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EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INCtv478024_ex32-2.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INCtv478024_ex32-1.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INCtv478024_ex31-2.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INCtv478024_ex31-1.htm

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark one)

x QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

Or

 

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

 

For the transition period from ________ to _________

 

Commission file number: 000-33123

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   33-0885775
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or   (I.R.S. employer identification number)
organization)    

 

No. 1 Henglong Road, Yu Qiao Development Zone, Shashi District

Jing Zhou City, Hubei Province, the People’s Republic of China

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

  (86) 716- 412- 7912  
     
  Issuer’s telephone number  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes           x           No           ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§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           x           No           ¨

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
¨

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company 

x

¨

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes           ¨           No           x

 

As of November 9, 2017, the Company had 31,644,004 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

 

 

 

 

  

CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.

 

INDEX

 

        Page
         
    Part I — Financial Information    
         
Item 1.   Unaudited Financial Statements.   4
    Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016   4
    Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016   6
    Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016   7
    Notes to Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements   9
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.   32
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.   51
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures.   51
         
    Part II — Other Information    
         
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings.   51
Item 1A.   Risk Factors.   52
Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.   52
Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities.   52
Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures.   52
Item 5.   Other Information.   52
Item 6.   Exhibits.   52
         
Signatures       53

 

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Cautionary Statement

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to future events or the Company’s future financial performance. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “can,” “continues,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the matters set forth in this Quarterly Report or other reports or documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those projected. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company’s expectations are as of the date this Form 10-Q is filed, and the Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is filed to conform these statements to actual results, unless required by law. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(In thousands of USD, except share and per share amounts)

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Net product sales ($7,563 and $9,950 sold to related parties for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016)  $118,365   $94,626 
Cost of products sold ($6,549 and $5,869 purchased from related parties for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016)   95,878    74,641 
Gross profit   22,487    19,985 
Gain on other sales   553    22 
Less: Operating expenses          
Selling expenses   4,537    3,840 
General and administrative expenses   4,390    3,741 
Research and development expenses   9,194    6,723 
Total operating expenses   18,121    14,304 
Income from operations   4,919    5,703 
Other income   100    420 
Interest expense   (318)   (201)
Financial income, net   1,027    800 
Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies   5,728    6,722 
Less: Income taxes   991    1,167 
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies   491    304 
Net income   5,228    5,859 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests   169    177 
Net income attributable to parent company’s common shareholders  $5,059   $5,682 
Comprehensive income:          
Net income  $5,228   $5,859 
Other comprehensive income:          
Foreign currency translation gain/(loss), net of tax   6,705    (2,139)
Comprehensive income   11,933    3,720 
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests   386    119 
Comprehensive income attributable to parent company  $11,547   $3,601 
           
Net income attributable to parent company’s common shareholders per share          
           
Basic –  $0.16   $0.18 
           
Diluted-  $0.16   $0.18 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding          
Basic   31,644,004    31,911,360 
Diluted   31,644,271    31,911,722 

 

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

 

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China automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(In thousands of USD, except share and per share amounts)

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Net product sales ($25,684 and $28,589 sold to related parties for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016)  $355,333   $312,497 
Cost of products sold ($20,195 and $18,912 purchased from related parties for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016)   287,156    253,352 
Gross profit   68,177    59,145 
Gain on other sales   5,896    2,008 
Less: Operating expenses          
Selling expenses   13,160    12,273 
General and administrative expenses   14,027    11,998 
Research and development expenses   23,666    18,849 
Total operating expenses   50,853    43,120 
Income from operations   23,220    18,033 
Other (expense)/income, net   (2)   995 
Interest expense   (1,193)   (524)
Financial income, net   1,909    1,270 
Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies   23,934    19,774 
Less: Income taxes   4,367    3,416 
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies   480    561 
Net income   20,047    16,919 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests   353    164 
Net income attributable to parent company’s common shareholders  $19,694   $16,755 
Comprehensive income:          
Net income  $20,047   $16,919 
Other comprehensive income:          
Foreign currency translation gain/(loss), net of tax   14,148    (8,435)
Comprehensive income   34,195    8,484 
Comprehensive gain/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests   819    (143)
Comprehensive income attributable to parent company  $33,376   $8,627 
           
Net income attributable to parent company’s common shareholders per share          
           
Basic –  $0.62   $0.52 
           
Diluted-  $0.62   $0.52 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding          
Basic   31,644,004    32,038,933 
Diluted   31,647,833    32,040,514 

 

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

 

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China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands of USD unless otherwise indicated)

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $55,382   $31,092 
Pledged cash   31,075    30,799 
Short-term investments   23,829    30,475 
Accounts and notes receivable, net - unrelated parties   269,943    285,731 
Accounts and notes receivable, net - related parties   17,607    20,984 
Advance payments and others - unrelated parties   12,235    10,203 
Advance payments and others - related parties   31,397    624 
Inventories   73,030    68,050 
Current deferred tax assets   7,476    7,946 
Total current assets   521,974    485,904 
Non-current assets:          
Long-term time deposits   6,027    865 
Property, plant and equipment, net   115,302    101,478 
Intangible assets, net   512    617 
Other receivables, net - unrelated parties   2,234    2,252 
Advance payment for property, plant and equipment - unrelated parties   14,222    14,506 
Advance payment for property, plant and equipment - related parties   4,813    5,005 
Long-term investments   25,341    16,431 
Non-current deferred tax assets   4,295    4,641 
Total assets  $694,720   $631,699 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Bank and government loans  $73,594   $40,820 
Accounts and notes payable - unrelated parties   224,758    216,993 
Accounts and notes payable - related parties   5,749    6,803 
Customer deposits   869    700 
Accrued payroll and related costs   7,460    6,971 
Accrued expenses and other payables   32,883    35,882 
Accrued pension costs   4,750    4,130 
Taxes payable   3,800    11,674 
Amounts due to shareholders/directors   335    312 
Advances payable (current portion)   399    382 
Current deferred tax liabilities   190    193 
Total current liabilities   354,787    324,860 
Long-term liabilities:          
Long-term bank loan   -    608 
Advances payable   354    339 
Total liabilities  $355,141   $325,807 
           
Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 29)          
           
Stockholders’ equity:          
Common stock, $0.0001 par value - Authorized - 80,000,000 shares; Issued – 32,338,302 and 32,338,302 shares as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively  $3   $3 
Additional paid-in capital   64,406    64,764 
Retained earnings-          
Appropriated   10,673    10,549 
Unappropriated   248,533    228,963 
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)   12,722    (892)
Treasury stock – 694,298 and 694,298 shares as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively   (2,907)   (2,907)
Total parent company stockholders' equity   333,430    300,480 
Non-controlling interests   6,149    5,412 
Total stockholders' equity   339,579    305,892 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $694,720   $631,699 

 

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

 

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China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands of USD unless otherwise indicated)

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net income  $20,047   $16,919 
Adjustments to reconcile net income from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Share-based compensation   100    - 
Depreciation and amortization   10,933    10,732 
Increase in/(reversal of) provision for doubtful accounts   1,034    (126)
Inventory write downs   4,436    2,353 
Deferred income taxes   1,354    (142)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies   (480)   (561)
Gain on disposal of Fujian Qiaolong   -    (698)
Gain on fixed assets disposals   (2,204)   (6)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities          
(Increase) decrease in:          
Pledged cash   1,226    9,711 
Accounts and notes receivable   32,807    (18,471)
Advance payments and others   (1,527)   (2,798)
Inventories   (6,441)   (18,244)
Increase (decrease) in:          
Accounts and notes payable   (3,023)   14,990 
Customer deposits   158    (613)
Accrued payroll and related costs   182    544 
Accrued expenses and other payables   (6,216)   1,309 
Accrued pension costs   443    (160)
Taxes payable   (9,806)   (1,582)
Advance payable   -    (75)
Net cash provided by operating activities   43,023    13,082 
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Decrease in other receivables   159    2,382 
Proceeds from disposition of a subsidiary, net of cash disposed of $1,063   -    1,953 
Cash received from property, plant and equipment sales   2,351    511 
Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment (including $7,656 and $5,662 paid to related parties for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively)   (19,187)   (27,161)
Payments to acquire intangible assets   -    (60)
Purchase of short-term investments   (25,017)   (28,181)
Purchase of long-term time deposit   (5,836)   - 
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments   33,749    13,236 
Investment under equity method   (7,629)   (8,682)
Loan to a related party   (29,044)   - 
Net cash used in investing activities   (50,454)   (46,002)
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Proceeds from bank and government loans   69,635    12,151 
Repayments of bank and government loans   (39,271)   (7,145)
Dividends paid to the non-controlling interest holders   -    (464)
Repurchases of common stock   -    (991)
Net cash provided by financing activities   30,364    3,551 
Effects of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents   1,357    (1,245)
Net increase/decrease in cash and cash equivalents   24,290    (30,614)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   31,092    69,676 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $55,382   $39,062 

 

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

 

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China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)

(In thousands of USD unless otherwise indicated)

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Cash paid for interest  $573   $219 
Cash paid for income taxes   4,343    1,396 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Property, plant and equipment recorded during the period which previously were advance payments  $12,331   $12,771 
Accounts payable for acquiring property, plant and equipment   890    844 
Dividends payable to non-controlling interests   621    - 

 

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

 

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China automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

 

1.Organization and business

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc., “China Automotive,” was incorporated in the State of Delaware on June 29, 1999 under the name Visions-In-Glass, Inc. China Automotive, including, when the context so requires, its subsidiaries and the joint ventures described below, is referred to herein as the “Company.” The Company is primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of automotive systems and components, as described below.

 

Great Genesis Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong on January 3, 2003 under the Companies Ordinance in Hong Kong as a limited liability company, “Genesis,” is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

Henglong USA Corporation, “HLUSA,” incorporated on January 8, 2007 in Troy, Michigan, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and mainly engages in marketing of automotive parts in North America, and provides after-sales service and research and development support accordingly.

 

The Company owns the following aggregate net interests in the following Sino-foreign joint ventures, wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures organized in the People's Republic of China, the “PRC,” and Brazil as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

 

   Percentage Interest 
Name of Entity  September 30,
2017
   December 31,
2016
 
Shashi Jiulong Power Steering Gears Co., Ltd., “Jiulong” 1   100.00%   100.00%
JingzhouHenglong Automotive Parts Co., Ltd., “Henglong” 2   100.00%   100.00%
Shenyang Jinbei Henglong Automotive Steering System Co., Ltd., “Shenyang” 3   70.00%   70.00%
Universal Sensor Application Inc., “USAI” 4   83.34%   83.34%
Wuhan Jielong Electric Power Steering Co., Ltd., “Jielong” 5   85.00%   85.00%
Wuhu Henglong Automotive Steering System Co., Ltd., “Wuhu” 6   77.33%   77.33%
Hubei Henglong Automotive System Group Co., Ltd, “Hubei Henglong” 7   100.00%   100.00%
JingzhouHenglong Automotive Technology (Testing) Center, “Testing Center” 8   100.00%   100.00%
Beijing HainachunHenglong Automotive Steering System Co., Ltd., “Beijing Henglong” 9   50.00%   50.00%
Chongqing HenglongHongyan Automotive System Co., Ltd., “Chongqing Henglong” 10   70.00%   70.00%
CAAS Brazil’s Imports and Trade In Automotive Parts Ltd., “Brazil Henglong” 11   95.84%   80.00%
Fujian Qiaolong Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd., “Fujian Qiaolong” 12   0.00%   0.00%
Wuhan Chuguanjie Automotive Science and Technology Ltd., “Wuhan Chuguanjie” 13   85.00%   85.00%
Hubei Henglong Group Shanghai Automotive Electronics Research and Development Ltd., “Shanghai Henglong” 14   100.00%   100.00%

 

1.Jiulong was established in 1993 and mainly engages in the production of integral power steering gears for heavy-duty vehicles.
2.Henglong was established in 1997 and mainly engages in the production of rack and pinion power steering gears for cars and light duty vehicles.
3.Shenyang was established in 2002 and focuses on power steering parts for light duty vehicles.
4.USAI was established in 2005 and mainly engages in the production and sales of sensor modules.
5.Jielong was established in 2006 and mainly engages in the production and sales of automotive steering columns.
6.Wuhu was established in 2006 and mainly engages in the production and sales of automobile steering systems.
7.On March 7, 2007, Genesis established Hubei Henglong, formerly known as JingzhouHengsheng Automotive System Co., Ltd., its wholly-owned subsidiary, to engage in the production and sales of automotive steering systems. On July 8, 2012, Hubei Henglong changed its name to Hubei Henglong Automotive System Group Co., Ltd.

 

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8.In December 2009, Henglong, a subsidiary of Genesis, formed the Testing Center, which mainly engages in the research and development of new products.
9.Beijing Henglong was established in 2010 and mainly engages in the design, development and manufacture of both hydraulic and electric power steering systems and parts. According to the joint venture agreement, the Company does not have voting control of Beijing Henglong. Therefore, the Company’s consolidated financial statements do not include Beijing Henglong, and such investment is accounted for using the equity accounting method.
10.On February 21, 2012, Hubei Henglong and SAIC-IVECO Hongyan Company, “SAIC-IVECO,” established a Sino-foreign joint venture company, Chongqing Henglong, to design, develop and manufacture both hydraulic and electric power steering systems and parts.
11.On August 21, 2012, Brazil Henglong was established as a Sino-foreign joint venture company by Hubei Henglong and two Brazilian citizens, Ozias Gaia Da Silva and Ademir Dal’ Evedove. Brazil Henglong engages mainly in the import and sales of automotive parts in Brazil. In May 2017, the Company obtained an additional 15.84% equity interest in Brazil Henglong for nil consideration. The Company retained its controlling interest in Brazil Henglong and the acquisition of the non-controlling interest was accounted for as an equity transaction.
12.In the second quarter of 2014, the Company acquired a 51.0% ownership interest in Fujian Qiaolong Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd., “Fujian Qiaolong”, a special purpose vehicle manufacturer and dealer with automobile repacking qualifications, based in Fujian, China. Fujian Qiaolong mainly manufactures and distributes drainage and rescue vehicles with mass flow, drainage vehicles with vertical downhole operation, crawler-type mobile pump stations, high-altitude water supply and discharge drainage vehicles, long-range control crawler-type mobile pump stations and other vehicles. On April 17, 2016, Hubei Henglong entered into a share purchase agreement, the “Share Purchase Agreement”, with LongyanHuanyu Emergency Equipment Technology Co., Ltd., “LongyanHuanyu”. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, Hubei Henglong transferred its 51% equity interests in Fujian Qiaolong to LongyanHuanyu for total consideration of RMB 20.0 million, equivalent to $3.0 million, in the second quarter of 2016. The Company recognized a gain on disposal of Fujian Qiaolong of $0.7 million, which is included in other income in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2016.
13.In May 2014, together with Hubei Wanlong, Jielong formed a subsidiary, Wuhan Chuguanjie Automotive Science and Technology Ltd., “Wuhan Chuguanjie”, which mainly engages in research and development, manufacture and sales of automobile electronic systems and parts. Wuhan Chuguanjie is located in Wuhan, China.
14.In January 2015, Hubei Henglong formed Hubei Henglong Group Shanghai Automotive Electronics Research and Development Ltd., “Shanghai Henglong”, which mainly engages in the design and sales of automotive electronics.

