10-K 1 v355550_10k.htm FORM 10-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

þ annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013

or

 

o Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from  _________________________________ to ___________________________________
   
Commission File Number: 001-15931

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, Inc.
(Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

 

Florida   98-0695811

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or

organization)

  (I.R.S.  employer identification number)
     

Kuanggong Road and Tiyu Road 10th Floor

Chengshi Xin Yong She, Tiyu Road

Xinhua District

Pingdingshan, Henan Province

People’s Republic of China

  467000
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code +86-3752882999

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, $0.001 par value   NASDAQ Capital Market

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  Large Accelerated Filer o Accelerated Filer                   o
  Non-accelerated filer    o Smaller reporting company   þ

 

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

 

As of December 31, 2012, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $17 million, based on a closing price of $1.18 per share of common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market on such date.

 

As of September 19, 2013, the registrant had 21,121,372 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2013

 

      Page
PART I      
Item 1. Business   4
Item 1A. Risk Factors   22
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments   33
Item 2. Properties   34
Item 3. Legal Proceedings   34
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures   34
       
PART II      
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities   35
Item 6. Selected Financial Data   35
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations   35
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   42
Item 8. Financial Statements   43
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure   43
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures   44
Item 9B. Other Information   45
       
PART III      
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance   45
Item 11. Executive Compensation   48
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters   49
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions   51
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services   51
       
PART IV      
Item 15. Exhibits, and Financial Statement Schedules   51
       
Signatures     54

 

2
 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This annual report on Form 10-K (the “Report”) and other reports (collectively the “Filings”) filed by the registrant from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) contain or may contain forward looking statements and information that are based upon beliefs of, and information currently available to, the registrant’s management as well as estimates and assumptions made by the registrant’s management. When used in the filings the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions as they relate to the registrant or the registrant’s management identify forward looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the registrant with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors (including the risks contained in the section of this Report entitled “Risk Factors”) relating to the registrant’s industry, the registrant’s operations and results of operations and any businesses that may be acquired by the registrant. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned.

 

Although the registrant believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable, the registrant cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, the registrant does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the registrant’s financial statements and the related notes thereto included in this Report.

 

In this Report, “we,” “our,” “us,” “SinoCoking” or the “Company” sometimes refers collectively to SinoCoking Coal and Coke Chemical Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies.

 

3
 

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1.BUSINESS.

 

General Overview

 

We are a vertically-integrated coal and coke producer based in Henan Province, People’s Republic of China (“PRC” or “China”). Our products include raw coal, washed coal, “medium” or mid-coal, coal slurries, coke, coal tar and crude benzol. We also generate electricity from gas emitted during the coking process, which we use primarily to power our operations.

 

All of our business operations are conducted by Henan Province Pingdingshan Hongli Coal & Coke Co., Ltd. (“Hongli”), which we control through contractual arrangements that Hongli and its owners have entered into with Pingdingshan Hongyuan Energy Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Hongyuan”). These contractual arrangements provide for management and control rights, and in addition entitle us to receive the earnings and control the assets of Hongli. Hongyuan is wholly-owned by Top Favour Limited (“Top Favour”), of which we are the sole shareholder. Other than our interests in the contractual arrangements, we do not own any equity interests in Hongli.

 

Currently:

 

·Coking related operations are carried out by Hongli and its branch, Baofeng Coking Factory (“Baofeng Coking).

 

·Coal related operations are under the following three subsidiaries of Hongli, although all mining activities are currently on hold pending the ongoing mining moratorium (see “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” below):
(1)Baofeng Hongchang Coal Co., Ltd. (“Hongchang Coal”);
(2)Baofeng Shuangrui Coal Mining Co., Ltd. (“Shuangrui Coal”), which is wholly owned by Hongchang Coal; and
(3)Baofeng Xingsheng Coal Mining Co., Ltd. (“Xingsheng Coal”).

 

·Electricity generation is carried out by Baofeng Hongguang Environment Protection Electricity Generating Co., Ltd. (“Hongguang Power”), also a wholly owned subsidiary of Hongli.

 

It is our intention to transfer all coal related operations from Hongli’s subsidiaries to a joint-venture established with Henan Province Coal Seam Gas Development and Utilization Co., Ltd. (“Henan Coal Seam Gas”), a state-owned enterprise and qualified provincial-level coal mine consolidator. The joint-venture, Henan Hongyuan Coal Seam Gas Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. (“Hongyuan CSG”), has been established, although our planned transfer of coal related activities to Hongyuan CSG has not been carried out as of the date of this Report. Our interests in Hongyuan CSG are held by Henan Zhonghong Energy Investment Co., Ltd. (“Zhonghong”), which equity interests are presently held on Hongli’s behalf and for its benefit by three nominees pursuant to share entrustment agreements.

 

In addition, once we complete construction of our new coking plant, we intend to operate the plant through Baofeng Hongrun Coal Chemical Co., Ltd. (“Hongrun Coking”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hongli. As of the date of this Report, however, construction has not been completed (see “Our Products and Operations – Coke – New Coking Facility” below), and Hongrun Coking has not commenced operations.

 

As of June 30, 2013, our current liabilities exceeded our current assets by $24,312,407. Our ability to continue as a going concern depends upon our expenditure requirements and repayments of our long-term loan facilities with Bairui Trust Co., Ltd. (“Bairui Trust”) as and when they fall due. See “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business – If we cannot continue as a going concern, you will lose your entire investment” and “If we do not raise additional capital or refinance our debt, we will not be able to achieve our objectives and we may need to curtail or even discontinue operations”.

 

History and Corporate Structure

 

We were incorporated in Florida on September 30, 1996, originally under the name “J. B. Financial Services, Inc.” We changed our name to “Ableauctions.com, Inc.” on July 19, 1999.

 

On December 30, 2009, our shareholders approved a Plan and Agreement of Share Exchange, dated July 17, 2009, with Top Favour under which we agreed to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of Top Favour in exchange for the issuance of 13,117,952 shares of our common stock to the shareholders of Top Favour (the “Share Exchange”). The Share Exchange was consummated on February 5, 2010.

 

On March 11, 2010, we completed two private placement financings, pursuant to exemptions under Regulation S and Regulation D, respectively, in which we sold and issued a total of 7,344,935 shares of common stock, and five-year warrants for the purchase of an additional 3,789,631 shares of common stock, resulting in aggregate proceeds of $44 million.

 

4
 

 

Top Favour

 

Top Favour is a holding company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on July 2, 2008. Top Favour was formed by the owners of Hongli as a special vehicle for raising capital outside of the PRC. Other than holding 100% of the equity interests in Hongyuan and facilitating loan transactions for Hongli and its subsidiaries, Top Favour has no operations of its own.

 

Hongyuan

 

Hongyuan is a limited liability company organized in the PRC with registered capital of $3 million and is wholly-owned by Top Favour. Hongyuan was approved as a wholly foreign owned enterprise (“WFOE”) by the Henan government on February 26, 2009 and formally organized on March 18, 2009. Other than activities relating to its contractual arrangements with Hongli, Hongyuan has no separate operations of its own.

 

Hongli

 

Hongli is a limited liability company organized in the PRC on July 5, 1996, and held by four Chinese nationals (the “Owners”) initially as follows: 83.66% by Mr. Jianhua Lv, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 6.44% by Ms. Xin Zheng, 4.95% by Mr. Wenqi Xu, and 4.95% by Mr. Guoxiang Song. In August 2010, the Pingdingshan government directed Hongli to increase its registered capital from 8,808,000 Renminbi (“RMB”) to RMB 28,080,000 in order to maintain its coal trading license. Accordingly, the Owners contributed the additional registered capital in full in August 2010, although not in proportion to their original ownership percentages: Mr. Lv and Ms. Zheng increased their holdings to 85.40% and 9.19%, respectively, while Mr. Xu and Mr. Song decreased their holdings to 3.99% and 1.42%, respectively. Registration of such additional contribution and change in ownership percentages with Pingdingshan’s Administration for Industry and Commerce (“AIC”) was completed in April 2011.

 

Currently, Hongli has a branch, six subsidiaries and a joint-venture as follows (each a “Hongli company,” and with Hongli collectively “Hongli Group”):

 

Branch:

 

·Baofeng Coking was established on May 31, 2002 as a branch of Hongli.

 

Subsidiaries:

 

·Hongchang Coal is a limited liability company formed in the PRC on July 19, 2007 with registered capital of RMB 3 million. Hongchang Coal is wholly-owned by Hongli and holds the rights to mine.

 

·Hongguang Power is a limited liability company formed in the PRC on August 1, 2006 with registered capital of RMB 22 million. Hongguang Power is wholly owned by Hongli.

 

·Hongrun Coking is a limited liability company formed in the PRC on May 17, 2011 with registered capital of RMB 30 million. Hongrun Coking is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hongli.

