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EX-32.1 - CERTIFICATION - iFresh Incf10q0917ex32-1_ifreshinc.htm
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EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION - iFresh Incf10q0917ex31-1_ifreshinc.htm

 

 

UNITED STATES

 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(MARK ONE)

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

 

For the quarter ended September 30, 2017

 

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

 

For the transition period from                    to                  

 

Commission file number: 001-38013

 

iFresh Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
Delaware   82-066764
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

2-39 54th Avenue
Long Island City, New York

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(718) 628 6200

(Issuer’s telephone number)

 

Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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       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       No   

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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

 

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  

 

As of November 14, 2017, 14,173,033 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, were issued and outstanding.

 

 

 

 

iFRESH, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
Part I. Financial Information  
  Item 1. Financial Statements 1
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets 1
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations 2
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 3
  Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 4
  Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 22
  Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Market Risk 36
  Item 4. Controls and Procedures 36
Part II. Other Information  
  Item 1. Legal Proceedings 37
  Item 1A. Risk Factors 38
  Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities 38
  Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 38
  Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure 38
  Item 5. Other Information 38
  Item 6. Exhibits 39
Signatures 40

 

 

 

 

iFRESH INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

   September 30,   March 31, 
   2017   2017 
ASSETS        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents  $1,016,352   $2,508,362 
Accounts receivable, net   3,345,880    2,272,011 
Inventories, net   11,322,782    9,796,984 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   1,874,874    981,017 
Advances to related parties   16,665,703    14,852,083 
Total current assets   34,225,591    30,410,457 
Property and equipment, net   10,008,894    9,290,674 
Intangible assets, net   1,233,335    1,300,001 
Security deposits   1,089,777    912,346 
Deferred income taxes   350,373    86,799 
Total assets  $46,907,970   $42,000,277 
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $14,101,997    12,364,071 
Deferred revenue   201,470    206,737 
Borrowings against term loan -current, net   1,167,764    1,144,568 
Notes payable, current   241,434    262,578 
Capital lease obligations, current   48,581    51,376 
Accrued expenses   802,993    730,392 
Taxes payable   1,507,106    1,769,398 
Other payables, current   481,653    501,213 
Total current liabilities   18,552,998    17,030,333 
Borrowings against lines of credit & term loan-non-current, net   15,745,693    12,779,838 
Notes payable, non-current   380,784    379,376 
Capital lease obligations, non-current   82,013    59,907 
Deferred rent   5,893,684    5,424,134 
Other payables, non-current   67,800    34,800 
Total liabilities   40,722,972    35,708,388 
           
Commitments and contingencies          
           
Shareholders’ equity          
Preferred shares, $.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued.   -    - 
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 14,173,033 and 14,103,033 shares issued and  outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively   1,417    1,410 
Additional paid-in capital   9,211,426    9,075,025 
Accumulated deficit   (3,027,845)   (2,784,546)
Total shareholders’ equity   6,184,998    6,291,889 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $46,907,970    42,000,277 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

 1 

 

 

iFRESH INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

   For the three months ended   For the six months ended 
   September 30,   September 30,   September 30,   September 30, 
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
Net sales  $30,764,800   $29,862,331   $60,892,655   $58,547,631 
Net sales-related parties   2,575,092    2,024,569    4,975,763    3,629,161 
Total net sales   33,339,892    31,886,900    65,868,418    62,176,792 
Cost of sales   22,765,456    22,376,055    44,468,196    43,154,963 
Cost of sales-related parties   1,960,566    1,354,187    3,952,496    2,685,579 
Occupancy costs   1,893,762    1,765,386    3,836,604    3,605,453 
Gross profit   6,720,108    6,391,272    13,611,122    12,730,797 
                     
Selling, general and administrative expenses   7,476,204    6,130,117    14,961,027    12,356,026 
Income (Loss) from operations   (756,096)   261,155    (1,349,905)   374,771 
Interest expense, net   (208,844)   (46,718)   (376,383)   (90,292)
Other income   1,017,510    263,203    1,219,415    508,441 
Income(Loss) before income taxes   52,570   477,640    (506,873)   792,920 
Income tax provision (benefit)   27,336   219,279    (263,574)   356,814 
Net income (Loss)  $25,234  $258,361   $(243,299)  $436,106 
                     
Net income (loss) per share:                    
Basic  $0.002  $0.02   $(0.02)  $0.04 
Diluted  $0.002  $0.02   $(0.02)  $0.04 
Weighted average shares outstanding:                    
Basic   14,166,440    12,000,000    14,141,549    12,000,000 
Diluted   14,166,440    12,000,000    14,141,549    12,000,000 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

 2 

 

  

iFRESH INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

   For the Six months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Cash flows from operating activities        
Net income (loss)  $(243,299)  $436,106 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation expense   832,667    778,508 
Amortization expense   157,916    66,666 
Share based compensation   267,400    - 
Inventory provision   -    14,339 
           
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)   (263,574)   130,396 
           
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (1,073,869)   (170,849)
Inventories   (1,525,798)   (546,362)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (893,856)   (103,643)
Security deposits   (98,013)   168,695 
Accounts payable   1,737,926    1,809,871 
Deferred revenue   (5,268)   66,424 
Accrued expenses   72,601    24,108 
Taxes payable   (262,292)   (93,126)
Deferred rent   290,653    296,116 
Other liabilities   13,439    40,199 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   (993,367)   2,917,448 
Cash flows from investing activities          
Advances made to related parties   (1,943,197)   (2,445,980)
Acquisition of property and equipment   (1,241,261)   (607,533)
Cash proceeds received from acquisition of Glen Cove   5,631    - 
Net cash used in investing activities   (3,178,827)   (3,053,513)
Cash flows from financing activities          
Proceeds from borrowings against lines of credit   2,500,000    200,000 
Proceeds from borrowings against term loan   1,050,000    - 
Repayments on lines of credit borrowings   (652,199)   (82,000)
Proceeds from borrowings on notes payable   -    288,129 
Repayments on notes payable   (187,401)   (116,857)
Payments on capital lease obligations   (30,216)   (26,345)
Net cash provided by financing activities   2,680,184    262,927 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (1,492,010)   126,862 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period   2,508,362    551,782 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period  $1,016,352   $678,644 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information          
Cash paid for interest  $327,900   $90,649 
Cash paid for income taxes  $296,067   $592,325 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities          
Capital expenditures funded by capital lease obligations and notes payable  $217,193   $288,129 
Stock issued for Glen Cove Acquisition  $645,500   $- 

 

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

 

 3 

 

  

iFRESH INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Organization and Description of Business

 

Organization and General

 

iFresh Inc. (“iFresh”) is a Delaware company incorporated in July 2016 in order to reincorporate E-Compass Acquisition Corp. (“E-Compass”) to Delaware pursuant to the Merger Agreement (as defined below under “Redomestication”). E-Compass was incorporated in Cayman Islands on September 23, 2014 as a blank check company whose objective is to enter into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, or entering into contractual arrangements that gives E-Compass control over such a target business (a “Business Combination”).

 

Redomestication

 

On July 25, 2016, iFresh entered into the Merger Agreement with E-Compass, iFresh Merger Sub Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh, and NYM Holding, Inc. (“NYM”), the stockholders of NYM, and Long Deng, as representative of the stockholders of NYM. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, on February 10, 2017, E-Compass would merge with and into iFresh in order to redomesticate E-Compass into Delaware (the “Redomestication Merger”). At the time of the Redomestication, each E-Compass ordinary share was converted into one share of common stock of iFresh and each E-Compass Right was converted into one substantially equivalent right (“iFresh Right”) to receive one-tenth (1/10) of a share of iFresh common stock on the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Redomestication, E-Compass ceased to exist and iFresh is the surviving corporation and successor registrant that will continue to file reports under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Business Combination

 

On February 10, 2017, after the Redomestication Merger, Merger Sub merged with and into NYM, resulting in NMY being a wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh (the “Merger”). The transaction constituted a business combination. iFresh closed the business combination by paying NYM’s stockholders an aggregate of: (i) $5 million in cash, plus, (ii) 12,000,000 shares of iFresh’s common stock (the deemed value of the shares in the Merger Agreement) as consideration. At closing, iFresh also executed an option agreement to acquire up to additional four supermarkets prior to March 31, 2017 for aggregate consideration of $10 million in cash, less any advances or receivables owed to the Company (see Note 6). The option agreement subsequently expired unexercised.

 

In connection with the closing, holders of 1,937,967 of the Company’s ordinary shares elected to redeem their shares and iFresh paid $20,154,857 ($10.40 per share in accordance with Redemption Clause) in connection with such redemption. Also on February 10, 2017, iFresh repurchased 1,500,000 of such non-redeemable shares promptly at a purchase price of $10.00 per share according to an agreement with Handy Global Limited signed on January 11, 2017. On February 10, 2017, iFresh entered into an agreement to repurchase 200,000 shares of its common stock from Lodestar Investment Holdings Corporation for $200.00. At the closing of the Redomestication Merger: (i) one share of iFresh common stock for each share of E-Compass common stock, resulting in 1,872,033 non-redeeming E-Compass common stock being converted into iFresh common stock; (ii) each ten E-Compass rights were converted into one share of common stock of iFresh, resulting in 4,310,010 E-Compass rights automatically converting into 431,000 shares of the iFresh’s common stock.

 

Prior to the closing of the Redomestication Merger and Business Combination, there were 5,310,000 E-Compass shares issued and outstanding. After the redemption of 1,937,967 shares, the repurchase of 1,700,000 shares and the conversion of 4,310,010 E-Compass rights into 431,000 shares, there were 2,103,033 shares of E-Compass’s common stock being re-domesticated into the iFresh’s common stock. With the new issuance of the 12,000,000 shares of iFresh’s common stock in connection with the Business Combination, there were a total of 14,103,033 shares of iFresh’s common stock issued and outstanding after the business combination. 

  

 4 

 

 

The above-mentioned business combination with NYM is accounted for as a reverse acquisition at the date of the consummation of the transaction since the shareholders of NYM own at least 83.9% of the outstanding ordinary shares of iFresh immediately following the completion of the transaction. Accordingly, NYM is deemed to be the accounting acquirer in the transaction and, consequently, the transaction is treated as a recapitalization of NYM. As a result, following the Business Combination, the historical financial statements of NYM and its subsidiaries are treated as the historical financial statements of the combined company. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities and the historical operations that are reflected in the iFresh financial statements after consummation of the transaction are those of NYM and are recorded at the historical cost basis of NYM. NYM’s assets, liabilities and results of operations have been consolidated with the assets, liabilities and results of operations of iFresh upon consummation of the transaction.

 

iFresh, NYM and its subsidiaries (herein collectively referred to as the “Company”) is an Asian/Chinese supermarket chain with multiple retail locations and its own distribution operations, currently all located along the East Coast of the United States. The Company offers seafood, vegetables, meat, fruit, frozen goods, groceries, and bakery products through its retail stores.

