Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
EX-3.2 - 6D Global Technologies, Inc | v189632_ex3-2.htm |
EX-3.4 - 6D Global Technologies, Inc | v189632_ex3-4.htm |
EX-3.3 - 6D Global Technologies, Inc | v189632_ex3-3.htm |
EX-2.1 - 6D Global Technologies, Inc | v189632_ex2-1.htm |
EX-2.2 - 6D Global Technologies, Inc | v189632_ex2-2.htm |
EX-21.1 - 6D Global Technologies, Inc | v189632_ex21-1.htm |
EX-99.3 - 6D Global Technologies, Inc | v189632_ex99-3.htm |
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 2, 2010
CLEANTECH INNOVATIONS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
|
000-53511
|
98-0516425
|
||
(State
or other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)
|
(Commission
File Number)
|
(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
|
C District, Maoshan Industry Park,
Tieling Economic Development Zone,
Tieling, Liaoning Province, China
|
112616
|
|
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (86)
0410-6129922
Everton Capital Corporation
603, Unit 3, DongFeng South Road, NaShiLiJu
34,
ChaoYang District, Beijing, China
100016
|
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last
report)
|
Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
¨
|
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
|
¨
|
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
|
¨
|
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
|
¨
|
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
|
Throughout this Current Report on Form
8-K, we will refer to CleanTech Innovations, Inc. as “CleanTech,” the “Company,”
“we,” “us” and “our.”
Item
1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On July
2, 2010, CleanTech Innovations, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”),
entered into and consummated a series of agreements that resulted in the
acquisition of all of the ordinary shares of Liaoning Creative Bellows Co., Ltd.
(“Creative Bellows”), a company organized under the laws of the People’s
Republic of China (“PRC”).
The
acquisition of Creative Bellows’ ordinary shares was accomplished pursuant to
the terms of a Share Exchange Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated July
2, 2010 (the “Share Exchange Agreement”), by and between Creative Bellows and
the Company. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, we acquired from Creative
Bellows all of its equity interests in exchange for the issuance of an aggregate
of 15,122,000 shares of our common stock to the stockholders of Creative Bellows
(the “Share Exchange”). Concurrent with the closing of the transactions
contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement and as a condition thereof, we
entered into an agreement with Mr. Jonathan Woo, our former Chief Executive
Officer and Director, pursuant to which he returned 40,000,000 shares of our
common stock to us for cancellation. Mr. Woo received compensation of $40,000
from us for the cancellation of his shares of our common stock. Upon completion
of the foregoing Share Exchange transactions, we had an aggregate of 19,130,000
shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
We issued
the shares of common stock to the stockholders of Creative Bellows in reliance
upon the exemption from registration provided by Regulation S under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Item
2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
We refer
to Item 1.01 above, “Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement,” and
incorporate the contents of that section herein, as if fully set forth under
this Section 2.01.
Description
of Our Company
Historical
Business
Prior to
the transaction described in Item 1.01 above, we were an exploration stage
company with minimal operations engaged in the search for mineral deposits or
reserves. We were incorporated in the State of Nevada on May 9, 2006, under the
name Everton Capital Corporation. On June 18, 2010, we changed our name to
CleanTech Innovations, Inc. and authorized an 8-for-1 forward split of our
common stock, effective on July 2, 2010.
Our common stock will trade under the
symbol “EVCPD” for a 20-day period beginning on July 2, 2010, pursuant to FINRA
rules governing corporate actions, after which period our symbol will revert to
“EVCP.”
Description
of CleanTech
CleanTech
designs and manufactures high performance clean technology products that promote
renewable energy production, pollution reduction and energy conservation in
China. Our products are used in the wind power, steel and coke production,
petrochemical, high voltage electricity transmission and thermoelectric
industries. Our two wholly owned operating companies, Liaoning Creative Bellows
Co., Ltd. (“Creative Bellows”), a foreign investment entity, and Liaoning
Creative Wind Power Equipment Co., Ltd. (“Creative Wind Power”), were organized
under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) on September 17, 2007,
and May 26, 2009, respectively. Creative Bellows owns 100% of Creative Wind
Power.
Creative
Wind Power designs and manufactures wind turbine towers. The wind power industry
in China is dominated by the five largest state-owned energy companies, and
Creative Wind Power sells its wind towers directly to the wind power
operating subsidiaries of these companies. We believe that Creative Wind
Power is well positioned to capture market opportunities associated with
anticipated growth in the Chinese wind farm development business.
Creative
Bellows produces bellows expansion joints, pressure vessels and other fabricated
metal specialty products. Creative Bellows sell its products primarily to the
China domestic steel, coking, petrochemical, high voltage electricity
transmission and thermoelectric industries, where its durable and reliable
products have enabled it to expand rapidly into these heavy industries. We
believe that Creative Bellows is well positioned to take advantage of the
industry-wide manufacturing upgrades in steel, coking, petrochemical and
thermoelectric industries mandated by PRC government policies to conserve energy
and reduce pollution.
Our
principal executive offices and our manufacturing and product development
facilities are located in the Tieling Economic Development Zone, Tieling,
Liaoning Province, China. Our corporate offices are located at C District,
Maoshan Industry Park, Tieling Economic Development Zone, Tieling, Liaoning
Province, China 112616. Our phone number is (86) 0410-6129922 and our website
address is www.ctiproduct.com.
2
Industry
Overview
Wind
Power
China has
limited fossil fuel reserves and must invest in renewable energy generation—such
as wind—as part of a secure national energy plan. China adopted its first
Renewable Energy Law in 2005, fostering the development of renewable energy and
wind power. In 2007, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”)
released its “Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable Energy in
China.” The NDRC plan sets forth a renewable energy consumption target of at
least 15% of China’s energy supply by 2020, with at least 3% of total power
generation for areas covered by large-scale power grids to be wind-based
production. This growth in wind-generated electricity will contribute towards
China’s goal to cut its carbon dioxide emissions 40-45% by 2020 compared to 2005
levels, as announced in China’s carbon intensity goal in November 2009.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a standard 1.5 megawatt wind turbine
can displace 2,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide. The Renewable Energy Law and
its amendments provide for priority grid access to wind farms, require grid
operators to purchase power from qualified wind farms and fixes pricing of
wind-produced electricity at rates of between 51-61 cents RMB per KWH. These
clear government policies provide for stable rates of return on equity for wind
farm operators, which stimulate investments in wind farms and drive the demand
for our wind towers.
According
to the World Wind Energy Association’s (“WWEA”) “World Wind Energy Report 2009,”
China accounted for 36% of all newly installed wind power in 2009 and 16% of all
worldwide capacity, second only to the United States. Wind power electrical
production has grown in China from 0.8 gigawatts in 2004 to 26 gigawatts in
2009, according to the WWEA, a compound annual growth rate of approximately
102%. The Global Wind Energy Council, in its “Global Wind 2009 Report,” expects
China to add 20 gigawatts of wind power capacity annually by 2014, and Morgan
Stanley Research, in its June 8, 2010, “China Wind Energy” report, estimates
that China will have 275-300 gigawatts of total wind power capacity installed by
2020, exceeding the official target of 100-150 gigawatts of capacity. Based on
the NDRC’s “Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable Energy in
China,” it costs approximately $1 billion to install 1 gigawatt of wind capacity
in China, resulting in capital investments of approximately $274 billion spent
on new wind power installations in China by 2020. We are located strategically
in one of the two best regions in China for wind power production. The NDRC has
planned large-scale wind farm projects with at least 10 gigawatts of wind power
capacity in Hebei, Western Jilin and Inner Mongolia, all of which are located
near CleanTech’s manufacturing site.
Pollution
Control and Energy Conservation
China’s
government has implemented social, economic, environmental, regulatory and
government stimulus-related factors to drive demand for clean technology
products that promote renewable energy production, pollution reduction and
energy conservation. Currently, China’s energy structure is reliant
predominantly on coal. Through its policies and stimulus programs, China has
placed a priority on renewable energy, diversification of the power supply and
sustainable economic and social development. Simultaneously, the government is
fostering pollution reduction policies to limit carbon dioxide, waste water
discharge, and other pollutant emissions while continuing to grow China’s steel
production and coal-based power capacity.
The
growing demand for energy has increased alongside China’s booming economy,
created, in part, by the PRC government’s fiscal stimulus policies to foster
industrialization, infrastructure projects and domestic manufacturing. China is
currently the world’s largest steel producer, producing 567.8 million tons in
2009, an increase of 13.5% over 2008, according to China’s National Bureau of
Statistics. China is also the world’s largest producer of coal chemicals,
producing 353 million tons of coke in 2009, according to the NDRC. According to
the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Industrial Technologies, the largest
single environmental issue with steel production is the carburizing of coal into
coke for use in the iron-making process. As a result of concerns about pollution
and energy recycling, China’s electric utilities and iron and steel
manufacturers are taking steps to implement more modern production processes
designed to improve safety, reduce emissions, and conserve energy.
We design
and manufacture high performance components that help heavy industry reduce
pollution and recapture wasted energy. The rapid growth of China’s iron, steel,
petroleum refining, metallurgy and power generation industries have created a
demand for our clean technology products. The market in China for bellows
expansion joints was approximately $3.0 billion in 2009, with an expected growth
rate of approximately 10% annually, according to the Zero Power Intelligence
Co., Ltd., “China Bellows Industry Investment Analyst and Research Report 2010.”
The market in China for pressure vessels was approximately $6.77 billion in
2009, with an expected growth rate of approximately 25% annually over the next 5
years, according the Zero Power Intelligence Co., Ltd., “China Metal Pressure
Vessel Investment Analyst and Research Report 2010.”
3
Products
Wind
Turbine Towers
A
typical wind turbine installation consists of a tower, nacelle—which
houses the generator, gearbox and control systems—and the blade and rotor
system. A free standing, utility-scale wind turbine tower is composed of
rolled steel sections that we design, fabricate and fully assemble at the
installation site of the wind farm. Taller towers yield higher electrical
output because of stronger wind flow at greater heights. Our towers are
constructed of high quality materials capable of enduring high-cycle
fatigue stress cycles and designed to last the entire expected life of the
wind turbine.
|
||
Currently, we produce towers for 1.5 megawatt land-based wind turbines, the most common turbine size in China’s wind farms. We have the capacity at present to manufacture 500 units per year. We plan to expand operations and develop towers for the next generations of wind farms in China, including towers for 3 and 5 megawatt land-based wind turbine installations and 3 megawatt offshore wind turbine installations. Our wind turbine tower customers at present consist of the wind power operating subsidiaries of two of the largest state-owned energy companies—China State Grid and Huaneng Power International Inc. (China Huaneng). We plan to expand our sales of wind turbine towers directly to the other state-owned energy companies, with whom we have developed good relationships, as we continue to introduce our wind turbine tower product lines to the industry. | ||
Wind
turbine installation (top) and section of wind turbine tower in production
(bottom)
(Source:
the Company)
|
Bellows
Expansion Joints
We design
and manufacture specialty bellows expansion joints for heavy
industries:
|
§
|
Coke
Dry Quenching (“CDQ”) High Temperature Bellows Expansion Joints –
expansion joints used in coke dry quenching systems, a more
environmentally friendly coke-making process being adopted by the iron and
steel industries in China.
|
|
§
|
Disk
Spring Sleeve Bellows Expansion Joints – a key component in super high
voltage electrical switching systems used by large electric utilities in
China to upgrade and modernize the national electrical
grid.
|
|
§
|
Connecting
Bend Pipes – unique flexible expansion joints that reduce hazardous gas
leaks from coal ovens used to make
coke.
|
Bellows
expansion joints are used in piping systems to absorb expansion,
contraction and movement of piping system components resulting from the
extreme temperature changes, vibrations, high pressure and other
mechanical forces common to large industrial production systems. The
“bellows” is the flexible portion that permits movement in the expansion
joint and is made of specialty steel or rubber. Bellows expansion joints
absorb axial, lateral and angular motions, vibrations, thermal expansions
and contractions.
Large
industrial production piping systems are an integral part of the
manufacturing process in iron and steel production, refining, heat
recycling, and super-high voltage electrical systems. Expansion joints
represent the weakest link in these systems unless they are made of high
quality material and manufactured to withstand extreme pressure, changes
in temperature and vibrations. Even high quality expansion joints must be
replaced on a regular basis in order to properly maintain complex
manufacturing systems.
|
||
Movement
absorption of bellows
(Source:
the Company)
|
4
China
traditionally imported stainless steel bellows expansion joints from Japan and
the United States because of their superior manufacturing and engineering
capabilities in this area. Creative Bellows is one of the few domestic Chinese
manufactures of steel expansion joints that possess the advanced manufacturing
and engineering skills required to produce high quality expansion joint products
for the Chinese domestic steel, petrochemical and electrical utility
industries.
CDQ
High Temperature Bellows Expansion Joints
We
manufacture expansion joints that are key components in an energy saving process
used in the production of iron called “coke dry quenching” (CDQ). While the CDQ
process is more prevalent in Japan, Chinese iron and steel mills are in the
process of adopting the technology in order to reduce pollution and recycle
energy released during the coking process.
Coke is
made by baking coal at extremely high temperatures in an oxygen-free oven and
then rapidly cooling it. In the conventional cooling process, the red-hot coke
is cooled by drenching it with cold water (“coke wet quenching”), releasing
toxic waste water and gases directly into the environment and wasting steam
energy produced as the coke cools. The more modern and reliable CDQ process
cools the coke with an inert gas circulated in an enclosed system, which reduces
harmful gas emissions and waste water runoff while reclaiming the super heated
gas for generating electricity or hot water. Compared to the coke wet quenching
process, a steel mill using two CDQ systems can produce approximately 167
gigawatt hours of electricity from waste heat annually, saving approximately
$9.2 million each year on electricity costs, save approximately 3.7 million tons
of water, and reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 130,000
metric tons.(1)
China’s
11th Five Year Plan has encouraged the iron and steel-making industries to
utilize the CDQ coke making process to promote energy conservation, reduce
pollution and expand steel industry production. In addition, the Five Year Plan
calls for a consolidation of the iron and steel industries in order to reduce
the number of small, inefficient iron and steel mills that do not have the
resources to adapt to the new policies encouraging efficiency and pollution
reduction. We believe that as this industry consolidation takes place, larger
iron and steel mills will continue to adopt the CDQ process because they have
capital to invest, are better able to recycle the heat captured in the CDQ
process and are better positioned to respond to government mandates on this
technology.
Creative
Bellows produces CDQ High Temperature Bellows Expansion Joints for the
Chinese domestic market using a proprietary manufacturing process that
allows the expansion joint to withstand temperatures exceeding 2100°
Fahrenheit (1200° Celsius) and resist the corrosive effect of the toxic
gas byproducts. The primary markets for our CDQ High Temperature Bellows
Expansion Joints are new iron and steel mills in the China domestic
market, existing mills being modernized by retrofitting CDQ systems and
mills with installed CDQ systems that need to replace the CDQ High
Temperature Bellows Expansion Joints, which management estimates have
useful life expectancy of approximately two years.
|
||
CDQ
High Temperature Bellows
Expansion Joint
(Source:
the
Company)
|
(1)
Sources: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: Baotou Iron
& Steel CDQ and Waste Heat Utilization for Electricity Generation Project,
03/08/2007, and “CDQ-Modern coking technology,” by Anhui Vocational College of
Metallurgy and Technology. Assumptions made in calculations: Steel mill using
two CDQ systems, each with 125 tons/hour coal capacity and 15 megawatt
electricity generating capacity, and $0.055/kilowatt hour (based on Huaneng
2009)
5
Disk
Spring Sleeve Bellows Expansion Joints
The power
generating capacity in China increased from 443 gigawatts in 2004 to an
estimated 874 gigawatts by 2009, according to the China Electricity Council’s
“2009 National Electric Power Industry Statistical Reports.” China is in the
process of upgrading its electricity transmission grid to use super high voltage
transmission systems, which allow for a more efficient transportation of
electricity and reduce the amount of energy lost during transmission over long
distances. Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) are key safety devices in these high
voltage transmission systems. The GIS work as a circuit breaker to isolate
electrical equipment and balance electrical loads. Pressurized gas within the
GIS provides insulation and interrupts faults, reducing the likelihood of the
current arcing from one piece of equipment to another.
