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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

xANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

 

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number 000-52988

 

Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   01-0728141
(State or other jurisdiction of   (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

 

558 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, Connecticut 06039

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (860)-435-7000

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $.001 par value.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ   No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

 

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

 

¨ Large Accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer
¨  Non-accelerated filer þ  Smaller reporting company

 

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

 

As of June 30, 2011, there was no established public market for the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”). The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant (433,620 shares on June 30, 2011, based on an assumed market value per share of $1.0038) was $435,268. The Company is currently quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (“OTC-BB”) under the symbol “MAST.” The assumed market value of the shares is based on: (i) the price for shares of the registrant’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock paid by an investor in a private placement consummated on September 2, 2008 and the rate at which our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted into our Common Stock; and (ii) the price for shares of the registrant’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock paid by an investor in a private placement consummated on September 21, 2009, and the rate at which our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted into our Common Stock. In addition, for purposes of the computation of the aggregate market value of shares held by non-affiliates, all officers, directors, and 10% beneficial owners of the registrant are deemed to be affiliates. Such determination should not be deemed to be an admission that such officers, directors, or 10% beneficial owners are, in fact, affiliates of the Registrant.

 

As of April 13, 2012, there were 4,016,380 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issued and outstanding.  

 

 
 

 

Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc.

 

Form 10-K

 

Table of Contents

 

      Page
PART I      
       
Item 1. Business   3
Item 2. Description of Properties   8
Item 3. Legal Proceedings   8
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures   8
       
PART II    
       
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities   8
Item 6. Selected Financial Data   9
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   9
Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   14
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data   14
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure   15
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures   15
Item 9B. Other Information   16
       
PART III    
       
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance   16
Item 11. Executive Compensation   20
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters   21
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence   22
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services   23
       
PART IV    
       
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules   24
     
Signatures   26

 

2
 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain statements made in this discussion are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology and include, without limitation, statements below regarding the Company's intended business plans and anticipated financial results. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to obtain necessary financing; the competitive environment generally and in the Company's specific market areas; changes in technology; the availability of and the terms of financing; inflation; changes in costs and availability of goods and services; economic conditions in general and in the Company's specific market areas; demographic changes; changes in federal, state, provincial, and /or local government law and regulations affecting the technology; changes in operating strategy or development plans; and the ability of the Company to attract and retain qualified personnel for its operations. Although the Company believes that expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of these forward-looking statements. The Company is under no duty to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform such statements to actual results.

 

The "Company", "we," "us," and "our," refer to (i) Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc. (formerly Paragon SemiTech USA, Inc.); (ii) Yili Carborundum USA, Inc. (“ Yili US ”); (iii) C3 Capital, Limited (“ C3 Capital ”); (iv) Yili Master Carborundum Production Co., Ltd. (“ Yili China ”) and (v) Beijing Master Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Master Consulting”).

 

Unless otherwise noted, all currency figures in this filing are in U.S. dollars. References to "yuan" or "RMB" are to the Chinese yuan (also known as the renminbi). According to the currency exchange website www.xe.com, as of March 28, 2012, US$1.00 = 6.3002 yuan; 1 yuan=US $0.158725.

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

Our History

 

The Company was originally incorporated on May 21, 2007, in the State of Delaware, as Paragon SemiTech USA, Inc. and later changed its name into “Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc.” on November 12, 2008. It was reincorporated to the State of Nevada on November 2, 2009. The Company is currently quoted on the OTC-BB under the symbol “MAST.” Through a series of transactions in 2008 described immediately below, the Company acquired substantially the business and assets of Yili Master Carborundum Production Co., Ltd. (“Yili China”), a manufacturer of silicon carbide in People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”).

 

Our current corporate structure is set forth in the following chart:

 

 

* On August 7, 2008, C3 Capital entered into an agreement to purchase 90% of the equity interests in Ehe China from Mr. Zhigang Gao for RMB900,000.  Such purchase price has not been paid as of the date hereof. The remaining 10% of the equity interest of Ehe China is owned by Changchun Master Industries Co., Ltd, which is controlled by Zhigang Gao.

 

** The Company used to own 100% interests of Paragon Semitech USA Incorporated, a New Jersey corporation (“Paragon NJ”). On March 26, 2009, the Company authorized to dissolve Paragon NJ.

 

3
 

 

Business Operations

 

Overview

 

Through our indirectly wholly-owned operating subsidiary Yili Master Carborundum Production Co., Ltd. (“Yili China”), we manufacture and sell in China mostly high quality “green” silicon carbide and some lower-quality “black” silicon carbide (together, hereinafter referred to as “ SiC ”), a non-metallic compound that is widely used in industries such as semiconductors, solar energy, ceramics, abrasives and optoelectronics.

 

Yili China was formed in April 2005 and commenced production in January 2006. It has a total of three production lines with its present aggregate SiC production capacity of 25,500 tons per annum. The Company, through Yili China, sold an aggregate of 11,214 tons of green SiC and 226 tons of black SiC during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and an aggregate of 10,337 tons of green SiC and 295 tons of black SiC during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Our Products

 

SiC is an extremely hard, chemically inert, and heat-resistant substance which has high thermal conductivity, resistance to abrasion, and strength at high temperatures. It is a non-metallic compound that has special chemical properties and a level of hardness that is similar to diamonds, is produced by smelting (the process of extracting a metal from its ore) quartz sand and refinery coke at temperatures ranging from approximately 1,600 to 2,500 degrees centigrade in a graphite electric resistance furnace.

 

Because of these characteristics, SiC is widely used in many growing industries in the PRC. For example, pure SiC is a natural semiconductor and thus efforts are underway to explore the possibility of replacing silicon with SiC in the semiconductor industry. SiC is most widely utilized in the solar energy (photovoltaic) industry, where it is used in precision cutting, pressure blasting, wire-sawing, and surface preparation, in addition to other processes. SiC is also used in many other industries, including the production of refractory materials and industrial ceramics as well as in the automobile, electronics, steel and nuclear industries. The PRC’s current annual demand for SiC is approximately 535,000 tons and currently available supply within the PRC is less than 535,000 tons. We believe that as the industries requiring SiC continue to grow, demand should continue to rise.

 

Manufacturing Process

 

Although a small amount of SiC can be found naturally, the vast majority of SiC is man-made. We produce SiC by smelting quartz sand and refinery coke at temperatures ranging from approximately 1,600 to 2,500 degrees centigrade in a graphite electric resistance furnace. The material formed in the furnace varies in purity, according to the distance from the graphite resistor heat source. Colorless, pale yellow and green crystals (“green” SiC) have the highest purity and are found closest to the heat source. The color changes to blue and black at greater distance from the resistor and the darker crystals are less pure (“black” SiC). After initial processing, SiC crystals can be crushed into grains with granulation equipment and filtered using vibrating sieve machines. SiC can be further processed into fine powders therefore it can be used in the production of industrial ceramic products. Most of the Company’s revenues come from the sale of green SiC.

 

Facilities

 

Yili China currently owns and operates three SiC production lines with transformer capacity of 80,000 kilovolt-amperes input and 110 kilovolt output with corollary established production equipment and infrastructure at Yining County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC.

 

In addition, the Company owns production lines with an aggregate production capacity of SiC of 25,500 tons per year in Yili Hasake Autonomous State of Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The construction of the first, second, and third production lines were finished in November of 2009 and March and November of 2010, respectively. The three new lines commenced operating in May and June of 2010 and January of 2011, respectively. Subject to further approval of the Board of Directors of the Company, we may plan to construct a powder production line and a granulation workshop in Yili. 

 

The Company is also planning a 34,000-ton green SiC project with four furnaces in Ehe of the Aletai Area of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC pending governmental permissions and approvals (the “Ehe New Project”). The Company selected the site for the project because of its proximity to sources of electricity, petroleum coke and quartz. We will need to raise additional financing to commence and complete this project and there can be no assurance that such financing will be available, or if available, that it will be available on acceptable terms.

 

4
 

 

Principal Suppliers and Sources of Raw Materials

 

The manufacturing of our product requires two main components as raw materials, along with electricity: quartz and petroleum coke. We have ready access to sufficient sources of raw materials, and we believe that we will not in the future be required to rely on any single supplier to operate.

 

Silicon is the principal component of SiC and is extracted from quartz. The Company purchases quartz in the form of quartz-silicon pebbles from local suppliers and from local farmers and peasants who collect the pebbles from the bed of the Erchis River in Xinjiang. Because the pebbles are collected without the permission of the PRC Government, we are seeking to complete the purchase of the equity interests of Quartz Mine China, which has confirmed reserves of approximately 667,800 tons of quartz and has additional estimated reserves of 554,300 tons of quartz. If such rights are obtained and the Company completes the purchase, the Company intends to construct a mine to recover quartz from the property. It currently costs approximately $10.00 to mine one ton of quartz. Our management estimates that the mine can satisfy the Company’s raw material needs for quartz for the next ten years. Quartz Mine China has not yet been set up as of the date of this Annual Report.

 

Petroleum coke is provided to the Company by China National Petroleum Corporation, through its various refineries and branches, as well as China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation. Our production facility and smelters are located very close to the Karamai oil field, one of the four major oil fields in China, with approximately 5 million tons of annual petroleum coke output, which far exceeds the Company’s needs for petroleum coke for its SiC production. Therefore, the Company has access to a cost-effective supply of petroleum coke and pays minimal transportation costs.

 

The Company’s source of electricity is the Hydropower Center of the Yili River Construction and Management Bureau of the Xinjiang Water Department. Hydropower production can be up to 50% less in the winter drought season. However, based on the Company’s past experience and its relationships with its supplier, the Company anticipates that its supplier will be able to, and will, supply to the Company all of the Company’s requirements for electricity throughout all seasons of the year. The Company believes that it has a competitive advantage because most of its competitors rely on electricity generated by coal burning power plants, whereas the electricity supply for the Company’s production is supported by hydropower plants, which is less costly and more environmentally friendly. The average price to the Company for electricity is approximately 0.305 RMB/kwh for hydropower, while the average cost for coal-generated electricity paid by the Company’s competitors is not less than 0.40 RMB/kwh.

 

    Item   Percentage of Such
Type of Raw Material
Yihe Hydro Center   Electricity   100%
Xinjiang Huayu Energy Co., Ltd.   Petrol coke   84.7%
Altay Zhengxin Mining Co., Ltd   Quartz   100%

 

Principal Customers

 

The following table sets forth our five largest customers, in terms of revenues of the aggregate of green SiC and black SiC we sold to them during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. Our five largest customers accounted for an aggregate of 70.3% in the products we sold in 2011. The Company currently does not have any overseas customers.

 

Fiscal Year 2011:

 

Customer’s Name   Revenues    

Percent in 

Total Products

We Sold

 
Xinjiang Xinlubiao Photovoltaic Materials Co., Ltd.   $ 4,323,578       27.1 %
Guiqing Silicon Powder Co., Ltd   $ 3,147,720       19.7 %
Henan Kangtai Silicon Powder Co., Ltd   $ 1,717,477       10.8 %
Zaozhuang Xinfa Grinding Co., Ltd   $ 1,268,786       8.0 %
Henan Huarui Shuangzi Technology Development Co., Ltd.   $ 749,183       4.7 %
Total   $ 11,206,744       70.3 %

 

 

Fiscal Year 2010:

 

Customer’s Name   Revenues    

Percent in 

Total Products

We Sold

 
Jiangsu Dayang Silicon Powder Co., Ltd    $ 3,349,906       25.9 %
Guiqing Silicon Powder Co., Ltd    $ 1,935,253       14.9 %
Henan Kangtai Silicon Powder Co., Ltd    $ 1,921,496       14.8 %
Jiangsu Jinsha Silicon Powder Co., Ltd    $ 1,454,801       11.2 %
Zaozhuang Xinfa Grinding Co., Ltd    $ 1,342,315       10.4 %
Total    $ 10,003,771       77.2 %

  

5
 

 

Marketing

 

The Company established a marketing department after it began to expand its SiC production capacity since October 2008. In April, 2010, the Company set up a sales office and hired three sales persons in Zhengzhou of Henan Province. The Company deploys a relatively direct marketing strategy by conducting extensive market research and sending our sales personnel to visit and communicate with customers in person. This approach also enables the Company to quickly obtain customers’ feedback on its products therefore to improve the quality of its products. The Company also has engaged an advertising agency to promote the Company’s products in the industry. In addition, the Company believes that it has a good reputation in the industry through its participation in the China Abrasives Industry Association, seminars, conferences and other contacts.

 

Seasonality of Business

 

The Company’s business is not subject to seasonal trends.

 

Backlogs

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had no order or supply backlogs.

 

Competition

 

There are over 100 manufacturers of SiC in China. The Company believes that Xinjiang Kuitun Longhai Technology Development Co., Ltd (“Longhai”) located in the Xinjiang province of the PRC and Gui Qiang Silicon Carbide Co., Ltd. (“Gui Qiang”) located in Qinghai Province, are the Company’s major competitors. Longhai and Gui Qiang are, respectively, the largest and the second largest green SiC producers in China, with respective market share of approximately 20% and 15% for the fiscal year 2010. In fiscal year 2011, however, Longhai’s market share dropped to approximately 15% of the national market and Gui Qiang stopped manufacturing.