 

2. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

 

The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of iFresh, NYM and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

The unaudited interim financial information as of September 30, 2017 and for the three and six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 have been prepared, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures, which are normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, have been omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.

 

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2017, its results of operations and its cash flows for the three and six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, as applicable, have been made. The unaudited interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

 

The Company has two reportable and operating segments. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”). The CODM bears ultimate responsibility for, and is actively engaged in, the allocation of resources and the evaluation of the Company’s operating and financial results.

 

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Significant Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. Such estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s critical accounting estimates included, but are not limited to: allowance for estimated uncollectible receivables, inventory valuations, lease assumptions, impairment of long-lived assets, impairment of intangible assets, and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

  

 5 

 

 

Reclassification

 

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to confirm the current period presentation.

 

Restricted Cash

 

Restricted cash represents cash held by depository banks in order to comply with the provisions of certain debt agreements.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivables consist primarily of uncollected amounts from customer purchases (primarily from the Company’s two distribution operations), credit card receivables, and food stamp vouchers and are presented net of an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts.

 

The Company periodically assesses its accounts receivable for collectability on a specific identification basis. If collectability of an account becomes unlikely, an allowance is recorded for that doubtful account. Once collection efforts have been exhausted, the account receivable is written off against the allowance.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories consist of merchandise purchased for resale, which are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost method is used for wholesale and retail perishable inventories by assigning costs to each of these items based on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis (net of vendor discounts).

 

The Company’s wholesale and retail non-perishable inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market using weighted average method.

 

Operating Leases

 

The Company leases retail stores, warehouse facilities and administrative offices under operating leases. Incentives received from lessors are deferred and recorded as a reduction of rental expense over the lease term using the straight-line method. Store lease agreements generally include rent escalation provisions. The Company recognizes escalations of minimum rents as deferred rent and amortizes these balances on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. 

 

Capital Lease Obligations

 

The Company has recorded capital lease obligations for equipment leases at both September 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017. In each case, the Company was deemed to be the owner under lease accounting guidance. Further, each lease contains provisions indicating continuing involvement with the equipment at the end of the lease period. As a result, in accordance with applicable accounting guidance, related assets subject to the leases are reflected on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and amortized over the lesser of the lease term or their remaining useful lives. The present value of the lease payments associated with the equipment is recorded as capital lease obligations.  

 

Deferred financing costs

 

The Company presents deferred financing costs as a reduction of the carrying amount of the debt rather than as an asset. Deferred financing costs are amortized over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method and reported as interest expense in the consolidated financial statements.

  

 6 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company records its financial assets and liabilities in accordance with the framework for measuring fair value in accordance with U.S GAAP. This framework establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

Level 2: Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

 

Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

 

Fair value measurements of nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities are primarily used in the impairment analysis of intangible assets and long-lived assets.

 

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, advances to related parties, accounts payable, deferred revenue and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. Based on comparable open market transactions, the fair value of the lines of credit and other liabilities, including current maturities, approximated their carrying value as of September 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively. The Company’s estimates of the fair value of line of credit and other liabilities (including current maturities) were classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

For retail sales, revenue is recognized at the point of sale. Discounts provided to customers at the time of sale are recognized as a reduction in sales as the discounted products are sold. Sales taxes are not included in revenue. Proceeds from the sale of coupons are recorded as a liability at the time of sale, and recognized as sales when they are redeemed by customers. For wholesales sales, revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, the Company has no other obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are recorded as customer deposits.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business”. The amendments in this ASU clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. Basically these amendments provide a screen to determine when a set is not a business. If the screen is not met, the amendments in this ASU first, require that to be considered a business, a set must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output and second, remove the evaluation of whether a market participant could replace missing elements. These amendments take effect for public businesses for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those periods, and all other entities should apply these amendments for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05 (“ASU 2017-05”) to provide guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets and in-substance nonfinancial assets in contracts with non-customers, unless other specific guidance applies. The standard requires a company to derecognize nonfinancial assets once it transfers control of a distinct nonfinancial asset or distinct in substance nonfinancial asset. Additionally, when a company transfers its controlling interest in a nonfinancial asset, but retains a noncontrolling ownership interest, the company is required to measure any noncontrolling interest it receives or retains at fair value. The guidance requires companies to recognize a full gain or loss on the transaction. ASU 2017-05 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The effective date of this guidance coincides with revenue recognition guidance. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

No other new accounting pronouncements issued or effective had, or are expected to have, a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

  

 7 

 

 

4. Acquisitions

 

iFresh Glen Cove Acquisition

 

On July 13, 2017, the Company acquired from Long Deng, the Company’s largest shareholder, 100% of the ownership interests of iFresh Glen Cove Inc. (“Glen Cove”). Glen Cove is a 22,859 square-foot brand new grocery store being set up in Garden City, New York located at 192 Glen Cove Road, within the Roosevelt Field Mall business district. Subsequent to the closing of the Glen Cove Acquisition, Glen Cove became a wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh.

 

The Company issued 50,000 shares of its common stock to Long Deng for the acquisition of Glen Cove. The Company accounted for this acquisition as a business combination under ASC 805-50-30 whereby we recognize assets acquired and liabilities assumed in an acquisition at their historical costs as of the date of acquisition, since the acquisition took place between entities under common control.

 

The total purchase consideration and the costs of the assets and liabilities at the acquisition date were as follows:

 

   Fair value allocation 
Fair value of stock issued   645,500 
Cash acquired   (5,631)
Advanced made to Glen Cove   139,577 
Net consideration  $779,446 

 

The following table summarizes the final amounts recognized for assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date.

 

Assets acquired:   Cost allocation 
Property and equipment   92,433 
Security deposit   79,417 
Due from related parties   10,000 
Subtotal  $181,850 
Liability assumed:     
Deferred rent liability   178 ,897 
Historical cost of net assets acquired  $2,953 

 

The difference between the net consideration paid and historical cost of net assets acquired was debited to additional paid-in capital account. The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended September 30, 2017 include the results of operations of the Glen Cove whereas the same periods in 2016 do not include the results of operations of Glen Cove. On an unaudited pro forma basis, the revenues and net income of the Company assuming the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2016 are immaterial.

 

 iFresh E. Colonial Asset Purchase

 

On July 13, 2017, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, iFresh E. Colonial, completed the acquisition of the Mia Supermarket in Orlando FL, a 20,370 square-foot grocery store located at 2415 E. Colonial Drive, from Michael Farmers Supermarket, LLC, including inventory, property and equipment. This acquisition expands the Company’s footprint in the State of Florida and expects to increase its revenue base.

 

 8 

 

 

The aggregate purchase price paid for the iFresh E. Colonial acquisition was $1,050,000. The fair value of the assets acquired approximates the consideration paid. The Company did not assume any liability. The consideration for the transaction was funded by the Company with $1.05 million in proceeds from the delayed term loan withdrawn under Key Bank credit facility. The Company accounted for the iFresh E. Colonial acquisition as an assets acquisition under ASC 805-10-55 because the workforce retained from Mia Supermarket does not include key management members, and is not difficult to replace. Thus, the management concluded that the acquisition did not include both an input and substantive processes that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs.

 

5. Accounts Receivable

 

A summary of accounts receivable, net is as follows:

 

    September 30,     March 31,  
    2017     2017  
Customer purchases   $ 2,864,817     $ 2,133,689  
Credit card receivables     357,487       134,177  
Food stamps     136,698       62,900  
Others     74,883       29,250  
Total accounts receivable     3,433,885       2,360,016  
Allowance for bad debt     (88,005 )     (88,005 )
Accounts receivable, net   $ 3,345,880     $ 2,272,011  

 

6. Inventories

 

A summary of inventories, net is as follows:  

 

    September 30,     March 31,  
    2017     2017  
Non-perishables   $ 9,745,390     $ 8,339,787  
Perishables     1,679,405       1,535,777  
Inventories     11,424,795       9,875,564  
Allowance for slow moving or defective inventories     (102,013 )     (78,580 )
Inventories, net   $ 11,322,782     $ 9,796,984  

 

7. Advances and receivables - related parties

 

A summary of advances and receivables - related parties is as follows:

 

   September 30,   March 31, 
Entities  2017   2017 
New York Mart, Inc.  $1,153,497   $142,791 
New York Mart N. Miami Inc.   5,711,427    6,511,427 
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.   879,694    591,404 
NY Mart MD Inc.   3,603,697    4,165,339 
New York Mart CT Inc.   1,210,826    871,966 
iFresh Harwin Inc   495,647    - 
Advances - related parties  $13,054,788   $12,282,927 
           
New York Mart, Inc.   723,891    476,884 
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.   650,493    604,469 
NY Mart MD Inc.   2,083,599    1,426,303 
Ifresh Harwin Inc   96,932    - 
New York Mart CT Inc.   56,000    61,500 
Receivables – related parties   3,610,915    2,569,156 
Total advances and receivables – related parties  $16,665,703   $14,852,083 

 

 9 

 

  

The Company has advanced funds to related parties and accounts receivable due from the related parties with the intention of converting these advances and receivables into deposits towards the purchase price upon planned acquisitions of these entities, which are directly or indirectly owned, in whole or in part, by Mr. Long Deng, the majority shareholder and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The accounts receivable due from the related parties relate to the sales to these related parties (see Note 15). The advances and receivables are interest free, repayable on demand, and guaranteed by Mr. Long Deng. Most of these entities are newly established and have limited or no operations since their inception. As of the date of these financial statements, the Company completed the acquisition of New York Mart N. Miami Inc. and New York Mart CT Inc.

 

8. Property and Equipment 

 

   September 30,   March 31, 
   2017   2017 
Furniture, fixtures and equipment  $13,265,686   $12,112,418 
Automobiles   2,289,510    2,226,746 
Leasehold improvements   2,361,175    2,082,214 
Software   6,735    6,734 
Total property and equipment   17,923,106    16,428,112 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization   (7,914,212)   (7,137,438)
Property and equipment, net  $10,008,894   $9,290,674 

 

Depreciation expense for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $832,667 and $778,508, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the depreciation expense was $429,606 and $398,951 respectively.