Gas Insulated Switchgear at high voltage power plant |
Disk
Spring Sleeve Bellows Expansion Joint
(Source:
the Company)
|
We have
developed Disk Spring Sleeve Bellows Expansion Joints for use in super high
voltage GIS. Our Disk Spring Sleeve Bellows Expansion Joints reduce safety
issues caused by conventional bellows used in GIS by better accommodating the
unique gas pressure movements within the switchgear. We are one of the few
manufacturers worldwide capable of producing Disk Spring Sleeve Bellows
Expansion Joints for use in super high voltage GIS rated over 1,000 kilovolts.
Our primary market for our Disk Spring Sleeve Bellows Expansion Joints is
provincial and municipal power companies that are upgrading their transmission
systems in order to promote more efficient distribution of electricity
throughout China.
Connecting
Bend Pipes
Connecting
Bend Pipes are flexible metal expansion joints used in piping systems to
carry gas away from coke ovens used in iron and steel mills. Connecting
Bend Pipes are safer than rigid expansion joints because they can absorb
the stresses from movements in the piping system better while still
withstanding the intense temperatures of the hot coke gases. Rigid metal
expansion joints used in gas piping systems are more prone to stress
fractures and leaks, which may cause expensive system shutdowns or a
catastrophic explosion. Connecting Bend Pipes are also easier to install
and replace than rigid metal pipe expansion joints making reducing the
cost of maintaining the systems which need replacement parts to be
installed approximately every two years. |
||
Connecting
Bend Pipes awaiting shipment
(Source:
the
Company)
|
We are
one of the few companies in China to manufacture and supply Connecting Bend
Pipes for the safe transmission of gases in the steel and coke industries. The
primary markets for our Connecting Bend Pipes are iron and steel mills in the
process of being modernized and upgraded for safety. Management estimates that
Connecting Bend Pipes have a life expectancy of approximately two
years.
6
Pressure
Vessels
A
pressure vessel is a container designed to hold liquid or gas at
significantly higher or lower pressures than at normal sea level. Pressure
vessels must be carefully designed, manufactured and operated properly in
order to avoid serious explosions. The engineering specifications for
pressure vessels are heavily regulated and vary from country to country.
Pressure vessels may be made of steel or carbon composite materials.
Spherical pressure vessels require forged parts constructed from high
quality steel and welded together using highly sophisticated welding
techniques. |
||
Pressure
vessel
(Source:
the
Company)
|
Our
pressure vessels are used in the petrochemical, electrical, steel, aerospace and
metallurgical industries in heat exchangers and industrial reactors, and as
storage tanks and separators used in their manufacturing and electrical
production processes. We manufacture our pressure vessels to customer
specifications from carbon or stainless steel to withstand high temperatures,
high pressures and resist corrosion. We have received the necessary licensing
from the State General Administration of the PRC for Quality Supervision and
Inspection and Quarantine to manufacture pressure vessels of Class III A2
grade—the highest rating in China. Our pressure vessels are subject to stringent
testing standards and are put through a battery of examinations using x-ray,
ultrasonic, pneumatic and hydraulic testing to ensure quality control.
Management estimates that our pressure vessels have an average life expectancy
of 10 years.
Production
We
conduct all manufacturing of our wind turbine towers, bellows expansion joints
and pressure vessels in our facilities in the city of Tieling, Liaoning
Province, China. We base our production schedule on customer orders and schedule
deliveries on a just-in-time basis. We use advanced manufacturing equipment in
our production process, including welding equipment from Panasonic and Miller.
We received ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System certification in October
2009. We have implemented multiple comprehensive quality control procedures,
including non-destructive tests for defect detection through radiological
(x-ray) and ultrasonic testing, pneumatic and hydraulic tests on pressure
vessels and bellows expansion joints, and SF6 gas leakage tests on switchgear
bellows expansion joints.
Sales
and Marketing
We employ
approximately 15 sales people to sell and market our products directly to
customers without relying on distributors. We currently sell exclusively to
China domestic companies and distribute our products throughout most of China.
We also depend on referrals from our current clients and well-known industry
design institutes. We have developed an extensive network of relationships with
the large state-owned energy companies who are the principal developers of
China’s wind-generated electricity installations, large-scale steel mills and
state electrical grid. The Company funds marketing costs through our working
capital.
Suppliers
Our major
raw material purchases include stainless steel, carbon steel and component
parts, including disk springs and flanges. We operate a multiple sourcing
strategy and source our raw materials through various suppliers located
throughout China. We are able to source our steel purchases directly from steel
producers instead of through steel distributors, thereby reducing our costs
significantly. We do not generally have long-term supply agreements with any of
our raw materials suppliers. We believe that we will be able to obtain an
adequate supply of steel and other raw materials to meet our manufacturing
requirements. We maintain a good business relationship with all of our
suppliers. Our principal suppliers are Tianjin Iron and Steel Co., Inc.,
Shenyang Haosen Co., Shenyang Oriental Kunlun Stainless Steel Industry Co.,
Ltd., Shenyang Maodelong Stainless Steel Co., Ltd., Shenyang Xilv Machine
Manufacture Co., Ltd., Qinhuangdao Hengyu Trading Co., Ltd., Shenyang Hezhixiang
Stainless Steel Co., Ltd., Liaoning Qingshan Stainless Steel Co., Ltd., Yangzhou
Jiyang Spring Manufacture Co., Ltd. and Tianjin Hengtai Industry & Trading
Co., Ltd.
7
Customers
Our
customer base for our bellows expansion joints, pressure vessels and other
fabricated metal specialty components is broad and consists mainly of large
state-owned China domestic companies in the steel, petrochemical and
thermoelectric industries. We first introduced our wind turbine tower products
in February 2010. The wind power industry in China is concentrated and five of
the largest state-owned energy companies dominate the current market. Three
state-owned utility companies account for all of our current wind turbine tower
business.
Intellectual
Property
We rely
on patent and trade secret protection laws in China, along with confidentiality
procedures and contractual provisions, to protect our intellectual property and
maintain our competitive edge in the marketplace. We and our subsidiaries have
historically licensed the right to use patents from various parties, including
from our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Bei Lu. We entered into a
transfer agreement with Ms. Lu that intended to transfer to the Company her
ownership of a design patent issued in China and used by the Company in its
connecting bend pipe product. Ms. Lu has further granted the Company a
perpetual, exclusive, worldwide and royalty-free license to use the patent,
which may not be cancelled by her, until the registration of the ownership
transfer of such patent becomes effective. The connecting bend pipe design
patent expires on August 24, 2015. We have also been granted an exclusive
license to use a production method patent for lead free soft solder with
mischmetal from the Shenyang Industry University until December 31, 2013. We
have applied for three additional patents, including design patents related to
our CDQ high temperature bellows expansion joint and disk spring sleeve bellows
expansion joint products, and we intend to apply for more patents to protect our
core technologies.
We have
implemented confidentiality and noncompetition policies with key
employees.
Research
and Development
To
maintain our competitive edge in the marketplace and keep pace with new
technologies, we believe it is important to devote resources to ongoing research
and development to find improved efficiencies in design, cost, pollution
reduction and energy conservation capabilities of our current products, while
identifying and developing new high-end fabricated metal specialty components.
We plan to spend approximately $860,000 on research and development in 2010,
compared to approximately $66,582 in 2009 and none in 2008. This increase
represents our commitment to develop new high performance clean technology
products.
While we
have no formal written alliances, we have worked with, and continue to work
with, ACRE Coking & Refractory Engineering Consulting Corporation and the
Liaoning Combustion Engineering Research Center on the development of new
products.
Governmental
and Environmental Regulation
Our
manufacturing of wind turbine towers and pressure vessels requires a special
license issued by the State General Administration of the PRC for Quality
Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine. We received a license to manufacture
wind turbine towers and pressure vessels of Class III A2 grade on January 8,
2009, which expires on January 7, 2013.
Our
nondestructive radiological testing of products includes the use of x-rays for
defect detection. In December 2008, the Bureau for Environmental Protection of
Liaoning Province determined that the design and construction of our
radiological (x-ray) defect detection room was in compliance with PRC Ministry
of Health standards for radiological protection standards for industrial
x-rays.
Our
business and company registrations are in compliance in all material respects
with the laws and regulations of the municipal and provincial authorities of
Liaoning Province and China. We are subject to the National Environmental
Protection Law of the PRC as well as local laws regarding pollutant discharge,
air, water and noise pollution, with which we comply.
8
Competition
Our clean
technology products compete presently only in the China domestic market. The
general manufacturing industry for fabricated metal components in China is
fragmented, diverse and highly competitive, with companies competing based on
industry segment and component. We compete with China domestic private
companies, China state-owned companies and international manufacturers. PRC
government tax policies have encouraged domestic development of materials for
the wind power industry. Transportation of wind turbine towers and other heavy
metal components is a significant cost of the wind turbine equipment and
installation, encouraging local sourcing of manufacturing. Three of the top
provinces in China for wind farm installations as of 2008, according to the
China Wind Energy Association, were Liaoning, Hebei and Jilin, all within ready
delivery range of our manufacturing plant in Tieling, Liaoning
Province.
Many of
our competitors are more established and have substantially greater
manufacturing, marketing and financial resources than us, including state
backing for some companies. We plan to remain competitive by continuing to
maintain strict quality standards, cost control and funding of research and
development to deliver high quality clean technology products on a reliable
basis and at competitive prices. We have no principal competitors at present for
high temperature bellows expansion joints for CDQ systems. Our principal
competitors in the disk spring sleeve bellows expansion joint market are:
Shanghai Huqiang Bellows Manufacture Co., Ltd., Shenyang Instrument Science
Institution and Shenyang Aerosun-Futai Expansion Joint Co., Ltd. Our principal
competitors in the pressure vessel market are: Shenyang Aerospace Xinguang Group
Co., Ltd. and Shenyang Luzheng Cooling & Heating Equipment Co., Ltd. Our
principal competitors in the wind turbine tower market are: Engineering Company
Ltd. of China Gezhouba Water & Power Group, Gansu Keyan Electricity Co.,
Ltd., Qingdao Tianneng Electricity Engineering Machinery Co., Ltd. We sell wind
turbine towers directly to the state-owned energy companies and collaborate with
wind turbine manufacturers on installations; we do not compete directly with
wind turbine manufacturers, which include both China domestic and international
manufacturers.
We are
able to compete successfully with these companies because of our commitment to
clean technology products that emphasize our focus on the renewable energy
industry, pollution reduction and energy conservation.
|
§
|
Proprietary
product designs – We own or have applied for four design patents for our
bellows expansion joint products. Our high temperature bellows expansion
joint for CDQ systems and connecting bend pipe for coking plants are
proven proprietary technology, occupying a significant portion of their
respective markets with few comparable competitors. We intend to apply for
more patents to protect our core technologies as they are
developed.
|
|
§
|
Advanced
manufacturing technology – Our facilities use the latest technology in our
manufacturing process, including welding equipment from Panasonic and
Miller, to maintain quality standards and production of reliable products.
We also have an exclusive license to use a patented production method for
lead free soft solder with mischmetal from the Shenyang Industry
University.
|
|
§
|
Regional
strength – Our manufacturing facilities are located in high growth regions
for China’s wind farms.
|
|
§
|
Low
material costs – Our principal costs are raw materials, primarily carbon
and stainless steel. We buy our steel direct from steel producers,
bypassing distributors and lowering our overall costs for raw materials.
Accordingly, we can offer our fabricated products to customers at a lower
per unit price.
|
|
§
|
Quality
control – We have received ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System
certification, a mandatory PRC manufacturing license for pressure vessels
and implemented multiple comprehensive quality control procedures designed
to ensure that our fabricated products meet government regulations and our
own high standards for quality. Our quality control procedures include
inspections, including nondestructive testing, at all stages of the design
and manufacturing process.
|
|
§
|
Research
and development – We plan to invest $860,000 in 2010 on research and
development to develop new product lines. Our seasoned research and
development team often works with leading engineering and design
institutes to develop new products and production
methods.
|
|
§
|
Industry
experience – Our management has extensive experience developing and
patenting innovative products for our customer’s industries. We have
significant manufacturing experience in rolling and welding thick-walled
steel plates. We have received the mandatory license to manufacture wind
turbine towers and pressure vessels of Class III A2 grade, the highest
rated class of pressure vessels; this evidence of welding skill and
experience provides us with a competitive advantage when bidding on new
wind turbine tower contracts.
|
9
|
§
|
Customer
service – We work closely with our customers to design and manufacture
products to their custom specifications. Our technical staff provides
onsite guidance throughout the installation
process.
|
Seasonality
The
majority of our business is affected by seasonality. Sales of our bellows
expansion joints and other fabricated metal specialty components typically
experience stronger third and fourth calendar quarters and weaker first and
second calendar quarters due to seasonal-related fluctuations in sales volumes.
The Company sells products that are installed outdoors; consequently, demand for
these fabricated metal specialty components can be affected by weather
conditions.
Employees
As of
March 31, 2010, we had 153 full time employees. We plan to hire 20-30 additional
employees during 2010.
We
believe that relations with our employees are satisfactory and retention has
been stable. We enter into standard labor contracts with our employees as
required by the PRC government and adhere to state and provincial employment
regulations. We provide our employees with all social insurance as required by
state and provincial laws, including pension, unemployment, basic medical and
workplace injury insurance. We have no collective bargaining agreements with our
employees.
Properties
Our
principal executive offices and our designing and manufacturing facilities are
located in the Tieling Economic Development Zone, Tieling, Liaoning Province,
China. We own seven buildings, which include our office headquarters and
manufacturing facilities. Creative Bellows has been granted land usage rights in
Tieling to 94,473 square meters through 2057. Creative Wind Power has been
granted land usage rights to an additional 43,500 square meters in Tieling
through 2059.
Legal
Proceedings
CleanTech
may occasionally become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings
arising in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to
inherent uncertainties and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise
from time to time that may have an adverse affect on our business, financial
conditions or operating results. CleanTech is currently not aware of any such
legal proceedings or claims that will have, individually or in the aggregate, a
material adverse affect on our business, financial condition or operating
results.
Risk
Factors
Our
business and an investment in our securities are subject to a variety of risks.
The following risk factors describe the most significant events, facts or
circumstances that could have a material adverse effect upon our business,
financial condition, results of operations, ability to implement our business
plan and the market price for our securities. Many of these events are outside
of our control. The risks described below are not the only ones facing our
company. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we consider
immaterial based on information currently available to us may also materially
adversely affect us. If any of the events anticipated by the risks described
herein occur, our business, cash flow, results of operations and financial
condition could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading
price of our common stock could decline and investors in our common stock could
lose all or part of their investment.
10
Risks
Related to Our Business
We
are a major purchaser of certain raw materials that we use in the manufacturing
process of our products, and price changes for the commodities we depend on may
adversely affect our profitability.
The
Company’s largest raw materials purchases consist of stainless steel and carbon
steel. As such, fluctuations in the price of steel in the domestic market will
have an impact on the Company’s operating costs and related profits.
International steel prices were lower in 2009 than in 2008, but prices have
increased in early 2010 along with the general economic recovery. The iron ore
import price in China has also increased since 2009, which will impact the price
and volume of steel produced by the China domestic steel industry.
Our
profitability depends in part upon the margin between the cost to us of certain
raw materials, such as stainless steel and carbon steel, used in the
manufacturing process, as well as our fabrication costs associated with
converting such raw materials into assembled products, compared to the selling
price of our products, and the overall supply of raw materials. It is our
intention to base the selling prices of our products in part upon the associated
raw materials costs to us. However, we may not be able to pass all increases in
raw material costs and ancillary acquisition costs associated with taking
possession of the raw materials through to our customers. Although we are
currently able to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials, it is impossible to
predict future availability or pricing. The inability to offset price increases
of raw material by sufficient product price increases, and our inability to
obtain raw materials, would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The
Company does not engage in hedging transactions to protect against raw material
fluctuations, but attempts to mitigate the short-term risks of price swings by
purchasing raw materials in advance.