 

As smelting is an important process to the production of different types of SiC, the construction of smelters becomes the key factor of defining the competitive position of an SiC manufacturer. Several fundamental issues will continue to constrain the construction of SiC smelters for the foreseeable future. First, the SiC production landscape in China is dominated by small and inefficient players. SiC smelters are large, expensive facilities that require a great deal of capital to construct. We believe that these small manufacturers lack the capital and scale necessary to rapidly construct smelters to meet the market demand for SiC. Second, recent implementation of new environmental regulatory measures has made government approval of new construction difficult to obtain.

 

SiC production is an industry with high barriers to entry, and therefore, is relatively exclusive. The Company principally faces competition from companies such as Longhai and Gui Qiang, but does not anticipate competition from new companies in the near future.

 

With respect to its strategy to compete with larger SiC players, the Company always positions itself by utilizing what we believe are its unique competitive advantages described below.

 

Cheap Raw Materials

 

As set forth above, the three main cost components of SiC production are (in order or price with highest first) petroleum coke, electricity, and quartz. Due to the close proximity of four major oil fields that annually produce approximately 5 million tons of petroleum coke, the Company has access to a cost-effective supply of petroleum coke and pays minimal transportation costs. The Company also has access to cheap electricity due to its proximity to local hydroelectric facilities. The Company’s cost of 0.305 RMB/kwh represents an approximate 30% discount to that of the Company’s main competitor, Gui Qiang. Last, the Company’s operating facility is located near properties in Aletai in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC, which has confirmed reserves of 667,800 tons of quartz and has additional estimated reserves of 554,300 tons of quartz based on a geographical report issued by Xinjiang Nonferrous Metal Geographical Survey Team Technology Commission on August 30, 2003. The Company has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Zhigang Gao and Ping Li for an option to purchase for $50,000 the equity interests of Quartz Mine China, an entity to be formed by them which will seek, and expects to obtain from the PRC government, exploration and mining rights to such property. The Company anticipates that if such rights are obtained (of which there can be no assurance) and the Company exercises its option to acquire the equity interests in Quartz Mine China, the Company will have sufficient quartz for its production of SiC for the next ten years.

 

Intellectual Capital / Technology

 

The Company has an experienced team of management and technical staff. Additionally, the Company has developed several proprietary techniques utilized in the smelting process. One such technique involves the use of the Company’s discoveries in carbon monoxide gas recovery technology - the Company can capture carbon monoxide created during the smelting process and use it to reduce its fuel costs. The Company intends to register this technology as a patent in the future.

 

6
 

 

Product Feature

 

An important feature of the Company’s SiC products that outstands from other competitor is that our SiC products are usually separated into very detailed classes in terms of sizes and quality, which is easier for our customers to purchase and utilize according to their different purposes. Such separation of SiC products usually requires time and skillful workers. We have received very positive feedback from our customers for this feature.

 

Support from local government and businesses

 

Through Yili China the Company maintains a meaningful relationship with local government and business in Xinjiang Province, PRC. Yili China is the first business entity that operated in the Yining East Industrial Park of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC, and the Company’s management team has been closely working with the local government since 2005. The Company has received support and assistance from local businesses. Yili China has already obtained permission to construct its proposed SiC processing facility in Xinjiang. Further, the Company’s relatively remote location in Xinjiang Province coupled with such Province’s low population density reduces the risk of potential regulatory constraints impeding the Company’s further expansion in the future. We have also received several subsidies from the Xinjiang local government to facilitate our manufacturing recycling and to support our research and development, etc.

 

Intellectual Property

 

Patents

 

The Company believes that it has proprietary know-how regarding the construction and operation of furnaces that will enable it to reduce costs and increase productivity in the smelting process through waste heat recovery, effluent recycling and exhaust reduction techniques. The Company does not believe that it would be advantageous to it to disclose such technology and has therefore chosen not to apply for a patent or patents regarding such technology.

 

Trademarks

 

The Company presently does not have any trademarks, although it intends to apply for a trademark in the PRC regarding its name and logo.

 

Research and Development

 

Please refer to the “Intellectual Capital / Technology” under the Section “Competition” herein for details of the Company’s research and development activities.

 

Government Regulation

 

The Company is or will be subject to laws, rules and regulations of the PRC and local governments regarding the discharge of waste materials into the environment, the operation of its mining operations and the quality of its products. Although SiC smelting and manufacturing is not a restricted industry under the PRC Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries (the “Catalogue) yet other relevant regulations in China controls and restricts the annual production or exportation of SiC cannot exceed an approved amount. The micro-powder production industry (purity > 99%; and dia. < 1μm), however, belongs to the encouraged category under the Catalogue. Currently, we have approved amount of 30,000 tons each year and we may be able to apply for an increase in the approved amount if the Company plans to expand. The Company currently does not export its products to areas or regions outside China.

 

Environmental Compliance

 

The Company always adopts an environmentally friendly strategy in its production and development. The Company’s production of SiC is supported by hydropower plants, which are more cost-effective and less pollutant than most of the coal burning power plants. The Company has also developed a technique that can capture carbon monoxide created during the smelting process and use it to reduce its fuel costs.

 

Our current production facilities have passed the environmental protection review by the Environmental Protection Bureau of Yining County of Yili Hasake Autonomous State of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (the “Yining Environmental Protection Bureau”) in October of 2007. The Yining Environmental Protection Bureau allocated certain permissible emission amounts of SO 2 (i.e. sulfur dioxide) and CODcr (i.e. chemical oxygen demand) to each of the manufacturers under its jurisdiction. So far, the Company has controlled its emission of SO 2 and CODcr below permissible levels, and we have not violated any environmental regulations. The local environmental protection agency, however, has not inspected on the constructed new production lines that we completed construction in 2011, and the Company has not otherwise been found in violation of any such environmental regulation.

 

The Company has built into its current production lines part of the waste gas recycle system mentioned above. Around RMB 22 million will be required for installing the waste gas recycle system on our present three production lines, and an additional RMB 4 million will be required for installing such production line on each new production line that the Company plans to build. The Company is also in the process of building a waste water treatment station and we plan to install a “sulfur filtering” system and a spraying machine to reduce the amount of dust.

 

7
 

 

Employees

 

As of March 31, 2012, we had 185 employees, of whom 70 were executive and administrative personnel and 115 were manufacturing personnel.

 

ITEM 2.DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES

 

We lease our office space at both 558 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, Connecticut and 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 860, New York, NY from Kuhns Brothers, Inc. and its affiliates (“Kuhns Brothers”). Our Chairman and CEO Mr. Kuhns, is a controlling shareholder, President, CEO, a director and Chairman of Kuhns Brothers. The lease is for one year with an annual rental rate of $7,500, which will be automatically extended for a year unless otherwise notified by either party in writing.

 

Our operating facilities are located at Zone A, Industry Zone of Yining County of Yili Hasake Autonomous State under Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC. On October 28, 2008, the Company paid $862,442 to obtain the land use right for fifty years for nearly 107,214 square meters of land where our operating facilities are located. On such property, we have constructed temporary factory buildings covering an area of approximately 2,600 square meters, as well as our office building of 350 square meters and an employee’s dormitory building with a construction area of 350 square meters. The land on which all the buildings are located has an area of approximately 33,333 square meters. We also own and keep in the facility new equipment for our new production lines, which include the following:

 

Item Unit
5 ton crane 3
110KV transformer substation 1
Automatic raw material supply system 3

 

ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

As of the date of this Report, the Company was not a party to any pending or threatened legal proceeding.

 

ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

 

  Not applicable.

 

PART II

 

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

 

Market Information

 

As of the date of this Annual Report, we had three classes of equity securities: (i) Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, 4,016,380 shares of which were outstanding; (ii) Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, 996,186 shares of which were outstanding; and (iii) Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, 920,267 shares of which were outstanding. We also had warrants to purchase 2,490,465 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Our Common Stock was approved for quotation on the OTC-BB on September 1, 2009. Our Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTC-BB under the symbol “MAST.” However, since September 1, 2009, there has been no trading of our Common Stock.

 

Stockholders

 

As of the date of this Annual Report, there were approximately 47 holders of record of our Common Stock.

Dividends

 

Common Stock

 

We have never paid dividends on our Common Stock. We plan to retain future earnings, if any, for use in our business, and do not anticipate paying dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

 

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

 

Pursuant to the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, filed on August 18, 2009 (which replaces certain Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, dated September 8, 2008 of the Company’s Delaware predecessor, hereinafter, the “Certificate of Designation of Series A Stock”), the holders of our Series A Stock are entitled to dividends payable at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum of the then effective liquidation preference of the Series A Stock. Dividends begin to accrue on the date of issuance of the Series A Stock and are payable quarterly in arrears, on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year. The Certificate of Designation of Series A Stock is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit E to the Company’s Information Statement on Schedule 14C filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 13, 2009.

 

8
 

 

As of December 31, 2011, we issued to the Series A Stock holders a total of 1,841,347 shares of our Common Stock. As of the date of this Report, the Company has issued an aggregate of 1,990,780 shares of Common Stock as dividends to the holders of Series A Stock.

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

 

Holders of our Series B Stock are not entitled to dividends pursuant to the Certificate of Designations of Series B Stock.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The Company does not have any equity compensation plans under which our securities may be issued as of the date of this Report.

 

 

ITEM 6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Certain statements in this Report, and the documents incorporated by reference herein, constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, regarding, among other things, (a) our projected sales, profitability, and cash flows, (b) our growth strategy, (c) anticipated trends in our industry, (d) our future financing plans, and (e) our anticipated needs for, and use of, working capital. They are generally identifiable by use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “management believes,” “we believe,” “we intend,” or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this filing will in fact occur. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except to the extent required by federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

The "Company", "we," "us," and "our," refer to (i) Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc. (formerly Paragon SemiTech USA, Inc.); (ii) Yili Carborundum USA, Inc. (“ Yili US ”); (iii) C3 Capital, Limited (“ C3 Capital ”); (iv) Yili Master Carborundum Production Co., Ltd. (“ Yili China ”) and (v) Beijing Master Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Master Consulting”).

 

Overview

 

Through our indirectly wholly-owned operating subsidiary Yili China, we produce and sell in China high quality “green” silicon carbide and lower-quality “black” silicon carbide (together, hereinafter referred to as “SiC”). SiC is a non-metallic compound that has special chemical properties and a level of hardness that is similar to diamonds, is produced by smelting (the process of extracting a metal from its ore) quartz sand and refinery coke at temperatures ranging from approximately 1,600 to 2,500 degrees centigrade in a graphite electric resistance furnace.

 

The Company’s present SiC production capacity is 25,500 tons per annum. We have three production lines and the capacity of each line is 8,500 tons per annum.

 

Recent Development

 

On July 14, 2011, Beijing Master Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Master Consulting”) was incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), which was wholly owned by Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc. Master Consulting represents our representative office in Beijing. This office is engaged in providing further management support and business development to Yili China.

 

9
 

 

Results of Operations for the Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

The following tables and analysis show the operating results of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.  

 

   For the Year
Ended December
31, 2011
   For the Year
Ended December
31, 2010
   Percentage
change
 
Revenues  $15,942,618   $12,948,096    23%
Cost of revenues   14,103,491    9,803,074    44%
                
Gross profit (loss)   1,839,127    3,145,022    (42)%
                
General and administrative expenses   4,142,449    2,935,460    41%
                
Total operating expenses   4,142,449    2,935,460    41%
                
Profit (loss) from operations   (2,303,322)   209,562    (1,199)%
                
Interest income   52,044    101,186    (49)%
Interest (expense)   (909,642)   -    N/A 
Other income (expenses)   19,821    7,386    168%
                
Total other income (expenses)   (837,777)   108,572    (872)%
                
Profit (loss) before income taxes   (3,141,099)   318,134    (1,087)%
                
Income tax provision   -    85,155    N/A 
                
Net profit (loss)  $(3,141,099)  $232,979    (1,448)%

 

Revenues 

 

We generated sales revenues of $15,942,618 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $12,948,096 for the same period in 2010, representing an increase of $2,994,522, or 23%. A breakdown of total revenues is set forth in the following table:

 

Item  For the Year
Ended December
31, 2011
   For the Year
Ended December
31, 2010
   Percentage
change
 
Green silicon:               
Selling volume (ton)   11,214    10,337    8%
Average price in US dollars   1,404.62    1,232.78    14%
Subtotal   15,751,372    12,743,283    24%
                
Black silicon:               
Selling volume (ton)   226    295    (23)%
Average price in US dollars   846.22    694.28    22%
Subtotal   191,246    204,813    (7)%
                
Total   15,942,618    12,948,096    23%

 

During the first quarter of 2011, we had all three 8,500-ton production lines in operation. Due to some technical issues, including the breakdown of the raw material feeding system, we conducted an inspection and tests on two of our lines, therefore causing these two lines not to reach their full production capacity. At the same time, our third line operated well. During the second quarter of 2011, in order to replace some corroded parts in our facility and to repair the feeding system, we suspended the operation of Line No. 1 in April and May, and Lines No. 2 and No. 3 in May. Starting from June, all three lines resumed full production capacity and the purity level of our products has greatly improved above current market standards after this repair and inspection that we conducted in April and May.