 

·Shuangrui Coal is a limited liability company formed in the PRC on March 17, 2009 with registered capital of RMB 4,029,960. Hongchang Coal currently holds 100% of the equity interests of Shuangrui Coal. Hongli initially acquired 60% of such interests on May 20, 2011, and subsequently acquired the remaining 40% on June 20, 2012. Hongli concurrently transferred all 100% of Shuangrui Coal to Hongchang Coal, which transfer has been registered with the Pingdingshan AIC. As of the date of this Report, Hongli has not yet paid any consideration for the 40% as negotiations with the seller remains ongoing, although we have accrued for such consideration based on its fair market value. Shuangrui Coal holds the rights to mine the Shuangrui coal mine. We intend to dissolve Shuangrui Coal in the future and consolidate its mine assets under Hongchang Coal.

 

·Xingsheng Coal is a limited liability company formed in the PRC on December 6, 2007 with registered capital of RMB 3,634,600. Hongli currently holds 60% of the equity interests of Xingsheng Coal. Xingsheng Coal holds the rights to mine the Xingsheng coal mine.

 

·Zhonghong is a limited liability company formed in the PRC on December 30, 2010 with registered capital of RMB 10,010,000, which was increased to RMB 20 million on April 14, 2011, and to RMB 51 million on July 12, 2011, of which RMB 30 million has been paid and the balance due by December 20, 2015. Zhonghong’s equity interests are presently held on Hongli’s behalf and for its benefit by three nominees pursuant to share entrustment agreements, namely, Messrs. Hui Zheng and Jiangong Fan, vice president of operations and a department manager at Hongli, respectively, and an unrelated party who also serves as Zhonghong’s general manager. Zhonghong holds our interests in Hongyuan CSG, our joint-venture with Henan Coal Seam Gas.

 

5
 

 

Joint-Venture:

 

·Hongyuan CSG is a joint-venture established in the PRC on April 28, 2011 by Zhonghong (49%) and Henan Coal Seam Gas (51%). Hongli’s interests in the joint-venture are held by Zhonghong.

 

We also acquired 100% of Baofeng Shunli Coal Ming Co., Ltd. (“Shunli Coal”) on May 20, 2011. On July 4, 2012, Shunli Coal was dissolved, and we are in the process of applying to transfer its mine assets to, and consolidating them under, Hongchang Coal, which we currently expect to complete by the end of fiscal 2014. Shunli Coal’s mine assets consist of the rights to mine Shunli coal mine.

 

Contractual Arrangements with Hongli Group and the Owners

 

Our relationship with Hongli Group and the Owners are governed by a series of contractual arrangements, under which our subsidiary Hongyuan holds and exercises ownership and management rights over Hongli Group. While we do not own any equity interest in Hongli Group, the contractual arrangements are designed to provide us with rights equivalent in all material respects to those we would possess as its sole equity holder, including absolute control rights and the rights to assets, property and income. According to a legal opinion issued by our PRC counsel, the contractual arrangements constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties to such agreements, and are enforceable and valid in accordance with the laws of the PRC.

 

The contractual arrangements, entered into on March 18, 2009, consist of the following:

 

·Consulting Services Agreement: Hongyuan provides each Hongli company with general consulting services relating to its business management and operations on an exclusive basis. Additionally, Hongyuan owns any intellectual property rights that are developed during the course of providing such services. Each Hongli company pays a quarterly consulting service fee in RMB equal to its net income for such quarter to Hongyuan. This agreement is in effect unless and until terminated by written notice of either party if: (a) the other party causes a material breach of the agreement, provided that if the breach does not relate to a financial obligation, the breaching party has 14 days to cure following the receipt of written notice; (b) the other party becomes bankrupt, insolvent, is the subject of proceedings or arrangements for liquidation or dissolution, ceases to carry on business, or becomes unable to pay its debts as they become due; (c) Hongyuan terminates its operations; (d) a Hongli Group business license or any other approval for its business operations is terminated, cancelled or revoked; or (e) circumstances arise which would materially and adversely affect the performance or the objectives of this agreement. Additionally, Hongyuan may terminate the agreement without cause.

 

·Operating Agreement*: Hongyuan provides guidance and instructions for each Hongli company’s daily operations, financial management and employment issues. In addition, Hongyuan agrees to guarantee the performance of each Hongli company under any agreements or arrangements relating to its business arrangements with any third party. In return, the Owners must designate Hongyuan’s designees as their representatives on each Hongli company’s board of directors, and Hongyuan has the right to appoint senior executives of each Hongli company. Additionally, each Hongli company agrees to pledge its accounts receivable and all of its assets to Hongyuan. Moreover, each Hongli company agrees not to engage in any transactions that could materially affect its assets, liabilities, rights or operations without Hongyuan’s prior consent, including without limitation, incurrence or assumption of any indebtedness, sale or purchase of any assets or rights, incurrence of any encumbrance on any of its assets or intellectual property rights in favor of a third party or transfer of any agreements relating to its business operation to any third party. The term of this agreement is the maximum period of time permitted by law unless sooner terminated by any other agreements reached by all parties or upon a 30-day written notice from Hongyuan. The term may be extended only upon Hongyuan’s written confirmation prior to the expiration of the agreement, with the extended term to be mutually agreed upon by the parties. Under current applicable PRC law, there is no limitation on the maximum term permitted by law for this agreement.

 

·Equity Pledge Agreement*: The Owners pledged all of their equity interests in Hongli Group to Hongyuan to guarantee each Hongli company’s performance of the consulting services agreement. If a Hongli company or the owners breach their respective contractual obligations, Hongyuan, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including, but not limited to, the right to vote with, control and sell the pledged equity interests. The Owners also agreed that upon occurrence of any event of default, Hongyuan shall be granted an exclusive, irrevocable power of attorney to take actions in the place and stead of the owners to carry out the security provisions of the equity pledge agreement, and take any action and execute any instrument as required by Hongyuan to accomplish the purposes of the agreement. The Owners agreed not to dispose of the pledged equity interests or take any actions that would prejudice Hongyuan’s interest. This agreement will expire two years from the fulfillment of Hongli Group’s obligations under the consulting services agreement.

 

·Option Agreement*: The Owners irrevocably granted Hongyuan an exclusive option to purchase, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of their equity interests in Hongli Group at a price equal to their initial registered capital contributions or the minimum amount of consideration permitted under PRC law. Hongyuan has sole discretion to decide when to exercise the option, and whether in part or in full. The term of this agreement is ten years from January 1, 2006 and may be extended prior to its expiration by written agreement of the parties.

 

6
 

 

·Voting Rights Proxy Agreement*: The Owners irrevocably granted a Hongyuan designee the right to exercise all their voting rights in accordance with PRC laws and each Hongli company’s governing charters. This agreement may not be terminated without the unanimous consent of all parties, except that Hongyuan may terminate the proxy agreement with or without cause upon 30-day written notice to the owners.

 

*Re-executed on September 9, 2011, to reflect RMB 20 million of additional registered capital contributed by the Owners in August 2010, and the resulting change in ownership percentages. We were made a party to the re-executed agreements to acknowledge them.

 

As a result of the foregoing contractual arrangements, we have the ability to effectively control Hongli Group’s daily operations and financial affairs, appoint senior executives and decide on all matters requiring the Owners’ approval. While the Owners continue to own 100% of equity interests, they have given us their rights attendant to such ownership through the contractual arrangements. Accordingly, we are considered the primary beneficiary of Hongli Group and each Hongli company is deemed our variable interest entity (“VIE”).

 

 However, control based on contractual arrangements may ultimately not be as effective as direct ownership, as we will need to enforce our rights through quasi-judicial proceeding in the event Hongli Group fails to perform its contractual obligations. In the event the outcome of such proceeding is unfavorable to us, we may effectively lose control over Hongli Group. See “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure – Our contractual arrangements with Hongli and its owners as well as our ability to enforce our rights thereunder may not be as effective in providing control over Hongli as direct ownership.” As of September 19, 2013, Mr. Lv held approximately 31.7% of our issued and outstanding common stock, and 85.40% of the equity interests of Hongli. As such, we believe that our interests remain aligned with the Owners. However, we cannot give assurance that such interests will always be aligned, or that we can effectively control Hongli Group if and when such interests are no longer aligned. See “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure – Management members of Hongli have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may adversely affect our business and your ability for recourse.

 

7
 

 

Our Current Corporate Structure

 

The following diagram illustrates our current corporate structure:

 

 

Our Products and Operations

 

Overview

 

We are based in Henan Province in the central part of China, known as a coal-rich region. Our current operations are located in west Baofeng County, a part of Pingdingshan Prefecture south of Zhengzhou, the provincial capital. Our three principal products are coal, coke and electricity.

 

8
 

 

Coal

 

We sell coal, including raw (unprocessed) coal, washed coal, mid-coal and coal slurries (see “Coal Washing” below), and also use washed coal to make coke. We currently control four coal mines (see “Property, Plant and Equipment” below). Until June 2010, we largely extracted coal from Hongchang coal mine to meet our needs, although we also engaged in coal trading. As described under “Coal Mining Moratorium” below, however, we have been unable to extract coal since September 2011. We have instead been relying on coal purchased elsewhere, including from Shanxi, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia, to meet our requirements. Our coal purchases for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 are as follows:

 

Fiscal Year    

Annual Purchases*

(metric tons)

 
2012       461,932  
2013       384,515  

 

* Including coal for washing, coking and trading.