We
derive a substantial part of our revenues from several major customers. If we
lose any of these customers or they reduce the amount of business they do with
us, our revenues may be seriously affected.
Our ten
largest customers accounted for 84% of our revenues for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2009. Our largest customer accounted for approximately 19% of our
revenues in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. These customers may not
maintain the same volume of business with us in the future. If we lose any of
these customers or they reduce the amount of business they do with us, our
revenues and profitability may be seriously affected. With our recent entry into
the wind turbine tower market, we will generate significant revenues from
large-scale projects based on fixed price contracts with a limited number of
customers. We do not foresee our relying on these same customers for revenue
generation over time, however, as they will change with each large-scale
project.
Additionally,
many of our customers purchase our equipment as part of their capital budget. As
a result, we are dependent upon receiving orders from companies that are either
expanding their business, commencing a new business, upgrading their capital
equipment or otherwise require capital equipment. Our business is therefore
dependent upon both the economic health of these industries and our ability to
offer products that meet regulatory requirements, including environmental
requirements, of these industries and are cost justifiable, based on potential
regulatory compliance and cost savings in using our equipment in contrast to
existing equipment or equipment offered by others. Any economic slowdown can
affect all purchasers and manufacturers of capital equipment, and we cannot
assure you that our business will not be significantly impaired as a result of
the current worldwide economic downturn.
Our
plans for growth rely on an increasing emphasis on the wind power industry; this
sector faces many challenges, which may limit our potential for growth in this
new market.
Our
principal plan for growth this year is to manufacture wind turbine towers for
the China domestic wind power industry. This industry sector faces many
developmental challenges, including a reliance on continued PRC government
environmental and energy conservation policies and stimulus programs. Wind power
accounts for a small percentage of the power generated in China currently, and
the existing power grid and transmission system lags behind existing and planned
wind power plant construction. Our ability to market to this segment is
dependent upon both an increased acceptance of wind power as an energy source in
China and the industry acceptance of our products. We believe there will
continue to be an increased demand for wind power in China and that the power
companies installing wind-generated power equipment will purchase our products.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to develop this business successfully,
however, and our failure to develop the business will have a material adverse
effect on our overall financial condition and the results of our
operations.
11
If
we are not able to manage our growth, we may not be profitable.
Our
continued success will depend on our ability to expand and manage our operations
and facilities. There can be no assurance that we will be able to manage our
growth, meet the staffing requirements for our business or successfully
assimilate and train new employees. In addition, to manage our growth
effectively, we may be required to expand our management base and enhance our
operating and financial systems. If we continue to grow, there can be no
assurance that the management skills and systems currently in place will be
adequate. Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will be able to manage any
additional growth effectively. Failure to achieve any of these goals could have
a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of
operations.
Our
accounts receivables remain outstanding for a significant period of time, which
has a negative impact on our cash flow and liquidity.
Our
agreements with our customers generally provide that 30% of the purchase price
is due upon the placement of an order, 30% upon delivery and 30% upon
installation and acceptance of the equipment after customer testing. As a common
practice in the manufacturing business in China, payment of the final 10% of the
purchase price is due no later than the termination date of the our warranty
period, which ranges from 12 to 24 months from the acceptance date.
We
are required to maintain various licenses and permits regarding our
manufacturing business, and the loss of or failure to renew any or all of these
licenses and permits may require the temporary or permanent suspension of some
or all of our operations.
In
accordance with the laws and regulations of the PRC, we are required to maintain
various licenses and permits in order to operate our manufacturing business. We
are required to acquire a manufacturing license for specialized equipment from
the State General Administration of the PRC for Quality Supervision and
Inspection and Quarantine in order to produce wind turbine towers and pressure
vessels of the Class III A2 grade. Our nondestructive radiological testing of
products includes the use of x-rays for defect detection and we are required to
maintain our defect detection room in compliance with PRC Ministry of Health
standards for radiological protection standards for industrial x-rays. Failure
to maintain these standards, or the loss of or failure to renew such licenses
and production permits, could result in the temporary or permanent suspension of
some or all of our production or distribution operations and could adversely
affect our revenues and profitability.
We
may experience material disruptions to our manufacturing
operations.
While we
seek to operate our facilities in compliance with applicable rules and
regulations and take measures to minimize the risks of disruption at our
facilities, a material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could
prevent us from meeting customer demand, reduce our sales and/or negatively
impact our financial results. Any of our manufacturing facilities, or any of our
machines within an otherwise operational facility, could cease operations
unexpectedly due to a number of events, including: prolonged power failures;
equipment failures; disruptions in the transportation infrastructure including
roads, bridges, railroad tracks; and fires, floods, earthquakes, acts of war, or
other catastrophes.
We
cannot be certain that our product innovations and marketing successes will
continue.
We
believe that our past performance has been based on, and our future success will
depend, in part, upon our ability to continue to improve our existing products
through product innovation and to develop, market and produce new products. We
cannot assure you that we will be successful in introducing, marketing and
producing any new products or product innovations, or that we will develop and
introduce in a timely manner innovations to our existing products which satisfy
customer needs or achieve market acceptance. Our failure to develop new products
and introduce them successfully and in a timely manner could harm our ability to
grow our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
12
The
technology used in our products may not satisfy the changing needs of our
customers.
While we
believe that we have hired or engaged personnel who have the experience and
ability necessary to keep pace with advances in technology, and while we
continue to seek out and develop “next generation” technology through our
research and development efforts, there is no guarantee that we will be able to
keep pace with technological developments and market demands in our target
industries and markets. Although certain technologies in the industries that we
occupy are well established, we believe our future success depends in part on
our ability to enhance our existing products and develop new products in order
to continue to meet customer demands. With any technology, including the
technology of our current and proposed products, there are risks that the
technology may not address successfully all of our customers’ needs. Moreover,
our customers’ needs may change or vary. This may affect the ability of our
present or proposed products to address all of our customers’ ultimate
technology needs in an economically feasible manner, which could have a material
adverse affect on our business.
We
may not be able to keep pace with competition in our industry.
Our
business is subject to risks associated with competition from new or existing
industry participants who may have more resources and better access to capital.
Many of our competitors and potential competitors may have substantially greater
financial and government support, technical and marketing resources, larger
customer bases, longer operating histories, greater name recognition and more
established relationships in the industry than we do. Among other things, these
industry participants compete with us based upon price, quality, location and
available capacity. We cannot be sure that we will have the resources or
expertise to compete successfully in the future. Some of our competitors may
also be able to provide customers with additional benefits at lower overall
costs to increase market share. We cannot be sure that we will be able to match
cost reductions by our competitors or that we will be able to succeed in the
face of current or future competition. In addition, we may face competition from
our customers as they seek to become more vertically integrated in order to
offer full service packages. Some of our customers are also performing more
services themselves.
We will
face different market dynamics and competition as we develop new products to
expand our target markets. In some markets, our future competitors would have
greater brand recognition and broader distribution than we currently enjoy. We
may not be as successful as our competitors in generating revenues in those
markets due to the lack of recognition of our brand, lack of customer
acceptance, lack of product quality history and other factors. As a result, any
new expansion efforts could be more costly and less profitable than our efforts
in our existing markets.
If we are
not as successful as our competitors in our target markets, our sales could
decline, our margins could be impacted negatively and we could lose market
share, any of which could materially harm our business.
Our
products may contain defects, which could adversely affect our reputation and
cause us to incur significant costs.
Despite
testing by us, defects may be found in existing or new products. Any such
defects could cause us to incur significant return and exchange costs,
re-engineering costs, divert the attention of our engineering personnel from
product development efforts, and cause significant customer relations and
business reputation problems. Any such defects could force us to undertake a
product recall program, which could cause us to incur significant expenses and
could harm our reputation and that of our products. If we deliver defective
products, our credibility and the market acceptance and sales of our products
could be harmed.
The
nature of our products creates the possibility of significant product liability
and warranty claims, which could harm our business.
Customers
use some of our products in potentially hazardous applications that can cause
injury or loss of life and damage to property, equipment or the environment. In
addition, some of our products are integral to the production process for some
end-users and any failure of our products could result in a suspension of
operations. We cannot be certain that our products will be completely free from
defects. Our newest product, wind turbine towers, has yet to be put into
production at our customers’ wind farm installations. Moreover, we do not have
any product liability insurance and may not have adequate resources to satisfy a
judgment in the event of a successful claim against us. The successful assertion
of product liability claims against us could result in potentially significant
monetary damages and require us to make significant payments. In addition,
because the insurance industry in China is still in its early stages of
development, business interruption insurance available in China offers limited
coverage compared to that offered in many other countries. We do not have any
business interruption insurance. Any business disruption or natural disaster
could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources.
13
We
face risks associated with managing domestic Chinese operations.
All of
our operations are conducted in China. There are a number of risks inherent in
doing business in such market, including the following:
|
§
|
unfavorable
political or economical factors;
|
|
§
|
fluctuations
in foreign currency exchange rates;
|
|
§
|
potentially
adverse tax consequences;
|
|
§
|
unexpected
legal or regulatory changes;
|
|
§
|
lack
of sufficient protection for intellectual property
rights;
|
|
§
|
difficulties
in recruiting and retaining personnel, and managing international
operations; and
|
|
§
|
less
developed infrastructure.
|
Our
inability to manage successfully the inherent risks in our China domestic
activities could adversely affect our business. We can provide no assurances
that any new market expansion will be successful because of the risks associated
with conducting such operations, including the risks listed above.
Our
limited operating history may not serve as an adequate basis to judge our future
prospects and results of operations.
We and
our subsidiaries began operations in September 2007 and first introduced our
wind turbine tower products in February 2010. Our limited operating history
designing and manufacturing fabricated metal specialty components may not
provide a meaningful basis on which to evaluate our business. Although our
revenues have grown rapidly since inception, we cannot assure you that we will
maintain our profitability or that we will not incur net losses in the future.
We expect that our operating expenses will increase as we expand. Any
significant failure to realize anticipated revenue growth could result in
significant operating losses. We will continue to encounter risks and
difficulties frequently experienced by companies at a similar stage of
development, including our potential failure to:
|
§
|
maintain
our proprietary technology;
|
|
§
|
expand
our product offerings and maintain the high quality of our
products;
|
|
§
|
manage
our expanding operations, including the integration of any future
acquisitions;
|
|
§
|
obtain
sufficient working capital to support our expansion and to fill customers’
orders in time;
|
|
§
|
maintain
adequate control of our expenses;
|
|
§
|
implement
our product development, marketing, sales, and acquisition strategies and
adapt and modify them as needed;
|
|
§
|
anticipate
and adapt to changing conditions in the wind power, steel, petrochemical
and thermoelectric industry markets in which we operate as well as the
impact of any changes in government regulation, mergers and acquisitions
involving our competitors, technological developments and other
significant competitive and market
dynamics.
|
Our
inability to manage successfully any or all of these risks may materially and
adversely affect our business.
14
Creative
Bellows may only have a perpetual, exclusive, worldwide and royalty-free license
to use the patents and trademarks used in its business.
We and
our subsidiaries have historically licensed the right to use patents and
trademarks from various parties, including from our Chief Executive Officer, Ms.
Bei Lu. We entered into a transfer agreement that intended to transfer patents
and trademarks used by the Company from its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Lu, to
Creative Bellows. Any transfer of the ownership of such patents and trademarks
requires that the transfer agreement be registered with the State Intellectual
Property Office of the PRC and the China Trademark Office under the State
Administration of Industry and Commerce of the PRC, respectively. In the absence
of such registration, the transfers would be ineffective under PRC law. The
transfer agreement includes a perpetual, exclusive, worldwide and royalty-free
license of the use of the patents and trademarks to Creative Bellows, which may
not be cancelled by the licensor or grantor until such time as the ownership of
such patents and trademarks are transferred effectively to Creative Bellows. If
the licensor unilaterally terminates or repudiates the transfer agreement, the
Company’s business may be adversely affected as Creative Bellows may have to
litigate or arbitrate to retain such license rights.
We
may not be able to protect our technology and other proprietary rights
adequately.
Our
success will depend in part on our ability to obtain and protect our products,
methods, processes and other technologies, to preserve our trade secrets, and to
operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of third parties, both
domestically and abroad. Despite our efforts, any of the following occurrences
may reduce the value of our owned and used intellectual property:
|
§
|
issued
patents and trademarks that we own or have the right to use may not
provide us with any competitive
advantages;
|
|
§
|
our
efforts to protect our intellectual property rights may not be effective
in preventing misappropriation of our technology or that of those from
whom we license our rights to use;
|
|
§
|
our
efforts may not prevent the development and design by others of products
or technologies similar to or competitive with, or superior to those we
use or develop; or
|
|
§
|
another
party may obtain a blocking patent and we or our licensors would need to
either obtain a license or design around the patent in order to continue
to offer the contested feature or service in our
products.
|
Effective
protection of intellectual property rights may be unavailable or limited in
certain foreign countries. If we are unable to protect our proprietary rights
adequately, it would have a negative impact on our operations.
We,
or the owners of the intellectual property rights licensed to us, may be subject
to claims that we or such licensors have infringed the proprietary rights of
others, which could require us and our licensors to obtain a license or change
designs.
Although
we do not believe that any of our products infringe upon the proprietary rights
of others, there is no assurance that infringement or invalidity claims (or
claims for indemnification resulting from infringement claims) will not be
asserted or prosecuted against us or those from whom we have licenses or that
any such assertions or prosecutions will not have a material adverse affect on
our business. Regardless of whether any such claims are valid or can be asserted
successfully, defending against such claims could cause us to incur significant
costs and could divert resources away from our other activities. In addition,
assertion of infringement claims could result in injunctions that prevent us
from distributing our products. If any claims or actions are asserted against us
or those from whom we have licenses, we may seek to obtain a license to the
intellectual property rights that are in dispute. Such a license may not be
available on reasonable terms, or at all, which could force us to change our
designs.
We
may need additional capital to execute our business plan and fund operations and
may not be able to obtain such capital on acceptable terms or at
all.
Although
we currently expect to have sufficient funding for the next 12 months, we may
need additional capital to fund our future growth. Our ability to obtain
additional capital on acceptable terms or at all is subject to a variety of
uncertainties, including:
|
§
|
investors’
perceptions of, and demand for, companies in our
industry;
|
|
§
|
investors’
perceptions of, and demand for, companies operating in
China;
|
15
|
§
|
conditions
of the United States and other capital markets in which we may seek to
raise funds;
|
|
§
|
our
future results of operations, financial condition and cash
flows;
|
|
§
|
governmental
regulation of foreign investment in companies in particular
countries;
|
|
§
|
economic,
political and other conditions in the United States, China, and other
countries; and
|
|
§
|
governmental
policies relating to foreign currency
borrowings.
|
We may be
required to pursue sources of additional capital through various means,
including joint venture projects and debt or equity financings. There is no
assurance that we will be successful in locating a suitable financing
transaction in a timely fashion or at all. In addition, there is no assurance
that we will be successful in obtaining the capital we require by any other
means. Future financings through equity investments are likely to be dilutive to
our existing stockholders. Also, the terms of securities we may issue in future
capital transactions may be more favorable for our new investors. Newly issued
securities may include preferences or superior voting rights, be combined with
the issuance of warrants or other derivative securities, or be the issuances of
incentive awards under equity employee incentive plans, which may have
additional dilutive effects. Furthermore, we may incur substantial costs in
pursuing future capital and financing, including investment banking fees, legal
fees, accounting fees, printing and distribution expenses and other costs. We
may also be required to recognize non-cash expenses in connection with certain
securities we may issue, such as convertible notes and warrants, which will
adversely impact our financial condition.