  

2. Basis of presentation and significant accounting policies

 

(a)Basis of Presentation

 

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. The details of subsidiaries are disclosed in Note 1. Significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. The condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions in Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by such accounting principles for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited, but in the opinion of the Company’s management, contain all necessary adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments, for a fair statement of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented.

 

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The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.

 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, although the Company’s management believes that the disclosures contained in these financial statements are adequate to make the information presented herein not misleading. For further information, please refer to the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

  

The results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.

 

Estimation - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Foreign Currencies - China Automotive, the parent company, and HLUSA maintain their books and records in United States Dollars, “USD,” their functional currency. The Company’s subsidiaries based in the PRC and Genesis maintain their books and records in Renminbi, “RMB,” their functional currency. The Company’s subsidiary based in Brazil maintains its books and records in Brazilian reais, “BRL,” its functional currency. In accordance with ASC Topic 830, “FASB Accounting Standards Codification”, foreign currency transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date for monetary items. Nonmonetary items are remeasured at historical rates. Income and expenses are remeasured at the rate in effect on the transaction dates. Transaction gains and losses, if any, are included in the determination of net income for the period. 

 

(b)Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04: Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. To simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill, the Board eliminated Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the amendments in this Update, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. An entity should apply the amendments in this Update on a prospective basis. An entity is required to disclose the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle upon transition. A public business entity that is a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filer should adopt the amendments in this Update for its annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. 

 

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-05: Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. ASU 2017-05 is designed to provide guidance on how to recognize gain and losses on sales, including partial sales, of nonfinancial assets to noncustomers. ASU 2017-05 is effective beginning January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted but the standard is required to be adopted concurrently with ASU 2014-09. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

 

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In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance within ASU 2017-09: Scope of Modification Accounting. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 to Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. An entity should account for the effects of a modification unless all of the following conditions are met: the fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; and the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The amendments should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The amendments are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 31, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

 

(c)Significant Accounting Policies

 

There have been no updates to the significant accounting policies set forth in the notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

   

3.Short-term investments

 

Short-term investments comprise time deposits with terms of three months or more which are due within one year and wealth management financial products with maturities within one year. The carrying values of time deposits approximate fair value because of their short maturities. The interest earned is recognized in the consolidated statements of income over the contractual term of the deposits. The wealth management financial products are measured at fair value and classified as Level 2 within the fair value measurement hierarchy. The fair values weremeasured by using directly or indirectly observable inputs in the marketplace. Changes in the fair value are reflected in other income in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

 

The Company’s short-term investments as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows

(figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Time deposits  $5,100   $30,217 
Wealth management financial products measured at fair value   18,729    258 
Total  $23,829   $30,475 

 

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had pledged short-term investments of RMB 13.9 million, equivalent to approximately $2.1 million, to secure standby letters of credit under Bank of China and China CITIC Bank (Note 13). The use of the pledged short-term investments is restricted.

 

4.Accounts and notes receivable, net

 

The Company’s accounts and notes receivable as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Accounts receivable - unrelated parties  $150,696   $154,403 
Notes receivable - unrelated parties (1)  (2)    120,438    132,409 
Total accounts and notes receivable- unrelated parties   271,134    286,812 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts - unrelated parties   (1,191)   (1,081)
Accounts and notes receivable, net - unrelated parties   269,943    285,731 
Accounts and notes receivable, net - related parties   17,607    20,984 
Accounts and notes receivable, net  $287,550   $306,715 

 

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(1)Notes receivable represent accounts receivable in the form of bills of exchange for which acceptances are guaranteed and settlements are handled by banks.

 

(2)As of September 30, 2017, the Company collateralized its notes receivable in an amount of RMB 268.3 million, equivalent to approximately $40.4 million, as security for the credit facilities with banks in China and the Chinese government, including RMB 158.9 million, equivalent to approximately $23.9 million, in favor of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Jingzhou Branch, “ICBC Jingzhou”, for the purpose of obtaining the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit (as defined in Note 13), which is used as security for the non-revolving credit facility in the amount of $23.9 million provided by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) Limited, “ICBC Macau”, RMB 30.0 million, equivalent to approximately $4.5 million, as security in favor of the Chinese government for the low interest government loan (See Note 13), and RMB 79.4 million, equivalent to approximately $12.0 million, in favor of China CITIC Bank, Wuhan Branch, “CITIC Wuhan”, for the purpose of obtaining the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit(as defined in Note 13), which was used to obtain the facility of Taishin Bank in the amount of $10.0 million(See Note 13).

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company collateralized its notes receivable in an amount of RMB 249.9 million, equivalent to approximately $36.0 million, as security for the credit facilities with banks in China and the Chinese government, including RMB 224.6 million, equivalent to approximately $32.4 million, in favor of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Jingzhou Branch, “ICBC Jingzhou”, for the purpose of obtaining the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit (as defined in Note 13), which is used as security for the non-revolving credit facility in the amount of $30.0 million provided by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) Limited, “ICBC Macau”, and RMB 25.2 million, equivalent to approximately $3.6 million, as security in favor of the Chinese government for the low-interest government loan (See Note 13).

 

5.Advance payments and others

 

The Company’s advance payments and others as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consisted of the following (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Advance payments and others - unrelated parties  $13,307   $10,203 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts – unrelated parties(2)   (1,072)   - 
Advance payments and others, net – unrelated parties   12,235    10,203 
Advance payments and others - related parties (1)   31,397    624 
Total advance payments and others  $43,632   $10,827 

 

(1)On March 16, 2017, in order to generate higher returns for the Company’s idle cash, one of the Company's subsidiaries, Hubei Henglong, lent RMB 200.0 million (equivalent to $30.1 million as of September 30, 2017) to Henglong Real Estate, one of the Company's related parties, through an independent financial institution by way of an entrusted loan. The term of the loan is one year and the annual interest rate is 6.35%.

 

(2)Provision for the doubtful accounts amounted to $1.1 million and nil for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

6.Inventories

 

The Company’s inventories as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consisted of the following (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Raw materials  $16,637   $15,007 
Work in process   17,379    10,852 
Finished goods   39,014    42,191 
Total  $73,030   $68,050 

 

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Provision for inventories amounted to $4.4 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

7.Other receivables, net

 

The Company’s other receivables as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31,2016 
Other receivables - unrelated parties (1)  $1,009   $738 
Other receivables - employee housing loans (2)   1,291    1,577 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts - unrelated parties   (66)   (63)
Other receivables, net - unrelated parties  $2,234   $2,252 

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Other receivables - related parties (1)  $576   $559 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts - related parties   (576)   (559)
Other receivables, net - related parties  $-   $- 

 

(1)Other receivables consist of amounts advanced to both related and unrelated parties, primarily as unsecured demand loans. These receivables originate as part of the Company's normal operating activities and are periodically settled in cash.
(2)On May 28, 2014, the board of directors of the Company approved a loan program under which the Company will lend an aggregate of up to RMB 50.0 million, equivalent to approximately $7.5 million, to the employees of the Company to assist them in purchasing houses. Employees are required to pay interest at an annual rate of 3.8%. These loans are unsecured and the term of the loans is generally five years.

 

8.Long-term time deposits

 

Long-term time deposits are time deposits with maturities of longer than one year. Time deposits with original maturities of longer than one year but due within the next 12 months are included in short-term investments. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, short-term investments include $1.0 million and $4.8 million, respectively, of time deposits with original maturities of longer than one year but due within the next 12 months.

 

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had pledged long-term time deposits of nil and RMB 6.0 million (equivalent to approximately $0.9 million), respectively, to secure loans under the credit facility issued by ICBC Brazil. The use of the pledged long-term time deposits is restricted (See Note 13).

 

9.Long-term investments

 

On January 24, 2010, the Company invested $3.1 million to establish a joint venture company, Beijing Henglong, with Hainachuan. The Company owns 50% of the equity in Beijing Henglong and can exercise significant influence over Beijing Henglong’s operating and financial policies. The Company accounted for Beijing Henglong’s operational results using the equity method. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $4.2 million and $3.8 million, respectively, of net equity in Beijing Henglong.  

 

On September 22, 2014, Hubei Henglong entered into an agreement with other parties to establish a venture capital fund, the “Suzhou Venture Fund”, which mainly focuses on investments in emerging automobiles and parts industries. Hubei Henglong has committed to make investments of RMB 50.0 million, equivalent to approximately $7.5 million, in the Suzhou Venture Fund in three installments. As of September 30, 2017, Hubei Henglong has completed a capital contribution of RMB 50.0 million, equivalent to approximately $7.5 million, representing 12.5% of the Suzhou Venture Fund’s shares. As a limited partner, Hubei Henglong has more than virtually no influence over the Suzhou Venture Fund’s operating and financial policies. The investment is accounted for using the equity method. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $8.1 million and $5.3 million, respectively, of net equity in the Suzhou Venture Fund.

 

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In May 2016, Hubei Henglong entered into an agreement with other parties to establish a venture capital fund, the “Chongqing Venture Fund”. Hubei Henglong has committed to make investments of RMB 120.0 million, equivalent to approximately $18.1 million, in the Chongqing Venture Fund in three installments. As of September 30, 2017, Hubei Henglong has completed a capital contribution of RMB 84.0 million, equivalent to approximately $12.7 million, representing 35.0% of the Chongqing Venture Fund’s shares. As a limited partner, Hubei Henglong has more than virtually no influence over the Chongqing Venture Fund’s operating and financial policies. The investment is accounted for using the equity method. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $12.5 million and $6.8 million, respectively, of net equity in the Chongqing Venture Fund.

 

In October 2016, Hubei Henglong invested RMB 3.0 million, equivalent to approximately $0.5 million, to establish a joint venture company, Chongqing Jinghua Automotive Intelligent Manufacturing Technology Research Co., Ltd., “Chongqing Jinghua”, with five other parties. The Company owns 30% of the equity in Chongqing Jinghua, and can exercise significant influence over Chongqing Jinghua’s operating and financial policies. The Company accounts for Chongqing Jinghua’s operational results with the equity method. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of net equity in Chongqing Jinghua.

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements reflect the net income of non-consolidated affiliates of $0.5 million and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

10.Property, plant and equipment, net

 

The Company’s property, plant and equipment as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Land use rights and buildings  $55,067   $47,448 
Machinery and equipment   150,928    134,361 
Electronic equipment   5,636    4,979 
Motor vehicles   4,954    4,395 
Construction in progress   28,832    24,890 
Total amount of property, plant and equipment   245,417    216,073 
Less: Accumulated depreciation (1)   (130,115)   (114,595)
Total amount of property, plant and equipment, net (2)(3)  $115,302   $101,478 

  

(1)As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company pledged property, plant and equipment with a net book value of approximately $25.9 million and $28.5 million, respectively as security for its comprehensive credit facilities with banks in China.
(2)Depreciation charges were $3.0 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $10.7 million and $10.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(3)Interest costs capitalized for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, were $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively; and $0.5 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

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11.Intangible assets

 

The Company’s intangible assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Costs:          
Patent technology  $2,076   $1,986 
Management software license   1,218    1,165 
Total intangible assets   3,294    3,151 
Less: Amortization (1)   (2,782)   (2,534)
Total intangible assets, net  $512   $617 

 

(1) Amortization expenses were $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

12.Deferred income tax assets

 

In accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes”, the Company assesses, on a quarterly basis, its ability to realize its deferred tax assets. Based on the more likely than not standard in the guidance and the weight of available evidence, the Company believes a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets is necessary. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considered the following significant factors: an assessment of recent years’ profitability and losses by tax authorities; the Company’s expectation of profits based on margins and volumes expected to be realized, which are based on current pricing and volume trends; the long period in all significant operating jurisdictions before the expiry of net operating losses, noting further that a portion of the deferred tax asset is composed of deductible temporary differences that are subject to an expiry period until realized under tax law. The Company will continue to evaluate the provision of valuation allowance in future periods.

 

The components of estimated deferred income tax assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
         
Losses carry forward (U.S.) (1)  $6,389   $6,216 
Losses carry forward (Non-U.S.) (1)   2,307    2,887 
Product warranties and other reserves   4,290    4,766 
Property, plant and equipment   4,422    4,204 
Share-based compensation   220    247 
Bonus accrual   230    231 
Other accruals   1,439    1,551 
Deductible temporary difference related to revenue recognition   153    191 
Others   1,365    1,206 
Total deferred tax assets, net   20,815    21,499 
Less: Valuation allowance   (9,044)   (8,912)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance (2)  $11,771   $12,587 

  

(1)The net operating losses carry forward for the U.S. entities for income tax purposes are available to reduce future years' taxable income. These carry forward losses will expire, if not utilized, at various times over the next 20 years. Net operating losses carry forward for China entities can be carried forward for 5 years to offset taxable income. As of September 30, 2017, the valuation allowance was $9.0 million, including $6.6 million allowance for the Company’s deferred tax assets in the United States and $2.4 million allowance for the Company’s non-U.S. deferred tax assets. Based on the Company’s current operations in the United States, management believes that the deferred tax assets in the United States are not likely to be realized in the future. For the deferred tax assets in other countries, pursuant to certain tax laws and regulations, management believes such amount will not be used to offset future taxable income.