 

However, during the third and fourth quarter of 2011, due to the European sovereign crisis, the global market demand for solar energy dropped dramatically, which adversely affected the market price of SiC, the essential abrasive material for manufacturing solar panels. Since the market demand decreased, the Company decided to strategically control and reduce the production in order to decrease the operation costs since the third quarter of 2011.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2011, we produced 12,830 tons of green SiC and 154 tons of black SiC. During the same period of last year, we only had two 8,500-ton production lines in operation. The total output of the same period of 2010 was 12,204 tons of green SiC and 317 tons of black SiC.

 

10
 

 

During the year of 2011, the average market prices of green SiC and black SiC increased compared to the same period of last year. Since the output of our SiC increased substantially, even with the crisis, the Company still sold 11,214 tons of green SiC and 226 tons of black SiC during this year, whereas during the same period of last year, the Company only sold 10,337 tons of green SiC and 295 tons of black SiC. The sales volume of green SiC during the year of 2011 increased by nearly 8% compared to the same period last year. The Company’s revenue reached $15,942,618, or increased by 23%, compared to the revenue of $12,948,096 during the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase of the revenue is mainly due to the increase of average unit selling price.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold is primarily comprised of the costs of our raw materials and packaging materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead expenses, depreciation, amortization, inventory count loss and freight charges. The raw materials include quartz, petrol coke and electricity power. These materials generally account for 8%, 60% and 32% of total raw material costs. Our cost of goods sold for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 were $14,103,491 and $9,803,074, respectively.

 

Item  For the Year
Ended December
31, 2011
   For the Year
Ended December
31, 2010
   Percentage
change
 
Green silicon:               
Production volume (ton)   12,830    12,204    5%
Average cost in US dollars   1,057.77    921.11    15%
Subtotal   13,571,213    11,241,274    21%
                
Black silicon:               
Production volume (ton)   154    317    (51)%
Average cost in US dollars   950.49    867.15    10%
Subtotal   146,375    274,886    (47)%
                
Total production cost   13,717,588    11,516,160    19%

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company produced nearly 12,830 tons of SiC, compared to roughly 12,204 tons of SiC produced in the same period last year. During the fiscal year of 2011, our new lines consumed approximately 1.77 tons of quartz, 1.54 tons of petrol coke and 7,889 KW of electricity, respectively, for producing one unit of SiC. In the same period of last year when we had only two lines, we consumed even more raw materials per unit: roughly 1.84 tons of quartz, 1.58 tons of petrol coke and 8,269 KW of electricity. Since our productivity has been enhanced, we saved 6% of costs per ton due to the lower consumption of raw materials. However, the purchasing prices of petrol coke and electricity increased during the fiscal year of 2011 by 2% and 20%, respectively. Therefore, the average production costs during the year ended December 31, 2011 were nearly 12% higher than the same period last year.

 

Gross Profit

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011, we had a gross profit of $1,839,127 and the gross profit margin was approximately 11.5%. In the same period last year, we had a gross profit of $3,145,022 and a gross profit margin of 24.3%. The decrease of our gross profit margin is mainly due to the increase of our average unit production cost, which was more than the increase of our average unit selling price.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

Our operating and administrative expenses consist primarily of freight fee, related salaries, professional fee, depreciation and traveling expenses. Operating and administrative expenses were $4,142,449 for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $2,935,460 for the same period of 2010, an increase of $1,206,989. This increase was mainly due to the increased operating expenses such as (1) new employees’ salaries and welfare as a result of Yili China’s expansion. (2) Since the new facility started to be recorded into “fixed assets” during the fourth quarter of 2010, the depreciation during the fiscal year of 2011 was much higher than the same period of 2010. (3) Provision for loss on inventory.

 

   For the Year
Ended December
31, 2011
   For the Year
Ended December
31, 2010
   Percentage
change
 
G&A               
Shipping and outbound freight fee   968,519    1,045,042    (7)%
Professional fees   237,698    153,092    55%
Travel expenses   136,952    109,347    25%
Products tax and related taxes   18,024    47,131    (62)%
Welfare and benefits   1,098,255    710,634    55%
Social insurance   52,166    33,233    57%
Depreciation expenses   140,807    39,504    256%
Amortization expenses   46,931    25,148    87%
Public relations expenses   78,951    50,344    57%
Motor car expenses   53,826    52,206    3%
Office expenses   299,433    403,813    (26)%
Provision for bad debts   51,718    52,290    (1)%
Others   959,169    213,676    349%
Total  $4,142,449   $2,935,460    41%

 

11
 

 

Operating Loss

 

Our operating loss was $2,303,322 for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to a profit of $209,562 for the comparable period of 2010, a decrease of $2,512,884. Our increase in operating loss for the fiscal year of 2011 was mainly due to increased sales not exceeding increased cost of goods sold as well as the increased G&A expenses.

 

Income Taxes

 

Our business operations are solely conducted by our subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC and we were governed by the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Laws. PRC enterprise income tax is calculated based on taxable income determined under PRC GAAP. In accordance with the Income Tax Laws, a PRC domestic company is subject to enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% and value added tax at the rate of 17% for most of the goods sold.

 

Incorporated in Xinjiang province in 2005, Yili China is subject to enterprise income tax at the rate of 25%. Income tax provisions for Yili China amounted to zero and $85,155 during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Net Loss

 

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $3,141,099, compared to a profit of $232,979 for the same period of 2010. Such increase of net loss of $3,374,078 was a result of revenues generated by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2011 not exceeding the aggregate increase of expenses and costs. During the first two quarters of 2011, we encountered some technical issues in two of our production lines. Therefore, we suspended the production and conducted inspections on the two lines for around 45 days during the first quarter. Our revenue was also impacted by the increased prices of raw materials, namely petrol coke and electricity. Furthermore, during the third quarter of 2011, the decreased market demand in the photovoltaic industry lead to fewer orders of our products, as a result we strategically reduced the production hence less gross revenue than when we could otherwise produce at full capacity. Therefore, the Company did not generate enough gross revenue to cover the increase in expenses.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of December 31, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents of $2,412,325. Compared to the same period of last year, cash and cash equivalents were increased by $425,284.

 

The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

   For the Year
Ended December
31, 2011
   For the Year
Ended December
31, 2010
   Percentage
change
 
Net cash used in operating activities  $(934,645)  $(795,894)   17%
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   1,367,024    (6,399,399)   (121)%
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (41,028)   2,969,200    (101)%
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   33,933    19,087    78%
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   425,284    (4,207,006)   (110)%
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   1,987,041    6,194,047    (68)%
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period  $2,412,325   $1,987,041    21%

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $934,645 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to an amount of $795,894 net cash that was used in operating activities during the same period of last year. The increase of net cash used in operating activities was mainly due to the facts that the Company had an operating loss caused by increased unit cost higher than increased unit selling price and increased other receivable, offset by less payment to acquire inventories and increased accounts payable and accrued expenses, which resulted in more cash used in operating activities. Therefore, the Company had $934,645 used in operating activities.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $1,367,024, compared to an amount of $6,399,399 net cash that was used in investing activities for the same period of last year. On February 10, 2010, the Company made a loan of $1,000,000 to China Silicon Corporation (“CSC”) on an unsecured basis at an annual rate of 6% for a term of one year. Besides the $1,000,000 loan made to CSC, the Company invested the rest of the money for the construction of the new lines. Since the construction of three new lines was finished in 2010, we had less cash used in investing activities during the fiscal year of 2011 than the same period of last year. The Company decreased $498,494 of deposit in building the new facility during the fiscal year of 2011 compared to spending $5,399,399 during the same time of 2010. Furthermore, CSC has paid off the loan of $1,000,000 on June 15, 2011. Therefore, the Company had cash of $1,367,024 provided by investing activities.

 

12
 

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled $41,028, compared to $2,969,200 provided by financing activities during the same period of 2010. The net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2010 was mainly attributable to a bank loan of $2,969,200 that the Company received on January 4, 2010 from Bank of China.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories consisted of the following as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

   December
31, 2011
   December
31, 2010
 
Raw materials  $425,086   $306,249 
           
Finished goods   2,347,710    2,352,406 
           
Work in progress   -    316,541 
           
Provision for impairment   (315,408)   - 
           
Total  $2,457,388   $2,975,196 

 

Our raw materials mainly include quartz and petrol coke, which account for more than 95% of total raw materials. Quartz comes from local mining companies and individual collectors. Quartz in Xinjiang province is 99.99% pure. Petrol coke comes from the Sinopec Group which is the biggest petrol company in China. We have not, in recent years, experienced any significant shortages of manufactured raw materials and normally do not carry inventories of these items in excess of what is reasonably required to meet our production and shipping schedules. Compared with the amount of December 31, 2010, the decrease of inventories is mainly attributable to the decreased finished goods and work in process as a result of the operation of our three new production lines during the fiscal year of 2011.

 

Property and Equipment

 

The following is a summary of property and equipment at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

   December
31, 2011
   December
31, 2010
 
Buildings  $11,151,772   $6,480,400 
           
Machinery and equipment   7,680,808    5,135,138 
           
Motor vehicles   347,030    299,417 
           
Office equipment   132,025    96,572 
           
Less: accumulated depreciation   (1,991,068)   (634,569)
           
Property and equipment, net  $17,320,567   $11,376,958 

 

We lease our office space at both 558 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, Connecticut and 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 860, New York, NY from Kuhns Brothers, Inc. and its affiliates (“Kuhns Brothers”). Our Chairman and CEO, Mr. Kuhns, is a controlling shareholder, President, CEO and Chairman of Kuhns Brothers. The lease commenced on September 1, 2008 for a term of one year with a monthly rent of $7,500, and such lease was extended with the same rate of rent until August 31, 2011. On September 1, 2011, we extended the lease with the same rate of rent for another one year.

 

Our operating facilities are located at Zone A, Industry Zone of Yining County of Yili Hasake Autonomous State under Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC. On October 28, 2008, the Company paid $862,442 to obtain the land use right for fifty years for nearly 107,214 square meters of land where our operating facilities are located. On such property, we have constructed temporary factory buildings covering an area of approximately 2,600 square meters, as well as our office building of 350 square meters and an employee’s dormitory building with a construction area of 350 square meters. The land on which all the buildings are located has an area of approximately 33,333 square meters. The purchase of such land use right is to satisfy the need of our ongoing construction of our new furnaces and to expand our operations.

 

13
 

 

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities amounted to $4,486,153 and $2,586,381 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Accounts payable primarily resulted from our purchases of raw materials and equipment. The increase of $1,899,772 is mainly increase in accounts payable caused by increased unit price of raw materials, including quartz, petrol coke and electricity. Our biggest supplier is Yihe Hydro Center, the payables to which accounted for more than 50% of the total amount of accounts payable as of December 31, 2011. Our biggest supplier is Yihe Hydro Center, the payables to which accounted for more than 41% of the total amount of accounts payable as of December 31, 2010.

 

Warrants

 

According to the resolutions of Board of Directors, the Company extended the expiration date of the original warrants to September 1, 2012 in order to facilitate its future financing activities resulting in a one-time charge of $661,649 to interest expense. This extension also added a negative effect of $661,649 to our net loss.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Management's discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Company's financial statements reflect the selection and application of accounting policies which require management to make significant estimates and judgments. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company believes that the following reflect the more critical accounting policies that currently affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Product sales are recognized when the products are shipped and title has passed.  Sales revenue represents the invoiced value of goods, net of a value added tax (“VAT”). All of the Company's products that are sold in the PRC are subject to a Chinese VAT at a rate 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 its finished products.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and amortization are recorded utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated original useful lives of the assets.  Amortization of leasehold improvements is calculated on a straight-line basis over the life of the asset or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter.  Major renewals and betterments are capitalized and depreciated; maintenance and repairs that do not extend the life of the respective assets are charged to expense as incurred.  Upon disposal of assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in income.  Depreciation related to property and equipment used in production is reported in cost of sales.

 

Long-term assets of the Company are reviewed annually as to whether their carrying value has become impaired.

 

Bad Debts

 

The Company's business operations are conducted in the People's Republic of China. The Company extends unsecured credit only to its relatively large customers with a good credit history.  Management reviews its accounts receivable on a regular basis to determine if the bad debt allowance is adequate at each period-end.  

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company has not engaged in any off-balance sheet transactions since its inception.

 

 

ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The Company's consolidated audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, together with the report of the independent certified public accounting firm thereon and the notes thereto, are presented beginning at page F-1.

 

14
 

 

 

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

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A .   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Mr. John Kuhns, our Chief Executive Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this Report. Based on that evaluation, our officer concluded that due to the material weaknesses in the internal control over financial reporting as discussed immediately below, our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective and are not adequately designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms and that such information was accumulated and communicated to our Chief Executive Officer, in a manner that allowed for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Management Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

An evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Financial Officer, using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in its “Internal Control - Integrated Framework.” The COSO framework summarizes each of the components of a company’s internal control system, including (i) the control environment, (ii) risk assessment, (iii) control activities, (iv) information and communication, and (v) monitoring.

