, financial
condition, cash flows and capital position could be materially adversely
affected by disruptions in the financial markets.
13
In
addition, our ability to meet liquidity needs and access capital has been
detrimentally affected by our failure to timely control the speed and magnitude
of the company’s expansion after the listing of our common stock on a US
national exchange in 2007. In addition, the delayed payment by customers
caused insufficient cash flows, the difficulty of payments caused the delayed
payment of bond interests and bank loans, and breaching the contracts.
Rapid growth has caused the internal management and control unable to maintain
proper development during and after the expansion such that operation costs
dramatically increased. In response, we have increased our cost-cutting
efforts in the first half of 2009. Nevertheless, the large amount of
preliminary spending and substantial costs due to the downsizing have caused the
depletion of our capital to the point that it may no longer be able to continue
or support regular operations.
The
global economic conditions caused by the decline in the worldwide economy and
constraints in the credit market has caused, and may continue to cause, clients
to delay, curtail or cancel proposed and existing projects, thus decreasing the
overall demand for our services and weakening our financial
results.
Our
clients and potential clients have been impacted by the global economic
conditions caused by the decline in the overall economy and constraints in the
credit market. As a result, some clients have delayed, curtailed or
cancelled proposed and existing projects and may continue to do so, thus
decreasing the overall demand for our services and adversely impacting our
results of operations. Since 2008, we have conducted a substantial work
for the development and undertaking of the international projects, and
contributed a large amount of labor, materials and financial resources. As a
result, we rapidly obtained numerous high value and high profit projects, and
the team and management system were built up at the same time. However,
after the global financial crisis worsened, these projects failed to progress
smoothly. Some national projects were stopped and some unconstructed
projects were shut down or the progress of them were slowed down, such as Hong
Kong Polytechnic University Project, Nine Dragon Marine Park and Studios
Projects, Abu Dhabi Project and the U.S 371 Project. In addition, progress
of other projects were delayed and the receipt of payments for those projects
were slowed down, such as Guangzhou Opera House Project, Kuwait Project,
Singapore Conservatory Complex, and the At Gardens By the Bay Project. We
have taken a number of measures to prevent the deterioration of the situation,
but the results were minimal, and a significant portion of our preliminary
spending did not result in revenues for our company.
The
current economic volatility has also made it very difficult for us to predict
the short-term and long-term impacts on our business and made it more difficult
to forecast our business and financial trends. In addition, our clients
may find it more difficult to raise capital in the future due to substantial
limitations on the availability of credit and other uncertainties in the
federal, municipal and corporate credit markets. Also, our clients may
find it increasingly difficult to timely pay invoices for our services, which
would impact our future cash flows and liquidity. Any inability to timely
collect our invoices may lead to an increase in our accounts receivable and
potentially to increased write-offs of uncollectible invoices. The
economic downturn, tightened credit markets and the decline in commodity prices
have resulted in reductions in spending capital for the development of new
production facilities, adversely affecting our revenues. Also, ongoing
credit constraints in the market could limit our ability to access credit
markets in the future and, therefore, impact our liquidity.
Demand
for our services is cyclical and vulnerable to economic downturns and reductions
in government and private industry spending. If the global economy remains
weak or client spending declines further, then our revenues, profits and our
financial condition may continue to deteriorate.
In fiscal
2009, we experienced a substantial decline in our revenues compared to fiscal
2008 and a decrease in project awards. If the economy remains weak or
client spending declines further, then our revenues, backlog, net income and
overall financial condition may continue to deteriorate. In light of
current macroeconomic conditions, we are projecting declines in revenues in our
power and industrial and commercial market sectors for 2009. Demand for
our services is cyclical and vulnerable to economic downturns and reductions in
government and private industry spending, which may result in delaying,
curtailing or canceling proposed and existing projects by clients.
If
our goodwill resulting from our 2007 acquisition of Techwell becomes impaired,
then our financial condition and profits may be reduced.
A decline
in our stock price and market capitalization, such as our stock price decline in
2009, could result in an impairment of a material amount of our goodwill, which
is fully attributable to our subsidiary Techwell, which could reduce our
earnings. Goodwill may be impaired if the estimated fair value of one or
more of our reporting units’ goodwill is less than the carrying value of the
unit’s goodwill. In 2007, we acquired Techwell Engineering, and its
accordingly recorded goodwill assets in the amount of approximately $8.0
million, which represents a significant portion of our assets. We perform
an analysis on our goodwill balances to test for impairment on an annual basis
and whenever events occur that indicate an impairment could exist. There
are several instances that may cause us to further test our goodwill for
impairment between the annual testing periods including: (i) continued
deterioration of market and economic conditions that may adversely impact our
ability to meet our projected results; (ii) declines in our stock price caused
by continued volatility in the financial markets that may result in increases in
our weighted-average cost of capital or other inputs to our goodwill assessment;
(iii) the occurrence of events that may reduce the fair value of a reporting
unit below its carrying amount, such as the sale of a significant portion of one
or more of our reporting units.
14
Our
impairment review did not indicate an impairment of the goodwill, however while
this review indicated that the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value
of goodwill, it is reasonably possible that changes in the numerous variables
associated with the judgments, assumptions and estimates we made in assessing
the fair value of our goodwill, could cause the respective value of this or
other reporting units to become impaired. If our goodwill is impaired, we
would be required to record a non-cash charge that could have a material adverse
effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Our
future revenues depend on our ability to consistently bid and win new contracts
and renew existing contracts and, therefore, our failure to effectively obtain
future contracts could adversely affect our profitability.
Our
future revenues and overall results of operations require us to successfully bid
on new contracts and renew existing contracts. Contract proposals and
negotiations are complex and frequently involve a lengthy bidding and selection
process, which is affected by a number of factors, such as market conditions,
financing arrangements and required governmental approvals. If negative market
conditions arise, or if we fail to secure adequate financial arrangements or the
required governmental approval, we may not be able to pursue particular
projects, which could adversely affect our profitability.
Our
results could be adversely impacted by product quality and
performance.
We
manufacture or install products based on specific requirements of each of our
customers. We believe that future orders of our products or services will depend
on our ability to maintain the performance, reliability and quality standards
required by our customers. If our products or services have performance,
reliability or quality problems, we may experience delays in the collection of
accounts receivables, higher manufacturing or installation costs, additional
warranty and service expense, and reduced, cancelled or discontinued orders.
Additionally, performance, reliability or quality claims from our customers,
with or without merit, could result in costly and time-consuming litigation that
could require significant time and attention of management and involve
significant monetary damages.
Continued price volatility and supply
constraints in the steel and aluminum markets could prevent us from meeting
delivery schedules to our customers or reduce our profit
margins.
We buy
semi-finished products made of aluminum, steel and glass, and, to a degree, our
business is dependent on the prices and supply of steel and aluminum, which,
along with glass, are the principal raw materials used in our products. The
steel and aluminum industries are highly cyclical in nature, and steel and
aluminum prices have been volatile in recent years and may remain volatile in
the future. Our purchases of aluminum ranged from approximately $5.49 to $7.86
per pound and $3.48 to $6.65 per pound during the years ended December 31, 2009
and 2008, respectively, fluctuations of approximately 30% and 91% respectively.
The price we paid for steel also fluctuated. For the year ended December 31,
2009, prices for seamless steel tubes ranged from approximately $658 to $731 per
ton (a difference of approximately 10%), prices for angled steel ranged from
approximately $556 to $614 per ton (a difference of approximately 10%), and
prices for steel plates ranged from approximately $527 to $629 per ton (a
difference of approximately 17%).
Steel and
aluminum prices are influenced by numerous factors beyond our control, including
general economic conditions, competition, labor costs, production costs, import
duties and other trade restrictions. In the past, there have been unusually
rapid and significant increases in steel and aluminum prices and severe
shortages in the steel and aluminum industries due in part to increased demand
from China’s expanding economy and high energy prices. We do not have any
long-term contracts for the purchase of steel and aluminum and normally do not
maintain inventories of steel and aluminum in excess of our current production
requirements. We can give you no assurance that steel and aluminum will remain
available or that prices will not continue to be volatile. If the available
supply of steel and aluminum declines, we could experience price increases that
we are not able to pass on to our customers, a deterioration of service from our
suppliers or interruptions or delays that may cause us not to meet delivery
schedules to our customers. Any of these problems could adversely affect our
results of operations and financial condition.
Our
business is characterized by long periods for collection from our customers and
short periods for payment to our suppliers, the combination of which may cause
us to have liquidity problems.
We
experience an average accounts settlement period ranging from two months to as
high as one year from the time we provide services to the time we receive
payment from our customers for domestic contracts. For our overseas
projects, we typically experience an account settlement period according to the
contracts. In most international contracts, the account settlement period
is approximately two months. In contrast, we typically need to place
certain deposits with our suppliers on a portion of the purchase price in
advance and for some suppliers we must maintain a deposit for future orders. We
are typically paid by the contractor the entire amount due to us for our
services and products once the entire project is completed, which could be
significantly after we complete the curtain wall portion of the project. China’s
policy requires the contractor to pay 85% of our total contract value to us
before the project is completed, and the remainder may be paid when the
contractor completes the entire project. Because our payment cycle is
considerably shorter than our receivable cycle, we may experience working
capital shortages. Working capital management, including prompt and diligent
billing and collection, is an important factor in our results of operations and
liquidity. We cannot assure you that system problems, industry trends or other
issues will not extend our collection period, adversely impact our working
capital.
15
The
industries in which we operate are highly competitive.
The
markets we serve are very competitive, price and lead-time sensitive and are
impacted by changes in the commercial construction industry, including
unforeseen delays in project timing and work flow. In addition, competition in
the markets of the building industry and in the metal coil coating industry is
intense. It is based primarily on:
|
·
|
quality;
|
|
·
|
service;
|
|
·
|
delivery;
|
|
·
|
ability to provide added value in
the design and engineering of
buildings;
|
|
·
|
price;
|
|
·
|
speed of construction in
buildings and components;
and
|
|
·
|
personal relationships with
customers.
|
We
compete with several large integrated glass manufacturers, numerous specialty,
architectural glass and window fabricators, and major contractors and
subcontractors. We also compete with a number of other manufacturers of
engineered building systems ranging from small local firms to large national
firms. In addition, we and other manufacturers of engineered high-end curtain
walls compete with alternative methods of building construction. If these
alternative building methods compete successfully against us, such competition
could adversely affect us. Demand for our services is cyclical and vulnerable to
economic downturns. If the economy weakens, then our revenues, profits and our
financial condition may deteriorate. Many of our competitors have greater
financial or other resources than we do.
We
are currently a defendant in a lawsuit in Hong Kong regarding our acquisition of
Techwell Engineering Limited (“Techwell”) in November 2007, pursuant to which
the sellers have alleged that, inter alia , (i) we misrepresented to them
the financial status of our company and operations during the course the
negotiations of the acquisition; and (ii) we failed to perform our obligations
under a settlement agreement alleged to have been agreed to by us in January
2009. We believe this lawsuit to have limited merit and we shall
vigorously defend such lawsuit. If however we are unsuccessful in defending the
lawsuit, we may be required to pay damages and we may potentially lose our
ownership of Techwell.
Pursuant
to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 7, 2007, the previous shareholders
of Techwell, Mr. Ng, Chi Sum and Miss Yam, Mei Ling Maria agreed to sell 100% of
the shares in Techwell to us for approximately $11.7 million in cash and shares
of common stock of our company. Subsequent to the acquisition, Mr. Ng and Miss
Yam were employed by Techwell. Techwell generated revenue that accounted
for approximately 38% and 47% of our total revenue for the years ended December
31, 2008 and 2009.
On
January 14, 2009, the board of directors of Techwell passed a board resolution,
to dismiss both Mr. Ng and Miss Yam with immediate effect and remove Mr. Ng from
the board of Techwell (the “Resolution”). On January 16, 2009, Mr. Ng and
Miss Yam filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Hong Kong against us and our
subsidiary, Full Art International Limited. The lawsuit alleges that,
inter alia, (i) we
misrepresented to them the financial status of our company and operations during
the course the negotiations of the acquisition of Techwell; (ii) we failed to
perform our obligations under a settlement agreement alleged to have been agreed
to by us in January 2009; and (iii) the dismissal of Mr. Ng was unlawful and
invalid.
On
January 23, 2009 an ex-parte injunction order was granted to Mr. Ng, restraining
us from implementing the Resolution, which was eventually dismissed with
immediate effect on February 25, 2009 after a court session in the High Court of
Hong Kong. Mr. Ng was also ordered to bear the costs of the various court
proceedings in connection with the injunction order. On March 27, 2009, Mr.
Ng and Miss Yam filed a summons in the High Court of Hong Kong seeking a court
order for leave to join the Company’s principal shareholder, KGE Group Limited,
as a defendant in the lawsuit, which was granted on April 9, 2009. As a
result, KGE Group Limited became one of the defendants of the lawsuit. On May
12, 2009, the Company filed a Defense and Counterclaim at the High Court of Hong
Kong in response to a Statement of Claim served by Mr. Ng and Miss Yam on the
Company on April 7, 2009.
16
We intend
to vigorously defend this pending lawsuit; however, no assurance can be given
that the lawsuit will be resolved in our favor. Even if we successfully
defend the lawsuit, we may incur substantial costs defending or settling the
lawsuit, in addition to a possible diversion of the time and attention of our
management from our business. If we are unsuccessful in defending the
lawsuit, we may be required to pay a significant amount of damages and/or we may
potentially lose ownership of Techwell, which will have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
In the event we lose ownership of Techwell, we will lose the approximately
$17.3 million of profit contribution since the acquisition of
Techwell.
If
we acquire or invest in other businesses or other assets, we may be unable to
integrate them with our business, our financial performance may be impaired or
we may not realize the anticipated financial and strategic goals for such
transactions.
If
appropriate opportunities present themselves, we may acquire or make investments
in businesses and other assets that we believe are strategic. We may not be able
to identify, negotiate or finance any future acquisition or investment
successfully. Even if we do succeed in acquiring or investing in a business or
other asset, such acquisitions and investments involve a number of risks,
including:
|
·
|
retaining key employees and
maintaining the key business and customer relationships of the businesses
we acquire;
|
|
·
|
cultural challenges associated
with integrating employees from an acquired company or business into our
organization;
|
|
·
|
the possibility that the combined
company would not achieve the expected benefits, including any anticipated
operating and product synergies, of the acquisition as quickly as
anticipated or that the costs of, or operational difficulties arising
from, an acquisition would be greater than
anticipated;
|
|
·
|
significant acquisition-related
accounting adjustments or charges, particularly relating to an acquired
company's deferred revenue, that may cause reported revenue and profits of
the combined company to be lower than the sum of their stand-alone revenue
and profits;
|
|
·
|
the need to integrate an acquired
company's accounting, management information, human resource and other
administrative systems to permit effective management and timely
reporting, and the need to implement or remediate controls, procedures and
policies appropriate for a public company in an acquired company that,
prior to the acquisition, lacked these controls, procedures and policies;
and
|
|
·
|
litigation or other claims in
connection with, or inheritance of claims or litigation risks as a result
of, an acquisition, including claims from terminated employees, customers
or other third parties.
|
Future
acquisitions and investments could also involve the issuance of our equity and
equity-linked securities (potentially diluting our existing stockholders), the
incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities or amortization expenses, write-offs
of goodwill, intangibles, or acquired in-process technology, or other increased
cash and non-cash expenses such as stock-based compensation. Any of the
foregoing factors could harm our financial condition or prevent us from
achieving improvements in our financial condition and operating performance that
could have otherwise been achieved by us on a stand-alone basis. Our
stockholders may not have the opportunity to review, vote on or evaluate future
acquisitions or investments.
Our
business activities have required our employees to travel to and work in high
security risk countries, which could result in employee death or injury,
repatriation costs or other unforeseen costs.
As a
company that engaged in international projects, our employees have often
traveled to and worked in high security risk countries around the world that are
undergoing political, social and economic upheavals resulting in war, civil
unrest, criminal activity or acts of terrorism. Currently we have approximately
31 employees working in Doha, Qatar and 3 employees in Dubai, UAE. During the
peak construction period, we had approximately 52 installation workers in Doha
and about 400 installation workers in Dubai, which consist of about 49%
full-time company employees (engineers, project managers and supervisors) and
75% non-company contract labor. As a result, we may be subject to costs
related to employee death or injury, repatriation or other unforeseen
circumstances.
Force majeure events,
including natural disasters and terrorists’ actions have negatively impacted and
could further negatively impact the economies in which we operate, which may
affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows.
Force majeure events,
including natural disasters, such as Typhoon Pai Bi An that affected the
Southeastern China Coast in August 2006 and terrorist attacks, such as those
that occurred in New York and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, could
negatively impact the economies in which we operate.
We
typically remain obligated to perform our services after a terrorist action or
natural disaster unless the contract contains a force majeure clause that
relieves us of our contractual obligations in such an extraordinary event. If we
are not able to react quickly to force majeure, our
operations may be affected significantly, which would have a negative impact on
our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
17
We
may suffer as a result of product liability or defective products.
We may
produce products which injure or kill individuals despite proper testing.
Existing PRC, Qatar and UAE laws and regulations do not require us to maintain
third party liability insurance to cover product liability claims. In the United
States and Australia, we are required to maintain third party liability
insurance. However, if a product liability claim is brought against us, it may,
regardless of merit or eventual outcome, result in damage to our reputation,
breach of contract with our customers, decreased demand for our products, costly
litigation, product recalls, loss of revenue, and the inability to commercialize
some products.
We
incur costs to comply with environmental laws and have liabilities for
environmental cleanups.
Because
we have air emissions, discharge wastewater, and handle hazardous substances and
solid waste at our fabrication facilities, we incur costs and liabilities to
comply with environmental laws and regulations and may incur significant
additional costs as those laws and regulations change in the future or if there
is an accidental release of hazardous substances into the environment. The
operations of our fabrication facilities are subject to stringent and complex
environmental laws and regulations that regulate the cleanup of hazardous
substances that may have been released at properties currently or previously
owned or operated by us or locations to which we have sent waste for disposal.
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may trigger a variety of
administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures, including the
assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements, and
the issuance of orders enjoining future operations.
If
our partners fail to perform their contractual obligations on a project, we
could be exposed to legal liability, loss of reputation or reduced
profits.
We
sometimes enter into subcontracts, joint ventures and other contractual
arrangements with outside partners to jointly bid on and execute a particular
project. The success of these joint projects depends upon, among other things,
the satisfactory performance of the contractual obligations of our partners. If
any of our partners fails to satisfactorily perform its contractual obligations,
we may be required to make additional investments and provide additional
services to complete the project. If we are unable to adequately address our
partner’s performance issues, then our client could terminate the joint project,
exposing us to legal liability, loss of reputation or reduced
profits.
Our
failure to attract and retain key employees could impair our ability to provide
services to our clients and otherwise conduct our business
effectively.
As we
shift the focus of our business to that of a professional and technical services
company, we will become increasingly labor intensive, and, therefore, our
ability to attract, retain and expand our senior management and our professional
and technical staff is an important factor in determining our future
success. Key personnel include, but is not limited to, Luo Ken Yi, our
Chief Executive Officer, Tang Nianzhong, our Vice General Manager, and Ye Ning,
our Vice General Manager, each of whom perform vital functions in the operation
of our business. From time to time, it may be difficult to attract
and retain qualified individuals with the expertise and in the timeframe
demanded by our clients. In addition, we rely heavily upon the
expertise and leadership of our senior management. If we are unable
to retain executives and other key personnel, the roles and responsibilities of
those employees will need to be filled, which may require that we devote time
and resources in identifying, hiring and integrating new
employees. In addition, the failure to attract and retain key
individuals could impair our ability to provide services to our clients and
conduct our business effectively.
We
cannot guarantee the protection of our intellectual property rights and if
infringement or counterfeiting of our intellectual property rights occurs, our
reputation and business may be adversely affected.
Our
success depends in part on our ability to preserve our patents and trade secrets
and operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. If we
fail to maintain our patents and trade secret protections, we may not be able to
prevent third parties from using our proprietary rights. In addition, our issued
patents may not contain claims sufficiently broad to protect us against third
parties with similar technologies or products or provide us with any competitive
advantage. If a third party initiates litigation regarding our patents, and is
successful, a court could revoke our patents or limit the scope of coverage for
those patents. We also rely upon trade secrets, proprietary know-how and
continuing technological innovation to remain competitive. We attempt to protect
this information with security measures such as the use of confidentiality
agreements with our employees, consultants and corporate collaborators. It is
possible that these individuals will breach these agreements and that any
remedies for a breach will be insufficient to allow us to recover our costs.
Furthermore, our trade secrets, know-how and other technology may otherwise
become known or be independently discovered by our competitors.
Furthermore,
we have registered and applied for registration of our trademarks in the PRC,
where we have a substantial business presence, to protect the reputation of our
products. Our products are sold under these trademarks. There is no assurance
that there will not be any infringement of our brand name or other registered
trademarks or counterfeiting of our products in the future. Should any such
infringement or counterfeiting occur, our reputation and business may be
adversely affected. We may also incur significant expenses and substantial
amounts of time and effort to enforce our intellectual property rights in the
future. Such diversion of our resources may adversely affect our existing
business and future expansion plans.
18
We have
historically enjoyed preferential tax concessions in the PRC as a high-tech
enterprise. The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (the “EIT Law”) was enacted on
March 16, 2007. Under the EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008,
China adopted a uniform tax rate of 25.0% for all enterprises (including
foreign-invested enterprises) and canceled several tax incentives enjoyed by
foreign-invested enterprises. However, for foreign-invested enterprises
established before the promulgation of the EIT Law, a five-year transition
period is provided during which reduced rates will apply but gradually be phased
out. Because we are classified as high tech foreign-invested enterprise, prior
to 2008 we were subject to a 15% preferential tax rate in China. We believe that
our tax rate will gradually increase to 25% during a five-year transition period
commencing in 2008 until it reaches 25% in 2012. Further, any future increase in
the enterprise income tax rate applicable to us or other adverse tax treatments,
such as the discontinuation of preferential tax treatments for high and new
technology enterprises altogether, would have a material adverse effect on our
results of operations and financial condition.
RISKS
RELATED TO US DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA
Substantially
all of our assets are located in China and substantially all of our revenues are
derived from our operations in China, and changes in the political and economic
policies of the PRC government could have a significant impact upon the business
we may be able to conduct in the PRC and the results of operations and financial
condition.
Our
business operations may be adversely affected by the current and future
political environment in the PRC. The PRC has operated as a socialist state
since the mid-1900s and is controlled by the Communist Party of China. The
Chinese government exerts substantial influence and control over the manner in
which we must conduct our business activities. The PRC has only permitted
provincial and local economic autonomy and private economic activities since the
late-1970s. The government of the PRC 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 adversely
affected by changes in Chinese laws and regulations, including those relating to
taxation, import and export tariffs, raw materials, environmental regulations,
land use rights, property and other matters. Under current leadership, the
government of the PRC has been pursuing economic reform policies that encourage
private economic activity and greater economic decentralization. There is no
assurance, however, that the government of the PRC will continue to pursue these
policies, or that it will not significantly alter these policies from time to
time without notice.
Failure
to comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could subject us
to penalties and other adverse consequences.
We are
subject to the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which generally
prohibits United States companies from engaging in bribery or other prohibited
payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining
business. In addition, we are required to maintain records that accurately and
fairly represent our transactions and have an adequate system of internal
accounting controls. Foreign companies, including some that may compete with us,
are not subject to these prohibitions, and therefore may have a competitive
advantage over us. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs, theft and other
fraudulent practices occur from time-to-time in the PRC, particularly in our
industry since it involves obtaining project contracts from the government of
China and other countries. Our executive officers and employees have not been
subject to the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prior to 2007. We can
make no assurance that our employees or other agents will not engage in such
conduct for which we might be held responsible. If our employees or other agents
are found to have engaged in such practices, we could suffer severe penalties
and other consequences that may have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
The PRC laws and regulations
governing our current business operations are
sometimes vague and uncertain. Any changes in such PRC laws and regulations may
have a material and adverse effect on our business.
The PRC’s
legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes, in which system
decided legal cases have little value as precedents unlike the common law system
prevalent in the United States. There are substantial uncertainties regarding
the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, including but
not limited to the laws and regulations governing our business, or the
enforcement and performance of our arrangements with customers in the event of
the imposition of statutory liens, death, bankruptcy and criminal proceedings.
The Chinese government has been developing a comprehensive system of commercial
laws, and considerable progress has been made in introducing laws and
regulations dealing with economic matters such as foreign investment, corporate
organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade. However, because
these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume
of published cases and judicial interpretation and their lack of force as
precedents, interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve
significant uncertainties. New laws and regulations that affect existing and
proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We are considered
a foreign persons or foreign funded enterprise under PRC laws, and as a result,
we are required to comply with PRC laws and regulations. We cannot predict what
effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on
our businesses. If the relevant authorities find us in violation of PRC laws or
regulations, they would have broad discretion in dealing with such a violation,
including, without limitation:
19
|
·
|
levying
fines;
|
|
·
|
revoking our business and other
licenses;
|
|
·
|
requiring that we restructure our
ownership or operations; and
|
|
·
|
requiring that we discontinue any
portion or all of our
business.
|
Inflation
in the PRC could negatively affect our profitability and growth.
While the
PRC economy has experienced rapid growth, such growth has been uneven among
various sectors of the economy and in different geographical areas of the
country. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising
inflation. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the change
in China’s Consumer Price Index increased to 8.5% in April 2008. If prices for
our products and services rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for
the rise in the costs of supplies such as raw materials, it may have an adverse
effect on our profitability.
Furthermore,
in order to control inflation in the past, the PRC government has imposed
controls on bank credits, limits on loans for fixed assets and restrictions on
state bank lending. In January 2010, the Chinese government took steps to
tighten the availability of credit including ordering banks to increase the
amount of reserves they hold and to reduce or limit their lending. The
implementation of such policies may impede economic growth. In October 2004, the
People’s Bank of China, the PRC’s central bank, raised interest rates for the
first time in nearly a decade and indicated in a statement that the measure was
prompted by inflationary concerns in the Chinese economy. In April 2006, the
People’s Bank of China raised the interest rate again. Repeated rises in
interest rates by the central bank would likely slow economic activity in China
which could, in turn, materially increase our costs and also reduce demand for
our products and services.
PRC
regulations relating to acquisitions of PRC companies by foreign entities has
created regulatory uncertainties that could restrict or limit our ability to
operate. Our failure to obtain the prior approval of the China Securities
Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, for the listing and trading of our common
stock on a national securities exchange in the United States could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results, reputation and
trading price of our common stock.
Within
the last five years, the PRC government has, on several occasions, amended its
regulations relating to overseas listings of PRC businesses. Most recently, on
August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce,
the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, CSRC and SAFE, jointly
issued the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by
Foreign Investors. This regulation became effective on September 8, 2006 and
includes provisions that purport to require offshore special purpose
vehicles:
(i)
|
controlled directly or indirectly
by PRC companies or citizens;
and
|
(ii)
|
formed for the purpose of
effecting an overseas listing of a PRC
company
|
to obtain
the approval of CSRC prior to the completion of the overseas listing. On
September 8, 2006, CSRC published procedures regarding the approval process
associated with overseas listings of special purpose vehicles. There is little
precedent as to how CSRC will interpret the new regulation and apply the related
procedures.
Our PRC
counsel, Guangdong Seagull Law Firm, has advised us that because we completed
our restructuring before September 8, 2006, the effective date of the new
regulation, it is not necessary for us to submit the application to the CSRC for
its approval, and the listing and trading of our Common Stock on a national
securities exchange does not require CSRC approval.
If the
CSRC or another PRC regulatory agency subsequently determines that CSRC approval
was required for our initial public offering that was completed on October 3,
2007, we may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from the CSRC or other
PRC regulatory agencies. These regulatory agencies may impose fines and
penalties on our operations in the PRC, limit our operating privileges in the
PRC, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from our initial public
offering or subsequent offerings into the PRC, or take other actions that could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Common
Stock.
These new
rules may significantly affect the means by which offshore-onshore
restructurings are undertaken in China in connection with offshore private
equity and venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions. It is expected
that such transactional activity in China in the near future will require
significant case-by-case guidance from Ministry of Commerce and other government
authorities as appropriate. Given the uncertainties regarding interpretation and
application of the new rules, we may need to expend significant time and
resources to maintain compliance. It is uncertain how our business operations or
future strategy will be affected by the interpretations and implementation of
these new rules. Our business operations or future strategy could be adversely
affected by these new rules. For example, we may be subject to more stringent
review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange
activities.
20
Under
the New EIT Law, we and Full Art may be classified as “resident enterprises” of
China for tax purpose, which may subject us and Full Art to PRC income tax on
taxable global income.
Under the
new PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (the “New EIT Law”) and its implementing
rules, both of which became effective on January 1, 2008, enterprises are
classified as resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises. An enterprise
established outside of China with its “de facto management bodies” located
within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” meaning that it can be
treated in a manner similar to a Chinese domestic enterprise for enterprise
income tax purposes. The implementing rules of the New EIT Law define de facto
management body as a managing body that in practice exercises “substantial and
overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel,
accounting, and properties” of the enterprise. Due to the short history of the
New EIT law and lack of applicable legal precedents, it remains unclear how the
PRC tax authorities will determine the PRC tax resident treatment of a foreign
company such as us and Full Art. Both our and Full Art’s members of management
are located in China. If the PRC tax authorities determine that we or Full Art
is a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number of
PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we may be subject to the enterprise
income tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income, including interest
income on the proceeds from this offering, as well as PRC enterprise income tax
reporting obligations. Second, the New EIT Law provides that dividend paid
between “qualified resident enterprises” is exempted from enterprise income tax.
A circular issued by the State Administration of Taxation regarding the
standards used to classify certain Chinese-invested enterprises controlled by
Chinese enterprises or Chinese group enterprises and established outside of
China as “resident enterprises” clarified that dividends and other income paid
by such “resident enterprises” will be considered to be PRC source income,
subject to PRC withholding tax, currently at a rate of 10%, when recognized by
non-PRC shareholders. It is unclear whether the dividends that we or Full Art
receives from Zhuhai King Glass Engineering Co., Limited or any of our other PRC
subsidiaries will constitute dividends between “qualified resident enterprises”
and would therefore qualify for tax exemption, because the definition of
qualified resident enterprises is unclear and the relevant PRC government
authorities have not yet issued guidance with respect to the processing of
outbound remittances to entities that are treated as resident enterprises for
PRC enterprise income tax purposes. We are actively monitoring the possibility
of “resident enterprise” treatment for the applicable tax years and are
evaluating appropriate organizational changes to avoid this treatment, to the
extent possible. As a result of the New EIT Law, our historical operating
results will not be indicative of our operating results for future periods and
the value of our common stock may be adversely affected.
Dividends
payable by us to our foreign investors and any gain on the sale of our shares
may be subject to taxes under PRC tax laws.
If
dividends payable to our shareholders are treated as income derived from sources
within China, then the dividends that shareholders receive from us, and any gain
on the sale or transfer of our shares, may be subject to taxes under PRC tax
laws.
Under the
New EIT Law and its implementing rules, PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of
10% is applicable to dividends payable by us to our investors that are
non-resident enterprises so long as such non-resident enterprise investors do
not have an establishment or place of business in China or, despite the
existence of such establishment of place of business in China, the relevant
income is not effectively connected with such establishment or place of business
in China, to the extent that such dividends have their sources within the PRC.
Similarly, any gain realized on the transfer of our shares by such investors is
also subject to a 10% PRC income tax if such gain is regarded as income derived
from sources within China and we are considered as a resident enterprise which
is domiciled in China for tax purpose. Additionally, there is a possibility that
the relevant PRC tax authorities may take the view that the purpose of us and
Full Art is holding Zhuhai King Glass Engineering Co., Limited or any of our
other PRC subsidiaries, and the capital gain derived by our overseas
shareholders or investors from the share transfer is deemed China-sourced
income, in which case such capital gain may be subject to a PRC withholding tax
at the rate of up to 10%. If we are required under the New EIT Law to withhold
PRC income tax on our dividends payable to our foreign shareholders or investors
who are non-resident enterprises, or if you are required to pay PRC income tax
on the transfer or our shares under the circumstances mentioned above, the value
of your investment in our shares may be materially and adversely
affected.
In
January, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Provisional
Measures for the Administration of Withholding of Enterprise Income Tax for
Non-resident Enterprises (“Measures”), pursuant to which, the entities which
have the direct obligation to make the following payment to a non-resident
enterprise shall be the relevant tax withholders for such non-resident
enterprise, and such payment includes: incomes from equity investment (including
dividends and other return on investment), interests, rents, royalties, and
incomes from assignment of property as well as other incomes subject to
enterprise income tax received by non-resident enterprises in China. Further,
the Measures provides that in case of equity transfer between two non-resident
enterprises which occurs outside China, the non-resident enterprise which
receives the equity transfer payment shall, by itself or engage an agent to,
file tax declaration with the PRC tax authority located at place of the PRC
company whose equity has been transferred, and the PRC company whose equity has
been transferred shall assist the tax authorities to collect taxes from the
relevant non-resident enterprise. However, it is unclear whether the Measures
refer to the equity transfer by a non-resident enterprise which is a direct or
an indirect shareholder of the said PRC company. Given these Measures, there is
a possibility that we may have an obligation to withhold income tax in respect
of the dividends paid to non-resident enterprise investors.
21
The
foreign currency exchange rate between U.S. Dollars and Renminbi could adversely
affect our financial condition.
To the
extent that we need to convert U.S. Dollars into Renminbi for our operational
needs, our financial position and the price of our common stock may be adversely
affected should the Renminbi appreciate against the U.S. Dollar at that time.
Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. Dollars for the
operational needs or paying dividends on our common stock, the dollar equivalent
of our earnings from our subsidiaries in China would be reduced should the
dollar appreciate against the Renminbi. We currently do not hedge our exposure
to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Countries,
including the United States, have argued that the Renminbi is artificially
undervalued due to China’s current monetary policies and have pressured China to
allow the Renminbi to float freely in world markets. In July 2005, the PRC
government changed its policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the
dollar. Under the new policy the Renminbi is permitted to fluctuate within a
narrow and managed band against a basket of designated foreign currencies. While
the international reaction to the Renminbi revaluation has generally been
positive, there remains significant international pressure on the PRC government
to adopt an even more flexible currency policy, which could result in further
and more significant appreciation of the Renminbi against the
dollar.
Any
recurrence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Avian Flu, or another
widespread public health problem, in the PRC could adversely affect our
operations.
A renewed
outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Avian Flu or another widespread
public health problem in China, where all of our manufacturing facilities are
located and where all of our sales occur, could have a negative effect on our
operations. Such an outbreak could have an impact on our operations as a result
of:
|
·
|
quarantines or closures of some
of our manufacturing facilities, which would severely disrupt our
operations,
|
|
·
|
the sickness or death of our key
officers and employees, and
|
|
·
|
a general slowdown in the Chinese
economy.
|
Any of
the foregoing events or other unforeseen consequences of public health problems
could adversely affect our operations.
Contract
drafting, interpretation and enforcement in China involves significant
uncertainty, which could leave us vulnerable to legal disputes and challenges
related to our contracts.
We have
entered into numerous contracts governed by PRC law, many of which are material
to our business. As compared with contracts in the United States, contracts
governed by PRC law tend to contain less detail and are not as comprehensive in
defining contracting parties’ rights and obligations. As a result, contracts in
China are more vulnerable to disputes and legal challenges. In addition,
contract interpretation and enforcement in China is not as developed as in the
United States, and the result of any contract dispute is subject to significant
uncertainties. Therefore, we cannot assure you that we will not be subject to
disputes under our material contracts, and if such disputes arise, we cannot
assure you that we will prevail.
The
scope of our business license in China is limited, and we may not expand or
continue our business without government approval and renewal,
respectively.
Any
company that conducts business in the PRC must have a business license that
covers a particular type of work. Our business license covers our present
business, which is to design, fabricate and install curtain wall systems
(including glass, stone and metal curtain walls), roofing systems, steel
construction systems, eco-energy saving building conservation systems and
provision of related products, for public works and commercial real estate
projects. Any amendment to the scope of our business requires further
application and government approval. In order for us to expand our business
beyond the scope of our license, we will be required to enter into a negotiation
with the PRC authorities for the approval to expand the scope of our business.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the necessary government
approval for any change or expansion of its business.
If
we fail to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, the
price of our common stock may be adversely affected.
PRC
companies have not historically been required to adopt a Western style of
management and financial reporting concepts and practices, which includes strong
corporate governance, internal controls and, computer, financial 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. 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. 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 actual or perceived weaknesses and conditions that need to be
addressed in our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure of
management’s assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting or
disclosure of our public accounting firm’s attestation to or report on
management’s assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting may
have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.
22
You
may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing
foreign judgments or bringing original actions in China based upon U.S. laws,
including the federal securities laws or other foreign laws against us or our
management.
Most of
our current operations are conducted in China. Moreover, most of our directors
and officers are nationals and residents of China. All or substantially all of
the assets of these persons are located outside the United States and in the
PRC. As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of process within the
United States or elsewhere outside China upon these persons. In addition,
uncertainty exists as to whether the courts of China would recognize or enforce
judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our officers and/or directors
predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities law of the
United States or any state thereof, or be competent to hear original actions
brought in China against us or such persons predicated upon the securities laws
of the United States or any state thereof.
The
ability of our Chinese operating subsidiaries to pay dividends may be restricted
due to foreign exchange control regulations of China.
The
ability of our Chinese operating subsidiaries to pay dividends may be restricted
due to the foreign exchange control policies and availability of cash balance of
the Chinese operating subsidiaries. Because substantially all of our operations
are conducted in China and a majority of our revenues are generated in China,
all of our revenue being earned and currency received are denominated in
Renminbi (RMB). RMB is subject to the exchange control regulation in China, and,
as a result, we may unable to distribute any dividends outside of China due to
PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into
US Dollars.
We
will not be able to complete an acquisition of prospective acquisition targets
in the PRC unless their financial statements can be reconciled to U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles in a timely manner.
Companies
based in the PRC may not have properly kept financial books and records that may
be reconciled with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. If we attempt
to acquire a significant PRC target company and/or its assets, we would be
required to obtain or prepare financial statements of the target that are
prepared in accordance with and reconciled to U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles. Federal securities laws require that a business combination meeting
certain financial significance tests require the public acquirer to prepare and
file historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure with the SEC.
These financial statements must be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled
to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and the historical financial
statements must be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. If a proposed
acquisition target does not have financial statements that have been prepared in
accordance with, or that can be reconciled to, U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles and audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB,
we will not be able to acquire that proposed acquisition target. These financial
statement requirements may limit the pool of potential acquisition targets with
which we may acquire and hinder our ability to expand our retail operations.
Furthermore, if we consummate an acquisition and are unable to timely file
audited financial statements and/or pro forma financial information required by
the Exchange Act, such as Item 9.01 of Form 8-K, we will be ineligible to use
the SEC’s short-form registration statement on Form S-3 to raise capital, if we
are otherwise eligible to use a Form S-3. If we are ineligible to use a Form
S-3, the process of raising capital may be more expensive and time consuming and
the terms of any offering transaction may not be as favorable as they would have
been if we were eligible to use Form S-3.
RISKS
RELATED TO THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF 60% EQUITY INTEREST IN
CONNGAME
Because
our current management has no experience in the development and operation of
MMORPG, our business has a higher risk of failure.
Our
current management has no professional training or technical credentials in the
field of in the development and operation of MMORPG. As a result, they may not
be able to recognize and take advantage of potential opportunities in the sector
without the aid from the management of ConnGame. Consequently our operations,
earnings and ultimate financial success may suffer harm as a
result.
Although
we expect that the proposed acquisition will result in benefits to us, we may
not realize those benefits because of integration difficulties and other
challenges.
The
success of the proposed acquisition of ConnGame will be dependent in large part
on the success of our management in integrating the operations, technologies and
personnel of the two companies. Our failure to meet the challenges involved in
successfully completing the integration of the operations of ConnGame or to
otherwise realize any of the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, including
additional revenue opportunities, could impair our results of
operations.
23
Challenges
involved in this integration include, without limitation:
|
·
|
integrating successfully each
company's operations, technologies, products and
services;
|
|
·
|
reducing the costs associated
with operations;
|
|
·
|
coordinating the publishing,
distribution and marketing efforts to effectively promote the services and
products of our combined company;
and
|
|
·
|
combining the corporate cultures,
maintaining employee morale and retaining key
employees.
|
We may
not successfully complete the integration of our operations and ConnGame in a
timely manner and we may not realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed
acquisition of ConnGame to the extent, or in the timeframe, anticipated.
Anticipated benefits assume a successful integration and are based on
projections, which are inherently uncertain, and other assumptions. Even if
integration is successful, anticipated benefits may not be
achieved.
Our
proposed acquisition of ConnGame is subject to adverse tax consequences,
including but not limited to the uncertainty under Circular on Strengthening the
Administration of Enterprise Income Tax on Non-resident Enterprises' Share
Transfer (“Circular 698”) released in December 2009 by China's State
Administration of Taxation (SAT), effective as of January 1, 2008.
The
recent introduction of Circular 698 increases the risk of a general anti
avoidance tax challenge by the Chinese tax authority on indirect disposals of
the shares in the underlying Chinese companies with a potential consequence of
paying Chinese tax on the gain derived from such disposals. Pursuant to Circular
698, where a foreign investor indirectly transfers equity interests in a Chinese
resident enterprise by selling the shares in an offshore holding company, and
the latter is located in a country (jurisdiction) where the effective tax burden
is less than 12.5% or where the offshore income of her residents is not taxable,
the foreign investor is required to provide the tax authority in charge of that
Chinese resident enterprise with the relevant information within 30 days of the
transfers. Where a foreign investor indirectly transfers equity interests in a
Chinese resident enterprise through the abuse of form of organization and there
are no reasonable commercial purposes such that the corporate income tax
liability is avoided, the tax authority may re-assess the nature of the equity
transfer in accordance with the “substance-over-form” principle and deny the
existence of the offshore holding company that is used for tax planning
purposes.
While the
term "indirectly transfer" is not defined, we understand that the relevant PRC
tax authorities have jurisdiction regarding requests for information over a wide
range of foreign entities having no direct contact with China. The relevant
authority has not yet promulgated any formal provisions or formally declared or
stated how to calculate the effective tax in the country (jurisdiction) and to
what extent and the process of the disclosure to the tax authority in charge of
that Chinese resident enterprise. Meanwhile, there are not any formal
declarations with regard to how to decide “abuse of form of organization” and
“reasonable commercial purpose,” which can be utilized by us to balance if our
proposed acquisition will comply with the Circular 698. As a result, there is
uncertainty as to whether the payment of our common stock for may be subject to
tax liability or foreign exchange control in the PRC and there is a risk of
unforeseen tax liability, each of which may have a material adverse effect to
our financial condition and results of operations.
Through
FirstJet, Mr. Jun Tang will become our largest shareholder and the Chairman of
our Board of Directors, and the interests of First Jet and Mr. Jun Tang may
conflict with the interests of our other shareholders.
As a
result of the issuance of 25,000,000 shares to First Jet, it will become our
largest shareholder and Mr. Jun Tang will have the ability to strongly influence
the nominations of our board of directors and determine the outcome of certain
matters submitted to our stockholders, such as the approval of significant
transactions. As a result, actions that may be supported by a majority of other
stockholders may be blocked by First Jet and Mr. Jun Tang.
If
the proposed acquisition of ConnGame closes, we will issue 25,000,000 shares of
common stock and our shareholders will suffer immediate and substantial dilution
of their investment.
We intend
to issue 25,000,000 shares of common stock upon the closing of the ConnGame
acquisition in exchange for 60% of the equity ownership of ConnGame, which does
not have substantial tangible assets. As a result of the share issuance, our
shareholders will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of their investment
based on the adjusted net tangible book value of our company after the
transaction.
The
development of MMORPG products requires substantial up-front expenditures. We
may not be able to recover development costs for our future MMORPG
products.
Consumer
preferences for games are usually cyclical and difficult to predict, and even
the most successful titles remain popular for only limited periods of time,
unless refreshed with new content. We will be required to continuously develop
new products and enhancements to existing products. Because of the significant
complexity of MMORPG games, these products require a longer development time and
are more expensive to create than traditional console game products. In
addition, the long lead time involved in developing a MMORPG product and the
significant allocation of financial resources that each product requires means
it is critical that we accurately predict consumer demand for new MMORPG
products. If future MMORPG products do not achieve expected market acceptance or
generate sufficient sales upon introduction, we may not be able to recover the
development and marketing costs associated with new products, and our financial
results could suffer.
24
The
interactive entertainment industry is highly competitive and it will be
difficult to obtain market share.
We expect
to compete with other interactive entertainment gaming publishers. Those
competitors vary in size from small companies with limited resources to very
large corporations with significantly greater financial, marketing, and product
development resources than we have. Certain of these competitors may spend more
money and time on developing and testing products, undertake more extensive
marketing campaigns, and adopt more aggressive pricing policies than we do.
Competition in the interactive entertainment industry is intense and we
expect new competitors to continue to emerge.
We
may be subject to intellectual property claims.
As the
number of interactive entertainment products increases and the features and
content of these products continue to overlap, software developers increasingly
may become subject to infringement claims. Our products often utilize complex
technology that may become subject to emerging intellectual property rights of
others. It is possible that third parties still may claim infringement. From
time to time, we receive communications from third parties regarding such
claims. Existing or future infringement claims against us, whether valid or not,
may be time consuming, distracting to management and expensive to
defend.
Intellectual
property litigation or claims could force us to do one or more of the
following:
|
·
|
cease selling, incorporating,
supporting or using products or services that incorporate the challenged
intellectual property;
|
|
·
|
obtain a license from the holder
of the infringed intellectual property, which if available at all, may not
be available on commercially favorable terms;
or
|
|
·
|
redesign the affected interactive
entertainment software products or hardware peripherals, which could
result in additional costs, delay introduction and possibly reduce
commercial appeal of the affected
products.
|
Any of
these actions may harm our business and financial results.
Integrating
and maintaining internal controls for the combined business may strain our
resources and divert management's attention. If we fail to establish and
maintain proper internal controls, our ability to produce accurate financial
statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired.
ConnGame
is currently not subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules
and regulations of any stock exchange. Upon the completion of the proposed
acquisition and as a subsidiary of our company, ConnGame will be subject to such
rules and regulations. As described in Item 9A of this Form 10-K, it
was determined that we had material weaknesses in our internal control over
financial reporting. Integrating and maintaining appropriate internal controls
and procedures for the combined business will require specific compliance
training of certain officers and employees, will entail substantial costs in
order to modify existing accounting systems, and will take a significant period
of time to complete. We may not be able to demonstrate compliance with
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner, or that our
internal controls are perceived as inadequate, or that we are unable to produce
timely or accurate financial statements, investors may lose confidence in our
operating results and our stock price could decline.
RISKS
RELATED TO OUR SECURITIES AND RELATED REGULATIONS
Our
stock price is volatile and you might not be able to sell your securities at or
above the price you have paid.
Since our
initial public offering and listing of our common stock in October 2007, the
price at which our common stock had traded has been highly volatile, with a high
and low sales price of $0.60 and $27.25, respectively, as through March 2, 2010.
On March 2, 2010, the closing trading price of our common stock was $1.04 per
share. You might not be able to sell the shares of our common stock at or above
the price you have paid. The stock market has experienced extreme volatility
that often has been unrelated to the performance of its listed companies.
Moreover, only a limited number of our shares are traded each day, which could
increase the volatility of the price of our stock. These market fluctuations
might cause our stock price to fall regardless of our performance.
The
market price of our Common Stock might fluctuate significantly in response to
many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited
to, the following:
|
·
|
actual or anticipated
fluctuations in our annual and quarterly results of
operations;
|
25
|
·
|
variations in our operating
results, which could cause us to fail to meet analysts’ or investors’
expectations;
|
|
·
|
conditions and trends in our
industry and the economy;
|
|
·
|
future sales of equity or debt
securities, including sales which dilute existing
investors.
|
If
our stock price decreases further, the Nasdaq Stock Market may delist our
securities, which could limit investors’ ability to trade in our
securities.
Nasdaq
Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Rule”) requires that our common stock maintain a
minimum bid price of $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days. As of
March 2, 2010, our stock price closed at $1.04. If we do not meet the
requirement, our securities may become subject to delisting. If our common stock
is delisted by Nasdaq, the trading market for our common stock would likely be
adversely affected, as price quotations may not be as readily obtainable, which
would likely have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common
stock.
Shares
eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market price of our common
stock, as the future sale of a substantial amount of outstanding stock in the
public marketplace could reduce the price of our common stock.
The
market price of our Common Stock could decline as a result of sales of a large
number of shares of our common stock in the market or the perception that these
sales could occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur,
also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future
at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate. As of March 2, 2010, we had
approximately 55.2 million shares of Common Stock outstanding, and approximately
25.3 million have been registered and/or are otherwise freely tradable without
further restriction under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by persons
other than our affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities
Act). In addition, we registered a total of 6.7 million shares of common stock
that are issuable upon the conversion and exercise of outstanding bonds and
warrants, based on the current conversion and exercise prices. All of the
shares included in an effective registration statement may be freely sold and
transferred.
Our
principal stockholder holds 24.2 million shares which may be sold subject to
Rule 144. Under Rule 144, an affiliate stockholder who has satisfied a the
required holding period may, under certain circumstances, sell within any
three-month period a number of securities which does not exceed the greater of
1% of the then outstanding shares of common stock or the average weekly trading
volume of the class during the four calendar weeks prior to such sale. As of
December 31, 2009, 1% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock was
approximately 552,000 shares. Non-affiliate stockholders are not subject to
volume limitations. Any substantial sale of common stock pursuant to any resale
prospectus or Rule 144 may have an adverse effect on the market price of our
Common Stock by creating an excessive supply.
Our
principal stockholder has significant influence over us.
As of
March 2, 2010, our largest shareholder, KGE Group Limited, or KGE Group,
beneficially owns or controls approximately 43.7% of our outstanding shares. Luo
Ken Yi, who is our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, and Ye
Ning, who is our Vice General Manager, are directors of KGE Group. In addition,
Luo Ken Yi and Ye Ning own approximately 70% and 10%, respectively, of KGE
Group’s issued and outstanding shares. As a result of its holding, KGE Group has
controlling influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or
other matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including mergers,
consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election
of directors, and other significant corporate actions. KGE Group also has the
power to prevent or cause a change in control. In addition, without the consent
of KGE Group, we could be prevented from entering into transactions that could
be beneficial to us. The interests of KGE Group, and its control persons, may
differ from the interests of our stockholders.
Upon
completion of the proposed acquisition of ConnGame and the issuance of
25,000,000 shares to First Jet, it will become our largest stockholder and Mr.
Jun Tang, who is First Jet’s sole shareholder and will be our Chairman of the
Board upon the completion of the acquisition, will have the ability to strongly
influence the nominations of our board of directors and determine the outcome of
certain matters submitted to our stockholders, such as the approval of
significant transactions. The interests of First Jet, and its control persons,
may differ from the interests of our stockholders.
Our
officers and directors have limited experience in public company reporting and
financial accounting, which could impair our ability to satisfy public company
filing requirements and increase our securities compliance costs.
Our
officers and directors have limited experience as officers and directors of a
publicly traded company, or in complying with the regulatory requirements
applicable to a public company. As a result, we could have difficulty satisfying
the regulatory requirements applicable to public companies, which could
adversely affect the market for our common stock. At present, we rely upon
outside experts to advise us on matters relating to financial accounting and
public company reporting. While we believe that it will be possible to satisfy
our public company reporting requirements through the use of third party
experts, our general and administrative costs will remain higher to the extent
our officers alone are not able to satisfy our public company reporting
requirements.
26
If
we fail to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002, our
business could be harmed and our stock price could decline.
Rules
adopted by the SEC pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
require annual assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, and
attestation of this assessment by our company’s independent registered public
accountants. Last year’s annual report on Form 10-K for 2008 contained our first
attestation requirement of management’s assessment by our independent registered
public accountants. The standards that must be met for management to assess the
internal control over financial reporting as effective are new and complex, and
require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation to meet the
detailed standards. We may encounter problems or delays in completing activities
necessary to make an assessment of our internal control over financial
reporting. Although we were not required to comply with the auditor attestation
requirement this year because we became a non-accelerated filer, we will have to
comply with this requirement against next year for our 2010 annual report. The
attestation process by our independent registered public accountants is a
relatively new process and we may encounter problems or delays in completing the
implementation of any requested improvements and receiving an attestation of our
assessment by our independent registered public accountants. If we cannot assess
our internal control over financial reporting as effective, or our independent
registered public accountants, when required, are unable to provide an
unqualified attestation report on such assessment, investor confidence and share
value may be negatively impacted.
As more
fully discussed in Item 9A of this Form 10-K, management’s assessment of our
internal control over financial reporting identified numerous material
weaknesses that rendered our internal control over financial reporting to be
ineffective as of December 31, 2009. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a
combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such
that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the
company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or
detected on a timely basis. Our material weaknesses include, but are not limited
to, a lack of technical expertise and processes to ensure compliance with our
policies in a major operating subsidiary, insufficient complement of personnel
with an appropriate knowledge and skill to comply with our specific engineering
financial accounting and reporting requirements and low materiality thresholds,
and noncompliance with our authorization policy. While we have implemented steps
to remediate the identified deficiencies, as disclosed in Item 9A of this Form
10-K, there can be no guarantee that we will be successful in our attempts to
correct our significant deficiencies. Our identified material weaknesses may
raise concerns for investors and may have an adverse impact on the price of our
common stock.
We
do not foresee paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
We do not
plan to declare or pay any cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the
foreseeable future and we currently intend to retain any future earnings for
funding growth. As a result, you should not rely on an investment in our
securities if you require dividend income. Capital appreciation, if any, of our
shares may be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future. Moreover, you
may not be able to sell your shares in our company at or above the price you
paid for them.
ITEM
1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not
applicable.
ITEM
2. PROPERTIES
We have
offices and processing sites in Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing,
Wuhan in China, a corporate office in Hong Kong, one in New York, U.S.A.. All
buildings and land are leased. The leases end within 2010 and are under
negotiation for renewal. The central office is in Zhuhai, where the majority of
design and engineering staff are located. The Beijing and Shanghai offices have
smaller design teams as well. All offices are also sales centers for the
area.
Hong
Kong
|
||
63rd
Floor, Bank of China Tower, 1 Garden Road
|
577.7
square meters (office)
|
|
Central,
Hong Kong
|
||
Zhuhai
|
||
105
Baishi Road, Jiuzhou West Avenue, Zhuhai, Guangdong
|
1,080
square meters (office)
|
|
1,700
square meters (factory)
|
||
Beijing
|
||
1302,
No.1 Baiyun Road, XiCheng District, Beijing
|
146
square meters (office)
|
|
Shanghai
|
||
Room
102, Building A Lane 521 (Hengchang Garden), Wanping South Road Xuhui
District, Shanghai
|
120
square meters (office)
|
27
Shunde
|
||
No.5
Technology area, Xingtan town, Shunde district, Fo Shan
City
|
5,600
square meters (office & factory)
|
|
Shenzhen
|
||
West
Building 1302, Innovation and Technology Square II, Tain’an Cyber Park,
Futian District, Shenzhen
|
390
square meters (office)
|
|
28G,
Yayunxuan, Shi Xia Bei San Jie, Futian District, Shenzhen
|
260
square meters (office)
|
|
Wuhan
|
||
Floor
38, No. 568 Jianshe road, Wu Han International Trade Center, Jianghan
district, WuHan city
|
200
square meters (office)
|
|
Guangzhou
|
||
Room
702, Hui Xiang Ge, Xianglong Garden, No.175 Tianhe North Road, Tianhe
District, Guangzhou City
|
137
square meters (office)
|
|
New
York City, U.S.A
110
Wall St, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA
|
312
square meters (office)
|
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Techwell
Litigation
Pursuant
to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 7, 2007, the previous shareholders
of Techwell Engineering Limited (“Techwell”), Mr. Ng, Chi Sum and Miss Yam, Mei
Ling Maria, agreed to sell 100% of the shares in Techwell to the Company for
approximately $11.7 million in cash and shares of common stock of the Company.
Subsequent to the acquisition, Mr. Ng and Miss Yam were employed by
Techwell.
On
January 14, 2009, the board of directors of Techwell passed a board resolution,
to dismiss both Mr. Ng and Miss Yam with immediate effect and remove Mr. Ng from
the board of Techwell (the “Resolution”). On January 16, 2009, Mr. Ng and
Miss Yam filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Hong Kong against the Company and
its subsidiary, Full Art International Limited. The lawsuit alleges that, inter alia, (i) the Company
misrepresented to them the financial status of the Company and its operations
during the course the negotiations of the Techwell acquisition; (ii) the Company
failed to perform its obligations under a settlement agreement alleged to have
been agreed to by the Company in January 2009; and (iii) the dismissal of
Mr. Ng was unlawful and invalid. The lawsuit filed by Mr. Ng and Miss Yam
requests the court for specific performance of the settlement agreement that was
allegedly entered into, which would require the return of the Techwell company
to Mr. Ng and Miss Yam, and in the absence of such grant of relief, Mr. Ng and
Miss Yam request unspecified damages in lieu of return of the Techwell
company.
On
January 23, 2009 an ex-parte injunction order was granted to Mr. Ng, restraining
the Company from implementing the Resolution, which was eventually dismissed
with immediate effect on February 25, 2009 after a court session in the High
Court of Hong Kong. Mr. Ng was also ordered to bear the costs of the various
court proceedings in connection with the injunction order. On March 27, 2009,
Mr. Ng and Miss Yam filed a summons in the High Court of Hong Kong seeking a
court order for leave to join the Company’s principal shareholder, KGE Group
Limited, as a defendant in the lawsuit, which was granted on April 9, 2009. As a
result, KGE Group Limited became one of the defendants of the lawsuit. On May
12, 2009, the Company filed a Defense and Counterclaim at the High Court of Hong
Kong in response to a Statement of Claim served by Mr. Ng and Miss Yam on the
Company on April 7, 2009.
As of the
date of this report, the Company, Mr. Ng, and Miss Yam are in discussions and
negotiations to settle all disputes between the parties. However, there is no
guarantee that the parties will reach an agreement to settle the dispute, in
which case the Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit.
There can be no assurance that the lawsuit will be resolved in the Company’s
favor. Even if the Company successfully defends the lawsuit, the Company may
incur substantial costs defending or settling the lawsuit, in addition to a
possible diversion of the time and attention of the Company’s management away
from its business. If the Company is unsuccessful in defending the lawsuit, its
may be required to pay a significant amount of damages and/or it may potentially
lose ownership of Techwell, which will have a material adverse effect on the
Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations. In the event
we lose ownership of Techwell, we will lose the approximately $17.3 million of
profit contribution since the acquisition of Techwell.
28
Dubai
Metro Rail Project Dispute
On
September 9, 2009, the Red Line, or first phase, of the Dubai Metro was
officially opened. The Company, through its subsidiary Techwell, had been
working towards completion of its external envelopes for stations along the Red
Line of the Dubai Metro System. According to the Company’s original construction
blueprint, the majority of its construction work was completed at the end of
June 2009, and final construction milestones were scheduled for completion in
the third quarter of 2009. With less than 5% of its contract remaining to be
completed, Techwell was removed by the master contractor of the project, which
also called for and received payment of $2.1 million in performance bonds and
$7.3 million in advance payment bonds that were issued on Techwell's behalf for
the project. The calling of the advance payment bonds was based on the master
contractor's belief that it had paid in excess of the construction work
performed. The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are guarantors of
the bonds that were paid by the banks, and the Company is liable under the
guarantee agreements for such amounts paid by the banks. The Company does not
believe that the master contractor had a proper basis for calling the bonds
and intends to vigorously pursue and defend all of its legal rights and remedies
related to the dispute. The Company has engaged a construction claims consultant
to facilitate resolution of the dispute. The Company and its construction claims
consultant, based on a review of the facts, documents, and materials available,
believe that the Company has a reasonable opportunity to collect the amounts due
to Techwell from the master contractor, less appropriate credits as its final
amount due for work performed through September 2009. The Company, with the
assistance of its claims consultant, have been continuously evaluating the
dispute and probability of success on this dispute going forward and make the
appropriate adjustments; however, no assurance can be given that the
dispute will be resolved in the Company’s and Techwell’s favor.
ITEM
4. (REMOVED AND RESERVED)
29
PART
II
ITEM
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
From
September 28, 2007 to June 9, 2008, our shares of common stock were listed for
trading on the NYSE Amex under the ticket symbol “RCH.” On June 10, 2008, our
common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the
symbol "CAEI." As of March 2, 2010 we had approximately
80 stockholders of record. This number does not include an indeterminate
number of stockholders whose shares are held by brokers in street
name.
On March
2, 2010 the closing sales price for our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market was $1.04 per share.
The
following table summarizes the high and low sales prices of our common stock as
reported by the NYSE Amex (on and prior to June 9, 2008) and NASDAQ (on and
after June 10, 2008).
High
|
Low
|
|||||||
Year
ended December 31, 2009
|
||||||||
Fourth
Quarter
|
$ | 1.79 | $ | 0.92 | ||||
Third
Quarter
|
$ | 2.84 | $ | 1.46 | ||||
Second
Quarter
|
$ | 2.47 | $ | 0.89 | ||||
First
Quarter
|
$ | 2.60 | $ | 0.60 | ||||
Year
ended December 31, 2008
|
||||||||
Fourth
Quarter
|
$ | 7.48 | $ | 1.63 | ||||
Third
Quarter
|
$ | 9.97 | $ | 5.08 | ||||
Second
Quarter
|
$ | 11.82 | $ | 5.25 | ||||
First
Quarter
|
$ | 9.10 | $ | 4.75 |
The price
of our common stock will likely fluctuate in the future. The stock market in
general has experienced extreme stock price fluctuations in the past few years.
Please see “Risk Factors—Our
stock price is volatile and you might not be able to sell your securities at or
above the price you have paid.”
Performance
Stock Graph
September
28, 2007, the date of our initial listing on a national securities exchange, to
the cumulative return over such period of The Nasdaq Stock Market Composite
Index, and the Russell 2000 Index. We do not use a published industry or
line-of-business basis, and does not believe we could reasonably identify a
different peer group. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on the date on
which we completed the public offering of our common stock conducted with its
initial listing on September 28, 2007 and in each of the comparative indices on
the same date. The graph further assumes that such amount was initially invested
in the common stock of our company at the price to which such stock was first
offered to the public by our company on the date of our public offering price of
$3.50 per share that was conducted in connection with our initial listing. The
stock price performance on the following graph is not necessarily indicative of
future stock price performance.
30
COMPARISON
OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG
CHINA ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.,
THE
NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) INDEX
AND
THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX
9/28/07
|
12/31/07
|
3/31/08
|
6/30/08
|
9/30/08
|
12/31/08
|
3/31/09
|
6/30/09
|
9/30/09
|
12/31/09
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China
Architectural Engineering, Inc.
|
$ | 100 | $ | 247.14 | $ | 155.71 | $ | 279.14 | $ | 202.57 | $ | 70.29 | $ | 28.00 | $ | 55.71 | $ | 47.71 | $ | 30.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nasdaq
Stock Market (U.S.)
|
$ | 100 | $ | 98.18 | $ | 84.36 | $ | 84.88 | $ | 77.43 | $ | 58.38 | $ | 56.58 | $ | 67.93 | $ | 78.56 | $ | 84.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Russell
2000 Index
|
$ | 100 | $ | 95.11 | $ | 85.41 | $ | 85.62 | $ | 84.37 | $ | 62.01 | $ | 52.49 | $ | 63.11 | $ | 75.02 | $ | 77.64 |
Dividend Policy
We do not
expect to declare or pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the
foreseeable future, and we currently intend to retain future earnings, if any,
to finance the expansion of our business. The decision whether to pay cash
dividends on our common stock will be made by our board of directors, in its
discretion, and will depend on our financial condition, operating results,
capital requirements and other factors that the board of directors considers
significant. We did not pay any cash dividends during 2009, 2008 and
2007.
The
ability of our Chinese operating subsidiaries to pay dividends may be restricted
due to the foreign exchange control policies and availability of cash balance of
the Chinese operating subsidiaries. Because substantially all of our operations
are conducted in China and a majority of our revenues are generated in China,
substantially all of our revenue being earned and currency received are
denominated in Renminbi (RMB). RMB is subject to the exchange control regulation
in China, and, as a result, we may unable to distribute any dividends outside of
China due to PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to
convert RMB into US Dollars.
Transfer
Agent
The
transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust
Company.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
Our
equity compensation plan information is provided as set forth in Part III, Item
11.
Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
31
ITEM
6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The
following selected consolidated statement of operations data for each of the
years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2009 and the consolidated
balance sheet data as of year-end for each of the years in the five-year period
ended December 31, 2009 were derived from the audited consolidated financial
statements. Such selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and the notes to the consolidated financial
statements starting on page F-1 and with “Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Income
|
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||||||||||||
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except share amounts and earnings per share)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Contract
revenues earned
|
$ | 117,191 | $ | 151,666 | $ | 86,617 | $ | 63,359 | $ | 49,515 | ||||||||||
Cost
of contract revenues earned
|
(94,722 | ) | (128,885 | ) | (64,354 | ) | (46,796 | ) | (36,368 | ) | ||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
$ | 22,469 | $ | 22,781 | $ | 22,263 | $ | 16,563 | $ | 13,146 | ||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
(21,092 | ) | (26,063 | ) | (5,525 | ) | (5,989 | ) | (6,463 | ) | ||||||||||
Non-recurring
general and administrative expenses
|
— | — | — | (3,806 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Finance
Expense
|
— | — | (208 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Income/(Loss)
from operations
|
$ | 1,377 | $ | (3,282 | ) | $ | 16,530 | $ | 6,768 | $ | 6,683 | |||||||||
Interest
income
|
58 | 1 | 108 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(6,331 | ) | (5,880 | ) | (642 | ) | — | (117 | ) | |||||||||||
Other
income
|
177 | 1,922 | 88 | 700 | 501 | |||||||||||||||
Other
expenses
|
(329 | ) | (161 | ) | (127 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||
Income/(Loss)
before taxation
|
$ | (5,048 | ) | $ | (7,400 | ) | $ | 15,957 | $ | 7,468 | $ | 7,068 | ||||||||
Income
tax
|
107 | 4 | (2,422 | ) | (1,318 | ) | (1,157 | ) | ||||||||||||
Discontinued
Operation Loss, net of tax
|
(1,901 | ) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss)
|
(6,842 | ) | (7,396 | ) | 13,535 | 6,150 | 5,910 | |||||||||||||
Net
Loss attributable to non-controlling interest
|
33 | 20 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Net
income/(loss)
|
$ | (6,809 | ) | $ | (7,376 | ) | $ | 13,535 | $ | 6,150 | $ | 5,910 | ||||||||
Basic
and diluted net income/(loss) per common share
|
(0.13 | ) | (0.14 | ) | 0.27 | 0.14 | 0.14 | |||||||||||||
Basic
and diluted dividend paid per common share
|
— | — | 0.26 | 0.04 | 0.06 | |||||||||||||||
Basic
weighted average common shares outstanding
|
53,256,874 | 52,034,921 | 50,357,454 | 44,679,990 | 43,304,125 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted
weighted average common shares outstanding
|
53,256,874 | 52,034,921 | 51,088,144 | 44,679,990 | 43,304,125 |
December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||||||||||||
(restated)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Current
Assets
|
$ | 135,667 | $ | 127,607 | $ | 84,988 | $ | 43,821 | $ | 21,712 | ||||||||||
Total
Assets
|
146,560 | 141,538 | 95,737 | 44,861 | 22,320 | |||||||||||||||
Current
Liabilities
|
77,324 | 66,770 | 39,313 | 21,784 | 14,016 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term
Debt
|
24,673 | 25,237 | 6,481 | 2,565 | - | |||||||||||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
101,997 | 92,017 | 45,794 | 24,349 | 14,016 | |||||||||||||||
Total
Stockholders' Equity
|
44,563 | 49,521 | 49,943 | 20,512 | 8,304 |
32
ITEM
7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS.