If we
cannot raise additional funds on favorable terms or at all, we may not be able
to carry out all or parts of our strategy to maintain our growth and
competitiveness or to fund our operations. If the amount of capital we are able
to raise from financing activities, together with our revenues from operations,
is not sufficient to satisfy our capital needs, even to the extent that we
reduce our operations accordingly, we may be required to cease
operations.
We
may not be able to attract the attention of major brokerage firms because we
became public by means of a share exchange.
There may
be risks associated with our becoming public through the Share Exchange
Agreement. Analysts of major brokerage firms may not provide our company
coverage because there is no incentive for brokerage firms to recommend the
purchase of our common stock. Furthermore, we can give no assurance that
brokerage firms will, in the future, want to conduct any secondary offerings on
our behalf.
Our
business could be subject to environmental liabilities.
As is the
case with manufacturers of similar products, we use certain hazardous substances
in our operations. Currently, we do not anticipate any material adverse effect
on our business, revenues or results of operations as a result of compliance
with the environmental laws and regulations of the PRC. However, the risk of
environmental liability and charges associated with maintaining compliance with
PRC environmental laws is inherent in the nature of our business, and there is
no assurance that material environmental liabilities and compliance charges will
not arise in the future.
If
we lose our key personnel, or are unable to attract and retain additional
qualified personnel, the quality of our services may decline and our business
may be adversely impacted.
We rely
heavily on the expertise, experience and continued services of our senior
management, including our Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Bei Lu. Loss of her
services could adversely impact our ability to achieve our business objectives.
We believe our future success will depend upon our ability to retain key
employees and our ability to attract and retain other skilled personnel. The
rapid growth of the economy in China has caused intense competition for
qualified personnel. We cannot guarantee that any employee will remain employed
by us for any definite period of time or that we will be able to attract, train
or retain qualified personnel in the future. Such loss of personnel could have a
material adverse effect on our business and company. Moreover, qualified
employees periodically are in great demand and may be unavailable in the time
frame required to satisfy our customers’ requirements. We need to employ
additional personnel to expand our business. There is no assurance that we will
be able to attract and retain sufficient numbers of highly skilled employees in
the future. The loss of personnel or our inability to hire or retain sufficient
personnel at competitive rates could impair the growth of our
business.
16
We
will incur significant costs as a result of our operating as a public company
and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance
initiatives.
While we
are a public company, our compliance costs to date have not been substantial in
light of our limited operations. Creative Bellows has never operated as a public
company. As a public company with substantial operations, we will incur
increased legal, accounting and other expenses. The costs of preparing and
filing annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information with
the SEC and furnishing audited reports to stockholders is time-consuming and
costly.
It will
also be time-consuming, difficult and costly for us to develop and implement the
internal controls and reporting procedures required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”). Certain members of our management have
limited or no experience operating a company whose securities are listed on a
national securities exchange or with the rules and reporting practices required
by the federal securities laws and applicable to a publicly traded company. We
will need to recruit, hire, train and retain additional financial reporting,
internal control and other personnel in order to develop and implement
appropriate internal controls and reporting procedures. If we are unable to
comply with the internal controls requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we may
not be able to obtain the independent accountant certifications required by the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
If
we fail to establish and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we
may not be able to report our financial results accurately or prevent fraud. Any
inability to report and file our financial results accurately and timely could
harm our business and adversely impact the trading price of our common
stock.
We are
required to establish and maintain internal controls over financial reporting,
disclosure controls, and to comply with other requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act and the rules promulgated by the SEC. Our management, including our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, cannot guarantee that our
internal controls and disclosure controls will prevent all possible errors or
prevent all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated,
can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the
control system are met. In addition, the design of a control system must reflect
the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefit of controls must be
relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control
systems, no system of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control
issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected.
These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in
decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple
error or mistake. Furthermore, controls can be circumvented by individual acts
of some persons, by collusion of two or more persons, or by management override
of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon
certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no
assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all
potential future conditions. Over time, a control may become inadequate because
of changes in conditions or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures
may deteriorate. Because of inherent limitations in a cost-effective control
system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be
detected.
Our
stockholders have limited protections against interested director transactions,
conflicts of interest and similar matters because we are not yet required to
comply with rules requiring the adoption of certain corporate governance
measures.
The
Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as the rules enacted by the SEC and the national
securities exchanges as a result of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, requires the
implementation of various measures relating to corporate governance. These
measures are designed to enhance the integrity of corporate management and the
securities markets and apply to securities listed on those exchanges. We have
not yet adopted all of these measures because, at present, we are not required
to comply with many of the corporate governance provisions.
We do not
have a board member that qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” or
that qualifies as “independent,” as that term is used in the rules of the SEC or
the NASDAQ Stock Market.
17
Until we
comply with the corporate governance measures adopted by the national securities
exchanges after the enactment of Sarbanes-Oxley Act, regardless of whether such
compliance is required, the absence of standards of corporate governance may
leave our stockholders without protections against interested director
transactions, conflicts of interest and similar matters and investors may be
reluctant to provide us with funds in the future if we determine it is necessary
to raise additional capital. We intend to comply with all applicable corporate
governance measures relating to director independence as soon as
practicable.
Rules
newly applicable to us, including those contained in and issued under the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act, may make it difficult for us to retain or attract qualified
officers and directors, which could adversely affect the management of our
business and our ability to obtain or retain listing of our common
stock.
We may be
unable to attract and retain those qualified officers, directors and members of
board of directors committees required to provide for our effective management
because of the rules and regulations that govern publicly held companies,
including, but not limited to, certifications by principal executive officers.
The perceived personal risk associated with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may deter
qualified individuals from accepting roles as directors and executive officers
of our business.
Furthermore,
some of these recent changes heighten the requirements for board or committee
membership, particularly with respect to an individual’s independence and level
of experience in finance and accounting matters. We may have difficulty
attracting and retaining directors with the requisite qualifications. If we are
unable to attract and retain qualified officers and directors, the management of
our business and our ability to obtain or retain the listing of our common stock
on any national securities exchange (assuming we elect to seek and are
successful in obtaining such listing) could be adversely affected.
We
are a holding company that depends on cash flow from our wholly owned
subsidiaries to meet our obligations.
After the
Share Exchange, we became a holding company with no material assets other than
the stock of our wholly owned subsidiaries, Creative Bellows and Creative Wind
Power, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative Bellows. Accordingly,
Creative Bellows and Creative Wind Power will conduct all of our operations,
which are responsible for research, production and delivery of goods. We
currently expect that we will primarily retain the earnings and cash flow of our
subsidiaries for use by us in our operations.
All
of Creative Bellows’ liabilities survived the Share Exchange and there may be
undisclosed liabilities that could have a negative impact on our financial
condition.
Before
the Share Exchange, certain due diligence activities on the Company and Creative
Bellows were performed. The due diligence process may not have revealed all
liabilities (actual or contingent) of the Company and Creative Bellows that
existed or which may arise in the future relating to the Company’s activities
before the consummation of the Share Exchange. Notwithstanding that all of the
Company’s pre-closing liabilities were transferred to a third party pursuant to
the terms of the Share Exchange Agreement, it is possible that claims for such
liabilities may still be made against us, which we will be required to defend or
otherwise resolve. The transfer pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement may not
be sufficient to protect us from claims and liabilities, and any breaches of
related representations and warranties. Any liabilities remaining from the
Company’s pre-closing activities could harm our financial condition and results
of operations.
New
accounting standards could result in changes to our methods of quantifying and
recording accounting transactions, and could affect our financial results and
financial position.
Changes
to the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) arise from new and
revised standards, interpretations, and other guidance issued by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, the SEC, and others. In addition, the U.S.
government may issue new or revised Cost Accounting Standards or Cost
Principles. The effects of such changes may include prescribing an accounting
method where none had been previously specified, prescribing a single acceptable
method of accounting from among several acceptable methods that currently exist,
or revoking the acceptability of a current method and replacing it with an
entirely different method, among others. Such changes could result in
unanticipated effects on our results of operations, financial position, and
other financial measures.
18
Risks
Related to Our Business Being Conducted in China
China’s
economic policies could affect our business.
All of
our assets are located in China and all of our revenue is derived from our
operations in China. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects are
subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal
developments in China. While China’s economy has experienced significant growth
in the past twenty years, such 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 they
may also have a negative effect on us. For example, operating results and
financial condition may be adversely affected by the government control over
capital investments or changes in tax regulations. The economy of China has been
transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy. In
recent years, the Chinese government has implemented measures emphasizing the
utilization of market forces for economic reform and the reduction of state
ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of corporate governance in
business enterprises; however, a substantial portion of productive assets in
China are still owned by the Chinese government. In addition, the Chinese
government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry
development by imposing industrial policies. It also exercises significant
control over China’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, the
control of payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, the setting of
monetary policy and the provision of preferential treatment to particular
industries or companies.
We
may have difficulty establishing adequate management, legal and financial
controls in China.
Historically,
China has not adopted a Western style of management or financial reporting
concepts and practices, nor modern banking, computer and other control systems.
We may have difficulty in hiring and retaining a sufficient number of qualified
employees to work in China. 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.
Our
bank accounts are not insured or protected against loss.
We
maintain our cash with various national banks located in China. Our cash
accounts are not insured or otherwise protected. Should any bank holding our
cash deposits become insolvent, or if we are otherwise unable to withdraw funds,
we would lose the cash on deposit with that particular bank.
We
have limited business insurance coverage and may incur losses due to business
interruptions resulting from natural and man-made disasters, and our insurance
may not be adequate to cover liabilities resulting from accidents or injuries
that may occur.
The
insurance industry in China is still in an early stage of development and
insurance companies located in China offer limited business insurance products.
In the event of damage or loss to our properties, our insurance may not provide
as much coverage as if we were insured by insurance companies in the United
States. We currently carry property and casualty insurance for our buildings,
plant and equipment but cannot assure you that the coverage will be adequate to
replace fully any damage to any of the foregoing. Should any natural
catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods, or any acts of terrorism occur where
our primary operations are located and most of our employees are based, or
elsewhere, we might suffer not only significant property damage, but also loss
of revenues due to interruptions in our business operations. The occurrence of a
significant event for which we are not fully insured or indemnified, and/or the
failure of a party to meet its underwriting or indemnification obligations,
could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial condition.
Moreover, no assurance can be given that we will be able to maintain adequate
insurance in the future at rates we consider reasonable.
19
Tax
laws and regulations in China are subject to substantial revision, some of which
may adversely affect our profitability.
The
Chinese tax system is in a state of flux, and it is anticipated that China’s tax
regime will be altered in the coming years. Tax benefits that we presently enjoy
may not be available to us in the wake of these changes, and we could incur tax
obligations to the Chinese government that are significantly higher than
currently anticipated. These increased tax obligations could negatively impact
our financial condition and our revenues, gross margins, profitability and
results of operations may be adversely affected as a result.
Certain
tax treatment that we presently enjoy in China is scheduled to expire over the
next several years.
We are
entitled to certain tax benefits because a substantial portion of our operations
is located in a privileged economic zone. When these tax benefits expire, our
income tax expenses will increase, reducing our net income below what it would
be if we continued to enjoy these tax benefits. A portion of our land use,
education and other local government taxes are returned to us, thereby reducing
our effective tax rate. Our current tax treatment will last until
2015.
We
may face judicial corruption in China.
Another
obstacle to foreign investment in China is corruption. There is no assurance
that we will be able to obtain recourse in any legal disputes with suppliers,
customers or other parties with whom we conduct business, if desired, through
China’s poorly developed and sometimes corrupt judicial systems.
If
relations between the United States and China worsen, investors may be unwilling
to hold or buy our stock and our stock price may decrease.
At
various times during recent years, the United States and China have had
significant disagreements over political and economic issues. Controversies may
arise in the future between these two countries. Any political or trade
controversies between the United States and China, whether or not directly
related to our business, could reduce the price of our common
stock.
China
could change its policies toward private enterprise or even nationalize or
expropriate private enterprises.
Our
business is subject to significant political and economic uncertainties and may
be affected by political, economic and social developments in China. Over the
past several years, the PRC government has pursued economic reform policies
including the encouragement of private economic activity and greater economic
decentralization. The PRC government may not continue to pursue these policies
or may significantly alter them to our detriment from time to time with little,
if any, prior notice.
Changes
in policies, laws and regulations or in their interpretation or the imposition
of confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency conversion, restrictions or
prohibitions on dividend payments to stockholders, or devaluations of currency
could cause a decline in the price of our common stock, should a market for our
common stock ever develop. Nationalization or expropriation could even result in
the total loss of your investment.
The
nature and application of many laws of China create an uncertain environment for
business operations and they could have a negative effect on us.
The legal
system in China is a civil law system. Unlike the common law system, the civil
law system is based on written statutes in which decided legal cases have little
value as precedents. In 1979, China began to promulgate a comprehensive system
of laws and has since introduced many laws and regulations to provide general
guidance on economic and business practices in China and to regulate foreign
investment. Progress has been made in the promulgation of laws and regulations
dealing with economic matters such as corporate organization and governance,
foreign investment, commerce, taxation and trade. The promulgation of new laws,
changes to existing laws and the abrogation of local regulations by national
laws could cause a decline in the price of our common stock. In addition, as
these laws, regulations and legal requirements are relatively recent, their
interpretation and enforcement involve significant uncertainty.
20
Fluctuation
of the Renminbi may affect our financial condition and the value of our
securities.
Although
we use the United States dollar for financial reporting purposes, most of the
transactions effected by our operating subsidiaries are denominated in China’s
Renminbi. The value of the Renminbi fluctuates and is subject to changes in
China’s political and economic conditions. Since July 2005, the Renminbi has not
been pegged to the U.S. dollar. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly
intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term
fluctuations in the exchange rate, the Renminbi may appreciate or depreciate
significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term.
Moreover, it is possible that in the future the Chinese authorities may lift
restrictions on fluctuations in the Renminbi exchange rate and lessen
intervention in the foreign exchange market.
Future
movements in the exchange rate of the Renminbi could adversely affect our
financial condition as we may suffer financial losses when transferring money
raised outside of China into the country or paying vendors for services
performed outside of China. Moreover, fluctuations in the exchange rate between
the U.S. dollar and the Renminbi will affect our financial results reported in
U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our
business, financial condition or results of operations. Fluctuations in the
exchange rate will also affect the relative value of any dividend we may issue
in the future that will be exchanged into U.S. dollars and earnings from, and
the value of, any U.S. dollar-denominated investments we make in the
future.
Inflation
in China could negatively affect our profitability and growth.
The rapid
growth of China’s economy has been uneven among economic sectors and
geographical regions of the country. China’s economy grew nearly 12% in the
first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Rapid economic growth
can lead to growth in the money supply and rising inflation. According to the
National Bureau of Statistics of China, the inflation rate in China declined in
the second half of 2008 and much of 2009 during the current worldwide economic
downturn, before climbing again to a high point of 1.9% in 2009, as compared to
8.7% and 6.9% in 2008. The inflation rate in China is expected to continue to
increase in 2010 as the worldwide economy recovers, reaching 3.1% as of May
2010. If prices for our products and services fail to rise at a rate sufficient
to compensate for the increased costs of supplies, such as raw materials, due to
inflation, 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. The implementation of such policies may impede future
economic growth. The People’s Bank of China, the central bank of the PRC, kept
interest rates fixed during the recent economic crisis, but in the past has
effected increases in the interest rates in response to inflationary concerns in
the China’s economy. If the central bank raises interest rates from the current
crisis levels, economic activity in China could slow and, in turn, materially
increase our costs and reduce demand for our products and services.
We
may not be able to obtain regulatory approvals for our products.
The PRC
and local provincial governments regulate the manufacture and sale of our
products in China. Although our licenses and regulatory filings are up to date,
the uncertain legal environment in China and our industry may be vulnerable to
local government agencies or other parties who wish to renegotiate the terms and
conditions of, or terminate their agreements or other understandings with
us.