 

During the process of reviewing and assessing the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, the Company’s management concluded that the previously issued financial statements in the Quarterly Report for the period ended December 31, 2008 (“2008 Second Quarter 10Q”) should not be relied upon due to the misclassification of Series A Stock as permanent equity. The Company intends to address the referenced misstatement and to restate such financial statements in the 2008 Second Quarter 10Q by filing with the SEC an amendment to such 2008 Second Quarter 10Q.

 

A material weakness is a significant deficiency in one or more of the internal control components that alone or in the aggregate precludes our internal controls from reducing to an appropriately low level of risk the risk that material misstatements in our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

The Company’s management considered the impact of the foregoing accounting misstatements on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and determined that they amounted to a material weakness. As a result, management concluded that the Company's internal controls over financial reporting were not effective as of December 31, 2011.

 

Remediation Initiative

 

In an effort to remediate the foregoing deficiencies in the Company’s internal control, the Company intends to take the following actions: (i) to create positions in the accounting department of the Company to segregate duties of recording, authorizing and testing; (ii) to increase our accounting and financing personnel resources, by retaining more U.S. GAAP knowledgeable financial professionals; (iii) to provide U.S. GAAP training to our staff in the accounting department; (iv) to establish an audit committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, with the responsibility of overseeing the corporate accounting and financial reporting process and the internal and external audits of the financial statements of the Company.

 

There is no assurance that our disclosure controls or our internal controls over financial reporting can prevent all errors. An internal control system, no matter how well designed and operated, has inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error may occur and not be detected. We monitor our disclosure controls and internal controls and make modifications as necessary. Our intent in this regard is that our disclosure controls and our internal controls will improve as systems change and conditions warrant.

 

15
 

 

Changes in Internal Controls

 

On December 1, 2011, Mr. Lin Han resigned from his position as Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

 

Except for the above, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2011 that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B.   OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

The following are the officers and directors of the Company as of the date of this Report. Some of our directors are residents of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”). As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon them or to enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against them in the PRC.

 

Name   Age   Position/Title With the Company
         
John D. Kuhns   62   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
         
Mary E. Fellows   50   Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director
         
Chunli Liu   52   Chief Accounting Officer
         
James Tie Li   44   Director
         
Shadron Stastney   43   Director
         
Yousu Lin   59   Director
         
Zhigang Gao   42   Director

 

The business background of our directors and officers is as follows:

 

Mr. John D. Kuhns was appointed the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Financial Officer (interim) on September 2, 2008 and the Company’s director and Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective on September 26, 2008. From 1981 to 1988, Mr. Kuhns built Catalyst Energy, one of the first publicly traded independent power producers in the United States, as the Company’s founder, President and Chief Executive Officer. While running Catalyst Energy, he acquired Chinese hydroelectric generating equipment for use in the United States. He furthered his development experience in China as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the New World Power Corporation from 1992 to 1996, where he developed and financed hydroelectric projects in China as well as Argentina, Costa Rica and Mexico. While at New World Power Corporation, he formed a joint venture with Wuhan Steam Turbine, a State-Owned Enterprise owned by the City of Wuhan in China, to develop hydroelectric projects in Asia, including the PRC. Mr. Kuhns is the owner of 100% of the membership interests and the sole manager of New World Power, LLC. Mr. Kuhns is a controlling shareholder, President, CEO, a director and Chairman of Kuhns Brothers, Inc., an investment banking firm which he founded in 1986 specializing in providing financing for power technology ventures, and, more recently, industrial and infrastructure companies operating within the PRC. Mr. Kuhns received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and in Fine Arts from Georgetown University; a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Chicago; and a Master's of Business Administration degree from the Harvard Business School.

 

Ms. Mary E. Fellows was appointed as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Secretary on September 2, 2008 and a Company director, effective on September 26, 2008. Ms. Fellows has been a Partner and Executive Vice President of Kuhns Brothers, Inc., a boutique investment bank since 1997. She served as Director of Corporate Administration and Corporate Secretary of the New World Power Corporation from 1996 to 1999. She served as Corporate Secretary to the Solar Electric Light Company from 1997 to 2002. Additionally, Ms. Fellows served as Co-Chairman of the Distributed Power Company, a company with investments in solar information publications, including the photovoltaic industry's leading newsletter and market survey, and was a director of GenSelf Corporation from 2003 to 2006. Ms. Fellows received a Bachelor of Science degree (Alpha Chi) from Teikyo Post University.

 

Mr. Chunli Liu was appointed as the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer on March 30, 2012 and he has been working as the accounting manager of Yili China since January 2011, responsible for overseeing financial reporting, purchase of raw materials and sales. During the period from June 2007 through May 2010, Mr. Liu was serving as the CFO at Beijing Xi’anke Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned entity in the IT industry in China. Prior to that, Mr. Liu was the CFO of Beijing Diren Holdings, Inc., a private company in China engaged in hotel management, real estate, etc. Mr. Liu graduated with a bachelor degree in Business Administration and a master degree in Trade and Economics from Renmin University of China in year 1985 and 1996, respectively.

 

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Mr. James Tie Li has been appointed as a Company director since September 26, 2008. He was the founder and senior executive with a number of start-up companies in China including China Hydroelectric Corporation. He has been a consultant to Kuhns Brothers, Inc. since 2006. He was also the founder of Columbia China Capital Group, a U.S. based boutique investment firm since 2002. Mr. Li obtained his Master of Business Administration degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from City University of New York. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of New Jersey.

 

Mr. Zhigang Gao has been appointed as a Company director since September 26, 2008. Mr. Gao has been the manager of Yili China, the chairman of Changchun Master Industries Co., Ltd. (“Changchun Master”), the controlling shareholder prior to the Company’s purchase (through C3 Capital) of Yili China, and the president of Xinjiang Ehe Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd. Mr. Gao holds a bachelor’s degree and a master's degree in chemistry from Northeast Normal University in China.

 

Dr. Yousu Lin has been appointed as a Company director since September 26, 2008. Dr. Lin is an accomplished financier of numerous government projects in the PRC and has been involved in the financial activities of, and provided advice on, the construction of the Three Gorges Project, the largest hydroelectric project in the world. In addition to the Three Gorges Project, Dr. Lin has also consulted on the Xiaolangdi Project, a large hydroelectric project on the Yellow River and the Wanjiazhai Project, a project to divert water from the Yellow River into Shanxi Province. He has also been a consultant in other governmental projects including the Tianjin Subway and the Beijing Olympics. In addition to these large government projects, Dr. Lin has also been involved in smaller scale construction projects with groups of private investors. Dr. Lin received his Ph.D. and Master of the Arts from Australian National University and his Bachelor of the Arts degree from Beijing Foreign Language University.

 

Mr. Shadron Lee Stastney has been appointed as a Company director since September 26, 2008. Since June 2004, Mr. Stastney has been a partner at Vicis Capital, LLC, an investment management firm. Vicis Capital, LLC is the managing partner of Vicis Capital Master Fund, one of our principal shareholders. From July 2001 to May 2004, Mr. Stastney served as Managing Director of Victus Capital, LP, an investment management firm. Mr. Stastney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Dakota and a Juris Doctor from the Yale Law School.

 

Director Qualifications

 

The Company’s Board of Directors believes that each director’s experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of other directors lead to the conclusion that each director should serve in such capacity. Among the attributes or skills common to all of the directors are their ability to review critically and to evaluate, question, and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other directors, officers and employees of the Company, as well as service providers, counsel, and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective and independent business judgment in the performance of their duties as directors. The following is a discussion for each director of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that the individual should be serving as a director of the Company:

 

Mr. John D. Kuhns has over 30 years of experience in the hydroelectric power, power technology and alternative energy industry. As early as 1981, Mr. Kuhns built Catalyst Energy, one of the first publicly traded independent power producers in the United States. Mr. Kuhns also has extensive experience in development and financing of energy industries in various countries such as hydroelectric projects in China as well as Argentina, Costa Rica and Mexico. Through Kuhns Brothers, Inc., an investment banking firm which Mr. Kuhns founded in 1986, he gained additional financing experience in power technology ventures, and, more recently, industrial and infrastructure companies operating within the PRC. We believe that Mr. Kuhns’ qualifications and his experience in the energy industry provides our board with unique and valuable perspectives.

 

Ms. Mary E. Fellows has her investment banking experience dating back to 1997 and her merger and acquisition experience as early as 1996. Her leadership positions at Solar Electric Light Company and Distributed Power Company provide her with valuable insights in investments in solar information publications, including the photovoltaic industry's leading newsletter and market survey. We believe that Ms. Fellows is well suited to sit on our board based on her extensive business experience in various industries.

 

Mr. James Tie Li has extensive investment banking and entrepreneur experience in the U.S. and China. He helped started up a number of companies in China including China Hydroelectric Corporation. As a consultant to Kuhns Brothers, Inc., Mr. Li advises on corporate finance, valuation and acquisition matters related to the firm’s China-related equity financing transactions. His U.S. based boutique investment firm, Columbia China Capital Group, gained Mr. Li his extensive experience in advising Asian firms in mergers and acquisitions, public listing and growth strategy. With Mr. Li’s academic background and his expertise in finance and Asian transactions, we believe Mr. Li is well suited to serve as a director on our board.

 

Mr. Zhigang Gao has been engaged in the applied research of SiC, silicon, organic silicon and preparation of polycrystalline silicon material for many years. In all the enterprises Mr. Gao has been managing, he is the main technology leader. He is an expert in the field of SiC and semiconductor materials in China. We believe that Mr. Gao’s qualification and expertise in silicon carbide industries in China offer the Company invaluable insight and experience for its business operations and development.

 

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Dr. Yousu Lin consulted and coordinated the financing and development of numerous government projects in China including hydroelectric projects such as the Three Gorges Project, the Xiaolangdi Project, the Wanjiazhai Project, other infrastructure construction projects as Tianjin Subway and the Beijing Olympics. Dr. Lin is fluent in both Chinese and English, which supplements the communication between the Chinese management and the U.S. board. His experience with both private investors and Chinese government in the big-scaled projects, especially in the energy industry, positions him well as a director on our board.

 

Mr. Shadron Lee Stastney is the managing partner of one of our principal shareholders and he has experience of many years in investment management and financing. Mr. Stastney’s financial and legal background offers our board unique perspectives in capital market and financing projects.

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships among any of the Company’s present directors and officers, except that Hong Zhao, the former director and the former Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, is the wife of James Tie Li.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

None of our directors, executive officers or control persons has been involved in any of the events prescribed by Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K during the past ten years, including:

 

1.any petition under the Federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer was appointed by a court for the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which he or she was a general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which he or she was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;

  

2.any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being named a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);

 

3.being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him or her from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities:

 

i.  acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity;
   
ii.  engaging in any type of business practice; or
   
iii.  engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of Federal or State securities laws or Federal commodities laws;

 

4.being subject to any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any Federal or State authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any type of business regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, securities, investment, insurance or banking activities, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;

 

5.being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any Federal or State securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated;

 

6.being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any Federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;

 

7.being subject to, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of:

 

i.  any Federal or State securities or commodities law or regulation; or

 

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ii.   any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order; or
   
iii.  any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or

 

  8. being subject to, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26))), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1(a)(29))), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.

 

Committees of the Company’s Board of Directors

 

We do not have a standing nominating, compensation or audit committee. Rather, the board of directors performs the functions of these committees. James Tie Li qualifies as a financial expert within the meaning of Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. We do not believe it is necessary for the board of directors to appoint such committees, because the volume of matters that come before the board of directors for consideration is sufficiently small so as to permit our directors to give sufficient time and attention to such matters. The Company intends to establish the referenced three committees in the future to improve the Company’s internal control and governance. Mr. Shad Stastney would qualify as “independent directors” under NASDAQ Stock Market Rule 5605(a)(2).

 

We do not currently have procedures by which our security holders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors. In considering candidates for membership on the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors will take into consideration the needs of the Board of Directors and the candidate’s qualifications. The Board will request such information as:

 

·The name and address of the proposed candidate;

 

·The proposed candidate’s resume or a listing of his or her qualification to be director of the Company;

 

·A description of any relationship that could affect such person qualifying as an independent director, including identifying all other public company board and committee memberships;

 

·A confirmation of such person’s willingness to act as director if selected by the Board of Directors; and

 

·Any information about the proposed candidate that would, under the federal proxy rules, be required to be included in the Company’s proxy statement if such person were a nominee.

 

Once a person has been identified by the Board of Directors as a potential candidate, the Board of Directors may collect and review publicly available information regarding the person to assess whether the person should be considered further. Generally, if the person expresses a willingness to be considered to serve on the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors believes that the candidate has the potential to be a good candidate, the Board of Directors would seek to gather information from or about the candidate, including through one or more interviews as appropriate and review his or her accomplishments and qualifications generally, including in light of any other candidates that the Board of Directors may be considering. The Board of Directors’ evaluation process does not vary based on whether the candidate is recommended by a shareholder.

 

The Board of Directors will, from time to time, seek to identify potential candidates for director nominees and will consider potential candidates proposed by the Board of Directors and by management of the Company.

 

The Company does not currently have a process for security holders to send communications to the Board.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of the Company’s Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Directors, executive officers and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of Section 16(a) forms they file.