 

(2)Approximately $4.3 million and $4.6 million of net deferred income tax assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, are included in non-current deferred tax assets in the accompanying condensed unaudited consolidated balance sheets. The remaining $7.5 million and $7.9 million of net deferred income tax assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, are included in current deferred tax assets.

 

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13.Bank and government loans

 

Loans consist of the following as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Short-term bank loan (1)  $9,794   $2,162 
Short-term bank loan (2) (3) (4) (5)   30,484    35,054 
Short-term bank loans (6)    28,796    - 
Short-term government loan (7)   4,520    3,604 
Bank and government loans  $73,594   $40,820 

 

(1)These loans are secured by property, plant and equipment of the Company and are repayable within one year (See Note 10). As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the weighted average interest rate was 4.7% and 5.2% per annum, respectively. Interest is to be paid monthly or quarterly on the twentieth day of the applicable month or quarter and the principal repayment is at maturity.

 

(2)On May 18, 2012, the Company entered into a credit facility agreement, the “Credit Agreement,” with ICBC Macau to obtain a non-revolving credit facility in the amount of $30.0 million, the “Credit Facility”. The Credit Facility would have expired on November 3, 2012 unless the Company drew down the line of credit in full prior to such expiration date, and the maturity date for the loan drawdown was the earlier of (i) 18 months from the drawdown or (ii) one month before the expiry of the standby letter of credit obtained by Henglong from ICBC Jingzhou as security for the Credit Facility, the “Henglong Standby Letter of Credit”. The interest rate of the Credit Facility is calculated based on a three-month LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum, subject to the availability of funds and fluctuation at ICBC Macau’s discretion. The interest is calculated daily based on a 360-day year and it is fixed one day before the first day of each interest period. The interest period is defined as three months from the date of drawdown. As security for the Credit Facility, the Company was required to provide ICBC Macau with the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of not less than $31.6 million if the Credit Facility is fully drawn.

 

On May 22, 2012, the Company drew down the full amount of $30.0 million under the Credit Facility and provided the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $31.6 million in favor of ICBC Macau. The Henglong Standby Letter of Credit issued by ICBC Jingzhou is collateralized by Henglong’s notes receivable of RMB 207.1 million, equivalent to approximately $32.6 million. The Company also paid an arrangement fee of $0.1 million to ICBC Macau and $0.1 million to ICBC Jingzhou. The original maturity date of the Credit Facility was May 22, 2013 and was extended to May 12, 2017. The interest rate of the Credit Facility under the extended term is three-month LIBOR plus 0.7% per annum. Except for the above, all other terms and conditions as stipulated in the Credit Agreement remained unchanged. As of December 31, 2016, the interest rate of the Credit Facility was 1.7% per annum.

 

On April 20, 2017, the Company entered into a credit facility agreement, the “Credit Agreement,” with ICBC Macau to obtain a non-revolving credit facility in the amount of $20.0 million, the “Credit Facility”. The Credit Facility will expire on May 12, 2018 unless the Company draws down the line of credit in full prior to such expiration date, and the maturity date for the loan drawdown is the earlier of (i) 12 months from the date of drawdown or (ii) one month before the expiry of the standby letter of credit obtained by Henglong from ICBC Jingzhou as security for the Credit Facility, the “Henglong Standby Letter of Credit”. The interest rate of the Credit Facility is calculated based on a three-month LIBOR plus 1.30% per annum, subject to the availability of funds and fluctuation at ICBC Macau’s discretion. Interest is calculated daily based on a 360-day year and it is fixed one day before the first day of each interest period. The interest period is defined as three months from the date of drawdown. As security for the Credit Facility, the Company was required to provide ICBC Macau with the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of not less than $23.9 million if the Credit Facility is fully drawn.

 

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On May 5, 2017, the Company drew down the full amount of $20.0 million under the Credit Facility and provided the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $23.4 million in favor of ICBC Macau. The Henglong Standby Letter of Credit issued by ICBC Jingzhou is collateralized by Henglong’s notes receivable of RMB 158.9 million, equivalent to approximately $23.9 million. The Company also paid an arrangement fee of $0.04 million to ICBC Jingzhou. The maturity date of the Credit Facility is May 12, 2018.

 

(3)On April 25, 2017, Great Genesis entered into a credit facility agreement, the “Taishin Bank Credit Facility”, with Taishin Bank to obtain a non-revolving credit facility in the amount of $10.0 million. The Taishin Bank Credit Facility will expire on April 25, 2018 and has an annual interest rate of 2.7%. Interest is paid quarterly and the principal repayment is payable at maturity. As security for the Taishin Bank Credit Facility, the Company’s subsidiary Henglong was required to provide Taishin Bank with the Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of not less than $10.0 million if the Taishin Bank Credit Facility is fully drawn.

 

On April 28, 2017, Great Genesis drew down the full amount of $9.9 million under the Taishin Bank Credit Facility and provided the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $10.0 million in favor of Taishin Bank. Henglong’s Standby Letter of Credit issued by China CITIC Bank Wuchang branch is collateralized by Henglong’s short-term investments of RMB 4.0 million, equivalent to approximately $0.6 million, and notes receivable of RMB 79.4 million, equivalent to approximately $12.0 million.

 

(4)On July 16, 2014, Great Genesis entered into a credit facility agreement with HSBC HK to obtain a non-revolving credit facility in the amount of $5.0 million, the “HSBC Credit Facility”. The HSBC Credit Facility expired on July 1, 2015 and had an annual interest rate of 1.7%. Interest was paid on the twentieth day of each month and the principal repayment was at maturity. As security for the HSBC Credit Facility, the Company’s subsidiary Hubei Henglong was required to provide HSBC HK with a Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of not less than $5.4 million if the HSBC Credit Facility was fully drawn.

 

On July 22, 2014, Great Genesis drew down a loan amounting to $5.0 million provided by HSBC HK and Hubei Henglong provided a Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $5.4 million in favor of HSBC HK. Hubei Henglong’s Standby Letter of Credit was issued by HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited Wuhan branch and is collateralized by long-term time deposits of Hubei Henglong of RMB 33.0 million, equivalent to approximately $4.8 million.

 

On July 7, 2016, HSBC HK agreed to extend the maturity date of the HSBC Credit Facility to July 1, 2017. Hubei Henglong provided a Standby Letter of Credit in an amount of $5.1 million in favor of HSBC HK. The Standby Letter of Credit was issued by HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited Wuhan branch and was collateralized by short-term time deposits of Hubei Henglong of RMB 36.0 million, equivalent to approximately $5.2 million. The interest rate of the HSBC Credit Facility under the extended term was revised as three-month LIBOR plus 0.8% per annum, i.e. 1.95% per annum. Except for the above, all other terms and conditions as stipulated in the Credit Agreement remained unchanged. The Company repaid this bank loan on July 14, 2017.

 

(5)On April 1, 2016, Brazil Henglong entered into a credit facility agreement with HSBC Brazil to obtain a credit facility in the amount of $0.1 million, the “HSBC Brazil Credit Facility”. The HSBC Brazil Credit Facility expired on October 27, 2017. As security for the HSBC Credit Facility, the Company’s subsidiary Hubei Henglong was required to provide HSBC Brazil with the Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of $0.1 million if the HSBC Brazil Credit Facility is fully drawn.

 

On May 6, 2016, Brazil Henglong drew down a loan amounting to $0.1 million provided by HSBC Brazil. The loan matured on October 9, 2017 and has an annual interest rate of 8.2%.Hubei Henglong provided a Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $0.1 million in favor of HSBC Brazil. Hubei Henglong’s Standby Letter of Credit was issued by China CITIC Bank Wuhan branch and is collateralized by short-term investments of Hubei Henglong of RMB 0.5 million, equivalent to approximately $0.1 million. The Company repaid this bank loan on October 9, 2017.

 

On August 26, 2016, Brazil Henglong entered into a credit facility agreement with Bank of China (Brazil) to obtain a credit facility in the amount of $0.6 million, the “Bank of China Credit Facility”. The Bank of China Credit Facility will expire on January 15, 2018. As security for the Bank of China Credit Facility, the Company’s subsidiary Hubei Henglong is required to provide Bank of China (Brazil) with a Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of $0.9 million if the Bank of China Credit Facility is fully drawn.

 

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On August 26, 2016, Brazil Henglong drew down a loan amounting to $0.6 million provided by Bank of China (Brazil). The loan will mature on January 15, 2018 and has an annual interest rate of 4.0%. Interest is paid semiannually and the principal repayment is at maturity. Hubei Henglong provided a Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $0.9 million in favor of Bank of China (Brazil). Hubei Henglong’s Standby Letter of Credit was issued by Bank of China Jingzhou branch and is collateralized by long-term time deposits of Hubei Henglong of RMB 6.0 million, equivalent to approximately $0.9 million.

 

(6)On September 26, 2016, Henglong entered into a credit facility agreement with China CITIC Bank to obtain credit facilities in the amount of RMB 170.0 million (equivalent to $25.6 million as of September 30, 2017), the “Henglong CITIC Credit Facility”. The Henglong CITIC Credit Facility expired on September 26, 2017. As security for the Henglong CITIC Credit Facility, Henglong’s property, plant and equipment were pledged and Hubei Henglong provided a guarantee. On March 3, 2017, Henglong drew down loans amounting to RMB 32.5 million, RMB 32.5 million and 30.6 million (equivalent to $4.9 million, $4.9 million and $4.6 million as of September 30, 2017), respectively. The loans will mature on February 5, 6 and 7, 2018, respectively. The annual interest rate of the loans is 4.99%. The principal and interest will be paid at maturity.

 

On September 26, 2016, Hubei Henglong entered into a credit facility agreement with China CITIC Bank to obtain credit facilities in the amount of RMB 100.0 million (equivalent to $15.1 million as of September 30, 2017), the “Hubei Henglong CITIC Credit Facility”. The Hubei Henglong CITIC Credit Facility expired on September 26, 2017. Henglong provided a guarantee for the Hubei Henglong CITIC Credit Facility. On March 3, 2017, Hubei Henglong drew down loans amounting to RMB 28.7 million, RMB 28.7 million and 38.2 million (equivalent to $4.3 million, $4.3 million and $5.8 million), respectively. The loans will mature on February 2, 8 and 9, 2018, respectively. The annual interest rate of the loans is 5.0%. The principal and interest will be paid at maturity.

 

(7)On August 17, 2017, the Company received an interest-free Chinese government loan of RMB 20.0 million, equivalent to approximately $3.0 million, which will mature on August 16, 2018. Henglong pledged RMB 20.0 million, equivalent to approximately $3.0 million, of notes receivable as security for the Chinese government loan (See Note 4).

 

On April 21, 2017, the Company received an interest-free Chinese government loan of RMB 10.0 million, equivalent to approximately $1.5 million, which will mature on December 8, 2017. Jiulong pledged RMB 10.0 million, equivalent to approximately $1.5 million, of notes receivable as security for the Chinese government loan (See Note 4).

 

14.Accounts and notes payable

 

The Company’s accounts and notes payable as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Accounts payable - unrelated parties  $142,594   $138,053 
Notes payable - unrelated parties (1)   82,164    78,940 
Accounts and notes payable- unrelated parties   224,758    216,993 
Accounts payable - related parties   5,749    6,803 
Balance at end of period  $230,507   $223,796 

 

(1) Notes payable represent accounts payable in the form of notes issued by the Company. The notes are endorsed by banks to ensure that noteholders will be paid after maturity. The Company has pledged cash deposits, short-term investments, notes receivable and certain property, plant and equipment to secure notes payable granted by banks.

 

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15.Accrued expenses and other payables

 

The Company’s accrued expenses and other payables as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Accrued expenses  $7,975   $8,605 
Accrued interest   953    88 
Dividends payable to holders of non-controlling interests(3)   621    - 
Other payables   2,483    964 
Warranty reserves (1) (2)   20,851    26,225 
Total  $32,883   $35,882 

 

(1)The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties when the products are sold. Such estimates of product warranties are based on, among other things, historical experience, product changes, material expenses, services and transportation expenses arising from the manufactured products. Estimates will be adjusted on the basis of actual claims and circumstances.

 

(2)In January 2017, the Company initiated two recalls related to the Company’s products. The Company has accrued anticipated costs for handling the recalls amounting to $5.0 million in warranty reserves for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

(3)In accordance with the resolution of the Board of Directors of Shenyang, in the second quarter of 2017, Shenyang declared a dividend amounting to $2.0 million to its shareholders, of which $0.6 million was payable to the holders of the non-controlling interests. As of September 30, 2017, the dividends have not been paid.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the warranties activities were as follows (figures are in thousands of USD): 

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Balance at beginning of the period  $23,898   $21,238 
Additions during the period   4,426    1,693 
Settlement within period, by cash or actual materials   (6,814)   (2,378)
Foreign currency translation (gain)/loss   (659)   160 
Balance at end of the period  $20,851   $20,713 

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and for the year ended December 31, 2016, the warranties activities were as follows (figures are in thousands of USD): 

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30,   Year Ended 
December 31,
 
   2017   2016   2016 
Balance at beginning of the period  $26,225   $23,059   $23,059 
Additions during the period   11,182    5,433    16,522 
Settlement within period, by cash or actual materials   (15,423)   (8,434)   (11,781)
Foreign currency translation loss   (1,133)   655    (1,575)
Balance at end of the period  $20,851   $20,713   $26,225 

 

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16.Taxes payable

 

The Company’s taxes payable as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Value-added tax payable  $2,374   $7,662 
Income tax payable   1,019    3,390 
Other tax payable   407    622 
Total  $3,800   $11,674 

 

17.Advances payable

 

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, advances payable by the Company were $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

 

The amounts are special subsidies made by the Chinese government to the Company to offset the costs and charges related to the improvement of production capacities and improvement of the quality of products. For the government subsidies with no further conditions to be met, the amounts are recorded as other income when received; for the amounts with certain operating conditions, the government subsidies are recorded as advances payable when received and will be recorded as a deduction of related expenses and cost when the conditions are met.