Forward-Looking
Statements
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated
financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. This
report contains forward-looking statements. The words “anticipated,” “believe,”
“expect, “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “estimate,” “project,” “could,” “may,” and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
statements include, among others, information regarding future operations,
future capital expenditures, and future net cash flow. Such statements reflect
our management’s current views with respect to future events and financial
performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation,
general economic and business conditions, changes in foreign, political, social,
and economic conditions, regulatory initiatives and compliance with governmental
regulations, the ability to achieve further market penetration and additional
customers, and various other matters, many of which are beyond our control.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying
assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially and
adversely from those anticipated, believed, estimated or otherwise indicated.
Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this report are
qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance of the
actual results or developments.
Overview
We were
incorporated in the state of Delaware on March 16, 2004. We were originally
organized as a “blank check” shell company to investigate and acquire a target
company or business seeking the perceived advantages of being a publicly held
corporation. On October 17, 2006, we closed a share exchange transaction
described below, pursuant to which we (i) became the 100% parent of Full Art
International, Ltd., a Hong Kong company (“Full Art”), which has four
subsidiaries, including the wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhuhai King Glass
Engineering Co., Ltd., a company formed under the laws of the People’s Republic
of China (“PRC” or “China”), (ii) assumed the operations of Full Art and its
subsidiaries and (iii) changed our name from SRKP 1, Inc. to China Architectural
Engineering, Inc. Full Art was incorporated in Hong Kong on July 30, 1992 under
the Companies Ordinance of Hong Kong.
Domestic
(China) and International Construction
We have
traditionally specialized in high-end curtain wall systems (including glass,
stone and metal curtain walls), roofing systems, steel construction systems,
eco-energy saving building conservation systems and related products, for public
works and commercial real estate projects. We compete on the strength of
our reputation, relationships with government and commercial clients, and our
ability to give expression to the vision of leading architects.
The
recent trends in the global economy have had a significant adverse impact on the
commercial construction industry as a whole. As a result, the competitive
environment in which we operate has become more competitive, increasing the
number of re-bid construction projects and amount of time between bidding and
award of a project, reducing selling prices, and causing competitors to modify
the scope and type of projects on which they bid. In 2008 we increased the
number of international construction projects, but in 2009 the spread of the
global recession and reduction in the nature and scope of international
construction projects has led us to primarily focus our attention on domestic
projects in China. Dubai, Doha, Kuwait and other middle east region have been
suffered a great impact markedly under the global financial crisis. Our projects
suffered a certain degree of impact as well. During 2009, we have experienced a
decrease in the project turnover and an increase in costs and delays in customer
payments. As a result, our results of operations have suffered. However, we
conducted our Dubai and Doha Projects construction under the original schedule,
and executed the design for Kuwait project. After the completion of “soft-open”
of Dubai Metro Rail Project in September 2009, the contractor called bonds and
refused to sign and pay for the project payments, which have resulted in a cash
flow difficulties for our company. As described below, we dispute the
contractor’s rights to call the bonds and seeking remedies for its actions. In
addition, after a thorough review and analysis of the feasibility and
profitability of the Singapore Project, we determined that it was in the best
interests of our company to withdraw from the project.
We do not
believe that the international economy will experience a swift recovery in the
near future and therefore its negative impact on construction industry still
exists and will exist in the near future. As a result, we suspended the orders
of the construction of international projects, and shifted the focus of our
business to design and professional consulting services. We have taken steps to
continue our development and research of new technologies and to maintain our
company’s position in the industry. To develop projects and generate
revenue, we have sought to join new projects in the position of design and
project consultant and the role of material supplier.
In the
past, the number and size of our international projects had been increasing, but
during 2009 our management has moved to refocus our resources to projects in the
mainland China. During the second quarter of 2009, we decided to terminate our
work on the project in Singapore and stop the guarantee related to the project.
Our management reviewed and created updated forecasts for the project and
concluded that there will be major differences between the design concept as
originally contemplated and the final site structures. As a result, we decided
to terminate our work on the project since we did not receive approval for our
improvement proposal, and resources related to the project were moved to
projects in China.
33
We
believe that the Chinese market has faired much better than most of the
international markets. With the strength of our reputation and history of
notable projects in China, we are focusing our resources and efforts in our
domestic market. We believe that we have long-standing relationships with
leading Chinese and international architects, having completed high profile
projects in China. During the year 2009, we commenced certain landmark projects
in China, which consisted of the Changsha Train Station, Changsha Museum,
Guangzhou Science Town, and projects in Jinan and Inner Mongolia. These projects
are expected to be completed in 2010.
Revenues
and earnings recognition on many construction contracts are measured based on
progress achieved as a percentage of the total project effort or upon the
completion of milestones or performance criteria rather than evenly or linearly
over the period of performance. Our work is performed under cost-plus-fee
contracts and fixed-price contracts. The length of our contracts varies but
typically has a duration of approximately one to two years. Approximately 95% of
our sales are from-fixed price contracts. The remaining sales are from
cost-plus-fee contracts. Under fixed-price contracts, we receive a fixed price.
Consequently, we realize a profit on fixed-price contracts only if we control
our costs and prevent cost over-runs on the contracts. Approximately 70% of
contracts are modified after they begin, usually to accommodate requests from
clients to increase project size and scope. In cases where fixed-price contracts
are modified, the fixed price is renegotiated and adjusted upwards accordingly.
Under cost-plus-fee contracts, which may be subject to contract ceiling amounts,
we are reimbursed for allowable costs and fees, which may be fixed or
performance-based. If our costs exceed the contract ceiling or are not allowable
under the provisions of the contract or any applicable regulations, we may not
be reimbursed for all our costs.
Proposed
Acquisition of 60% Equity Interest in ConnGame
In
December 2009, we and First Jet entered into a letter of intent for the
Acquisition (“Letter of Intent”) that set forth the principal terms under which
we would issue up to 25,000,000 shares of our common stock to First Jet to
acquire 60% of the equity interest of Shanghai ConnGame Network Co. Ltd., a
company formed under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“ConnGame”),
which is a developer and publisher of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role
Playing Game). In January 2010, our board of directors and stockholders approved
our acquisition of a 60% equity interest in ConnGame. We believe our acquisition
of ConnGame will enable us to strengthen our core architectural engineering and
design abilities, in addition to enabling us to enter China's large online game
market, with ConnGame’s two to-be-released MMORPG games. We believe that the
online game industry and its related business model will be a growing market in
China.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Letter of Intent, we would issue the total 25,000,000 shares
of common stock to First Jet if an independent valuation firm determined that
the value of ConnGame was equal or greater to $50 million. We received an
appraisal report dated January 17, 2010 from Shanghai Xinda Asset Appraisal Co.,
Ltd. According to the appraisal, subject to its assumptions and limitations, the
fair market value of ConnGame on January 15, 2010 was approximately $52 million
(RMB 357 million), based on a discounted cash flow model. In addition, the
proposed acquisition and the issuance of the shares will be subject to numerous
closing conditions, including the execution of a waiver of reduction to
conversion price of our outstanding Bonds or exercise price of the 2008
Warrants. As described below, we and the bondholders, in addition to other
parties, entered into a waiver agreement on February 24, 2010.
Upon the
consummation of the acquisition, if and when it shall occur, it is anticipated
that Luo Ken Yi will resign as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Luo will
remain as a member of the Board. Upon Mr. Luo’s resignation as the Chairman of
the Board, the Board will appoint Mr. Jun Tang, the sole shareholder of First
Jet, as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Jun Tang, 47, currently serves as the
President and Chief Executive Officer of New Huadu Group, Fujian. From 2004 to
2008, Mr. Tang served as President of Shanghai SNDA (Nasdaq: SNDA), a
interactive entertainment media company in China. Prior to that, he served as
President of Microsoft China Co., Ltd from 2002 to 2004. From 1997 to 2002, he
served as General Manager of Microsoft Global Technical Engineering Center, and
from 1994 to 1997 he served as Senior Project Manager for Microsoft US. Mr. Tang
received his doctorate degree, master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in the
U.S., Japan and China, respectively.
Completion
of the proposed acquisition is subject to negotiation and execution of a
definitive equity transfer agreement, regulatory approvals, and other customary
closing conditions. Therefore, there can be no guarantee that the acquisition
will be consummated.
Wavier
Agreement
On
February 24, 2010, we entered into an Amendment and Waiver Agreement (the “Waiver Agreement”)
with the holders of our outstanding Variable Rate Convertible Bonds due 2012
(the “2007
Bonds”) and 12% Convertible Bonds due 2011 (the “2008 Bonds,” and
collectively with the 2007 Bonds, the “Bonds”) and warrants
to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock expiring 2013 (the “2008 Warrants”).
Pursuant to the Waiver Agreement, the holders of the Bonds and the 2008 Warrants
agreed to waive their right to a reduction in the conversion price of the Bonds
and the exercise price of the 2008 Warrants upon our anticipated issuance of up
to 25,000,000 shares for the proposed acquisition of a 60% ownership interest in
ConnGame. Additionally, the holders of the 2008 Bonds agreed to waive any
default under the terms and conditions of the trust deed governing the 2008
Bonds relating to the requirement that KGE Group Limited, our largest
shareholder, own at least 45% of our issued and outstanding common
stock.
34
The
waivers contained in the Waiver Agreement are subject to numerous conditions. We
agreed to pay the Bondholders the interest in arrears owed on the Bonds as of
March 31, 2010 in two equal payments on March 31, 2010 and May 31, 2010
of approximately $1.26 million each and to pay 100% of the interest
payments on the Bonds that becomes due in April 2010 to be paid on April
15, 2010 of approximately $1.32 million, for aggregate payments of approximately
$3.84 million. We also agreed to repay the principal and all accrued interest
that we owe to ABN AMRO Bank (China) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Branch (the “Overdraft Lender”)
under an Overdraft Facility letter in three equal separate installments. The
total amount owed to the Overdraft Lender is equal to approximately $4.91
million. The first installment is due no later than March 31, 2010, the second
installment is due on April 30, 2010 and the third installment is due on May 31,
2010. We also agreed that we will not repay or prepay any debt prior to its
currently scheduled due date until we make all of the payments specified in the
Waiver Agreement and the Bonds have been redeemed in full and that any new
indebtedness incurred by us for the purpose of repaying the Overdraft Facility
will (i) not exceed the outstanding amount due and payable under the Overdraft
Facility and (ii) be subordinated to all amount owed under the
Bonds.
If we
fail to make any of the payments specified in the Waiver Agreement, then all
rights of the holders of the Bonds and 2008 Warrants waived under the Waiver
Agreement to or to be waived under the Waiver Agreement, will not be waived and
will be reinstated, and any previous waivers will be null and void. In such
case, appropriate adjustments may be made to reduce the conversion and exercise
price of the Bonds and 2008 Warrants. In addition, the bondholders may declare a
default under the Bonds and require us to pay the Bonds, which could result in
bankruptcy or otherwise impair our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to
continue our operations.
Dubai
Metro Rail Project
On
September 9, 2009, the Red Line, or first phase, of the Dubai Metro was
officially opened. We, through our subsidiary Techwell Engineering Limited, had
been working towards completion of our external envelopes for stations along the
Red Line of the Dubai Metro System. According to our original construction
blueprint, the majority of our construction work was completed at the end of
June 2009, and final construction milestones were scheduled for completion
in the third quarter of 2009. With less than 5% of our contract remaining to be
completed, Techwell was removed by the master contractor of the project, who
also called for and received payment of $2.1 million in performance bonds and
$7.3 million in advance payment bonds that were issued on Techwell's behalf for
the project. The calling of the advance payment bonds was based on the master
contractor's belief that it had paid in excess of the construction work
performed. We and certain of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the bonds that
were paid by the banks, and we are liable under the guarantee agreements for
such amounts paid by the banks. We do not believe that the master contractor had
a proper basis for calling the bonds and intend to vigorously pursue and defend
all of our legal rights and remedies related to this dispute. We have engaged a
construction claims consultant to facilitate resolution of this dispute. We and
our construction claims consultant, based on a review of the facts, documents,
and materials available, believe that we have a reasonable opportunity to
collect the amounts due to Techwell from the master contractor, less appropriate
credits as our final amount due for work performed through September 2009. We,
with the assistance of our claims consultant, have been continuously
evaluating the dispute and probability of success on this dispute going forward
and make the appropriate adjustments; however, no assurance can be given that
the dispute will be resolved in our and Techwell’s favor.
Nine
Dragon Project
In May
2009, we entered into a Framework Agreement to undertake several large scale
constructions of projects at the Zhejiang Nine Dragon Holiday Resort in China.
Pursuant to the terms of the Framework Agreement, the projects are to include
the construction of a marine park, playland, movie city and hotel. In July 2009,
we entered into a Letter of Intent of Land Transfer with the affiliates of
Shanghai Nine Dragon, and we agreed to sell 17 million shares of our common
stock to affiliates of Nine Dragon, with the related proceeds being used as the
working capital for the construction of Nine Dragon Project. However, the
affiliates attempted to renegotiate the use of proceeds to instead be used for
the purchase the apartments of Nine Dragon. Such request was rejected by our
board of directors and majority of the stockholders, and as a result, the
transaction was not completed. We actively maintain communication with Shanghai
Nine Dragon, endeavoring to obtain the design and construction work contracts of
the project.
Shenzhen
Office Relocation - Discontinued Operations related to International
Projects
In
September 2009, the Company’s Shenzhen office was downsized and moved out from
the leasehold multi-floor office building to a smaller leased place at minimal
operations. The move was a result from the Company’s recent restructure and
reorganization to turn back to the domestic market in China instead of overseas
market due to the recent change in international economic environments. The set
up of the Shenzhen office was originally for the support of the overseas
operations which the Company decided to be discontinued. A new, smaller
sized Shenzhen Office was set-up to serve the domestic market in China. As a
result, the current improvement works to the leasehold multi-floor office
building were stopped and being written off in the period under this report as
discontinued operation loss of $1,900,794. The Discontinued Operation Loss of
was presented in the income statement because the downsize of Shenzhen office
was considered as the discontinued operation as (1) there was no operations and
cash flows regarding the ceased operation in the office, i.e. design and
engineering support services to the international projects after the Company
restructured to focus back to domestic market in PRC and (2) the new, small size
Shenzhen office has no significant involvement in the ceased operation, i.e. no
more significant support services to international projects.
35
Critical
Accounting Policies, Estimates and Assumptions
Management’s
discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition are
based upon our consolidated financial statements. These statements have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America. These principles require management to make certain
estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the
financial statements and related notes. The most significant estimates and
assumptions include provisions for income taxes, allowance for doubtful
accounts, and the recoverability of the long-lived assets. Actual results could
differ from these estimates. Periodically, we review all significant estimates
and assumptions affecting the financial statements and record the effect of any
necessary adjustments.
The
following critical accounting policies rely upon assumptions and estimates and
were used in the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements:
Revenue and Cost
Recognition – Revenues from fixed-price and modified fixed-price
construction contracts are recognized on the percentage-of-completion method,
measured by the percentage of cost incurred to date to the estimated total cost
for each contract. The revenue earned in a period is based on the ratio of costs
incurred to the total estimated costs required by the contract. Contract costs
include all direct material and labor costs and those indirect costs related to
contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies, tools, repairs, and
depreciation costs. Total estimated gross profit on a contract, being the
difference between total estimated contract revenue and total estimated contract
cost, is determined before the amount earned on the contract for a period can be
recognized. The measurement of the extent of progress toward completion are used
to determine the amount of gross profit earned to date; the earned revenue to
date is the sum of the total cost incurred on the contract and the amount of
gross profit earned.
Earned
revenue, cost of earned revenue, and gross profit are determined as
follows:
i. Earned
Revenue is the amount of gross profit earned on a contract for a period plus the
costs incurred on the contract during the period.
ii. Cost
of Earned Revenue is the cost incurred during the period, excluding the cost of
materials not unique to a contract that have not been used for the
contract.
iii.
Gross Profit earned on a contract is computed by multiplying the total estimated
gross profit on the contract by the percentage of completion. The excess of that
amount over the amount of gross profit reported in prior periods is the earned
gross profit that should be recognized in the income statement for the current
period.
Allowances
for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which
such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and
estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty
provisions, and final contract settlements may result in revisions to costs and
income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.
Profit incentives are included in revenues when their realization is reasonably
assured. An amount equal to contract costs attributable to claims is included in
revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably
estimated.
Selling, General,
And Administrative Costs – Selling, general, and administrative costs are
charged to expense as incurred.
Contract
Receivable – Contract receivable represents billings to customers on the
percentage of work completed and recognized to date based on contract price. An
allowance is provided for doubtful collections which is based upon a review of
outstanding receivables, historical collection information, and existing
economic conditions. We record an allowance for doubtful collections for our
outstanding contract receivable at the end of the period in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and we consider
that allowance to be reasonable at December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007. As of
December 31, 2009, our provision for doubtful accounts was $6.6 million, which
was 6.9% of our construction contract related receivables of $95.8
million.
Among the
contract receivables as of December 31, 2009, $13.5 million was outstanding over
365 days and $16.1 million over 730 days, in total of $26.9 million which
including $10.6 million of retention money which would only be settled after the
retention periods of two or three years. The Company periodically prepares the
aging of the receivables information and reviews the balances with consideration
of the background of each client for assessing the realizable value of the
balances and would make provision when appropriate. The Company notes that its
account receivables that are 365 and 720 days old are primarily related to the
Company’s PRC operations, and the payment cycle in the PRC commonly entails a
receivable being outstanding for over one to two years before collection. Such
situations are particularly common in the construction market and with the
clients from government. Since the Company’s older outstanding receivables are
mainly of government projects, the final accounts and payments are required to
be processed through a lengthy bureaucratic process in the PRC government. Based
on the foregoing, and despite the receivables being outstanding from 365 to 720
days, the Company considers them to be realizable because the Company believes
that there is a remote chance that the PRC Government will go into bankruptcy or
otherwise refuse to make payment on the receivables. In addition, the Company
has the policy of conducting a comprehensive review the aging of account
receivables on a regular basis every three months. Furthermore, the Company has
a designated staff member from one of its PRC subsidiaries to remain in constant
communication with the Company’s various departments regarding PRC receivables
collection status, and allowances for doubtful accounts is made, as necessary,
based on the collection status updates. As of December 31, 2009, the contract
receivables under aging of 1 to 30 days amounted to $52.3 million including the
receivables of the projects in Dubai which were recognized at the end of the
year at $42 million.
36
Comprehensive
Income – Comprehensive income is defined to include all changes in equity
except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.
Among other disclosures, all items that are required to be recognized under
current accounting standards as components of comprehensive income are required
to be reported in a financial statement that is presented with the same
prominence as other consolidated financial statements. Our current components of
other comprehensive income are the foreign currency translation
adjustment.
Income Taxes
– The Company uses the accrual method of accounting to determine and
report its taxable reduction of income taxes for the year in which they are
available. The Company has implemented ASC 740-270, Accounting for Income
Taxes. Income tax liabilities computed according to the United States,
People’s Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Australia tax
laws are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the financial
statements and consists of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes related
primarily to differences between the basis of fixed assets and intangible assets
for financial and tax reporting. The deferred tax assets and liabilities
represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will be
either taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or
settled. Deferred taxes also are recognized for operating losses that are
available to offset future income taxes. A valuation allowance is created to
evaluate deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that these items will
either expire before the Company is able to realize that tax benefit, or that
future realization is uncertain.
Accounting for
the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets – The long-lived assets
held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be
recoverable. It is reasonably possible that these assets could become impaired
as a result of technology or other industry changes. Determination of
recoverability of assets to be held and used is by comparing the carrying amount
of an asset to future net undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the assets.
If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is
measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the
fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of
the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. During the reporting
periods, there was no impairment loss.
Goodwill and
Intangible Assets - In accordance with ASC 350, “Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets.” the Company does not amortize goodwill or intangible
assets with indefinite lives. For goodwill and other intangible assets,
impairment tests are performed annually and more frequently whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate goodwill carrying values exceed estimated
reporting unit fair values. Upon indication that the carrying values of such
assets may not be recoverable, the Company recognizes an impairment loss as a
charge against current operations. Based on the impairment tests performed,
there was no impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets in fiscal 2009,
2008 and 2007.
As of
December 31, 2009, based on calculations conducted by the Company, the fair
value exceeds carrying value by approximately 22%. Material assumptions include:
(1) The reporting unit continues to have the profitable operations for a period
of next 10 years; (2) the revenue has the steady annual growth rate ranging from
5% to 8% as in line with the estimated growth rate of PRC economy; (3) costs of
funds kept stable for the period of next 10 years resulting in a stable discount
rate for the projection of estimated fair value; and (4) no material change in
the prevailing payment terms of the construction industry that allowing the
working capital requirement kept at a low level at 15%. Uncertainties include:
(1) The ability of the reporting unit to continue as a profitable operation may
be affected by changes in technologies and the market of the construction
industry; (2) the growth of the PRC economy may not be as steady as projected
that in turn affect the steady growth of the revenue of the reporting unit, (3)
it is also uncertain about the capital market that affect the costs of fund of
the company; and (4) the prevailing payment terms used in the construction
industry may be changed as a result of changes in the business environment for
the construction industry. Potential events include (1) the appreciation of the
value of RMB that would slow down the export and in turn the economic
development of China that in turn have negative effect of property development
industry in China; and (2) the controlling policies towards the property market
by the PRC government. See above, “Risk Factors—If our goodwill
resulting from our 2007 acquisition of Techwell becomes impaired, then our
financial condition and profits may be reduced.”
Foreign Currency
Translation – The consolidated financial statements are presented in
United States Dollars (US$). Our functional currency is the US$, while domestic
subsidiaries’ use the Renminbi (RMB) and Hong Kong and overseas subsidiaries use
local currencies as their functional currencies. The consolidated financial
statements are translated into United States dollars from RMB, HKD, MOP and AED
at year-end exchange rates as to assets and liabilities and average exchange
rates as to revenues and expenses. Capital accounts are translated at their
historical exchange rates when the capital transactions occurred. The RMB is not
freely convertible into foreign currency and all foreign exchange transactions
must take place through authorized institutions. No representation is made that
the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into USD at the rates
used in translation.
Statutory
Reserves – Surplus reserves for foreign investment enterprises are
referring to the amount appropriated from the net income in accordance with PRC
laws or regulations, which can be used to recover losses and increase capital,
as approved, and are to be used to expand production or
operations.
37
Results
of Operations
The
following table sets forth our consolidated statements of income for the years
ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 in U.S. dollars:
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
||||||||||
(in thousands, except share amounts and
earnings
per share)
|
||||||||||||
Contract
revenues earned
|
$ | 117,191 | 151,666 | 86,617 | ||||||||
Cost
of contract revenues earned
|
(94,722 | ) | (128,885 | ) | (64,354 | ) | ||||||
Gross
profit
|
$ | 22,469 | 22,781 | 22,263 | ||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
(21,092 | ) | (26,063 | ) | (5,525 | ) | ||||||
Non-recurring
general and administrative expenses
|
— | — | — | |||||||||
Finance
Expense
|
— | — | (208 | ) | ||||||||
Income/(Loss)
from operations
|
$ | 1,377 | (3,282 | ) | 16,530 | |||||||
Interest
income
|
58 | 1 | 108 | |||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(6,331 | ) | (5,880 | ) | (642 | ) | ||||||
Other
income
|
177 | 1,922 | 88 | |||||||||
Other
expenses
|
(329 | ) | (161 | ) | (127 | ) | ||||||
Income/(Loss)
before taxation
|
$ | (5,048 | ) | (7,400 | ) | 15,957 | ||||||
Income
tax
|
107 | 4 | (2,422 | ) | ||||||||
Discontinued
Operation Loss, net of tax
|
(1,901 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss)
|
(6,842 | ) | (7,396 | ) | 13,535 | |||||||
Net
Loss attributable to non-controlling interest
|
33 | 20 | — | |||||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) attributable to the Company
|
$ | (6,809 | ) | (7,376 | ) | 13,535 | ||||||
Basic
net income/(loss) per common share
|
(0.13 | ) | (0.14 | ) | 0.27 | |||||||
Diluted
net income/(loss) per common share
|
(0.13 | ) | (0.14 | ) | 0.26 | |||||||
Basic
weighted average common shares outstanding
|
53,256,874 | 52,034,921 | 50,357,454 | |||||||||
Diluted
weighted average common shares outstanding
|
53,256,874 | 52,034,921 | 51,088,144 |
Years
ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
Contract
revenues earned for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $117.2 million, a
decrease of $34.5 million, or 23%, from the contract revenues earned of $151.7
million for the comparable period in 2008. The primary reasons for the decrease
in contract revenues earned were due to major international projects entering
the completion phase from which project revenue was declining, such as the Metro
Red Line Project in Dubai as well as projects in Doha and New York. During 2009,
we completed approximately 37 projects, with our three largest projects being
the Dubai Metro Red Line, Guangdong Science City Headquarter Phase I, and Doha
High Rise Office Tower, which accounted for approximately 43.2 %, 9.2 % and 7.0%
of our contract revenues, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2009. We
do not expect to engage in international projects in 2010.
Cost of
contract revenues earned for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $94.7 million,
a decrease of $34.2 million, or 27%, from $128.9 million for the comparable
period in 2008. Cost of contract revenues earned consists of raw materials,
labor and other operating costs related to contract performance. The decrease in
costs of contract revenues earned was primarily due to a decrease in revenue in
2009. As a percentage of contract revenues, cost of contract revenues was
approximately 80.8% for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to 85.0%
for the same period in 2008. The decrease in cost of contract revenues as a
percentage of revenues was primarily due to various costs control and cutting
measures taken in 2009, such as the downsizing of our Shenzhen office. In 2009,
as a result of the increased costs in the PRC, where the materials were
procured, and the global economic recession, the company permitted a decreased
margin charge as compared to previous years. As a result, there were estimated
losses on uncompleted contracts identified and charged to the costs of contract
revenues in the Company’s income statement. A substantial majority of this
charge resulted from a project in Doha of Middle East, which revealed an
estimated loss of approximately $3.8 million and the full amount of loss was
charged to the income statement as costs of revenue earned in the year ended
December 31, 2009.
38
Gross
profit for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $22.5 million, a decrease of
$0.3 million, or 1%, from $22.8 million for the comparable period of 2008. Our
gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2009 was 19.2% as compared with
15.0% for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily a result
the costs controlling and cutting measures taken place in the fourth quarter of
2009, including the downsizing of the design and engineering team and reduction
of project site-staffing.
Selling,
general and administrative expenses mainly consists of staffing related costs,
rental charges for offices and equipments, office administrative expenditures,
business travel expenses, and depreciation charges. Selling, general and
administrative expenses were $21.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009,
a decrease of approximately $5.0 million, or 19%, from $26.1 million for the
comparable period in 2008. The decrease was primarily a result of our
operational contraction in the fourth quarter of 2009, including a reduction in
staffing, office rental and other costs savings associated with curtailing of
overseas operations during 2009.
Interest
expenses and finance expenses were approximately $6.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2009, an increase of approximately $0.4 million, from $5.9 million
for the comparable period in 2008. The increase was primarily due to the
additional interest expense for the full year 2009 related to the $20 million
convertible bonds that we issued April 2008. The interest expenses related to
convertible bonds were $5.9 million, $4.4 million and $0.6 million for the year
ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 respectively.
Income
tax benefit was $107,000 in 2009, compared with $4,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2008. The primary reason for the decrease in tax was due to the
zero corporate income tax rate associated with revenues from the Dubai project,
our largest ongoing project during the year 2009 and the deferred tax benefit of
a subsidiary, Techwell Engineering Ltd.
Net loss
for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $6.8 million, as compared to net loss
of $7.4 million in 2008.
Years
Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
Contract
revenues earned for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $151.7 million, an
increase of $65.1 million, or 75%, from the contract revenues earned of $86.6
million for the comparable period in 2007. The primary reason for the increase
in contract revenues earned was an increase in the number and size of projects
for the year ended December 31, 2008 due to our rapid expansion into the
overseas market, such as Dubai and New York.
Cost of
contract revenues earned for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $128.9
million, an increase of $64.5 million, or 100%, from $64.4 million for the
comparable period in 2007. Cost of contract revenues earned consists of raw
materials, labor and other operating costs related to contract performance. The
increase in costs of contract revenues earned was primarily due to the increased
number and size of projects for the year ended December 31, 2008. Our cost
of contract revenues grew at a faster rate than our contract revenues primarily
due to the increase in costs of raw materials, project set-up costs, and labor
costs.
Gross
profit for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $22.8 million, an increase of
$0.5 million, or 2%, from $22.3 million for the comparable period of 2007. Our
gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2008 was 15.0% as compared with
25.7% for the year ended December 31, 2007. The decrease was primarily a result
of higher raw material, project set-up costs, and labor costs, especially in our
domestic market of China.
Selling,
general and administrative expenses were $26.1 million for the year ended
December 31, 2008, an increase of approximately $20.6 million, or 375%, from
$5.5 million for the comparable period in 2007. The increase was primarily due
to our operational expansion, including the growth in staff, office rental and
other start-up costs associated with the expansion of our overseas operations
during 2008. Techwell, which we acquired in November 2007, contributed
approximately half to the increase in the expenses. In addition, there was
$5 million bad debt provision recorded in 2008 as a result of global
slowdown.
Interest
expenses and finance expenses were approximately $5.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2008, an increase of approximately $5.3 million, from $0.6 million
for the comparable period in 2007. The increase was primarily due to our
issuance of $20 million convertible bonds in April 2008.
Income
tax benefit was $4,000 in 2008, compared with expenses of $2.4 million for the
year ended December 31, 2007. The primary reason for the decrease was due to the
zero corporate income tax rate associated with revenues from the Dubai project,
our largest ongoing project during the year 2008.
Net loss
for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $7.4 million, as compared to net income
of $13.5 million in 2007.
39
Dubai
Project Dispute - Percentage of Completion and Related Receivables
With the
use of “percentage-of-completion” method, the revenue to be recognized for each
period will included both (1) the revenue earned for the current period and (2)
the adjustment to previously recognized revenue that is required because of the
changes in estimated total revenue, costs and profitability of projects from
which the previous revenue had been recognized. The changes in the estimates may
be the result of, for example, increased costs or overhead expenses of the
projects, changes of the scope of the works of the contract as well as the
changes of technologies used which in turn affect the costs of the project.
Under these circumstances, the estimated revenue and costs can change and as a
result the estimated profitability of the project can change, which affects the
profit elements in the revenue previously recognized and may be required to be
revised accordingly. The “adjustments” or “revisions” are made via adjustment to
the current period revenue because it is the changes in estimates that are
requiring the revisions and not a restatement of the previous period
figures.
With
respect to the Dubai Metro Rail Project, which was the primary focus of
Techwell, an adjustment under the percentage-of-completion method described
above may be required if, for example, the Company and the Company’s claim
consultant modifies its evaluation of the Company’s claims such that the Company
is not likely to recover its claims as currently anticipated, if the Company
encounters any unexpected difficulties in the claiming process which making the
increase of claiming costs, and if a commercial settlement between the parties
is reached on a amounts different from current value estimates. In such
scenarios, the final project revenue or estimated costs may be changed to affect
the revenue recognition of the project. However, neither of the situations is
considered to exist at the moment of the reporting that affects the accounting
estimates of revenue and costs used for the period. As such, the Company
believes that the revenue recognized to date is appropriate as there were
periodic reviews of the estimates of the project revenue and costs by the
Company to reflect the latest profitability of the project for revenue
recognition.
One of
the primarily reasons that the Company’s contract receivables have increased is
the delay in payment by client of the Dubai projects since April 2009. The
underlying receivable as of September 30, 2009 from the Dubai projects was equal
to approximately $19.2 million, which represented 23% of the total contract
receivables as of such date. The Company has employed a claim consultant, Hill
International, to facilitate the Company’s claim for the back payment. The
Company currently expects that there will be progress and payments will be
received as early as the third quarter of 2010. However, due to the ongoing
dispute, there is no guarantee that the Company will collect all or a portion of
the contract receivable. For receivables related to the Dubai Project, the
client delayed payment to us since April 2009 by refusing to issue the
Certificates for Value of Work Done. No Certificates have been issued since
April 2009. The Certificates are pre-requisites to proceed with payment to the
Company. The client paid for all work for Certificates for Value of Work Done
issued in or before April 2009. Such payments were made prior to December 31,
2009. As a result, no account receivables at December 31, 2009 represent work
for the above-referenced Certificates issued in or before April 2009. The
receivables for the year ended December 31, 2009 were recognized in accordance
with the Percentage of Completion Method and based on the claim consultant’s
report on the estimated final value of work done that the Company completed as
of December 31, 2009.
The
Company has not recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts related to the Dubai
project. The Company has engaged a construction claims consultant to facilitate
resolution of the dispute. The Company and its construction claims consultant,
based on a review of the facts, documents, and materials available, believe that
the Company has a reasonable opportunity to collect the amounts due to Techwell
from the master contractor, less appropriate credits as its final amount due for
work performed through September 2009. The Company, with the assistance of its
claims consultant, have been continuously evaluating the dispute and probability
of success on this dispute going forward and make the appropriate adjustments;
however, no assurance can be given that the dispute will be resolved in the
Company’s and Techwell’s favor. In the report of the claim consultant, there are
the high and low estimates for the final total value of work done for the Dubai
project. The Company started with the low estimates with prudence and adjusted
such amounts with the amounts that the claim consultant’s expressed that there
was an excellent opportunity for the Company to be recovered. Furthermore, as
the client of the projects being the joint venture of two reputable Japanese
corporations and one Turkish corporation with long operating histories, the
Company believes that the possibility of default in payment is considered not
likely to occur. Based on these supporting documents and analysis, the Company
believes that the receivables will be collected and no allowance is required.