 

The Company believes that all of its directors, executive officers and greater than 10% beneficial owners complied with all filing requirements applicable to them in the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have not yet adopted a Code of Ethics for our executive officers. We intend to adopt a Code of Ethics applying to such persons during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.

 

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Executive Compensation

 

The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth the compensation of the named executive officers of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

Name and
principal
position
  Year   Salary
($)
   Bonus
($)
   Stock
awards
($)
   Option
awards ($)
   Non-equity
incentive plan
compensation
($)
   Change in
pension
value and
nonqualified
compensation
earnings ($)
   All other
compensation
(4)
   Total
($)
 
John D. Kuhns (1)   2011    175,000        -    -    -    -    -    175,000 
    2010    175,000        -    -    -    -         175,000 
Mary E. Fellows (2)   2011    100,000         -    -    -    -         100,000 
    2010    100,000        -    -    -    -         100,000 
Lin Han (3)   2011    52,381        -    -    -    -         52,381 
    2010    52,941        -    -         -         52,941 

 

(1) Mr. Kuhns is currently Chief Executive Officer, President and a director of the Company. He was appointed as the Company’s interim Chief Financial Officer from 09/02/2008 through October 28, 2008.

 

(2) Ms. Fellows is currently Executive Vice President, Secretary and a director of the Company.

 

(3) Mr. Han resigned as Chief Financial Officer of the Company on December 1, 2011.

 

Employment Agreements

 

None of our employees was subject to a written employment agreement during the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Director Compensation

 

Our Directors do not receive compensation for serving as a Director, but they are entitled to reimbursement for their travel expenses.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

No plan-based awards were granted to any of our named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

 

No unexercised options or warrants were held by any of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2011. No equity awards were made during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Pension Benefits

 

No named executive officers received or held pension benefits during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

No nonqualified deferred compensation was offered or issued to any named executive officer during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

 

Our executive officers are not entitled to severance payments upon the termination of their employment agreements or following a change in control.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, we did not have a standing compensation committee. Our Board of Directors was responsible for the functions that would otherwise be handled by the compensation committee. All directors participated in deliberations concerning executive officer compensation, including directors who were also executive officers.

 

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The following tables set forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of April 13, 2012 by (x) each stockholder known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock, (y) the executive officers of the Company and (z) the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Unless otherwise noted, each person or company named in the tables has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares that he or it beneficially owns. As of the date of this Report, there were outstanding 4,016,380 shares of Common Stock, 996,186 shares of Series A Stock, 920,267 shares of Series B Stock and warrants to purchase 2,490,465 shares of Common Stock.

 

Title of Class   Name and Address of Beneficial Owners     Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
(1)
    Percent of
Class (2)
 
Common Stock   New World Power, LLC
558 Lime Rock Road
Lime Rock, Connecticut 06039
      2,479,655 (3)     40.29 %
Common Stock   John D. Kuhns
558 Lime Rock Road
Lime Rock, Connecticut 06039
      2,479,655 (3)(4)     40.29 %
Common Stock   Mary E. Fellows
558 Lime Rock Road
Lime Rock, Connecticut 06039
      826,342 (5)     17.47 %
Common Stock   Zhigang Gao
The High-tech Building 9F, No.3003 Qianjing Street
High-tech Development Zone in Changchun City PRC,
130024
      925,000 (9)     23.03 %
Common Stock   Dr. Yousu Lin
c/o 558 Lime Rock Road
Lime Rock, Connecticut 06039
      826,342 (6)     17.47 %
Common Stock   Vicis Capital Master Fund
126 East 56th St. 7th Fl, New York, NY 10022
      19,438,445 (7)     88.18 %
Common Stock   James Tie Li
22 Berkshire Way, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
      0 (8)      
Common Stock   Shad Stastney
126 East 56th St. 7th Fl, New York, NY 10022
      0        
Common Stock   Hong Zhao
22 Berkshire Way, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
      675,000 (8)     16.81 %
Common Stock   Chunli Liu
Ping An International Financial Center
No. 3 Xinyuan South Road, Suite 2105
Chaoyang District, Beijing China 100027
      0        
Common Stock   All officers and directors as a group (7 persons)       5,057,339 (10)     66.73 %
                       
Series A Preferred   New World Power, LLC
558 Lime Rock Road
Lime Rock, Connecticut 06039
      171,028       17.17 %
Series A Preferred   John D. Kuhns
558 Lime Rock Road
Lime Rock, Connecticut 06039
      171,028       17.17 %
Series A Preferred   Mary E. Fellows
558 Lime Rock Road
      56,997       5.72 %
Series A Preferred   Dr. Yousu Lin
c/o 558 Lime Rock Road
Lime Rock, Connecticut 06039
      56,997       5.72 %
Series A Preferred   Vicis Capital Master Fund
126 East 56th St. 7th Fl, New York, NY 10022
      705,993       70.87 %
Series A Preferred   All officers and directors as a group (3 persons)       285,022       28.61 %
                       
Series B Preferred   Vicis Capital Master Fund
126 East 56th St. 7th Fl, New York, NY 10022
      920,267       100 %

  

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(1) Pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, a person has beneficial ownership of any securities as to which such person, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, undertaking, relationship or otherwise has or shares voting power and/or investment power or as to which such person has the right to acquire such voting and/or investment power within 60 days.

 

(2) The percentage of beneficial ownership as to any person as of a particular date is calculated by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by such person by the sum of the number of shares outstanding as of such date and the number of unissued shares as to which such person has the right to acquire voting and/or investment power within 60 days. The number of shares shown includes outstanding shares of Common Stock owned as of the date of this report by the person indicated. The total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding on the date of this report was 4,016,380 shares.

 

(3) Includes (i) an aggregate of 1,710,277 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of an aggregate 171,028 shares of Series A Stock which are immediately convertible into 1,710,277 shares of Common Stock at the option of New World Power, LLC; (ii) 427,569 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of immediately exercisable warrants held by New World Power, LLC and (iii) 341,809 shares of Common Stock in the name of New World Power, LLC.

 

(4) Mr. Kuhns is the owner of 100% of the membership interests and the sole manager of New World Power, LLC and therefore controls such company and, by virtue of such control, may be deemed to beneficially own all of the Company’s securities that are owned by New World Power, LLC.

 

(5) Includes (i) an aggregate of 569,971 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of an aggregate 56,997 shares of Series A Stock which are immediately convertible into 569,971 shares of Common Stock at the option of Ms. Fellows; (ii) 142,493 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of immediately exercisable warrants held by Ms. Fellows; and (iii) 113,878 shares of Common Stock in the name of Ms. Fellows.

 

 (6) Includes (i) an aggregate of 569,971 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of an aggregate 56,997 shares of Series A Stock which are immediately convertible into 569,971 shares of Common Stock at the option of Dr. Lin; and (ii) 142,493 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of immediately exercisable warrants held by Dr. Lin; and (iii) 113,878 shares of Common Stock in the name of Dr. Lin.

 

(7) Includes (i) an aggregate of 7,059,929 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of an aggregate 705,993 shares of Series A Stock which are immediately convertible into Common Stock at the option of Vicis Capital Master Fund; (ii) an aggregate of 9,202,670 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of an aggregate 920,267 shares of Series B Stock which are immediately convertible into Common Stock at the option of Vicis Capital Master Fund; (iii) 1,764,982 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of immediately exercisable warrants held by Vicis Capital Master Fund and (iv) 1,410,864 shares of Common Stock issued in the name of Vicis Capital Master Fund.

 

(8) The share number disclosed herein does not include 675,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Ms. Hong Zhao, wife of James Tie Li, who is our former CFO.

 

(9) Includes a total of 925,000 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. Gao.

 

(10) Includes an aggregate of (i) 1,494,565 shares of Common Stock that have been issued; (ii) 2,850,219 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of an aggregate 285,022 shares of Series A Stock which are immediately convertible into Common Stock at the option of such persons; and (iii) 712,555 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of immediately exercisable warrants held by such persons. The shares disclosed herein do not include 675,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Ms. Hong Zhao, wife of James Tie Li, who is our former CFO.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

We do not have an established policy regarding related transactions.

 

We lease our office space at both 558 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, Connecticut and 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 860, New York, NY from Kuhns Brothers, Inc. and its affiliates (“Kuhns Brothers”). Our Chairman and CEO, Mr. Kuhns, is a controlling shareholder, President, CEO, a director and Chairman of Kuhns Brothers. The lease commenced on September 1, 2008 for a term of one year with a monthly rent of $7,500, and such lease was extended for a year with the same rate of rent until August 31, 2010. On September 1, 2010, we amended the lease to be automatically extended each year with the same rate of rent unless either party provides a notice to terminate 120 days in advance.

 

On May 26, 2011, the Company signed an Engagement Agreement with Kuhns Brothers, for providing investment banking services for initially a one-year period in potential mergers and acquisitions, private placement transactions, etc. For its financial advisory services, Kuhns Brothers will receive equity equals to 7% of the total financing value plus warrants to purchase the securities which have the value of 7% of total financing value.

 

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On January 1, 2010, the Company entered into a Management Service Agreement, where the Company shall pay Kuhns Brothers an annual management fee of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) starting from January 2010. The management fee was paid on a monthly basis ($12,500 per month) on the first day of each month. The Company paid the total management fee of $150,000 in 2011.

 

On September 17, 2008, Changchun Master Industries Co., Ltd. (“Changchun Master Company”) whose controlling stockholder is Zhigang Gao, our director, made a loan to Yili China in the amount of RMB 3,790,000 (or approximately $601,568 based on the exchange rate as of RMB1 = US$0.158664 on March 28, 2012) for the purpose of Yili China’s facility construction. Such loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured, and is payable on demand. The loan was due on September 15, 2009 and it was renewed for another year with similar terms and will continue to be renewed on a yearly basis with no set expiration date.

 

Aside from the loan, Changchun Master Company also advanced approximately $307,592 to Yili China for certain operating expenses from September 2, 2008 through December 31, 2009. As a result, the Company owed Changchun Master Company $905,921 as of December 31, 2011.

  

Director Independence

 

We do not have a standing nominating, compensation or audit committee. Rather, the board of directors performs the functions of these committees. We do not believe it is necessary for the board of directors to appoint such committees, because the volume of matters that come before the board of directors for consideration is not so substantial that our directors are usually allowed sufficient time and attention to such matters. Additionally, because the Company’s Common Stock is not currently listed for trading or quotation on a national securities exchange, we are not required to have such committees. Mr. Shad Stastney would qualify as an “independent director” under NASDAQ Stock Market Rule 5605(a)(2). James Tie Li can qualify as a financial expert on the board of directors under the definition of Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The following lists the fees billed by our auditors, Child, Van Wagoner & Bradshaw, PLLC, for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

   Fiscal Year   Fiscal Year 
   Ended December 31,   Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Audit Fees  $74,295   $60,000 
Audit Related Fees   24,000    21,000 
Tax Fees   4,500    4,800 
All Other Fees        

 

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS

 

Number   Description
     
2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 30, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Company’s Information Statement filed with the SEC on October 13, 2009 (the “Information Statement”);
     
3.1   Articles of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Nevada Secretary of State on June 26, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit C to the Information Statement;
     
3.2   By-laws of the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit D to the Information Statement;
     
3.3   Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit E to the Information Statement on Schedule 14C filed with the SEC on October 13, 2009;
     
3.4   Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 27, 2009 ( the “October 27, 2009 8-K”);
     
3.5   Certificate of Correction to the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock; Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2011 (the “Original 2010 10-K”).
     
4.1   Form of warrant issued to the investor in the September 2, 2008 private placement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 8, 2008 (the “September 8, 2008 8-K”);
     
4.2   Specimen of Common Stock Certificate. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s annual report of fiscal year ended June 30, 2009;
     
4.3   Specimen of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Transition Report for the period ended December 31, 2009;
     
4.4   Specimen of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Transition Report for the period ended December 31, 2009;
     
4.5   Consent and Waiver Agreement, dated November 2, 2009, between the Company and the holders of Series A Stock. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Transition Report for the period ended December 31, 2009;
     
10.1   Memorandum of Understanding by and among C3 Capital, Mr. Zhigang Gao and Mr. Ping Li. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the September 8, 2008 8-K;
     
10.2   Note Purchase Agreement dated September 21, 2009, between the Company and The China Hand Fund I, LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the October 27, 2009 8-K;
     
10.3   Convertible Note of the Company, dated September 21, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the October 27, 2009 8-K;
     
10.4   Office Space and Infrastructure Sharing Agreement, dated September 1, 2010; Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Original 2010 10-K;
     
10.5   Management Services Agreement, dated January 1, 2010, between the Company and Kuhns Brothers;  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Original 2010 10-K;

  

10.6   Engagement Agreement, dated May 26, 2011, between the Company and Kuhns Brothers; *

  

24
 

 

21.1   List of Subsidiaries;*  
       
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;*  
     
31.2   Certification of Chief Accounting Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;*
       
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*  
       
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document.*  
       
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.*  
       
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.*  
       
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.*  
       
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.*  
       
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.*  

 

* Filed herewith

 

25
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  MASTER SILICON CARBIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.
     