 

The balances are unsecured, interest-free and will be repayable to the Chinese government if the usage of such advance does not continue to qualify for the subsidy.

   

18.Additional paid-in capital

 

The Company’s positions in respect of the amounts of additional paid-in capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30,   Year Ended 
December 31,
 
   2017   2016   2016 
Balance at beginning of the period  $64,764   $64,627   $64,627 
Acquisition of the non-controlling interest in Brazil Henglong(1)   (458)   -    - 
Share-based compensation (2)   100    -    137 
Balance at end of the period  $64,406   $64,627   $64,764 

 

(1)In May 2017, the Company obtained an additional 15.84% equity interest in Brazil Henglong for nil consideration. The Company retained its controlling interest in Brazil Henglong and the acquisition of the non-controlling interest was accounted for as an equity transaction.

 

(2)On December 2, 2016 and August 16, 2017, the Company granted 22,500 and 22,500 stock options, respectively, to the Company’s independent directors, with the exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock traded on NASDAQ one day before the date of grant and on the date of grant. The fair value of the stock options was determined at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes option model requires management to make various estimates and assumptions, including expected term, expected volatility, risk-free rate and dividend yield. The expected term represents the period of time that stock-based compensation awards granted are expected to be outstanding and is estimated based on considerations including the vesting period, contractual term and anticipated employee exercise patterns. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in relation to the contractual life of stock-based compensation instruments. The dividend yield assumption is based on historical patterns and future expectations for the Company’s dividends.

 

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Assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the stock options on the grant dates are as follows:

 

Issuance Date  Expected volatility   Risk-free rate   Expected term (years)   Dividend yield 
                 
December 2, 2016   134.8%   1.84%   5    0.00%
August 16, 2017   139.2%   1.79%   5    0.00%

 

The stock options granted during 2017 and 2016 were exercisable immediately. Their fair values on the grant dates using the Black-Scholes option pricing model were$0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expenses of $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. 

 

19.Retained earnings

 

Appropriated

 

Pursuant to the relevant PRC laws, the profits distribution of the Company’s Sino-foreign subsidiaries, which are based on their PRC statutory financial statements, other than the financial statement that was prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, are available for distribution in the form of cash dividends after these subsidiaries have paid all relevant PRC tax liabilities, provided for losses in previous years, and made appropriations to statutory surplus at 10%.

 

When the statutory surplus reserve reaches 50% of the registered capital of a company, additional reserve is no longer required. However, the reserve cannot be distributed to joint venture partners. Based on the business licenses of the PRC subsidiaries, the registered capital of Henglong, Jiulong, Shenyang, USAI, Jielong, Wuhu, Hubei Henglong and Chongqing are $10.0 million, $4.2 million (equivalent to RMB 35.0 million), $8.1 million (equivalent to RMB 67.5 million), $2.6 million, $6.0 million, $3.8 million (equivalent to RMB 30.0 million), $39.0 million and $9.5 million (equivalent to RMB 60.0 million), respectively.

 

The Company’s activities in respect of the amounts of appropriated retained earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30,   Year Ended  
December 31,
 
   2017   2016   2016 
Balance at beginning of the period  $10,549   $10,379   $10,379 
Appropriation of retained earnings   124    142    170 
Balance at end of the period  $10,673   $10,521   $10,549 

 

Unappropriated

 

The Company’s activities in respect of the amounts of the unappropriated retained earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30,   Year Ended
December 31,
 
   2017   2016   2016 
Balance at beginning of the period  $228,963   $206,622   $206,622 
Net income attributable to parent company   19,694    16,755    22,511 
Appropriation of retained earnings   (124)   (142)   (170)
Balance at end of the period  $248,533   $223,235   $228,963 

 

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20.Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

The Company’s activities in respect of the amounts of the accumulated other comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD): 

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30,   Year Ended
December 31,
 
   2017   2016   2016 
Balance at beginning of the period  $(892)  $18,412   $18,412 
Other comprehensive income related to the non-controlling interests acquired by the Company   (67)   -    - 
Foreign currency translation adjustment attributable to parent company   13,681    (8,128)   (19,304)
Balance at end of the period  $12,722   $10,284   $(892)

  

21.Treasury stock

 

Treasury stock represents shares repurchased by the Company that are no longer outstanding and are held by the Company. Treasury stock is accounted for under the cost method. On December 18, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a share repurchase program under which the Company was permitted to repurchase up to $5.0 million of its common stock from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions through December 17, 2016. The repurchase program terminated on December 17, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2016, under the repurchase program, the Company repurchased 477,015 shares of the Company’s common stock for cash consideration of $1.9 million on the open market. The repurchased shares are presented as “treasury stock” on the balance sheet.

 

22.Non-controlling interests

 

The Company’s activities in respect of the amounts of the non-controlling interests’ equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):  

  

   Nine Months Ended September 30,   Year Ended
December 31,
 
   2017   2016   2016 
Balance at beginning of the period  $5,412   $8,252   $8,252 
Income attributable to non-controlling interests   353    164    466 
Dividends declared to the non-controlling interest holders of joint-venture companies (See Note 15)   (608)   (464)   (464)
Acquisition of the non-controlling interest in Brazil Henglong   458    -    - 
Other comprehensive income related to the non-controlling
interests acquired by the Company
   67    -    - 
Non-controlling interests change due to the disposal of Fujian Qiaolong   -    (2,150)   (2,150)
Foreign currency translation adjustment attributable to non-controlling interests   467    (307)   (692)
Balance at end of the period  $6,149   $5,495   $5,412 

 

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23.Gain on other sales

 

Gain on other sales mainly consisted of net amount retained from sales of materials, property, plant and equipment, and scraps. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, gain on other sales amounted to $5.9 million as compared to $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $3.9 million. During the second quarter of 2017, the Company disposed of a building located in Jingzhou and recognized a gain of $2.2 million.  

 

24.Financial income, net

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded financial income, net which is summarized as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
         
Interest income  $2,474   $1,777 
Foreign exchange loss, net   (173)   (30)
Gain of cash discount, net   -    3 
Bank fees   (392)   (480)
Total financial income, net  $1,909   $1,270 

  

25.Income tax rate

 

The Company’s subsidiaries registered in the PRC are subject to national and local income taxes within the PRC at the applicable tax rate of 25% on the taxable income as reported in their PRC statutory financial statements in accordance with the relevant income tax laws applicable to foreign invested enterprise, unless preferential tax treatment is granted by local tax authorities. If the enterprise meets certain preferential terms according to the China income tax law, such as assessment as a “High & New Technology Enterprise” by the government, the enterprise will be subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15%.

 

Pursuant to the New China Income Tax Law and the Implementing Rules, “New CIT”, which became effective as of January 1, 2008, dividends generated after January 1, 2008 and payable by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign investors will be subject to a 10% withholding tax if the foreign investors are considered non-resident enterprises without any establishment or place within China or if the dividends payable have no connection with the establishment or place of the foreign investors within China, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement.

 

Genesis, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary and the direct holder of the equity interests in the Company’s subsidiaries in China, is incorporated in Hong Kong. According to the Mainland China and Hong Kong Taxation Arrangement, dividends paid by a foreign-invested enterprise in China to its direct holding company in Hong Kong will be subject to withholding tax at a rate of no more than 5%, if the foreign investor directly owns at least 25% of the shares of the foreign-invested enterprise. Under the New CIT, if Genesis is regarded as a non-resident enterprise, it is required to pay an additional 5% withholding tax for any dividends payable to it from the PRC subsidiaries.

  

According to PRC tax regulation, the Company should withhold income taxes for the profits distributed from the PRC subsidiaries to Genesis, the subsidiaries’ holding company incorporated in Hong Kong. For the profits that the PRC subsidiaries intended to distribute to Genesis, the Company accrues the withholding income tax as deferred tax liabilities. As of September 30, 2017, the Company has recognized deferred tax liabilities of $0.2 million for the remaining undistributed profits to Genesis of $4.5 million. The Company intended to re-invest the remaining undistributed profits generated from the PRC subsidiaries in those subsidiaries permanently. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company still had undistributed earnings of approximately $266.4 million and $239.8 million, respectively, from investment in the PRC subsidiaries that are considered permanently reinvested. Had the undistributed earnings been distributed to Genesis and not permanently reinvested, the tax provision as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of approximately $13.3 million and $12.0 million, respectively, would have been recorded. Such undistributed profits will be reinvested in Genesis and not further distributed to the parent company incorporated in the United States going forward.

 

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In 2014, Jiulong was awarded the title of “High & New Technology Enterprise” and, based on the PRC income tax law, it is subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% from 2014 to 2016. The Company estimated the applied tax rate in 2017 to be 15% as it is probable to pass the re-assessment in 2017 and continue to qualify as “High & New Technology Enterprise”.

 

In 2014, Henglong was awarded the title of “High & New Technology Enterprise” and, based on the PRC income tax law, it is subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% from 2014 to 2016. The Company estimated the applied tax rate in 2017 to be 15% as it is probable to pass the re-assessment in 2017 and continue to qualify as “High & New Technology Enterprise”.

 

In 2009, Shenyang was awarded the title of “High & New Technology Enterprise” and, based on the PRC income tax law, it was subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% for 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2012, the Company passed the re-assessment of the government based on PRC income tax laws. Accordingly, it continued to be taxed at the 15% tax rate in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2015, the Company passed the re-assessment of the government based on PRC income tax laws. Accordingly, it continues to be taxed at the 15% tax rate in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

 

In 2012, Wuhu was awarded the title of “High & New Technology Enterprise” and, based on the PRC income tax law, it was subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% for 2013 and 2014. In 2015, the Company passed the re-assessment of the government based on PRC income tax laws. Accordingly, it continues to be taxed at the 15% tax rate in 2015 and 2016. The Company estimated the applied tax rate in 2017 to be 15% as it is probable to pass the re-assessment in 2017 and continue to qualify as “High & New Technology Enterprise”.

 

In 2013, Jielong was awarded the title of “High & New Technology Enterprise” and, based on the PRC income tax law, it was subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% for 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2016, the Company passed the re-assessment of the government based on PRC income tax laws. Accordingly, it continues to be taxed at the 15% tax rate from 2016 to 2018.

 

In 2011, Hubei Henglong was awarded the title of “High & New Technology Enterprise”. Based on the PRC income tax law, it was subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 15% for 2013. The Company has passed the re-assessment in 2014 and continues to qualify as a “High & New Technology Enterprise”. Accordingly, it continues to be taxed at the 15% tax rate in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The Company estimated the applied tax rate in 2017 to be 15% as it is probable to pass the re-assessment in 2017 and continue to qualify as “High & New Technology Enterprise”.

 

According to the New CIT, USAI, Wuhan Chuguanjie, Shanghai Henglong and Testing Center are subject to income tax at a rate of 25% in 2016 and 2017.

 

Chongqing Henglong was established in 2012. According to the New CIT, Chongqing Henglong is subject to income tax at a uniform rate of 25%. No provision for Chongqing Henglong is made as it had no assessable income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

Based on Brazilian income tax laws, Brazil Henglong is subject to income tax at a uniform rate of 15%, and a resident legal person is subject to additional tax at a rate of 10% for the part of taxable income over $0.12 million, equivalent to approximately BRL 0.24 million. The Company had no assessable income in Brazil for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

The profits tax rate of Hong Kong is 16.5%. No provision for Hong Kong tax is made as Genesis is an investment holding company, and had no assessable income in Hong Kong for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

The enterprise income tax rate of the United States is 35%. No provision for U.S. tax is made for CAAS and HLUSA as a whole, as the Company had no assessable income in the United States for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

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The Company’s effective tax rate was 17.3% and 18.2% for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared with 17.4% and 17.3% for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

26.Income per share

 

Basic income per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares and dilutive ordinary share equivalents outstanding during the period. The dilutive effect of outstanding stock options is determined based on the treasury stock method.

 

The calculation of basic and diluted income per share attributable to the parent company for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, was (figures are in thousands of USD, except share and per share amounts):

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Numerator:          
Net income attributable to the parent company’s common shareholders – Basic and Diluted  $5,059   $5,682 
Denominator:          
Weighted average shares outstanding   31,644,004    31,911,360 
Dilutive effects of stock options   267    362 
Denominator for dilutive income per share – Diluted   31,644,271    31,911,722 
           
Net income per share attributable to parent company’s common shareholders – Basic  $0.16   $0.18 
Net income per share attributable to parent company’s common shareholders – Diluted  $0.16   $0.18 

  

The calculation of basic and diluted income per share attributable to the parent company for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, was (figures are in thousands of USD, except share and per share amounts):

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Numerator:          
Net income attributable to the parent company’s common shareholders – Basic and Diluted  $19,694   $16,755 
Denominator:          
Weighted average shares outstanding   31,644,004    32,038,933 
Dilutive effects of stock options   3,829    1,581 
Denominator for dilutive income per share – Diluted   31,647,833    32,040,514 
           
Net income per share attributable to parent company’s common shareholders – Basic  $0.62   $0.52 
Net income per share attributable to parent company’s common shareholders – Diluted  $0.62   $0.52 

   

As of September 30, 2017 and 2016, the exercise prices for 90,000 shares and 82,500 shares, respectively, of outstanding stock options were above the weighted average market price of the Company’s common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and these stock options were excluded from the calculation of the diluted income per share for the corresponding periods presented.

 

 26
   

  

27.Significant concentrations

 

A significant portion of the Company’s business is conducted in China where the currency is the RMB. Regulations in China permit foreign owned entities to freely convert the RMB into foreign currency for transactions that fall under the "current account," which includes trade related receipts and payments, interest and dividends. Accordingly, the Company’s Chinese subsidiaries may use RMB to purchase foreign exchange for settlement of such "current account" transactions without pre-approval. However, pursuant to applicable regulations, foreign-invested enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with the PRC law. In calculating accumulated profits, foreign investment enterprises in China are required to allocate at least 10% of their annual net income each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds, including mandated employee benefits funds, unless these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the enterprises.