 

9. Intangible Assets

 

A summary of the activities and balances of intangible assets are as follows:

 

   Balance at
March 31,
       Balance at
September 30,
 
   2017   Additions   2017 
Gross Intangible Assets               
Acquired leasehold rights  $2,500,000   $-   $2,500,000 
Total intangible assets  $2,500,000   $-   $2,500,000 
Accumulated Amortization               
Total accumulated amortization  $(1,199,999)  $(66,666)  $(1,266,665)
Intangible assets, net  $1,300,001   $(66,666)  $1,233,335 

  

Amortization expense was $66,666 and $66,666 for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively and for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $33,333 and $33,333. Future amortization associated with the net carrying amount of definite-lived intangible assets is as follows: 

 

Year Ending September 30,      
2018   $ 133,333  
2019     133,333  
2020     133,333  
2021     133,333  
2022     133,333  
Thereafter     566,670  
Total   $ 1,233,335  

 

 10 

 

 

10. Debt

 

A summary of the Company’s debt is as follows:

  

   September 30,   March 31, 
   2017   2017 
Revolving Line of Credit-KeyBank National Association  $2,500,000    - 
Less: current portion   -    - 
Borrowings against Revolving Line of Credit, non-current  $2,500,000   $- 
           
Delayed Term Loan-KeyBank National Association   1,032,500    - 
Less: current portion   (105,000)   - 
Bank Loan-Term Loan, non-current  $927,500   $- 
           
Term Loan-KeyBank National Association   14,156,582    14,791,281 
Less: Deferred financing cost   (775,625)   (866,875)
Less: current portion   (1,062,764)   (1,144,568)
Bank Loan-Term Loan, non-current  $12,318,193   $12,779,838 

 

KeyBank National Association (“KeyBank”) – Senior Secured Credit Facilities

 

On December 23, 2016, NYM, as borrower, entered into a $25 million senior secured Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Key Bank National Association (“Key Bank” or “Lender”). The Credit Agreement provides for (1) a revolving credit of $5,000,000 for making advance and issuance of letter of credit, (2) $15,000,000 of effective date term loan and (3) $5,000,000 of delayed draw term loan. The interest rate is equal to (1) the Lender’s “prime rate” plus 0.95%, or (b) the Adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1.95%. Both the termination date of the revolving credit and the maturity date of the term loans are December 23, 2021. The Company will pay a commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the undrawn amount of the Revolving Credit Facility and 0.25% of the unused Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility. $2,500,000 of the revolving credit was used as of September 30, 2017.

 

$15,000,000 of the term loan was fully funded by the lender in January 2017. The Company is required to make fifty-nine consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest in the amount of $142,842 starting from February 1, 2017 and a final payment of the then entire unpaid principal balance of the term loan, plus accrued interest on the maturity date. On December 23, 2016, the Company used the proceeds from the loan term to pay off the outstanding balance under the Bank of America credit line agreement and HSBC line of credit.

 

The Delayed Draw Term Loan shall be advanced on the Delayed Draw Funding date, which is no later than December 23, 2021. A withdrawal of $1.05 million under the Delayed Draw Term Loan has been made as of September 30, 2017 to acquire iFresh E. Colonial, Inc.

 

The senior secured credit facility is secured by all assets of the Company and is jointly guaranteed by the Company and its subsidiaries and contains financial and restrictive covenants. The financial covenants require NYM to deliver audited consolidated financial statements within one hundred twenty days after the fiscal year end and to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio not less than 1.1 to 1.0 and senior funded debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) ratio less than 3.0 to 1.0 at the last day of each fiscal quarter, beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2017. Except as stated below, the senior secured credit facility is subject to customary events of default. It will be an event of default if Mr. Long Deng resigns, is terminated, or is no longer actively involved in the management of NYM and a replacement reasonably satisfactory to the Lender is not made within sixty (60) days after such event takes place.

 

Maturities of borrowings against the term loan under this credit facility for each of the next five years are as follows:

 

Year Ending September 30,    
2018  $1,450,285 
2019   1,487,475 
2020   1,525,692 
2021   1,564,966 
2022   11,660,664 
Total  $17,689,082 

 

Simultaneously, the Company entered into an escrow agreement with Carnelian Bay Capital Inc. (“CBC”), a stockholder of E-Compass, and Loeb & Loeb LLP, acting as the escrow agent, pursuant to which, the Company agreed to set aside $1,030,000 (the “Escrow Fund”) from the proceeds received from the effective date term loan to pay for certain expenses associated with the Merger. As of March 31, 2017, the escrow account has been fully withdrawn for merger expense payments.

  

 11 

 

 

11. Notes Payable

 

Notes payables consist of the following:

 

   September 30,   March 31, 
   2017   2017 
Expressway Motors Inc.        
Secured by vehicle, 0%, principal of $490 due monthly through April 9, 2019  $9,308   $12,247 
Secured by vehicle, 2.99%, principal and interest of $593 due monthly through February 1, 2021   23,062    25,281 
Secured by vehicle, 0%, principal of $515 due monthly through April 24, 2019   11,780    11,780 
Southeast Toyota Finance          
Secured by vehicle, 6.84%, principal and interest of $777 due monthly through July 26, 2016   -    - 
Hitachi Capital America Corp.          
Secured by vehicle, 6.95%, principal and interest of $2,109 due monthly through September 18, 2019   -    57,927 
Secured by vehicle, 7.35%, principal and interest of $2,219 due monthly through November 7, 2017   2,205    17,269 
Secured by vehicle, 7.10%, principal and interest of $2,094 due monthly through March 28, 2018   12,307    24,186 
Secured by vehicle, 6.99%, principal and interest of $2,170 due monthly through March 10,2019   36,984    48,478 
Triangle Auto Center, Inc.          
Secured by vehicle, 4.02%, principal and interest of $890 due monthly through January 28, 2021   33,198    37,810 
Colonial Buick GMC          
Secured by vehicle, 8.64%, principal and interest of $736 due monthly through February 1, 2020   19,178    22,660 
Milea Truck Sales of Queens Inc.          
Secured by vehicle, 8.42%, principal and interest of $4,076 due monthly through July 1, 2019   82,816    103,276 
Secured by vehicle, 4.36%, principal and interest of $1,558 due monthly through February 20, 2018   7,704    16,768 
Isuzu Finance of America, Inc.          
Secured by vehicle, 6.99%, principal and interest of $2,200 due monthly through October 1, 2018   27,463    39,455 
Koeppel Nissan, Inc.          
Secured by vehicle, 3.99%, principal and interest of $612 due monthly through January 18, 2021   22,837    25,790 
Secured by vehicle, 0.9%, principal and interest of $739 due monthly through March 14, 2020   21,916    26,310 
Secured by vehicle, 7.86%, principal and interest of $758 due monthly through September 1, 2022   35,422    39,025 
Lee’s Autors, Inc.          
Secured by vehicle, 0.9%, principal and interest of $832 due monthly through July 22, 2017   -    3,321 
Silver Star Motors          
Secured by vehicle, 4.22%, principal and interest of $916 due monthly through June 1, 2021   38,829    42,684 
BMO          
Secured by vehicle, 5.99%, principal and interest of $1,924 due monthly through July 1, 2020   78,922    87,687 
           
Wells Fargo          
Secured by vehicle, 4.01%, principal and interest of $420 due monthly through December 1, 2021   19,655    - 
Toyota Finance          
Secured by vehicle, 0%, principal and interest of $632 due monthly through August, 2022   37,311    - 
Secured by vehicle, 4.87%, principal and interest of $761 due monthly through July, 2021   31,755    - 
Secured by vehicle, 0%, principal and interest of $1,265 due monthly through April 1, 2022   69,566    - 
Total Notes Payable  $622,218   $641,954 
Current maturities   (241,434)   (262,578)
Long-term debt, net of current maturities  $380,784   $379,376 

 

All notes payables are secured by the underlying financed automobiles. 

 

 12 

 

 

Maturities of the notes payables for each of the next five years are as follows:

 

Year Ending September 30,    
2018  $241,434 
2019   170,401 
2020   107,638 
2021   79,606 
2022   23,139 
Total  $622,218 

 

12. Capital lease obligations

 

The following capital lease obligations are included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

 

   September 30,   March 31, 
   2017   2017 
Capital lease obligations:        
Current  $48,581   $51,376 
Long-term   82,013    59,907 
Total obligations  $130,594   $111,283 

 

Interest expense on capital lease obligations for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 amounted to $3,959 and $1,404, and $2,420 and $631 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Future minimum lease payments under the capital leases are as follows:

 

Year Ending September 30,    
2018  $65,065 
2019   44,062 
2020   26,829 
2021   8,654 
Total minimum lease payments   144,610 
Less: Amount representing interest   (14,016)
Total  $130,594 

  

 13 

 

 

13. Segment Reporting

 

ASC 280, “Segment Reporting”, establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments on a basis consistent with the Company’s internal organizational structure as well as information about geographical areas, business segments and major customers in financial statements for details on the Company’s business segments. The Company uses the “management approach” in determining reportable operating segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by the Company’s CODM for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source for determining the Company’s reportable segments. Management, including the CODM, reviews operation results by the revenue of different products or services. Based on management’s assessment, the Company has determined that it has two operating segments as defined by ASC 280, consisting of wholesale and retail operations.

  

The primary financial measures used by the Company to evaluate performance of individual operating segments are sales and income before income tax provision.

 

The following table presents summary information by segment for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively:

  

   Six months ended September 30, 2017
   Wholesale  Retail  Total
          
Net sales  $12,756,700   $53,111,718   $65,868,418 
Cost of sales   9,797,526    38,623,166    48,420,692 
Retail occupancy costs   -      3,836,604    3,836,604 
Gross profit  $2,959,174   $10,651,948   $13,611,122 
                
Interest expense, net  $(18,158)  $(358,225)  $(376,383)
Depreciation and amortization  $130,834   $859,749   $990,583 
Capital expenditure  $22,595   $1,435,859   $1,458,454 
Segment income before income tax provision  $429,569   $(936,442)  $(506,873)
Income tax provision (benefit)  $223,376   $(486,950)  $(263,574)
Segment assets  $11,578,328   $35,329,642   $46,907,970 

 

   Six months ended September 30, 2016 
   Wholesale   Retail   Total 
             
Net sales  $10,411,053   $51,765,739   $62,176,792 
Cost of sales   7,850,731    37,989,811    45,840,542 
Retail occupancy costs   -    3,605,453    3,605,453 
Gross profit  $2,560,322   $10,170,475   $12,730,797 
                
Interest expense, net  $(86,556)  $(3,736)  $(90,292)
Depreciation and amortization  $111,219   $733,955   $845,174 
Capital expenditure  $327,096   $280,437   $607,533 
Segment income before income tax provision  $338,109   $454,811   $792,920 
Income tax provision  $12,462   $344,352   $356,814 
Segment assets  $8,627,249   $22,883,447   $31,510,696 

   

 14 

 

 

The following table presents summary information by segment for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively:

 

   Three months ended September 30, 2017
   Wholesale  Retail  Total
          
Net sales  $6,587,593   $26,752,299   $33,339,892 
Cost of sales   5,002,638    19,723,384    24,726,022 
Retail occupancy costs   -      1,893,762    1,893,762 
Gross profit  $1,584,955   $5,135,153   $6,720,108 
                
Interest expense, net  $(8,814)  $(200,030)  $(208,844)
Depreciation and amortization  $63,029   $445,535   $508,564 
Capital expenditure  $9,569   $1,146,424   $1,155,993 
Segment income before income tax provision  $269,382   $(216,812)  $52,570 
Income tax provision  $140,079   $(112,743)  $27,336 
Segment assets  $11,578,328   $35,329,642   $46,907,970 

 

   Three months ended September 30, 2016
   Wholesale  Retail  Total
          
Net sales  $5,899,043   $25,987,857   $31,886,900 
Cost of sales   4,502,746    19,227,496    23,730,242 
Retail occupancy costs   -      1,765,386    1,765,386 
Gross profit  $1,396,297   $4,994,975   $6,391,272 
                
Interest expense, net  $(44,854)  $(1,864)  $(46,718)
Depreciation and amortization  $59,307   $372,977   $432,284 
Capital expenditure  $141,131   $30,240   $171,371 
Segment income before income tax provision  $238,325   $239,315   $477,640 
Income tax provision  $7,658   $211,621   $219,279 
Segment assets  $8,627,249   22,883,447   $31,510,696 

 

 15 

 

 

14. Income Taxes

 

iFresh is a Delaware holding company who is subject to the U.S. income tax.