However, the Company will be required to account for doubtful collection of the
receivables related to the Dubai Project in the event it concludes that it is
not likely that the Company will be able to collect the
receivables.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
At
December 31, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $0.7
million.
Prior to
October 17, 2006, we financed our business operations through short-term bank
loans, cash provided by operations, and credit provided by suppliers. On October
17, 2006, concurrently with the close of a share exchange transaction, we
received gross proceeds of $3.7 million in a private placement transaction.
After commissions and expenses, we received net proceeds of approximately
$3.1 million. In October 2007, we completed an initial public offering
consisting of 847,550 shares of our common stock. Our sale of common stock,
which was sold indirectly by us to the public at a price of $3.50 per share,
resulted in net proceeds of approximately $2.0 million.
40
We have
also financed our operations through the issuance of convertible bonds. On April
12, 2007, we completed a financing transaction pursuant to which we issued the
2007 Bonds in the principal amount of $10 million. The 2007 Bonds bear cash
interest at the rate of 6% per annum for the first year after April 12, 2007 and
3% per annum thereafter, of the principal amount of the 2007 Bonds. Each 2007
Bond is convertible at an initial conversion price of $3.50 per share. At any
time after April 12, 2010, holders of the 2007 Bonds can require us to redeem
the 2007 Bonds at 126.51% of the principal amount. We are required to redeem any
outstanding 2007 Bonds at 150.87% of its principal amount on April 4, 2012. We
also issued 800,000 warrants on April 12, 2007 to purchase an aggregate of
800,000 shares of our common stock, subject to adjustments for stock splits or
reorganizations as set forth in the warrant instrument. The bondholder exercised
these warrants in November 2008, and after receipt of $8,000 in exercise
proceeds, we issued 800,000 shares of common stock to the bondholder. Also, in
September 2008, $2 million worth of bonds were converted into shares of common
stock pursuant to which we issued 571,428 shares of common stock.
On April
15, 2008, we completed a financing transaction pursuant to which we issued the
2008 Bonds in the principal amount of $20.0 million. The 2008 Bonds bear cash
interest at the rate of 12% per annum. Interest is payable semi-annually in
arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year (each an “Interest Payment
Date”) commencing October 15, 2008. On any Interest Payment Date on or after
April 15, 2010, the holders of the Bonds can require us to redeem the Bonds at
116.61% of the principal amount. We are required to redeem any outstanding Bonds
at 116.61% of its principal amount on April 15, 2011. We also issued 300,000
warrants in connection with the 2008 Bonds on April 15, 2008 to purchase an
aggregate of 300,000 shares of our common stock, subject to adjustments for
stock splits or reorganizations as set forth in the warrant
instrument.
On
February 24, 2010, we entered into the Waiver Agreement with the holders of our
2007 Bonds and 2008 Bonds and 2008 Warrants. Pursuant to the Waiver Agreement,
we agreed to pay the bondholders the interest in arrears owed on the Bonds as of
March 31, 2010 in two equal payments on March 31, 2010 and May 31, 2010 of
approximately $1.26 million each and to pay 100% of the interest payments on the
Bonds that becomes due in April 2010 to be paid on April 15, 2010 of
approximately $1.32 million, for aggregate payments of approximately $3.84
million.
We also
agreed to repay the principal and all accrued interest that we owe to ABN AMRO
Bank (China) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Branch (the “Overdraft Lender”) under an
Overdraft Facility letter in three equal separate installments. The total amount
owed to the Overdraft Lender is equal to approximately $4.91 million. The first
installment is due no later than March 31, 2010, the second installment is due
on April 30, 2010 and the third installment is due on May 31, 2010.
We also
agreed that we will not repay or prepay any debt prior to its currently
scheduled due date until we make all of the payments specified in the Waiver
Agreement and the Bonds have been redeemed in full and that any new indebtedness
incurred by us for the purpose of repaying the Overdraft Facility will (i) not
exceed the outstanding amount due and payable under the Overdraft Facility and
(ii) be subordinated to all amount owed under the Bonds.
If we are
required to repurchase all or a portion of the outstanding amount of $28.0
million in bonds and we do not have sufficient cash to make the repurchase, we
will be required to obtain third party financing to do so, and there can be no
assurances that we will be able to secure financing in a timely manner and on
favorable terms, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial
performance, results of operations and stock price.
In October 2006, we opened
a line of credit facility with the Zhuhai branch of Bank of East Asia for up to
a maximum of RMB20,000,000. The credit facility does not require renewal until
October 2011. In order to facilitate the extension of the credit facility, we
agreed to deposit the equivalent amount in HKD on fixed deposit terms into the
Hong Kong branch of Bank of East Asia. This facility is subject to a current
interest rate of 5.508% and interest rate adjusts every 6 months. We did not
have any amount outstanding as of December 31, 2009.
Our
subsidiary, Zhuhai King Glass Engineering Co., Limited, borrowed from Bank of
East Asia with a condominium as collateral. This facility, which is due October
25, 2011, is subject to a current interest rate of 5.832% and interest rate
adjusts every 6 months. We did not have any amount outstanding as of December
31, 2009.
Full Art
International Limited incurred an automobile capital lease obligation due
November 09, 2012 that had an outstanding amount of $186,349 as of December 31,
2009.
We also
lease certain administrative and production facilities from third parties.
Accordingly, for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, we incurred rental
expenses of $3,254,251 and $1,602,501, respectively.
On
February 19, 2008, we and Techwell Engineering Limited were granted a bond
facility by the Hong Kong Branch of ABN AMRO Bank N.V. The facility amount was
$10,000,000, at a tenor of up to one year with 2% flat interest rate on the
issued amount of bonds such as bank guarantees, performance bonds, advanced
payment bonds and standby letters of credit. ABN AMRO required guarantees as
follows: (i) an irrevocable and unconditional guarantee executed by Zhuhai King
Glass Engineering Co. Limited and (ii) share charge over the shares of us for a
minimum value of $5,000,000 or equivalent, executed by KGE Group Limited. On May
2, 2008, the facility was increased to $12,000,000 with additional cash
collateral of $2,000,000, which is also the total amount of cash collateral for
the facility. All cash collateral was then fully used to off-set a portion of
the calling of the bonds for projects in Dubai by the beneficiary. As of
December 31, 2009, the facility is fully utilized.
41
On March
28, 2008, we, Full Art and Techwell Engineering Limited were granted a bonding
facility by the Hong Kong Branch of HSBC. The facility amount was $10,000,000,
at a tenor of up to one year with 1% flat interest rate on the issued amount of
bonds such as bank guarantees, performance bonds, advanced payment bonds and
standby letters of credit. HSBC required guarantees as follows: (i) an unlimited
guarantee among China Architectural Engineering, Inc., Full Art International
Limited and Techwell Engineering Limited; and (ii) an “all monies” securities
deposits with 15% margin. On August 18, 2008, the facility was increased to
$20,000,000 with additional cash collateral of $1,500,000 that increased the
total amount of cash collateral to $3,000,000. In September 2009, $2,818,440 of
the cash collateral was used to off-set of the calling of the bonds for projects
in Dubai by the beneficiary. As of December 31, 2009, we have utilized $1.8
million of the facility.
On July
19, 2008, Zhuhai King Glass Engineering Co., Ltd. (“Zhuhai KGE”), our
wholly-owned subsidiary was granted a Bank Accepted Draft facility by the
Shenzhen Branch of ABN AMRO Bank N.V. The facility amount is RMB70,000,000
(US$10,218,978). On September 30, 2009, the facility was amended to allow Open
Account Financing – Accounts Receivable against invoices from acceptable buyers
up to RMB21,000,000 and Open Account Financing and Overdraft in Current Account
up to RMB16,800,000. ABN AMRO requires irrevocable and unconditional guarantee
from us and cash collateral of 20% of bank’s acceptance bill issued. and Open
Account Financing. As of December 31, 2009, Zhuhai KGE utilized RMB nil (US$
nil) of Bank Accepted Draft and RMB 33.6 million (US$4.9 million) of Overdraft
in Current Account.
In
September 2009, the beneficiary of a performance bond and advance payment bonds
for the projects in Dubai demanded the drawing of approximately $9.4 million in
total from the two issuing banks, ABN AMRO Bank NV and HSBC. The calling of the
bonds was based on the beneficiary’s belief that it had paid in excess of the
construction work performed. We do not believe that the beneficiary had the
proper basis for calling the bonds and intend to vigorously defend all of their
rights and remedies related to the dispute. As of December 31, 2009, after an
offset against collateral accounts that we held with the banks, there was
approximately $4.5 million in a shortfall amount due to ABN AMRO Bank NV by us
that was not paid off. Such amount is currently outstanding as the temporary
loan from the bank at the interest rate at the bank’s cost of funds plus
6%.
Working
capital management, including prompt and diligent billing and collection, is an
important factor in our results of operations and liquidity. When we are awarded
construction project, we work according to the percentage-of-completion method
which matches the revenue streams with the relevant cost of construction based
on the percentage-of-completion of project as determined based on certain
criteria, such as, among other things, actual cost of raw material used compared
to the total budgeted cost of raw material and work certified by customers.
There is no guarantee that the cash inflow from these contracts is being
accounted for in parallel with the cash outflow being incurred in the
performance of such contract. In addition, a construction project is usually
deemed to be completed once we prepare a final project account, the account is
agreed upon by our customers, and all amounts related to the contract must be
settled according to the account within three months to a year from the
customer’s agreement on the final project account. As there may be different
time intervals to reach a consensus on the amount as being accounted for in the
projects before the project finalization account is being mutually agreed by
each other.
We
experience an average accounts settlement period ranging from three months to as
high as one year from the time we provide services to the time we receive
payment from our customers. Below is a summary of typical steps in
our processing of accounts:
|
·
|
It
takes approximately one month for our client to collect the payment
application from contractors for the contract work
completed.
|
|
·
|
Thereafter,
it takes approximately one to two months for the verification, agreement
and certification of work completed, with timing to largely depend on
whether there is disagreement in the calculation of certified value
between the parties.
|
|
·
|
Moreover,
if it is the case that the application is to finalize the project account,
it may take up to three months.
|
|
·
|
Additionally,
in the event that the client is not the owner of the project, it normally
requires an additional one to two months for processing and obtaining the
funds from the owner.
|
|
·
|
One
to two months the client to pay the
contractors.
|
In
contrast to collection times, we typically need to place certain deposit with
our suppliers on a portion of the purchase price in advance and for some
suppliers we must maintain a deposit for future orders. We attempt to maintain a
credit policy of receiving certain amounts of deposit from customers before we
begin a new project.
42
The
Company periodically prepares the aging of the receivables information and
reviews the balances with consideration of the background of each client for
assessing the realizable value of the balances and would make provision when
appropriate. The Company notes that its account receivables that are 365
and 720 days old are primarily related to the Company’s PRC operations, and the
payment cycle in the PRC commonly entails a receivable being outstanding for
over one to two years before collection. Such situations are particularly
common in the construction market and with the clients from government. Since
the Company’s older outstanding receivables are mainly of government projects,
the final accounts and payments are required to be processed through a lengthy
bureaucratic process in the PRC government. Based on the foregoing, and despite
the receivables being outstanding from 365 to 720 days, the Company considers
them to be realizable because the Company believes that there is a remote chance
that the PRC Government will go into bankruptcy or otherwise refuse to make
payment on the receivables. In addition, the Company has the policy of
conducting a comprehensive review the aging of account receivables on a regular
basis every three months. Furthermore, the Company has a designated staff
member from one of its PRC subsidiaries to remain in constant communication with
the Company’s various departments regarding PRC receivables collection status,
and allowances for doubtful accounts is made, as necessary, based on the
collection status updates.
We
experienced a decrease of revenue of $34.5 million for the year ended December
31, 2009 compared to an increase of $65.1 million for the same period in 2008.
Construction contract related receivables, including contract receivables and
costs and earnings in excess of billings as of December 31, 2009 were $97.3
million, an increase of $9.5 million, over construction contract related
receivables of $87.8 million as of December 31, 2008. The increase reflected the
holding of payment by the customer for our project in Dubai. In addition,
because the collection period typically runs from two months to one year, the
increase in such receivables reflects the long collection period. In addition,
our payment cycle is considerably shorter than our receivable cycle, since we
typically pay our suppliers all or a portion of the purchase price in advance
and for some suppliers we must maintain a deposit for future
orders.
We
provide for bad debts principally based upon the aging of accounts receivable,
in addition to collectability of specific customer accounts, our history of bad
debts, and the general condition of the industry. We are currently involved in
six lawsuits in which we are suing other parties for overdue payments. The total
amount involved is approximately $3.2 million. We have decided to record a
general provision for doubtful accounts amounting to $1.4 million in 2009, which
management believes is commensurate to cover the associated credit risk in the
portfolio of our construction contract related receivables. As of December 31,
2009, our provision for doubtful accounts was $6.6 million, which was 6.9% of
our construction contract related receivables of $95.8 million. Due to the
difficulty in assessing future trends, we could be required to further increase
our provisions for doubtful accounts. As our accounts receivable age and
become uncollectible our cash flow and results of operations are negatively
impacted.
In
addition to the foregoing, we had a provision for contracts receivables that was
reclassified as “Other receivable” in the amount of approximately $9.9 million
that represented account receivables of a subsidiary, Techwell Engineering Ltd.
(Techwell). The receivables were acquired through our acquisition of the
Techwell in 2007 and have been outstanding since acquisition. The
receivables are guaranteed by previous shareholders of Techwell if not paid
within 24 months of the acquisition. Accordingly, the provision was made
and the receivable amount was transferred to amount due from the shareholders
under other receivable balances.
At
December 31, 2009, we had no material commitments for capital expenditures other
than for those expenditures incurred in the ordinary course of business.
We intend to expend a significant amount of capital to purchase materials
and serve as deposits for performance bonds for new projects that we have
obtained. Additional capital for this objective may be required that is in
excess of our liquidity, requiring us to raise additional capital through an
equity offering or secured or unsecured debt financing. The availability of
additional capital resources will depend on prevailing market conditions,
interest rates, and our existing financial position and results of
operations.
Net cash
used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2009 was
approximately $21.2 million, as compared to $3.0 million used in the same period
in 2008. The change is primarily due to the significant increase in payables in
year of 2008, which did not occur in fiscal 2009. The increase in payables in
fiscal 2008 consisted of a $10.1 million increase in notes payables and a $16.8
million increase in trade payable as result of the business expansion. Net
cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $3.0
million, as compared to $15.5 million used in the same period in 2007. The
change is primarily due to the significant increase in payables, including the
$10.1 million increase in notes payables, financing the business expansion in
year of 2008.
Net cash
provided by investing activities was approximately $4.2 million for the year
ended December 31, 2009 compared to approximately $10.7 million used by
investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2008. The change was mainly
a result of the decrease in restricted cash in 2009, which resulted primarily
from the release of $5.0 million fixed deposits that were pledged in 2008 for
the issuance of advance and performance bonds for Dubai projects to repay the
drawdown of the bonds by the client in 2009, in addition to purchases of plant
and equipment in 2008 that included $2.2 million for the leasehold improvement
and equipments of Shenzhen. Net cash used by investing activities was
approximately $10.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to
approximately $1.1 million provided for the year ended December 31, 2007. The
change was mainly a result of the increases of restricted cash and purchases of
plant and equipment in 2008 as indicated above.
Net cash
provided by financing activities was $8.3 million for the year ended December
31, 2009 compared to $16.4 million provided for year ended December 31, 2008.
The change was primarily a result of the $19.5 million received from the
issuance of convertible bonds and warrants in 2008, $9.5 million proceeds from
short-term loans in 2009 which mainly represents $4.9 million bank overdraft
financing the material purchases, and $4.5 million outstanding balance of the
advance and performance bonds drawdown by the client of projects in Dubai, $10.2
million repayments of notes payables and $9.2 million proceeds from shareholders
both in 2009. Net cash provided by financing activities was $16.4 million
for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $14.9 million provided for the
year ended December 31, 2007. The increase was primarily a result of the
differences in the proceeds received from the issuance of convertible bonds and
warrants, receipt from public offering, proceeds from shareholder and repayment
long-term loans among the two years.
43
Contractual
obligations
The
following table describes our contractual commitments and obligations as of
December 31, 2009:
Payments due by period
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
Less than
1 year
|
1-3 years
|
3-5 years
|
More than
5 years
|
||||||||||||||||
Operating
Lease Obligations
|
$
|
1,063,043
|
1,063,043
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
Contingent
Liabilities (1)
|
$
|
5,331,411
|
$
|
5,331,411
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
—
|
||||||||||
Long-term
debt (2)
|
$
|
24,673,400
|
-
|
24,673,400
|
-
|
-
|
(1) Includes the
$3,500,000 standby guarantee expiring May 2, 2010 issued by ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
and $1,831,411 performance bond expiring June 30, 2010 issued by
HSBC.
(2) Includes the
$8 million convertible bond which is required to be redeemed at 150.87% at
maturity at April 4, 2012, which may also be converted into our common stock at
a current conversion price of $2.45 per share, accordingly we may re-classify
upon conversion, if any. Also includes the $20 million convertible bond which is
required to be redeemed at 116.61% at maturity at April 15, 2011, which may be
converted into our common stocks at a current conversion price of $6.35 per
share, accordingly we may re-classify upon conversion, if any.
Quarterly
Information
The table
below presents selected results of operations for the quarters indicated.
All amounts are in thousands, except share and per share
amounts.
Quarter Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2009
|
September 30, 2009
|
June 30, 2009
|
March 31, 2009
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Contract
revenues earned
|
$
|
24,691
|
$
|
25,558
|
$
|
30,599
|
$
|
36,343
|
$
|
117,191
|
||||||||||
Income
/ (loss) from operations
|
389
|
(5,074
|
)
|
3,832
|
2,230
|
1,377
|
||||||||||||||
Net
earnings (loss)
|
(1,918
|
)
|
(8,387
|
)
|
2,552
|
944
|
(6,809
|
) | ||||||||||||
Net
earnings / (loss) per share:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic
and Diluted
|
(0.04
|
)
|
(0.16
|
)
|
0.05
|
0.02
|
(0.13
|
) |
Quarter Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2008
|
September 30, 2008
|
June 30, 2008
|
March 31, 2008
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Contract
revenues earned
|
$
|
28,959
|
$
|
55,978
|
$
|
41,380
|
$
|
25,349
|
$
|
151,666
|
||||||||||
Income
/ (loss) from operations
|
(28,589
|
)
|
11,110
|
8,752
|
5,445
|
(3,282
|
) | |||||||||||||
Net
earnings (loss)
|
(28,586
|
)
|
9,910
|
6,026
|
5,274
|
(7,376
|
) | |||||||||||||
Net
earnings / (loss) per share:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
(0.55
|
)
|
0.19
|
0.12
|
0.10
|
(0.14
|
) | |||||||||||||
Diluted
|
(0.55
|
)
|
0.19
|
0.12
|
0.10
|
(0.14
|
) |
44
Segment
Information
We have
one reportable segment that conducts business in the following geographic
regions. All amounts are in thousands.
Revenues
For
the year ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||
For
the year ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
Middle
East
|
$
|
58,685
|
$
|
64,929
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Asia
|
51,979
|
83,505
|
86,617
|
|||||||||
United
States
|
6,527
|
3,232
|
-
|
|||||||||
Total
|
$
|
117,191
|
$
|
151,666
|
$
|
86,617
|
Long-lived
assets
Middle East
|
Asia
|
United States
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||
As
of December 31, 2009
|
||||||||||||||||
Plant
and equipment, net
|
$
|
384
|
$
|
2,026
|
$
|
130
|
$
|
2,540
|
||||||||
Intangible
assets
|
-
|
71
|
-
|
71
|
||||||||||||
Goodwill
|
-
|
7,
996
|
-
|
7,
996
|
||||||||||||
Other
non-current assets
|
161
|
95
|
31
|
287
|
||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
545
|
$
|
10,188
|
$
|
161
|
$
|
10,894
|
||||||||
As
of December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Plant
and equipment, net
|
$
|
488
|
$
|
5,187
|
$
|
177
|
$
|
5,852
|
||||||||
Intangible
assets
|
-
|
51
|
-
|
51
|
||||||||||||
Goodwill
|
-
|
7,996
|
-
|
7,996
|
||||||||||||
Other
non-current assets
|
-
|
1
|
31
|
32
|
||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
488
|
$
|
13,235
|
$
|
208
|
$
|
13,931
|
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
None.
New
Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2(u) of the accompanying
audited consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for a
discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
ITEM
7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Credit
Risk
We are
exposed to credit risk from our cash at bank, fixed deposits and contract
receivables. The credit risk on cash at bank and fixed deposits is limited
because the counterparts are recognized financial institutions. Contract
receivables are subject to credit evaluations. We periodically record a
provision for doubtful collections based on an evaluation of the collectability
of contract receivables by assessing, among other factors, the customer’s
willingness or ability to pay, repayment history, general economic conditions
and our ongoing relationship with the customers. We are currently involved in
six lawsuits in which we are suing other parties for overdue payments. The total
amount involved is US$3,201,424. We decided to record a general provision
for doubtful accounts amounting to $1.4 million in 2009, which management
believes is commensurate to cover the associated credit risk in the portfolio of
our construction contract related receivables. As of December 31, 2009,
our provision for doubtful accounts was $6.6 million, which was 6.9% of our
construction contract related receivables of $95.8 million. In addition to the
foregoing, we had a provision for contracts receivables that was reclassified as
“Other receivable” in the amount of approximately $9.9 million that represented
account receivables of a subsidiary, Techwell Engineering Ltd. (Techwell).
The receivables were acquired through our acquisition of the Techwell in
2007 and have been outstanding since acquisition. The receivables are
guaranteed by previous shareholders of Techwell if not paid within 24 months of
the acquisition. Accordingly, the provision was made and the receivable
amount was transferred to amount due from the shareholders under other
receivable balances.
45
Foreign
Currency Risk
The
Company’s functional currency is United States Dollar (USD), while certain
domestic subsidiaries use Renminbi (RMB) and Hong Kong and oversea subsidiaries’
use local currencies as their functional currency. The majority of
our operations are conducted in the PRC. Substantially all of our sales and
purchases are conducted within the PRC in RMB. Conversion of RMB into foreign
currencies is regulated by the People’s Bank of China through a unified floating
exchange rate system. Although the PRC government has stated its intention to
support the value of the RMB, there can be no assurance that such exchange rate
will not again become volatile or that the RMB will not devalue significantly
against the U.S. dollar. Exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect the
value, in U.S. dollar terms, of our net assets and income derived from our
operations in the PRC. In addition, the RMB is not freely convertible into
foreign currency and all foreign exchange transactions must take place through
authorized institutions.
Country
Risk
A
substantial portion of our business, assets and operations are located and
conducted in China. While China’s economy has experienced significant growth in
the past twenty years, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among
various sectors of the economy. The Chinese government has implemented various
measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources.
Some of these measures benefit the overall economy of China, but may also have a
negative effect on us. For example, our operating results and financial
condition may be adversely affected by government control over capital
investments or changes in tax regulations applicable to us. If there are any
changes in any policies by the Chinese government and our business is negatively
affected as a result, then our financial results, including our ability to
generate revenues and profits, will also be negatively affected.
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The
information required by this Item 8 is incorporated by reference to China
Architectural Engineering, Inc.’s Consolidated Financial Statements and
Independent Auditors’ Report beginning at page F-1 of this Form
10-K/A.
ITEM
9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure
controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to
ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we
file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified
in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls
and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to
ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we
file under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management,
including our principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate to
allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of the
end of the period covered by this Annual Report, we conducted an evaluation,
under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer
and Acting Chief Financial Officer, of our disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act). Based upon this evaluation,
our Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer concluded that
the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures identified certain material
weaknesses, as described below, that caused our controls and procedures to be
ineffective. Notwithstanding the existence of the material weaknesses
described below, management has concluded that the interim consolidated
financial statements in this Form 10-K/A fairly present, in all material
respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the
periods and dates presented.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting, as
defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f), is a process designed by, or under the
supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers and
effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, 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 and includes those policies and
procedures that:
|
·
|
Pertain to the maintenance of
records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of our
assets;
|
46
|
·
|
Provide reasonable assurance that
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance
with authorizations of our management and directors;
and
|
|
·
|
Provide reasonable assurance
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use
of disposition of our 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. 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. All internal control systems, no matter
how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems
determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to
financial statement preparation and presentation. Our management assessed the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December
31, 2009. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth
by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated
Framework. Based on this assessment, management believes that as of
December 31, 2009, our internal control over financial reporting is not
effective based on those criteria and due to material weaknesses.
These
material weaknesses primarily related (i) our restatements that we conducted in
May 2010 and (ii) one of our material operating subsidiaries, Techwell
Engineering Limited. (“Techwell”) that we acquired in November
2007.
Restatements
In May
2010, we discovered that certain of our previously filed quarterly and annual
reports contained errors that required correction and restatement. The
errors related to the timing of the interest expense related to the Company’s
outstanding $8,000,000 Variable Rate Convertible Bonds due 2012 and $20,000,000
12% Convertible Bonds due 2011 that resulted in overstatements and
understatements of the interest expenses related to the bonds during various
quarters before the second quarter of 2008. Due to the accounting
errors, the interest expense was overstated by approximately $0.3 million, $0.5
million, and $0.7 million for the second, third, and fourth quarters of fiscal
year 2007, respectively, for a total overstatement of approximately $1.5 million
for fiscal 2007. The interest expense was overstated by approximately $0.1
million in the first quarter of 2008 and all the overstatements, approximately
$1.6 million, were reversed in the second quarter of 2008. For the year
ended December 31, 2009, there was an overstatement of the interest expense of
$8,000 in the second quarter and an understatement of $6,000 during the third
quarter, for a total of overstatement of $2,000 for fiscal year 2009. The net
bonds payable amounts were presented correctly in the Company’s financial
statements as of December 31, 2008 and 2009, and it was only the components of
the Convertible Bonds that were restated, while the net payable amounts as of
December 31, 2007 was stated with correction of errors.
Additionally,
a correction was needed for the addition of an equity compensation charge in the
amount of $4,976 related to a portion of options granted in October 2009 that
the Company inadvertently omitted in the original Form 10-K filing.
Together with the overstatement of interest expenses of $2,000, the loss
for the year ended December 31, 2009 was understated by 2,983 and the retained
earnings as of December 31, 2009 was overstated by 2,983. Additionally,
$1.5 million of consolidation exchange loss resulted from the intercompany
investments elimination was incorrectly included in the additional paid in
capital instead of the accumulated comprehensive income presented in the
Stockholders’ Statement of Equity and Comprehensive Income for the year ended
December 31, 2009.
We
believe that the accounting errors were caused by lack of personnel with
expertise in US generally accepted accounting principles and SEC rules and
regulations, in addition to inadequate staffing and supervision that lead to the
untimely identification and resolution of accounting and disclosure matters and
failure to perform timely and effective reviews. We intend to take action to
remediate these deficiencies going forward.
Techwell
On
November 6, 2007, we acquired Techwell and its wholly owned subsidiaries,
Techwell Building Systems (Shenzhen) Ltd. in China and Techwell International
Ltd. in Macau. At the time, Techwell was a privately-held company and its
financial systems were not designed to facilitate the external financial
reporting required of a publicly held company under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002. In addition, Techwell’s accounting records were historically
maintained using accounting principles generally accepted in the People's
Republic of China, its personnel was not fully familiar with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
A
material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal
control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility
that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will
not be prevented or detected in a timely basis. We identified the
following material weaknesses:
|
1.
|
Techwell
lacked the technical expertise and processes to ensure compliance with our
policies and did not maintain adequate controls with respect to (a) timely
updating engineering budget and analysis, (b) coordination and
communication between Corporate Accounting and Engineering Staffs, and (c)
timely review and analysis of corporate journals recorded in the
consolidation process.
|
47
|
2.
|
Techwell
did not maintain a sufficient complement of personnel with an appropriate
knowledge and skill to comply with our specific engineering financial
accounting and reporting requirements and low materiality thresholds.
This was evidenced by a number of documents missing or not matching
with the records and contributed to the adjustment of financial results.
As evidenced by the significant number and magnitude of
out-of-period adjustments identified from Techwell during the period-end
closing process, management has concluded that the controls over the
period-end financial reporting process were not operating effectively.
Specifically, controls were not effective to ensure that significant
accounting estimates and other adjustments were appropriately reviewed,
analyzed, and monitored on a timely
basis.
|
|
3.
|
Techwell did not comply with our
authorization policy. This was evidenced by a number of expenses incurred
without appropriate authorization. This material weakness resulted in an
unauthorized and significant increase of expenses, which significantly
impacted our operating
results.
|
Remediation
Efforts
We are in
the process of developing and implementing remediation plans to address our
material weaknesses.
Restatements
We have
taken and intend to take the following actions to address the material
weaknesses and improve our internal controls over financial
reporting:
|
1.
|
We
are seeking to improve supervision, education, and training of our
accounting staff. We are also considering to engage third-party financial
consultants to review and analyze our financial statements and assist us
in improving our reporting of financial
information.
|
|
2
|
Management
intends to hire additional personnel with technical knowledge, experience
and training in the application of generally accepted accounting
principles commensurate with our financial reporting and U.S. GAAP
requirements.
|
|
3.
|
We
will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these improvements. We are
also considering to work with outside consultants in assessing and
improving our internal controls and procedures when
necessary.
|
|
4.
|
An
internal SOX 404 task force is being setting up in order to help the
company strengthening its controls and procedures on the financial
reporting.
|
Techwell
One key
change for us going forward will be the design and implementation of internal
controls over the accounting and oversight of all subsidiaries, including
enhanced accounting systems, processes, policies and procedures. We have
taken the following actions to address the material weaknesses and improve our
internal controls over financial reporting:
|
1.
|
On January 14, 2009, the board of
directors of Techwell passed a board resolution to replace management of
Techwell. We have appointed a new general manager to Techwell, as
well as three experienced project managers to the Dubai Metro
project.
|
|
2.
|
Management
has initiated a Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Section 404 Compliance
Assistance Project, which is intended to meet all requirements required by
SEC in our company and all of our subsidiaries. We engaged a consulting
firm to assist in the set-up of project and our staff thereafter continued
with its implementation.
|
|
3.
|
We
have established a dedicated and qualified internal control and audit team
to implement the policies and procedures to the standard of a US public
company.
|
|
4.
|
In
June 2009, we reorganized and restructured Techwell’s Corporate Accounting
by (a) modifying the reporting structure and establishing clear roles,
responsibilities, and accountability, (b) hiring skilled technical
accounting personnel to address our accounting and financial reporting
requirements, and (c) assessing the technical accounting capabilities in
the operating units to ensure the right complement of knowledge, skills,
and training.
|
48
|
5.
|
In
2009, we also reorganized and restructured the budgeting process by (a)
centralizing the procurement function to our company to ensure budgets and
analyses of Techwell are timely prepared and properly reviewed; (b)
implementing new policies and procedures to ensure that appropriate
communication and collaboration protocols among our Engineering,
Procurement and Corporate Accounting departments; and (c) hiring the
necessary technical procurement personnel to support complex procurement
activities. We have hired two experienced technical
procurement managers and expect to increase the headcount in the purchase
department in the future if
necessary.
|
|
6.
|
We
strengthened the period-end closing procedures of our operating
subsidiaries by (a) requiring all significant estimate transactions to be
reviewed by Corporate Accounting, (b) ensuring that account
reconciliations and analyses for significant financial statement accounts
are reviewed for completeness and accuracy by qualified accounting
personnel, (c) implementing a process that ensures the timely review and
approval of complex accounting estimates by qualified accounting personnel
and subject matter experts, where appropriate, and (d) developing better
monitoring controls at Corporate Accounting and the operating
units.
|
|
7.
|
In
September 2009, we hired a new Vice President of Finance who was later
appointed as our Acting Chief Financial Officer in November 2009. We
believe that the addition of this person will assist the strengthening of
the controls and procedures of our
company.
|
|
8.
|
In
December 2009, our Acting Chief Financial Officer lead an extensive review
of the controls and procedures of our company and developed a detailed
remediation and implementation plan for Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Section
404 compliance to be carried out starting in 2010, which is currently
underway.
|
This
annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public
accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting because
management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered
public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report
in this annual report.
Changes
in internal control over financial reporting
Due to
the implementation of the remedial measures to address the material weaknesses
identified above, there were changes in our internal controls over financial
reporting during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control
over financial reporting.
We
believe that we are taking the steps necessary for remediation of the material
weaknesses identified above, and we will continue to monitor the effectiveness
of these steps and to make any changes that our management deems
appropriate.
ITEM
9B. OTHER INFORMATION
On
October 5, 2009, we held a special meeting of stockholders called to approve the
sale and issuance of 17,000,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the
Securities Purchase Agreement dated August 6, 2009 (the “Private Placement”).
Of the 53,256,874 shares eligible to vote, 27,027,752 votes were returned,
which is more than 50% of the issued and outstanding common stock, constituting
a quorum. The votes returned do not include the 5,000,000 shares held by Nine
Dragon (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd. that abstained from the vote as the underlying
shares were related to the sale of the 17,000,000 shares. The results of
voting on the proposal was approved with 26,634,564 shares voted for, 372,851
voted against and 20,337 abstained from voting, thereby, approving the sale and
issuance of the 17,000,000 under the terms of the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
After
receipt of stockholder approval at the special meeting, we and the investors
sought to close the sales transaction, however, the investors insisted on
certain new and modified terms and conditions, including a change in the use of
proceeds as set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. After further
negotiations with the investors, we abandoned plans to conduct the Private
Placement and terminated our letter of intent to purchase land from Zhejiang
Nine Dragon Co. in connection with the Nine Dragons Resort Project. As
such, we may be required to seek funding through other means, such as public or
private financing or through collaborative arrangements with strategic partners.
We cannot be certain that additional capital will be available on
favorable terms, if at all, and any available additional financing may not be
adequate to meet our goals.