 

Transactions other than those that fall under the "current account" and that involve conversion of RMB into foreign currency are classified as "capital account" transactions; examples of "capital account" transactions include repatriations of investment by or loans to foreign owners, or direct equity investments in a foreign entity by a China domiciled entity. "Capital account" transactions require prior approval from China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, or its provincial branch to convert a remittance into a foreign currency, such as USD, and transmit the foreign currency outside of China.

  

This system could be changed at any time and any such change may affect the ability of the Company or its subsidiaries in China to repatriate capital or profits, if any, outside China. Furthermore, SAFE has a significant degree of administrative discretion in implementing the laws and has used this discretion to limit convertibility of current account payments out of China. Whether as a result of a deterioration in the Chinese balance of payments, a shift in the Chinese macroeconomic prospects or any number of other reasons, China could impose additional restrictions on capital remittances abroad. As a result of these and other restrictions under the laws and regulations of the PRC, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the parent. The Company has no assurance that the relevant Chinese governmental authorities in the future will not limit further or eliminate the ability of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries to purchase foreign currencies and transfer such funds to the Company to meet its liquidity or other business needs. Any inability to access funds in China, if and when needed for use by the Company outside of China, could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and its business.

 

The Company grants credit to its customers including Xiamen Joylon, Xiamen Automotive Parts, Shanghai Fenglong and JingzhouYude, which are related parties of the Company. The Company’s customers are mostly located in the PRC.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for 56.1% of its consolidated net product sales, with one customer individually accounting for more than 10% of consolidated net sales i.e., 14.75%. As of September 30, 2017, approximately 6.6% of accounts receivable were from trade transactions with the aforementioned customer and there was no individual customer with a receivables balance of more than 10% of total accounts receivable.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for 62.7% of its consolidated net product sales, with one customer individually accounting for more than 10% of consolidated net sales, i.e., 12.9%. As of September 30, 2016, approximately 3.8% of accounts receivable were from trade transactions with the aforementioned customer and there was no individual customer with a receivables balance of more than 10% of total accounts receivable.

  

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28.Related party transactions and balances

 

Related party transactions are as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

Related sales

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Merchandise sold to related parties  $7,563   $9,950 
Rental income obtained from related parties   20    23 
Materials and others sold to related parties   376    551 
Total  $7,959   $10,524 

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Merchandise sold to related parties  $25,684   $28,589 
Rental income obtained from related parties   66    91 
Materials and others sold to related parties   1,186    1,231 
Total  $26,936   $29,911 

 

Related purchases

 

   Three Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Materials purchased from related parties  $6,549   $5,869 
Technology purchased from related parties   -    135 
Equipment purchased from related parties   4,857    4,370 
Others purchased from related parties   156    149 
Total  $11,562   $10,523 

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Materials purchased from related parties  $20,195   $18,912 
Technology purchased from related parties   -    362 
Equipment purchased from related parties   9,281    7,900 
Others purchased from related parties   371    524 
Total  $29,847   $27,698 

  

Loan transaction to a related party 

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Related party loan  $29,182   $- 

 

Related receivables

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Accounts and notes receivable from related parties  $17,607   $20,984 

 

Related advances and loan balance

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Advance payments for property, plant and equipment to related parties  $4,813   $5,005 
Advance payments and others to related parties   31,397    624 
Total  $36,210   $5,629 

 

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Related payables

 

   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Accounts and notes payable  $5,749   $6,803 

 

These transactions were consummated under similar terms as those with the Company's third party customers and suppliers.

  

As of November 9, 2017, Hanlin Chen, the Company’s Chairman, owns 56.4% of the common stock of the Company and has the effective power to control the vote on substantially all significant matters without the approval of other stockholders.

 

29.Commitments and contingencies

 

Legal proceedings

 

The Company is not a party to any pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any threatened legal proceedings. In addition, no director, officer or affiliate of the Company, or owner of record of more than five percent of the securities of the Company, or any associate of any such director, officer or security holder is a party adverse to the Company or has a material interest adverse to the Company in reference to pending litigation.

 

Other commitments and contingencies

 

In addition to the bank loans, notes payables and the related interest, the following table summarizes the Company’s major commitments and contingencies as of September 30, 2017 (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

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   Payment obligations by period 
   2017 (1)   2018   2019   2020   Thereafter   Total 
Obligations for investment contracts (1)   -   $5,424   $-   $-   $-   $5,424 
Obligations for purchasing and service agreements   16,496    5,650    2,530    -    -    24,676 
Total  $16,496   $11,074   $2,530   $-   $-   $30,100 

 

(1)In May 2016, Hubei Henglong entered into an agreement with other parties to establish a venture capital fund, the “Chongqing Venture Fund”. Hubei Henglong has committed to make investments of RMB 120.0 million, equivalent to approximately $18.1 million, in the Chongqing Venture Fund in three installments. As of September 30, 2017, Hubei Henglong has completed a capital contribution of RMB 84.0 million, equivalent to approximately $12.7 million, representing 35.0% of the Chongqing Venture Fund’s shares. According to the agreement, the remaining capital commitment of RMB 36.0 million, equivalent to approximately $5.4 million, will be paid upon capital calls received from the Chongqing Venture Fund.

 

30.Off-balance sheet arrangements

 

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company did not have any significant transactions, obligations or relationships that could be considered off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

31.Segment reporting

 

The accounting policies of the product sectors are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies except that the disaggregated financial results for the product sectors have been prepared using a management approach, which is consistent with the basis and manner in which management internally disaggregates financial information for the purposes of assisting them in making internal operating decisions. Generally, the Company evaluates performance based on stand-alone product sector operating income and accounts for inter segment sales and transfers as if the sales or transfers were to third parties, at current market prices.

 

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had 11 product sectors, five of which were principal profit makers and were reported as separate sectors and engaged in the production and sales of power steering (Henglong, Jiulong, Shenyang, Wuhu and Hubei Henglong), and one holding company (Genesis). The other six sectors were engaged in the production and sale of sensor modular (USAI), automobile steering columns (Jielong), provision of after sales and R&D services (HLUSA), production and sale of power steering (Chongqing Henglong), trade (Brazil Henglong), and manufacture and sales of automobile electronic systems and parts (Wuhan Chuguanjie). Since the revenues, net income and net assets of these six sectors collectively are less than 10% of consolidated revenues, net income and net assets, respectively, in the condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements, the Company incorporated these six sectors into “Other Sectors.”

 

As of September 30, 2016, the Company had eleven product sectors, five of which were principal profit makers and were reported as separate sectors and engaged in the production and sales of power steering (Henglong, Jiulong, Shenyang, Wuhu and Hubei Henglong), and one holding company (Genesis). The other six sectors were engaged in the production and sale of sensor modular (USAI), automobile steering columns (Jielong), provision of after sales and R&D services (HLUSA), production and sale of power steering (Chongqing Henglong), trade (Brazil Henglong), and manufacture and sales of automobile electronic systems and parts (Wuhan Chuguanjie). Since the revenues, net income and net assets of these seven sectors collectively are less than 10% of consolidated revenues, net income and net assets, respectively, in the condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements, the Company incorporated these six sectors into “Other Sectors.” 

  

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The Company’s product sector information for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, is as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

   Net Product Sales   Net Income (Loss) 
   Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended 
   September 30   September 30 
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
Henglong  $55,790   $57,530   $689   $3,771 
Jiulong   26,067    17,787    478    1,083 
Shenyang   10,103    8,239    486    457 
Wuhu   6,503    5,088    118    21 
Hubei Henglong   24,812    13,912    2,680    735 
Other Sectors   14,961    11,588    777    (269)
Total Segments   138,236    114,144    5,228    5,798 
Corporate   -    -    317    808 
Eliminations   (19,871)   (19,518)   (317)   (747)
Total  $118,365   $94,626   $5,228   $5,859 

 

   Net Product Sales   Net Income (Loss) 
   Nine Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30   September 30 
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
Henglong  $191,093   $195,940   $6,300   $13,389 
Jiulong   75,525    54,976    3,739    2,219 
Shenyang   28,777    24,898    1,271    995 
Wuhu   18,254    15,897    215    96 
Hubei Henglong   66,855    42,815    5,518    2,286 
Other Sectors   40,821    29,558    1,341    162 
Total Segments   421,325    364,084    18,384    19,147 
Corporate   -    -    3,367    (1,317)
Eliminations   (65,992)   (51,587)   (1,704)   (911)
Total  $355,333   $312,497   $20,047   $16,919 

 

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ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto and the other financial information contained elsewhere in this Report.

 

General Overview

 

China Automotive Systems, Inc. is a leading power steering systems supplier for the China automobile industry. The Company has business relations with more than sixty vehicle manufacturers, including JAC Motors, Changan Automobile Group, BAIC Group, SAIC Group and Dongfeng Auto Group, the five largest automobile manufacturers in China; Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Co., Ltd., the largest light vehicle manufacturer in China; Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., the largest state owned car manufacturer in China; BYD Auto Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Geely Automobile Co., Ltd., the largest privately owned car manufacturers in China. The PRC-based joint ventures of General Motors (GM), Volkswagen, Citroen and Chrysler North America are all key customers. Starting in 2008, the Company has supplied power steering pumps and power steering gear to the Sino-foreign joint ventures established by GM, Citroen and Volkswagen in China. The Company has supplied power steering gears to Chrysler North America since 2009.

 

Most of the Company’s production and research and development institutes are located in China. The Company has approximately 3,000 employees dedicated to design, development, manufacture and sales of its products. By leveraging its extensive experience, innovative technology and geographic strengths, the Company aims to grow leading positions in automotive power steering systems and to further improve overall margins, long-term operating profitability and cash flows. To achieve these goals and to respond to industry factors and trends, the Company is continuing work to improve its operations and business structure and achieve profitable growth.

 

Corporate Structure

 

The Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sales of automotive systems and components. Great Genesis Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong on January 3, 2003 under the Companies Ordinance of Hong Kong as a limited liability company, “Genesis,” is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the holding company of the Company’s joint ventures in the PRC. Henglong USA Corporation, “HLUSA,” incorporated on January 8, 2007 in Troy, Michigan, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and mainly engages in marketing of automotive parts in North America, and provides after-sales service and research and development support. CAAS Brazil’s Imports And Trade In Automotive Parts Ltd., “Brazil Henglong,” was established by Hubei Henglong Automotive System Group Co., Ltd., formerly known as JingzhouHengsheng Automotive System Co., Ltd., “Hubei Henglong,” as a Sino-foreign joint venture company with two Brazilian citizens in Brazil in August 2012. Fujian Qiaolong was acquired by the Company in the second quarter of 2014, as a joint venture company that mainly manufactures and distributes drainage and rescue vehicles with mass flow, drainage vehicles with vertical downhole operation, crawler-type mobile pump stations, high-altitude water supply and discharge drainage vehicles, long-range control crawler-type mobile pump stations and other vehicles, which was disposed of by the Company in the second quarter of 2016.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The Company prepares its condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management periodically evaluates the estimates and judgments made. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates as a result of different assumptions or conditions. The following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

  

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The Company considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:

 

·It requires the Company to make assumptions about matters that were uncertain at the time it was making the estimate, and

 

·Changes in the estimate or different estimates that the Company could have selected would have had a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

The table below presents information about the nature and rationale for the Company’s critical accounting estimates:

 

Balance Sheet
Caption
  Critical
Estimate
Item
  Nature of Estimates
Required
  Assumptions/Approaches
Used
  Key Factors

Accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities

 

 

Warranty obligations

 

  Estimating warranty requires the Company to forecast the resolution of existing claims and expected future claims on products sold. OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are increasingly seeking to hold suppliers responsible for product warranties, which may impact the Company’s exposure to these costs.   The Company bases its estimate on historical trends of units sold and payment amounts, combined with its current understanding of the status of existing claims and discussions with its customers.    

·OEM sourcing

·OEM policy decisions regarding warranty claims

 

                 
Property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and other long-term assets  

Valuation of long- lived assets and investments

 

  The Company is required from time to time to review the recoverability of certain of its assets based on projections of anticipated future cash flows, including future profitability assessments of various product lines.   The Company estimates cash flows using internal budgets based on recent sales data, independent automotive production volume estimates and customer commitments.   

·Future production estimates

·Customer preferences and decisions 

                 

Inventory

 

 

Write-down of inventory

 

  The Company is required from time to time to review the cash ability of inventory based on projections of anticipated future cash flows, including write-down of inventory for prices that are higher than market price and undesirable inventories.   The Company estimates cash flows using internal budgets based on recent sales data, independent automotive production volume estimates and customer commitments.  

·Future production estimates 

·Customer preferences and decisions

  

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Deferred income taxes

 

 

Recoverability of deferred tax assets

 

  The Company is required to estimate whether recoverability of its deferred tax assets is more likely than not based on forecasts of taxable earnings in the related tax jurisdiction.   The Company uses historical and projected future operating results, based upon approved business plans, including a review of the eligible carry forward period, tax planning opportunities and other relevant considerations.    

·Tax law changes

·Variances in future projected profitability, including by taxing entity

 

                 

Tax payable and deferred tax assets/liabilities

 

 

Uncertain tax positions

 

  The Company is required to determine and assess all material positions, including all significant uncertain positions in all tax years that are still subject to assessment or challenge under relevant tax statutes.     The Company applies a more likely than not threshold and a two-step approach for tax position measurement and financial statement recognition. For the two-step approach, the first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement.  

·An allocation or a shift of income between jurisdictions

·The characterization of income or a decision to exclude reporting taxable income in a tax return

·A decision to classify a transaction, entity, or other position in a tax return as tax exempt

  

In addition, there are other items within the Company’s financial statements that require estimation, but are not as critical as those discussed above, including provision of accounts and notes receivable. Although not significant in recent years, changes in estimates used in these and other items could have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Please see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements under Item 1 of Part I of this Report.