 

Generally, if the coal that we purchase meets coking requirements, we will reserve it for that purpose. Occasionally, however, we sell the coal (also known as coal trading) when market conditions are favorable.  

 

Coal Mining Moratorium

 

In December 2009, the Henan government issued a directive to consolidate coal mines with annual production capacity below 300,000 metric tons (each a “targeted mine” and collectively the “targeted mines”), spurred by the central government’s decision to consolidate China’s coal industry in order to improve production efficiency and reduce coal mine accidents. In March 2010, the Henan government directed all lower-level governments within the province to begin shutting down all targeted mines, and further designated six state-owned enterprises (“SOEs”) to consolidate the targeted mines. Once shut down, the targeted mines cannot resume operations until they are consolidated and their facilities satisfy certain safety requirements.

 

In February and April 2010, the Baofeng government and the Pingdingshan government designated Hongli to consolidate targeted mines within the county and municipality, respectively. Because the Henan government’s directive requires that safety responsibility at each targeted mine be borne by a designated SOE, we reached an arrangement with one of them, Henan Coal Seam Gas, to form a joint-venture that would allow us to comply with the Henan government’s directive while maintaining operational control over any targeted mine that we consolidate. Such joint-venture, Hongyuan CSG, was formed in April 2011.

 

In late June 2010, pursuant to the Henan government’s directive, the Pingdingshan government imposed a mining moratorium on all targeted mines within Pingdingshan. Nevertheless, we continued to operate our only mine at that time, Hongchang coal mine, at approximately 50% capacity until September 2011, when we halted operation in order to complete certain engineering and safety upgrades. Operations at our other three mines (Shuangrui, Xingsheng and Shunli) were already halted when we acquired controlling interests in them in May 2011, and have not resumed since.

 

In August 2011, Henan Coal Seam Gas, as a designated SOE consolidator, determined that Hongchang and Xingsheng coal mines were safe to resume operations, and applied with the Henan government to confirm such determination and issue the necessary licenses and permits to resume operations at both mine sites. However, due to an accident in November 2011 at a mine owned by Yima Coal Group, another designated SOE consolidator, the Henan government ordered all targeted mines to undergo further safety inspections and upgrades. We have made approximately $3.2 million in prepayments for works to increase our mining capacity at Hongchang coal mine to 450,000 metric tons, as well as to upgrade the monitoring system (by installing additional detectors), automatic control system (including power controls and ventilation), and escape system (with additional refuge compartments) at Hongchang and Xingsheng coal mines. Although such works have not commenced, we have submitted the related engineering plans to Henan Coal Seam Gas for its approval and submission to the Henan government. Accordingly, the applications to resume operations at these two mines remain pending as of the date of this Report. As we are also in the process of consolidating Shunli coal mine under Hongchang Coal (see “History and Corporate Structure – Hongli” above), the application approval for Hongchang coal mine may be subject to additional delay.

 

Henan Coal Seam Gas has not yet made a determination as to the safety at Shuangrui and Shunli coal mines, and we do not know when such determination will be made, if at all. In addition, our objective in acquiring Shuangrui Coal, Xingsheng Coal and Shunli Coal is their mining rights, and their sellers were required to dispose of all other assets and liabilities before the transfer of equity interests to us is complete, and to assume all rights and obligations to such assets and liabilities until their disposal, which rights and obligations we would disclaim should any such asset or liability remains in the company after the transfer of equity interests to us is complete. Although equity interests have been transferred to us, the assets and liabilities that the sellers agreed to dispose of remain intact as of the date of this Report. In accordance with our agreements with them, the sellers are in the process of disposing all such assets and liabilities, and on September 2, 2011, we entered into a supplemental agreement with them to memorialize such agreements, which were not previously reduced to writing. Aside from the mining moratorium, we expect such disposals to be completed prior to any resumption of mining operations.

 

9
 

 

Assuming all four mines can resume operations, it is our present intention to transfer our interests in them to, and to operate them through, Hongyuan CSG. Such transfer, if carried out, would reduce any future revenue we may receive from these mines by 31%, or pro rata to the 49% of the joint-venture that we control. Nevertheless, we believe that such transfer would be in our best interests by reducing any risk of loss from potential future policy changes by the central and provincial governments through the presence and influence of Henan Coal Seam Gas, our joint-venture partner.

 

Coal Washing

 

At the Baofeng plant (see “Coke” below), we operate a coal-washing facility that is capable of processing up to 750,000 metric tons of coal per year. Under current Chinese coking industry standards, raw coal with no more than 1% sulfur content is deemed suitable for coking, although other factors are also considered. In addition to low sulfur content, the industry preference is for lower ash content and volatile matters. While much of the coal from our mines and that we purchase is generally suitable for coking based on these parameters, the coal must nevertheless be washed before it is ready for the coking ovens, in order to reduce ash and sulfur content, and to increase thermal value. We use a water-based jig washing process, which is prevalent in China, and use both underground and recycled water. Sorting machines that can process up to 600 metric tons per hour sort the washed coal according to size. Washed coal is also typically blended with other coal in order to achieve the proper chemical composition and thermal value for coking.

 

Approximately 1.33 - 1.38 metric tons of raw coal yield 1 metric ton of washed coal. The bulk of the washed coal we produce is intended for our coking needs, although we sell if the pricing is favorable. In addition to washed coal, the coal-washing process produces two byproducts:

 

·“Medium” coal (or “mid-coal”), a PRC coal industry classification, is coal that does not have sufficient thermal value for coking, and is mixed with raw coal and even coal slurries, then sold for electricity generation, and domestic and industrial heating applications.

 

·Coal slurries (or coal slime) are the castoffs and debris from the washing process. Coal slurries can be used as a fuel with low thermal value, and are sold “as is” or mixed with mid-coal to produce a blended mixture.

 

Our annual production volumes of washed coal, mid-coal and coal slurries for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, are as follows:

 

    Annual Production 
(metric tons)
 
Fiscal
Year
  Washed Coal     Mid-
Coal*
    Coal
Slurries*
 
2012     104,545       34,848       17,424  
2013     90,461       45,230       15,077  

 

* Estimated based on amount of raw coal used.

 

Coke

 

Coke is a hardened, solid carbonaceous residue derived from low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal from which the volatile constituents are driven off by baking in an oven without oxygen at high temperatures so that the fixed carbon and residual ash are fused together. Volatile constituents of the coal include water, coal-gas, and coal-tar.

 

We currently produce metallurgical coke, which is primarily used for steel manufacturing. China has exacting national standards for coke, based upon a variety of metrics, including most importantly, ash content, volatilization, caking qualities, sulfur content, mechanical strength and abrasive resistance. Typically, metallurgical coke must have more than 80% fixed carbon, less than 15% ash content, less than 0.8% sulfur content and less than 1.9% volatile matter. Our metallurgical coke is typically 85% fixed carbon, less than 12% ash, less than 1.9% volatile matter and less than 0.7% sulfur.

 

According to national standards, metallurgical coke is classified into three grades – Grade I, Grade II and Grade III, with Grade I being the highest quality. Generally, our customers do not have specific content requirements, but we may make certain adjustments, such as to moisture content, upon request. The amount of each grade of coke that we produce is based on market demands, although historically our customers have mostly required Grade II coke which has higher profit margin than other types of coke. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, we only produced Grade II coke.

 

We currently operate two plants. At the plant that we own (the “Baofeng plant”), we produce coke from a series of three WG-86 Type coke ovens lined up in a row with an annual capacity of 250,000 metric tons. Since April 2013, we have also been leasing a plant from Pingdingshan Hongfeng Coal Processing and Coking, Ltd. (the “Hongfeng plant”). The Hongfeng plant has an annual capacity of 200,000 metric tons and is approximately 3 miles from the Baofeng plant. We conducted trial production near the end of April and commenced production in August. We believe that the skills we gain from operating its ZN-43 type coke ovens will be invaluable for operating our 900,000 metric ton facility still under construction (see “New Coking Facility” below).

 

10
 

 

After being processed at our coal-washing facility, coal is sent to a coal blending room (either at the Baofeng plant or the Hongfeng plant) where it is crushed and blended to achieve an optimal coking mixture. Samples are taken from the coal blend and tested for moisture, chemical composition and other properties. The crushed and blended coal is next tamped, or packed, prior to being transported by conveyor to a coal bin to be fed into the waiting oven below. This tamping process allows the use of lower quality washed coal without affecting the quality of the coke produced. After processing through temperature-controlled ovens at temperature of 1200° C (2,192° F), hot coke is pushed out of the oven chamber onto a waiting coke cart, transported to an adjacent quench tower where it is cooled with water spray, and hauled to a platform area adjacent to our private rail line to be air-dried. Coke samples are taken at several stages during the process and analyzed in our testing facility, and data is recorded daily and kept by technicians. After drying, the coke is sorted according to size to meet customer requirements.