 

NYM is taxed as a corporation for income tax purposes and as a result of the “Contribution Agreement” entered into in December 31, 2014 NYM has elected to file a consolidated federal income tax return with its eleven subsidiaries. NYM and the shareholders of the eleven entities, as parties to the Contribution Agreement, entered into a tax-free transaction under Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 whereby the eleven entities became wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. As a result of the tax-free transaction and the creation of a consolidated group, the subsidiaries are required to adopt the tax year-end of its parent, NYM. NYM was incorporated on December 30, 2014 and has adopted a tax-year end of March 31.

 

Certain of the subsidiaries have incurred net operating losses (“NOL”) in tax years ending prior to the Contribution Agreement. The net operating losses are subject to the Separate Return Limitation Year (“SRLY”) rules which limit the utilization of the losses to the subsidiaries who generated the losses. The SRLY losses are not available to offset taxable income generated by members of the consolidated group.

 

Based upon management’s assessment of all available evidence, the Company believes that it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets, primarily for certain of the subsidiaries SRLY NOL carry-forwards will not be realizable; and therefore, a full valuation allowance is established for SRLY NOL carry-forwards. The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was approximately $788,039 as of September 30, 2017 and $788,039 as of March 31, 2017.

 

The Company has approximately $2,815,000 and $2,318,000 of US NOL carry forward of which approximately $2,815,000 and $2,318,000 are SRLY NOL as of September 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively. For income tax purpose, those NOLs will expire in the year 2030 through 2034.

 

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

 

The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following components: 

 

   Six months ended 
   September 30, 
   2017   2016 
Current:        
Federal  $-   $127,316 
State   -    99,101 
    -    226,418 
Deferred:          
Federal   (169,919)   115,875 
State   (93,655)   14,521 
    (263,574)   130,396 
           
Total  $(263,574)  $356,814 

 

Tax Rate Reconciliation

 

Following is a reconciliation of the Company’s effective income tax rate to the United State federal statutory tax rate:

 

   Six months ended
September 30,
 
   2017   2016 
Expected tax at U.S. statutory income tax rate   34%   34%
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax effect   14%   12%
Other non-deductible fees and expenses   1%   1%
Other   3%   (2%)
Effective tax rate   52%   45%

  

 16 

 

 

Deferred Taxes

 

The effect of temporary differences included in the deferred tax accounts as follows:

 

   September 30,   March 31, 
   2017   2017 
Deferred Tax Assets/ (Liabilities):        
Deferred expenses  $135,961   $123,260 
Sec 263A Inventory Cap   248,222    215,248 
Deferred rent   2,662,409    2,467,259 
Depreciation and amortization   (2,829,483)   (2,718,968)
Net operating losses   921,303    788,039 
Valuation allowance   (788,039)   (788,039)
Net Deferred Tax Assets  $350,373   $86,799 

 

15. Related-Party Transactions

 

Management Fees, Advertising Fees and Sale of Non-Perishable and Perishable Products to Related Parties

 

The following is a detailed breakdown of significant management fees, advertising fees and sale of products for the six and three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 to related parties, which are directly or indirectly owned, in whole or in part, by Mr. Long Deng, a majority shareholder, and not eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, the outstanding receivables due from these related parties as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 were included in advances and receivables – related parties (see Note 7).  

  

Six months ended September 30, 2017
Related Parties   Management
Fees
    Advertising
Fees
    Non-Perishable &
Perishable
Sales
 
New York Mart, Inc.   $ 26,911     $ 22,258     $ 1,091,046  
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.     40,203       23,818       1,857,100  
NY Mart MD Inc.     27,017       5,091       1,686,839  
El Monte     3,293       -       87,504  
iFresh Harwin Inc     -       -       96,932  
Spring Farm Inc.     -       -       4,191  
Spicy Bubbles, Inc.     -       -       52,627  
Pine Court Chinese Bistro     -       -       99,524  
    $ 97,424     $ 51,167     $ 4,975,763  

 

 17 

 

 

Six months ended September 30, 2016
Related Parties  Management
Fees
   Advertising
Fees
   Non-Perishable &
Perishable Sales
 
New York Mart, Inc.  $24,147   $8,646   $826,501 
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.   29,202    10,327    1,622,829 
NY Mart MD Inc.   23,715    -    1,037,419 
Spring Farm Inc.   -    -    5,414 
Spicy Bubbles, Inc.   -    -    51,820 
Pine Court Chinese Bistro   -    -    85,178 
   $77,064   $18,973   $3,629,161 

     

Three months ended September 30, 2017
Related Parties  Management
Fees
  Advertising
Fees
  Non-
Perishable &
Perishable
Sales
New York Mart, Inc.  $13,282   $13,831   $566,022 
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.   19,830    14,611    939,476 
NY Mart MD Inc.   13,411    2,081    808,125 
El Monte   3293    -    87,504 
iFresh Harwin Inc   -    -    96,932 
Spring Farm Inc.   -    -    2,999 
Spicy Bubbles, Inc.   -    -    26,271 
Pine Court Chinese Bistro   -    -    47,762 
   $49,816   $30,523   $2,575,091 

 

Three months ended September 30, 2016
Related Parties  Management
Fees
   Advertising
Fees
   Non-Perishable
& Perishable
Sales
 
New York Mart, Inc.  $12,057   $6,406   $470,049 
Pacific Supermarkets Inc   14,536    7,247    852,705 
NY Mart MD Inc   12,130    -    629,494 
Spring Farm Inc.   -    -    3,306 
Spicy Bubbles, Inc.   -    -    24,828 
Pine Court Chinese Bistro   -    -    44,187 
   $38,723   $13,653   $2,024,569 

  

Long-Term Operating Lease Agreement with a Related Party

 

The Company leases a warehouse from a related party that is owned by Mr. Long Deng, the majority shareholder of the Company, and will expire on April 30, 2026. Rent incurred to the related party was $354,000 and $334,000 for the six months ended on September 30, 2017 and 2016, and $177,000 and $167,000 for the three months ended on September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

  

 18 

 

 

16. Operating Lease Commitments

 

The Company’s leases include stores, office and warehouse buildings. These leases have an average remaining lease term of approximately 10 years as of September 30, 2017.

 

Rent expense charged to operations under operating leases in the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 amounted to $3,256,250 and $3,118,909 and $1,572,134 and $1,530,003 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Future minimum lease obligations for operating leases with initial terms in excess of one year at September 30, 2017 are as follows:

 

   Non-related
parties
   Related
party
   Total 
2018  $7,022,887   $708,000   $7,730,887 
2019   7,227,475    708,000    7,935,475 
2020   7,418,004    708,000    8,126,004 
2021   7,203,448    708,000    7,911,448 
2022   6,550,116    708,000    7,258,116 
Thereafter   52,195,641    2,537,000    54,732,641 
Total payments  $

87,617,571

   $6,077,000   $93,694,571 

 

17. Contingent Liability

 

The Company is exposed to claims and litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business and uses various methods to resolve these matters in a manner that the Company believes best serves the interests of its stakeholders. These matters have not resulted in any material losses to date.

 

Rent Dispute

 

Ming’s Supermarket, Inc. (“Ming”), the subsidiary of the Company, is a tenant at a building located at 140-148 East Berkeley Street, Boston, MA (the “Property”), pursuant to a lease dated September 24, 1999 (the “Lease”). The Lease had a 10-year initial term, followed by an option for two additional 10-year terms. Ming has exercised that first option and the Lease has approximately 15 years remaining to run if the second option is also exercised. The Lease also gives Ming a right of first refusal on any sale of the building.

 

On February 22, 2015, a sprinkler pipe burst in the Property. This caused the Inspectional Services Department of the City of Boston (“ISD”) to inspect the Property. The ISD found a number of problems which have prevented further use of the Property. The ISD notified both landlord and tenant that the Property was only permitted for use as an elevator garage and that its use as a warehouse was never permitted and that a conditional use permit must be obtained from the City of Boston to make such use lawful. Moreover, the Property was found to have major structural issues requiring repair, as well as issues with the elevator and outside glass. The result of the ISD’s findings are that Ming was ordered not to use the Property for any purpose unless and until the structural and other repairs are completed and its use as a warehouse is permitted by the Boston Zoning Board.

  

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While the Lease provides that the elevator (approximate cost $400,000) and glass repairs (approximate cost $30,000) are the responsibility of the tenant, the structural repairs (approximate cost $500,000) are the landlord’s responsibility under the Lease, unless the structural damage was caused by the tenant’s misuse of the Property. In this regard Ming has retained an expert who will testify the structural damage to the building was caused by long term water infiltration and is not the result of anything Ming did. Ming initially sought for the landlord to perform the structural repairs and agreed that upon completion of those repairs, Ming would repair the elevator and the broken glass. In addition, Ming asked the landlord to cooperate in permitting use of the Property as a warehouse. 

 

The landlord refused to either perform structural repairs or to cooperate on the permitting. As a result, as of April 2015, Ming stopped paying the landlord rent, since it was barred from using the Property by order of the ISD. The landlord then sued Ming for breach of the Lease and unpaid rent and Ming counterclaimed for constructive eviction and for damages resulting from the landlord’s breach of its duty to perform structural repairs under the Lease.

 

It would appear the landlord wishes to use the current circumstances to terminate the lease or to cause Ming to abandon it. The Lease is at considerably below market and impairs the landlord’s ability to sell the Property for a high price. The landlord is claiming damages of approximately $470,000 in unpaid rent and additional rent charges under the lease to date, plus for the cost of repairs. Ming is claiming damages in the mount of lost profits of $20,000 to$30,000 per month resulting from the loss if its warehouse space and for the landlord’s failure to undertake its responsibilities under the lease. Ming’s damages also include loss of the benefit of its below market lease. Ming is also seeking an order of the Court directing the landlord to perform the structural repairs. 

 

The parties have been unable to agree on terms of a settlement and a trial was necessary to resolve this matter. The case was trialed on August 21, 2017 and concluded on August 29, 2017 with a jury verdict in favor of the Company. The JURY VERDICT FORM issued on August 31, 2017 affirmed that the landlord breached the lease by failing to make the necessary structural repairs to the Premises and take responsibility to recover Ming’s damages from the breach. After the jury verdict, the landlord filed an appeal immediately. The new verdict of this case was issued in the Company’s favor on September 29, 2017. The judge awarded us double damages and attorney’s fees in this case. That will result in a total judgment of $1,590,000 including $795,000 for damage compensation plus the attorneys’ fees and interest and costs. In addition, the landlord was ordered to make repairs to the building with additional damaged of $2,250 for each month until completed.