It
will be extremely difficult to acquire jurisdiction and enforce liabilities
against our officers, directors and assets based in China.
As our
executive officers and directors, including the Chairman of our Board of
Directors, are Chinese citizens, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to
acquire jurisdiction over these persons in the event a lawsuit is initiated
against us and/or our officers and directors by a stockholder or group of
stockholders in the United States. Also, because our operating subsidiaries and
assets are located in China, it may be extremely difficult or impossible for
individuals to access those assets to enforce judgments rendered against us or
our directors or executive offices by United States courts. In addition, the
courts in China may not permit the enforcement of judgments arising out of
United States federal and state corporate, securities or similar laws.
Accordingly, United States investors may not be able to enforce judgments
against us for violation of United States securities laws.
21
PRC
regulations relating to mergers, offshore companies and Chinese stockholders, if
applied to us, may limit our ability to operate our business as we see
fit.
PRC
regulations govern the process by which we may participate in an acquisition of
assets or equity interests. Depending on the structure of the transaction, these
regulations require involved parties to make a series of applications and
supplemental applications to various government agencies. In some instances, the
application process may require the presentation of economic data concerning a
transaction, including appraisals of the target business and evaluations of the
acquirer, which are designed to allow the government to assess the transaction.
Government approvals will have expiration dates by which a transaction must be
completed and reported to the government agencies. Compliance with the new
regulations is likely to be more time consuming and expensive than in the past
and the government can now exert more control over the combination of two
businesses. Accordingly, due to PRC regulations, our ability to engage in
business combination transactions in China through our Chinese subsidiaries has
become significantly more complicated, time consuming and expensive, and we may
not be able to negotiate transactions that are acceptable to us or sufficiently
protective of our interests.
Restrictions
on currency exchange may limit our ability to receive and use our revenues
effectively.
The
Renminbi is currently convertible under the “current account,” which includes
dividends, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not
under the “capital account,” which includes foreign direct investment and loans.
Currently, our China subsidiaries may purchase foreign currencies for settlement
of current account transactions, including payments of dividends to us, without
the approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”). However,
the relevant PRC government authorities may limit or eliminate their ability to
purchase foreign currencies in the future. Since a significant amount of our
future revenues will be denominated in Renminbi, any existing and future
restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize revenues
generated in Renminbi to fund our business activities outside China that are
denominated in foreign currencies.
Foreign
exchange transactions by our China subsidiaries under the capital account
continue to be subject to significant foreign exchange controls and require the
approval of or need to register with Chinese governmental authorities, including
SAFE. In particular, if our China subsidiaries borrow foreign currency loans
from us or other foreign lenders, these loans must be registered with SAFE, and
if we finance our China subsidiaries by means of additional capital
contributions, these capital contributions must be approved by certain
government authorities, including the NDRC, Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”), or
their respective local counterparts. These limitations could affect the ability
of our Chinese subsidiaries to obtain foreign exchange through debt or equity
financing.
Recent
PRC regulations relating to the registration requirements for China resident
stockholders owning shares in offshore companies as well as registration
requirements of employee stock ownership plans or share option plans may subject
the Company’s China resident stockholders to personal liability and limit its
ability to acquire Chinese companies or to inject capital into its operating
subsidiaries in China, limit its subsidiaries’ ability to distribute profits to
the Company, or otherwise materially and adversely affect the
Company.
The SAFE
issued a public notice in October 2005 (“Circular 75”) requiring PRC residents,
including both legal persons and natural persons, to register with the competent
local SAFE branch before establishing or controlling any company outside of
China, referred to as an “offshore special purpose company,” for the purpose of
acquiring any assets of or equity interest in PRC companies and raising funds
from overseas. In addition, any PRC resident who is the stockholder of an
offshore special purpose company is required to amend his or her SAFE
registration with the local SAFE branch, with respect to that offshore special
purpose company in connection with any increase or decrease of capital, transfer
of shares, merger, division, equity investment or creation of any security
interest over any assets located in China. To clarify further the implementation
of Circular 75, the SAFE issued Circular 124 and Circular 106 on November 24,
2005 and May 29, 2007, respectively. Under Circular 106, PRC subsidiaries of an
offshore special purpose company are required to coordinate and supervise the
filing of SAFE registrations by the offshore holding company’s stockholders who
are PRC residents in a timely manner. If these stockholders fail to comply, the
PRC subsidiaries are required to report to the local SAFE authorities. If the
PRC subsidiaries of the offshore parent company do not report to the local SAFE
authorities, they may be prohibited from distributing their profits and proceeds
from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to their offshore
parent company and the offshore parent company may be restricted in its ability
to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiaries. Moreover, failure to
comply with the above SAFE registration requirements could result in liabilities
under PRC laws for evasion of foreign exchange restrictions. We cannot predict
fully how Circular 75 will affect our business operations or future strategies
because of ongoing uncertainty over how Circular 75 will be interpreted and
implemented, and how or whether SAFE will apply it to us.
22
We have
requested our PRC resident beneficial owners, including our Chairman, to make
the necessary applications, filings and amendments as required under SAFE
regulations in connection with their equity interests in us. We attempt to
ensure that our Chinese subsidiaries comply, and that our PRC resident
beneficial owners subject to these rules comply, with the relevant SAFE
regulations. The Company cannot provide any assurances that all of our present
or prospective direct or indirect PRC resident beneficial owners will comply
fully with all applicable registrations or required approvals. The failure or
inability of our PRC resident beneficial owners to comply with the applicable
SAFE registration requirements may subject these beneficial owners or the
Company to fines, legal sanctions and restrictions described above.
On March
28, 2007, SAFE released detailed registration procedures for employee stock
ownership plans or share option plans to be established by overseas listed
companies and for individual plan participants. Any failure to comply with the
relevant registration procedures may affect the effectiveness of the Company’s
employee stock ownership plans or share option plans and subject the plan
participants, the companies offering the plans or the relevant intermediaries,
as the case may be, to penalties under PRC foreign exchange regime. To date, the
Company has made no grant of options nor does it have an employee stock
ownership plan or share option plan in effect. These penalties may subject the
Company to fines and legal sanctions, prevent the Company from being able to
make distributions or pay dividends, as a result of which the Company’s business
operations and its ability to distribute profits could be materially and
adversely affected.
The
Company’s PRC subsidiary may be exposed to penalties by the PRC government due
to noncompliance with taxation, land use and construction administration,
environmental and employment rules.
While the
Company believes its PRC subsidiary has been in compliance with PRC taxation,
land use and construction administration, environmental and employment rules
during its operations in China, the Company has not obtained letters from the
competent PRC government authorities confirming such compliance. If any
competent PRC government authority takes the position that there is
noncompliance with the taxation, land use and construction administration,
environmental or employment rules by the Company’s PRC subsidiary, it may be
exposed to penalties by such PRC government authority, in which case the
operation of the Company’s PRC subsidiary in question may be adversely
affected.
We
operate in the PRC through our wholly owned operating entities initially
approved by the local office of the PRC Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM’s Local
Counterpart”). However, we cannot warrant that such approval procedures have
been completely satisfied due to a number of reasons, including changes in laws
and government interpretations.
Our
operating entities in the PRC have received initial approval from MOFCOM’s Local
Counterpart and there may be conditions subsequent to complete and maintain such
approval. We believe we have satisfied the approval procedures of MOFCOM’s Local
Counterpart. However, the approval procedures of MOFCOM’s Local Counterpart or
interpretations of its approval procedures may be different from our
understanding or may change. As a result, if our approval is revoked by MOFCOM's
Local Counterpart for any reason, there may be a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects,
as well as the trading price of our shares.
We
must comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
We are
required to comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the
“FCPA”), which prohibits U.S. companies from engaging in bribery or other
prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or
retaining business. Foreign companies, including some of our competitors, are
not subject to these prohibitions. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs,
theft and other fraudulent practices occur from time-to-time in mainland China.
If our competitors engage in these practices, they may receive preferential
treatment from personnel of some companies, giving our competitors an advantage
in securing business or from government officials who might give them priority
in obtaining new licenses, which would put us at a disadvantage. Although we
inform our personnel that such practices are illegal, we cannot assure you that
our employees or other agents will not engage in such conduct for which we might
be held responsible. If our employees or other agents are found to have engaged
in such practices, we could suffer severe penalties.
23
Risks
Related to Our Securities
The
market price for our common stock may be volatile.
The
trading price of our common stock may fluctuate widely in response to various
factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include, but not
limited to, our quarterly operating results or the operating results of other
companies in our industry, announcements by us or our competitors of
acquisitions, new products, product improvements, commercial relationships,
intellectual property, legal, regulatory or other business developments and
changes in financial estimates or recommendations by stock market analysts
regarding us or our competitors. In addition, the stock market in general, and
the market for companies based in China in particular, has experienced extreme
price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant effect on
the market prices of securities issued by many companies for reasons unrelated
or disproportionate to their operating performance. These broad market
fluctuations may materially affect our stock price, regardless of our operating
results. Furthermore, the market for our common stock is limited and we cannot
assure you that a larger market will ever be developed or maintained. The price
at which investors purchase shares of our common stock may not be indicative of
the price that will prevail in the trading market. Market fluctuations and
volatility, as well as general economic, market and political conditions, could
reduce our market price. As a result, these factors may make it more difficult
or impossible for you to sell our common stock for a positive return on your
investment.
Shares
of our common stock lack a significant trading market.
Shares of
our common stock are not yet eligible for trading on any national securities
exchange. Our common stock may be quoted in the over-the-counter market on the
OTC Bulletin Board or in what are commonly referred to as “pink sheets.” These
markets are highly illiquid. Although we intend to apply for listing of our
common stock on an exchange, there can be no assurance of if and when we could
meet the initial listing criteria or if such application would be granted. There
is no assurance that an active trading market in our common stock will develop,
or if such a market develops, that it will be sustained. In addition, there is a
greater chance for market volatility for securities that are quoted on the OTC
Bulletin Board as opposed to securities that trade on a national exchange. This
volatility may be caused by a variety of factors, including the lack of readily
available quotations, the absence of consistent administrative supervision of
“bid” and “ask” quotations and generally lower trading volume. As a result, an
investor may find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate
quotations as to the market value of, our common stock, or to obtain coverage
for significant news events concerning us, and the common stock could become
substantially less attractive for margin loans, for investment by financial
institutions, as consideration in future capital raising transactions or for
other purposes.
Future
sales of shares of our common stock by our stockholders could cause our stock
price to decline.
Future
sales of shares of our common stock could adversely affect the prevailing market
price of our stock. If our significant stockholders sell a large number of
shares, or if we issue a large number of shares, the market price of our stock
could significantly decline. Moreover, the perception in the public market that
stockholders might sell shares of our stock could depress the market for our
shares. If our stockholders who received shares of our common stock issued in
the Share Exchange sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public
market upon the effectiveness of a registration statement, or upon the
expiration of any holding period under Regulation S, such sales could create a
circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang” and in anticipation of which
the market price of our common stock could fall. The existence of an overhang,
whether or not sales have occurred or are occurring, also could make it more
difficult for us to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or
equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem
reasonable or appropriate. The shares of common stock issued in the Share
Exchange will be freely tradable upon the earlier of (i) effectiveness of a
registration statement covering such shares and (ii) the date on which such
shares may be sold without registration pursuant to Regulation S under the
Securities Act and the sale of such shares could have a negative impact on the
price of our common stock.
24
We
may issue additional shares of our capital stock or debt securities to raise
capital or complete acquisitions, which would reduce the equity interest of our
stockholders.
Our
Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of
common stock, par value $.00001 per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $.00001 per share. After giving effect to the Share Exchange,
there are approximately 80,870,000 authorized and unissued shares of our common
stock that have not been reserved and are available for future issuance and
100,000,000 authorized and unissued shares of our preferred stock that have not
been reserved and are available for future issuance. Although we have no
commitments as of the date of this registration statement to issue our
securities, we may issue a substantial number of additional shares of our common
stock to complete a business combination or to raise capital. The issuance of
additional shares of our common stock may (i) significantly reduce the equity
interest of our existing stockholders and (ii) adversely affect prevailing
market prices for our common stock.
The
application of the “penny stock” rules could adversely affect the market price
of our common stock and increase your transaction costs to sell those
shares.
Our
common stock may be subject to the “penny stock” rules adopted under Section
15(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The penny stock rules apply to
non-NASDAQ-listed issuers whose common stock trades at less than $5.00 per share
or that have a tangible net worth of less than $5,000,000 ($2,000,000 if the
company has been operating for three or more years). The penny stock rules
require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise
exempt from those rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document
prepared by the SEC, which contains the following information:
|
§
|
a
description of the nature and level of risk in the market for penny stocks
in both public offerings and secondary
trading;
|
|
§
|
a
description of the broker’s or dealer’s duties to the customer and of the
rights and remedies available to the customer with respect to violation to
such duties or other requirements of securities
laws;
|
|
§
|
a
brief, clear, narrative description of a dealer market, including “bid”
and “ask” prices for penny stocks and the significance of the spread
between the “bid” and “ask” prices;
|
|
§
|
a
toll free telephone number for inquiries on disciplinary
actions;
|
|
§
|
definitions
of any significant terms in the disclosure document or in the conduct of
trading in penny stocks; and
|
|
§
|
such
other information and is in such form (including language, type, size and
format), as the SEC shall require by rule or
regulation.
|
Prior to
effecting any transaction in penny stock, the broker-dealer also must provide
the customer with the following information:
|
§
|
bid
and offer quotations for the penny
stock;
|
|
§
|
compensation
of the broker-dealer and our salesperson in the
transaction;
|
|
§
|
number
of shares to which such bid and ask prices apply, or other comparable
information relating to the depth and liquidity of the market for such
stock; and
|
|
§
|
monthly
account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in
the customer’s account.
|
The penny
stock rules further require that, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not
otherwise exempt from those rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written
determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser
and receive the purchaser’s written acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk
disclosure statement, a written agreement to transactions involving penny stocks
and a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement.
Due to
the requirements of the penny stock rules, many brokers have decided not to
trade penny stocks. As a result, the number of broker-dealers willing to act as
market makers in such securities is limited. If we remain subject to the penny
stock rules for any significant period, that could have an adverse effect on the
market, if any, for our securities. Moreover, if our securities are subject to
the penny stock rules, investors will find it more difficult to dispose of our
securities.
25
We
have not paid dividends in the past and do not expect to pay dividends in the
future. Any return on investment may be limited to the value of our common
stock.
We have
never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate doing so in
the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock will depend
on earnings, financial condition and other business and economic factors
affecting it at such time as the Board of Directors may consider relevant. If we
do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because a return on
your investment will occur only if our stock price appreciates.
Capital
outflow policies in China may hamper our ability to declare and pay dividends to
our stockholders.
China has
adopted currency and capital transfer regulations. These regulations may require
us to comply with complex regulations for the movement of capital. Although our
management believes that we will be in compliance with these regulations, should
these regulations or the interpretation of them by courts or regulatory agencies
change, we may not be able to pay dividends to our stockholders outside of
China. In addition, under current Chinese law, we must retain a reserve equal to
10% of net income after taxes, not to exceed 50% of registered capital.
Accordingly, this reserve will not be available to be distributed as dividends
to our stockholders. We presently do not intend to pay dividends in the
foreseeable future. Our management intends to follow a policy of retaining all
of our earnings to finance the development and execution of our strategy and the
expansion of our business.
Our
principal stockholders have the ability to exert significant control in matters
requiring a stockholder vote and could delay, deter or prevent a change of
control in our company.