 

For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, we produced the following volumes of metallurgical coke:

 

Fiscal Year     Annual Production
(metric tons)
 
2012       163,202  
2013       152,384  

 

Since the mining moratorium and the cessation of our mining operations, we have largely relied on purchased coal to make coke.

 

Coke Emissions Recycling

 

In the coke oven, coal’s volatile contents, including water and coal tar, are driven off in gaseous forms, which we capture and recycle. We pipe coal gas into a cooling tower to separate coal tar by condensation, which we sell as a fuel byproduct (see “Coal Byproducts” below). We burn the remaining purified coal gas to generate steam that drives steam-powered turbines to produce electricity (see “Electricity Generation” below).

 

Coking Byproducts

 

Coal tar is an ingredient of coal tar pitch used in the aluminum industry, and can be further refined to create chemicals and additives such as fine phenol, fine naphthalene and modified pitch that can be used as raw material in making concrete sealant, wood treatment compounds, agricultural pesticides and other chemical products.

 

Our annual production volumes of coal tar for the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 are as follows:

 

Fiscal Year     Annual Production
(metric tons)
 
2012       7,421  
2013       6,379  

 

There are other byproducts which the Baofeng plant does not produce. In addition to coal tar, the Hongfeng plant also produces crude benzol and purified coal gas.

 

New Coking Facility

 

On March 3, 2010, we commenced construction of a new state-of-the-art coking plant on a 460,000 square meter site adjacent to the Baofeng plant.  As of the date of this Report, we have completed construction of the shallow foundation, an underground workshop and the furnace and chimney rack, and are in the process of installing the coal preparation, cooling, recycling, and auxiliary systems, as well as framing the coal blending structure and coal yard. Originally anticipated to be completed at the end of December 2011, we have slowed down construction in light of ongoing weak demand for coke. We plan to complete the plant and commence operations once market improves and stabilizes, which we currently expect to be some time in fiscal 2014, although there is no guaranty that this will happen.

 

When completed as designed, this new plant is expected to have an estimated coke-producing capacity of up to 900,000 metric tons per year, as well as the ability to generate power and distill chemicals such as crude benzol, sulfur and ammonium sulfate from the coking process. The new plant is also expected to produce purified coal gas. Our plans to provide the coal gas as a fuel source to local residents through the state-owned gas grid have received approval from the authorities of Daying County, and we currently plan to offer the coal gas at a price per thermal equivalent unit that is estimated to be 20% less than the current price of liquid natural gas, a competing alternative. Hongrun Coking will operate the new plant.

 

11
 

 

Electricity Generation

 

After coal tar is separated at the Baofeng plant, the remaining coal gas is piped to two onsite 3,000-kilowatt power stations (the Daying power station and the Sunling power station) to generate electricity, each of which has an estimated maximum generating capacity of 26,280,000 kilowatt-hours per year.  The generated electricity primarily powers operations at the Baofeng plant and at Hongchang coal mine.  Local state-owned utilities supply electricity to the Hongfeng plant and Shunli coal mine, Xingsheng coal mine and Shuangrui coal mine.

 

Our annual amounts of electricity generated for the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 are as follows:

 

Fiscal Year    

Annual Generation
(kilowatt)

 
2012       6,783,760  
2013       5,790,938  

 

Sales and Marketing

 

We enter into non-binding annual letters of intent that set forth current year supply quantities, suggested pricing, and monthly delivery schedules with our customers for both coal and coke products at the beginning of each calendar year.  The terms of the letters of intent are usually negotiated during the Annual National Coal Trading Convention organized by the China Coal Transport and Distribution Association.  A significant portion of our sales are made through attendance at this convention.  Changes in delivery quantity and pricing, which is based on open market pricing at the time of delivery, must be documented in a final written contract on a 30-day advance notice submitted by the party making the change and accepted by the other party. All of our current customers are generally required to make payment upon delivery of each shipment. In pricing our products, we consider factors such as the prices offered by competitors, the quality and grade of the product, the volume in national and regional coal inventory build-up and forecasted future trends for coal and coke prices. The remaining portion of our sales is derived from purchase orders placed by customers throughout the year when they require additional coal and coke products.

 

We have a flexible credit policy, and adjust credit terms for different types of customers. Depending on the customer, we may allow open accounts, or require acceptance bills or cash on delivery. We consider the creditworthiness and the requested credit amount of each customer when determining the appropriate payment arrangements and credit terms, which generally do not exceed a period over 90 days. We evaluate the creditworthiness of potential new customers before entering into sales contracts and reassesses customer creditworthiness on an annual basis. For customers without an established history, we require immediate settlement of accounts upon delivery.

 

Coke Sales

 

Coke sales for the last two fiscal years in volume, dollar amount and as a percentage of our total revenue, and the weighted average selling price per metric ton for each fiscal year, are as follows:

 

   Coke Sales 
Fiscal Year  Annual Sales
(metric tons)
   Annual Sales ($)   % of Revenue   Weighted
Average
Sale Price Per
Metric Ton ($)
 
2012   166,373   $38,656,636    49%  $232 
2013   149,882   $31,171,635    47%  $208 

 

China’s coke market was fairly soft for much of fiscal 2013, impacted by weak steel demands from tighter government control of real estate and land developments, as well as general economic slowdown which negatively affected heavy industries. The resulting excess in production capacity and inventory of crude steel pushed down the coke market accordingly.

 

12
 

 

Raw Coal Sales

 

Raw coal sales for the last two fiscal years in volume, dollar amount and as a percentage of our total revenue, and the weighted average selling price per metric ton for each fiscal year, are as follows:

 

   Raw Coal Sales 
Fiscal Year  Annual Sales* 
(metric tons) (1)
   Annual Sales* ($)   % of Revenue   Weighted
Average
Sale Price Per
Metric Ton ($)
 
2012   73,990   $5,441,981    7%  $74 
2013   55,012   $3,356,797    5%  $61 

 

*Includes raw coal we purchased as well as some we managed to extract from Hongchang coal mine (approximately 7,000 metric tons), and raw coal/mid-coal/coal slurries mixtures. Excludes any raw coal we used internally as raw material to produce washed coal and coke.

 

Generally, coal’s sale price is affected by its thermal value, together with its chemical composition and other properties such as moisture, ash and sulfur. Sale prices are also affected by general market conditions and supply and demand. Corresponding to the general slowdown of the Chinese economy, demand for raw coal dropped especially since the second half of fiscal 2013.

 

Washed Coal Sales

 

Washed coal sales for the last two fiscal years in volume, dollar amount and as a percentage of our total revenue, and the weighted average selling price per metric ton for each fiscal year, are as follows:

 

   Washed Coal Sales 
Fiscal
Year
  Annual Sales
(metric tons)
   Annual Sales ($)   % of Revenue   Weighted
Average
Sale Price Per
Metric Ton ($)
 
2012   183,903   $32,867,839    42%  $179 
2013   132,930   $24,272,969    36%  $183 

 

In addition to general market conditions and supply and demand, washed coal’s sale price is heavily dependent on its quality and composition. Like raw coal, demand for washed coal was weak in fiscal 2013, although demand for high quality washed coal remained fairly robust.

 

Coal Tar Sales

 

Coal tar sales for the last two fiscal years ended in volume, dollar amount and as a percentage of our total revenue, and the weighted average selling price per metric ton for each fiscal year, are as follows:

 

   Coal Tar Sales 
Fiscal Year  Annual Sales
(metric tons)
   Annual Sales ($)   % of Revenue   Weighted
Average
Price Per
Metric Ton ($)
 
2012   7,648   $1,946,314    2%  $254 
2013   6,433   $1,719,416    3%  $267 

 

Because we currently lack a separate process to refine and prepare coal tar as a homogenous product, the quality and characteristics of coal tar that we produce can vary, which in turn affect our sale price. General market conditions and supply and demand also affect sale price.

 

Customers

 

We sell our products only in China. The following customers each accounted for 10% or more of our fiscal 2013 revenue:

 

Customer  Sales to Customer 
($)
   Sales to Customer 
as a % of Revenue
 
Wuhan Railway Zhongli Group  $16.54 million    24.7%
Zhengzhou Baonuo Trading Ltd.  $13.85 million    20.7%
Hongxin Industrial Co., Ltd.  $10.49 million    15.7%
Daye Special Steel Ltd.  $9.85 million    14.7%

 

13
 

 

The largest customer of each principal product for fiscal 2013 is as follows:

 

Customer  Product  % of Product Bought by
Customer
 
Wuhan Railway Zhongli Group  Coke   44.3%
Zhengzhou Baonuo Trading Ltd.  Coal*   50.0%
Wang Fashun  Coal tar   24.9%

 

*Includes both raw and washed coal.

 

None of these customers are related to or affiliated with us.  Our sales personnel conduct routine visits to our customers. We have long-standing relationships with our customers, and management believes that our relationships with them are stable.