 

However, the landlord is planning to file another appeal shortly after the verdict based on our acknowledgement. No guaranties or predications can be made at this time as to ultimate final outcome of this case. The Company believes that the facts and the law are favorable for Ming’s as to both its continuing liability for rent and its affirmative claim to recover damages.

 

Trade order dispute

 

A lawsuit has been filed against New York Mart Group, Inc. (“NYMG”), a subsidiary of iFresh, and New Sunshine Group, LLC (“New Sunshine”), by SKKR Trading, LLC (“Plaintiff”) for breach of contract and failure to pay. The plaintiff is seeking from NYMG and New Sunshine for principal damages in the amount of $116,878 representing the total amount of invoices Plaintiff is claiming pass due, penalty of $256,000 for the past due invoices and attorney cost which was estimated to be $80,000 to $90,000.

 

The Plaintiff claimed that NYMG and New Sunshine failed to pay for a shrimp order. NYMG and New Sunshine have raised various defenses, most of which center on the arguments that NYMG and New Sunshine abandoned the Distribution Agreement and did not order, receive or benefit from the shrimp at issue. Rather, the shrimp was ordered by a tenant of NYMG, Hong Hai, who was a completely separate corporation than NYMG or New Sunshine.

  

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The case went to trial on March 12 to15, 2017. On April 17, 2017, the Count ruled in favor of Plaintiff and against NYMG and New Sunshine in the amount of $385,492. NYMG hired a new law firm to appeal the case because it believes that there are new evidences and arguments that NYMG should not be held responsible for these damages. The appeal process will take approximately 1 year. During the appeal, NYMG will not be required to pay the amount under the Final Judgment. While discovery is ongoing and no guaranties or predications can be made at this time as to ultimate outcome, the Company and its attorney believe a fair estimate of the chance the Company will prevail on the appeal of the Final Judgment is approximately 50%.

 

Most recently on August 11, 2017, approximately $196,000 in funds held in one of New York Mart’s bank accounts at TD Bank was ordered by the Court to be frozen until the appeal has been concluded, after plaintiff trying to seize these funds as part of an effort to enforce the aforementioned judgement.  

 

 Once the appeal is concluded, the ownership of the $196,000 will be determined. SKKR is not permitted to take any other action to enforce this judgment, including attempting to seize any other funds in the TD Bank accounts, any other funds, any assets owned by NYM. Accordingly, NYM is able to continue to use all bank accounts at TD Bank (with the exception of the frozen $196,000 which has been set aside) without the threat of those accounts being seized by SKKR.

 

The principal shareholder of the Company, Mr. Long Deng, made a personal pledge to pay for the entire amount of the damage if the appeal is ruled against NYMG. The Company did not accrue any of this potential liability.

 

The Company evaluates contingencies on an ongoing basis and will establish loss provisions for matters in which losses are probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated, and is not currently a party to any legal proceeding that management believes could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or balance sheet. 

 

18. Subsequent Event

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company acquired 100% equity interest of New York Mart CT, Inc. (“NYM CT”) from Long Deng, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, for $3,500,000. The transaction was duly approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The purchase price was agreed to based upon a review of the assets and financial statements of NYM CT. The purchase included the business, lease and equipment of the store. The store is currently under renovation and the Company expects the Connecticut store to open in December 2017.

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company acquired 100% equity interest of New York Mart N. Miami Inc. (“NYM N. Miami”) from Long Deng, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Yang Yu Gao for $3,500,000 and 45,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The transaction was duly approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The purchase price was agreed to based upon a review of the assets and financial statements of NYM N. Miami. The purchase included the business, lease and equipment the store. The store is also currently under construction, and, once finished, will be one of the largest Asian supermarkets in South Florida. The Company expects the Miami store to open in November 2017.

  

For purpose of preparing these consolidated financial statements, the Company considered events through November 14, 2017, which is the date the consolidated financial statements were available for issuance. Except for those disclosed above, there were no material subsequent events that required recognition or additional disclosure in these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described in our other Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings.  References to “we”, “us”, “our,” “iFresh” or the “Company” are to iFresh Inc., except where the context requires otherwise.  The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

 

Overview

  

iFresh Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” or “iFresh” or the “Company”) is a Delaware company incorporated in July 2016 in order to reincorporate E-Compass Acquisition Corp. (“E-Compass”) to Delaware pursuant to the Merger Agreement (as defined below). Immediately following the reincorporation, we acquired NYM Holding, Inc. (“NYM”). E-Compass was a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. NYM is a fast growing Asian/Chinese grocery supermarket chain in the north-eastern U.S. providing food and other merchandise hard to find in mainstream grocery stores. Since NYM was formed in 1995, NYM has been targeting the Chinese and other Asian population in the U.S. with its in-depth cultural understanding of its target customer’s unique consumption habits. iFresh currently has nine retail supermarkets across New York, Massachusetts and Florida. It also has two in-house wholesale businesses, Strong America Limited (“Strong America”) and New York Mart Group, Inc. (“NYMG”), covering more than 6,000 wholesale products and servicing both NYM retail supermarkets and over 1,000 external clients that range from wholesalers to retailing groceries and restaurants. NYM has a stable supply of food from farms in New Jersey and Florida, ensuring reliable supplies of the most popular vegetables, fruits and seafood. Its wholesale business and long term relationships with farms insulate NYM from supply interruptions and sales declines, allowing it to remain competitive even during difficult markets.

 

On July 25, 2016, iFresh entered into a merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) with E-Compass Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands company and parent of iFresh, iFresh Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh, or “Merger Sub,” NYM, the stockholders of NYM, and Long Deng, as representative of the stockholders of NYM. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger, on February 10, 2017, E-Compass merged with and into iFresh in order to redomesticate the Company into Delaware. After the redomestication, Merger Sub merged with and into NYM, resulting in NYM being a wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh. At the time of the Redomestication, each E-Compass ordinary share was converted into one share of common stock of iFresh and each E-Compass Right was converted into one substantially equivalent right (“iFresh Right”) to receive one-tenth (1/10) of a share of iFresh Common Stock on the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Redomestication, E-Compass ceased to exist and iFresh is the surviving corporation.

 

At closing on February 10, 2017, iFresh issued iFresh’s stockholders an aggregate of: (i) $5 million in cash, plus, (ii) 12,000,000 shares of our common stock. In addition, iFresh executed an option agreement to acquire up to an additional four supermarkets prior to March 31, 2017 for aggregate consideration of $10 million in cash. In connection with the closing, holders of 1,937,967 of E-Compass’s ordinary shares elected to redeem their shares and the Company paid $20,154,857 in connection with such redemption. The option agreement subsequently expired unexercised.

  

On July 13, 2017, the Company acquired Mia Supermarket in Orlando FL, a 20,370 square-foot grocery store located at 2415 E. Colonial Drive, from Michael Farmers Supermarket, LLC. The new store, which will be called iFresh East Colonial, will be the first iFresh store in Orlando and the second in Florida. iFresh acquired the supermarket for $1,050,000 in cash. The purchase included property and equipment, and inventory of the old store.

 

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Also on July 13, 2017, the Company acquired all of the shares of iFresh Glen Cove Inc. (“Glen Cove”) from Long Deng, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, for 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The transaction was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and the price was agreed to be based upon a review of the assets and financial statements of Glen Cove. Glen Cove is setting up a 22,859 square-foot brand new grocery store being setting up in Garden City, New York located at 192 Glen Cove Road, within the Roosevelt Field Mall business district. This will be the Company’s first store in Long Island and the sixth in New York. The Company expects iFresh Glen Cove to open in the first quarter of 2018.

 

Recent Developments

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company acquired all of the shares of New York Mart CT, Inc. (“NYM CT”) from Long Deng, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, for $3,500,000. The store is currently under renovation and the Company expects the Connecticut store to open in December 2017.

 

Also on October 2, 2017, the Company acquired all of the shares of New York Mart N. Miami Inc. (“NYM N. Miami”) from Long Deng, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Yang Yu Gao for $3,500,000 and 45,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. . The store is currently under construction, and, once finished, will be one of the biggest Asian supermarkets in South Florida. The Company expects the Miami store to open in November 2017.

 

Both transactions were approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and the price was agreed to based upon reviews of the assets and financial statements of NYM CT and NYM N. Miami. The purchase included the business, lease and equipment of the store. The store is currently under renovation and the Company expects the Connecticut store to open in December 2017.

 

Business Outlook

 

iFresh is an Asian Chinese supermarket chain in the U.S. northeastern region with nine retail super markets and two wholesale facilities. iFresh plans to strategically expand along the I-95 corridor and its goal is to cover most of the States on the east coast of the United States, with focus in the area where there is a large Asian population. iFresh believes that the following are among its advantages in the market:

 

  a. iFresh provides unique products to meet the demands of the Asian/Chinese American Market;
  b. iFresh has established a merchandising system backed by an in-house wholesale business and by long-standing relationships with farms;
  c. iFresh maintains an in-house cooling system with unique hibernation technology that has developed over 20 years to preserve perishables, especially produce and seafood;
  d. iFresh capitalizes on economies of scale, allowing strong negotiating power with upstream vendors and downstream customers; and
  e. iFresh has a proven and replicable track record of management, operation, acquisition and organic growth.

 

iFresh’s net sales were $65.9 million and $62.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. In terms of sales by category, perishables constituted approximately 60.5% of the total sales for the six months ended September 30, 2017. iFresh incurred a net loss of $0.24 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $0.68 million, or 146%, from $0.44 million of net income for the six months ended September 30, 2016. However, iFresh had net income of $25,234 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, significantly improved from a net loss of $0.27 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. Adjusted EBITDA was $0.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 61%, from $2.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016. For additional information on Adjusted EBITDA, See the section entitled “iFresh’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Adjusted EBITDA,” beginning on page 25.

 

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Factors Affecting iFresh’s Operating Results

 

Seasonality

 

iFresh’s business shows seasonal fluctuations. Sales in its first and second fiscal quarters (ending June 30 and September 30, respectively) are usually 5% to 10% lower than in third and fourth quarters (ending December 31 and March 31, respectively). In iFresh’s third fiscal quarter, customers make holiday purchases for Thanksgiving and Christmas. In iFresh’s fourth fiscal quarter, customers make purchases for traditional Chinese holidays, such as the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year, in January or February).

  

Parking

 

The availability of parking is important to iFresh’s sales volume, and changes in the availability of parking would affect iFresh’s sales volume. For example, one of the two parking lots serving iFresh’s Ming store in Boston was required to be temporarily leased to a farmers’ market on Sundays by the city of Boston from April to October 2016, which reduced sales at the store by about 10% during this period.