 

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Results of Operations

  

Results of Operations—Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

 

   Net Product Sales   Cost of Products Sold 
   (in thousands of USD,
except percentages)
   (in thousands of USD,
except percentages)
 
   2017   2016   Change   2017   2016   Change 
Henglong  $55,790   $57,529    (1,739)   -3.02%  $47,639   $47,616   $23    0.05%
Jiulong   26,067    17,787    8,280    46.55    22,804    14,934    7,870    52.70 
Shenyang   10,103    8,239    1,864    22.62    8,757    7,070    1,687    23.85 
Wuhu   6,503    5,089    1,414    27.79    5,926    4,696    1,230    26.20 
Hubei Henglong   24,812    13,913    10,899    78.34    17,656    10,270    7,386    71.92 
Other Sectors   14,961    11,589    3,372    29.10    12,653    9,606    3,047    31.72 
Total Segments   138,236    114,146    24,090    21.10    115,435    94,192    21,243    22.55 
Elimination   (19,871)   (19,520)   (351)   1.80    (19,557)   (19,551)   (6)   0.03 
Total  $118,365   $94,626   $23,739    25.09%  $95,878   $74,641   $21,237    28.45%

 

Net Product Sales

 

Net product sales were $118.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $94.6 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $23.8 million, or 25.2%.

 

The Company’s net product sales were affected by the change in the product mix. Net sales of traditional steering products and parts were $92.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $69.0 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $23.7 million, or 34.3%. Net sales of EPS were $25.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, consistent with $25.6 million for the same period in 2016. As a percentage of net sales, sales of EPS were 21.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to 27.0% for the same period in 2016. The increase in net product sales was mainly due to increased sales and the changes in the product mix in the three months ended September 30, 2017.

  

The foreign exchange rate of the RMB against the U.S. dollar in the third quarter of 2017 was generally consistent with the same period in 2016, so there was no significant impact on the Company’s revenue and costs as a result of foreign currency translation differences.

 

In summary, due to the recovery of Chinese automobile industry, the sales of steering gears started to grow, which led to an increase in sales volume and contributed to a sales increase of $11.6 million. Some of the Company’s subsidiaries are gradually shifting their strategy from focusing on sales volume to focusing on high gross margin products and developing new markets such as exports, and the change in product mix led to an increase in average selling price of steering gears and contributed to a sales increase of $12.3 million. The effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales decrease of $0.2 million.

 

Further analysis by segment (before elimination) is as follows:

 

Net product sales for Henglong were $55.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $57.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $1.7 million, or 3.0%. A decrease in sales volume led to a sales decrease of $13.3 million and an increase in average selling price led to a sales increase of $11.6 million.

 

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Net product sales for Jiulong were $26.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $17.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $8.3 million, or 46.6%. Jiulong is gradually shifting its strategy from focusing on sales volume to focusing on high gross margin products and developing new markets such as exports. An increase in sales volume led to a sales increase of $6.2 million and an increase in average selling price led to a sales increase of $2.1 million.

 

Net product sales for Shenyang were $10.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $8.2 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $1.9 million, or 23.2%. Shenyang’s products are mainly sold to Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Co., Ltd., “Brilliance Jinbei”, one of China’s largest commercial car manufacturers. The sales of Shenyang are mainly impacted by the demand of Brilliance Jinbei. An increase in sales volumes led to a sales increase of $0.4 million and an increase in average selling price led to a sales increase of $1.5 million.

 

Net product sales for Wuhu were $6.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $5.1 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $1.4 million, or 27.5%. An increase in sales volumes led to a sales increase of $2.0 million and a decrease in average selling price led to a sales decrease of $0.6 million.

 

Net product sales for Hubei Henglong were $24.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $13.9 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $10.9 million, or 78.4%. Hubei Henglong’s products are mainly sold to Chrysler and Ford. The significant increase in the sales of Hubei Henglong was mainly due to the new products developed for Chrysler and Ford that began mass production at the end of 2016. An increase in sales volumes led to a sales increase of $15.2 million and a decrease in average selling price led to a sales decrease of $4.3 million.

 

Net product sales for Other Sectors were $15.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $11.6 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $3.4 million, or 29.3%, primarily due to an increase in average selling price of Jielong, which manufactures automobile steering columns for both HPS and EPS.

 

Cost of Products Sold

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the cost of products sold was $95.9 million, compared to $74.6 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $21.3 million, or 28.6%. The increase in the cost of products sold was mainly due to the effect of an increase in sales volumes which led to a cost of products sold increase of $10.0 million and an increase in unit cost which led to a cost of products sold increase of $11.3 million. Further analysis is as follows: 

 

Cost of products sold for Henglong was $47.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, consistent with $47.6 million for the same period of 2016. A decrease in sales volume led to a cost of products sold decrease of $10.8 million and an increase in unit cost led to a cost of products sold increase of $10.8 million.

 

 •Cost of products sold for Jiulong was $22.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $14.9 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $7.9 million, or 53.0%. An increase in sales volume led to a cost of products sold increase of $5.8 million and an increase in unit cost led to a cost of products sold increase of $2.1 million.

 

Cost of products sold for Shenyang was $8.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $7.1 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $1.7 million, or 23.9%. The increase in cost of products sold was mainly due to an increase in sales volumes, which led to a cost of products sold increase of $0.4 million, and an increase in unit cost, which led to a cost of products sold increase of $1.3 million.

 

Cost of products sold for Wuhu was $5.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $4.7 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $1.2 million, or 25.5%. The increase in cost of products sold was mainly due to an increase in sales volumes, which led to a cost of products sold increase of $1.9 million, and a decrease in unit cost, which led to a cost of products sold decrease of $0.7 million.

  

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Cost of products sold for Hubei Henglong was $17.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $10.3 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $7.4 million, or 71.8%. The increase in cost of products sold was mainly due to an increase in sales volumes, which led to a cost of products sold increase of $11.3 million, and a decrease in unit cost, which led to a cost of products sold decrease of $3.9 million.

 

Cost of products sold for Other Sectors was $12.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $9.6 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $3.1 million, or 32.3%, primarily due to the increase in unit cost of Jielong.

 

Gross margin was 19.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to 21.1% for the same period of 2016, representing a decrease of 2.1%, mainly due to the changes in the product mix for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

 

Gain on Other Sales

 

Gain on other sales mainly consisted of net amount retained from sales of materials, property, plant and equipment, land use rights, and scraps. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, gain on other sales amounted to $0.6 million, as compared to$0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $0.5 million. The increase was mainly due to increased sales volume of materials.

  

Selling Expenses

 

Selling expenses were $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $3.8 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $0.7 million, or 18.4%, which was mainly due to increased logistics fees related to the increase in revenue.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses were $4.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $3.7 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $0.7 million, or 18.9%, which was mainly due to higher payroll expenses.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $9.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $2.5 million, or 37.3%, which was mainly due to increased expenditures on R&D activities for EPS products. The Company’s research and development expenses were mainly used for the development and trial production of EPS and other new products. The Company’s research and development expenditures have continued to be significant in the past several years.

 

The global automotive parts industry is highly competitive; winning and maintaining new business requires suppliers to rapidly produce innovative products on a cost-competitive basis. In the past several years, the Company has continued to purchase advanced manufacturing equipment for newly developed products, hiring senior technicians and actively seeking external technical support.

 

Income from Operations

 

Income from operations was $4.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $5.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $0.8 million, or 14.0%,including an increase of $2.5 million in gross profit, an increase of $0.5 million in gain on other sales and an increase of $3.8 million in operating expenses.

 

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Other Income, Net

 

Other income, net was $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to other income, net of $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $0.3 million, or 75.0%, primarily as a result of the gain on disposal of a subsidiary amounting to $0.7 million in 2016, whereas there was no such gain in the current quarter.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense was $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to interest expense of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $0.1 million, or 50.0%, primarily due to the new bank loans borrowed in 2017.

 

Financial Income, Net

 

Financial income, net, was $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to financial income of $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $0.2 million, or 25%, which was mainly due to the interest income of $0.5 million generated from the loan to Henglong Real Estate, one of the Company’s related parties (See Note 5).

  

Income Before Income Tax Expenses and Equity in Earnings of Affiliated Companies

 

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was $5.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $1.0 million, or 14.9%, which was mainly due to a decrease in operating income of $0.8 million, a decrease in other income of $0.3 million, an increase in interest expense of $0.1 million and an increase in financial income of $0.2 million.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense was $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $1.2 million of income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $0.2 million, or 16.7%. The income before income tax decreased to $5.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 from $6.7 million for the same period in 2016 and the effective tax rate decreased to 17.3% from 17.4% for the same period in 2016.

 

Net Income

 

Net income was $5.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to net income of $5.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $0.7 million, or 11.9%, which was mainly due to a decrease in income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies of $1.0 million, a decrease in income tax of $0.2 million and an increase in equity in earnings of affiliated companies of $0.2 million.  

 

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Net Income Attributable to Non-controlling Interests

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, substantially consistent with $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.

 

The Company owns equity interests in nine non-wholly owned subsidiaries established in the PRC and Brazil, through which it conducts its operations. Except for Beijing Henglong and Chongqing Jinghua, which are accounted for under the equity method, all of the operating results of these non-wholly owned subsidiaries were consolidated in the Company’s financial statements as of September 30, 2017 and 2016.

  

Net Income Attributable to Parent Company’s Common Shareholders

 

Net income attributable to parent company’s common shareholders was $5.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to net income attributable to parent company’s common shareholders of $5.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $0.6 million, which was mainly due to a decrease in net income of $0.7 million.

 

Results of Operations—Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

 

   Net Product Sales   Cost of Products Sold 
   (in thousands of USD,
except percentages)
   (in thousands of USD,
except percentages)
 
   2017   2016   Change   2017   2016   Change 
Henglong  $191,093   $195,940    (4,847)   -2.47%  $164,765   $165,421   $(656)   -0.40%
Jiulong   75,525    54,976    20,549    37.38    65,358    47,583    17,775    37.36 
Shenyang   28,777    24,898    3,879    15.58    25,123    21,710    3,413    15.72 
Wuhu   18,254    15,897    2,357    14.83    16,891    14,459    2,432    16.82 
Hubei Henglong   66,855    42,815    24,040    56.15    46,220    31,418    14,802    47.11 
Other Sectors   40,821    29,558    11,263    38.11    34,492    24,216    10,276    42.43 
Total Segments   421,325    364,084    57,241    15.72    352,849    304,807    48,042    15.76 
Elimination   (65,992)   (51,587)   (14,405)   27.92    (65,693)   (51,455)   (14,238)   27.67 
Total  $355,333   $312,497   $42,836    13.71%  $287,156   $253,352   $33,804    13.34%

 

Net Product Sales

 

Net product sales were $355.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $312.5 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $42.8 million, or 13.7%.

 

The Company’s net product sales were affected by the change in the product mix. Net sales of traditional steering products and parts were $270.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $226.8 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $43.4 million, or 19.1%. Net sales of EPS were $85.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $85.7 million for the same period in 2016, representing a decrease of $0.6 million, or 0.7%. As a percentage of net sales, sales of EPS were 24.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to 27.4% for the same period in 2016. The increase in net product sales was mainly due to increased sales and the changes in the product mix for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

  

The depreciation of China’s currency, the RMB, against the U.S. dollar in the first nine months of 2017 as compared to the first nine months of 2016 had a negative impact on net sales as more than 80% of the Company’s business is conducted in China.

 

In summary, due to the recovery of Chinese automobile industry, the sales of steering gears started to grow, which led to an increase in sales volume and contributed to a sales increase of $52.2 million. Some of the Company’s subsidiaries are gradually shifting their strategy from focusing on sales volume to focusing on high gross margin products and developing new markets such as exports, and the change in product mix led to an increase in average selling price of steering gears and contributed to a sales increase of $4.5 million. The effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales decrease of $13.9 million.

 

Further analysis by segment (before elimination) is as follows:

 

  Net product sales for Henglong were $191.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $195.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $4.8 million, or 2.5%. A decrease in sales volume led to a sales decrease of $1.7 million, an increase in average selling price led to a sales increase of $4.0 million, and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales decrease of $7.1 million.

 

  Net product sales for Jiulong were $75.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $55.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $20.5 million, or 37.3%. Jiulong is gradually shifting its strategy from focusing on sales volume to focusing on high gross margin products and developing new markets such as exports. An increase in sales volume led to a sales increase of $17.6 million, an increase in average selling price led to a sales increase of $5.2 million, and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales decrease of $2.3 million.

 

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  Net product sales for Shenyang were $28.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $24.9 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $3.9 million, or 15.7%. Shenyang’s products are mainly sold to Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Co., Ltd., “Brilliance Jinbei”, one of China’s largest commercial car manufacturers. The sales of Shenyang are mainly impacted by the demand of Brilliance Jinbei. An increase in sales volumes led to a sales increase of $4.4 million, an increase in average selling price led to a sales increase of $0.4 million, and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales decrease of $0.9 million.

 

  Net product sales for Wuhu were $18.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $15.9 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $2.4 million, or 15.1%. An increase in sales volumes led to a sales increase of $4.2 million, a decrease in average selling price led to a sales decrease of $1.3 million, and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales decrease of $0.5 million.
     
  Net product sales for Hubei Henglong were $66.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $42.8 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $24.1 million, or 56.3%. Hubei Henglong’s products are mainly sold to Chrysler and Ford. The significant increase in the sales of Hubei Henglong was mainly due to the new products developed for Chrysler and Ford that began mass production at the end of 2016. An increase in sales volumes led to a sales increase of $32.8 million, a decrease in average selling price led to a sales decrease of $6.7 million, and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a sales decrease of $2.0 million.

 

  Net product sales for Other Sectors were $40.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $29.6 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of $11.2 million, or 37.8%, primarily due to an increase in the sales of Jielong, which manufactures automobile steering columns for both HPS and EPS.

 

Cost of Products Sold

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the cost of products sold was $287.2 million, compared to $253.4 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $33.8 million, or 13.3%. The increase in the cost of products sold was mainly due to the net effect of a net increase in sales volumes which led to a cost of products sold increase of $41.1 million, an increase in unit cost which led to a cost of products sold increase of $4.3 million, and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar which led to a cost of products sold decrease of $11.6 million. Further analysis is as follows: 

 

Cost of products sold for Henglong was $164.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $165.4 million for the same period of 2016, representing a decrease of $0.6 million, or 0.4%. A decrease in sales volumes led to a cost of products sold decrease of $1.0 million, an increase in unit cost led to a cost of products sold increase of $6.4 million and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a cost of products sold decrease of $6.0 million.