 

Transportation and Distribution

 

We own and operate a private rail track of 4.5 kilometers in length that connects the Baofeng plant to the national railway system at both the East Pingdingshan Railway Station and the Baofeng Railway Station. Industrial loaders load coal and coke from our platform onto railcars to be transported to customers primarily in central and southeastern China in the provinces of Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Fujian. We also truck coke from the Hongfeng plant to our platform for loading. Our private railway affords us some measures of control over transportation cost and delivery execution. See also “Property, Plant and Equipment – Railway Assets” below.

 

Customers can also arrange for trucks to take delivery from both plants.

 

Competitors

 

We compete primarily with coal and coke producers in the central, eastern and southern regions of China. Coke competitors range from Shanxi Coking Co., Ltd., a national coke producer, to local operations like Hongyue Coke Factory, Dongxin Coke Factory and Hongjiang Coke Factory. We also compete with China Pingmei Shenma Group (“China Pingmei”), a Pingdingshan-based state-owned coke and coal producer with similar product-mix as us. China Pingmei is also the largest regional coal producer and one of Henan’s six SOE consolidators, all of whom are our competitors in the coal market.  Competitive factors include geographic location, quality (i.e. thermal value, ash and sulfur content, washing and processing, and other characteristics), and reliability of delivery. The mining moratorium has also given the six SOE consolidators a competitive advantage as their mines are the only ones currently operating in Henan.

 

Suppliers

 

We purchase from various suppliers within China. The following suppliers each accounted for 10% or more our total purchases for fiscal 2013:

 

Supplier  Materials
Supplied
  Amount of Purchase
($)
   % of Total
Purchases
 
Gansu Yiaojie Coal & Electricity Group Ltd.  washed coal   7,870,721    14.1%
Henan Shenhuo International Trade Ltd.  washed coal   6,962,315    12.5%
Ruzhou Shi Xiaotun Jialingnan mining Ltd.  washed coal   5,974,658    10.7%

 

None of these suppliers are related to or affiliated with us. 

 

As with our coke and coal sales, we meet our washed coal needs by entering into non-binding annual letters of intent with suppliers that set forth supply quantities, proposed pricing and monthly delivery schedules at the beginning of the year. Subject to changes in delivery quantity and pricing, which is based on the open market price at the time of delivery and agreed to by the parties, we generally make payment upon each delivery throughout the year.

 

We believe that we have established stable cooperative relationships with our suppliers. In light of the mining moratorium, we have been sourcing coal from outside of Henan. During the 2013 fiscal year, about 47.6% of our coal purchases were from outside Henan, with the remaining from SOEs in Henan whose mining operations have not been affected by the ongoing mining moratorium and consolidation.

 

Our other principal raw materials include water and electricity. The Baofeng plant gets its water without charge in the form of treated underground water from the operator of the nearby Hangzhuang coal mines, and its electricity from our own power stations (see “Electricity Generation” above). The Hongfeng plant, on the other hand, buys water on the market and electricity from a local state-owned utility. We also require wood and steel for our operations, and source these materials from nearby suppliers on a per purchase order basis. These materials are readily available and there is no shortage of suppliers to choose from.

 

14
 

 

Employees

 

The following table sets forth the number of our employees for each of our areas of operations and as a percentage of our total workforce as of June 30, 2013:

 

   Number of
Employees
   % of 
Employees
 
Coal-related operations  19   4%
Coke-related operations   391    79%
Sales and marketing   4    1%
Administrative (including management)   86    16%
TOTAL   500    100.0%

 

Both the Baofeng plant and Hongfeng plant operates year round in three shifts of eight hours per day. Although mining operations are currently shut down, we have staff at the mine sites for necessary maintenance and repairs during the moratorium. Once our coal mines can resume full operations, we anticipate operating in three shifts of eight hours per day. In compliance with the Employment Contract Law of PRC, we have written contracts with all of our employees. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

 

Research and Development

 

On June 18, 2013, Pingdingshan Municipal Science and Technology Bureau issued us a “Certificate of Achievement” in connection with advances that we made in coke sintering. Sintering is the process of bonding small particles with heat that does not reach the melting point of such particles. We developed and completed initial testing of a new sintering fuel in November 2012, and commenced trial production in December 2012. After preliminary testing followed by a full evaluation, experts at Henan Province Science and Technology Bureau determined that our sintering fuel, when compared to conventional sintering fuel, can reduce dust and sulfur dioxide emissions at various stages of steel production. In connection with our Certificate of Achievement, we are also approved to commercially produce our sintering fuel, although we have not done so as of the date of this Report.

 

In addition, we are currently working with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to evaluate the economic feasibility of extracting humic acid from mid-coal and coal slurries.

 

Intellectual Property

 

We have no patents, trademarks, licenses, franchises, or royalty arrangements.

 

Relevant PRC Regulations

 

We operate in an industry that is highly regulated by local, provincial and central government authorities in the PRC. Applicable regulations include those relating to safety, production, environmental, energy use and labor. While it is not practicable to summarize all applicable laws, the following is a list of names of significant laws and regulations that apply to our business:

 

Laws and regulations concerning safety of coal mines:

 

·Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Coal Industry

 

·Regulation on Work Safety Licenses

  

·Regulations on Administration of Village’s and County’s Coal Mines

 

·Law of Mine Safety

 

·Production Safety Law, which applies to production activities in general

 

·Law of the Coal Industry

 

·Regulations on Coal Mine Safety Supervision and Inspection

 

15
 

 

·Regulations on Coal Mine Explosives Control

 

·Special Provisions for the Prevention of Coal Mine Incidents

 

·Requirements for Basic Production Conditions for Coal Mines

 

·Penalties for Coal Mine Safety Violations

 

·Penalties for Production Safety Violations

 

Laws and regulations concerning environmental protection and energy conservation:

 

·Law of the Prevention and Control of Solid Waste Environmental Pollution, which applies to entities whose production activities may generate pollutive solid waste

 

·Law of the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution, which set restrictions in coal burning and emissions that cause air pollution

 

·Mineral Resources Law, which regulates the extraction of mineral resources including coal

 

·Law Regarding the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution, which regulates pollution of underground water caused by mining activities

 

·Land Administration Law, which restricts mining activities on agricultural land

 

·Law of Prevention and Control of Radioactive Pollution, which regulates and prohibits the release of radioactive pollution caused by certain mining activities

 

·Laws of Water and Soil Conservation, which regulates mining activities with the aim of preventing soil erosion

 

·Environmental Protection Law, which contains certain general provisions that apply to the operation of coal mines

 

Laws and regulations concerning labor:

 

·Labor Law, which protects workers, and contains provisions that apply to a broad range of industries including the mining industry

 

·Labor Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China and its implementation, which protect workers, and contains laws that apply to a broad range of industries including the mining industry

 

Environmental Protection Measures

 

We incorporate measures to reduce the environmental impacts of our operations. Our large-sized furnace reduces the frequency of coal loading and trundling, thereby reducing the amount of dust and soot that is generated. We capture coal gas emitted during the coking process to generate electricity which we use in our operations. We also recycle water - water that is used for coal washing is treated to remove phenol and other contaminants, and then re-used in the coal washing operation. We also use recycled water, in the form of treated underground water, to quench coke and for our power stations, which is provided without cost by the nearby Hanzhuang coal mines, which mining rights are owned and operated by unrelated third parties. Additionally, we use sound insulation to reduce noise pollution, and we plant vegetation throughout our plant to help mitigate the environmental impact of our operations.

 

Safety

 

Under PRC law, companies with mining operations are required to report violations or mining incidents and casualties to the government authorities. Since inception, except for ordinary and minor injuries, we have suffered no major accidents and no casualties in connection with our mining operations, and have not suffered any reportable incident. In addition, mining companies are subject to random and periodic safety inspections by government mine regulators. Since inception, we have not been found to be in material violation of any mining regulations. As we have no record of violations or mining incidents, management considers our safety record to be excellent. See also “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” above.

 

16
 

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

The location of Pingdingshan, where we are based, is illustrated below:

 

 

17
 

 

The locations of our executive office, current coking plant and coal mines, are all in and around Pingdingshan, and are illustrated below:

 

 

Coal Mines and Production Facilities

 

The description below is based on operations prior to the mining moratorium (see “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” above):

 

All four coal mines that we currently control are located at Baofeng County in the central part of Henan Province and are in close proximity to one another as well as to roadways. All are underground mines, and the “room-and-pillar” method is used to extract coal. Under such method, a coal stratum is divided into horizontal planes and the coal is removed from each plane while leaving “pillars” of un-mined materials as supports, working from the uppermost plane down. Each plane is further divided into grids to determine the optimal pillar placements. Drilling and blasting techniques are used to extract the coal.

 

Raw coal would be loaded and transported by a chain conveyor into crates which are carried out to the surface by an electrical winch. Each crate carries approximately 2.5 metric tons, and approximately 400 crates would be carried to the surface during each 8-hour mining shift. Rock material is used for floor ballast with the excess sent to the surface for disposal. Air compressors would provide for underground air tool use. Electrical power comes from our own power stations as well as the state grid, and supplied down mineshafts through a double-circuit cable designed to mitigate and circumvent potential power disruptions.