 

Competition

 

iFresh faces competition from smaller or dispersed competitors focusing on the niche market of Chinese and other Asian consumers. However, with the rapid growth of the Chinese and other Asian population and their consumption power, other competitors may also begin operating in this niche market in the future. Those competitors include: (i) national conventional supermarkets, (ii) regional supermarkets, (iii) national superstores, (iv) alternative food retailers, (v) local foods stores, (vi) small specialty stores, and (vii) farmers’ markets.

 

Payroll

 

Minimum wage rates in some states and cities are scheduled to increase every year on December 31 until they reach $15.00 per hour. For example, the minimum wage rate is expected to increase from $11 on December 31, 2016 to $13 per hour on December 31, 2017 in New York City. Payroll and related expenses increased by $2 million, or 34% for the six months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the same period of last year as a result of increase of wages and head count, and the addition of its business operation and financial reporting department since iFresh became a public company in February 2017. iFresh plans to implement ERP systems in the future to improve operating efficiency and reduce labor costs. In addition, the Company is in the process of implementing ADP’s comprehensive personnel management system to enhance the monitoring of employees’ worktime and reducing the cost of human resources.

 

Vendor and Supply Management 

 

iFresh believes that a centralized and efficient vendor and supply management system is the key to business success and profitability. iFresh operates its own wholesale facilities, which supplied about 41% of its products as of September 30, 2017. iFresh recently centralized the management of its vendors and procurement. It believes that such centralized vendor management enhances iFresh’s negotiating power and improves its ability to turnover inventory and vendor payables. Any changes to the vendor and supply management could affect iFresh’s purchasing costs and operating expenses.

 

Store Maintenance and Renovation

 

From time to time, iFresh conducts maintenance on the fixtures and equipment for its stores. Any maintenance or renovations could interrupt the operation of our stores and result in a decline of customer volume, and therefore sales volume, but will, in the opinion of management, boost sales after they are completed. Significant maintenance or renovation would affect our operation and operating results.

 

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Store Acquisitions and Openings

 

iFresh expects the new stores it acquires or opens to be one of the primary drivers of its sales, operating profit and market share gains. iFresh’s results will be materially affected by the timing and number of new store additions and the new store opening costs. For example, iFresh would incur rental, utilities and employee expenses during any period of renovation, which would be recorded as expenses on the income statement and would decrease iFresh’s profit. iFresh may incur higher than normal employee costs associated with set-up, hiring, training, and other costs related to opening a new store. Operating margins are also affected by promotional discounts and other marketing costs and strategies associated with new store openings, primarily due to overstocking, and costs related to hiring and training new employees. Additionally, promotional activities may result in higher than normal net sales in the first several weeks following a new store opening. A new store builds its sales volume and its customer base over time and, as a result, generally has lower margins and higher operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, than our more mature stores. A new store could take more than a year to achieve a level of operating performance comparable to our existing stores. In October 2017, the Company acquired two additional stores, one of which is located in Miami, Florida and the other is located in Connecticut.

  

How to Assess iFresh’s Performance

 

In assessing performance, iFresh’s management considers a variety of performance and financial measures, including principal growth in net sales, gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA. The key measures that we use to evaluate the performance of our business are set forth below:

 

Net Sales

 

iFresh’s net sales comprise gross sales net of coupons and discounts. We do not record sales taxes as a component of retail revenues as we consider it a pass-through conduit for collecting and remitting sales taxes.

 

Gross Profit

 

iFresh calculates gross profit as net sales less cost of sales and occupancy costs. Gross margin represents gross profit as a percentage of its net sales. Occupancy costs include store rental costs and property taxes. The components of our cost of sales and occupancy costs may not be identical to those of its competitors. As a result, our gross profit and gross margin may not be comparable to similar data made available by our competitors.

 

Cost of sales includes the cost of inventory sold during the period, including the direct costs of purchased merchandise (net of discounts and allowances), distribution and supply chain costs, buying costs and supplies. iFresh recognizes vendor allowances and merchandise volume related rebate allowances as a reduction of inventories during the period when earned and reflects the allowances as a component of cost of sales as the inventory is sold. Shipping and handling for inventories purchased are included in cost of goods sold.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of retail operational expenses, administrative salaries and benefits costs, marketing, advertising and corporate overhead.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

iFresh believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful performance measure and can be used to facilitate a comparison of NYM’s operating performance on a consistent basis from period-to-period and to provide for a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than GAAP measures alone can provide. iFresh also uses Adjusted EBITDA as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting overall expected performance and for evaluating on a quarterly and annual basis actual results against such expectations, and as a performance evaluation metric in determining achievement of certain compensation programs and plans for employees, including senior executives. Other companies in the industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than iFresh does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

 

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iFresh’s management defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, store opening costs, and non-recurring expenses. All of the omitted items are either (i) non-cash items or (ii) items that we do not consider in assessing its on-going operating performance. Because it omits non-cash items, iFresh’s management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is less susceptible to variances in actual performance resulting from depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges and more reflective of factors that affect its operating performance. iFresh’s management believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the company’s financial measures with other specialty retailers, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.

 

Results of Operations for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

 

   For the six months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Net sales-third parties  $60,892,655   $58,547,631   $2,345,024    4%
Net sales-related parties   4,975,763    3,629,161    1,346,602    37%
Total Sales   65,868,418    62,176,792    3,691,626    6%
Cost of sales-third parties   44,468,196    43,154,963    1,313,233    3%
Cost of sales-related parties   3,952,496    2,685,579    1,266,917    47%
Occupancy costs   3,836,604    3,605,453    231,152    6%
Gross Profit   13,611,122    12,730,797    880,325    7%
Selling, general and administrative expenses   14,961,027    12,356,026    2,605,001    21%
Income (Loss) from operations   (1,349,905)   374,771    (1,724,676)   -460%
Interest expense   (376,383)   (90,292)   (286,091)   317%
Other income   1,219,415    508,441    710,974    140%
Income (Loss) before income tax provision   (506,873)   792,920    (1,299,793)   -164%

Income tax (benefit) provision

   (263,574)   356,814   (620,388)   -174%
Net income (loss)  $ (243,299)  $436,106   $(679,405)   -156%
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders  $(243,299)  $436,106   $(679,405)   -156%

 

Net Sales

 

   For the six months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Net sales of retail  $53,111,718   $51,765,739   $1,345,979    3%
Net sales of wholesale-third parties   7,780,937    6,781,892    999,045    15%
Net sales of wholesale-related parties   4,975,763    3,629,161    1,346,602    37%
Total Net Sales  $65,868,418   $62,176,792   $3,691,626    6%

 

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iFresh’s net sales were $65.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $3.7 million, or 5.9%, from $62.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016.

 

Net retail sales increased by $1.3 million, or 3%, from $51.8 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016, to $53.1 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017. The increase resulted mainly from better product offering at stores and more effective marketing to promote the “iFresh” brand compared to the same period of 2016. Our total net wholesale sales increased by $2.4 million, from $10.4 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016 to $12.8 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, which was attributable to an increase of $1.4 million in sales to related parties and $1 million to third party due to iFresh focusing on improving its central procurement system through its wholesale facilities.

 

Cost of sales, Occupancy costs and Gross Profit

 

Retail Segment  For the six months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Cost of sales  $38,623,166   $37,989,811   $633,355    1.7%
Occupancy costs   3,836,604    3,605,453    231,151    6.4%
Gross profit   10,651,948    10,170,475    481,473    4.7%
Gross margin   20.1%   19.6%   0.5%   - 

  

For the retail segment, gross profit was $10.7 million and $10.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Gross margin was 20.1% and 19.6% for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The gross profit increased mainly due to the increase in sales, and the minor fluctuation in gross margin is in the normal range.

 

Cost of sales increased by $0.6 million, or 1.7%, from $38.0 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016 to $38.6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017. The increase was in line with the increased sales for the six months.

 

Occupancy costs consist of store-level expenses such as rental expense, property taxes and other store specific costs. Occupancy costs increased by approximately 6.4 %, from $3.6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016 to $3.8 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, which was mainly attributable to increased taxes and store specific costs and the additional rent paid for the newly acquired E. Colonial Store.

 

Wholesale Segment  For the six months ended
September 30,
  Changes
   2017  2016  $  %
Cost of sales  $9,797,526   $7,850,731   $1,946,795    24.8%
Gross profit  $2,959,174    2,560,322    398,852    15.6%
Gross margin   23.2%   24.6%   -1.4%     

 

For the wholesale segment, cost of sales increased by $1.9 million or 24.8% from $7.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016 to $9.8 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017. The increase was attributable to continuingly increasing wholesale costs under current economic environment.

 

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Gross profit increased by $0.4 million, or 15.6% from $2.6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016 to $3.0 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017. Gross margin decreased by 1.4% from 24.6% to 23.2%. The decrease of gross margin was due to tougher market competition we are facing resulting in the Company being unable to transfer all of the increase in costs to customers.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses was $15 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $2.6 million, or 21%, compared to $12.4 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016, which was mainly attributable to $0.3 million of professional service fees, increased payroll expenses of approximate $0.7 million and the additional expenses of $0.5 million related to two stores newly acquired on July 13, 2017, one of which is in the process of being renovated and has no revenue.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense was $376,383 for the six months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $286,091, or 317%, from $90,292 for the six months ended September 30, 2016, primarily attributable to the increased $1.5 million line of credit and the $1.05 million of delayed term loan to acquire E. Colonial.

 

Other income

 

Other income was $1,219,415 for the six months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $710,974, or 140%, from $508,441 for the six months ended September 30, 2016, primarily attributable to the insurance reimbursement for Ming’s fire damage occurred in March for 0.5 million and the settlement gain of the lease dispute from U2.

 

Income Taxes Provision (Benefit)

 

iFresh is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. We utilized income tax benefit of $0.26 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $0.62 million, or 174%, compared to $0.36 million of income tax provision for the six months ended September 30, 2016, which was mainly attributable to the decrease in taxable income. For the six months ended September 30, 2017, the Company had a loss before tax and the income tax benefit represents the deferred income tax benefit derived from net operating loss.

 

Net Income

 

   For the six months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Net income  $(243,299)  $436,106   $(679,405))   -156%
Net Profit Margin   -0.4%   0.7%   -1.1%     

 

Net loss was $0.24 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $0.68 million, or 156%, from $0.44 million of net income for the six months ended September 30, 2016, mainly attributable to the increase of selling, general and administrative expenses and higher interest expenses as stated above.

 

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Adjusted EBITDA

 

   For the six months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Net income (loss)  $(243,299)  $436,106   $(679,405)   -156%
Interest expenses   376,383    90,292    286,091    317%
Income tax provision (benefit)   (263,574)   356,814    (620,388)   -174%
Depreciation   832,667    778,508    54,159    7%
Amortization   157,916    66,666    91,250    137%
Merger expenses(1)   -    490,000    (490,000)   -100%
Adjusted EBITDA  $860,093   $2,218,386   $(1,358,293)   -61%
Percentage of sales   1.3%   3.6%   -2.3%     

 

(1) Merger expenses were professional fees paid to a financial advisor, legal counsel and auditors in connection with the business combination transaction with E-Compass, which are non-recurring expenses and added back for adjusted EBITDA.