Date: April 13, 2012 By: /s/ John D. Kuhns  
    John D. Kuhns, Chief Executive Officer  
     
    (principal executive officer)  
     
  By: /s/ Chunli Liu  
    Chunli Liu, Chief Accounting Officer  
     (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ John D. Kuhns  
John D. Kuhns  
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive  
Officer) and Director  
   
/s/ Mary E. Fellows  
Mary E. Fellows  
Executive Vice President, Secretary and  
Director  
   
/s/ Shad Stastney  
Shad Stastney  
Director  
   
/s/ Yousu Lin  
Yousu Lin  
Director  
   
/s/ James Tie Li  
James Tie Li  
Director  

 

26
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To The Board of Directors and Stockholders of

 

Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc.

Connecticut, USA

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive profit (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States of America). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.

We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc. as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has cash flow constraints, an accumulated deficit, and has suffered recurring losses from operations. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

 

 

 

Child, Van Wagoner & Bradshaw, PLLC

Salt Lake City, Utah

April 4, 2012

   

 
 

 

MASTER SILICON CARBIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In US Dollars)

 

   December 31,   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
ASSETS          
           
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $2,412,325   $1,987,041 
Notes receivable   -    364,051 
Accounts receivable, net   3,165,792    1,532,896 
Tax refundable   -    120,909 
Inventories   2,457,388    2,975,196 
Prepaid expenses   158,774    307,690 
           
Total current assets   8,194,279    7,287,783 
           
Deposits-fixed assets   56,488    2,028,936 
Other receivables   103,656    46,562 
Amount due from related party   14,896    1,000,000 
Property, plant and equipment, net   17,320,567    11,376,958 
Construction in progress   848,540    4,415,703 
Intangible assets, net   1,429,424    1,416,650 
           
Total assets  $27,967,850   $27,572,592 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)          
           
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  $4,486,153   $2,586,381 
Tax payable   195,498    91,534 
Current portion of loans   1,589,000    - 
Advance from customers   386,794    565,196 
Other payables   109,170    209,288 
Amount due to related parties   905,921    886,748 
Dividends accrued   150,000    150,000 
           
Total current liabilities   7,822,536    4,489,147 
           
Technology payable   144,917    15,100 
Long-term loans   3,178,000    4,529,875 
           
Total liabilities   11,145,453    9,034,122 
           
Redeemable Preferred Stock-A ($0.001 par value, 996,186 shares issued) liquidation preference of $10.038 per share   10,000,000    10,000,000 
Redeemable Preferred Stock-B ($0.001 par value, 920,267 shares issued) liquidation preference of $10.8664 per share   10,000,000    10,000,000 
           
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):          
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 110,000,000 shares authorized; 3,866,947 and 3,269,215 shares issued and outstanding, respectively   3,867    3,269 
Additional paid-in capital   5,907,977    4,646,926 
Retained (deficit)   (10,304,094)   (6,562,995)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   1,214,647    451,270 
           
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)   (3,177,603)   (1,461,530)
           
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)  $27,967,850   $27,572,592 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

F-1
 

 

MASTER SILICON CARBIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE PROFIT (LOSS)

 

(In US Dollars)

 

   For The Years Ended 
   2011   2010 
         
Revenues:          
Revenues  $15,942,618   $12,948,096 
Cost of revenues   14,103,491    9,803,074 
           
Gross profit   1,839,127    3,145,022 
           
General and administrative expenses   4,142,449    2,935,460 
           
Total operating expenses   4,142,449    2,935,460 
           
Profit (loss) from operations   (2,303,322)   209,562 
           
Interest income   52,044    101,186 
Interest expense   (909,642)   - 
Other income   19,821    7,386 
           
Total other income (expenses)   (837,777)   108,572 
           
Profit (loss) before income taxes   (3,141,099)   318,134 
           
Income tax provision   -    85,155 
           
Net Profit (loss)  $(3,141,099)  $232,979 
           
Accretion on redeemable preferred stock  $-   $533,705 
           
Dividends on preferred stock   600,000    600,000 
           
Net loss attributable to common stockholders  $(3,741,099)  $(900,726)
           
Comprehensive profit (loss):          
           
Net Profit (loss)  $(3,141,099)  $232,979 
           
Foreign currency translation adjustment   763,377    442,116 
           
Comprehensive profit (loss)  $(2,377,722)  $675,095 
           
Basic net loss per share  $(1.04)  $(0.30)
           
Diluted net loss per share  $(1.04)  $(0.30)
           
Weighted average common shares outstanding:          
Basic   3,592,645    3,044,861 
Diluted   3,592,645    3,044,861 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

F-2
 

 

MASTER SILICON CARBIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(In US Dollars)

 

   Common Stock,
$0.001 Par Value
   Additional Paid-in   Retained 
Earnings
   Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
     
   Shares   Amount   Capital   (Deficit)   Income (Loss)   Total 
                         
                         
Balance as of December 31, 2009   2,671,483   $2,671   $4,047,524   $(5,662,269)  $9,154   $(1,602,920)
                               
Accrete debt discount on March 31, 2010   -    -    -    (133,428)   -    (133,428)
Conversion of Series A preferred stock dividend   597,732    598    599,402    -    -    600,000 
Series A preferred stock dividend   -    -         (600,000)   -    (600,000)
Accrete debt discount on June 30, 2010   -    -         (400,277)   -    (400,277)
Foreign currency translation gain                       442,116    442,116 
Net income for the period                  232,979         232,979 
                               
Balance as of December 31, 2010   3,269,215    3,269    4,646,926    (6,562,995)   451,270    (1,461,530)
Conversion of Series A preferred stock dividend   597,732    598    599,402              600,000 
Series A preferred stock dividend                  (600,000)        (600,000)
Interest expense - extension of warrant terms             661,649              661,649 
Foreign currency translation gain                       763,377    763,377 
Net loss                  (3,141,099)        (3,141,099)
                               
Balance as of December 31, 2011   3,866,947   $3,867   $5,907,977   $(10,304,094)  $1,214,647   $(3,177,603)

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

F-3
 

 

MASTER SILICON CARBIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In US Dollars)

 

   For The Years Ended 
   2011   2010 
         
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net profit (loss)  $(3,141,099)  $232,979 
Adjustments to reconcile net profit (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:          
Depreciation   1,288,305    477,787 
Amortization   52,469    43,572 
Interest expense - extension of warrant terms   661,649    - 
Allowance for bad debt   51,718    38,416 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Notes receivable - trade   372,225    (325,683)
Accounts receivable   (1,563,332)   (1,463,025)
Other receivables   (1,168,234)   (16,775)
Prepaid expenses   160,660    (237,815)
Inventories   504,589    (1,900,710)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   1,810,991    1,269,196 
Other current liabilities   17,478    55,478 
Advance from customers   (202,491)   438,769 
Taxes refundable   123,875    (118,287)
Taxes payable   96,552    710,204 
           
Net cash used in operating activities   (934,645)   (795,894)
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Deposits - fixed assets and construction in progress   498,494    (5,399,399)
Advances to related parties receivable   -    (2,172,500)
Purchase of property, plant, and equipment   (37,475)   - 
Purchase of construction in progress   (70,094)   - 
Purchase of intangible asset   (23,901)   - 
Proceeds from related parties receivables   1,000,000    1,172,500 
           
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   1,367,024    (6,399,399)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Proceeds from loans   -    2,969,200 
Payments to related parties payable   (41,028)   - 
           
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (41,028)   2,969,200 
           
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   33,933    19,087 
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   425,284    (4,207,006)
           
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year   1,987,041    6,194,047 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period  $2,412,325   $1,987,041 
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:          
Cash paid for interest  $247,410   $- 
Cash paid for taxes  $-   $2,011 
           
Noncash investing and financing activities:          
           
Conversion of Series A preferred stock dividend  $600,000   $600,000 
Construction in progress moved to fixed assets  $5,362,946   $10,375,653 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

F-4
 

 

Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc.

December 31, 2011

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

 

Paragon SemiTech USA Incorporated (“Paragon New Jersey”) was incorporated on April 10, 2002 under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

 

Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc., formerly Paragon SemiTech USA, Inc. was incorporated on May 21, 2007 under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Prior to September 27, 2007, the date of merger with Paragon New Jersey, the Company was inactive.  On September 2, 2008, Paragon SemiTech USA, Inc., through the acquisition of C3 Capital, Limited, a company incorporated in the Territory of the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”), acquired all of the equity interests in Yili Master Carborundum Production Co., Ltd.  On November 12, 2008, Paragon SemiTech USA, Inc. changed its name to Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc. (“Master” or the “Company”).  The Company believes that the new name will better identify the Company with the business conducted by its indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary in China, Yili Master Carborundum Production Co., Ltd., namely, the production and distribution of silicon carbide.

 

C3 Capital, Limited (“C3 Capital”), an international business company, was formed on July 26, 2005 in the British Virgin Islands by the Company. C3 Capital was inactive prior to September 2, 2008, the date of acquisition of Yili Master Carborundum Production Co., Ltd.

 

Yili Master Carborundum Production Co., Ltd. (“Yili China”) was incorporated on August 10, 1993 in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”).

 

Beijing Master Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Master Consulting”) was incorporated on July 14, 2011 in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), which was wholly owned by the Company.

 

Master engages in the development, manufacturing and distribution of silicon carbide.

 

Merger of Paragon New Jersey

 

On September 27, 2007, the Company entered into a Reorganization and Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Reorganization Agreement”) with Paragon New Jersey. Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, the Company issued 675,000 shares of its common stock at the time representing approximately 81.82% of the issued and outstanding shares of its common stock for the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Paragon New Jersey. As a result of the ownership interests of the former shareholder of Paragon New Jersey, for financial statement reporting purposes, the merger between the Company and Paragon New Jersey has been treated as a reverse acquisition with Paragon New Jersey deemed the accounting acquirer and the Company deemed the accounting acquiree under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with “Business Combinations” (“FASB ASC 805”).  The reverse merger is deemed a capital transaction and the net assets of Paragon New Jersey (the accounting acquirer) are carried forward to the Company (the legal acquirer and the reporting entity) at their carrying value before the combination. The acquisition process utilizes the capital structure of the Company and the assets and liabilities of Paragon New Jersey which are recorded at historical cost.

 

F-5
 

 

Merger of C3 Capital, Limited

 

On September 2, 2008, pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement entered into by the parties and consummated on such date, Yili Carborundum USA, Inc. (“Yili US”), a recently formed Delaware corporation which is wholly-owned by the Company, a Delaware corporation (hereafter referred to as the “Company”, “we” or “us”, as applicable), acquired from Mr. Tie Li, for a cash purchase price of $10,000, all of the outstanding capital stock of C3 Capital, Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (“C3 Capital”).  C3 Capital in turn has an agreement to purchase all of the equity interests of Yili Master Carborundum Production Co., Ltd. (“Yili China”), a wholly-owned foreign enterprise (“WOFE”) in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) (“Yili China”), pursuant to which the Company paid $555,096 in cash for the acquisition of the equity interests of Yili China with the proceeds of the Private Placement (as defined below) closed on September 2, 2008.  In addition, C3 Capital entered into (i) an agreement to purchase 90% of the equity interests in Xinjiang Ehe Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the PRC on August 7, 2008 (“Ehe China”) from Mr. Zhigang Gao; and (ii) a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Zhigang Gao and Mr. Ping Li, for an option to purchase the assets to be secured by Xinjiang Paragon Master Mining Co., Ltd., a corporation to be formed under the laws of the PRC (“Quartz Mine China”). Ehe China and Quartz Mine China are currently inactive with no assets or operations. Ehe China intends to build a 40,000 ton green silicon carbide project in the Aletai Area of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC pending governmental permissions and approvals, and Quartz Mine China intends to obtain the exploration and mining rights for a quartz mine in Wenquan County of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC.

 

Dissolution of Paragon New Jersey

 

On March 26, 2009, pursuant to the authorization of Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc., the sole shareholder, Paragon New Jersey was dissolved. The corporation has no assets, has ceased doing business and does not intend to recommence doing business, and has not made any distribution of cash or property to the shareholders within the last 24 months and does not intend to have any distribution following its dissolution.

 

Reincorporation

 

On November 2, 2009, Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc. (the “Registrant”), formerly a Delaware corporation, completed its reincorporation in Nevada by a merger of the Registrant with and into its wholly-owned subsidiary, Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc., a newly formed Nevada corporation (the “Reincorporation”). The Reincorporation effected a change in the Registrant’s legal domicile from Delaware to Nevada. The Registrant’s business, assets, liabilities, and headquarters were unchanged as a result of the Reincorporation and the directors and officers of the Registrant prior to the Reincorporation continued to serve the Registrant after the reincorporation. In addition, the Registrant’s stockholders automatically became stockholders of Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc. on a share-for-share basis.

 

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). This basis differs from that used in the statutory accounts of the operating subsidiaries of the Company, which were prepared in accordance with the accounting principles and relevant financial regulations applicable to enterprises in the PRC. All necessary adjustments have been made to present the financial statements in accordance with US GAAP.

 

F-6
 

  

The consolidated financial statements include (i) the accounts of the Company and (ii) the accounts of its consolidated subsidiaries, C3 Capital, Limited, Yili China and Master Consulting. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Company has incurred losses since inception resulting in an accumulated deficit of $10,304,094 as of December 31, 2011. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the ability of the Company to generate profitable operations in the future and/or to obtain the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. Management intends to address the going concern issue by funding future operations through the sale of equity capital.