 

Normal water inflow into the mines would be controlled by a system of ditches, sumps, pumps and drainpipes installed throughout the mine tunnels. Each mine’s ventilation system includes an exhaustive fan on the surface of the main incline. Auxiliary fans would be used as needed.

 

The principal pieces of equipment used in our mining operations, including safety system, underground transportation system and loading system, are manufactured in the PRC, and they generally have an estimated useful life of 15 years. Once the mining moratorium is lifted and we are able to resume operations, we currently estimate the total annual operating costs for the four coal mines to be approximately $45 million, or $50 per metric ton of coal produced, based on an average output of 900,000 metric tons per year in the aggregate.

 

18
 

 

The extracted coal would be trucked to the Baofeng plant (approximately 1.5 kilometers from Hongchang coal mine) for washing and sorting. Samples would be taken prior to and after washing to analyze and determine coking suitability based primarily on moisture, ash, sulfur and volatile contents.

 

We intend to transfer all of our coal mining operations to Hongyuan CSG. As of the date of this Report, however, such transfers have not been carried out.

 

Hongchang Coal Mine

 

Hongchang coal mine originally consisted of four underground mines: Yongshun mine, Liangshuiquan mine, Zhaoxi secondary mine and Zhaozhuang Tanglishu mine. These mines were positioned adjacent to one another, and although once owned and operated by different parties, these mines made use of common passageways and mine shafts. In June 2005 we acquired Yongshun mine (built in 1996) and Zhaoxi secondary mine (built in 1988) from Quinmin Chen. Also in June 2005, we acquired Liangshuiquan mine (built in 1984) from Minjie Li. In April 2005 we acquired Zhaozhuang Tanglishu mine (built in 1984) from Liuqing He and Jiti Li. We assumed the ongoing mining operations, and initiated the consolidation, of these mines, which consolidation process was completed in 2006. Since acquisition in 2005, we have extracted a total of 709,202 metric tons of coal from Hongchang coal mine, and prior to such time, its predecessor owners extracted a total of 345,000 metric tons. Coal extracted from Hongchang coal mine consists of bituminous coal, and based on historical mining activities, approximately 75% of the coal extracted typically possesses properties that meet the requirements for coking (metallurgical) coal.

 

Hongchang coal mine is currently not operational (see “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” above).

 

Shuangrui Coal Mine

 

Shuangrui coal mine originally consisted of five underground mines: Zhaozhuang mine (built in 1970), Longsheng mine (built in 1995), New Zhaozhuang mine (built in 2000), Jinpo mine (built in 1999) and West Zhaozhuang mine (built in 1998). The first on-site geological survey for mining purpose of these mines was conducted in 1950s, with several subsequent surveys carried out from 1960s to 2001. Hongchang Coal currently holds 100% of the mine’s operator, Shuangrui Coal (see “History and Corporate Structure – Hongli” above). Coal extracted from Shuangrui coal mine consists of bituminous coal, and based on historical mining activities, approximately 75% of the coal extracted typically possesses properties that meet the requirements for coking (metallurgical) coal.

 

Shuangrui coal mine is currently not operational (see “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” above). We also plan to dissolve Shuangrui Coal and consolidate its coal mine under Hongchang Coal (see “History and Corporate Structure – Hongli” above). Once such consolidation is completed, Shuangrui coal mine will become part of Hongchang coal mine.

 

Xingsheng Coal Mine

 

Xingsheng coal mine originally consisted of No. 2 Qingnian mine (operation started in 2000) and No. 3 Shuangyushan mine (operation started in 1998). The first on-site geological survey for mining purpose of these mines was conducted in 1958. The coal extracted from Xingsheng coal mine is bituminous coal which is suitable for coke production. In August 2010, we entered into an agreement to acquire 60% of the mine’s operator, Xingsheng Coal, and the registration for the transfer of such equity interests to Hongli was completed on May 20, 2011. Coal extracted from Xingsheng coal mine consists of bituminous coal, and based on historical mining activities, approximately 75% of the coal extracted typically possesses properties that meet the requirements for coking (metallurgical) coal.

 

Xingsheng coal mine is currently not operational (see “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” above).

 

Shunli Coal Mine

 

Shunli coal mine originally consisted of Dongfanghong mine (built in 1995) and Zhenxing mine (built in 1998). The first on-site geological survey for mining purpose of these mines was conducted in 1950s. In May 2011, we entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the mine’s operator, Shunli Coal, and the registration for the transfer of such equity interests to Hongchang was completed on May 20, 2011. Coal extracted from Shunli coal mine consists of bituminous coal, and based on historical mining activities, approximately 75% of the coal extracted typically possesses properties that meet the requirements for coking (metallurgical) coal.

 

19
 

 

Shunli coal mine is currently not operational (see “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” above). We are also in the process of consolidating Shunli coal mine under Hongchang Coal (see “History and Corporate Structure – Hongli” above). Once consolidation is completed, Shunli coal mine will become part of Hongchang coal mine.

 

Additional information regarding these mines is listed below:

 

   Hongchang Mine
(6)
   Shuangrui Mine (9)   Xingsheng Mine
(12)
   Shunli Mine (15) 
Background data:                    
Commencement of construction   1984    1970    1970    1995 
Commencement of commercial production   1987    1970    1998    1998 
Coalfield area (square kilometers)   0.65    0.47    0.19    0.08 
Reserve data:(1)                    
Total in-place proven and probable reserves (metric tons) (2)   2,479,000(7)   1,674,000(10)   2,475,000(13)   1,373,300(16)
Recoverable reserves (metric tons) (3)   1,215,100    1,539,000    2,233,000    1,122,000 
Coal washing recovery rate (%) (4)   75    75    75    75 
Depth of mining (meters underground)   10 – 210    40 – 270    80 - 90    100 - 130 
Average thickness of main coal seams (meters)   

Seam B1: 1.14

Seam A4: 5.50 (8)

    6.78    

Seam A4: 0.70 – 1.08

Seam B1: 4.50 – 14.40

(14)

    

Seam A4: 2.0

Seam A6: 1.6

Seam B1: 6.5 – 10.2

(17)

 
Type of coal   Thermal/Metallurgical    Thermal/Metallurgical    Thermal/Metallurgical    Thermal/Metallurgical 
Assigned/unassigned (5)   Assigned    Assigned    Assigned    Assigned 
Sulfur content (%)   

Seam B1: 2.64

Seam A4: 0.55

    Seam B1: 0.55 (11)    

Seam A4: 4.90

Seam B1: 0.55

    

Seam A4: 1.50

Seam A6: 0.87

Seam B1: 0.55

 
Water content (%)   

Seam B1: 0.83

Seam A4: 1.5

    Seam B1: 1.5    N/A    

Seam A4: 1.50

Seam A6: 1.08

Seam B1: 1.50

 
Ash content (%)   

Seam B1: 15.3

Seam A4: 14.0

    Seam B1: 14    

Seam A4: 18.64

Seam B1: 14.00

    

Seam A4: 16

Seam A6: 33.44

Seam B1: 15

 
Volatility content (%)   

Seam B1: 32.5

Seam A4: 29.0

    Seam B1: 29    

Seam A4: 38.45

Seam B1: 33.15

    

Seam A4: 32

Seam A6: 20.59

Seam B1: 29

 
Thermal Value (megajoules per kilogram)   31.9    28.5    31.2    

Seam A4: 30.10

Seam A6: 18.56

Seam B1: 31.30

 
Production data: (metric tons)                    
Designed raw coal production capacity (per year)   150,000    150,000    150,000    150,000 
Raw coal production:                    
For the year ended June 30, 2012   19,160    0    0    0 
As of June 30, 2013   0    0    0    0 
Cumulative raw coal production as of June 30, 2013   709,202    301,020    367,981    300,000 

 

(1)The reserve data including (i) total in-place proven and probable reserves, (ii) mining and coal preparation plant recovery rates; (iii) depth of mine; and (iv) average thickness of main coal seam are based on the relevant information from the mining report of each mine issued by our provincial mining authorities, the Regional Geological Survey Team of the Henan Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration and Development, and records of the Company. Non-accessible reserves are defined as the portion of identified resources estimated to be not accessible by application of one or more accessibility factors within an area. We note that the degree of assurance between what would meet the definition of “proven reserves” on the one hand, and “probable reserves” on the other hand, cannot be readily defined. Accordingly, pursuant to the SEC’s Industry Guide 7 – Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations, in the table above we report proven and probable reserves on a combined basis.

 

(2)In-place reserves refer to coal in-situ prior to the deduction of pillars of support, barriers or constraints.