49
PART
III
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information
Concerning Director Nominees
The
following individuals constitute our board of directors and executive
management:
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
||
Luo
Ken Yi
|
52
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
|
||
Tang
Nianzhong
|
46
|
Vice
President, China Operations and Director
|
||
Gene
Michael Bennett
|
61
|
Acting
Chief Financial Officer
|
||
Ye
Ning
|
52
|
Vice
President
|
||
Li
Guoxing
|
35
|
General
Manager of Design
|
||
Wang
Zairong
|
57
|
Chief
Technology Officer
|
||
Feng
Shu
|
72
|
Research
and Development Supervisor
|
||
Charles
John Anderson
|
56
|
President,
U.S. Operations and Chief Operating Officer
|
||
Zheng
Jinfeng
|
73
|
Director
|
||
Zhao
Bao Jiang
|
69
|
Director
|
||
Kelly
Wang
|
39
|
Director
|
||
Miu
Cheung
|
40
|
Director
|
||
Chia
Yong Whatt
|
43
|
Director
|
Luo Ken Yi
has been Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company
since October 2006. He also served as the Company’s Chief Operating
Officer from October 2006 to June 2008. Mr. Luo has served as the Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Zhuhai King Glass Engineering
Co., Ltd. since 1992. Mr. Luo also served as the Chief Operating Officer
of Zhuhai King Glass Engineering Co., Ltd. from 1992 to June 2008. He
served as Project Manager and Production Manager at P.X. Engineering, Inc. in
the U.S from 1989 to 1991. Mr. Luo founded Kangbao Electronics Co., Ltd. in
Shunde, Guangdong, China, where he served as Chief Engineer, Technical Manager,
Vice Manager General and Deputy President from 1986 to 1989. Mr. Luo founded KGE
Group, Limited in 1992 and served as Chief Managing Director. Later, he studied
steel supported glass curtain wall design in the U.S. and Europe 1992 to 1994.
He was appointed Vice President of the Architectural Glass and Metal Structure
Institute of Qinghua University in 1999. In 2000 he was appointed by the Chinese
Ministry of Construction to head the committee on creating national standards
for the glass curtain wall industry. Mr. Luo and the Company own over 76 patents
related to building envelope systems technology. He was honored as one of the
“Ten Great Leaders in Technology” and has published numerous books and articles.
Luo Ken Yi studied Medicine at the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine,
graduating in 1983, and Mechanical Engineering at Bunker Hill Community College,
graduating in 1988. Mr. Luo received an MBA from Australia Murdoch University in
1998.
Tang
Nianzhong has been Vice President, China Operations and a Director of the
Company since October 2006. Since October 1995, he has also served as the
Vice President, China Operations and a Director of Zhuhai King Glass Engineering
Co., Ltd. since October 1995. From 1986 to 1994, he worked in the bone surgery
department of the Nanhai People’s Hospital in Foshan. From 1994 to 1995 he was
Vice General Manager of Foshan Xinhua Advertising Co., Ltd. In 1995 he joined
Zhuhai King Glass Engineering Co., Ltd., where he has served as Production
Manager, Sales Manager, Project Manager, Administration Manager and Vice General
Manager. Tang Nianzhong graduated from the Guangzhou University of Chinese
Medicine, Department of Medicine, in 1986. In 1999 he received his MBA from
Murdoch University in Australia.
Gene Michael
Bennett has served as the Acting Chief Financial Officer of the Company
since November 2009. Mr. Bennett served as the Company’s Vice President of
Finance from September 2009 to November 2009. From March 2009 to the
present, Mr. Bennett has served as the President of the American General
Business Association, Beijing Office, which provides companies with guidance on
funding, infrastructure and governance, strategic/business plans, and cross
border transactions. From June 2004 to June 2009, Mr. Bennett served as a
partner at Nexis Investment Consulting Corporation, which assists companies in
raising funds and in finding appropriate investments and merger and acquisition
candidates. From May 2000 to June 2004, Mr. Bennett served as a partner of
ProCFO, a provider of contract chief financial officer services. From 1998 to
2000, Mr. Bennett taught courses in accounting, tax and auditing as a professor
and lecturer at the University of Hawaii and Chaminade of Honolulu. Mr.
Bennett has also served as the Chief Financial Officer and as a member of the
board of Argonaut Computers, a provider of “information controller” equipment,
from 1993 to 1998. Mr. Bennett has also served as a professor at two
California universities and has served as a certified public accountant (“CPA”)
at Gerbel & Butzbagh. Mr. Bennett serves as the Chairman of the Audit
Committee of several US publicly reporting companies, including China AgriTech
Group, Inc. NASDAQ-OMX: CAGC), China Shenzhou Mining & Res., Inc.
(Amex:SHZ), and China Pharma Holding, Inc. (Amex:CPHI). Mr. Bennett holds a
degree in accounting and an MBA in finance from Michigan State University and is
a CPA (inactive).
50
Ye Ning
has been Vice President Company since October 2006 and Vice President and a
Director of Zhuhai King Glass Engineering Co., Ltd. since January 1993. Ye Ning
also served as a director of the Company form October 2006 to August 2009.
From 1983 to 1988 he served on the staff of the Guangzhou Institute of
Physical Education. From 1988 to 1993 he worked in the orthopedics department of
the Nanhai People’s Hospital in Foshan. In 1993 he joined Zhuhai King Glass
Engineering Co., Ltd, where he has served as Project Manager, Operations
Manager, Purchasing Manager and Vice General Manager. Ye Ning graduated from the
Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Department of Medicine in
1983.
Li Guoxing
has served as our General Manager of Design since October 2006 and as the Vice
General Manager of Design of Zhuhai King Glass Engineering Co., Ltd since 2001.
In 1998 he joined Zhuhai King Glass Engineering Co., Ltd, where he has worked
and served as Designer, Chief Engineer, and Leader of the Design Institute prior
to becoming its Vice General Manager of Design. From 1996 to 1998 he was a
designer at the Guizhou Chemical Design Institute. Li Guoxing graduated from
Guizhou Technology University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1996 and
earned an MBA from the Royal Canadian College in 2003.
Wang
Zairong has served as our Chief Technology Officer since October 2006 and
has served as the Chief Technology Officer and General Engineer of Full Art
International, Ltd. since October 2003. He has also served as Full Art’s Factory
Director of Production since February 2003. From August 2001 to February 2003,
he served as Full Art’s Vice Manager of Engineering (Beijing Branch). Prior to
that, he served as Full Art’s Scheduling Officer of Engineering from August 1999
to August 2001 and its Production Manager from August 1997 to August 1999. From
1993 to 1997 he was Senior Engineer and Vice General Manager of Technology at
Yuantongqiao (Huizhou) Industrial Co., Ltd. From 1982 to 1993 Mr. Wang was a
System Structure Designer at the Xi’an Aerospace Ministry. From 1980 to 1982 he
was a mechanical designer at Xi’an Physics and Space Research Institute and from
1977 to 1979 he was a mechanical designer at Xi’an Research Institute of
Mechanical Engineering. Wang Zairong graduated Qinghua University with a degree
in Mechanical Engineering in 1977.
Feng Shu
has served as our Research and Development Supervisor since October 2006 and has
served as the Research and Development Supervisor of Zhuhai King Glass
Engineering Co., Ltd. since May 1998. She graduated from the Civil Engineering
Department of National Qinghua University in 1960. She is a member of the
Construction Glass and Metal Structure Research Committee of National Qinghua
University and is a professor at the Civil Engineering Academy of Nanchang
University. Feng Shu joined us in 1998, where she has served as Supervisor of
Research and Development. She is also Administrative Director and Secretary
General of Jiangxi Mechanics Academy and Vice Superintendent of Jiangxi Huajie
Architecture Design Co., Ltd.
Charles John
Anderson has served as President of CAE Building Systems, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, since February 2008 and as Chief
Operating Officer of the Company since June 2008. He has worked in the building
envelope industry for more than 33 years. His career began in 1974 and he has
experience in sales, estimating, engineering, manufacturing, testing, quality
control, installation, project management, contract administration and executive
management. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Anderson worked as a senior
consultant for Israel Berger & Associates, LLC, specializing in building
envelope evaluation. From 1996 to 2004, Mr. Anderson worked for Glassalum
International Corporation, a custom curtain wall manufacturing and installation
company, where he was responsible for coordinating engineering, manufacturing
and project management activities. While at Glassalum International Corporation,
Mr. Anderson served in various positions, including President and Chief
Operating Officer. In 1987, Mr. Anderson founded Building Research, Inc., which
provided consulting, testing and inspection services from inception to 1992. Mr.
Anderson also worked for other companies in the curtain wall and related
industries, including Midwest Curtain walls, Inc., Ampat Group, Inc.,
Construction Research Laboratory, Inc., and Miami Testing Laboratory,
Inc.
Zheng
Jinfeng has served as a director of the Company since July 2007. Since
2000, Mr. Zheng has served as the chief engineer of the China Construction Metal
Structure Association and the Aluminum Door, Window and Curtain Wall
Association. Since that time he has also served as the chief technology expert
on the Technology Expert Committee of the Chinese Construction Department. Since
2000 Mr. Zheng has also served as the President of the China Association of City
Planning and the Vice president of the All-China Environment From 1988 to 2000,
Mr. Zheng was the vice-president and secretary-general of the China Construction
Metal Structure Association and a director of the Aluminum Door, Window and
Curtain Wall Association. From 1979 to 1988, Mr. Zheng was the deputy director
of the Metal Structure Office of the Chinese Construction Metal Structure Office
and a vice-president of the China Construction Metal Structure Association. Mr.
Zheng has a degree in Architecture and Mechanical Engineering from the Tangshan
Tiedao Institute. We believe that Mr. Zheng is qualified to serve as a
member of our board of directors due to Mr. Zheng extensive experience in the
construction industry and specifically in the glass curtain wall
sector.
Zhao Bao
Jiang has served as a director of the Company since July 2007. Since
2003, Mr. Zhao has served as president of the China Association of City
Planning, vice-president of the China Association of Mayors, and vice-president
of the China Environmental Protection Federation. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Zhao
served as vice minister of the Ministry of Construction of China. From 1993 to
1997, Mr. Zhao was the vice-governor of the Hubei province and mayor of Wuhan
city. From 1985 to 1993, Mr. Zhao served as vice mayor, of Wuhan. Mr. Zhao
graduated from the Department of Agriculture of Qinghua University in 1966.
We believe that Mr. Zhao is qualified to serve as a member of our board of
directors due to Mr. Zhao history of public service and experience in the public
works industry.
Kelly
Wang has
served as a director of the Company since July 2007. Since March 2007, Ms. Wang
has served as the manager in Financial Reporting for Starbucks Corporation.
Prior to joining Starbucks, Ms. Wang served as the manager of technical
accounting and SEC reporting of Flow International Corporation from August 2005
to March 2007. From May 2001 to August 2005, Ms. Wang was an assurance manager
at Ernst & Young LLP. Ms. Wang received a B.S. in International Finance from
the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in 1992 and an MBA from the
University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1997 and is a certified public accountant in
California and Washington. We believe that Ms. Wang is qualified to serve
as a member of our board of directors due to expertise and background with
respect to accounting matters and her valuable experience as a
CPA.
51
Miu Cheung
has served as a director of the Company since June 10, 2008. Since May 1999, Mr.
Cheung has been with CITC Capital Holdings, Ltd., (“CITIC”) currently serving as
its Managing Director and Head of the Structured Finance Group. Prior to joining
CITIC, he had worked with Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Société Générale Asia
Ltd and Bank of China (Hong Kong). He received an MBA from the Australian
Graduate School of Management in 1997 and a Bachelor’s of Business
Administration (Finance) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1992. Mr.
Cheung is also a director of CITIC Capital Finance Ltd. and CITIC Allco
Investments Management Limited. We believe that Mr. Cheung is qualified to
serve as a member of our board of directors due to knowledge of the finance
industry.
Chia Yong
Whatt has served as a director of the Company since June 2009. From
April 2002 to March 2008, Mr. Chia served as a director and member of senior
management of Messrs. Chong Chia & Lim LLC, which is a law corporation.
Mr. Chia also has served as a member of the Board and Audit Committee
member of each of Sim Siang Choon Limited and FM Holdings Limtied from August
2008 and September 2000, respectively. Mr. Chia received his Bachelor of
Law from the National University of Singapore in 1990.We believe that Mr. Whatt
is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors due to his knowledge
of the law and experience acting as a director of publicly traded
companies.
Family
Relationships
There are
no family relationships among the individuals comprising our Board of Directors
and executive officers.
Legal
Proceedings
None of
the nominees nor any director or executive officer has been involved in the
certain legal proceedings listed in Item 401 of Regulation
S-K.
The
Board of Directors and Committees
Subject
to certain exceptions, under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market
LLC (“NASDAQ”), a listed company’s board of directors must consist of a majority
of independent directors. Currently, our board of directors has determined
that each of the non-management directors, Zheng Jinfeng, Zhao Bao Jiang, Kelly
Wang and Chia Yong Whatt, is an “independent” director as defined by the listing
standards of NASDAQ currently in effect and approved by the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
All members of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committees satisfy the “independence” standards applicable to members
of each such committee. The board of directors made this affirmative
determination regarding these directors’ independence based on discussions with
the directors and on its review of the directors’ responses to a standard
questionnaire regarding employment and compensation history; affiliations,
family and other relationships; and transactions with the Company. The board of
directors considered relationships and transactions between each director or any
member of his immediate family and the Company and its subsidiaries and
affiliates. The purpose of the board of director’s review with respect to each
director was to determine whether any such relationships or transactions were
inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent under the
NASDAQ rules.
Board
Committees
Audit
Committee
We
established our audit committee in July 2007. The audit committee consists of
Zheng Jinfeng, Zhao Bao Jiang, and Kelly Wang, each of whom is an independent
director. Kelly Wang is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under
Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K. The purpose of the audit committee is to
represent and assist our board of directors in its general oversight of our
accounting and financial reporting processes, audits of the financial statements
and internal control and audit functions. The audit committee’s responsibilities
include:
|
·
|
The appointment, replacement,
compensation, and oversight of work of the independent auditor, including
resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor
regarding financial reporting, for the purpose of preparing or issuing an
audit report or performing other audit, review or attest
services.
|
|
·
|
Reviewing and discussing with
management and the independent auditor various topics and events that may
have significant financial impact on our company or that are the subject
of discussions between management and the independent
auditors.
|
52
The audit
committee charter is posted in the corporate governance section of the investor
relations page of the Company’s Web site located at www.caebuilding.com.
Compensation
Committee
We
established our Compensation Committee June 2009. The Compensation Committee
consists of Chia Yong Whatt and Zheng Jinfeng, each of whom is an independent
director. Chia Yong Whatt is the Chairman of the Compensation Committee. The
Compensation Committee is responsible for the design, review, recommendation and
approval of compensation arrangements for our directors, executive officers and
key employees, and for the administration of our equity incentive plans,
including the approval of grants under such plans to our employees, consultants
and directors. The Compensation Committee also reviews and determines
compensation of our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer.
The board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation
Committee. A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is posted on our
corporate website at: www.caebuilding.com.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Chia Yong Whatt and
Zheng Jinfeng, each of whom is an independent director. Zheng Jinfeng is the
Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee assists in the selection of director
nominees, approves director nominations to be presented for stockholder approval
at our annual general meeting and fills any vacancies on our board of directors,
considers any nominations of director candidates validly made by stockholders,
and reviews and considers developments in corporate governance practices. The
board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. A copy of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee Charter is posted on our corporate website at: www.caebuilding.com.
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our Board
of Directors has adopted a code of ethics, which applies to all our directors,
officers and employees. Our code of ethics is intended to comply with the
requirements of Item 406 of Regulation S-K. Our code of ethics is posted on our
Internet website at www.caebuilding.com.
We will provide our code of ethics in print without charge to any stockholder
who makes a written request to: Chief Financial Officer, China Architectural
Engineering, Inc., 105 Baishi Road, Jiuzhou West Avenue, Zhuhai 519070, People’s
Republic of China. Any waivers of the application and any amendments to our code
of ethics must be made by our board of directors. Any waivers of, and any
amendments to, our code of ethics will be disclosed promptly on our Internet
website.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)
requires our directors and executive officers to file reports of holdings and
transactions in our stock with the SEC. Based on a review of written
representations from our executive officers and directors, we believe that
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, our directors, officers and
owners of more than 10% of our common stock complied with all applicable filing
requirements.
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
Prior to
August 2009, we were considered a “controlled company” pursuant to Rule
4350(c)(5) of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, as one of our stockholders, KGE
Group Limited, owned more than 50% of our voting power. As a result, we
were exempt from certain corporate governance requirements as a listed company
on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, including the requirement that our executive
compensation be determined by a majority of our independent directors. We
formed our compensation committee in June 2009. Prior to the formation of
our compensation committee, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board, Luo Ken Yi, determined the compensation for our executive officers that
was earned and paid in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007 and our Board of Directors, as
a whole, approved the compensation.
The
compensation committee formed by our Board of Directors in June 2009 is
comprised of non-employee directors. The compensation committee will
perform, at least annually, a strategic review of the compensation program for
our executive officers to determine whether it provides adequate incentives and
motivation to our executive officers and whether it adequately compensates our
executive officers relative to comparable officers in other companies with which
we compete for executives. Those companies may or may not be public
companies or companies located in the PRC or even, in all cases, companies in a
similar business.
In 2010,
our compensation committee will determine compensation levels for our executive
officers. Compensation for our current executive officers is determined
with the goal of attracting and retaining high quality executive officers and
encouraging them to work as effectively as possible on our behalf. Key areas of
corporate performance taken into account in setting compensation policies and
decisions are growth of sales, cost control, profitability, and innovation. The
key factors may vary depending on which area of business on which a particular
executive officer’s work is focused. Compensation is designed to reward
executive officers for successfully meeting their individual functional
objectives and for their contributions to our overall development. For these
reasons, the elements of compensation of our executive officers are salary and
bonus. Salary is paid to cover an appropriate level of living expenses for the
executive officers and the bonus is paid to reward the executive officer for
individual and company achievement. Accordingly, the amount of salary received
by our executive officers has traditionally been lower than the amount of the
bonus.
53
With
respect to the amount of a bonus, the compensation committee evaluates our
company’s achievements for the fiscal year based on performance factors and
results of operations such as revenues generated, cost of revenues, net income,
and whether we obtain significant contracts. The compensation committee also
conducts a monthly and annual evaluation of the achievement level of an
executive based on individual performance measurements, such as contribution to
the achievement of the company’s goals and individual performance metrics based
on their positions and responsibilities. Bonuses are paid at the end of each
fiscal year.
We
believe that long-term performance is aided by the use of stock-based awards,
which we believe create an ownership culture among our named executive officers
that fosters beneficial, long-term performance by our company. On June 12,
2009, our stockholders approved the China Architectural Engineering, Inc. 2009
Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which was previously adopted by our Board
of Directors on April 30, 2009. The Plan, as amended by our Board of
Directors on June 19, 2009, has a total of 2,000,000 shares of common stock
available for grant under the Plan. We believe an equity incentive plan
provides our employees, including our named executive officers, as well as our
directors and consultants, with incentives to help align their interests with
the interests of stockholders. The Compensation Committee believes that the use
of stock-based awards promotes our overall executive compensation objectives and
expects that stock options will become a significant source of compensation for
our executives.
We do not
have a general equity grant policy with respect to the size and terms of option
grants, but our Compensation Committee will evaluate our achievements for the
fiscal year based on performance factors and results of operations such as
revenues generated, cost of revenues, and net income. We do not currently have
established quantitative targets.
On
January 18, 2010, we approved the issuance of a total of 1.9 million shares of
restricted stock (the “Restricted Stock
Grants”) to certain of our officers, directors, and key employees under
the China Architectural Engineering, Inc. 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the
“Plan”), which
was previously approved by our stockholders at the 2009 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. As approved, the Restricted Stock Grants were subject to and
contingent upon the Company’s filing of a registration statement on Form S-8
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which occurred on January 21, 2010.
Included in the Restricted Stock Grants were issuances to the executive
officers and members of the Board of Directors, as set forth below.
Name
|
Position
|
No.
of Shares of Restricted
Stock
|
||||
Luo
Ken Yi
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
|
160,000 | ||||
Charles
John Anderson
|
President,
U.S. Operations and Chief Operating Officer
|
200,000 | ||||
Tang
Nianzhong
|
Vice
President, China Operations and Director
|
152,000 | ||||
Ye
Ning
|
Vice
President
|
150,000 | ||||
Li
Guoxing
|
General
Manager of Design
|
151,000 | ||||
Wang
Zairong
|
Chief
Technology Officer
|
10,000 | ||||
Feng
Shu
|
Research
and Development Supervisor
|
9,000 | ||||
Zheng
Jinfeng
|
Director
|
30,000 | ||||
Zhao
Bao Jiang
|
Director
|
30,000 | ||||
Kelly
Wang
|
Director
|
30,000 | ||||
Miu
Cheung
|
Director
|
15,000 | ||||
Chia
Yong Whatt
|
Director
|
6,000 |
As
granted, the Restricted Stock Grants were set to vest such that ¼ would vest on
March 31, 2010, ¼ would vest on June 30, 2010, ¼ would vest on September 30,
2010, and the remaining ¼ would vest on December 31, 2010, except for the
Restricted Stock Grant that was made to Charles John Anderson, which will vest
100% upon the date of grant. The vesting of the grants were subject to the
terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Agreement entered into by and
between the recipients and us. In the first quarter of 2010, we opted to
accelerate vesting of the restricted stock awards so that they became fully
vested immediately. Since becoming a public company in the United States
in 2007, we had not regularly made equity compensation grants and began to make
sure grants in 2010, and the grant of the awards was to reward our officers,
directors, and employees for their contributions to our company’s establishment
as a public company and encourage continued support of our company. We
intend to use equity compensation in the future as a means to compensate our
officers, directors, and employees.
We
believe that the salaries, bonuses and equity compensation paid to our executive
officers during 2009, 2008, and 2007 are indicative of the objectives of our
compensation program and reflect the fair value of the services provided to our
company, as measured by the local market in China, Hong Kong, the United States
and those other areas where our executive officers may work. We determine market
rate by conducting a comparison with the local geographic area averages and
industry averages these countries. Raises for executive officers may be
based on the increased amount of responsibilities to be assumed by each of the
executive officers as we expand our operations and continue as a publicly
reporting company.
54
Executive
compensation for 2010 will follow the same evaluation methods as were used for
2009. We may adjust our bonus evaluations upwards, but, in such case, we do not
intend to increase it by more than five percent.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth information concerning the compensation for the three
fiscal years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 of the principal executive
officer, principal financial officer, in addition to, as applicable, our three
most highly compensated officers whose annual compensation exceeded $100,000,
and up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been
required but for the fact that the individual was not serving as our executive
officer at the end of the last fiscal year (collectively, the “Named Executive
Officers”).
Name and Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Options
Awards
($)(1)
|
All other
compensation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
||||||||||||||||
Luo
Ken Yi
|
2009
|
187,887 | - | - | - | 187,887 | ||||||||||||||||
Chief
Executive Officer and
|
2008
|
114,957 | - | - | - | 114,957 | ||||||||||||||||
Chairman
of the Board
|
2007
|
57,423 | - | - | - | 57,423 | ||||||||||||||||
Gene
Michael Bennett (2)
|
2009
|
37,636 | - | 24,878 | - | 62,514 | ||||||||||||||||
Acting
Chief Financial Officer
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Li
Chengcheng (2)
|
2009
|
90,057 | - | - | - | 90,057 | ||||||||||||||||
Former
Chief Financial Officer
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Albert
Jan Grisel (2)
|
2009
|
79,375 | - | - | - | (3) | 79,375 | |||||||||||||||
Former
Chief Financial Officer
|
2008
|
69,270 | - | - | 7,280 | (3) | 76,550 | |||||||||||||||
Charles
John Anderson (4)
|
2009
|
265,943 | - | (5) | - | 12,000 | (6) | 277,943 | ||||||||||||||
President
of CAE Building Systems, Inc.
|
2008
|
209,000 | 27,000 | (5) | - | 12,000 | (6) | 248,000 | ||||||||||||||
and
Chief Operating Officer
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Ye
Ning
|
2009
|
138,866 | - | - | - | 138,866 | ||||||||||||||||
Vice
President
|
2008
|
100,032 | - | - | - | 100,032 | ||||||||||||||||
2007
|
49,220 | - | - | - | 49,220 | |||||||||||||||||
Tang
Nianzhong
|
2009
|
138,866 | - | - | - | 138,866 | ||||||||||||||||
Vice
President, China Operations
|
2008
|
100,032 | - | - | - | 100,032 | ||||||||||||||||
and
Director
|
2007
|
49,220 | - | - | - | 49,220 |
(1)
|
The amounts disclosed reflect the
value of awards for grants of non-qualified stock options. These
non-qualified stock options are performance-based compensation for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and reflect the
full grant date fair values in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For
assumptions used in calculation of option awards, see our consolidated
financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31,
2009.
|
(2)
|
Mr. Bennett has served as the
Acting Chief Financial Officer of the Company since November 2009.
Mr. Bennett served as the Company’s Vice President of Finance from
September 2009 to November 2009. Li Chengcheng served as our Chief
Financial Officer from March 2009 to November 2009. Albert Jan
Grisel served as our Chief Financial Officer from October 2008 through
March 2009.
|
55
(3)
|
Mr. Grisel received an aggregate
transportation allowance of $Nil and $6,730 in 2009 and 2008,
respectively. In addition, we paid for club membership fees equal to $Nil
and $550 for the benefit of Mr. Grisel in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The
foregoing amounts are included in “All Other
Compensation.”
|
(4)
|
Mr. Anderson became president of
CAE Building Systems, Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, in
February 2008 and Chief Operating Officer of the Company in June
2008.
|
(5)
|
Represents sales commission
earned.
|
(6)
|
Mr. Anderson received an
aggregate automobile allowance of $12,000 and $12,000 in 2009 and 2008,
respectively. The foregoing amounts are included in “All Other
Compensation.”
|
Grants
of Plan-Based Awards in 2009
The
following table summarizes our awards made to our named executive officers in
2009.
Grant
Date(1)
|
Number
of
Shares
of
Common
Stock
Underlying
Options
|
Exercise
of
Base
Price of
the
Options
Award
($/Sh)
|
Grant
date of
Fair
Value of
Stock
and
Options
Awarded
($)(2)
|
||||||||||
Gene
Michael Bennett
|
October
5, 2009(1)
|
100,000
|
1.56
|
24,878
|
(1)
|
The
options were granted pursuant to an Employment Agreement entered into with
Mr. Bennett. See page 57 at “Employment Agreements-Gene
Michael Bennett” on page 57 for additional
information.
|
(3)
|
Valuation
assumptions are found in Note 2 in our Financial Statements contained in
this Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2009 under “Note
3—Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies”.
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards at 2009 Fiscal Year End
The
following table presents the outstanding equity awards held by each of the Named
Executive Officers as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
|
|
Option Awards
|
|||||||||||||||
Name
|
|
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)
exercisable
|
|
|
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised options
(#) unexercisable
|
|
|
Equity incentive
plan awards:
Number of securities
underlying
unexercised
unearned options (#)
|
|
|
Option
exercise
price ($)
|
|
Option
expiration date
|
||||
Gene
Michael Bennett
|
20,000
|
80,000
|
-
|
1.56
|
10/5/2012
|
(1)
|
Mr. Bennett received options to
purchase 100,000 shares of common stock on October 5, 2009. The
options vest at the rate of 10,000 per month beginning on November 27,
2010.
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2009
There
were no option exercises or stock vested in 2009.
Pension
Benefits
There
were no pension benefit plans in effect in 2009.
Nonqualified
Defined Contribution and Other Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Plans
There
were no nonqualified defined contribution or other nonqualified deferred
compensation plans in effect in 2009.
Employment
Agreements
We have
entered into PRC standard employment agreements with many of employees,
including the following persons and terms:
|
·
|
Luo Ken Yi is paid $61,466
annually pursuant to a three-year agreement that expires on December 31,
2012;
|
|
·
|
Tang Nianzhong is paid $61,466
annually pursuant to an agreement with no expiry
term;
|
|
·
|
Ye Ning is paid $61,466 annually
pursuant to an agreement with no expiry
term;
|
|
·
|
Li Guoxing is paid $52,685
annually pursuant to an agreement with no expiry
term;
|
|
·
|
Wang Zairong is paid $14,049
annually pursuant to an agreement with no expiry term;
and
|
56
|
·
|
Feng Shu is paid $13,347 annually
pursuant to an agreement with no expiry
term.
|
Pursuant
to each of the foregoing person’s employment agreement with us, we also agreed
to pay for we may terminate the agreement if, among other things, the executive
neglects his or her duties, violates our rules and regulations, is convicted of
a criminal, or undergoes bankruptcy. In addition, none of the agreements provide
for severance upon termination.
Gene
Michael Bennett
On
October 5, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement (the “Bennett Agreement”)
with our then Vice President of Finance, Gene Michael Bennett. The Bennett
Agreement has an effective date of September 28, 2009. According to the
Bennett Agreement, Mr. Bennett will receive an annual base salary of US$180,000.
Mr. Bennett will also be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable business
expenses, two weeks of paid vacation annually, a housing allowance equal to
10,000 RMB (which is equal to approximately US$1,470) per month, and payment of
certain dues to professional associations and societies, as approved by the
Company.
Pursuant
to the Bennett Agreement, Mr. Bennett received a sign-on bonus of stock options
exercisable into 100,000 shares of common stock (the “Initial Options”),
which vest at the rate of 10,000 of the underlying shares per month, with the
first vesting of 10,000 shares occurring on November 27, 2009 and the last
vesting of 10,000 options ending upon the total vested being 100,000. Mr.
Bennett entered into a Stock Option Agreement on October 5, 2009 for the Initial
Options, pursuant to which the options are exercisable at $1.56 per share and
have a term of five years. Pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement, (i)
upon termination of service for any reason, any non-vested portion of the option
expires immediately; (ii) upon termination of service due to death or
disability, the vested portion of the option is exercisable by the Mr. Bennett
(or, in the event of the Mr. Bennett’s death, the Mr. Bennett’s beneficiary) for
one year after the Mr. Bennett’s termination; and (iii) upon termination of
service for any reason other than death or disability, the vested portion of the
option is exercisable for a period of 90 days following Mr. Bennett’s
Termination, provided, however, that all options, whether vested or unvested,
will terminate immediately for termination for cause, as defined in the
Employment Agreement.
Pursuant
to the Bennett Agreement, Mr. Bennett will also receive an annual grant of stock
options on each of September 28, 2010 and September 28, 2011, where the number
of shares underlying the options will be determined by the following
formula:
(100,000)
|
X
|
(Average
Closing Trading Price of a share of the Company’s common stock as reported
by NASDAQ during the 30 calendar days immediately preceding the respective
anniversary date)
|
(Exercise
Price of the Initial
Options)
|
On each
of September 28th of 2012, 2013, and 2014, Mr. Bennett will receive additional
grants of stock options with the underlying number of shares to be determined
with the same formula as the Initial Options except that the denominator will be
based on the average closing trading price of the Company’s common stock during
the 30 calendar days immediately preceding September 28th of the previous year,
per the formula as follows:
(100,000)
|
X
|
(Average
Closing Trading Price of a share of the Company’s common stock as reported
by NASDAQ during the 30 calendar days immediately preceding the respective
anniversary date)
|
(Average
Closing Trading Price of a share of the Company’s common stock as reported
by NASDAQ during the 30 calendar days immediately preceding September 28th
of the previous
year)
|
The
Bennett Agreement has a term of five years and will expire on September 27,
2014, unless the Bennett Agreement is terminated earlier or extended by mutual
agreement of the parties pursuant to the terms of the Bennett Agreement.
The Company’s Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, and with or
without cause, terminate the Bennett Agreement upon notice with a majority of
vote of the Board. In the event of such termination, Mr. Bennett would be
entitled to receive his then-monthly base salary for the month in which his
employment was terminated and for two consecutive months thereafter as an agreed
upon severance payment; provided that, however, that Mr. Bennett signs a release
and waiver agreement upon termination of his employment.
Mr.
Bennett may terminate the Bennett Agreement with 90 days’ prior written notice
in the event that we materially reduce his duties or authority, unless the 90
days’ notice is waived in writing by us. Mr. Bennett may also, in his
discretion, terminate the Bennett Agreement if there is a change of control of
the Company, as defined in the Bennett Agreement. In these events, Mr.
Bennett would be entitled to the Severance Payments, conditioned upon the
execution of a release and waiver agreement. During the term of the
Bennett Agreement and for 24 months thereafter, Mr. Bennett agreed not to
solicit clients or employees from us and not to compete against us in the Asia
Pacific.
57
Li
Chengcheng
On March
30, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Li as our Chief
Financial Officer. The agreement had a probationary period of three months,
during which either party could terminate the agreement with no notice during
the first month and seven days’ notice thereafter. After Mr. Li’s successful
completion of the probationary period, either party could terminate the
agreement with two months’ notice. In the event of negligence, misconduct, and
other similar actions or events, we could terminate Mr. Li’s employment without
notice. According to the agreement, Mr. Li received an initial annual base
salary of $120,000, to be reviewed for adjustment after two years. Upon
successful completion of the probationary period, Mr. Li was entitled to a
$30,000 bonus. In addition, during the first two years of service under the
agreement, Mr. Li was entitled to a cash bonus of 6% of a bonus pool, which is
defined in the agreement as 0.3% of our total revenue plus 5% of the after-tax
profit, as shown in our consolidated accounts. Any such cash bonus was
conditional on Mr. Li being employed by us at the end of the relevant year. Any
bonus was to be paid within three months after the audit report was available
for financial years 2009 and 2010. Furthermore, after completing the first year
of employment under the agreement, Mr. Li was entitled to receive 50,000 shares
of our common stock; provided that, however, Mr. Li was still employed by us at
the end of the year. Mr. Li agreed not to compete with us, have business
dealings with, or solicit or interfere with the relationship of, our clients or
prospective clients during his employment or within six months after termination
of his employment, except where we wrongfully terminate Mr. Li’s employment.