 

Adjusted EBITDA was $860,093 for the six months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $1,358,293 or 61%, as compared to $2.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016, mainly attributable to the decreased of net income of $0.7 million and decrease of merger expenses of $0.5 million. The ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to sales was 1.3% and 3.6% for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Results of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

 

   For the three months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Net sales-third parties  $30,764,800   $29,862,331   $902,469    3%
Net sales-related parties   2,575,092    2,024,569    550,523    27%
Total Sales   33,339,892    31,886,900    1,452,992    5%
Cost of sales-third parties   22,765,456    22,376,055    389,401    2%
Cost of sales-related parties   1,960,566    1,354,187    606,379    45%
Occupancy costs   1,893,762    1,765,386    128,376    7%
Gross Profit   6,720,108    6,391,272    328,836    5%
Selling, general and administrative expenses   7,476,204    6,130,117    1,346,087    22%
Income (Loss) from operations   (756,096)   261,155    (1,017,251)   -390%
Interest expense   (208,844)   (46,718)   (162,126)   347%
Other income   1,017,510    263,203    754,307    287%
Income before income tax provision   52,570    477,640    (425,070)   -89%
Income tax provision   27,336    219,279    (191,943)   -88%
Net income  $25,234   $258,361   $(233,127)   -90%
Net income attributable to common shareholders  $25,234   $258,361   $(233,127)   -90%

 

Net Sales

 

   For the three months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Net sales of retail  $26,752,299   $25,987,857   $764,442    3%
Net sales of wholesale-third parties   4,012,501    3,874,474    138,027    4%
Net sales of wholesale-related parties   2,575,092    2,024,569    550,523    27%
Total Net Sales  $33,339,892   $31,886,900   $1,452,992    5%

 

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iFresh’s net sales were $33.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $1.5 million, or 5%, from $31.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.

 

Net retail sales increased by $0.8 million, or 3%, from $26 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, to $26.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase resulted mainly from the sales contributed from the newly opened E. Colonial store in Florida of $0.8 million. Our total net wholesale sales increased by $0.7 million, from $5.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to $6.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, which was attributable to an increase of $0.6 million in sales to related parties and $0.1 million to third party due to iFresh focusing on improving its central procurement system through its wholesale facilities.

 

Cost of sales, Occupancy costs and Gross Profit

 

Retail Segment  For the three months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Cost of sales  $19,723,384   $19,227,496   $495,888    2.6%
Occupancy costs   1,893,762    1,765,386    128,376    7.3%
Gross profit   5,135,153    4,994,975    140,178    2.8%
Gross margin   19.2%   19.2%   -     

 

For the retail segment, gross profit was $5.1 million and $5.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Gross margin remained stable at 19.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. The increase in gross profit was due to an increase in purchases through our central procurement system.

 

Cost of sales increased by $0.5 million, or 2.5%, from $19.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to $19.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase was in line with the increase in sales for the three months.

 

Occupancy costs consist of store-level expenses such as rental expense, property taxes and other store specific costs. Occupancy costs increased by approximately $0.1 million, or 7.2 %, from $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, which was mainly attributable to increased taxes and store specific costs and the rent of the newly acquired E. Colonial store.

 

Wholesale Segment  For the three months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Cost of sales  $5,002,638   $4,502,746   $499,892    11.1%
Gross profit  $1,584,955    1,396,297    188,658    13.5%
Gross margin   24.1%   23.7%   0.4%     

 

For the wholesale segment, cost of sales increased by $0.5 million, or 11%, from $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to $5.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase in cost of sales was in par with the increased sales.

 

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Gross profit increased by $0.2 million, or 13.5% from $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Gross margin increased by 0.4% from 23.7% to 24.1%. The increase in gross profit was minimal and we consider the gross margin variation to be within normal business fluctuations.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses was $7.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $1.3 million, or 22%, compared to $6.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, which was mainly attributable to increased payroll expenses and the additional expenses related to two stores newly acquired on July 13, 2017, one of which is in the process of being renovated and has no revenue.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense was $208,844 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $162,126, or 347%, from $46,718 for the three months ended September 30, 2016, primarily attributable to the increased $1.5 million line of credit and the $1.05 million of delayed term loan to acquire E. Colonial.

 

Other income

 

Other income was $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $0.75 million, or 287%, from $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, primarily as a result of the insurance payout for Ming’s fire damage occurred in March for $0.5 million, and the settlement gain of the lease dispute from U2.

 

Income Taxes Provision

 

iFresh is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. Income tax was $27,336 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 88%, compared to $0.2 million of tax for the three months ended September 30, 2016, which was mainly attributable to the decrease in taxable income. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company had a small gain before tax of $52,570.

 

Net Income

 

   For the three months ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Net income (loss)  $25,234   $258,361   $(233,127)   -90%
Net Profit Margin   0.08%   0.8%   -0.72%     

  

Net income was $25,234 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $0.23 million, or 90%, from $0.26 million of net income for the three months ended September 30, 2016, mainly attributable to the increase of selling, general and administrative expenses and higher interest expenses as stated above.

 

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Adjusted EBITDA

 

   For the three month ended
September 30,
   Changes 
   2017   2016   $   % 
Net income  $25,234   $258,361   $(233,127)   -90%
Interest expenses   208,844    46,718    162,126    347%
Income tax provision   27,336    219,279    (191,943)   -88%
Depreciation   429,606    398,951    30,655    8%
Amortization   78,958    33,333    45,625    137%
Merger expenses(1)   -    490,000    (490,000)   -100%
Adjusted EBITDA  $769,978   $1,446,642   $(676,664)   -47%
Percentage of sales   2.3%   4.5%   -2.2%     

 

(1) Merger expenses were professional fees paid to a financial advisor, legal counsel and auditors in connection with the business combination transaction with E-Compass, which are non-recurring expenses and added back for adjusted EBITDA.

 

Adjusted EBITDA was $769,978 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $676,664 or 47%, as compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, mainly attributable to the decreased net income of approximately $230,000 and decrease of merger expenses of approximately $490,000. The ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to sales was 2.3% and 4.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of September 30, 2017, iFresh had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $1.0 million. iFresh has funded working capital and other capital requirements in the past primarily by equity contribution from shareholders, cash flow from operations, and bank loans. Cash is required to pay purchase costs for inventory, rental, salaries, office rental expenses, income taxes, other operating expenses and repay debts. Although iFresh’s management believes that the cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet its normal working capital needs for at least the next twelve months, its ability to repay its current obligation will depend on the future realization of its current assets. iFresh’s management has considered the historical experience, the economy, trends in the retail industry, the expected collectability of the accounts receivables and the realization of the inventories as of September 30, 2017. iFresh’s ability to continue to fund these items may be affected by general economic, competitive and other factors, many of which are outside of our control. If the future cash flow from operations and other capital resources are insufficient to fund its liquidity needs, iFresh may be forced to reduce or delay its expected new store acquisition and openings, sell assets, obtain additional debt or equity capital or refinance all or a portion of its debt. Our working capital position benefits from the fact that it generally collects cash from sales to customers the same day or, in the case of credit or debit card transactions, within a few business days of the related sale and the quick inventory turnover.

 

We had $16.7 million of advances to and receivables from the related parties we intend to acquire, which will be used to offset part of the acquisition consideration. In addition, we had $6.45 million of unused credit line from Key Bank, which includes a revolving credit of $2.5 million for making advances and the issuance of letters of credit, and $3.95 million of a delayed draw term loan. We also plan to issue additional stock in lieu of cash as part of the acquisition consideration and plan to raise additional capital through sales of our stock if necessary. We intend to use part of the cash generated from our operations to fund our online sales initiative. If we are not able to turn over our inventory and collect our receivables in time as we have done in the past, Mr. Long Deng, the majority shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of iFresh, has indicated that he will personally fund iFresh’s operations as needed. Based on the above considerations, iFresh’s management is of the opinion that iFresh has sufficient funds to meet its working capital requirements, capital expenditure and debt obligations as they become due.

 

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The following table summarizes iFresh’s cash flow data for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

   For the six months ended
September 30,
   2017  2016
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  $(993,367)  $2,917,448 
Net cash used in investing activities   (3,178,827)   (3,053,513)
Net cash provided by financing activities   2,680,184    262,927 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents  $(1,492,010)  $126,862 

  

Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities consists primarily of net income adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, changes in deferred income taxes, and the effect of working capital changes. Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $ 1.0 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $3.9 million, or 134%, compared to $2.9 million of cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease in our cash from operating activities was mainly because we collected less account accounts, spent more on inventory and prepaid expenses and paid more in accounts payable for the six months ended September 30, 2016 than for the six months ended September 30, 2016.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $3.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $0.1 million, compared to $3.1 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in our investment spending was primarily attributable to the acquisition of two new stores occurred in July 2017.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $2.7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2017, which mainly consisted of net cash flow from borrowing against bank loans and lines of credit of $3.5 million. Net cash provided by financing activities was $0.3 million for the six months ended September 30, 2016, which mainly consisted of $ 0.2 million from borrowings against lines of credit, notes payable, offsetting the repayment of credit lines and notes payable correspondingly.

  

Commitments and Contractual Obligations

 

The following table presents the Company’s material contractual obligations as of September 30, 2017:

 

Contractual Obligations (unaudited)  Total   Less than 1 year   1-3 years   3-5 years   More than 5 years 
Bank Loans  $17,689,082   $1,450,285   $3,013,167   $13,225,630    - 
Estimated interest payments on bank loans   1,503,625    420,003    711,032    372,590    - 
Notes payable   622,218    241,434    278,039    102,745    - 
Capital lease obligations   143,514    65,065    70,891    7,558    - 
Operating Lease Obligations(1)   93,694,571    7,730,887    16,061,479    15,169,564    54,732,641 
   $113,653,010   $9,907,674   $20,134,608   $28,878,087   $54,732,641 

 

(1) Operating lease obligations do not include common area maintenance, utility and tax payments to which iFresh is obligated, which is estimated to be approximately 50% of operating lease obligation.

  

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

 

iFresh is not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

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Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The discussion and analysis of iFresh’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon its financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. These principles require iFresh’s management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses, cash flow and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The estimates include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, inventory valuation, impairment of long-lived assets, and income taxes. iFresh bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and the actual results, future financial statements will be affected.

 

iFresh’s management believes that among their significant accounting policies, which are described in Note 3 to the audited consolidated financial statements of iFresh included in this Form 10-K, the following accounting policies involve a greater degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, iFresh’s management believes these are the most critical to fully understand and evaluate its financial condition and results of operations.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

For retail sales, revenue is recognized at the point of sale. Discounts provided to customers at the time of sale are recognized as a reduction in sales as the discounted products are sold. Sales taxes are not included in revenue. Proceeds from the sale of coupons are recorded as a liability at the time of sale, and recognized as sales when they are redeemed by customers. For wholesales sales, revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, the Company has no other obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are recorded as customer deposits.