The
former stockholders of Creative Bellows, including our Chief Executive Officer,
Ms. Bei Lu, and their designees, beneficially own or control approximately
79.05% of our outstanding shares as of the close of the Share Exchange. If these
stockholders were to act as a group, they would possess significant influence
over us, giving them the ability, among other things, to control the election of
all or a majority of the Board of Directors and to approve significant corporate
transactions. Such stock ownership and control may also have the effect of
delaying or preventing a future change in control, impeding a merger,
consolidation, takeover or other business combination, or discouraging a
potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain
control of our company. Without the consent of the former stockholders of
Creative Bellows, we could be prevented from entering into potentially
beneficial transactions. The interests of these stockholders may differ from the
interests of our other stockholders.
We
have provisions in our Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
that substantially eliminate the personal liability of members of our Board of
Directors and our officers for violations of their fiduciary duty of care as a
director or officer and that allow us to indemnify our officers and directors.
These provisions could make it very difficult for you to bring any legal actions
against our directors or officers for such violations or could require us to pay
any amounts incurred by our directors or officers in any such
actions.
Pursuant
to our Articles of Incorporation, members of our Board of Directors and our
officers will have no liability for breaches of their fiduciary duty of care as
a director or officer, except in limited circumstances. This means that you may
be unable to prevail in a legal action against our directors or officers even if
you believe they have breached their fiduciary duty of care. In addition, our
Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws allow us to indemnify
our directors and officers from and against any and all costs, charges and
expenses resulting from their acting in such capacities with us. This means that
if you were able to enforce an action against our directors or officers, in all
likelihood we would be required to pay any expenses they incurred in defending
the lawsuit and any judgment or settlement they otherwise would be required to
pay.
26
Taxation
We
will not obtain an opinion of legal counsel regarding the United States income
tax consequences of an investment in our securities.
We will
not obtain an opinion of counsel regarding the U.S. income tax consequences of
investing in our securities including whether we will be treated as a company
for U.S. income tax purposes. Recent changes in tax laws have not, as yet, been
the subject of administrative or judicial scrutiny or interpretation. Moreover,
there is no assurance that future legislation may not further affect the tax
consequences of an investment in our securities. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CONSULT
WITH THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE POSSIBLE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
TAX CONSEQUENCES OF INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.
Cautionary
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
Current Report on Form 8-K includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We have based these
forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about
future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from
any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify
forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,”
“could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Factors
that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not
limited to, those listed under the heading “Risk Factors” and those listed in
our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The following discussion
should be read in conjunction with our Financial Statements and related Notes
thereto included elsewhere in this Current Report. Throughout this Current
Report, we will refer to CleanTech Innovations, Inc. as “CleanTech,” the
“Company,” “we,” “us” and “our.”
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
Overview
Liaoning
Creative Bellows Co., Ltd (“Creative Bellows”) was incorporated in Liaoning
Province, People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) on September 17, 2007. Creative
Bellows designs and manufactures bellows expansion joints, pressure vessels and
other fabricated metal specialty products. Creative Bellows has one 100% owned
subsidiary, Liaoning Creative Wind Power Equipment Co., Ltd (“Creative Wind
Power”), which designs and manufactures wind turbine towers in
China.
On June 18, 2010, Everton Capital
Corporation, a U.S. shell company, changed its name to CleanTech Innovations,
Inc. (“CleanTech”) and authorized an 8-for-1 forward split of its common stock,
effective on July 2, 2010. Simultaneously, Everton changed its year end from
August to December.
On July 2, 2010, the Company signed a
share exchange agreement with CleanTech, whereby the Company's shareholders
received 15,122, 000 shares in CleanTech. Concurrent with the share exchange
agreement, CleanTech's principal shareholder cancelled 40,000,000 shares in
CleanTech for $40,000. The cancelled shares were retired. CleanTech had
4,008,000 shares outstanding after the cancellation. The shareholders of
Creative Bellows ended up owning 79.05% of the total shares outstanding of
CleanTech. The transaction will be accounted for as a recapitalization of the
Company and not as a business combination. Since CleanTech has no operations, no
pro forma information is presented.
Critical
Accounting Policies
While our
significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 to our
consolidated financial statements, we believe the following accounting policies
are the most critical to aid you in fully understanding and evaluating this
management discussion and analysis.
Basis
of Presentation
The
Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US
GAAP”).
Principles
of Consolidation
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Creative Bellows and
Creative Wind Power. All intercompany transactions and account balances are
eliminated in consolidation.
Use
of Estimates
In
preparing the financial statements in conformity with US GAAP, management makes
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of
the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting year. Significant estimates, required
by management, include the recoverability of long-lived assets and the valuation
of inventories. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
27
Accounts
Receivable and Retentions Receivable
The
Company’s policy is to maintain reserves for potential credit losses on accounts
receivable. Management reviews the composition of accounts receivable
and analyzes historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit
worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment patterns to
evaluate the adequacy of these reserves.
Inventories
The
Company’s inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market with cost
determined on a weighted average basis. The Company compares the cost of
inventories with the market value and allowance is made for writing down the
inventories to their market value, if lower.
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Expenditures
for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred; additions, renewals and
betterments are capitalized. When property and equipment are retired
or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are
removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is included in
operations. Depreciation of property and equipment is provided using
the straight-line method for substantially all assets with 5% salvage value and
estimated lives as follows:
Building
|
40
|
years
|
|
Machinery
|
5 –
15
|
years
|
|
Vehicle
|
5
|
years
|
|
Office
Equipment
|
5
|
years
|
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company's revenue recognition policies are in compliance with Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 104 (codified in
Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) Topic 605). Revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to
customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable,
the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations of the Company exist
and collectibility is reasonably assured. Payments received before
all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are recorded as unearned
revenue.
Sales
revenue represents the invoiced value of goods, net of value-added tax
(VAT). The Company’s products that are sold and services that are
provided in the PRC are subject to a Chinese VAT of 17% of the gross sales
price. This VAT may be offset by VAT paid by the Company on raw
materials and other materials included in the cost of producing their finished
product. The Company recorded VAT payable and VAT receivable net of
payments in the financial statements. The VAT tax return is filed
offsetting the payables against the receivables.
The
warranty of the Company is provided to all customers and is not considered an
additional service; rather, it is considered an integral part of the product’s
sale. We believe the existence of our warranty does not constitute a deliverable
in the arrangement and thus there is no need to apply the EITF 00-21 (ASC
Topic 605) “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” separation and
allocation model for a multiple deliverable arrangement. FAS 5 (ASC Topic 450)
“Accounting for Contingencies” specifically addresses the accounting for
standard warranties and neither SAB 104 (ASC subtopic 605-10-S99-1) nor EITF
00-21 (ASC Topic 605) supersedes FAS 5 (ASC Topic 450). We believe that
accounting for our warranty pursuant to FAS 5 (ASC Topic 450) does not impact
revenue recognition because the cost of honoring the warranty can be reliably
estimated.
28
Cost
of Goods Sold
Cost of
goods sold consists primarily of material costs, labor costs and related
overhead, which are directly attributable to the products and other indirect
costs that benefit all products. Write-down of inventory to lower of cost
or market is also recorded in cost of goods sold.
Research
and Development
Research
and development costs are related primarily to the Company’s development and
testing of its new technologies that are used in the manufacturing of
bellows-related products. Research and development costs are expensed as
incurred. Research and development expenses were included in general and
administrative expenses.
Foreign
Currency Translation and Transactions and Comprehensive Income
(Loss)
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in United States
Dollars (“USD”). The Company’s functional currency is the USD, while the
Company’s wholly owned Chinese subsidiaries’ functional currency is the Renminbi
(“RMB”). The functional currencies of the Company’s foreign operations are
translated into USD for balance sheet accounts using the current exchange rates
in effect as of the balance sheet date and for revenue and expense accounts
using the average exchange rate during the fiscal year. The translation
adjustments are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity,
captioned “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).” Gains and losses
resulting from transactions denominated in foreign currencies are included in
other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations. There have
been no significant fluctuations in the exchange rate for the conversion of RMB
to USD after the balance sheet date.
Segment
Reporting
SFAS
No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information” (codified in FASB ASC Topic 280), requires use of the “management
approach” model for segment reporting. The management approach model
is based on the way a company’s management organizes segments within the company
for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Reportable
segments are based on products and services, geography, legal structure,
management structure or any other manner in which management disaggregates a
company.
SFAS 131
has no effect on the Company’s financial statements as substantially all of the
Company’s operations are conducted in one industry segment. The
Company consists of one reportable business segment. All of the
Company’s assets are located in the PRC.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2010, compared to the Three Months Ended March 31,
2009
The
following table presents the consolidated results of operations of Creative
Bellows and Creative Wind Power for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as
compared to the results of operations for the three months ended March 31,
2009.
2010
|
2009
|
|||||||||||||||
$ |
% of Sales
|
$ |
% of Sales
|
|||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
232,118 | 100 | % | 207,958 | 100 | % | ||||||||||
Cost
of goods sold
|
112,567 | 48 | % | 123,274 | 59 | % | ||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
119,551 | 52 | % | 84,684 | 41 | % | ||||||||||
Operating
expenses
|
216,446 | 94 | % | 70,623 | 34 | % | ||||||||||
Income
(loss) from operations
|
(96,895 | ) | (42 | ) % | 14,061 | 7 | % | |||||||||
Other
Income (expenses), net
|
230,208 | 99 | % | (31 | ) | - | % | |||||||||
Income
tax expense
|
38,160 | 16 | % | - | - | % | ||||||||||
Net
income
|
95,153 | 41 | % | 14,030 | 7 | % |
29
NET
SALES
Net sales
for the three months ended March 31, 2010, were $232,118, compared to $207,958
for the comparable period in 2009. Net sales increased $24,160 or
12%. The Company incorporated in September 2007 and was in the
preparation and development stage from inception through the beginning of 2009;
the Company started generating sales in early 2009, and has made continuous
efforts in strengthening its sales force.
COST OF
GOODS SOLD
Cost of
goods sold includes material costs, labor costs and related overhead, which are
directly or indirectly attributable to our products. For the three months ended
March 31, 2010, cost of goods sold was $112,567 or approximately 48% of net
revenues, compared to $123,274 or 59% to net revenues for the comparable period
in 2009. The decrease in cost of revenue as a percentage to net
revenues was attributed to the effective control of cost of raw materials and
overhead cost by our management, and we establish a good and longstanding
relationship with our suppliers in an effort to ensure a steady supply of raw
materials.
GROSS
PROFIT
Gross
profit for the three months ended March 31, 2010, was $119,551. Gross
profit margin was 52%, compared to $84,684 or 41% for the comparable period in
2009, an increase of $34,867 or 41%. The increase in gross profit
margin was due primarily to the reasons described above.
OPERATING
EXPENSES
Operating
expenses consisted of selling, general and administrative expenses totaling
$216,446 for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $70,623 for the
comparable period in 2009, an increase of $145,823 or 206%. The increase in
operating expenses was due primarily to increases in employees’ salary,
consulting fees and land use taxes as a result of the continuous growth of the
Company.
NET
INCOME
For the
three months ended March 31, 2010, net income was $95,153, compared to $14,030
for the comparable period in 2009, an increase of $81,123, or 578%. This
increase in net income was mainly a result of receipts of $373,229 in subsidy
income during the three months ended March 31, 2010, which was a grant from
Administrative Committee of Liaoning Province TieLing Economic &
Technological Development Zone to attract businesses with high-tech products to
do business in such zone.
Year
Ended December 31, 2009, compared to the Year Ended December 31,
2008
The
following table presents the consolidated results of operations of Creative
Bellows and Creative Wind Power for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared
to the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008.
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||||
$ |
% of Sales
|
$ |
% of Sales
|
|||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
2,730,954
|
100 | % |
-
|
N/A | % | ||||||||||
Cost
of goods sold
|
1,301,400
|
48
|
%
|
-
|
N/A
|
%
|
||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
1,429,554
|
52
|
%
|
-
|
N/A
|
%
|
||||||||||
Operating
expenses
|
427,260
|
15
|
%
|
139,381
|
N/A
|
%
|
||||||||||
Income
from operations
|
1,002,294
|
37
|
%
|
139,381
|
N/A
|
%
|
||||||||||
Other
income (expenses), net
|
111,169
|
4
|
%
|
493,412
|
N/A
|
%
|
||||||||||
Income
tax expense
|
282,098
|
10
|
%
|
-
|
N/A
|
%
|
||||||||||
Net
income
|
831,365
|
31
|
%
|
354,031
|
N/A
|
%
|
NET
SALES
Net sales
for 2009 were $2,730,954. The Company incorporated in September 2007 and was in
the preparation and development stage from inception through the beginning of
2009; the Company started generating sales in 2009.
30
COST OF
GOODS SOLD
Cost of
goods sold includes material costs, labor costs and related overhead, which are
directly or indirectly attributable to our products. For 2009, cost of goods
sold was $1,301,400 or approximately 48% of net sales in 2009.
GROSS
PROFIT
Gross
profit for 2009 was $1,429,554. Gross profit margin was 52% for
2009.
OPERATING
EXPENSES
Operating
expenses consisted of selling, general and administrative expenses totaling
$427,260 for 2009, compared to $139,381 for 2008, an increase of $287,879 or
207%. The increase in operating expenses was due primarily to the
commencement of sales and production from 2009.
NET
INCOME
For 2009,
net income was $831,365 compared to $354,031 for 2008, an increase of $477,334,
or 135%. This increase in net income was mainly due to the commencement of sales
in 2009. Most of net income in 2009 was generated from sales, whereas in 2008,
net income was from subsidy income, which was a grant from the Administrative
Committee of Liaoning Province TieLing Economic & Technological Development
Zone to attract businesses with high-tech products to such zone. The subsidy was
for general working capital needs without any conditions and restrictions, and
is not required to be repaid. The grant was determined based on the investment
amount by the Company and its floor space that is occupied in such zone. There
was no income tax for the grant received in 2008.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2010, Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31,
2009
As of
March 31, 2010, the Company had cash and equivalents of $115,246, other current
assets of $5,986,308, and current liabilities of $8,144,538. Working capital
deficit was $2,042,984 at March 31, 2010. The ratio of current assets to current
liabilities was 0.75-to-1 as of March 31, 2010.
The
following is a summary of cash provided by or used in each of the indicated
types of activities during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009,
respectively:
2010
|
2009
|
|||||||
Cash
provided by (used in):
|
||||||||
Operating
activities
|
$ | (303,364 | ) | $ | 30,447 | |||
Investing
activities
|
(1,799,718 | ) | (20,583 | ) | ||||
Financing
activities
|
922,927 | - |
Net cash
used in operating activities was $303,364 in the period of three months ended
March 31, 2010, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $30,447
for the comparable period in 2009. The net cash used in operating activities
during first quarter of 2010 was mainly due to the increased advance to
suppliers and payment for inventory.
Net cash
used in investing activities was $1,799,718 in the three months ended March 31,
2010, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $20,583 in the
comparable period of 2009. The increase in cash used in investing
activities was mainly for the purchase of fixed assets, land use rights and
restricted cash from customers that was deposited in the bank for securing
payment from those customers when the payment is due.
Net cash
provided by financing activities was $922,927 for the three months ended March
31, 2010, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $0 for the
comparable period of 2009. The increased cash flow provided by
financing activities was due to the cash contribution by shareholders. During
the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company borrowed $5,565,156 from a
bank and repaid the entire loan on March 18, 2010.
31
Year
Ended December 31, 2009, Compared to the Year Ended December 31,
2008
As of
December 31, 2009, the Company had cash and equivalents of $1,295,145, other
current assets of $2,109,408, and current liabilities of $5,157,488. Working
capital deficit was $1,752,935 at December 31, 2009. The ratio of current assets
to current liabilities was 0.66-to-1 as of December 31, 2009.
The
following is a summary of cash provided by or used in each of the indicated
types of activities during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008,
respectively:
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Cash
provided by (used in):
|
||||||||
Operating
activities
|
$ | (565,706 | ) | $ | 1,349,222 | |||
Investing
activities
|
(1,385,676 | ) | (4,643,319 | ) | ||||
Financing
activities
|
3,220,612 | - |
Net cash
used in operating activities was $565,706 in 2009, compared to net cash provided
by operating activities of $1,349,222 in 2008. The increase in net cash used in
operating activities during 2009 was mainly due to the increased accounts
receivable, other receivables and payments for prepaid expenses and
inventory, despite a significant increase in net income.