 

Cost of products sold for Jiulong was $65.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $47.6 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $17.8 million, or 37.4%. An increase in sales volume led to a cost of products sold increase of $15.6 million, an increase in unit cost led to a cost of products sold increase of $4.3 million, and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar led to a cost of products sold decrease of $2.1 million.

 

Cost of products sold for Shenyang was $25.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $21.7 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $3.4 million, or 15.7%. The increase in cost of products sold was mainly due to an increase in sales volumes, which led to a cost of products sold increase of $4.2 million and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar, which led to a cost of products sold decrease of $0.8 million.

 

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Cost of products sold for Wuhu was $16.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $14.5 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $2.4 million, or 16.6%. The increase in cost of products sold was mainly due to an increase in sales volumes, which led to a cost of products sold increase of $4.0 million, a decrease in unit cost, which led to a cost of products sold decrease of $1.1 million, and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar, which led to a cost of products sold decrease of $0.5 million.

 

Cost of products sold for Hubei Henglong was $46.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $31.4 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $14.8 million, or 47.1%. The increase in cost of products sold was mainly due to an increase in sales volumes, which led to a cost of products sold increase of $23.7 million, a decrease in unit cost, which led to a cost of products sold decrease of $7.8 million, and the effect of foreign currency translation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar, which led to a cost of products sold decrease of $1.1 million.

 

Cost of products sold for Other Sectors was $34.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $24.2 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $10.3 million, or 42.6%, primarily due to the increase in sales volumes of Jielong.

 

Gross margin was 19.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to 18.9% for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of 0.3%, mainly due to increased sales and the changes in the product mix in the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

 

Gain on Other Sales

 

Gain on other sales mainly consisted of net amount retained from sales of materials, property, plant and equipment, land use rights, and scraps. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, gain on other sales amounted to $5.9 million, as compared to $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $3.9 million. The increase was mainly due to the gain on disposal of a building of $2.2 million and increased sales volume of materials.

  

Selling Expenses

 

Selling expenses were $13.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $12.3 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $0.9 million, or 7.3%, which was mainly due to increased logistics fees related to the increase in revenue.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses were $14.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $12.0 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $2.0 million, or 16.7%, which was mainly due to the allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.0 million and higher payroll expenses.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $23.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $18.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $4.9 million, or 26.1%, which was mainly due to increased expenditures on R&D activities for EPS products. The Company’s research and development expenses were mainly used for the development and trial production of EPS and other new products. The Company’s research and development expenditures have continued to be significant in the past several years.

 

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The global automotive parts industry is highly competitive; winning and maintaining new business requires suppliers to rapidly produce innovative products on a cost-competitive basis. In the past several years, the Company has continued to purchase advanced manufacturing equipment for newly developed products, hiring senior technicians and actively seeking external technical support.

 

Income from Operations

 

Income from operations was $23.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $18.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $5.2 million, or 28.9%, including an increase of $9.0 million in gross profit, an increase of $3.9 million in gain on other sales and an increase of $7.7 million in operating expenses.

 

Other Expense/Income, Net

 

Other expense, net was $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to other income, net of $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase in other expense of $1.1 million, primarily as a result of the gain on disposal of a subsidiary amounting to $0.7 million in 2016 whereas there was no such gain in the current period. 

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense was $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to interest expense of $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $0.7 million, primarily due to the new bank loans borrowed in 2017 and higher interest rates.

 

Financial Income, Net

 

Financial income, net, was $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to financial income, net of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $0.6 million, or 46.2%, which was mainly due to the interest income of $0.9 million generated from the loan to Henglong Real Estate, one of the Company’s related parties (See Note 5).

 

Income Before Income Tax Expenses and Equity in Earnings of Affiliated Companies

 

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was $23.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $19.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $4.1 million, or 20.7%, which was mainly due to an increase in operating income of $5.2 million, an increase in other expense of $1.1 million, an increase in interest expense of $0.7 million and an increase in financial income of $0.6 million.

  

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense was $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $3.4 million of income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $1.0 million, or 29.4%. The income before income tax increased to $23.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 from $19.8 million for the same period in 2016 and the effective tax rate increased to 18.2% from 17.3%.

 

Net Income

 

Net income was $20.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to net income of $16.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $3.1 million, or 18.3%, which was mainly due to an increase in income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies of $4.1 million, an increase in income tax of $1.0 million and a decrease in equity in earnings of affiliated companies of $0.1 million. 

 

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Net Income Attributable to Non-controlling Interests

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

 

The Company owns equity interests in nine non-wholly owned subsidiaries established in the PRC and Brazil, through which it conducts its operations. Except for Beijing Henglong and Chongqing Jinghua, which are accounted for under the equity method, all the operating results of these non-wholly owned subsidiaries were consolidated in the Company’s financial statements as of September 30, 2017 and 2016.

  

Net Income Attributable to Parent Company’s Common Shareholders

 

Net income attributable to parent company’s common shareholders was $19.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to net income attributable to parent company’s common shareholders of $16.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing an increase of $2.9 million, or 17.3%, which was mainly due to an increase in net income of $3.1 million and an increase in net income attributable to non-controlling interests of $0.2 million.

 

Privatization Proposal

 

On August 2, 2017, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment by the special committee (the “Special Committee”) of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) of HoulihanLokey Capital, Inc. as its financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis as its U.S. legal counsel in connection with its review and evaluation of the previously announced preliminary non-binding proposal letter that the Board received on May 14, 2017 from Mr.Hanlin Chen, the Chairman of the Board of the Company, relating to a possible “going private” transaction, as well as in connection with its review and evaluation of any other sale, merger, business combination or other corporate transaction, with Mr. Chen or any other party, and any other strategic alternatives.

 

As previously announced, Mr. Chen has submitted a preliminary non-binding proposal to the Board to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company not already beneficially owned by Mr. Chen for $5.45 per share of common stock in cash. Mr. Chen and his affiliates currently beneficially own approximately 56.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company on a fully diluted and as-converted basis. The proposal is expressly conditioned on approval by a special committee of the Board comprised of independent directors and is subject to a non-waivable condition requiring approval by a majority vote of the Company’s unaffiliated stockholders. The Special Committee, consisting of Mr. Arthur Wong, Mr. Robert Tung and Mr. Guangxun Xu, is empowered to, and will be responsible for, among other things, investigating, evaluating, negotiating and making a recommendation to the Board with respect to the proposal. The Special Committee is also empowered to retain its own independent advisors to assist in the evaluation of the proposal and any alternative proposals.

 

The Board cautions the Company's shareholders, and others considering trading in its securities, that it has only received a proposal. No decision has been made with respect to the Company's response to the proposal. There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be made, that any agreement will be executed or that a transaction with Mr. Chen or any other transaction will be approved or consummated. The Company is not obligated to make, and does not at this time anticipate making, any further public statements about this matter or the activities of the special committee unless and until either the Company enters into a definitive agreement for a transaction or the special committee determines that no such transaction will be effected.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Capital Resources and Use of Cash

 

The Company has historically financed its liquidity requirements from a variety of sources, including short-term borrowings under bank credit agreements, bankers’ acceptances, issuances of capital stock and notes and internally generated cash. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and time deposits included in short-term investments of $79.2 million, compared to $61.6 million as of December 31, 2016, representing an increase of $17.6 million, or 28.7%. Short-term investments included pledged short-term investments of $2.1 million and $5.7 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

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The Company had working capital (total current assets less total current liabilities) of $167.2 million as of September 30, 2017, compared to $161.0 million as of December 31, 2016, representing an increase of $6.2 million, or 3.9%.

 

The Company intends to indefinitely reinvest the funds in subsidiaries established in the PRC.

 

The Company believes that, in view of its current cash position, the cash expected to be generated from the operations and funds available from bank borrowings as detailed in subsequent paragraphs will be sufficient to meet its working capital and capital expenditure requirements, including the repayment of bank loans, for at least twelve months commencing from the date of this report. 

 

Capital Source

 

The Company’s capital source is multifaceted, such as bank loans and banker’s acceptance facilities. In financing activities and operating activities, the Company’s banks require the Company to sign line of credit agreements and repay all existing borrowings under such facilities within one year. On the condition that the Company can provide adequate mortgage security and has not violated the terms of the line of credit agreement, such one year facilities can be extended for another year.

 

The Company had short-term loans of $73.6 million (See Note 13) and bankers’ acceptances of $79.9 million (See Note 14) as of September 30, 2017.

 

The Company currently expects to be able to obtain similar bank loans, i.e., RMB loans, and bankers’ acceptance facilities in the future if it can provide adequate mortgage security following the termination of the above-mentioned agreements, see the table under “Bank Arrangements” below for more information. If the Company is not able to do so, it will have to refinance such debt as it becomes due or repay that debt to the extent it has cash available from operations or from the proceeds of additional issuances of capital stock. Owing to depreciation, the value of the mortgages securing the above-mentioned bank loans and banker's acceptances will be reduced by approximately $12.3 million over the next 12 months. If the Company wishes to obtain the same amount of bank loans and banker's acceptances, it will have to provide additional mortgages of $12.3 million as of the maturity date of such line of credit agreements, see the table under “Bank Arrangements” below for more information. The Company can still obtain a reduced line of credit with a reduction of $8.9 million, which is 72.0%, the mortgage rate, of $12.3 million, if it cannot provide additional mortgages. The Company expects that the reduction in bank loans will not have a material adverse effect on its liquidity.

 

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   Bank  Due
Date
  Amount
Available
(4)
   Amount
Used
   Assessed
Mortgage
Value(5)
 
1.  Comprehensive credit facilities  Hubei Bank(6)  Sep-2017  $27,121   $6,192   $56,193 
                          
2.  Comprehensive credit facilities  China Construction Bank  Dec-2017   4,520    653    10,604 
                          
3.  Comprehensive credit facilities  Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (1)(6)  Oct-2017   19,587    9,608    15,559 
                      
4.  Comprehensive credit facilities  China CITIC Bank (1)  Sep-2017   60,269    52,990    9,256 
                      
   China CITIC Bank (1)  Jul-2019   3,255    2,260    5,730 
                      
5.  Comprehensive credit facilities  Hua Xia Bank(1)  Jul-2017   30,135    1,784    - 
                      
6.  Comprehensive credit facilities  China Everbright Bank  Dec-2017   4,520    2,728    7,715 
                      
7.  Comprehensive credit facilities  ICBC Macau  May-2018   23,844    20,000    23,945 
                      
8.  Comprehensive credit facilities  HSBC (Brazil) Company Limited  Oct-2017   70    4    75 
                      
9.  Comprehensive credit facilities  Bank of China (Brazil)  Feb-2018   610    622    904 
                      
10.  Comprehensive credit facilities  Bank of China (1)  Apr-2018   22,601    8,109    - 
                      
11.  Comprehensive credit facilities   China Merchants Bank(1)  Apr-2018   15,067    2,117    - 
                      
12.  Comprehensive credit facilities  Taishin International Bank  Apr-2018   10,000    9,858    12,570 
                      
Total        $221,599   $116,925(2)  $142,551(3)

 

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Bank Arrangements

 

As of September 30, 2017, the principal outstanding under the Company’s credit facilities and lines of credit was as follows (figures are in thousands of USD):

  

(1) Each of Hubei Henglong’s comprehensive credit facilities with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank is required to be guaranteed by Jielong and Hubei Henglong in addition to the above pledged assets. Each of Hubei Henglong, Henglong, Jiulong, Jielong, Chuguanjie and USAI’s comprehensive credit facilities with China CITIC Bank is required to be guaranteed by Henglong and Hubei Henglong, in addition to the above pledged assets and Henglong’s comprehensive credit facilities with Hua Xia Bank are required to be guaranteed by Hubei Henglong. Each of Hubei Henglong, Henglong, Jiulong, Jielong’s comprehensive credit facilities with Bank of China is required to be guaranteed by Hubei Henglong and Henglong, and Henglong’s comprehensive credit facilities with China Merchants Bank are required to be guaranteed by Hubei Henglong.
   
(2) Amount used represents the credit facilities used by the Company for the purpose of bank loans or notes payable during the facility contract period. The loans or notes payable under the credit facilities will remain outstanding regardless of the expiration of the relevant credit facilities until the separate loans or notes payable expire. The amount used includes bank loans of $69.1 million and notes payable of $46.5 million as of September 30, 2017. The remainder of $4.5 million of government loan and $35.7 million of notes payable was secured by bank notes or time deposits without utilization of credit lines.
   
(3) In order to obtain lines of credit, the Company needs to pledge certain assets to banks. As of September 30, 2017, the pledged assets included $35.9 million accounts and notes receivable, $1.6 million of time deposits and other pledged assets with assessed value of $105.1 million.

  

(4) The amount available is used for the drawdown of bank loans and issuance of bank notes. For the drawdown of bank loans, this amount represents the amount that the Company can borrow immediately; for issuance of bank notes, the Company needs to pledge additional collateral in order to utilize these bank facilities.
   
(5) The pledged cash deposits were not included in the assessed mortgage value.
   
(6) As at the date of this report, the comprehensive credit facilities with Hubei Bank and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank have expired. The Company is negotiating the renewals of the credit facilities with the banks and expects to obtain the renewals in late November 2017. As the Company has obtained sufficient comprehensive lines of credit from other banks, the Company does not anticipate any significant adverse impact on its financial position if the Company fails to renew these credit facilities.

 

The Company may request the banks to issue notes payable or bank loans within its credit line using a 365-day revolving line.

 

The Company’s loan terms range from eleven months to eighteen months. Pursuant to the comprehensive credit line arrangement, the Company pledged and guaranteed:

 

1. Equipment with an assessed value of approximately $56.2 million as security for its revolving comprehensive credit facility with Hubei Bank.

 

2. Land use rights, buildings and equipment with an assessed value of approximately $10.6 million as security for its revolving comprehensive credit facility with China Construction Bank.