  

Inventories

 

Inventories consist of merchandise purchased for resale, which are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost method is used for wholesale and retail perishable inventories by assigning costs to each of these items based on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis (net of vendor discounts).

 

The Company’s wholesale and retail non-perishable inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market using weighted average method.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

iFresh assesses its long-lived assets, including property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. The Company groups and evaluates long-lived assets for impairment at the individual store level, which is the lowest level at which independent identifiable cash flows are available. Factors which may indicate potential impairment include a significant underperformance relative to the historical or projected future operating results of the store or a significant negative industry or economic trend. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset. If impairment is indicated, a loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value of the asset group. The fair value is estimated based on the discounted future cash flows or comparable market values, if available.

 

Income Taxes

 

iFresh must make certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. The amount of taxes currently payable or refundable is accrued, and deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for realizable loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the fiscal year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities for a change in income tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

 34 

 

 

iFresh apply the provisions of the authoritative guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes that was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB. Pursuant to this guidance, and may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The authoritative guidance also addresses other items related to uncertainty in income taxes, including derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business”. The amendments in this ASU clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. Basically these amendments provide a screen to determine when a set is not a business. If the screen is not met, the amendments in this ASU first, require that to be considered a business, a set must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output and second, remove the evaluation of whether a market participant could replace missing elements. These amendments take effect for public businesses for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those periods, and all other entities should apply these amendments for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05 (“ASU 2017-05”) to provide guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets and in-substance nonfinancial assets in contracts with non-customers, unless other specific guidance applies. The standard requires a company to derecognize nonfinancial assets once it transfers control of a distinct nonfinancial asset or distinct in substancenon financial asset. Additionally, when a company transfers its controlling interest in a nonfinancial asset, but retains a noncontrolling ownership interest, the company is required to measure any noncontrolling interest it receives or retains at fair value. The guidance requires companies to recognize a full gain or loss on the transaction. ASU 2017-05 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The effective date of this guidance coincides with revenue recognition guidance. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

No other new accounting pronouncements issued or effective had, or are expected to have, a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

As of September 30, 2017, we were not subject to material market or interest rate risk.   

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2017, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2017, due to our lack of experience being a public company and lack of professional staff with adequate knowledge of SEC’s rules and requirements.

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

The Company established a policy during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017 that management will hire additional accounting personnel or use independent consultants to determine the proper accounting treatment of transactions to ensure that complicated transactions, such as equity financings, acquisitions, and business combinations, are recorded accurately.  In May 2017, the Company hired a new Chief Financial Officer with the necessary skills and experience to help with the financial reporting process. In August 2017, the Company also hired a new accounting supervisor holding a CPA license to help with the financial reporting. The Company is also actively looking for an outside independent consultant to help with accounting treatment of more complicated transactions such as planned business acquisitions.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

Rent Dispute

 

Ming’s Supermarket, Inc. (“Ming”), the subsidiary of the Company, is a tenant at a building located at 140-148 East Berkeley Street, Boston, MA (the “Property”), pursuant to a lease dated September 24, 1999 (the “Lease”). The Lease had a 10-year initial term, followed by an option for two additional 10-year terms. Ming has exercised that first option and the Lease has approximately 15 years remaining to run if the second option is also exercised. The Lease also gives Ming a right of first refusal on any sale of the building.

 

On February 22, 2015, a sprinkler pipe burst in the Property. This caused the Inspectional Services Department of the City of Boston (“ISD”) to inspect the Property. The ISD found a number of problems which have prevented further use of the Property. The ISD notified both landlord and tenant that the Property was only permitted for use as an elevator garage and that its use as a warehouse was never permitted and that a conditional use permit must be obtained from the City of Boston to make such use lawful. Moreover, the Property was found to have major structural issues requiring repair, as well as issues with the elevator and outside glass. The result of the ISD’s findings are that Ming was ordered not to use the Property for any purpose unless and until the structural and other repairs are completed and its use as a warehouse is permitted by the Boston Zoning Board.

 

While the Lease provides that the elevator (approximate cost $400,000) and glass repairs (approximate cost $30,000) are the responsibility of the tenant, the structural repairs (approximate cost $500,000) are the landlord’s responsibility under the Lease, unless the structural damage was caused by the tenant’s misuse of the Property. In this regard Ming has retained an expert who will testify the structural damage to the building was caused by long term water infiltration and is not the result of anything Ming did. Ming initially sought for the landlord to perform the structural repairs and agreed that upon completion of those repairs, Ming would repair the elevator and the broken glass. In addition, Ming asked the landlord to cooperate in permitting use of the Property as a warehouse. 

 

The landlord refused to either perform structural repairs or to cooperate on the permitting. As a result, as of April 2015, Ming stopped paying the landlord rent, since it was barred from using the Property by order of the ISD. The landlord then sued Ming for breach of the Lease and unpaid rent and Ming counterclaimed for constructive eviction and for damages resulting from the landlord’s breach of its duty to perform structural repairs under the Lease.

 

It would appear the landlord wishes to use the current circumstances to terminate the lease or to cause Ming to abandon it. The Lease is at considerably below market and impairs the landlord’s ability to sell the Property for a high price. The landlord is claiming damages of approximately $470,000 in unpaid rent and additional rent charges under the lease to date, plus for the cost of repairs. Ming is claiming damages in the mount of lost profits of $20,000 to$30,000 per month resulting from the loss if its warehouse space and for the landlord’s failure to undertake its responsibilities under the lease. Ming’s damages also include loss of the benefit of its below market lease. Ming is also seeking an order of the Court directing the landlord to perform the structural repairs. 

 

The parties have been unable to agree on terms of a settlement and a trial was necessary to resolve this matter. The case was trialed on August 21, 2017 and concluded on August 29, 2017 with a jury verdict in favor of the Company. The JURY VERDICT FORM issued on August 31, 2017 affirmed that the landlord breached the lease by failing to make the necessary structural repairs to the Premises and take responsibility to recover Ming’s damages from the breach. After the jury verdict, the landlord filed an appeal immediately. The new verdict of this case was issued in the Company’s favor on September 29, 2017. The judge awarded us double damages and attorney’s fees in this case. That will result in a total judgment of $1,590,000 including $795,000 for damage compensation plus the attorneys’ fees and interest and costs. In addition, the landlord was ordered to make repairs to the building with additional damaged of $2,250 for each month until completed.

 

However, the landlord is planning to file another appeal shortly after the verdict based on our acknowledgement. No guaranties or predications can be made at this time as to ultimate final outcome of this case. The Company believes that the facts and the law are favorable for Ming’s as to both its continuing liability for rent and its affirmative claim to recover damages.

 

Trade order dispute

 

A lawsuit has been filed against New York Mart Group, Inc. (“NYMG”), a subsidiary of iFresh, and New Sunshine Group, LLC (“New Sunshine”), by SKKR Trading, LLC (“Plaintiff”) for breach of contract and failure to pay. The plaintiff is seeking from NYMG and New Sunshine for principal damages in the amount of $116,878 representing the total amount of invoices Plaintiff is claiming pass due, penalty of $256,000 for the past due invoices and attorney cost which was estimated to be $80,000 to $90,000.

 

The Plaintiff claimed that NYMG and New Sunshine failed to pay for a shrimp order. NYMG and New Sunshine have raised various defenses, most of which center on the arguments that NYMG and New Sunshine abandoned the Distribution Agreement and did not order, receive or benefit from the shrimp at issue. Rather, the shrimp was ordered by a tenant of NYMG, Hong Hai, who was a completely separate corporation than NYMG or New Sunshine.

 

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The case went to trial on March 12 to15, 2017. On April 17, 2017, the Count ruled in favor of Plaintiff and against NYMG and New Sunshine in the amount of $385,492. NYMG hired a new law firm to appeal the case because it believes that there are new evidences and arguments that NYMG should not be held responsible for these damages. The appeal process will take approximately 1 year. During the appeal, NYMG will not be required to pay the amount under the Final Judgment. While discovery is ongoing and no guaranties or predications can be made at this time as to ultimate outcome, the Company and its attorney believe a fair estimate of the chance the Company will prevail on the appeal of the Final Judgment is approximately 50%.

 

Most recently on August 11, 2017, approximately $196,000 in funds held in one of New York Mart’s bank accounts at TD Bank was ordered by the Court to be frozen until the appeal has been concluded, after plaintiff trying to seize these funds as part of an effort to enforce the aforementioned judgement.  

 

Once the appeal is concluded, the ownership of the $196,000 will be determined. SKKR is not permitted to take any other action to enforce this judgment, including attempting to seize any other funds in the TD Bank accounts, any other funds, any assets owned by NYM. Accordingly, NYM is able to continue to use all bank accounts at TD Bank (with the exception of the frozen $196,000 which has been set aside) without the threat of those accounts being seized by SKKR.

 

The principal shareholder of the Company, Mr. Long Deng, made a personal pledge to pay for the entire amount of the damage if the appeal is ruled against NYMG. The Company did not accrue any of this potential liability.

 

The Company evaluates contingencies on an ongoing basis and will establish loss provisions for matters in which losses are probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated, and is not currently a party to any legal proceeding that management believes could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or balance sheet. 

 

Other Proceedings

 

On September 22, 2017, Weiqing Gao, a former employee of Strong America Limited, a subsidiary of the Company, filed a complaint against the Company and Mr. Long Deng, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, on behalf of herself and all similarly situated employees, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleging that the Company violated certain minimum wage and overtime pay laws. The Company was served with the complaint on October 16, 2017, and has not yet replied to the complaint. The complaint seeks payment of amounts allegedly due along with certain penalties, but does not allege the aggregate amount claimed. The Company intends to vigorously defend the suit.

 

On October 20, 2017, Jendo Ermi, LP, an entity that owns the property of one of the Company’s stores, filed a summons and complaint against the Company alleging breach of contract for violating the terms of a lease agreement between the Company and the Plaintiff. The Company was served with the complaint on November 8, 2017, and has not yet replied to the complaint. The Complaint alleges damages of approximately $312,000 and seeks those alleged damages plus court costs, legal fees and interest, along with cancellation of the lease. The Company intends to vigorously defend the suit.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

There have been no changes with respect to risk factors as previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2017.   Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before you invest you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2017, under the caption “Risk Factors”, our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth in Item 2 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, as well as our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the other information in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2017. Readers should carefully review those risks, as well as additional risks described in other documents we file from time to time with the SEC.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities.

 

None. 

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

 

None. 

 

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Item 6.  Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
     
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
     
32   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
   
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
   
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

  

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SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  iFresh, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Long Deng
    Long Deng
    Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal executive officer)
     
  By: /s/ Alfred Chung-Chieh Ying
    Alfred Chung-Chieh Ying
    Chief Financial Officer
(Principal financial and accounting officer)

 

Date: November 14, 2017 

 

 

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