Net cash
used in investing activities was $1,385,676 in 2009, compared to net cash used
in investing activities of $4,643,319 in 2008. The cash used in
investing activities in 2009 was for the purchase of fixed assets, construction
in progress and a long term investment in a local credit union, whereas cash
used in investing activities in 2008 was mainly for the purchase of land use
rights and construction in progress.
Net cash
provided by financing activities was $3,220,612 in 2009, compared to net cash
provided by financing activities of $0 in 2008. The increased cash
provided by financing activities was due primarily to proceeds from short term
loans from Credit Unions. The due dates of all the loans are May 26, 2010. The
Company applied for a one year extension of the above loans to be paid on May
26, 2011, which was approved by the Credit Unions.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
On March
5, 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-11 Derivatives and Hedging Topic 815,
“Scope Exception Related to Embedded Credit Derivatives.” This ASU clarifies the
guidance within the derivative literature that exempts certain credit related
features from analysis as potential embedded derivatives requiring separate
accounting. The ASU specifies that an embedded credit derivative feature related
to the transfer of credit risk that is only in the form of subordination of one
financial instrument to another is not subject to bifurcation from a host
contract under ASC 815-15-25, Derivatives and Hedging — Embedded Derivatives —
Recognition. All other embedded credit derivative features should be analyzed to
determine whether their economic characteristics and risks are “clearly and
closely related” to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract
and whether bifurcation is required. The ASU is effective for the Company on
July 1, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this ASU will not
have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
On
February 25, 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-09
Subsequent Events Topic 855, “Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure
Requirements,” effective immediately. The amendments in the ASU remove the
requirement for an SEC filer to disclose a date through which subsequent events
have been evaluated in both issued and revised financial statements. Revised
financial statements include financial statements revised as a result of either
correction of an error or retrospective application of US GAAP. The FASB
believes these amendments remove potential conflicts with the SEC’s literature.
The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements.
32
In
October 2009, the FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) regarding
accounting for own-share lending arrangements in contemplation of convertible
debt issuance or other financing. This ASU requires that at the date
of issuance of the shares in a share-lending arrangement entered into in
contemplation of a convertible debt offering or other financing, the shares
issued shall be measured at fair value and be recognized as an issuance cost,
with an offset to additional paid-in capital. Further, loaned shares are
excluded from basic and diluted earnings per share unless default of the
share-lending arrangement occurs, at which time the loaned shares would be
included in the basic and diluted earnings-per-share
calculation. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning on or
after December 15, 2009, and interim periods within those fiscal years for
arrangements outstanding as of the beginning of those fiscal years.
The adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements.
In August
2009, the FASB issued an ASU regarding measuring liabilities at fair value. This
ASU provides additional guidance clarifying the measurement of liabilities at
fair value in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the
identical liability is not available; under those circumstances, a reporting
entity is required to measure fair value using one or more of valuation
techniques, as defined. This ASU is effective for the first reporting period,
including interim periods, beginning after the issuance of this ASU. The
adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements.
On June
10, 2009, the Company adopted ASU No. 2009-01, “Topic 105 - Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles - amendments based on Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the
Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“ASU No.
2009-01”). ASU No. 2009-01 re-defines authoritative GAAP for
nongovernmental entities to be only comprised of the FASB Accounting Standards
Codification (“Codification”) and, for SEC registrants, guidance issued by the
SEC. The Codification is a reorganization and compilation of all
then-existing authoritative GAAP for nongovernmental entities, except for
guidance issued by the SEC. The Codification is amended to effect
non-SEC changes to authoritative GAAP. Adoption of ASU No. 2009-01
only changed the referencing convention of GAAP in Notes to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.
In May
2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events” (“SFAS 165”) codified in
FASB ASC Topic 855-10-05, which provides guidance to establish general standards
of accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet
date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued.
SFAS 165 also requires entities to evaluate the subsequent events through the
date the financial statements are issued. SFAS 165 is effective for interim and
annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, and accordingly, the Company adopted
this pronouncement during the second quarter of 2009. The Company evaluated
subsequent events through the date that the financial statements were
issued.
In April
2009, the FASB issued FSP No. SFAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures
about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” which is codified in FASB ASC Topic
825-10-50. This FSP essentially expands the disclosure about fair value of
financial instruments that were previously required only annually to also be
required for interim period reporting. In addition, the FSP requires certain
additional disclosures regarding the methods and significant assumptions used to
estimate the fair value of financial instruments. These additional disclosures
are required beginning with the quarter ending June 30, 2009. This FSP had no
material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or
cash flows.
In
April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition
and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments,” which is codified in FASB
ASC Topic 320-10. This FSP modifies the requirements for recognizing
other-than-temporarily impaired debt securities and changes the existing
impairment model for such securities. The FSP also requires additional
disclosures for both annual and interim periods with respect to both debt and
equity securities. Under the FSP, impairment of debt securities will be
considered other-than-temporary if an entity (1) intends to sell the security,
(2) more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovering
its cost, or (3) does not expect to recover the security’s entire amortized cost
basis (even if the entity does not intend to sell). The FSP further indicates
that, depending on which of the above factor(s) causes the impairment to be
considered other-than-temporary, (1) the entire shortfall of the security’s fair
value versus its amortized cost basis or (2) only the credit loss portion would
be recognized in earnings while the remaining shortfall (if any) would be
recorded in other comprehensive income. FSP 115-2 requires entities to initially
apply the provisions of the standard to previously other-than-temporarily
impaired debt securities existing as of the date of initial adoption by making a
cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the
period of adoption. The cumulative-effect adjustment potentially reclassifies
the noncredit portion of a previously other-than-temporarily impaired debt
security held as of the date of initial adoption from retained earnings to
accumulate other comprehensive income. The Company adopted FSP No. SFAS 115-2
and SFAS 124-2 beginning April 1, 2009. This FSP had no material impact on the
Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash
flows.
33
In April
2009, the FASB issued FSP No. SFAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When
the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly
Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (“FSP
No. SFAS 157-4”). FSP No. SFAS 157-4, which is codified in
FASB ASC Topics 820-10-35-51 and 820-10-50-2, provides additional guidance for
estimating fair value and emphasizes that even if there has been a significant
decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability and
regardless of the valuation technique(s) used, the objective of a fair value
measurement remains the same. The Company adopted FSP No. SFAS 157-4
beginning April 1, 2009. This FSP had no material impact on the Company’s
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
FASB ASC
820-10 establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures
about fair value measurements. The changes to current practice resulting from
the application of this standard relate to the definition of fair value, the
methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair
value measurements. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007; however, it provides a one-year deferral of the effective
date for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that
are recognized or disclosed in the financial statements at fair value at least
annually. The Company adopted this standard for financial assets and financial
liabilities and nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities disclosed or
recognized at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) as of June 10,
2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our
financial statements.
FASB ASC
820-10 provides additional guidance for Fair Value Measurements when the volume
and level of activity for the asset or liability has significantly decreased.
This standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after
June 15, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on
our financial statements.
FASB ASC
805 establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and
measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the
liabilities assumed, any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree and the
goodwill acquired. This standard also establishes disclosure requirements to
enable the evaluation of the nature and financial effects of the business
combination. This standard was adopted by the Company beginning June 10, 2009,
and will change the accounting for business combinations on a prospective
basis.
FASB ASC
350-30 and 275-10 amend the factors that should be considered in developing
renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a
recognized intangible asset. This standard is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods
within those fiscal years. Early adoption is prohibited. The adoption
of this standard did not have any impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
FASB ASC
825-10 requires disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments for
interim reporting periods. This standard is effective for interim reporting
periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a
material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
FASB ASC
320-10 amends the other-than-temporary impairment guidance for debt and equity
securities. This standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods
ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a
material effect on our financial statements.
As of
December 31, 2009, the FASB has issued ASU through No. 2009-17. None of the ASUs
have had an impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table provides information concerning the beneficial ownership of our
common stock as of July 2, 2010, by (i) each person that we know beneficially
owns more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our named
executive officers, (iii) each of our directors and (iv) all of our named
executive officers and directors as a group.
34
The
amounts and percentages of common stock beneficially owned are reported on the
basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial
ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a
“beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,”
which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or
“investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the
disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner
of any securities of which that person has the right to acquire beneficial
ownership within 60 days of July 2, 2010. Under these rules, more than one
person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may
be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no
economic interest. As of July 2, 2010, there were 19,130,000 shares of our
common stock issued and outstanding.
Unless
otherwise indicated, each of the stockholders named in the table below, or his
or her family members, has sole voting and investment power with respect to such
shares of common stock. Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each of
the stockholders listed below is: c/o CleanTech Innovations, Inc., C District,
Maoshan Industry Park, Tieling Economic Development Zone, Tieling, Liaoning
Province, China 112616.
Name of beneficial owner
|
Number of shares
|
Percent of class
|
||||||
5%
Stockholders
|
||||||||
Wenge
Chen
|
2,117,691 | 11.07 | % | |||||
Directors
and Named Executive Officers
|
||||||||
Bei
Lu
|
9,375,348 | 49.01 | % | |||||
Guifu
Li
|
— | * | ||||||
Dianfu
Lu
|
2,117,691 | 11.07 | % | |||||
All
Directors and Named Executive Officers as a Group (3
Persons)
|
11,493,039 | 60.08 | % |
* Represents
less than 1% of shares outstanding.
We are
not aware of any arrangements that could result in a change in control of the
Company.
Directors
and Executive Officers
The
following persons became our executive officers and directors on July 2, 2010,
upon effectiveness of the Share Exchange and hold the positions set forth
opposite their respective names.
Name
|
Position
|
Age
|
||
Bei
Lu
|
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
|
39
|
||
Guifu
Li
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
56
|
||
Lige
Zheng
|
Chief
Operating Officer
|
58
|
||
Dianfu
Lu
|
Director
|
71
|
||
Nan
Liu
|
Corporate
Secretary
|
32
|
Our
executive officers are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, our Board
of Directors. Each executive officer is a full time employee. Our directors hold
office for one-year terms or until their successors have been elected and
qualified. Ms. Bei Lu, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is the daughter
of Mr. Dianfu Lu, one of our directors. There are no other family relationships
between any of our directors, executive officers or other key personnel and any
other of our directors, executive officers or key personnel.
35
Ms.
Bei Lu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Lu
was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on July 2,
2010. Ms. Lu is one of the founders of Creative Bellows and was appointed its
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in September 2007. From
September 1993 to July 2007, Ms. Lu served as General Manager of Shenyang
Xinxingjia Bellows Manufacture Co., Ltd. Since 2006, Ms. Lu has served as the
Vice Chairman of the Professional Manager Association of Liaoning Province. In
2005, the China Professional Manager Research Center of State-owned Assets
Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) and China National Center for
Human Resources Ministry of Personnel selected Ms. Lu as a National Excellent
Professional Manager. Ms. Lu has designed two patented bellows expansion joint
products. Ms. Lu received her bachelor’s degree from Shenyang University of
Technology in 1992. Ms. Lu is the daughter of Mr. Dianfu Lu, one of our
directors. As one of the Company’s founders, Ms. Lu brings to the Board of
Directors her extensive knowledge of the operations and long-term strategy of
the Company. The Board of Directors believes that Ms. Lu’s vision, leadership
and extensive knowledge of the Company is essential to our future growth. Her
skills include operations, marketing, business strategy and product
development.
Ms.
Guifu Li, Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Li
was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company on July 2, 2010. Ms. Li
joined Creative Bellows in March 2010 as its Chief Financial Officer. From
August 2008 to August 2009, Ms. Li served as Chief Financial Officer of Shenyang
Astron Mining Industries Ltd., the China subsidiary of Astron Limited, an
Australian public company with a market capitalization of over AUD $120 million.
From January 2004 to July 2008, Ms. Li served as Financial Controller of
Shenyang Economic and Technological Development Zone Thermoelectric Company.
From March 2001 to December 2003, Ms. Li served as Vice President of Liaoning
Energy Conservation Material Company. From September 1970 to February 2001, Ms.
Li served as an accountant and Chief Financial Officer of Shenyang Cable Co.,
Ltd. Ms. Li graduated from the Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in
1976.
Mr.
Lige Zheng, Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Zheng
was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Company on July 2, 2010. Mr. Zheng
joined Creative Bellows in June 2008 as its Chief Operating Officer. Prior to
joining the Company, Mr. Zheng served as Vice President of Dalian Baifute Cable
Company. From January 1974 to June 2005, Mr. Zheng worked for Shenyang Cable
Co., Ltd., rising to the position of Vice General Manager. Mr. Zheng graduated
from the Shenyang College of Finance and Economics in 1986.
Mr.
Dianfu Lu, Director
Mr. Lu
was appointed a director of the Company on July 2, 2010. Mr. Lu is one of the
founders of Creative Bellows and was appointed its Director in September 2007.
From 1991 to 2007, Mr. Lu served as the Director of Shenyang Xinxingjia Bellows
Manufacture Co., Ltd. From 1989 to 1990, Mr. Lu served as the General Engineer
of Shenyang Bellows Group. From 1985 to 1989, Mr. Lu served as the Research
Director of Shenyang Machinery Design & Research Institute. From 1963 to
1985, Mr. Lu served as a Senior Engineer of the Shenyang Second Tractor Plant.
Mr. Lu received his bachelor’s degree in Machinery Manufacture and Design from
the Shenyang University of Technology in 1963. Mr. Lu is the father of Ms. Bei
Lu, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lu brings to the Board of
Directors unparalleled knowledge of industrial product development through his
nearly 40 years of design and manufacturing experience in China. The Board of
Directors believes that Mr. Lu’s extensive knowledge of the Company, its
operations, long-term strategy and industry as one of the Company’s founders is
essential to our future growth. His skills include operations, business and
product development, industry analysis and risk assessment.
Ms.
Nan Liu, Corporate Secretary
Ms. Liu
was appointed Corporate Secretary of the Company on July 2, 2010. Ms. Liu was
appointed as Creative Bellows’ Corporate Secretary in May 2010. She joined the
Creative Bellows in September 2009 as its Financial Manager. From October 2006
to August 2009, Ms. Liu served as an auditor with the Liaoning Weishixin
Accounting Firm. From September 2001 to September 2006, Ms. Liu served as an
accountant for the Shenyang Sanyo Heavy Industry Group. Ms. Liu received her
bachelor’s degree from the Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in
2001.
Legal
Proceedings
During
the past ten years, none of the Company’s directors or executive officers has
been:
|
§
|
the
subject of any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of
which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the
time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that
time;
|
36
|
§
|
convicted
in a criminal proceeding or is subject to a pending criminal proceeding
(excluding traffic violations and other minor
offenses);
|
|
§
|
subject
to any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or
vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or
temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his
involvement in any type of business, securities or banking
activities;
|
|
§
|
found
by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the SEC or the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state
securities or commodities law, that has not been reversed, suspended, or
vacated;
|
|
§
|
subject
of, or a party to, any order, judgment, decree or finding, not
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged
violation of a federal or state securities or commodities law or
regulation, law or regulation respecting financial institutions or
insurance companies, law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or
fraud in connection with any business entity;
or
|
|
§
|
subject
of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed,
suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization, any registered
entity or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization
that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated
with a member.
|
Executive
Compensation
As a
“smaller reporting company,” we have elected to follow scaled disclosure
requirements for smaller reporting companies with respect to the disclosure
required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K. Under the scaled disclosure obligations,
the Company is not required to provide a Compensation Discussion and Analysis,
Compensation Committee Report and certain other tabular and narrative
disclosures relating to executive compensation.
The
following table sets forth information concerning the compensation for the years
ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, of certain of our executive
officers.