Effective November 6, 2009, we terminated Mr. Li’s employment agreement
and Mr. Li ceased to serve as our Chief Financial Officer. We terminated
the agreement with payment in lieu of two months’ notice pursuant to the
agreement.
Albert
Jan Grisel
On
January 12, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement with our Chief
Financial Officer, Albert Jan Grisel, effective as of October 16, 2008.
According to the agreement, Mr. Grisel, as the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, would receive an initial annual base salary of HKD$1,852,500, which is
approximately US$239,000. The annual base salary would be reviewed every two
years after the effective date of the agreement. In addition, Mr. Grisel would
receive a cash bonus of US$37,500 for the year ended December 31, 2008 and
US$150,000 for the year ending December 31, 2009, payable within three months
after the relevant financial year. Mr. Grisel would also receive a one-time
payment of US$75,000 and a certain number of shares of the Company’s common
stock to be determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee or Board of
Directors. Mr. Grisel would also receive 50,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock and 50,000 options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock on the
12th,
24th
and 36th month
of his continued service with the Company. The options shall have a six-year
term and an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common
stock on the NASDAQ stock market on the date of the grant of the options. The
share and option grants would be subject to anti-dilution protection such that
the number of shares that Mr. Grisel would receive would be adjusted if
additional shares of common stock are issued and outstanding as of the date of
grant. He would also receive medical and disability insurance from the Company.
Mr. Grisel will also receive a transportation allowance of HK$15,000 payable
monthly.
During
the term of the agreement and for six months thereafter, Mr. Grisel agreed not
to solicit clients or employees from the Company and not to compete against the
Company in Hong Kong. Either party may terminate the agreement for any reason
upon providing three months’ written notice to the other party or by the Company
by payment in lieu of notice. The Company may terminate the agreement
immediately without notice or payment in lieu of notice in accordance with
Section 9 of the Employment Ordinance of Hong Kong. The Company may terminate
the agreement upon seven days’ written notice in the event Mr. Grisel for a
limited number of permitted reasons, such as criminal convictions. If the
Company terminates the agreement other than in accordance with Section 9 of the
Employment Ordinance of Hong Kong or for one of the Permitted Reasons, Mr.
Grisel is entitled to six months’ salary, including a pro rata portion of the
share and option grants and cash bonus, in addition to any payment in lieu of
notice. Mr. Grisel resigned as CFO of our company on March 31, 2009 to become
the Vice President of KGE Group Ltd., the single largest shareholder of our
Company.
Charles
John Anderson
We
entered into an employment agreement with Charles John Anderson on March 12,
2008. Mr. Anderson’s employment agreement has a term of five years and it will
automatically renew for successive one-year periods thereafter unless either
party provides 180-day prior written notice or unless terminated earlier in
accordance with agreement. During the term of the Anderson Agreement, either
party may terminate the agreement with 120-day prior written notice. According
to the Anderson Agreement, Mr. Anderson will receive an annual base salary of
$190,000, in addition to a commission that will be based on all cash received by
the Company on all sales of our goods or services made pursuant to contracts
originated primarily as the result of the efforts of Mr. Anderson during the
term of the agreement (“Employee Sales”). Mr. Anderson will receive a cash
payment equal to one-half percent (0.50%) of Employee Sales up to $20 million
per annum. Mr. Anderson’s commission rate is adjusted to one-quarter percent
(0.25 %) for Employee Sales in excess of $20 million per annum. Mr. Anderson
will receive his commission payments in three installments, as follows: (i) the
first payment will be 50% of the total commissions for a contract and will be
paid once we receive the first payment from the customer, provided that,
however, the first payment on each contract cannot exceed a total of US$100,000;
(ii) the second payment will be 80% of total commissions, on a cumulative basis,
of a such contract, including any amounts paid in the first payment, and will be
paid once we receive payment of at least 50% of the total payments due under the
contract; and (iii) the third and final payment will be for the remaining 20% of
the total commissions for the contract and will be paid once we receive the last
payment from the customer.
58
Mr.
Anderson will also receive each year a number of shares of our common stock that
is equal to (i) twice the amount of Mr. Anderson’s total commissions on US sales
for the year divided by (ii) the closing trading price of our common stock on
December 31 on such year; provide that, however, the US sales for purposes of
this calculation will be capped at $50 million. All shares received by Mr.
Anderson will be subject to a twelve-month lock up restriction. Mr. Anderson
will be eligible to receive an annual bonus at the sole discretion of the Chief
Executive Officer and Board of Directors.
Equity
Incentive Plans
2009
Omnibus Incentive Plan
On June
12, 2009, our stockholders approved the China Architectural Engineering, Inc.
2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”). Our Board of Directors approved
the 2009 Plan subject to the stockholders’ approval on April 30, 2009. The
2009 Plan, as originally approved by the Board and stockholders, the 2009 Plan
reserved a total of 5.0 million shares authorized for issuance under the 2009
Plan. On June 17, 2009, the Board amended the plan to reduced the number
of shares authorized for issuance under the 2009 Plan to a total of 2.0 million
shares. Pursuant to the terms of the 2009 Plan and NASDAQ rules, no
stockholder approval of the amendment to the 2009 Plan was
required.
The Board
may at any time amend or terminate the 2009 Plan, provided that no such action
may be taken that adversely affects any rights or obligations with respect to
any awards theretofore made under the 2009 Plan without the consent of the
recipient. No awards may be made under the 2009 Plan after the tenth
anniversary of its effective date. Certain provisions of the Incentive
Plan relating to performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Code will
expire on the fifth anniversary of the effective date. Awards under the
Incentive Plan may include incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options,
stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted shares of common stock,
restricted stock units, performance share or unit awards, other stock-based
awards and cash-based incentive awards.
The 2009
Plan is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Board has
the authority to determine, within the limits of the express provisions of the
2009 Plan, the individuals to whom awards will be granted, the nature, amount
and terms of such awards and the objectives and conditions for earning such
awards. The Board generally has discretion to delegate its authority under
the 2009 Plan to a committee of the Board or a subcommittee, or to such other
party or parties, including officers of the Company, as the Board deems
appropriate. The Board may grant awards to any employee, director,
consultant or other person providing services to the Company or its affiliates.
The maximum awards that can be granted under the 2009 Plan to a single
participant in any calendar year is 1,500,000 shares of common stock (whether
through grants of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or other awards of common
stock or rights with respect thereto) or $1 million in the form of cash-based
incentive awards.
The 2009
Plan replaces the China Architectural Engineering, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive
Plan (“2007 EIP”), which has been frozen and under which no further grants or
awards will be made. The Board did not grant any awards pursuant to the
2007 EIP and there are no options, shares, or other securities outstanding under
the 2007 EIP.
59
Securities
Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table provides information as of December 31, 2009 regarding
compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which
our equity securities are authorized for issuance.
Plan Category
|
Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and Rights
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and Rights
|
Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation
Plans (Excluding
Securities
Reflected in Column
(a))
|
|||||||||
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
||||||||||
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders
|
100,000 | (2) | $ | $1.56 | 2,000,000 | (1) | ||||||
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
50,000 | $ | 3.50 | — | ||||||||
Total
|
150,000 | $ | 2.21 | 2,000,000 |
(1)
|
Represents shares available for
grant under our China Architectural Engineering, Inc. 2009 Omnibus
Incentive Plan.
|
Director
Compensation
The
following table shows information regarding the compensation earned during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 by our board of directors.
Name
|
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
Total ($)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Zheng
Jinfeng
|
20,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
20,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Zhao
Bao Jiang
|
20,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
20,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Kelly
Wang
|
20,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
20,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Miu
Cheung
|
20,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
20,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Chia
Yong Whatt (1)
|
10,849
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10,849
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Ye
Ning (2)
|
11,945
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11,945
|
(1)
|
Chia
Yong Whatt was appointed a director on June 17,
2009.
|
(2)
|
Ye
Ning resigned as a director on August 6,
2009.
|
We have a
policy to pay our non-employee directors $20,000 per year as cash consideration
for serving on the Board of Directors. We further agree to reimburse all
reasonable travel and other expenses incurred for attendance at a board or
committee meeting, and we agree to pay the fees and documented reimbursements
within a reasonable time and in accordance with our current payment practices.
Directors are also eligible to participate in our equity incentive
plans.
On
January 18, 2010, we approved the issuance of the following stock grants to our
directors, as set forth below.
Name
|
No.
of Shares of Restricted Stock
|
|||
Zheng
Jinfeng
|
30,000 | |||
Zhao
Bao Jiang
|
30,000 | |||
Kelly
Wang
|
30,000 | |||
Miu
Cheung
|
15,000 | |||
Chia
Yong Whatt
|
6,000 |
60
As
granted, the Restricted Stock Grants were set to vest such that ¼ would vest on
March 31, 2010, ¼ would vest on June 30, 2010, ¼ would vest on September 30,
2010, and the remaining ¼ would vest on December 31, 2010. The vesting of
the grants were subject to the terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock
Agreement entered into by and between the recipients and us. In the first
quarter of 2010, we opted to accelerate vesting of the restricted stock awards
so that they became fully vested immediately.
Indemnification
of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitations of Liability
We are
incorporated in the State of Delaware and are governed by Delaware law. Under
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, we can
indemnify our directors and officers against liabilities they may incur in such
capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”). Our certificate of incorporation provides that, pursuant
to Delaware law, our directors shall not be liable for monetary damages for
breach of the directors’ fiduciary duty of care to us and our stockholders. This
provision in the certificate of incorporation does not eliminate the duty of
care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as injunctive or
other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In
addition, each director will continue to be subject to liability for breach of
the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders for acts or omissions
not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of
the law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director, and
for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that
are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not affect a director’s
responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or
state or federal environmental laws.
Our
bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Our bylaws further provide
that our Board of Directors has discretion to indemnify our officers and other
employees. We are required to advance, prior to the final disposition of any
proceeding, promptly on request, all expenses incurred by any director or
executive officer in connection with that proceeding on receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of that director or executive officer to repay those
amounts if it should be determined ultimately that he or she is not entitled to
be indemnified under the bylaws or otherwise. We are not, however, required to
advance any expenses in connection with any proceeding if a determination is
reasonably and promptly made by our Board of Directors by a majority vote of a
quorum of disinterested Board members that (i) the party seeking an advance
acted in bad faith or deliberately breached his or her duty to us or our
stockholders and (ii) as a result of such actions by the party seeking an
advance, it is more likely than not that it will ultimately be determined that
such party is not entitled to indemnification pursuant to the applicable
sections of our bylaws.
We have
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may
be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the
event a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than our
payment of expenses incurred or paid by our director, officer or controlling
person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by us is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
We may
enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers
that are, in some cases, broader than the specific indemnification provisions
permitted by Delaware law, and that may provide additional procedural
protection. To date, we have not entered into any indemnification agreements
with our directors or officers, but may choose to do so in the future. Such
indemnification agreements may require us, among other things, to:
|
·
|
indemnify officers and directors
against certain liabilities that may arise because of their status as
officers or directors;
|
|
·
|
advance expenses, as incurred, to
officers and directors in connection with a legal proceeding, subject to
limited exceptions; or
|
|
·
|
obtain directors’ and officers’
insurance.
|
At
present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our
directors, officers or employees in which indemnification is sought, nor are we
aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for
indemnification.
61
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes
voting or investment power with respect to the securities. In computing the
number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage of ownership
of that person, shares of common stock subject to options and warrants held by
that person that are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days
of April 26, 2010 are deemed outstanding even if they have not actually been
exercised. Those shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of
computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to beneficial
ownership of the Company’s common stock as of April 26, 2010, based on
55,156,874 issued and outstanding shares of common stock, by:
|
·
|
Each person known to be the
beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding common
stock;
|
|
·
|
Each named executive
officer;
|
|
·
|
Each director;
and
|
|
·
|
All of the executive officers and
directors as a group.
|
The
number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of April 26, 2010, excludes
(i) 423,700 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding
warrants, (ii) 6,414,912 shares of our common stock issuable upon the conversion
of issued and outstanding bonds, subject to adjustment, and (iii) 100,000 shares
that are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options. Unless
otherwise indicated, the persons and entities named in the table have sole
voting and sole investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite
the stockholder’s name, subject to community property laws, where applicable.
Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each stockholder listed in the table
is c/o China Architectural Engineering, Inc., 105 Baishi Road, Jiuzhou West
Avenue, Zhuhai, 519070, People’s Republic of China.
Name and Address
of Beneficial Owner
|
Title
|
Shares of Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
|
Percent of Class
Beneficially Owned
|
|||||||
Directors
and Executive Officers
|
||||||||||
Luo
Ken Yi
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
|
24,260,287 | (1) | 44.0 | % | |||||
Tang
Nianzhong
|
Vice
President, China Operations and Director
|
24,260,287 | (1) | 44.0 | % | |||||
Ye
Ning
|
Vice
President
|
24,260,287 | (1) | 44.0 | % | |||||
Gene
Michael Bennett
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
100,000 | (2) | * | ||||||
Charles
John Anderson
|
President,
U.S. Operations and Chief Operating Officer
|
200,000 | * | |||||||
Zheng
Jinfeng
|
Director
|
30,000 | * | |||||||
Zhao
Bao Jiang
|
Director
|
30,000 | * | |||||||
Kelly
Wang
|
Director
|
30,000 | * | |||||||
Miu
Cheung
|
Director
|
15,000 | * | |||||||
Chia
Yong Whatt
|
Director
|
6,000 | * | |||||||
Officers
and Directors as a Group (total of 13 persons)
|
25,143,287 | (1)(2) | 45.5 | % | ||||||
5%
Owners
|
||||||||||
KGE
Group Limited
|
24,100,287 | (1) | 45.3 | % | ||||||
ABN
AMRO Bank, N.V.
|
4,558,908 | (3) | 7.6 | % | ||||||
Li
Qin Fu
|
5,000,000 | (4) | 9.1 | % |
62
|
(1)
|
Includes 24,100,287 shares of
common stock in our company held by KGE Group Limited, a Hong Kong
corporation, of which Luo Ken Yi, Ye Ning and Tang Nianzhong are directors
and may be deemed to have voting and investment control over the shares
owned by KGE Group Limited. In addition, Luo Ken Yi, Ye Ning and Tang
Nianzhong own approximately 70%, 10% and 10% respectively, of KGE Group
Limited’s issued and outstanding shares. In addition, KGE Holding Limited
owns approximately 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of KGE Group
Limited, of which is owned by Luo Ken Yi and his brother. As a result, Luo
Ken Yi, Ye Ning and Tang Nianzhong may be deemed to be a beneficial owner
of the shares held by KGE Group Limited. Each of the foregoing persons
disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by KGE Group Limited
except to the extent of his pecuniary
interest.
|
|
(2)
|
Includes 100,000 shares of common
stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options currently
exercisable.
|
|
(3)
|
Includes (i) 1,181,102 shares of
common stock may be acquired upon conversion of the Company’s
12% Convertible Bonds Due 2011, which are currently convertible
at a conversion price of $6.35 per share, subject to adjustment upon
certain events, and (ii) 112,500 shares of common stock that may be
acquired upon exercise of the warrants issued in connection with the 2008
Bonds. Also includes 3,265,306 shares of common stock may be acquired upon
conversion of the $8 million of the Company’s Variable Rate Convertible
Bonds due in 2012 based on a conversion price of $2.45 per share.
The address of the stockholder is 250 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4AA,
United Kingdom.
|
|
(4)
|
Consists of 5,000,000 shares that
Resort Property International Limited purchased from KGE Group, Ltd. in a
private transaction that closed on August 6, 2009. The shares were
purchased by Nine Dragon (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd., an entity controlled by Li
Qin Fu, who also has voting and investment control over the securities
owned by Resort Property International Limited. The address of the
stockholder is Room 2601, No 3 Lane, 288 Huaihai West Road, Shanghai PR
China, 200031.
|
ITEM
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
CITIC
Capital Finance Limited
On April
15, 2008, we completed a financing transaction with ABN AMRO Bank N.V., London
Branch (“ABN AMRO”), CITIC Allco Investments Limited (together with ABN AMRO,
the “Subscribers,” and each a “Subscriber”), and CITIC Capital Finance Limited
issuing (i) $20,000,000 12% Convertible Bonds due in 2011 and (ii) 300,000
warrants to purchase an aggregate of 300,000 shares of our common stock, subject
to certain adjustments as set forth in the warrant instrument, that expire in
2013. The transaction was completed in accordance with a subscription agreement
entered into by us, the Subscribers, and CITIC Capital Finance Limited, dated
April 2, 2008 (the “Subscription Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the
Subscription Agreement, we were required as a condition to the closing to
appoint a director designated by CITIC Capital Finance Limited to our Board of
Directors. The closing condition was waived by the parties to the financing
transaction and we agreed to appoint such a director within three months from
closing. On June 10, 2008, our Board of Directors appointed Miu Cheung to serve
as a director of the Company pursuant to the Subscription
Agreement.
Loans
to and from Insiders
We have
taken interest-free loans from our largest shareholder, KGE Group Ltd. On
June 17, 2009, we entered into an interest-free loan agreement with KGE Group
Ltd. pursuant to which we may borrow up to $2.8 million from KGE Group Ltd.
Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the loan will be interest-free and
fee-free and not become due earlier than two years from the date of the loan.
The loan was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. We
have taken additional loans from KGE Group Ltd.. The amount due to KGE
Group at December 31 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $10,080,345, $924,687 and
$1,334,856, respectively. All of the loans are interest-free, fee-free and have
no fixed repayment schedule.
The loan
and the advances are related party transactions because KGE Group Ltd. is a Hong
Kong company that is the majority stockholder of the Company. In
addition, Luo Ken Yi, Ye Ning and Tang Nianzhong own approximately 70%, 10% and
10% respectively, of KGE Group Limited’s issued and outstanding shares and each
of the foregoing are directors of KGE Group Ltd. Luo Ken Yi is the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Ye Ning is a Vice
President of the Company, and Tang Nianzhong is the Company’s Vice President of
China Operations and a Director. In addition, KGE Holding Limited owns
approximately 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of KGE Group Limited, of
which is owned by Luo Ken Yi and his brother.
The
transactions with related parties during the periods were carried out in the
ordinary course of business and on normal commercial terms.
63
Guangdong
Canbo Electrical Co., Ltd.
During
the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company purchased construction materials
amounting to $22.9 million from Guangdong Canbo Electrical Co., Ltd. (Canbo) via
its parent company, Kangbao Electrical Company Limited (Kangbao), a subsidiary
of the Company’s major shareholder, KGE Group Limited. Canbo is a preferred
supplier of the Company as it is able to procure materials at favorable price
levels due to its purchased quantities. More important, application of certain
of the Company’s patented technology is preferably routed through Canbo to
prevent undesired distribution of this technology. The Company at times provides
purchases advance payment to Kangbao in order to obtain a more favorable
pricing. As of December 31, 2009, the Company’s purchases advance to Canbo was
$5.9 million for the purpose of future supplies of materials. The Company has
also obtained trade facilities for purchases through Canbo.
Full
Art International, Ltd.
Full Art
International, Ltd. (“Full Art”) is our wholly-owned subsidiary and has
interlocking executive and director positions with China Architectural
Engineering, Inc.
Policy
for Approval of Related Party Transactions
Our
policy is to have our Audit Committee review and pre-approve any related party
transactions and other matters pertaining to the integrity of management,
including potential conflicts of interest, or adherence to standards of business
conduct as required by our policies.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The
following table presents fees, including reimbursements for expenses, for
professional audit services rendered by Samuel H. Wong & Co., LLP for the
audits of the Company’s annual financial statements and interim reviews of the
Company’s quarterly financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2009
and December 31, 2008 and fees billed for other services rendered by Samuel H.
Wong & Co., LLP during those periods.
Year ended December 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Audit
Fees(1)
|
$ | 165,000 | $ | 165,000 | ||||
Audit-Related
Fees
|
- | - | ||||||
Tax
Fees
|
7,740 | - | ||||||
All
Other Fees
|
- | - | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 172,740 | $ | 165,000 |
(1) These
are fees for professional services performed by Samuel H. Wong & Co., LLP,
Certified Public Accountants for the audit of our annual financial statements,
review of our quarterly reports, and registration statements.
Pre-Approval
Policy
The Audit
Committee on an annual basis reviews audit and non-audit services performed by
the independent registered public accounting firm for such services. The audit
committee pre-approves (i) auditing services (including those performed for
purposes of providing comfort letters and statutory audits) and (ii)
non-auditing services that exceed a de minimis standard established by the
committee, which are rendered to the Company by its outside auditors (including
fees).
64
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Zhuhai, People’s
Republic of China, on June 1, 2010.
China
Architectural Engineering, Inc.
|
/s/ Luo
Ken Yi
|
Luo
Ken Yi
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been
signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE
|
TITLE
|
DATE
|
||
/s/ Luo
Ken Yi
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
(Principal Executive
Officer)
|
June
1, 2010
|
||
Luo
Ken Yi
|
||||
/s/ Gene
Michael Bennett
|
Acting
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and
Accounting
Officer)
|
June
1, 2010
|
||
Gene
Michael Bennett
|
||||
*
|
Vice
General Manager and Director
|
June
1, 2010
|
||
Tang
Nianzhong
|
||||
*
|
Director
|
June
1, 2010
|
||
Zheng
Jinfeng
|
||||
*
|
Director
|
June
1, 2010
|
||
Zhao
Bao Jiang
|
||||
*
|
Director
|
June
1, 2010
|
||
Kelly
Wang
|
||||
Director
|
||||
Miu
Cheung
|
||||
*
|
Director
|
June
1, 2010
|
||
Chia
Yong Whatt
|
*
|
/s/ Luo Ken Yi
|
|
Luo
Ken Yi, as Attorney-in-Fact
|
65
Exhibit
No. |
Exhibit Description
|
|
2.1
|
Share
Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2006, by and among the
Registrant, KGE Group, Limited, and Full Art International, Ltd.
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 20,
2006).
|
|
2.1(a)
|
Amendment
No. 1 to the Share Exchange Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2006, by
and among the Registrant, KGE Group, Limited, and Full Art International,
Ltd. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1(a) to Current Report on
Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 20,
2006).
|
|
3.1
|
Certificate
of Incorporation of China Architectural Engineering, Inc. (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 3.1 to Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 20,
2004).
|
|
3.1(a)
|
Certificate
of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation dated July 8, 2005
(incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB
filed August 11, 2005)
|
|
3.2
|
Bylaws
of the Registrant (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to
Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by
reference).
|
|
3.3
|
Articles
of Merger Effecting Name Change (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
3.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on October 20, 2006).
|
|
4.1
|
Specimen
Certificate of Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4. 1 of
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed August 20,
2004).
|
|
4.2
|
Trust
Deed, dated April 12, 2007, by and between the Registrant and The Bank of
New York, London Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 18, 2007).
|
|
4.2(a)
|
Amended
and Restated Trust Deed, originally dated April 12, 2007, amended and
restated August 29, 2007 by and between the Registrant and The Bank of New
York, London Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the
Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on September 4, 2007).
|
|
4.3
|
Paying
and Conversion Agency Agreement, dated April 12, 2007, by and among the
Registrant, The Bank of New York, and The Bank of New York, London Branch
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18,
2007).
|
|
4.4
|
The
Warrant Instrument, dated April 12, 2007, by and between the Registrant
and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 18, 2007).
|
|
4.5
|
Warrant
Agency Agreement, dated April 12, 2007 among Company, The Bank of New York
and The Bank of New York, London Branch (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2007).
|
|
4.6
|
Registration
Rights Agreement, dated April 12, 2007, by and between the Registrant and
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 18, 2007).
|
|
4.6(a)
|
Written
description of oral agreement between the Registrant and ABN AMRO Bank
N.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8(a) to the Form S-1/A filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21,
2007).
|
|
4.7
|
Trust
Deed, dated April 15, 2008, by and between the Registrant and The Bank of
New York, London Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 18, 2008).
|
|
4.8
|
Paying
and Conversion Agency Agreement, dated April 15, 2008, by and among the
Registrant, The Bank of New York, and The Bank of New York, London Branch
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18,
2008).
|
|
4.8(a)
|
Amended
and Restated Paying and Conversion Agency Agreement, originally dated
April 15, 2008, amended and restated September 29, 2008 by and among the
Registrant, The Bank of New York Mellon, and The Bank of New York Mellon,
London Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
September 30, 2008).
|
|
4.9
|
The
Warrant Instrument, dated April 15, 2008, by and among the Registrant, ABN
AMRO Bank N.V., London Branch and CITIC Allco Investments Ltd.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18,
2008).
|
|
4.10
|
Warrant
Agency Agreement, dated April 15, 2008, by and among the Registrant, The
Bank of New York and The Bank of New York, London Branch (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2008).
|
|
4.11
|
Registration
Rights Agreement, dated April 15, 2008, by and among the Registrant, ABN
AMRO Bank N.V., London Branch and CITIC Allco Investments Ltd.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18,
2008).
|
|
4.12
|
China
Architectural Engineering, Inc. 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on June 18,
2009).
|
66
Exhibit
No. |
Exhibit Description
|
|
4.13
|
Amendment
No. 1 to China Architectural Engineering, Inc. 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Form 8-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on June 18, 2009).
|
|
4.14
|
Form
of Stock Option Agreement for 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21,
2010).
|
|
4.15
|
Form
of Restricted Stock Agreement for 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21,
2010).
|
|
4.16
|
Form
of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21,
2010).
|
|
4.17
|
Form
of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement for 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21,
2010).
|
|
10.1
|
Form
of Subscription Agreement dated October 17, 2006 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on February 5, 2007).
|
|
10.1(a)
|
Form
of Waiver of Penalties dated August 29, 2007 Related to Registration
Rights (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on September 4, 2007).
|
|
10.2
|
Form
of Subscription Agreement dated October 2004 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to the Form SB-2/A filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on October 1, 2004).
|
|
10.3
|
Employment
Agreement dated December 30, 2005 by and between the Registrant and Luo
Ken Yi (translated to English) (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on October 20, 2006).
|
|
10.4
|
Employment
Agreement dated January 11, 2004 by and between the Registrant and Tang
Nianzhong (translated to English) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.4 to the Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on February 5, 2007).
|
|
10.5
|
Employment
Agreement by and between the Registrant and Ye Ning (translated to
English) (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.5 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
October 20, 2006).
|
|
10.6
|
Employment
Agreement dated January 1, 2006 by and between the Registrant and Li
Guoxing (translated to English) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6
to the Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 5, 2007).
|
|
10.7
|
Employment
Agreement dated January 1, 2005 by and between the Registrant and Bai Fai
(translated to English) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the
Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February
5, 2007).
|
|
10.8
|
Employment
Agreement dated December 26, 2005 by and between the Registrant and Wang
Zairong (translated to English) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8
to the Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 5, 2007).
|
|
10.9
|
Employment
Agreement dated December 20, 2005 by and between the Registrant and Feng
Shu (translated to English) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to
the Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 5, 2007).
|
|
10.10
|
Employment
Agreement dated December 26, 2006 by and between the Registrant and Wang
Xin (translated to English) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to
the Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 5, 2007).
|
|
10.11
|
Employment
Agreement dated March 12, 2008 by and between the Registrant and Xin Yue
Jasmine Geffner (translated to English) (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2008).
|
|
10.12
|
Employment
Agreement dated March 12, 2008 by and between the Registrant and Charles
John Anderson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 14, 2008).
|
|
10.13
|
Office
and Factory Lease Agreement dated July 13, 2005 by and between the
Registrant and Zhuhai Yuping Kitchen Equipment Co., Ltd. (translated to
English) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Form S-1/A
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5,
2007).
|
|
10.14
|
Lease
Agreement by and between the Registrant and Beijing Aoxingyabo Technology
Development Co., Ltd (translated to English) (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.12 to the Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 5, 2007).
|
|
10.15
|
Property
Rental Contract by and between the Registrant and Shanghai Sandi CNC
equipment Ltd. Co (translated to English) (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.13 to the Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 5, 2007).
|
|
10.16
|
Subscription
Agreement, dated March 27, 2007, by and between the Registrant and ABN
AMRO Bank N.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
April 18, 2007).
|
|
10.17
|
Joint
Venture Agreement dated May 11, 2007 entered into by and between CPD
(Australia) Holding Pty Ltd. and the Registrant (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2007).
|
|
10.18
|
Form
of Registration Rights Agreement entered into by and between the
Registrant, First Alliance Financial Group, Inc. and WestPark Capital,
Inc. Affiliates (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Form S-1/A
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 4,
2007).
|
67
Exhibit
No. |
Exhibit
Description
|
|
10.18(a)
|
Form
of Waiver of Penalties Related to Registration Rights entered into by and
between the Registrant, First Alliance Financial Group, Inc. and WestPark
Capital, Inc. Affiliates (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16(a) to
the Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
September 4, 2007).
|
|
10.18(b)
|
Written
description of oral agreement between the Registrant, First Alliance
Financial Group, Inc., and WestPark Capital, Inc. Affiliates (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.16(b) to the Form S-1/A filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21,
2007).
|
|
10.19
|
China
Architectural Engineering, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12,
2007).
|
|
10.20
|
Form
of Notice of Grant of Stock Option of the Registrant (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12,
2007).
|
|
10.21
|
Form
of Stock Option Agreement (including Addendum) of the Registrant
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12,
2007).
|
|
10.22
|
Form
of Stock Issuance Agreement (including Addendum) of the Registrant
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12,
2007).
|
|
10.23
|
Form
of Stock Purchase Agreement (including Addendum) of the Registrant
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12,
2007).
|
|
10.24
|
Stock
Purchase Agreement dated November 6, 2007, entered into by and among Ng
Chi Sum, Yam Mei Ling, the Registrant and Full Art (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8,
2007).
|
|
10.25
|
Subscription
Agreement, dated April 2, 2008, by and among the Registrant, ABN AMRO Bank
N.V., London Branch, CITIC Allco Investments Ltd., and CITIC Capital
Finance Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
April 18, 2008).
|
|
10.26
|
Employment
Agreement with Albert Jan Grisel dated as of January 12, 2009
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 16,
2009).
|
|
10.27
|
Employment
Agreement with Li Chengcheng dated as of March 30, 2009 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2009).
|
|
10.28
|
Employment
Agreement with Gene Michael Bennett dated as of October 5, 2009
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 8,
2009).
|
|
10.29
|
Stock
Option Agreement with Gene Michael Bennett dated as of October 5,
2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 8,
2009).
|
|
10.30*
|
Securities
Purchase Agreement dated as of August 6, 2009 by and between China
Architectural Engineering, Inc., KGE Group Limited and certain investors
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10,
2009).
|
|
10.31*
|
Amendment
and Waiver Agreement dated as of August 6, 2009, by and among China
Architectural Engineering, Inc., KGE Group Limited, ABN AMRO Bank N.V.,
London Branch, and CITIC Allco Investment Ltd.
|
|
10.32
|
Loan
Agreement dated June 17, 2009 entered into by and between KGE Group Ltd.
and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 18,
2009).
|
|
10.33
|
Amendment
and Waiver Agreement dated February 24, 2010 by and among The Royal Bank
of Scotland N.V., London Branch (formerly ABN AMRO Bank N.V., London
Branch); CITIC Capital China Mezzanine Fund Limited; ABN AMRO Bank (China)
Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Branch; Mr. Luo Ken Yi; Mr. Jun Tang; KGE Group
Limited; and First Jet Investments Limited (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 24, 2010).
|
|
10.34
|
Framework
Agreement of Marine Park and Holiday Resorts Project entered into by and
between the Company and Shanghai Nine Dragon Co. Ltd (translated)
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17,
2009).
|
|
14.1*
|
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
|
|
23.1
|
Consent
of Samuel H. Wong & Co., LLP
|
|
21.1*
|
List
of Subsidiaries
|
|
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of
Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
31.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of
Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
32.1**
|
Certifications
of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
* Previously
filed.
68
**
|
This
exhibit shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any
filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any
general incorporation language in any
filings.
|
69
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US dollars)
INDEX
CONTENTS
|
PAGES
|
|
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
F-2
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
F-3
– F-4
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
|
F-5
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
F-6
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME
|
F-7
– F-8
|
|
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
F-9
– F-35
|
F-1
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To: The
Board of Directors and Stockholders of
China
Architectural Engineering, Inc.
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of China Architectural
Engineering, Inc. as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated
statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years ended
December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. These consolidated financial statements are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our
audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In
our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of China Architectural
Engineering, Inc. as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and
2007 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America.
As
discussed in footnote (1) restatement of previously issued financial statements
which disclosed the effects of restatement in the accounting periods involved
and footnote 3(v) stock-based compensation to incorporate $4,976 of such expense
for the year ended December 31, 2009, the financial statements as of and for the
years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 have been restated to correct
errors as addressed in the above mentioned footnotes.