 

Business combination

 

In accordance with FASB ASC 805“Business Combinations”, the Company allocates the purchase price of acquired entities to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values.

 

Management makes estimates of fair values based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies. Critical estimates in valuing certain of the intangible assets include but are not limited to: future expected cash flows from revenues, customer relationships, key management and market positions, assumptions about the period of time the acquired trade names will continue to be used in the Company’s combined product portfolio, and discount rates used to establish fair value. These estimates are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. Assumptions may be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur which may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results.

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reporting amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period.  Significant estimates include the allocation of production costs to inventory, allowance for bad debts, reserve for obsolescence, impairment for assets, and estimated useful lives of property and equipment. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

For purposes of the statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and demand deposits held by banks. Deposits held in financial institutions in the PRC are not insured by any government entity or agency.

 

As of December 31, 2011, the cash balance in financial institutions in the United States was $1,566,565. Accounts at these financial institutions are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000. At December 31, 2011, the Company had deposits of $1,314,121 that were in excess of the FDIC insurance limit.

 

F-7
 

 

Accounts receivable

 

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts.  The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience, customer specific facts and economic conditions.  Bad debt expense if any is included in general and administrative expenses.

 

Outstanding account balances are reviewed individually for collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure to its customers.

 

Inventories

 

The Company values inventories, consisting of finished goods, work in process and raw materials, at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined on the weighted average cost method. Cost of work in process and finished goods comprises direct labor, direct materials, direct production cost and an allocated portion of production overhead. The Company follows FASB ASC 330-10-30“Inventory-Overall-Initial Measurement” for the allocation of production costs and charges to inventories. The Company allocates fixed production overheads to inventories based on the normal capacity of the production facilities expected to be achieved over a number of periods or seasons under normal circumstances, taking into account the loss of capacity resulting from planned maintenance.  Judgment is required to determine when a production level is abnormally low (that is, outside the range of expected variation in production).  Factors that might be anticipated to cause an abnormally low production level include significantly reduced demand, labor and materials shortages, and unplanned facility or equipment down time. The actual level of production may be used if it approximates normal capacity. In periods of abnormally high production, the amount of fixed overhead allocated to each unit of production is decreased so that inventories are not measured above cost. The amount of fixed overhead allocated to each unit of production is not increased as a consequence of abnormally low production or idle plant and unallocated overheads of underutilized or idle capacity of the production facilities are recognized as period costs in the period in which they are incurred rather than as a portion of the inventory cost.

 

The Company regularly reviews raw materials and finished goods inventories on hand and, when necessary, records a provision for excess or obsolete inventories based primarily on current selling price and sales prices of confirmed backlog orders. As of December 31, 2011, the Company determined and made reserves of $315,408 for obsolescence of inventories.

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures for major additions and betterments are capitalized.  Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed by the straight-line method (after taking into account their respective estimated residual values) over the assets’ estimated useful lives ranging from five (5) years to twenty (20) years:

 

Furniture and office equipment 5 years
Motor vehicles 5-10 years
Machinery and equipment 10 years
Building 20 years

 

F-8
 

 

Upon sale or retirement of property, plant and equipment, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in operations. Leasehold improvements, if any, are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease period or the estimated useful life, whichever is shorter. Upon becoming fully amortized, the related cost and accumulated amortization are removed from the accounts.

 

Land use right

 

Land use right represents the cost to obtain the right to use certain land in the PRC. Land use right is carried at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the right of approximately fifty (50) years. Upon becoming fully amortized, the related cost and accumulated amortization are removed from the accounts. Land use right is included in intangible assets on the Balance Sheet.

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

The Company follows FASB ASC 360-10-35-15“Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” for its long-lived assets. The Company’s long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

 

The Company assesses the recoverability of its long-lived assets by comparing the projected undiscounted net cash flows associated with the related long-lived asset or group of long-lived assets over their remaining estimated useful lives against their respective carrying amounts. Impairment, if any, is based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets. Fair value is generally determined using the asset’s expected future discounted cash flows or market value, if readily determinable. If long-lived assets are determined to be recoverable, but the newly determined remaining estimated useful lives are shorter than originally estimated, the net book values of the long-lived assets are depreciated over the newly determined remaining estimated useful lives. The Company determined that there were no impairments of long-lived assets as of December 31, 2011.

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

On September 2, 2008, the Company completed the sale to China Hand Fund I, LLC and/or its designees or assignees of 996,186 units for total proceeds of $10,000,000, each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and one three year warrant to purchase 2.5 shares of the Company’s common stock (after the 1:10 reverse split). The preferred stock pays annual dividends of 6% regardless of the Company’s profitability, which dividend may be paid in common stock at the option of the Company. Each preferred share is convertible into ten shares of common stock. After December 30, 2010, the Company may be required to redeem for cash the outstanding preferred stock, if not previously converted by the holders, for $1.0038 per share plus accrued but unpaid dividends. The preferred stock is convertible into ten shares of Common Stock but is redeemable for cash if not converted into Common Stock. Because preferred stock contains a redemption feature outside the control of the Company, it is classified outside of stockholders’ equity in accordance with EITF Topic D-98.

 

In accordance with FASB ASC 470-20-25, “Debt-Debt with Conversion Options-Recognition”, the Company allocated the proceeds received between the preferred stock and the warrants. The resulting discount from the face amount of the preferred stock is being amortized using the effective interest method over the period to the required redemption date. After allocating a portion of the proceeds to the warrants, the effective conversion price of the preferred stock was lower than the market price at the date of issuance and therefore a beneficial conversion feature was recorded. The dividends on the preferred stock, together with the periodic accretion of the preferred stock to its redemption value, are charged to retained earnings.

F-9
 

 

On September 21, 2009, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with Vicis Capital Master Fund and/or its successor and assigns, an accredited investor (the “Investor”) where in consideration of $10,000,000, the Investor purchased from the Company a convertible promissory note in a principal amount of $10,000,000, (the “Note”). The Note was due on December 31, 2009, and was automatically convertible into 920,267 shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of Master Silicon Carbide Industries, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“MSCI Nevada”), within three business days after the Company merged into MSCI Nevada, completing the Company’s reincorporation from Delaware to Nevada on or around November 2, 2009 (the “Reincorporation”). Each preferred share is convertible into ten shares of common stock. After December 31, 2011, the Company may be required to redeem for cash the outstanding preferred stock, if not previously converted by the holders, for $1.087 per share. The preferred stock is convertible into ten shares of Common Stock but is redeemable for cash if not converted into Common Stock. Because the preferred stock contains a redemption feature outside the control of the Company, it is classified outside of stockholders’ equity in accordance with EITF Topic D-98.

 

Fair value of financial instruments

 

The Company follows FASB ASC 825-10-50-10 “Financial Instruments-Overall-Disclosure” for its financial instruments. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. The carrying amounts of financial assets and liabilities, such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, prepayments and other current assets, accounts payable, customer deposits, taxes payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments.

 

Revenue recognition

 

The Company follows the guidance of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 101 “Revenue Recognition” (“SAB No. 101”), as amended by SAB No. 104 (“SAB No. 104”) for revenue recognition.  The Company recognizes revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned less estimated future doubtful accounts. The Company considers revenue realized or realizable and earned when all of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the product has been shipped or the services have been rendered to the customer, (iii) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. The Company derives the majority of its revenue from sales contracts with customers with revenues being generated upon the shipment of goods. Persuasive evidence of an arrangement is demonstrated via invoice, product delivery is evidenced by a warehouse shipping log as well as a signed bill of lading from the trucking or rail company and title transfers upon shipment, based on free on board (“FOB”) destination; the sales price to the customer is fixed upon acceptance of the purchase order and there is no separate sales rebate, discount, or volume incentive.  When the Company recognizes revenue, no provisions are made for returns because, historically, there have been very few sales returns and adjustments that have impacted the ultimate collection of revenues.

 

Shipping and handling costs

 

The Company accounts for shipping and handling fees in accordance with FASB ASC 705 “Cost of Sales and Services”. Shipping and handling costs related to costs of raw materials purchased is included in cost of revenue. While amounts charged to customers for shipping product are included in revenues, the related outbound freight costs are included in expenses as incurred.

 

Research and development

 

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.  Research and development costs consist primarily of remuneration for research and development staff, depreciation and maintenance expenses of research and development equipment and material and testing costs for research and development. There are no research and development costs for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

F-10
 

 

Advertising costs

 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 are $38,541 and $66,525, respectively.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

The Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of FASB ASC 718“Compensation-Stock Compensation”.

 

We made the following estimates and assumptions in determining fair value:

 

ØValuation and Amortization Method – We estimate the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula and a single option award approach. This fair value is then amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.

 

ØExpected Term – The expected term represents the weighted-average period that our stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. We applied the “Simplified Method” as defined in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletins No. 107 and 110.

 

ØExpected Volatility – The expected volatility is calculated by considering, among other things, the expected volatilities of public companies engaged in similar industries.

 

ØExpected Dividend – The Black-Scholes valuation model calls for a single expected dividend yield as an input.

 

ØRisk-Free Interest Rate – The Company bases the risk-free interest rate on the implied yield currently available on United States Treasury zero-coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term.

 

Income taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC 740 “Income Taxes”. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management concludes it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the statements of operations in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 740. The standard addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under FASB ASC 740, we may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FASB ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim periods and requires increased disclosures. The Company had no material adjustments to its liabilities for unrecognized income tax benefits according to the provisions of FASB ASC 740.

 

F-11
 

 

Segment reporting

 

FASB ASC 280, “Segment Reporting” 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.

 

In accordance with FASB ASC 280, the Company has reviewed its business activities and determined that multiple segments do not exist that need to be reported.

 

Foreign currency translation

 

Transactions and balances originally denominated in U.S. dollars are presented at their original amounts.  Transactions and balances in other currencies are converted into U.S. dollars in accordance with FASB ASC 830 “Foreign Currency Matters” and are included in determining net income or loss.

 

The financial records of the subsidiaries are maintained in their local currency, the Renminbi (“RMB”), which is the functional currency of those subsidiaries. The parent’s functional currency is U.S. dollars. Assets and liabilities are translated from the local currency into the reporting currency, U.S. dollars, at the exchange rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at weighted average exchange rates for the period to approximate translation at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates those elements are recognized in the financial statements. Foreign currency translation gain (loss) resulting from the process of translating the local currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in determining accumulated other comprehensive income in the statement of stockholders’ equity.

 

RMB is not a fully convertible currency. All foreign exchange transactions involving RMB must take place either through the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”) or other institutions authorized to buy and sell foreign exchange. The exchange rate adopted for the foreign exchange transactions are the rates of exchange quoted by the PBOC. Commencing July 21, 2005, China adopted a managed floating exchange rate regime based on market demand and supply with reference to a basket of currencies. The exchange rate of the US dollar against the RMB was adjusted from approximately RMB 8.28 per US dollar to approximately RMB 8.11 per US dollar on July 21, 2005. Since then, the PBOC administers and regulates the exchange rate of the US dollar against the RMB taking into account demand and supply of RMB, as well as domestic and foreign economic and financial conditions.

 

Unless otherwise noted, the rate presented below per U.S. $1.00 was the noon buying rate for RMB in New York City as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of its balance sheets contained in these consolidated financial statements. Management believes that the differences between RMB vs. US$ exchange rate quoted by the PBOC and RMB vs. US$ exchange rate reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York were immaterial. Translations do not imply that the RMB amounts actually represent, or have been or could be converted into, equivalent amounts in U.S. dollars. Translation of amounts from RMB into United States dollars (“US$”) has been made at the following exchange rates for the respective periods:

 

F-12
 

 

December 31, 2011     
Balance sheet   RMB 6.2933 to US$1.00 
Statement of operations and comprehensive profit (loss)   RMB 6.4641 to US$1.00 

 

December 31, 2010     
Balance sheet   RMB 6.6227 to US$1.00 
Statement of operations and comprehensive profit (loss)   RMB 6.7695 to US$1.00 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

The Company has adopted FASB ASC 220 “Comprehensive Income”. This statement establishes rules for the reporting of comprehensive income (loss) and its components. Comprehensive income (loss), for the Company, consists of net income (loss) and foreign currency translation adjustments and is presented in the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Profit (Loss) and Stockholders’ Equity.

 

Net profit (loss) per common share

 

Net profit (loss) per common share is computed pursuant to FASB ASC 260 “Earnings per Share”. Basic net profit (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net profit (loss) attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted net profit (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net profit (loss) attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potentially outstanding shares of common stock during each period to reflect the potential dilution that could occur from common shares issuable through common stock equivalents.

 

   For the year ended
December 31, 2011
   For the year ended
December 31, 2010
 
Numerator for basic net profit (loss) per share - Profit (loss) attributable to common shareholders  $(3,741,099)  $(900,726)
Numerator for diluted net profit (loss) per share - Profit (loss) attributable to common shareholders  $(3,741,099)  $(900,726)
Denominator for basic net profit (loss) per share - Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding   3,592,645    3,044,861 
Denominator for diluted net profit (loss) per share - Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding   3,592,645    3,044,861 
Basic net Profit (loss) per share  $(1.04)  $(0.30)
Diluted net Profit (loss) per share  $(1.04)  $(0.30)

 

Potentially dilutive shares were not included in the denominator for diluted net profit (loss) per share because their effect would be antidilutive.