Summary Compensation Table
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and
Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
|
Bonus
|
Stock
Awards
|
Option
Awards
|
Nonequity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
|
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
|
All Other
Compensation
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
($)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bei
Lu
|
2009
|
7,320 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7,320 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
|
2008
|
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Narrative
Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
Employment
Agreements
Neither
the Company nor its subsidiaries have employment agreements with their
respective officers currently.
Change-In-Control
Agreements
We do not
have any existing arrangements providing for payments or benefits in connection
with the resignation, severance, retirement or other termination of any of our
named executive officers, or a change in control of the Company or a change in
the named executive officer’s responsibilities following a change in
control.
37
Equity
Incentive Plans
We have
no equity incentive plan currently. We intend to adopt an equity incentive plan
in order to further the growth and general prosperity of the Company by enabling
our officers, employees, contractors and service providers to acquire our common
stock, increasing their personal involvement in the Company and thereby enabling
the Company to attract and retain its officers, employees, contractors and
service providers.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
As of
December 31, 2009, there were no outstanding equity awards held by the executive
officers of the Company.
Compensation
of Directors
As of
December 31, 2009, none of our directors has received any compensation from us
for serving as our directors.
We do not
currently compensate our directors for acting as such, although we may do so in
the future, including with cash and/or equity.
We have
not compensated, and will not compensate, our non-independent directors, such as
Ms. Lu and Mr. Lu, for serving as our directors, although they are entitled to
reimbursements for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attending our
board meetings.
We do not
maintain a medical, dental or retirement benefits plan for our
directors.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
There
were no transactions with any related persons (as that term is defined in Item
404 in Regulation SK) since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, and
for the two fiscal years preceding the Company’s last fiscal year, or any
currently proposed transaction, in which the Company was or is to be a
participant and the amount involved was in excess of $120,000 and in which any
related person had a direct or indirect material interest.
We rely
on our Board of Directors to review related party transactions involving our
Company on an ongoing basis to prevent conflicts of interest. The Board of
Directors reviews a transaction in light of the affiliations of the director,
officer or employee and the affiliations of such person’s immediate family.
Transactions are presented to the Board of Directors for approval before they
are entered into or, if this is not possible, for ratification after the
transaction has occurred. If the Board of Directors finds that a conflict of
interest exists, then it will determine the appropriate remedial action, if any.
The Board of Directors approves or ratifies a transaction if it determines that
the transaction is consistent with the best interests of the
Company. These policies and procedures are not evidenced in
writing.
Code
of Ethics
We have
adopted a Code of Ethics, which we believe is reasonably designed to deter
wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct; provide full, fair, accurate,
timely and understandable disclosure in public reports; comply with applicable
laws; ensure prompt internal reporting of Code violations; and provide
accountability for adherence to the Code.
Director
Independence
Our Board
of Directors currently is comprised of two directors. None of our current
directors qualifies as an “independent” director for the purposes of the listed
company standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) currently in effect
and approved by the SEC and all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. The
Company intends to add independent directors to its Board of Directors as a
requirement to the listing of its common stock on a national securities
exchange. The composition of our Board of Directors, and that of its committees,
will be subject to the corporate governance provisions of the Company’s primary
trading market, including the requirement for the appointment of independent
directors in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and regulations
adopted by the SEC and NASDAQ pursuant thereto.
38
Audit
Committee
We have a
separately designated Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which functions
are performed by our Board of Directors. None of our directors currently is
deemed “independent”—our Chairman is also our Chief Executive Officer and our
other director is the father of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. None
of our directors is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under Item
407(d) of Regulation S-K. Our Audit Committee is responsible for: (i) selection
and oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm; (ii)
establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints
regarding accounting, internal controls and auditing matters; (iii) establishing
procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of
concerns regarding accounting and auditing matters; (iv) engaging outside
advisors; and, (v) funding for the independent registered public accounting firm
and any outside advisors engaged by the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors
has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, the current copy of which
was filed previously with the SEC.
Disclosure
Committee
We have a
separately designated Disclosure Committee of the Board of Directors, which
functions are performed by our Board of Directors. Our Disclosure Committee is
comprised of all of our directors and officers. The purpose of the Disclosure
Committee is to provide assistance to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer in fulfilling their responsibilities regarding the
identification and disclosure of material information about the Company and the
accuracy, completeness and timeliness of our financial reports. The Board of
Directors has adopted a written charter for the Disclosure Committee, the
current copy of which was filed previously with the SEC.
Compensation
Committee
We intend
to establish a Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The
Compensation Committee would review and approve our salary and benefits
policies, including the compensation of executive officers. The Compensation
Committee would also administer our equity incentive plans and recommend and
approve grants of stock options under such plans.
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers
Under
Nevada law, a corporation may indemnify its directors, officers, employees and
agents under certain circumstances, including indemnification of such persons
against liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In
addition, a corporation may purchase or maintain insurance on behalf of its
directors, officers, employees or agents for any liability incurred by such
person in such capacity, whether or not the corporation has the authority to
indemnify such person.
Our
Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws provide, among other
things, that a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation may be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees inclusive of any
appeal), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such claim, action, suit or
proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best of our interests, and
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, such person had no reasonable
cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.
The
effect of these provisions may be to eliminate the rights of the Company and our
stockholders (through stockholder derivative suits on behalf of the Company) to
recover monetary damages against a director, officer, employee or agent for
breach of fiduciary duty.
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, may be provided for directors, officers, employees, agents or persons
controlling an issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the opinion of the
SEC is that such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is therefore
unenforceable.
39
Available
Information
We file
annual, quarterly, and special reports and other information with the SEC. You
may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public
Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business
days during the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You may obtain information about the
operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our
filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval
services and at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
Item
3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
Pursuant
to the Share Exchange Agreement, we issued an aggregate of 15,122,000 shares of
common stock to 5 non-U.S. persons, the former stockholders of Creative Bellows,
as contemplated by Rule 902 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”), in exchange for all of the equity interests of Creative
Bellows. The issuance of our common stock to the former stockholders of Creative
Bellows was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
pursuant to Regulation S. The shares issued pursuant to Regulation S were issued
in an “offshore transaction” as defined in, and pursuant to, Rule 902 under the
Securities Act, on the basis that the purchasers were not offered the shares in
the United States and did not execute or deliver any agreement within the United
States.
Description
of Registrant’s Securities
The
following information describes our securities and provisions of our Articles of
Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, all as in effect upon the closing
of the Share Exchange. This description is only a summary. You should also refer
to our Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, copies of
which have been incorporated by reference or filed as exhibits to this Current
Report on Form 8-K.
Authorized
Capital Stock
Our
authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par
value $.00001 per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$.00001 per share.
Capital
Stock Issued and Outstanding
After
giving effect to the Share Exchange, there are approximately 43 holders of
record of our common stock and our issued and outstanding securities, on a fully
diluted basis, consist of:
|
§
|
19,130,000
shares of common stock, approximately 79.05% of which are held by the
former stockholders of Creative Bellows and approximately 20.95% of which
are held by the existing stockholders of the
Company;
|
|
§
|
No
shares of preferred stock;
|
|
§
|
No
options to purchase any capital stock or securities convertible into
capital stock; and,
|
|
§
|
No
warrants to purchase any capital stock or securities convertible into
capital stock.
|
Description
of Common Stock
The
holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share. Our Articles of
Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting. The holders of common
stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared
by our Board of Directors out of legally available funds; however, the current
policy of our Board of Directors is to retain earnings, if any, for operations
and growth. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of common
stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets that are legally available for
distribution. The holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription,
redemption or conversion rights.
40
Description
of Preferred Stock
Our
Articles of Incorporation authorize our Board of Directors, in its discretion,
to divide and issue the authorized shares of preferred stock into one or more
series and, within any limitations prescribed by law and our Articles of
Incorporation, to fix and determine the designations, rights, qualifications,
preferences, limitations and terms of the shares of any series of preferred
stock. Currently, there are no shares of preferred stock issued and
outstanding.
Market
Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters
Creative
Bellows is and always has been a privately held company and now is a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company. There is not and never has been a public market
for the securities of Creative Bellows. Our common stock qualified for quotation
on the OTC Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”) maintained by the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) on October 23, 2008, under the symbol “EVCP.” Our
common stock will trade under the symbol “EVCPD” for a 20-day period beginning
on July 2, 2010, pursuant to FINRA rules governing corporate actions, after
which period our symbol will revert to “EVCP.” There currently is no liquid
trading market for our common stock. Since its initial listing, no trades of our
common stock have occurred through the facilities of the OTCBB.
As soon
as practicable, and assuming we satisfy all necessary initial listing
requirements, we intend to apply to have our common stock listed for trading on
The NASDAQ Stock Market, although we cannot be certain that our application will
be approved.
Dividends
Dividends
may be declared and paid out of legally available funds at the discretion of our
Board of Directors. We have not paid previously any cash dividends on our common
stock and do not anticipate or contemplate paying dividends on our common stock
in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to utilize all available funds to
develop our business. We can give no assurances that we will ever have excess
funds available to pay dividends.
In
addition, our ability to pay dividends may be affected by the foreign exchange
controls in China that restrict the payment of dividends to the Company by its
Chinese subsidiaries. China has adopted currency and capital transfer
regulations that may require our Chinese subsidiaries to comply with complex
regulations for the movement of capital. These regulations include a public
notice issued in October 2005 by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
(“SAFE”) requiring PRC residents, including both legal persons and natural
persons, to register with the competent local SAFE branch before establishing or
controlling any company outside of China. Although the Company believes its
Chinese subsidiaries are in compliance with these regulations, should these
regulations or the interpretation of them by courts or regulatory agencies
change, the Company may not be able to pay dividends outside of
China.
Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
During
the year ended December 31, 2009, we did not have a formal equity compensation
plan in effect. We did not grant any equity based compensation awards during the
year ended December 31, 2009, nor do we have any equity compensation plan not
approved previously by security holders.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
The
transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Interwest Transfer Company,
Inc., 1981 Murray Holladay Road, Suite 100, Salt Lake City,
UT 84117. Our transfer agent’s telephone number is (801)
272-9294.
Item
5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.
Reference
is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on
Form 8-K, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
41
Item
5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
Officers.
On July
2, 2010, as of the closing of the Share Exchange, Mr. Jonathan Woo resigned as
our director and Ms. Bei Lu was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Mr. Dianfu Lu was appointed to our Board of Directors. As a result, Ms. Lu and
Mr. Lu became the sole members of our Board of Directors.
On July
2, 2010, as of the closing of the Share Exchange, Mr. Woo resigned as President,
Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting
Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company and Ms. Bei Lu was appointed
Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Guifu Li as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Lige Zheng
as Chief Operating Officer and Ms. Nan Liu as Corporate Secretary.
Reference
is made to the disclosure of the biographies of each of the new directors and
officers as set forth under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, which
disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
Ms. Bei
Lu, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is the daughter of Mr. Dianfu Lu,
one of our directors. There are no other family relationships between any of our
directors, executive officers or other key personnel and any other of our
directors, executive officers or key personnel. There were no transactions since
the beginning of our last fiscal year, and for the two fiscal years preceding
the Company’s last fiscal year, or any currently proposed transaction, in which
we were or are to be a participant and the amount involved exceeds the lesser of
$120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year-end for the
last three completed fiscal years, and in which any of our directors or officers
had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than the
ownership of shares of our common stock as a result of the Share Exchange.
Reference is made to the disclosure of the beneficial ownership of each of the
new directors and officers as set forth under Item 2.01 of this Current Report
on Form 8-K, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
Item
5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal
Year.
On June
18, 2010, the Company changed its name to CleanTech Innovations Inc. and filed
Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada amending
the Articles of Incorporation of the Company to reflect such change in company
name. No other changes to the Articles of Incorporation were made. The Articles
of Merger are filed as Exhibit 3.3 to this Current Report on Form
8-K.
On July
2, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company, by unanimous consent, amended
Article I, Section .01 of the Company’s Bylaws to authorize the Board of
Directors to set the date and time of the Company’s annual meeting of
stockholders, rather than requiring the meeting to be held during the first week
in September of each and every year. The amendment was effective immediately.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company are filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this
Current Report on Form 8-K.
On July
2, 2010, as of the closing of the Share Exchange, the Board of Directors of the
Company, by unanimous consent, changed the fiscal year of the Company to end on
December 31 from August 31. Beginning with the periodic report required pursuant
to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the quarter in which the
transaction contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement was consummated, the
Company will file annual and quarterly reports based upon a December 31 fiscal
year end.
Item
5.06 Change in Shell Company Status.
On July
2, 2010, we consummated the transactions contemplated by the Share Exchange
Agreement. As a result of the consummation of the Share Exchange described in
Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, we are no longer a shell company
as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and Rule 12b-2
under the Exchange Act.
Item
8.01 Other Events
On June
17, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized an 8-for-1 forward stock split of
all outstanding shares of our common stock, par value $.00001 per share (the
“Common Stock”). The forward stock split was made effective as of July 2, 2010.
The forward stock split increased the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding, but did not affect the number of shares of Common Stock authorized
or the par value of the Common Stock.
42
The
effect of the forward stock split was to increase the number of shares of Common
Stock issued and outstanding from 2,391,250 shares to 19,130,000 shares after
giving effect to the Share Exchange Agreement and shares returned to the
treasury for cancellation by Mr. Woo.
Our common stock will trade under the symbol “EVCPD” for a 20-day
period beginning on July 2, 2010, pursuant to FINRA rules governing corporate
actions, after which period our symbol will revert to “EVCP.”
Item
9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a)
Financial statements of businesses acquired.
The
audited consolidated financial statements of Creative Bellows and its subsidiary
for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the unaudited consolidated
financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009,
including the notes to such financial statements, are incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.3 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
(c)
Shell company transactions.
Reference
is made to Item 9.01(a) of this Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibit
referred to therein, which are incorporated herein by reference.
(d)
Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
|
2.1
|
Share
Exchange Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and between Liaoning
Creative Bellows Co., Ltd. and CleanTech Innovations, Inc., dated July 2,
2010
|
|
2.2
|
Return
to Treasury Agreement by and between the Company and Jonathan Woo, dated
July 2, 2010
|
|
3.1
|
Articles
of Incorporation (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
Company’s Form SB-2 (File No. 333-138995) filed on November 29,
2006)
|
|
3.2
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws
|
|
3.3
|
Articles
of Merger between Everton Capital Corporation and CleanTech Innovations,
Inc. amending the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Nevada on June 18, 2010
|
|
3.4
|
Articles
of Exchange of Liaoning Creative Bellows Co., Ltd. and CleanTech
Innovations, Inc. filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada
on July 2, 2010
|
|
4.1
|
Specimen
Stock Certificate (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Company’s Form SB-2 (File No. 333-138995) filed on November 29,
2006)
|
|
10.1
|
Jade
Claim (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s
Form SB-2 (File No. 333-138995) filed on November 29,
2006)
|
|
10.2
|
Trust
Agreement (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
Company’s Form SB-2 (File No. 333-138995) filed on November 29,
2006)
|
|
14.1
|
Code
of Ethics (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 333-138995) filed on
December 1, 2008)
|
|
16.1
|
Letter
from Malone & Bailey, PC, dated April 23, 2009 (Incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
(File No. 000-53511) filed on April 24, 2009)
|
|
21.1
|
Subsidiaries
of the Company
|
|
99.1
|
Audit
Committee Charter (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 333-138995) filed on
December 1, 2008)
|
|
99.2
|
Disclosure
Committee Charter (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 333-138995) filed on
December 1, 2008)
|
|
99.3
|
Audited
consolidated financial statements of Liaoning Creative Bellows Co., Ltd.
and Subsidiary for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the
unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended
March 31, 2010 and 2009
|
43
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
CLEANTECH INNOVATIONS,
INC.
|
||||
(Registrant)
|
||||
Date:
|
July 2, 2010
|
By:
|
/s/ Bei Lu
|
|
Name:
|
Bei
Lu
|
|||
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|