 

(3)Recoverable reserves refer to identified coal reserves that are technologically and economically feasible to extract prior to the deduction of losses during extraction. We note that the estimated recoverable reserves is a government estimate created and used by local mining authorities to determine permissible extraction rates, the duration of our mining license, and to approve mine designs and that it is subject to revision. We also utilize this estimate for accounting purposes, to amortize our mining rights. Currently estimated recoverable coal may not necessarily be consistent with the results of future mining, engineering and feasibility studies or reports.

 

(4)Coal washing recovery rate refers to the rate of recovery of coal in the production of our washed coal products.

 

(5)“Assigned” reserves refer to coal which has been committed to a particular mining complex (mine shafts, mining equipment, and plant facilities), and all coal which has been leased by the company to others. “Unassigned” reserves refer to coal which has not been committed, and which would require new mineshafts, mining equipment, or plant facilities before operations could begin on the property.

 

20
 

 

(6)The mining report of Hongchang coal mine is dated November 2005 (the “Hongchang Mining Report”).

 

(7)According to the Hongchang Mining Report, Hongchang coal mine was initially found to have total estimated reserves and resources of 2.81 million metric tons. 334,000 metric tons were removed during exploration, leaving approximately 2.47 million metric tons of estimated reserves and resources.

 

(8)Hongchang coal mine contains two major economically exploitable coal seams, referred to in this table as the “Seam B1” and the “Seam A4”.

 

(9)The mining report of Shuangrui coal mine is dated February 17, 2006 (the “Shuangrui Mining Report”).

 

(10)According to the Shuangrui Mining Report, Shuangrui coal mine was initially found to have total estimated reserves and resources of 4 million metric tons. 2.33 million metric tons were removed during exploration, leaving approximately 1.67 million metric tons of estimated reserves and resources.

 

(11)Shuangrui Ming contains one major economically exploitable coal seam, referred to in this table as the “Seam B1.”

 

(12)The mining report of Xingsheng coal mine is dated April 10, 2006 (the “Xingsheng Mining Report”).

 

(13)According to the Xingsheng Mining Report, Xingsheng coal mine was initially found to have total estimated reserves and resources of 2.74 million metric tons. 260,000 metric tons were removed during exploration, leaving approximately 2.48 million metric tons of estimated reserves and resources.

 

(14)Xingsheng coal mine contains two major economically exploitable coal seams, referred to in this table as the “Seam A4” and the “Seam B1.”

 

(15)The mining report of Shunli coal mine is dated March 2, 2006 (the “Shunli Mining Report”).

 

(16)According to the Shunli Mining Report, Shunli coal mine was initially found to have total estimated reserves and resources of 1.44 million metric tons. 647,000 metric tons were removed during exploration, leaving approximately 1.37 million metric tons of estimated reserves and resources.

 

(17)Shunli coal mine contains three major economically exploitable coal seams, referred to in this table as the “Seam A4”, the “Seam A6”, and the “Seam B1.”

 

Mining Rights

 

Like all coal mines in the PRC, the four mines that we control, including the mine sites and the underlying coal and other minerals, are state-owned. Accordingly, the amount of coal that we can extract from each of mine is based on the mining permit issued to the mine’s operator by the Henan Province Bureau of Land and Resources (the “Henan Land Resources Bureau”). For example, we extract coal from Hongchang coal mine based on the permit issued to Hongchang Coal. The permit is issued when the Henan Land Resources Bureau approves the reserves appraisal report submitted by authorized mining engineers. The amount of coal that can be extracted under the permit represents what we can economically and legally extract under applicable PRC law and as determined by the Henan Land Resources Bureau.

 

The table below lists our current mining permits:

 

    Hongchang coal
mine 
  Shuangrui coal
mine 
  Xingsheng coal
mine
  Shunli coal
mine 
 
Issuance date   July 6, 2007   June 4, 2007   May 30, 2007   November 17, 2009  
Expiration date (unless extended)   September 6, 2013 (1)   October 4, 2011 (1)   July 30, 2012 (1)   September 2011 (1)  
Permitted mining amount (metric tons per year)   150,000   150,000   150,000   150,000  

 

(1)These permits have not been renewed in light of the ongoing mining moratorium (see “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” above). In addition, we are in the process of consolidating Shunli coal mine under Hongchang Coal, and plans to do the same with Shuangrui coal mine (see “History and Corporate Structure – Hongli” above). Once consolidation is completed, we will have only one permit to mine all three mine sites.

 

Under our current mining permits, we are theoretically allowed to extract up to 8,001,300 metric tons of coal from the four coal mines, representing their aggregate estimated in-place proven and probable reserves. Out of such proven and probable reserves, 6,109,100 metric tons are recoverable according to the reserves appraisal reports for these mines.

 

21
 

 

We are also required to pay for the amount of coal that we wish to extract under each mining permit, generally determined on a per metric ton basis based on proven and probable reserves (rather than actual recoverable coal), as well as prevailing market prices as determined by the Henan Land Resources Bureau. In the event that further exploration results in an increase of estimated proven and probable reserves (and we desire to extract such additional reserves), or if we desire to continue mining beyond a mining permit’s expiration date, we must obtain an additional permit from the Henan Land Resources Bureau and may be subject to additional fees to acquire such permit or to modify an existing permit. We expect that the cost of further exploration in and around the four coal mines would be borne by us. We have been conducting additional geological studies around Hongchang coal mine, and expect to report our findings to the local mining authority. We note that the estimated 6,109,100 metric tons of recoverable reserves for the four coal mines in the aggregate is a government estimate created and used by local mining authorities to determine permissible extraction rates and the duration of our mining permits, and to approve mine designs, and is subject to revision. Currently estimated recoverable coal may not necessarily be consistent with the results of future mining, engineering and feasibility studies or reports.

 

In August 2007, we made a partial payment of approximately $0.6 million (RMB 4.46 million) to extract from Hongchang coal mine its 2,479,000 metric tons of total reserves. A final payment of approximately $0.4 million (RMB 2.7 million) is anticipated to become due when charged by the Henan Land Resources Bureau. The exact amount of this final payment, however, will depend on market prices as determined by our negotiations with the Henan Land Resources Bureau, as well as any new regulations after the consolidation program ends.

 

Payments in connection with the mining permits for Shuangrui, Shunli and Xingsheng coal mines were made in full in 2005 by their then owners.

 

Railway Assets

 

Currently, we have rail assets consisting of approximately 4.5 kilometers of special purpose transportation railway tracks that serve to facilitate the transportation of coal and coke from our site to the national railway system, and ultimately to our customers. We do not own any railcars and locomotives, but instead pay access fees to the Zhengzhou Railway Bureau for the use of government-owned and operated railcars and locomotives. These railcars are loaded with coal and coke products at our yard for delivery through the national railway system.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

The reader should carefully consider the risks described below together with all of the other information included in this Report. The statements contained in or incorporated into this Report that are not historic facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and an investor in our securities may lose all or part of their investment.

 

Risks Related To Our Business

 

If we cannot continue as a going concern, you will lose your entire investment.

 

In their report in connection with our financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, our independent registered public accounting firm included an explanatory paragraph stating that because we require additional funds to meet our obligations, there is substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. If we cannot continue as a going concern, your entire investment may be worthless. Our ability to continue as a going concern will depend, in large part, on our ability to obtain additional financing or extend the terms of our existing financing, neither of which prospect is certain.

 

If we do not raise additional capital or refinance our debt, we will not be able to achieve our objectives and we may need to curtail or even discontinue operations.

 

At June 30, 2013, our current liabilities exceeded current assets by over $24 million, including $13 million that we owe Bairui Trust Co., Ltd. At present, we have no firm commitments for investment capital and no debt facilities other than our arrangement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to issue short term notes. Such arrangement, however, is subject to and secured against our deposit with the bank as well as certain guarantees. As such, we cannot assure you that such arrangement will provide us with sufficient working capital to meet all of our cash needs. Additional capital, however, may not be available to us or may be available only on terms that are unfavorable. If capital is not available on satisfactory terms, or is not available at all, we may be unable to continue to fully develop our business. In addition, our results of operations may decline from previous levels or may fail to meet expectations. As a result, the price of our publicly traded securities may decline, causing you to lose all or part of your investment.

 

Our business and results of operations are dependent on China's coal and coke markets, which may be cyclical.

 

Since our principal revenue source is from the sale of coal and coke in China, our business and operating results are highly dependent on their supplies and demands in China. The Chinese coal and coke markets are cyclical and exhibit fluctuation in supply and demand from year to year. They are subject to numerous factors beyond our control, including, but not limited to, general economic conditions in the PRC and fluctuations in industries with high demand for coal, such as the power and steel industries. These factors are also linked to or influenced by global economic conditions. Supply and demand fluctuations can affect prices, which in turn affect our operating and financial performance. We have seen substantial price fluctuations in the past and believe that such fluctuations may continue. Demand is primarily influenced by the pace of domestic economic growth and development, as measured by the requirements of the power, steel, and construction industries. Supply, on the other hand, is primarily affected by geography, the domestic and international production volumes, tariffs duties and trade controls, value-added taxes imposed on imports, and international freight costs. Alternative fuels such as natural gas, oil and nuclear power, and alternative energy sources, such as hydroelectric power, wind, geothermal and solar, also have influences on supply and demand. Excess supply or significant reduction in demand can adversely affect pricing, which would in turn cause a significant decline in our profitability.