South
San Francisco, California
|
Samuel
H. Wong & Co., LLP
|
Original:
January 20, 2010
|
Certified
Public Accountants
|
Revised: May
14, 2010
|
F-2
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
AS
OF DECEMBER 31, 2009 AND 2008
(Stated
in US Dollars)
Notes
|
As of December 31,
|
|||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||
(restated)
|
||||||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||||
Current
assets
|
||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
740,125
|
$
|
9,516,202
|
||||||
Restricted
cash
|
3,033,819
|
7,451,388
|
||||||||
Contract
receivables, net
|
(4)
|
89,189,103
|
71,811,627
|
|||||||
Costs
and earnings in excess of billings
|
8,100,580
|
15,988,920
|
||||||||
Job
disbursements advances
|
2,696,794
|
2,252,241
|
||||||||
Other
receivables, net
|
(5)
|
30,768,067
|
18,614,928
|
|||||||
Inventories
|
(6)
|
727,499
|
308,842
|
|||||||
Deferred
income taxes, current
|
113,033
|
3,264
|
||||||||
Other
current assets
|
297,838
|
1,659,307
|
||||||||
Total
current assets
|
135,666,858
|
127,606,719
|
||||||||
Non-current
assets
|
||||||||||
Plant
and equipment, net
|
(7)
|
2,539,457
|
5,852,110
|
|||||||
Intangible
Assets
|
(8)
|
70,610
|
50,720
|
|||||||
Goodwill
|
7,995,896
|
7,995,896
|
||||||||
Other
non-current assets
|
287,586
|
32,137
|
||||||||
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
$
|
146,560,407
|
$
|
141,537,582
|
||||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||||
Current
liabilities
|
||||||||||
Short-term
bank loans
|
(9)
|
$
|
9,529,880
|
$
|
-
|
|||||
Notes
payable
|
-
|
10,193,088
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
26,614,484
|
35,510,827
|
||||||||
Billings
over costs and estimated earnings
|
6,098,666
|
5,358,527
|
||||||||
Amount
due to shareholder
|
10,080,345
|
924,687
|
||||||||
Other
payables
|
9,360,314
|
7,364,816
|
||||||||
Income
tax payable
|
-
|
2,318,743
|
||||||||
Business
and other taxes payable
|
4,923,771
|
3,304,522
|
||||||||
Customers’
deposits
|
6,392,676
|
-
|
||||||||
Other
Accruals
|
4,324,011
|
1,794,879
|
||||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
77,324,147
|
66,770,089
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-3
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
AS
OF DECEMBER 31, 2009 AND 2008
(Stated
in US Dollars)
Notes
|
As of December 31,
|
|||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
|||||||||
Non-current
liabilities
|
||||||||||
Long
term bank loans
|
(9)
|
$
|
109,239
|
$
|
328,285
|
|||||
Convertible
bond payable, net
|
(10)
|
24,564,161
|
24,907,170
|
|||||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES
|
$
|
101,997,547
|
$
|
92,005,544
|
||||||
STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
|
||||||||||
Preferred
stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||
Common
stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized,
53,256,874 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and
December 31, 2008
|
$
|
53,257
|
$
|
53,257
|
||||||
Additional
paid in capital
|
26,495,876
|
23,036,592
|
||||||||
Statutory
reserves
|
3,040,595
|
3,040,595
|
||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
3,868,437
|
5,450,632
|
||||||||
Retained
earnings
|
11,131,084
|
17,940,421
|
||||||||
Total
Company shareholders’ equity
|
44,589,249
|
49,521,497
|
||||||||
Noncontrolling
interests
|
(26,389
|
)
|
10,541
|
|||||||
Total
shareholders’ equity
|
44,562,860
|
49,532,038
|
||||||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
$
|
146,560,407
|
$
|
141,537,582
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-4
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
Notes
|
Years ended December 31,
|
|||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
||||||||||||
Contract
revenues earned
|
(11)
|
$
|
117,190,918
|
$
|
151,665,672
|
$
|
86,617,239
|
|||||||
Cost
of contract revenues earned
|
94,721,967
|
128,884,736
|
64,353,915
|
|||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
$
|
22,468,951
|
$
|
22,780,936
|
$
|
22,263,324
|
||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
21,092,107
|
26,062,543
|
5,525,130
|
|||||||||||
Finance
expenses
|
-
|
-
|
208,197
|
|||||||||||
Income
/ (Loss) from operations
|
$
|
1,376,844
|
$
|
(3,281,607
|
)
|
$
|
16,529,997
|
|||||||
Interest
income
|
58,425
|
762
|
108,241
|
|||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(6,331,493
|
)
|
(5,879,622
|
)
|
(642,477)
|
|||||||||
Other
income
|
176,871
|
1,922,285
|
88,385
|
|||||||||||
Other
expenses
|
(329,241
|
)
|
(161,422
|
)
|
(127,043
|
)
|
||||||||
Income
/ (Loss) before taxation on Continuing Operations
|
$
|
(5,048,594
|
)
|
$
|
(7,399,604
|
)
|
$
|
15,957,103
|
||||||
Income
tax /(tax benefit)
|
(12)
|
(107,031
|
)
|
(3,649
|
)
|
2,422,484
|
||||||||
Discontinued
Operation Loss, net of tax
|
(15)
|
1,900,794
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) including non-controlling interest
|
$
|
(6,842,357
|
)
|
$
|
(7,395,955
|
)
|
$
|
13,534,619
|
||||||
Net
Loss attributable to non-controlling interest
|
33,020
|
20,249
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) attributable to the Company
|
$
|
(6,809,337
|
)
|
$
|
(7,375,706
|
)
|
$
|
13,534,619
|
||||||
Earnings/(Loss)
per share:
|
||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
(0.13
|
)
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
$
|
0.27
|
||||||
Diluted
|
$
|
(0.13
|
)
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
$
|
0.26
|
||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding:
|
||||||||||||||
Basic
|
53,256,874
|
52,034,921
|
50,357,454
|
|||||||||||
Diluted
|
53,256,874
|
52,034,921
|
51,088,144
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-5
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
Years ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
(restated)
|
||||||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
||||||||||||
Net
Earnings/(loss)
|
$
|
(6,842,357
|
)
|
$
|
(7,395,955
|
)
|
$
|
13,534,619
|
||||
Noncontrolling
interest
|
33,020
|
20,249
|
-
|
|||||||||
Depreciation
expense
|
851,441
|
761,010
|
334,378
|
|||||||||
Bad
debt expense
|
1,426,685
|
5,000,000
|
291,666
|
|||||||||
Amortization
expenses on intangible assets
|
19,735
|
19,666
|
-
|
|||||||||
Amortization
expenses on convertible bond discount
|
1,549,682
|
3,404,030
|
642,477
|
|||||||||
Amortization
expenses on fair value of staff options
|
4,976
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Loss
on disposal of fixed assets
|
2,670,851
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
(Increase)/decrease
in inventories
|
(418,657
|
)
|
219,901
|
(505,635
|
)
|
|||||||
Increase
in receivables
|
(23,068,960
|
)
|
(35,503,221
|
)
|
(41,988,830
|
)
|
||||||
(Increase)/decrease
in other assets
|
551,698
|
44,596
|
(117,038
|
)
|
||||||||
Increase in
payables
|
2,061,608
|
30,445,703
|
12,306,736
|
|||||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
$
|
(21,160,278
|
)
|
$
|
(2,984,021
|
)
|
$
|
(15,501,627
|
)
|
|||
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
||||||||||||
Decrease/(increase)
in restricted cash
|
$
|
4,417,569
|
$
|
(6,856,372
|
)
|
$
|
2,148,126
|
|||||
Purchases
of intangible assets
|
(44,148
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||
Loss
from disposal of intangible assets
|
4,523
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Decrease
in security deposit
|
-
|
-
|
565,795
|
|||||||||
Purchases
of plant and equipment
|
(209,639
|
)
|
(3,886,532
|
)
|
(1,649,170
|
)
|
||||||
Net
cash provided/(used) in investing activities
|
$
|
4,168,305
|
$
|
(10,742,904
|
)
|
$
|
1,064,751
|
|||||
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
||||||||||||
Proceeds
from short-term loans
|
$
|
9,529,880
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
2,578,550
|
||||||
Repayments
of short-term loans
|
-
|
(2,578,550
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||
Repayments
of notes payable
|
(10,193,088
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||
Repayments
of long-term loans
|
(219,046
|
)
|
(115,596
|
)
|
(2,121,098
|
)
|
||||||
Proceeds
for amount due to shareholder
|
9,155,658
|
-
|
1,442,291
|
|||||||||
Repayments
of amount due to shareholder
|
-
|
(410,169
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||
Proceeds
from issuance of common stock
|
-
|
-
|
3,338,470
|
|||||||||
Increase
in additional paid in capital from issuance of common
stock
|
-
|
8,102
|
-
|
|||||||||
Issuance
of convertible bond and warrants
|
-
|
19,500,000
|
9,700,000
|
|||||||||
Net
cash provided in financing activities
|
$
|
8,273,404
|
$
|
16,403,787
|
$
|
14,938,213
|
||||||
Net
increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
(8,718,569
|
)
|
$
|
2,676,862
|
$
|
501,337
|
|||||
Effect
of foreign currency translation on cash and cash
equivalents
|
(57,508
|
)
|
2,799,172
|
1,422,865
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents - beginning of year
|
9,516,202
|
4,040,168
|
2,115,966
|
|||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents - end of year
|
$
|
740,125
|
$
|
9,516,202
|
$
|
4,040,168
|
||||||
Other
supplementary information:
|
||||||||||||
Cash
paid during the year for:
|
||||||||||||
Interest
paid
|
$
|
508,055
|
$
|
816,004
|
$
|
119,335
|
||||||
Income
tax paid
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
203,682
|
$
|
1,012,332
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-6
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
AS
OF DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Amount
Stated in USD)
Total
Number of
shares
|
Common
stock
|
Additional
paid in
capital
|
Statutory
reserves
|
Accumulated other
comprehensive income
|
Retained
earnings
|
Noncontrolling
Interest
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
January 1, 2007
|
50,000,000
|
$
|
50,000
|
$
|
7,074,701
|
$
|
1,437,223
|
$
|
469,964
|
$
|
11,480,816
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
20,512,704
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net
earnings including non-controlling interests
|
13,534,619
|
13,534,619
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Proceed
from issuance of common stock
|
1,783,416
|
1,784
|
9,163,264
|
9,165,048
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less:
Cost of stock issuance
|
(951,434
|
)
|
(951,434
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment
of Zhuhai KGE Co Ltd Retained Earnings to eliminate Dividend
Paid
|
3,844,897
|
3,844,897
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment
of Zhuhai Career Training School pre-acquisition Deficits
|
14,429
|
14,429
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment
of CAEI retained earnings/(deficits)
|
(1,955,262
|
)
|
(1,955,262
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
Paid-in Capital from warrants and beneficial conversion
feature
|
4,354,429
|
4,354,429
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appropriation
to statutory reserve
|
1,603,372
|
(1,603,372
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
1,422,865
|
1,422,865
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-controlling
interests
|
49,482
|
49,482
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2007 (restated)
|
51,783,416
|
$
|
51,784
|
$
|
19,640,960
|
$
|
3,040,595
|
$
|
1,892,829
|
$
|
25,316,127
|
$
|
49,482
|
$
|
49,991,777
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance,
January 1, 2008
|
51,783,416
|
$
|
51,784
|
$
|
19,640,960
|
$
|
3,040,595
|
$
|
1,892,829
|
$
|
25,316,127
|
$
|
49,482
|
$
|
49,991,777
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net
Loss including non-controlling interests
|
(7,375,706
|
)
|
(20,249
|
)
|
(7,395,955
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Proceed
from issuance of common stock
|
902,030
|
902
|
602,221
|
603,123
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conversion
of bond
|
571,428
|
571
|
1,379,908
|
1,380,479
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less:
Cost of stock issuance
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
Paid-in Capital from warrants and beneficial conversion
feature
|
1,413,503
|
1,413,503
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appropriation
to statutory reserve
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
3,557,803
|
3,557,803
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-controlling
interests
|
(18,692
|
)
|
(18,692
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2008 (restated)
|
53,256,874
|
$
|
53,257
|
$
|
23,036,592
|
$
|
3,040,595
|
$
|
5,450,632
|
$
|
17,940,421
|
$
|
10,541
|
$
|
49,532,038
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-7
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME –
CONTINUED
AS
OF DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Amount
Stated in USD)
Total
Number
of
shares |
Common
stock |
Additional
paid in capital |
Statutory
reserves |
Accumulated
other
comprehensive income |
Retained
earnings
|
Noncontrolling
Interest |
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
January 1, 2009
|
53,256,874 | $ | 53,257 | $ | 23,036,592 | $ | 3,040,595 | $ | 5,450,632 | $ | 17,940,421 | $ | 10,541 | $ | 49,532,038 | |||||||||||||||||
Net
loss including non-controlling interests
|
(6,809,337 | ) | (33,020 | ) | (6,842,357 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
Paid-in Capital from warrants and beneficial conversion
|
3,454,308 | 3,454,308 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
Paid-in Capital from grant of employee stock options
|
4,976 | 4,976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
(1,582,195 | ) | (1,582,195 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-controlling
interest
|
(3,910 | ) | (3,910 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
(4,969,178 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2009 (restated)
|
53,256,874 | $ | 53,257 | $ | 26,495,876 | $ | 3,040,595 | $ | 3,868,437 | $ | 11,131,084 | $ | (26,389 | ) | $ | 44,562,860 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-8
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
1.
|
RESTATEMENT
OF PREVIOUSLY ISSUED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
|
On May
14, 2010, the Company concluded that its financial statements for the years
ended and as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 contained errors in the
accounting of the interest expenses for these periods related to the Company’s
$8,000,000 Variable Rate Convertible Bonds due in 2012 and $20,000,000 12%
Convertible Bonds due in 2011. The financial statements, as
previously filed, contained errors related to the timing of the interest expense
related to the Company’s outstanding $8,000,000 Variable Rate Convertible Bonds
due 2012 and $20,000,000 12% Convertible Bonds due 2011 that resulted in
overstatements and understatements of the interest expenses related to the bonds
during various quarters before the second quarter of 2008. Due
to the accounting errors, the interest expense was overstated in by
approximately $0.3 million, $0.5 million, and $0.7 million for the second,
third, and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2007, respectively, for a total
overstatement of approximately $1.5 million for fiscal 2007. The
interest expense was overstated by approximately $0.1 million in the first
quarter of 2008 and all the overstatements, approximately $1.6 million, were
reversed in the second quarter of 2008. For the year ended December
31, 2009, there was an overstatement of the interest expense of $7,984 in the
second quarter and an understatement of $5,991 during the third quarter, for a
total of overstatement of $1,993 for fiscal year 2009, as presented below. With
the net bonds payable amounts being presented correctly as of December 31, 2008
and 2009, only the components of the Convertible Bonds were restated while the
net payable amounts as of December 31, 2007 was presented with correction of
errors. Additionally, the financial statements for year ended December 31, 2009
failed to include an equity compensation charge in the amount of $4,976 related
to a portion of options granted in October 2009 that the Company inadvertently
omitted in the financial statements as originally filed. Together with the
overstatement of interest expenses of $1,993, the loss for the year
ended December 31, 2009 was understated by $2,983 and the retained earnings as
of December 31, 2009 was overstated by $2,983. Additionally, $1.5
million of consolidation exchange loss resulted from intercompany investments
elimination was incorrectly included in the additional paid in capital
instead of the accumulated comprehensive income presented in the Stockholders’
Statement of Equity and Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31,
2009. All the errors for the year ended December 31, 2009 occurred among the
components of the shareholders’ equity that the total shareholders’ equity was
presented correctly as of December 31, 2009.
Effects of
Restatements
To
correct the above noted errors, the Company has restated the accompanying
financial statements. The following is a summary items affected by
the corrections described above:
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2009
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Additional
paid in capital
|
24,938,476 | 1,557,400 | 26,495,876 | |||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
5,422,854 | (1,554,417 | ) | 3,868,437 | ||||||||
Retained
earnings
|
11,134,067 | (2,983 | ) | 11,131,084 |
As of December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Additional
paid in capital
|
23,043,792 | (7,200 | ) | 23,036,592 | ||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
5,443,432 | 7,200 | 5,450,632 |
F-9
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2009
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
$
|
21,087,131
|
$
|
4,976
|
$
|
21,092,107
|
||||||
Income
/ (Loss) from operations
|
1,381,820
|
(4,976
|
)
|
1,376,844
|
||||||||
Interest
expense
|
6,333,486
|
(1,993
|
)
|
6,331,493
|
||||||||
0ncome
/ (Loss) before taxation on Continuing Operations
|
(5,045,611
|
)
|
(2,983
|
)
|
(5,048,594
|
)
|
||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) including non-controlling interest
|
(6,839,374
|
)
|
(2,983
|
)
|
(6,842,357
|
)
|
||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) attributable to the Company
|
(6,806,354
|
)
|
(2,983
|
)
|
(6,809,337
|
)
|
For the year ended December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
$ | 4,377,331 | $ | 1,502,291 | $ | 5,879,622 | ||||||
Income
/ (Loss) before taxation on Continuing Operations
|
(5,897,313 | ) | (1,502,291 | ) | (7,399,604 | ) | ||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) including non-controlling interest
|
(5,893,664 | ) | (1,502,291 | ) | (7,395,955 | ) | ||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) attributable to the Company
|
(5,873,415 | ) | (1,502,291 | ) | (7,375,706 | ) | ||||||
Earnings/(Loss)
per share:
|
||||||||||||
Basic
|
(0.11 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.14 | ) | ||||||
Diluted
|
(0.11 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.14 | ) |
For the year ended December 31, 2007
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
$ | 2,144,768 | $ | (1,502,291 | ) | $ | 642,477 | |||||
Income
/ (Loss) before taxation on Continuing Operations
|
14,454,812 | 1,502,291 | 15,957,103 | |||||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) including non-controlling interest
|
12,032,328 | 1,502,291 | 13,534,619 | |||||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) attributable to the Company
|
12,032,328 | 1,502,291 | 13,534,619 | |||||||||
Earnings/(Loss)
per share:
|
||||||||||||
Basic
|
0.24 | 0.03 | 0.27 | |||||||||
Diluted
|
0.24 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
Consolidated
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income
For the year ended December 31, 2009
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Additional
paid in capital
|
24,938,476 | 1,557,400 | 26,495,876 | |||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
5,422,854 | (1,554,417 | ) | 3,868,437 | ||||||||
Retained
Earnings
|
11,134,067 | (2,983 | ) | 11,131,084 |
For the year ended December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Additional
paid in capital
|
23,043,792
|
(7,200
|
)
|
23,036,592
|
||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
5,443,432
|
7,200
|
5,450,632
|
For the year ended December 31, 2007
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Additional
paid in capital
|
23,665,558 | (4,024,598 | ) | 19,640,960 | ||||||||
Retained
Earnings
|
23,813,836 | 1,502,291 | 25,316,127 | |||||||||
Total
company shareholders’ equity
|
52,464,602 | (2,522,307 | ) | 49,942,295 | ||||||||
Total
shareholders equity
|
52,514,084 | (2,522,307 | ) | 49,991,777 |
F-10
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 31, 2009
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Net
Earnings/(loss)
|
$ | (6,839,374 | ) | $ | (2,983 | ) | $ | (6,842,357 | ) | |||
Amortization
expenses on convertible bond discount
|
1,551,675 | (1,993 | ) | 1,549,682 | ||||||||
Amortization
expenses on fair value of staff stock options
|
- | 4,976 | 4,976 |
For the year ended December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Net
Earnings/(loss)
|
$ | (5,893,664 | ) | $ | (1,502,291 | ) | $ | (7,395,955 | ) | |||
Amortization
expenses on convertible bond discount
|
1,901,739 | 1,502,291 | 3,404,030 |
For the year ended December 31, 2007
|
||||||||||||
As previously
|
||||||||||||
reported
|
Adjustments
|
As restated
|
||||||||||
Net
Earnings/(loss)
|
$ | 12,032,328 | $ | 1,502,291 | $ | 13,534,619 | ||||||
Amortization
expenses on convertible bond discount
|
2,144,768 | (1,502,291 | ) | 642,477 |
2.
|
ORGANIZATION
AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
|
China
Architectural Engineering, Inc. (the “Company”) formerly SRKP 1, Inc., was
incorporated in the State of Delaware, United States on March 16,
2004. The Company’s common stock was listed for trading on the
American Stock Exchange on September 28, 2007. The Company transferred its
listing to The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC on June 10, 2008.
On
October 17, 2006, the Company underwent a reverse-merger with Full Art
International Ltd. (a Hong Kong company) and its four wholly-owned subsidiaries
as detailed in Note 2. (b)
Consolidation below, involving an exchange of shares whereby
the Company issued an aggregate of 43,304,125 shares of common stock in exchange
for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Full Art. The Company
was the accounting acquiree. For financial reporting purposes, this
transaction is classified as a recapitalization of China Architectural
Engineering, Inc. and the historical financial statements of Full
Art.
The
Company through its subsidiaries conducts its principal activity as building
envelope systems contractors, specializing in the design, engineering,
fabrication and installation of curtain wall systems, roofing systems, steel
construction systems and eco-energy saving building conservation systems,
throughout China, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the United
States.
The
Company's work is performed under cost-plus-fee contracts, fixed-price
contracts, and fixed-price contracts modified by incentive and penalty
provisions. These contracts are undertaken by the Company or its wholly-owned
subsidiaries. The length of the Company's contracts varies but is typically
about one to two years.
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
|
(a)
|
Method of
accounting
|
The
Company maintains its general ledger and journals with the accrual method
accounting for financial reporting purposes. The consolidated
financial statements and notes are representations of
management. Accounting policies adopted by the Company conform to
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and
have been consistently applied in the presentation of consolidated financial
statements, which are compiled on the accrual basis of accounting.
(b)
|
Consolidation
|
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its
thirteen subsidiaries. Significant inter-company transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include 100%
of the assets and liabilities of these majority-owned subsidiaries, and the
ownership interests of minority investors are recorded as non-controlling
interests.
F-11
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
As of
December 31, 2009, detailed identities of the consolidating subsidiaries are as
follows: -
Name of Company
|
Place of
Incorporation
|
Attributable Equity interest
%
|
||||
Full
Art International Limited
|
Hong
Kong
|
100
|
||||
Zhuhai
King Glass Engineering Co., Limited
|
PRC
|
100
|
||||
Zhuhai
King General Glass Engineering Technology Co., Limited
|
PRC
|
100
|
||||
King
General Engineering (HK) Limited
|
Hong
Kong
|
100
|
||||
KGE
Building System Limited
|
Hong
Kong
|
100
|
||||
KGE
Australia Pty Limited
|
Australia
|
55
|
||||
Zhuhai
City, Xiangzhou District Career Training School
|
PRC
|
72
|
||||
Techwell
Engineering Limited
|
Hong
Kong
|
100
|
||||
Techwell
International Limited
|
Macau
|
100
|
||||
Techwell
Building System (Shenzhen) Co. Limited
|
PRC
|
100
|
||||
CAE
Building Systems, Inc.
|
USA
|
100
|
||||
China
Architectural Engineering (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
|
PRC
|
100
|
||||
Techwell
International (SEA) Pte. Ltd.
|
Singapore
|
100
|
||||
CAE
Building Systems (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
|
Singapore
|
100
|
(c)
|
Use of
estimates
|
The
preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
Management makes these estimates using the best information available at the
time the estimates are made; however, actual results could differ materially
from those estimates.
F-12
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
(d)
|
Plant and
equipment
|
Plant and
equipment are carried at cost less accumulated
depreciation. Depreciation is provided over their estimated useful
lives, using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives of the plant and
equipment are as follows: -
Motor
vehicle
|
5
years
|
Machinery
and equipment
|
5 -
10 years
|
Furniture
and office equipment
|
5
years
|
Building
|
20
years
|
The cost
and related accumulated depreciation of assets sold or otherwise retired are
eliminated from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in the statement
of income. The cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to income as incurred,
whereas significant renewals and betterments are capitalized.
(e)
|
Accounting for the impairment
of long-lived assets
|
The
long-lived assets held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of
assets may not be recoverable. It is reasonably possible that these assets could
become impaired as a result of technology or other industry
changes. Determination of recoverability of assets to be held and
used is by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted
cash flows to be generated by the assets.
If such
assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is
measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the
fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of
the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
During
the reporting periods, there was no impairment loss.
F-13
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
(f)
|
Goodwill and Intangible
Assets
|
In
accordance with ASC 350, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” the Company
does not amortize goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite
lives.
For
goodwill and other intangible assets, impairment tests are performed annually
and more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
goodwill carrying values exceed estimated reporting unit fair values. Upon
indication that the carrying values of such assets may not be recoverable, the
Company recognizes an impairment loss as a charge against current
operations. Based on the impairment tests performed, there was no
impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets in fiscal 2009, 2008 and
2007.
(g)
|
Inventories
|
Inventories
are raw materials, which are stated at the lower of weighted average cost or
market value.
(h)
|
Contracts
receivable
|
Contracts
receivable from performing construction of industrial and commercial buildings
are based on contracted prices. The company provides an allowance for
doubtful debts, which is based upon a review of outstanding receivables,
historical collection information, and existing economic
conditions.
(i)
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original
maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
(j)
|
Restricted cash
|
Restricted
cash represents cash being restricted to usage at site for specific
projects.
F-14
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
(k)
|
Earnings per
share
|
The
Company computes earnings per share (“EPS’) in accordance with ASC 260,
“Earnings per Share”. ASC 260 requires companies with complex capital structures
to present basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as the income or loss
available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average common shares
outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is similar to basic EPS but presents the
dilutive effect on a per share basis of potential common shares (e.g.,
convertible securities, options, and warrants) as if they had been converted at
the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential
common shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase
income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation
of diluted EPS.
The
calculation of diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the year
ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 is based on the estimate fair value of
the Company’s common stock during such periods applied to warrants and options
using the treasury stock method to determine if they are dilutive. The
Convertible Bond is included on an “as converted “basis when these
shares are dilutive.
Components
of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:
Year ended
December 31, 2009 |
Year ended
December 31, 2008 |
Year ended
December 31, 2007 |
||||||||||
Net
Earnings/(Loss) attributable to the Company
|
$ | (6,809337 | ) | $ | (7,375,706 | ) | $ | 13,534,619 | ||||
Basic
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
|
53,256,874 | 52,034,921 | 50,357,454 | |||||||||
Dilutive
Shares:
|
||||||||||||
-
Addition to Common Stock from Conversion of Notes
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
-
Addition to Common Stock from Exercise of Warrants
|
- | - | 730,690 | |||||||||
Diluted
Weighted Average Outstanding Shares:
|
53,256,874 | 52,034,921 | 51,088,144 | |||||||||
Earnings
Per Share
|
||||||||||||
-
Basic
|
$ | (0.13 | ) | $ | (0.14 | ) | $ | 0.27 | ||||
-
Diluted
|
$ | (0.13 | ) | $ | (0.14 | ) | $ | 0.26 |
F-15
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
(l)
|
Revenue and cost
recognition
|
Revenues
from fixed-price and modified fixed-price construction contracts are recognized
on the percentage-of-completion method, measured by the percentage of time cost
incurred to date to estimated total cost for each contract.
Contract
costs include all direct material and labor costs and those indirect costs
related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies, tools,
repairs, and depreciation costs.
Provisions
for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which
such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and
estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty
provisions, and final contract settlements may result in revisions to costs and
income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.
Profit incentives are included in revenues when their realization is reasonably
assured. An amount equal to contract costs attributable to claims is included in
revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably
estimated.
Selling,
general, and administrative costs are charged to expense as
incurred.
Total
estimated gross profit on a contract, being the difference between total
estimated contract revenue and total estimated contract cost, is determined
before the amount earned on the contract for a period can be
determined.
The
measurement of the extent of progress toward completion is used to determine the
amount of gross profit earned to date and that the earned revenue to date is the
sum of the total cost incurred on the contract and the amount of gross profit
earned.
Earned
revenue, cost of earned revenue, and gross profit are determined as follows:
-
i.
|
Earned
Revenue is the amount of gross profit earned on a contract for a period
plus the costs incurred on the contract during the
period.
|
ii.
|
Cost
of Earned Revenue is the cost incurred during the period, excluding the
cost of materials not unique to a contract that have not been used for the
contract.
|
iii.
|
Gross
Profit earned on a contract is computed by multiplying the total estimated
gross profit on the contract by the percentage of completion. The excess
of that amount over the amount of gross profit reported in prior periods
is the earned gross profit that should be recognized in the income
statement for the current period.
|
Change
orders are common for the changes in specifications or design while claims are
uncommon. Contract revenue and costs are adjusted to reflect change
orders approved by the customer and the contractor regarding both scope and
price. Recognition of amounts of additional contract revenue relating
to claims is appropriate only if it is probable that the claim will result in
additional contract revenue and if the amount can be reliably
estimated.
F-16
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
(m)
|
Income
taxes
|
The
Company uses the accrual method of accounting to determine and report its
taxable reduction of income taxes for the year in which they are
available. The Company has implemented ASC 740-270, Accounting
for Income Taxes.
Income
tax liabilities computed according to the United States, People’s Republic of
China (PRC), Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Australia tax laws are provided for
the tax effects of transactions reported in the financial statements and
consists of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes related primarily to
differences between the basis of fixed assets and intangible assets for
financial and tax reporting. The deferred tax assets and liabilities
represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will be
either taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or
settled. Deferred taxes also are recognized for operating losses
that are available to offset future income taxes. A valuation
allowance is created to evaluate deferred tax assets if it is more likely than
not that these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize
that tax benefit, or that future realization is uncertain.
In
respect of the Company’s subsidiaries domiciled and operated in China and Hong
Kong, the taxation of these entities can be summarized as follows:
·
|
Zhuhai
King Glass Engineering Co., Limited (“Zhuhai KGE”) and Zhuhai King General
Glass Engineering Technology Co., Limited (“Zhuhai KGGET”) are located in
Zhuhai and were subject to the PRC corporation income tax rate of 18% in
2008 and 20% in 2009. In accordance to China’s Enterprise Income Tax Law
(“EIT Law”) effective from January 1, 2008, the tax rate for these two
subsidiaries will be gradually increased to 25% by 2012.The Company
anticipates that as a result of the EIT law, its income tax provision will
increase, which could adversely affect Zhuhai KGE’s financial condition
and results of operations.
|
·
|
China
Architectural Engineering (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. is located in Shenzhen and
is subject to the 20% income tax rate that will be gradually increased to
the uniform rate of 25% by 2012 as according to the new EIT
law.
|
·
|
Full
Art International Limited, King General Engineering (HK) Limited, and KGE
Building System Limited are subject to the Hong Kong profits tax rate of
16.5%.
|
·
|
Techwell
Engineering Limited is subject to a Hong Kong profits tax rate of 16.5%.
Techwell International Limited is a Macau registered company and therefore
is subject to Macau profits tax rate of 12%. Techwell Building
System (Shenzhen) Co. Limited is located in Shenzhen and is subject to PRC
corporate income tax rate of 20% that will be gradually increased to the
uniform rate of 25% by 2012 as according to the new EIT
law.
|
F-17
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
· KGE
Australia Pty Limited is subject to a corporate income tax rate of
30%.
· The
Company is subject to United States Tax according to Internal Revenue Code
Sections 951 and 957.
· The
Company, after a reverse-merger on October 17, 2006, revived to be an active
business enterprise because of the operations with subsidiaries in the PRC and
Hong Kong. Based on the consolidated net earnings for the year ended
December 31, 2009, the Company shall be taxed at the 35% tax rate.
· Techwell
Engineering Limited has established a branch in Dubai, which has zero corporate
income tax rate except on oil companies and bank.
· Subsidiaries
in Singapore are subject a effective corporate income tax rate of 8.5% on
taxable income amount in excess of Singapore dollar $100,000 .
(n)
|
Advertising
|
The
Company expensed all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising
expenses included in selling expenses were $11,302, $371,664 and $140,236 for
the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
(o)
|
Research and
development
|
All
research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and
development costs included in general and administrative expenses were $2,926,
$711,318 and $111,129 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007,
respectively.
(p)
|
Retirement
benefits
|
Retirement
benefits in the form of contributions under defined contribution retirement
plans to the relevant authorities are charged to the statements of income as
incurred.
(q)
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses including employee salaries, pension costs,
marketing costs, insurance, rent, and depreciation, etc. The decrease was
primary due to the decrease in contract revenues.
F-18
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
(r)
|
Foreign
currency translation
|
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in United States
Dollars (US$). The Company’s functional currency is the US$, while certain
domestic subsidiaries’ use the Renminbi (RMB) and Hong Kong and overseas
subsidiaries use local currencies as their functional
currency. The consolidated financial statements are translated
into US$ from RMB, Hong Kong Dollars (HKD), United Arab Emirate Dirham (AED) and
other local currencies at December 31, 2009 exchange rates as to assets and
liabilities and average exchange rates as to revenues and expenses. Capital
accounts are translated at their historical exchange rates when the capital
transactions occurred.
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||
Period
end RMB : US$ exchange rate
|
6.8372 | 6.8225 | 7.3141 | |||||||||
Average
yearly RMB : US$ exchange rate
|
6.8331 | 6.9564 | 7.6172 |
Period
end HKD : US$ exchange rate
|
7.7551 | 7.7499 | 7.8049 | |||||||||
Average
yearly HKD : US$ exchange rate
|
7.7518 | 7.7859 | 7.8026 |
Period
end AED : US$ exchange rate
|
3.6738 | 3.6731 | N/A | |||||||||
Average
yearly AED : US$ exchange rate
|
3.6710 | 3.6736 | N/A |
The RMB
is not freely convertible into foreign currency and all foreign exchange
transactions must take place through authorized institutions. No
representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be,
converted into US$ at the rates used in translation.
F-19
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
(s)
|
Statutory
reserves
|
Statutory
reserves for foreign investment enterprises are referring to the amount
appropriated from the net earnings in accordance with PRC laws or regulations,
which can be used to recover losses and increase capital, as approved, and are
to be used to expand production or operations.
(t)
|
Comprehensive
income
|
Comprehensive
income is defined to include all changes in equity except those resulting from
investments by owners and distributions to owners. Among other
disclosures, all items that are required to be recognized under current
accounting standards as components of comprehensive income are required to be
reported in a financial statement that is presented with the same prominence as
other consolidated financial statements. The Company’s current
components of other comprehensive income are the foreign currency translation
adjustment.
F-20
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
3.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONT’D)
|
(u)
|
Recent
accounting pronouncements
|
In June
2009, FASB issued FASB Statement No. 166, Accounting for Transfers for
Financial Assets (FASB ASC 860 Transfers and Servicing )
and FASB Statement No. 167 (FASB ASC 810 Consolidation ), a revision to
FASB Interpretation No. 46 (Revised December 2003), Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities (FASB ASC 810 Consolidation ) .
Statement
166 is a revision to FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and
Servicing of Financial
Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities (FASB ASC 860 Transfers and
Servicing )
, and will require more information about transfers of
financial assets, including securitization transactions, and where entities have
continuing exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. It
eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity,” changes the
requirements for derecognizing financial assets, and requires additional
disclosures. Statement No. 166 (FASB ASC 860 Transfers and Servicing ) must be
applied as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting
period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that
first annual reporting period and for interim and annual reporting periods
thereafter. Earlier application is prohibited. This Statement must be applied to
transfers occurring on or after the effective date. The Company is still
evaluating the impact of the above pronouncement.