 

The following table shows the weighted-average number of potentially dilutive shares for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

F-13
 

 

   For the year ended
December 31, 2011
   For the year ended
December 31, 2010
 
Series A preferred stock   9,961,860    9,961,860 
Series B preferred stock   9,202,670    9,202,670 
Warrants   2,490,465    2,490,465 
Total   21,654,995    21,654,995 

 

Common Stock

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had 3,866,947 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.

 

Dividend

 

During the fiscal year of 2011, the Company issued 597,732 shares of common stock, or $600,000 at a fair market value of common stock as payment for dividends of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company accrued $150,000 in dividends pursuant to the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, dated August 29, 2008. 

 

Warrants

 

On September 2, 2008, we issued 2,490,465 warrants to the holder or its designees or assignees of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (after the 1:10 reverse split). The exercise price on a post reverse split basis of this three year warrant is $1.25 per share. On February 9, 2009 and May 12, 2009, Columbia China Capital Group (“CCG”) exercised warrants for 40,000 and 60,000 shares of common stock. According to the resolutions of Board of Directors, the Company extended the expiration date of the original warrants to September 1, 2012 in order to facilitate its future financing activities resulting in a one-time charge of $661,649 to interest expense. The following table summarized the cumulative warrant activity, including the activity for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

   Number of
shares
   Weighted
average exercise
price
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2009   2,490,465   $1.25 
Exercised   -    - 
Outstanding, December 31, 2010   2,490,465    1.25 
Exercised   -    - 
Outstanding, December 31, 2011   2,490,465   $1.25 

 

The Company issued warrants in connection with financing instruments. The Company analyzed the warrants in accordance with ASC Topic 815 to determine whether the warrants meet the definition of a derivative under ASC Topic 815 and, if so, whether the warrants meet the scope exception of ASC Topic 815, which is that contracts issued or held by the reporting entity that are both (1) indexed to its own stock and (2) classified in stockholders’ equity shall not be considered to be derivative instruments for purposes of ASC Topic 815.

 

F-14
 

 

The warrants contain standard adjustment provisions upon stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, recapitalization, and a change of control transaction; the warrants do not have “down-round protection”. The warrants meet the conditions for equity classification pursuant to FASB ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” and EITF 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock”. Therefore, these warrants were classified as permanent equity.

 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

 

In June 2009, the FASB established the Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification” or “ASC”) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of GAAP for SEC registrants. Existing GAAP was not intended to be changed as a result of the Codification, and accordingly the change did not impact our financial statements. The ASC does change the way the guidance is organized and presented.

 

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) ASU No. 2009-2 through ASU No. 2011-12 which contain technical corrections to existing guidance or affect guidance to specialized industries or entities were recently issued. These updates have no current applicability to the Company or their effect on the financial statements would not have been significant.

 

Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, if adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.

 

Going Concern

 

As shown in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Company had an accumulated deficit incurred through December 31, 2011, which raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded assets, or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary in the event the Company cannot continue in existence.

 

The timing and amount of capital requirements will depend on a number of factors, including demand for products and services and the availability of opportunities for expansion through affiliations and other business relationships. Management intends to seek new capital from new equity securities issuances to provide funds needed to increase liquidity, fund internal growth, and fully implement its business plan.

 

NOTE 3 – NOTES RECEIVABLE

 

Notes receivable come from the sales of our products. Notes receivable at December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

 

   December 31,
2011
       December 31,
2010
     
Customer Name  Amount   Term   Amount   Term 
Tengzhou Tongfeng Grinding Medium Co., Ltd  $-    -   $15,100    5 months 
Tengzhou Shengtai Grinding Medium Co., Ltd   -    -    53,845    6 months 
Zaozhuang Xingfa  Grinding Medium Co., Ltd   -    -    37,749    2 months 
Pingdingshan Zhongao Grinding Medium Co., Ltd   -    -    226,494    5 months 
China Silicon Corporation   -    -    30,863    1 month 
Total  $-        $364,051      

 

F-15
 

 

NOTE 4 – ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

The Company accrued an allowance for bad debts related to its accounts receivable. The accounts receivable and allowance balances at December 31, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:

 

   December 31,
2011
   December 31,
2010
 
Accounts receivable  $3,268,221   $1,579,750 
Allowance for bad debts   (102,429)   (46,854)
Accounts receivable, net  $3,165,792   $1,532,896 

 

NOTE 5 – INVENTORIES

 

Inventories at December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

 

   December
31, 2011
   December
31, 2010
 
Raw materials  $425,086   $306,249 
Finished goods   2,347,710    2,352,406 
Work in progress   -    316,541 
Provision for impairment   (315,408)   - 
Total  $2,457,388   $2,975,196 

 

NOTE 6 – RELATED PARTY

 

We lease our office space at both 558 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, Connecticut and 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 860, New York, NY from Kuhns Brothers, Inc. and its affiliates (“Kuhns Brothers”). Our Chairman and CEO, Mr. Kuhns, is a controlling shareholder, President, CEO and Chairman of Kuhns Brothers. The lease commenced on September 1, 2008 for a term of one year with a monthly rent of $7,500, and such lease was extended for two years with the same rate of rent after September 1, 2009. On September 1, 2011, we extended the lease with the same rate of rent for one year.

 

According to the Management Service Agreement, the Company paid Kuhns Brothers an annual management fee of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) starting from January 2010. The management fee was paid on a monthly basis ($12,500 per month) on the first day of each month. The Company totally paid the management fee of $150,000 during the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

On February 10, 2010, the Company (“Creditor”) signed a loan agreement with China Silicon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Debtor” or “CSC”) to extend a loan of One Million U.S. Dollars (US $1,000,000) to Debtor to fund working capital needs. The actual controlling shareholder of Creditor and Debtor is the same one. The interest rate of this loan is six percent (6%) per annum. Debtor promised to pay to Creditor the principal sum of One Million U.S. Dollars on December 31, 2010. CSC has paid off the note on June 15, 2011.

 

F-16
 

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company owed Changchun Master Company $905,921 and $886,748 whose stockholder is Zhigang Gao, who is a director of the Company. The loan payable is non-interest bearing, unsecured, and is payable on demand.

 

NOTE 7 – DEPOSITS

 

Deposits to purchase fixed assets included the deposits to establish the buildings and equipment for the three production lines. Deposits at December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

 

   December
31, 2011
   December
31, 2010
 
Deposit for buildings  $-   $452,915 
Deposit for equipment   -    1,576,021 
Prepayment   56,488    - 
Total  $56,488   $2,028,936 

 

NOTE 8 – INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

On October 28, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with the Chinese government, whereby the Company paid RMB 5,403,579 to acquire the land use right and obtained a certificate of the land use right until October 27, 2058. The purchase price is being amortized over the term of the right of approximately fifty (50) years beginning on November 1, 2008 and amortization expense used in production is reported in cost of revenues.

 

Intangible assets at December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

 

   December
31, 2011
   December
31, 2010
 
Land use right  $858,624   $815,918 
Production license   688,219    709,258 
Software   36,679    11,530 
Less: accumulated amortization   (154,098)   (120,056)
Total  $1,429,424   $1,416,650 

 

NOTE 9 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment at December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

 

   December
31, 2011
   December
31, 2010
 
Buildings  $11,151,772   $6,480,400 
Machinery and equipment   7,680,808    5,135,138 
Motor vehicles   347,030    299,417 
Office equipment   132,025    96,572 
Less: accumulated depreciation   (1,991,068)   (634,569)
Property and equipment, net  $17,320,567   $11,376,958 

 

F-17
 

 

Depreciation related to property and equipment used in production is reported in cost of revenues. Depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $1,288,305, of which $140,807 was included in G&A expense and $1,147,498 was included in cost of revenue. Depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $477,787, of which $39,504 was included in G&A expense and $438,283 was included in cost of revenue.

 

NOTE 10 – CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS

 

Construction in progress consists of capitalized costs associated with the construction of production lines that are not yet in service and therefore not yet being depreciated. All facilities purchased for installation, self-made or subcontracted, are accounted for under construction-in-progress. Construction-in-progress is recorded at acquisition cost, including cost of facilities, installation expenses and the interest capitalized during the course of construction for the purpose of financing the project. Upon completion and readiness for use of the project, the cost of construction-in-progress is to be transferred to fixed assets.

 

   December
31, 2011
   December
31, 2010
 
Buildings  $-   $2,469,145 
Construction in progress   -    812,726 
Equipment   848,540    775,382 
Capitalized interest   -    75,422 
Others   -    283,028 
Total  $848,540   $4,415,703 

 

Total capitalized interest amounted to zero and $75,422 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

NOTE 11 – LONG-TERM LOANS

 

On October 23, 2009, Yili China borrowed a three-year long-term loan with principal of $1,573,589 from the Yili branch, Bank of China with an interest rate at 6.48% annually and the maturity date on October 21, 2012. On January 4, 2010, Yili China borrowed a three-year long-term loan with principal of $3,147,178 from the Yili branch, Bank of China with an interest rate at 6.48% annually and the maturity date on January 3, 2013. These loans are secured by the building, machinery and equipment of Yili China. The principal amount will be due at the maturity date. The interest was paid on the quarterly basis.

 

   Interest   Maturity       Interest Expenses 
   Rate   Date   Amount   2011   2012   2013 
Yili branch, Bank of China   6.48%   22-Oct-12   $1,589,000   $102,967   $82,656   $- 
                               
Yili branch, Bank of China   6.48%   3-Jan-13    3,178,000    205,934    205,934    1,692 
                               
             $4,767,000   $308,901   $288,590   $1,692 

 

F-18
 

 

NOTE 12 – INCOME TAXES

 

USA

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income taxes on an entity basis on income arising in, or derived from, the tax jurisdiction in which they operate. As the Company had no income generated in the United States, there was no tax expense or tax liability due to the Internal Revenue Service of the United States as of December 31, 2011. However, the Company has to pay corporate tax due to the rules of certain states.

 

BVI

 

C3 Capital, an international business company, was formed on July 26, 2005 in the British Virgin Islands by the Company. As a BVI company, C3 Capital does not have any income tax.

 

PRC

 

Pursuant to the PRC Income Tax Laws, the prevailing statutory rate of enterprise income tax is 25% for Yili China. There is no tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2011. The tax provision was $85,155 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Master Consulting was incorporated on July 14, 2011 in the People’s Republic of China by the Company. Since there is no revenue, Master Consulting does not have any income tax.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the local (United States) and foreign components of income (loss) before income taxes were comprised of the following:

 

   For the year
ended
 December 31, 
2011
   For the year
ended 
December 31,
 2010
 
Income (loss) before income tax          
United States  $(1,285,131)  $(511,281)
China   (1,855,968)   829,415 
Total  $(3,141,099)  $318,134 
           
Provision for income taxes          
Current income tax  $-   $85,155 
Deferred income tax   -    - 
Total  $-   $85,155 

 

F-19
 

 

USA

 

MSCI is registered in the State of Nevada and is subject to United States of America tax law. As of December 31, 2011, the operations in the United States of America incurred $8,145,911 of cumulative net operating losses which can be carried forward to offset future taxable income. The Company has provided for a full valuation allowance of $2,036,478 against the deferred tax assets on the expected future tax benefits from the net operating loss carryforwards as the management believes it is more likely than not that these assets will not be realized in the future.

 

PRC

 

Pursuant to the PRC Income Tax Laws, the prevailing statutory rate of enterprise income tax is 25% for Yili China. A reconciliation of income (loss) before income taxes to the effective tax rate as follows:

 

   For the year
ended
 December 31, 
2011
   For the year
ended 
December 31,
 2010
 
Income (loss) before income tax          
Yili China  $(1,855,968)  $829,415 
Statutory income tax rate   25%   25%
           
Income tax expense at statutory rate   (463,992)   207,354 
Tax effect of accumulated loss   -    (122,199)
Net operating loss   463,992    - 
Income tax expense at effective rate  -   85,155 

 

During the fiscal year of 2011, the United States entity had a net operating loss of $1,285,131 for which no benefit was realized and a 100% valuation allowance was created. At the same time, the Chinese entity had a net operating loss of $1,855,968. The tax provision amounted to zero and $85,155 for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

NOTE 13 - FOREIGN OPERATIONS

 

Substantially all of the Company’s operations are carried out and most of its assets are located in the PRC.  Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environments in the PRC. The Company’s business may be influenced by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency fluctuation and remittances and methods of taxation, among other things.

 

NOTE 14 – CONCENTRATION

 

For the year ended December 31, 2011, four customers accounted for 10% or more of sales revenues, representing 25%, 22%, 16% and 13%, respectively of the total sales. For the year ended December 31, 2010, three customers accounted for 10% or more of sales revenues, representing 21%, 12% and 12%, respectively of the total sales.

 

F-20
 

 

NOTE 15 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

In preparing these financial statements, the Company has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the reporting date, the date the financial statements were available to be issued.

 

In April 2012, the Company’s board approved issuance of 149,433 shares of Common Stock as dividends of Series A preferred stock.

 

F-21