 

3. Land use rights and buildings with an assessed value of approximately $15.6 million as security for its revolving comprehensive credit facility with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.

 

4. Land use rights and buildings with an assessed value of approximately $9.3 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with China CITIC Bank Wuhan branch.

 

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5. Land use rights and buildings with an assessed value of approximately $5.7 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with China CITIC Bank Shenyang branch.

 

6. Land use rights and buildings with an assessed value of approximately $7.7 million as security for its comprehensive credit facility with China Everbright Bank.

 

7. On April 20, 2017, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with ICBC Macau to obtain the Credit Facility. The interest rate of the Credit Facility is calculated based on a three-month LIBOR plus 1.30% per annum, subject to the availability of funds and fluctuation at ICBC Macau’s discretion. Interest is calculated daily based on a 360-day year and it is fixed one day before the first day of each interest period. The interest period is defined as three months from the date of drawdown.

 

As security for the Credit Facility, the Company was required to provide ICBC Macau with the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of not less than $23.9 million if the Credit Facility is fully drawn.

 

On May 5, 2017, the Company drew down the full amount of $20.0 million under the Credit Facility and provided the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $23.9 million in favor of ICBC Macau. The Henglong Standby Letter of Credit issued by ICBC Jingzhou is collateralized by Henglong’s notes receivable of RMB 158.5 million, equivalent to approximately $23.9 million. The Company also paid an arrangement fee of $0.04 million to ICBC Jingzhou. The maturity date of the Credit Facility is May 12, 2018.

 

8. On April 1, 2016, Brazil Henglong entered into a credit facility agreement with HSBC Brazil to obtain a credit facility in the amount of $0.1 million, the “HSBC Brazil Credit Facility”. The HSBC Brazil Credit Facility expired on October 27, 2017. As security for the HSBC Credit Facility, the Company’s subsidiary Hubei Henglong was required to provide HSBC Brazil with the Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of $0.1 million if the HSBC Brazil Credit Facility was fully drawn.

 

On May 6, 2016, Brazil Henglong drew down a loan amounting to $0.1 million provided by HSBC Brazil. The loan matured on October 9, 2017 and had an annual interest rate of 8.2%.Hubei Henglong provided a Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $0.1 million in favor of HSBC Brazil. Hubei Henglong’s Standby Letter of Credit was issued by China CITIC Bank Wuhan branch and was collateralized by short-term investments of Hubei Henglong of RMB 0.5 million, equivalent to approximately $0.1 million. The Company repaid this bank loan in October 9, 2017.

 

9. On August 26, 2016, Brazil Henglong entered into a credit facility agreement with Bank of China (Brazil) to obtain a credit facility in the amount of $0.6 million, the “Bank of China Credit Facility”. The Bank of China Credit Facility will expire on January 15, 2018. As security for the Bank of China Credit Facility, the Company’s subsidiary Hubei Henglong is required to provide Bank of China (Brazil) with a Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of $0.9 million if the Bank of China Credit Facility is fully drawn.

 

On August 26, 2016, Brazil Henglong drew down a loan amounting to $0.6 million provided by Bank of China (Brazil). The loan will mature on January 15, 2018 and has an annual interest rate of 4.0%. Interest is paid semiannually and the principal repayment is at maturity. Hubei Henglong provided a Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $0.9 million in favor of Bank of China (Brazil). Hubei Henglong’s Standby Letter of Credit was issued by Bank of China Jingzhou branch and is collateralized by long-term time deposits of Hubei Henglong of RMB 6.0 million, equivalent to approximately $0.9 million.

 

10. On April 25, 2017, Great Genesis entered into a credit facility agreement with Taishin Bank to obtain a non-revolving credit facility in the amount of $10.0 million, the “Taishin Bank Credit Facility”. The Taishin Bank Credit Facility will expire on April 25, 2018 and has an annual interest rate of 2.7%. Interest is paid quarterly and the principal repayment is payable at maturity. As security for the Taishin Bank Credit Facility, the Company’s subsidiary Henglong is required to provide Taishin Bank with the Standby Letter of Credit for a total amount of not less than $10.0 million if the Taishin Bank Credit Facility is fully drawn.

 

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On April 28, 2017, Great Genesis drew down the full amount of $9.9 million under the Taishin Bank Credit Facility and provided the Henglong Standby Letter of Credit for an amount of $10.0 million in favor of Taishin Bank. Henglong’s Standby Letter of Credit issued by China CITIC Bank Wuchang branch is collateralized by Henglong’s short-term investments of RMB 4.0 million, equivalent to approximately $0.6 million, and notes receivable of RMB 79.4 million, equivalent to approximately $12.0 million.

 

Cash Requirements

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s expected cash outflows resulting from financial contracts and commitments (in thousands of USD). The Company has not included information on its recurring purchases of materials for use in its manufacturing operations. These amounts are generally consistent from year to year, closely reflecting the Company’s levels of production, and are not long-term in nature (being less than three months in length).

 

       Payment Due Dates 
   Total   Less than 1 year   1-3 years   3-5 years   More than 5 Years 
Short-term loan including interest payable  $74,951   $74,951   $-   $-   $- 
Notes payable (1)   82,165    82,165    -    -    - 
Obligation for investment contract (2)   5,424    -    5,424    -    - 
Other contractual purchase commitments, including service agreements   24,676    16,496    8,180    -    - 
Total  $187,216   $173,612   $13,604   $-   $- 

 

(1) Notes payable do not bear interest.
   
(2)  In May 2016, Hubei Henglong entered into an agreement with other parties to establish a venture capital fund, the “Chongqing Venture Fund”. Hubei Henglong has committed to make investments of RMB 120.0 million, equivalent to approximately $18.1 million, into the Chongqing Venture Fund in three installments. As of September 30, 2017, Hubei Henglong has completed a capital contribution of RMB 84.0 million, equivalent to approximately $12.7 million, representing 35.0% of the Chongqing Venture Fund’s shares. According to the agreement, the remaining capital commitment of RMB 36.0 million, equivalent to approximately $5.4 million, will be paid upon capital calls received from the Chongqing Venture Fund.

 

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Short-term Bank and Government Loans

  

The following table summarizes the contract information of short-term borrowings between the banks and the Company as of September 30, 2017 (figures are in thousands of USD).

 

Bank
Government
  Purpose  Borrowing 
Date
  Borrowing 
Term 
(Months)
   Annual 
Interest 
Rate
   Date of 
Interest 
Payment
  Due Date  Amount 
Payable on 
Due Date
 
Bank of China (Brazil)  Working Capital  Aug. 26, 2016   18    4.01%  Pay semi annually  Jan. 15, 2018   622 
                            
HSBC (Brazil) Company Limited  Working Capital  May 6, 2016   17    8.21%  Pay quarterly  Oct. 9, 2017   4 
                            
China CITIC Bank  Working Capital  Nov. 4, 2016   12    5.22%  Pay monthly  Nov. 4, 2017   2,260 
                            
China CITIC Bank  Working Capital  Mar. 3, 2017   11    4.99%  Pay in arrear  Feb. 5, 2018   4,896 
                            
China CITIC Bank  Working Capital  Mar. 3, 2017   11    4.99%  Pay in arrear  Feb. 6, 2018   4,895 
                            
China CITIC Bank  Working Capital  Mar. 3, 2017   11    4.99%  Pay in arrear  Feb. 7, 2018   4,607 
                            
China CITIC Bank  Working Capital  Mar. 3, 2017   11    4.99%  Pay in arrear  Feb. 8, 2018   4,318 
                            
China CITIC Bank  Working Capital  Mar. 3, 2017   11    4.99%  Pay in arrear  Feb. 2, 2018   4,322 
                            
China CITIC Bank  Working Capital  Mar. 3, 2017   11    4.99%  Pay in arrear  Feb. 9, 2018   5,758 
                            
Financial Bureau of Jingzhou Development Zone  Working Capital  Apr. 21, 2017   8    0.00%  N/A  Dec. 8, 2017   1,507 
                            
ICBC Macau  Working Capital  May 5, 2017   12    2.63%  Pay quarterly  May 4, 2018   20,000 
                            
Taishin International Bank  Working Capital  Apr. 28, 2017   12    2.65%  Pay quarterly  Apr. 23, 2018   9,858 
                            
Financial Bureau of Jingzhou Development Zone  Working Capital  Aug. 17, 2017   12    1.50%  Pay in arrear  Aug. 16, 2018   3,013 
                            
Bank of China (JingzhouShashi)  Working Capital  Sep. 28, 2017   12    4.57%  Pay monthly  Sep. 27, 2018   7,534 
Total                        $73,594 

 

The Company must use the loans for the purpose described in the table. For the two bank loans with ICBC Macau and HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, if the Company fails to do so, it will be charged a penalty interest at 60% to 100% of the specified loan rate listed in the table above. Except for the loan granted by ICBC Macau as disclosed in the section “Capital Source” above, the Company has to pay interest at the interest rate described in the table on the 20th of each month, quarter or semiannual period, as applicable. If the Company fails to do so, it will be charged compound interest at the specified rate in the above table. The Company has to repay the principal outstanding on the specified date in the table. If it fails to do so, it will be charged a penalty interest at 50% of the specified loan rate.

 

Management believes that the Company complied with such financial covenants as of September 30, 2017, and will continue to comply with them.

 

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Notes Payable

 

The following table summarizes the contract information of issuing notes payable between the banks and the Company as of September 30, 2017 (figures are in thousands of USD):

 

Purpose  Term (Month)  Due Date  Amount
Payable on
Due Date
 
Working Capital (1)  6  Oct. 2017  $18,501 
Working Capital  6  Nov. 2017   12,057 
Working Capital  12  Nov. 2017   2,260 
Working Capital  6  Dec. 2017   11,553 
Working Capital  6  Jan. 2018   10,982 
Working Capital  6  Feb. 2018   11,338 
Working Capital  6  Mar. 2018   15,474 
Total (See Note 15)        $82,165 

 

(1)The notes payable were repaid in full on their respective due dates.

 

The Company must use notes payable for the purpose described in the table. If it fails to do so, the banks will no longer issue the notes payable, and it may have an adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and capital resources. The Company has to deposit sufficient cash in the designated account of the bank on the due date of notes payable for payment to the suppliers. If the bank has advanced payment for the Company, it will be charged a penalty interest at 50% of the loan rate that is published by the People’s Bank of China for the same period. The Company complied with such financial covenants as of September 30, 2017, and believes it will continue to comply with them.

 

Cash Flows

 

(a)Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $43.0 million, compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $13.1 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $29.9 million, which was mainly due to the net effect of (1) the increase in net income excluding non-cash items by $6.7 million and (2) the increase in cash inflows from movements of operating assets and liabilities by $23.2 million. The increase in cash inflows was primarily due to the offsetting effect of (1) the decrease in cash inflows due to the movement of pledged deposits by $8.5 million, (2) the increase in cash outflows due to the movement of accounts and notes payable by $18.0 million, (3) the increase in cash inflows due to the movement of accounts and notes receivable by $51.3 million, (4) the decrease in cash outflows due to the movement of inventories by $11.8 million, (5) the increase in cash outflows due to the movement of accrued expenses and other payables by $7.5 million and (6) the increase in cash outflows due to the movement of tax payable by $8.2 million.

 

(b)Investing Activities

 

The Company used net cash of $50.5 million in investment activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $46.0 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of cash outflows by $4.5 million, which was mainly due to (1) a decrease in purchases of property, plant and equipment of $8.0 million, (2) a decrease in cash used in purchases of short-term investments of $3.2 million, (3) an increase in other receivables of $2.2 million, (4) an increase in cash used in purchase of long-term time deposit by $5.8 million, (5) an increase in proceeds from maturities of short-term investments by $20.5 million and (6) an increase in cash outflows due to a loan to a related party by $29.0 million.

 

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(c)Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $30.4 million, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $3.6 million for the same period of 2016, representing an increase of $26.8 million, which was mainly due to the net effect of (1) increased proceeds of $57.9 million from bank and government loans and (2) increased repayments of $32.1 million to banks and the government.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company did not have any significant transactions, obligations or relationships that could be considered off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

There were no material changes to the disclosure made in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 regarding this matter.

   

ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

A.Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, Messrs. Wu Qizhou and Li Jie, respectively, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2017, the end of the period covered by this Report. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports, such as this Form 10-Q, that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on that evaluation, Messrs. Wu and Li concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2017.

 

The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of its disclosure control system are met. Because of inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company have been detected.

  

B.Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II. — OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

The Company is not a party to any pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any threatened legal proceedings. In addition, no director, officer or affiliate of the Company, or owner of record of more than five percent of the securities of the Company, or any associate of any such director, officer or security holder is a party adverse to the Company or has a material interest adverse to the Company in reference to pending litigation.

 

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ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS.

 

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A of the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

  

ITEM 2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

 

None.

 

ITEM 3.DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

 

Not applicable.

  

ITEM 5.OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None.

 

ITEM 6.EXHIBITS.

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
     
3.1(i)   Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from the filing on Form 10SB12G File No. 000-33123).
     
3.1(ii)   Bylaws (incorporated by reference from the Form 10SB12G File No. 000-33123).
     
10.1   Joint-venture Agreement, dated March 31, 2006, as amended on May 2, 2006, between Great Genesis Holdings Limited and Wuhu Chery Technology Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report on May 10, 2006).
     
10.2   Stock Exchange Agreement dated August 11, 2014 by and among Jingzhou City Jiulong Machinery Electricity Manufacturing Co., Ltd., China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Hubei Henglong Automotive System Group Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report on August 13, 2014).
     
31.1   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification*
     
31.2   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification*
     
32.1   Section 1350 Certification*
     
32.2   Section 1350 Certification*
     
101*   The following materials from the China Automotive Systems, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, were filed on November 9, 2017 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL):
     
  (i) Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income,
     
  (ii) Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets,
     
  (iii) Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and
     
  (iv) related notes
     
  * filed herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    (Registrant)
       
Date: November 9, 2017   By: / s/ Qizhou Wu
      Qizhou Wu
      President and Chief Executive Officer
       
Date: November 9, 2017   By: /s/ Jie Li
      Jie Li
      Chief Financial Officer

 

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