Statement
167 is a revision to FASB Interpretation No. 46 (Revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest
Entities (FASB ASC 810 Consolidation
) , and
changes how a reporting entity determines when an entity that is insufficiently
capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be
consolidated. The determination of whether a reporting entity is required to
consolidate another entity is based on, among other things, the other entity’s
purpose and design and the reporting entity’s ability to direct the activities
of the other entity that most significantly impact the other entity’s economic
performance. Statement No. 167 (FASB ASC 810 Consolidation ) shall be
effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting
period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that
first annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting periods
thereafter. Earlier application is prohibited. The Company is still
evaluating the impact of the above pronouncement.
On June
30, 2009, FASB issued FASB Statement No. 168, Accounting Standards
Codification™ ( FASB ASC 105 Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles ) a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162 the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles . On the effective date of this standard, FASB
Accounting Standards Codification™ (ASC) became the source of authoritative U.S.
accounting and reporting standards for nongovernmental entities, in addition to
guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This statement
is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods
ending after September 15, 2009. If an accounting change results from the
application of this guidance, an entity should disclose the nature and reason
for the change in accounting principle in their financial statements. This
new standard flattens the GAAP hierarchy to two levels: one that is
authoritative (in FASB ASC) and one that is non-authoritative (not in FASB ASC).
Exceptions include all rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under the
authority of federal securities laws, which are sources of authoritative GAAP
for SEC registrants, and certain grandfathered guidance having an effective date
before March 15, 1992. Statement No. 168 is the final standard that will be
issued by FASB in that form. There will no longer be, for example,
accounting standards in the form of statements, staff positions, Emerging Issues
Task Force (EITF) abstracts, or AICPA Accounting Statements of Position.
(v)
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
Stock
compensation accounting guidance (FASB ASC 718, “Compensation-Stock
Compensation”) requires that the compensation cost related to share-based
payment transactions be recognized in financial statements. That cost will be
measured based on the grant date fair value of the equity or liability
instruments issued. The stock compensation accounting guidance covers a wide
range of share-based compensation arrangements including stock options,
restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights and
employee share purchase plans.
Stock
compensation accounting guidance requires that compensation cost for all stock
awards be calculated and recognized over the employees’ service period,
generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded-vesting,
compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite
service period for the entire award. A Black-Scholes model is used to estimate
the fair value of stock options while the market price of the Corporation’s
common stock at the date of grant is used for restricted stock
awards.
On
October 5, 2009, the Company granted options to purchase a total of 100,000
shares of its common stock to an executive officer. The stock options
vest at the rate of 10,000 shares per month, with the first vesting of 10,000
options to occur on November 27, 2009 and with the last vesting of 10,000
options ending upon the total vested being 100,000. The Company uses
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to value stock option awards and expensed
the stock-based compensation based on the vesting periods. The fair
value of these options was calculated using the following assumptions: (1)
risk-free interest rates of 4%, (2) an expected life of 1 to 5 years, (3)
expected volatility of 41%, (4) expected forfeitures of 0%, and (5) a dividend
yield of 0%. Based on the foregoing, the value of the options is a total of
$24,878 and for the year ended December 31, 2009, $4,976 was expensed related to
the grant of these options.
F-21
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
4.
|
CONTRACT
RECEIVABLES
|
December 31, 2009
|
December 31, 2008
|
|||||||
Contract
receivables
|
$ | 95,831,489 | $ | 77,027,328 | ||||
Less: Allowance for
doubtful accounts
|
(6,642,386 | ) | (5,215,701 | ) | ||||
Net
|
$ | 89,189,103 | $ | 71,811,627 |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
|
December 31, 2009
|
December 31, 2008
|
||||||
Beginning
balance
|
$ | 5,215,701 | $ | 215,701 | ||||
Add:
Allowance created
|
1,426,685 | 5,000,000 | ||||||
Ending
balance
|
$ | 6,642,386 | $ | 5,215,701 |
F-22
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
5.
|
OTHER
RECEIVABLES
|
December 31,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
$ | 11,333,253 | $ | 1,424,123 | |||||
Due
from Kangbao Electrical Company Limited (Kangbao) , a related
party (2)
|
6,054,905 | 11,172,032 | ||||||
Drawdown
of advance payment and performance bonds by client of the projects in
Dubai (3)
|
9,414,397 | - | ||||||
Other
related parties receivables
|
253,638 | - | ||||||
Deposits
for site operations of projects in PRC
|
2,903,171 | 5,751,476 | ||||||
Other
|
808,703 | 267,297 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 30,768,067 | $ | 18,614,928 |
(1)
|
On
November 6, 2007, the Company, through Full Art International, Ltd. (“Full
Art”), acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of
Techwell Engineering Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in
Hong Kong (“Techwell”) pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement (the
“Agreement”) dated November 6, 2007, entered into by and among Ng Chi Sum
and Yam Mei Ling (each a “Shareholder” and collectively, the
“Shareholders”), the Company and Full Art. Pursuant to the
terms and conditions of the Agreement, the Shareholders agreed that each
of them would pay any and all accounts receivables of Techwell if not
paid by the customers within 24 months of the acquisition
date. The 24 month period has expired and a total of $9,909,130
is due and payable from the Shareholders. The amount is included in the
other receivable due from sellers of
Techwell.
|
(2)
|
The
amount mainly represents the purchases advances to Kangbao Electrical
Company Limited (Kangbao) for the supplies of materials for the projects
of the Company.
|
(3)
|
The
Company believes that the client of the Dubai projects did not have proper
grounds for the drawdown of the advance payment and performance bonds
which the company issued for the projects,The Company also believes that
the client should not be entitled to the drawdown and is now proceeding
the claim back of the amount.
|
6.
|
INVENTORIES
|
December 31, 2009
|
December 31, 2008
|
|||||||
Raw
materials at sites
|
$ | 727,499 | $ | 308,842 |
F-23
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
7.
|
PLANT
AND EQUIPMENT
|
Plant and
equipment consist of the following as of: -
December 31, 2009
|
December 31, 2008
|
|||||||
At
cost
|
||||||||
Motor
vehicle
|
$ | 1,242,928 | $ | 1,568,165 | ||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
2,381,755 | 3,221,028 | ||||||
Furniture,
software and office
|
||||||||
equipment
|
1,795,595 | 2,443,382 | ||||||
Building
|
- | 311,596 | ||||||
Leasehold
improvement
|
267,038 | 2,198,367 | ||||||
$ | 5,687,316 | $ | 9,742,538 | |||||
Less:
Accumulated depreciation
|
||||||||
Motor
vehicle
|
$ | 825,536 | $ | 774,977 | ||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
1,420,536 | 1,975,014 | ||||||
equipment
|
804,516 | 908,591 | ||||||
Building
|
- | 24,538 | ||||||
Leasehold
improvement
|
97,271 | 207,308 | ||||||
$ | 3,147,859 | $ | 3,890,428 | |||||
$ | 2,539,457 | $ | 5,852,110 |
Depreciation
expenses included in the selling and administrative expenses for years ended
December 31 2009 and 2008 were $851,441 and $761,010 respectively.
8.
|
INTANGIBLE
ASSETS
|
December 31,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
At
cost
|
||||||||
Intangible
Assets
|
$ | 98,673 | $ | 99,567 | ||||
Less:
Accumulated amortization
|
28,063 | 48,847 | ||||||
$ | 70,610 | $ | 50,720 |
F-24
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
9.
|
LOANS
|
A.
|
SHORT-TERM
BANK LOANS
|
December 31,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
ABN
Amro N.V. Overdraft in Current Account at interest rate at 6.5% per
annum
|
4,906,266
|
-
|
||||||
ABN
Amro N.V. Temporary Loan for the drawing of performance and advance
payment bonds at interest rate at Bank's Cost of Fund + 6%
|
4,546,504
|
-
|
||||||
Automobile
capital lease obligation (hire purchase),amount due within one year, last
installment due November 9, 2012
|
77,110
|
-
|
||||||
$
|
9,529,880
|
$
|
-
|
B.
|
LONG-TERM
BANK LOANS
|
December 31,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Bank
of East Asia (China) Ltd., Apartment Mortgage, amount due after one year,
at 5.184% per annum, subject to variation every 6 months, last installment
due January 4, 2012, full outstanding amount repaid in May
2009
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
141,811
|
||||
Automobile
capital lease obligation (hire purchase),amount due after one year, last
installment due November 9, 2012
|
109,239
|
186,474
|
||||||
$
|
109,239
|
$
|
328,285
|
Zhuhai
King Glass Engineering Co., Limited borrowed from Bank of East Asia with a
condominium as collateral. This facility is subject to a current interest rate
of 5.184% and interest rate adjusts every 6 months. The borrowing was fully
repaid in May 2009.
Full Art
International Limited borrowed a hire purchase (car) loan from DBS
Bank.
F-25
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
10.
|
CONVERTIBLE
BONDS AND BOND WARRANTS
|
(a)
|
$10,000,000
Variable Rate Convertible Bonds due in
2012
|
On April
12, 2007, the Company completed a financing transaction with The Royal Bank of
Scotland, London Branch (formerly “ABN AMRO N.V., London Branch) (the
“Subscriber”) issuing (i) $10,000,000 Variable Rate Convertible Bonds due in
2012 (the “Bonds”) and (ii) 800,000 warrants to purchase an aggregate of 800,000
shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to adjustments for stock splits or
reorganizations as set forth in the warrant, that expire in 2010 (the
“Warrants”).
On
September 29, 2008, the Subscriber converted $2,000,000 into 571,428 shares at
the conversion price of $3.50 per share. As of March 31, 2009, the face value of
the bonds outstanding was $8,000,000.
Effective
from April 12, 2009, the conversion price has been reset to $2.45, which is 70%
of $3.50 as the average closing price of the Company’s shares for the period of
20 consecutive trading days immediately prior to April 12, 2009 was $0.94. The
reset of the conversion price resulted in additional $3.4 million of bonds
discount and will be amortized over the remaining outstanding periods of the
bonds.
On
November 8, 2008, the Subscriber exercised all the 800,000 warrants into 800,000
shares at the exercise price of $0.01 per share.
(b)
|
$20,000,000
12% Convertible Bonds due in 2011
|
On April
15, 2008, the Company completed a financing transaction with the Subscriber,
CITIC Allco Investments Limited (the “Subscribers,” and each a “Subscriber”),
and CITIC Capital Finance Limited issuing (i) $20,000,000 12% Convertible Bonds
due in 2011 (the “Bonds”) and (ii) 300,000 warrants to purchase an aggregate of
300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain adjustments as
set forth in the warrant instrument, that expire in 2013 (the “Bond Warrants”).
The transaction was completed in accordance with a subscription agreement
entered into by the Company, Subscribers, and CITIC Capital Finance Limited,
dated April 2, 2008 (the “Subscription Agreement”).
The above
items (a) and (b) are to be amortized to interest expense over the term of the
bonds by the effective interest method as disclosed in the table
below.
The
Convertible Bonds Payable, net consists of the following:
December
31, 2009
|
December
31, 2008
|
|||||||
Convertible
Bonds Payable
|
$
|
28,000,000
|
$
|
28,000,000
|
||||
Less:
Interest discount – Warrants
|
(3,305,938
|
)
|
(3,305,938
|
)
|
||||
Less:
Interest discount – Beneficial conversion feature
|
(1,882,404
|
)
|
(1,882,404
|
)
|
||||
Less:
Bond discount
|
(760,069
|
)
|
(760,069
|
)
|
||||
Accretion
of interest discount
|
2,512,572
|
2,855,581
|
||||||
Net
|
$
|
24,564,161
|
$
|
24,907,170
|
The
Company has failed to make interest payments as originally agreed upon under the
Bonds, as follows:
$10,000,000
Variable Rate Convertible Bonds due in 2012
|
||||
Interest
for 6 months from April to October 2009, due October 4,
2009
|
$ | 120,000 | ||
$20,000,000
12% Convertible Bonds due in 2011
|
||||
Interest
for 6 months from October 2008 to April 2009, due April 15,
2009
|
$ | 1,200,000 | ||
Interest
for 6 months from April 2009 to October 2009, due October 15,
2009
|
1,200,000 | |||
Total
missed interest payments:
|
$ | 2,520,000 |
As more
fully discussed in Note 18 below, the Company entered into a waiver agreement
with the Subscribers in February 2010. See Note 18 for additional
information. The Company entered into an Amendment and Waiver
Agreement with the Bondholders on August 6, 2009 pursuant to which the
Bondholders agreed to extend interest payments under the Bonds. The
Company then entered into another Amendment and Waiver Agreement with the
Bondholders, other creditors and other interested parties as specified in the
agreement dated February 24, 2010 pursuant to which that the Bondholders
extended the payment of overdue interest of $2,520,000 to March 31, 2010 and
April 15, 2010. The convertible bonds are classified as long term debt due
to the waivers, but the Company may be required to reclassify the bonds as a
current liability if the Company is not required to the covenants that must be
met under the Bonds. The Company may be required to reclassify the
Bonds as a current liability if (i) a covenant violation that gives the
bondholders the right to call the debt has occurred at the balance sheet date or
would have occurred absent a loan modification, and (ii) it is probable that the
Company will not be able to cure the default (comply with the covenant) at
measurement dates that are within the next 12 months. The Company believed that
it is not probable that the Company will not be able to cure the default at
measurement dates that are within the next 12 months.
F-26
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
11.
|
CONTRACT
REVENUES EARNED
|
The
contract revenues earned for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007
consist of the following: -
Year ended December
31, 2009
|
Year ended
December 31, 2008
|
Year ended December
31, 2007
|
||||||||||
Billed
|
$
|
73,455,515
|
$
|
128,509,031
|
$
|
60,241,592
|
||||||
Unbilled
|
43,735,403
|
23,156,641
|
26,375,647
|
|||||||||
$
|
117,190,918
|
$
|
151,665,672
|
$
|
86,617,239
|
The
unbilled contract revenue earned represents those revenue that should be
recognized according to the percentage of completion method for accounting for
construction contract because the Company is entitled to receive payment from
the customers for the amount of work that has been rendered to and completed for
that customer according to the terms and progress being made as stipulated under
that contract between the Company and that customer. As an industrial practice,
there are certain procedures that need to be performed, such as project account
finalization, by both the customer and the Company before the final billing is
issued; however this does not affect the Company’s recognition of revenue and
respective cost according to the terms of the contract with the consistent
application of the percentage-of-completion method.
A single
customer accounted for 43.2% of the Company’s contract revenues for the year
ended December 31, 2009. No other customer accounts for 10% or more of the
Company’s contract revenues in 2009.
F-27
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
12.
|
INCOME
TAXES
|
On
October 17, 2006, income from the Company’s foreign subsidiaries became subject
to U.S. income tax liability; however, this tax is deferred until foreign source
income is repatriated to the Company, which has not yet occurred.
The
Company has also retained an U.S. tax-preparer firm to aide in preparation of
its U.S. income tax returns in order to maintain a high level of compliance with
U.S. tax laws.
Effective
January 1, 2008, the PRC income tax rules were changed. The PRC
government implemented a new 25% tax rate for all enterprises whether domestic
or foreign enterprise, and abolished the tax holiday.
Income
before taxes and the provision for taxes consists of the following:
December 31, 2009
|
December 31, 2008
|
December 31, 2007
|
||||||||||
Continuing
income before taxes:
|
||||||||||||
U.S.
|
$ | (9,410,523 | ) | $ | (7,995,070 | ) | $ | (943,884 | ) | |||
Singapore
|
683,895 | (324,690 | ) | - | ||||||||
China
|
(7,169,999 | ) | (14,582,108 | ) | 14,446,265 | |||||||
Australia
|
(3,197 | ) | (70,485 | ) | 14,834 | |||||||
Hong
Kong
|
(6,915,560 | ) | (3,753,692 | ) | 2,647,045 | |||||||
Dubai
|
17,823,687 | 19,272,753 | - | |||||||||
Macau
|
(57,240 | ) | 53,688 | (207,157 | ) | |||||||
Total
continuing income before taxes
|
(5,048,937 | ) | (7,399,604 | ) | 15,957,103 | |||||||
Provision
for taxes expense/(benefit):
|
||||||||||||
Current:
|
||||||||||||
U.S.
Federal
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
U.S.
State
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
- | - | - | ||||||||||
Deferred:
|
||||||||||||
U.S.
Federal
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Hong
Kong
|
(109,769 | ) | (3,649 | ) | - | |||||||
Currency
Effect
|
2,738 | - | - | |||||||||
(107,031 | ) | (3,649 | ) | - | ||||||||
Total
provision for taxes
|
$ | (107,031 | ) | $ | (3,649 | ) | $ | - | ||||
Effective
tax rate
|
(2.11 | )% | (0.05 | )% | N/A |
F-28
Deferred
income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the
carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and
the amounts for income tax purposes. Significant components of our deferred tax
assets and liabilities at December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 are as
follows:
December 31,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
December 31, 2007
|
||||||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
||||||||||||
Net
operating loss
|
$ | 113,033 | $ | 3,264 | $ | - | ||||||
113,033 | 3,264 | - | ||||||||||
Valuation
allowance
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Total
deferred tax assets
|
113,033 | 3,264 | - | |||||||||
Deferred tax
liabilities
|
||||||||||||
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
113,033 | 3,264 | - | |||||||||
Reported
as:
|
||||||||||||
Current
deferred tax assets
|
113,033 | 3,264 | - | |||||||||
Non-current
deferred tax assets
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Non-current
deferred tax liabilities
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Net
deferred taxes
|
$ | 113,033 | $ | 3,264 | $ | - |
Current
deferred tax assets represents net operating loss of a subsidiary Techwell
Engineering Limited in Hong Kong. The losses can be carried forward
to set-off future assessable profits in Hong Kong without expiry
date. The differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax
rates and the Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31,
2009, 2008, and 2007 is shown in the following table:
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||
U.S.
federal statutory income tax rate
|
34.00 | % | 35.00 | % | 35.00 | % | ||||||
Lower
rates in PRC, net
|
-9.00 | % | -10.00 | % | -10.00 | % | ||||||
Accruals
in foreign jurisdictions
|
-2.11 | % | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | ||||||
Tax
Holiday
|
-25.00 | % | -25.00 | % | -25.00 | % | ||||||
-2.11 | % | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % |
The
following table accounts for the differences between the actual tax provision
and the amounts obtained by applying the relevant applicable corporation income
tax rate to income (see tax rates discussed above) before tax for the years
ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007: -
Year ended December
31, 2009
|
Year ended December
31, 2008
|
Year ended December
31, 2007
|
||||||||||
Income/(loss)
before tax
|
(5,048,937 | ) | (7,399,604 | ) | 15,957,103 | |||||||
Taxes
at the applicable income tax rates
|
$ | 285 | $ | 19,629 | $ | 4,770,088 | ||||||
Miscellaneous
non taxable income and non-deductible expenses
|
(107,316 | ) | (23,278 | ) | (2,347,604 | ) | ||||||
Current
income tax expense
|
$ | (107,031 | ) | $ | (3,649 | ) | $ | 2,422,484 |
Effective
January 1, 2008, the PRC government implemented a new 25% tax rate across the
board for all enterprises regardless of whether domestic or foreign enterprise
without any tax preferences which is defined as "two-year exemption followed by
three-year half exemption" enjoyed by tax payers. As a result of the new tax
law, a standard 15% tax preference terminated as of December 31, 2007. The PRC
government has established a set of transition rules to allow enterprises using
tax preferences before January 1, 2008 to continue using the tax preferences on
a transitional basis until being the new tax rates are fully implemented over a
five year period.
F-29
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
13.
|
QUARTERLY
INFORMATION
|
The table
below presents selected results of operations for the quarters
indicated. All amounts are in thousands, except share and per share
amounts.
Quarter Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2009
|
September 30, 2009
|
June 30, 2009
|
March 31, 2009
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Contract
revenues earned
|
$
|
24,691
|
$
|
25,558
|
$
|
30,599
|
$
|
36,343
|
$
|
117,191
|
||||||||||
Income
/ (loss) from operations
|
389
|
(5,074
|
)
|
3,832
|
2,230
|
1,377
|
||||||||||||||
Net
earnings (loss)
|
(1,918
|
)
|
(8,387
|
)
|
2,552
|
944
|
(6,809
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Net
earnings / (loss) per share:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic
and Diluted
|
(0.04
|
)
|
(0.16
|
)
|
0.05
|
0.02
|
(0.13
|
)
|
Quarter Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2008
|
September 30, 2008
|
June 30, 2008
|
March 31, 2008
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Contract
revenues earned
|
$
|
28,959
|
$
|
55,978
|
$
|
41,380
|
$
|
25,349
|
$
|
151,666
|
||||||||||
Income
/ (loss) from operations
|
(28,589
|
)
|
11,110
|
8,752
|
5,445
|
(3,282
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Net
earnings (loss)
|
(28,586
|
)
|
9,910
|
6,206
|
5,274
|
(7,376
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Net
earnings / (loss) per share:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
(0.55
|
)
|
0.19
|
0.12
|
0.10
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Diluted
|
(0.55
|
)
|
0.19
|
0.12
|
0.10
|
(0.14
|
)
|
14.
|
SEGMENTAL
INFORMATION
|
The
Company has one reportable segment and conducts business in the following
geographic regions. All amounts are in thousands.
Revenue
:
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||
For
the year ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
Middle
East
|
$
|
58,685
|
$
|
64,929
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Asia
|
51,979
|
83,505
|
86,617
|
|||||||||
United
States
|
6,527
|
3,232
|
-
|
|||||||||
Total
|
$
|
117,191
|
$
|
151,666
|
$
|
86,617
|
F-30
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
14.
|
SEGMENTAL
INFORMATION (CONT'D)
|
Long-lived
assets :
Middle East
|
Asia
|
United States
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||
As
of December 31, 2009
|
||||||||||||||||
Plant
and equipment, net
|
$
|
384
|
$
|
2,026
|
$
|
130
|
$
|
2,540
|
||||||||
Intangible
assets
|
-
|
71
|
-
|
71
|
||||||||||||
Goodwill
|
-
|
7,
996
|
-
|
7,
996
|
||||||||||||
Other
non-current assets
|
161
|
95
|
31
|
287
|
||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
545
|
$
|
10,188
|
$
|
161
|
$
|
10,894
|
As
of December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Plant
and equipment, net
|
$
|
488
|
$
|
5,187
|
$
|
177
|
$
|
5,852
|
||||||||
Intangible
assets
|
-
|
51
|
-
|
51
|
||||||||||||
Goodwill
|
-
|
7,996
|
-
|
7,996
|
||||||||||||
Other
non-current assets
|
-
|
1
|
31
|
32
|
||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
488
|
$
|
13,235
|
$
|
208
|
$
|
13,931
|
15.
|
DISCONTINUED
OPERATION LOSS
|
In
September 2009, the Company’s Shenzhen office was downsized and moved out from
the leasehold multi-floor office building to a smaller leased place at minimal
operations. The move was a result from the Company’s recent restructure and
reorganization to turn back to the domestic market in China instead of overseas
market due to the recent change in international economic environments. The set
up of the Shenzhen office was originally for the support of the overseas
operations which the Company decided to be discontinued. A new,
smaller sized Shenzhen Office was set-up to serve the domestic market in
China. As a result, the current improvement works to the leasehold
multi-floor office building were stopped and being written off in the period
under this report as discontinued operation loss of $1,900,794. The
Discontinued Operation Loss of was presented in the income statement under FASB
ASC 205-200 45 and 420-10-05 because the downsize of Shenzhen office was
considered as the discontinued operation as (1) there was no operations and
cash flows regarding the ceased operation in the office, i.e. design and engineering
support services to the international projects after the Company restructured to
focus back to domestic market in PRC and (2) the new, small size Shenzhen office
has no significant involvement in the ceased operation, i.e. no more significant
support services to international projects.
F-31
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
16.
|
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
|
A.
OPERATING LEASE COMMIMENTS
The
Company leases certain administrative and production facilities from third
parties. Accordingly, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and
2007, the Company incurred rental expenses of $3,254,251, $1,602,501 and
$437,750 respectively.
The
Company has commitments with respect to non-cancelable operating leases for
these offices, as follows: -
For
the years ended December 31,
|
||||
2010
|
1,063,043
|
|||
2011
|
-
|
|||
2012
|
-
|
|||
2013
or after
|
-
|
|||
$
|
1,063,043
|
B.
PENDING LITIGATION
Techwell
Litigation
Pursuant
to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 7, 2007, the previous shareholders
of Techwell Engineering Limited (“Techwell”), Mr. Ng, Chi Sum and Miss Yam, Mei
Ling Maria agreed to sell 100% of the shares in Techwell to the Company for
approximately $11.7 million in cash and shares of common stock of the Company.
Subsequent to the said acquisition, Mr. Ng and Miss Yam were employed by
Techwell.
On
January 14, 2009, the board of directors of Techwell passed a board resolution,
to dismiss both Mr. Ng and Miss Yam with immediate effect and remove Mr. Ng from
the board of Techwell (the “Resolution”). On January 16, 2009,
Mr. Ng and Miss Yam filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Hong Kong against the
Company and its subsidiary, Full Art International Limited. The
lawsuit alleges that, inter alia , (i)
the Company misrepresented to them the financial status of the Company and
operations during the course the acquisition of Techwell was being negotiated;
(ii) the Company failed to perform its obligations under a settlement agreement
alleged to be agreed by the Company in January 2009; and (iii) the
dismissal of Mr. Ng was unlawful and invalid. The lawsuit filed by
Mr. Ng and Miss Yam requests the court for specific performance of the
settlement agreement that was allegedly entered into, which would require the
return of the Techwell company to Mr. Ng and Miss Yam, and in the absence of
such grant of relief, Mr. Ng and Miss Yam request unspecified damages lieu of
return of the Techwell company.
F-32
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
16.
|
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES (CONT'D)
|
On
January 23, 2009 an ex-parte injunction order was granted to Mr. Ng, restraining
the Company from implementing the Resolution, which was eventually dismissed
with immediate effect on February 25, 2009 after a court session in the High
Court of Hong Kong. Mr. Ng was also ordered to bear the costs of the various
court proceedings in connection with the said injunction order. On March
27, 2009, Mr. Ng and Miss Yam filed a summons in the High Court of Hong Kong
seeking a court order for leave to join the Company’s principal shareholder, KGE
Group Limited, as a defendant of the said lawsuit, which was granted on April 9,
2009. As a result, KGE Group Limited became one of the defendants of
the lawsuit. On May 12, 2009, the Company filed a Defense and Counterclaim at
the High Court of Hong Kong in response to a Statement of Claim served by Mr. Ng
and Miss Yam on the Company on April 7, 2009.
The
Company, Mr. Ng, and Miss Yam are in discussions and negotiations to settle the
all disputes between the parties. However, there is no guarantee that
the parties will reach an agreement to settle the dispute, in which case the
Company intends to vigorously defend against the lawsuit. There can
be no assurance that the lawsuit will be resolved in the Company’s
favor. Even if the Company successfully defends the lawsuit, the
Company may incur substantial costs defending or settling the lawsuit, in
addition to a possible diversion of the time and attention of the Company’s
management from its business. If the Company is unsuccessful in
defending the lawsuit, its may be required to pay a significant amount of
damages and/or it may potentially lose ownership of Techwell, which will have a
material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or
results of operations.
Dubai
Metro Rail Project Dispute
On
September 9, 2009, the Red Line, or first phase, of the Dubai Metro was
officially opened. The Company, through its subsidiary, had been working towards
completion of its external envelopes for stations along the Red Line of the
Dubai Metro System. According to the Company’s original construction
blueprint, the majority of its construction work was completed at the end of
June 2009, and final construction milestones were scheduled for completion in
the third quarter of 2009. With less than 5% of its contract
remaining to be completed, Techwell was removed by the master contractor of
the project, which also called for and received payment of $2.1 million in
performance bonds and $7.3 million in advance payment bonds that were issued on
Techwell's behalf for the project. The calling of the advance payment
bonds was based on the master contractor's belief that it had paid in
excess of the construction work performed. The Company and certain of
its subsidiaries are guarantor of the bonds that were paid by the banks, and the
Company is liable under the guarantee agreements for such amounts paid by the
banks. The Company does not believe that the master contractor had a
proper basis for calling the bonds and intend to vigorously defend all of its
legal rights and remedies related to the dispute. The Company has
engaged a construction claims consultant to facilitate resolution of the
dispute. The Company and its construction claims consultant, based on
a review of the facts, documents, and materials available, believes that it has
a reasonable opportunity to collect the amounts due to Techwell from the master
contractor, less appropriate credits as its final amount due for work performed
through September 2009. The Company, with the assistance of its
claims consultant, will continue to evaluate the dispute and probability of
success on this dispute going forward and make the appropriate adjustments;
however, no assurance can be given that the dispute will be resolved in the
Company’s and Techwell’s favor.
F-33
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
17.
|
RELATED
PARTIES TRANSACTIONS
|
The
amount due to shareholder at December 31 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $10,080,345 ,
$924,687 and $1,334,856 respectively. The Loan is interest-free, fee-free and
has no fixed repayment schedule.
During
the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company purchased construction materials
amounting to $22.9 million from Guangdong Canbo Electrical Co., Ltd. (Canbo) via
its parent company, Kangbao Electrical Company Limited (Kangbao), a subsidiary
of the Company’s major shareholder, KGE Group Limited. Canbo is a preferred
supplier of the Company as it is able to procure materials at favorable price
levels due to its purchased quantities. More important, application of certain
of the Company’s patented technology is preferably routed through Canbo to
prevent undesired distribution of this technology. The Company at times provides
purchases advance payment to Kangbao in order to obtain a more favorable
pricing. As of December 31, 2009, the Company’s purchases advance to Canbo was
$5.9 million for the purpose of future supplies of materials. The Company has
also obtained trade facilities for purchases through Canbo.
The
transactions with related parties during the periods were carried out in the
ordinary course of business and on normal commercial terms.
18.
|
SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
|
Waiver
of Conversion Price Adjustment on Convertible Bonds
On
February 24, 2010, the Company entered into an Amendment and Waiver Agreement
(the “Waiver”) with the holders of its outstanding Variable Rate Convertible
Bonds due 2012 (the “2007 Bonds”) and 12% Convertible Bonds due 2011 (the “2008
Bonds,” and collectively with the 2007 Bonds, the “Bonds”) and warrants to
purchase 300,000 shares of common stock of the Company expiring 2013 (the “2008
Warrants”). Pursuant to the Waiver, the holders of the Bonds and the
2008 Warrants agreed to waive their right to a reduction in the conversion price
of the Bonds and the exercise price of the 2008 Warrants upon the Company’s
anticipated issuance of up to 25,000,000 shares of its common stock (the
“Shares”) for a proposed acquisition of a 60% ownership interest in Shanghai
ConnGame Network Co. Ltd. (“ConnGame”). Additionally, the holders of
the 2008 Bonds agreed to waive any default under the terms and conditions of the
trust deed governing the 2008 Bonds relating to the requirement that KGE Group
Limited own at least 45% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common
stock.
F-34
CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING, INC.
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated
in US Dollars)
18.
|
SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS (CONT'D)
|
The
Waiver is subject to numerous conditions. The Company agreed to pay
the Bondholders the interest in arrears owed on the Bonds as of March 31, 2010
in two equal payments on March 31, 2010 and May 31, 2010 of approximately $1.26
million USD each and to pay 100% of the interest payments on the Bonds that
becomes due in April to be paid on April 15, 2010 of approximately $1.32 million
USD. The foregoing interest payments, in aggregate, are equal to
approximately $3.84 million USD. The Company also agreed to repay the
principal and all accrued interest owed by the Company to ABN AMRO Bank (China)
Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Branch (the “Overdraft Lender”) under an Overdraft Facility
letter (the “Total Amount Owed”) in three separate installments. The first
installment is due on the earlier of (a) within 30 days of the Company’s receipt
of a payment, if any, in respect to a .claim in Dubai or (b) March 31,
2010. The second installment is due on April 30, 2010 and the third
installment is due on May 31, 2010. The first installment equals 34%
of the Total Amount Owed and the second and third installments each equal 33% of
the Total Amount Owed. The Total Amount Owed is equal to
approximately $4.91 million USD. The Company further agreed that it
will not repay or prepay any debt prior to its currently scheduled due date
until the Company makes all of the payments specified in the Waiver and the
Bonds have been redeemed in full and that any new indebtedness incurred by the
Company for the purpose of repaying the Overdraft Facility shall (i) not exceed
the outstanding amount due and payable under the Overdraft Facility and (ii) be
subordinated to all amount owed under the Bonds (the “Covenants”).
The
Waiver has a term of three months, during which the Company is required to
complete the acquisition and make the payments on the required
dates. In addition, if the Company fails to make any of the payments
specified in the Waiver, or there is otherwise a failure to uphold the
obligations under the Waiver, then all rights of the holders of the Bonds and
2008 Warrants waived under the Waiver to or to be waived under the Waiver, shall
not be waived and will be reinstated, and any previous waivers will be null and
void. In such case, appropriate adjustments will be made to the
conversion prices of the Bonds and the exercise price of the 2008 Warrants in
the event any of the Shares are issued and an event of default under the terms
and conditions of the trust deed governing the 2008 Bonds shall exist, making
the 2008 Bonds immediately due and payable.
Grant
of Restricted Stock
On
January 18, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the issuance of
a total of 1.9 million shares of restricted stock (the “Restricted Stock
Grants”) to certain of its officers, directors, and key employees under the
China Architectural Engineering, Inc. 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”),
which was previously approved by the Company’s stockholders at its 2009 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. As approved by the Board, the Restricted
Stock Grants were subject to and contingent upon the Company’s filing of a
registration statement on Form S-8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
which occurred on January 21, 2010. In the first quarter of 2010, the Company
opted to accelerate vesting of the restricted stock awards so that they became
fully vested immediately.
F-35