 

22
 

 

Our coal and coke operations are inherently subject to changing conditions that can affect our profitability.

 

Our coal and coke operations are inherently subject to changing conditions that can affect levels of production and production costs for varying lengths of time and can result in decreases in profitability. We are exposed to commodity price risk related to the purchase of diesel fuel, wood, explosives and steel. In addition, weather and natural disasters (such as earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and other similar occurrences), unexpected maintenance problems, key equipment failures, fires, variations in thickness of the layer, or seam, of coal, amounts of overburden, rock and other natural materials, variations in rock and other natural materials and variations in geological conditions can be expected in the future to have, a significant impact on our operating results. Prolonged disruption of production at the mines would result in a decrease in our revenues and profitability, which could be material (see “We may not be able to resume our coal mining operations in the near future” below). Other factors affecting coal and coke production and/or sale that could adversely affect our profitability include:

 

·changes in the laws and/or regulations that we are subject to, including permitting, safety, labor and environmental requirements; and
·labor shortages.

 

Our coal and coke operations are extensively regulated by the PRC government and government regulations may limit its activities and adversely affect its business operations.

 

Our coal and coke operations, like those of other Chinese natural resources and energy companies, are subject to extensive regulations administered by the PRC government. Central governmental authorities, such as the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Environmental Protection Administration, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, the State Bureau of Taxation, and provincial and local authorities and agencies exercise extensive control over various aspects of our industry, which affect the following material aspects of our operations:

 

·exploration, exploitation and mining rights and licensing;
·rehabilitation of mining sites after mining is completed;
·recovery rate requirements;
·industry-specific taxes and fees;
·target of our capital investments;
·pension funds appropriation; and
·environmental and safety standards.

 

We believe that our operations are in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, there can be no assurance that the central, provincial or local governments in the PRC will not impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures by us to comply (see “We may not be able to resume our coal mining operations in the near future” below). We may face significant constraints on our ability to implement our business strategies or to carry out or expand business operations. We may also be materially and adversely affected by future changes in certain regulations and policies of the PRC government in respect of the coal or coke industry. New legislation or regulations may be adopted that may materially and adversely affect our operations, our cost structure or demand for our products. In addition, new legislation or regulations or different or more stringent interpretation of existing laws and regulations may also require us to substantially change our existing operations or incur significant costs.

 

We may not be able to resume our coal mining operations in the near future.

 

With the PRC government’s increasing concern regarding mine safety issues, particularly in light of several recent accidental explosions in coal mines (operated by other companies) due to inadequate internal safety measures, and the implementation of the State Council’s Regulation on Phase-out of Small Coal Mines, industry-wide coal mine safety inspections have been ongoing in Henan since June 2010. During the course of these inspections, all coal mines in Henan have been shut down. We continued to operate our only mine at that time, Hongchang coal mine, at approximately 50% capacity until September 2011, when we halted operation in order to complete certain engineering and safety upgrades. Operations at our other three mines (Shuangrui, Xingsheng and Shunli) were already halted when we acquired controlling interests in them in May 2011, and have not resumed since (see “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” above). At this time, we do not know when we can obtain clearance to resume operations at these mines.

 

Such interruption to our coal mining operations has had a material and adverse effect on our financial results and operations. Moreover, additional new legislation or regulations may be adopted, or the enforcement of existing laws could become more stringent, either of which may have a significant impact on our mining operations or customers’ ability to use coal and may require our customers to significantly change operations or to incur substantial costs.

 

Our future success may depend substantially upon our ability to complete and operate the new coking plant.

 

A central element of our business plan involves the construction and operation of our new coking plant. As of the date of this Report, however, construction has not yet been completed. As of June 30, 2013, total amount due for the plant’s construction was approximately $66 million, of which approximately $59 million has been paid, and the remaining $7 million will be paid based on construction progress. In light of downturns in the coke market, however, we have had stoppage previously, and have currently slowed down construction. While we intend to resume construction at full pace when market conditions improve, there can be no assurance as to when that will occur.

 

23
 

 

Our business operations may be adversely affected by present or future environmental regulations.

 

As a producer of coal and coke products, we are subject to significant, extensive, and increasingly stringent environmental protection laws and regulations in China. These laws and regulations:

 

·impose fees for the discharge of waste substances;
·require the establishment of reserves for reclamation and rehabilitation;
·require the payment of fines for serious environmental offences; and
·allow the Chinese government, at its discretion, to close any facility that fails to comply with environmental regulations or government orders.

 

Our operations produce waste water, gas and solid waste materials. Currently, the PRC government is moving toward more rigorous enforcement of applicable laws and regulations as well as the adoption and enforcement of more stringent environmental standards. Our current expenditure for environmental regulatory compliance may not be sufficient if additional regulations are imposed and we may need to allocate additional funds for such purpose. If we fail to comply with current or future environmental laws and regulations, we may be required to pay penalties or fines or take corrective actions, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business operations and financial condition.

 

In addition, China is a signatory to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which are intended to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. Efforts to control greenhouse gas emission in China could result in reduced use of coal and coke if customers switch to sources of fuel with lower carbon dioxide emissions, which in turn could reduce the revenues of our businesses and have a material adverse effect on results of operations.

 

Demand for coal and coke and their respective prices are closely linked to consumption patterns of the power and steel industries in China. Any changes in consumption patterns could affect our operations and profitability.

 

Demand for coal and coke and the prices that we will be able to obtain for these products are closely linked to consumption patterns of the power generation and steel industries in China. These consumption patterns are influenced by factors beyond our control, including the demand for electricity; demand for steel; government regulation; technological developments and the location, availability, quality and price of competing sources of coal and coke; alternative fuels, such as natural gas, oil and nuclear power, and alternative energy sources, such as hydroelectric power, wind, geothermal and solar. Any reduction in the demand for coal or coke by the domestic power and steel industries may cause a decline in demand and revenue from our products which would reduce our profitability. For much of fiscal 2012 and 2013, the steel industry especially has suffered from tighter governmental control of real estate and land developments, resulting in a soft coke market. Likewise, the general slowdown in the Chinese economy has negatively impacted the coal market, especially in the second half of fiscal 2012 and throughout fiscal 2013.

 

If transportation becomes unavailable or uneconomic for our customers, our ability to sell coal or coke could suffer.

 

Transportation costs represent a significant portion of the total cost of coal and, as a result, the cost of transportation is a critical factor in a customer’s purchasing decision. Increases in transportation costs could make our products a less competitive source of energy or could make some of our offerings less competitive than other sources of coal or coke. We rely upon trucking, national, provincial and local highways and roadways, and the national railway system to transport our products. Regulation of, and the overall cost of using these forms of transportation may be outside of our control. Further changes in the accessibility and cost of these forms of transportation could affect our ability to deliver our products to our customers, and which, in turn, could affect the attractiveness of our products relative to competing alternatives. In addition, these modes of transportation depend upon the support of the national, provincial and local governments for their maintenance and operation, and their reliability will depend on the actions and resources of these governments.

 

Risks inherent to mining could increase the cost of operating our business.

 

Our mining operations are subject to conditions beyond our control that can delay coal deliveries or increase the cost of mining for varying lengths of time. These conditions include weather and natural disasters (such as earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and other similar occurrences), unexpected maintenance problems, key equipment failures, fires, variations in thickness of the layer, or seam, of coal, amounts of overburden, rock and other natural materials, variations in rock and other natural materials and variations in geological conditions.

 

As with all companies that have coal mining operations, our operations are affected by mining conditions such as a deterioration in the quality or thickness of faults and/or coal seams, pressure in mine openings, presence of gas and/or water inflow and propensity to spontaneous combustion, as well as operational risks associated with industrial or engineering activity, such as mechanical breakdowns. Although we have conducted geological investigations to evaluate such mining conditions and adapt our mining plans to address them, there can be no assurance that the occurrence of any adverse mining conditions would not result in an increase in our costs of production, a reduction of coal output or the temporary suspension of operations.

 

24
 

 

We may suffer losses resulting from industry-related accidents and lack of insurance.

 

We operate coal mines and related facilities that may be affected by water, gas, fire or structural problems. As a result, our operations, like other coal mining and coking companies, could experience accidents that cause property damage and personal injuries. Although we have implemented safety measures at our operations, and provide on-the-job training for our employees, and, in accordance with relevant laws set aside approximately 9.6% of employees’ total remuneration for employees’ health insurance, there can be no assurance that industry-related accidents will not occur in the future.

 

We currently do not maintain fire, or other property insurance covering our properties, equipment or inventories. In addition, we do not maintain any business interruption insurance or any third party liability insurance to cover claims in respect of personal injury, property or environmental damage arising from accidents on our properties. Any uninsured losses and liabilities incurred by us could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. For instance, if it occurred, a major mining accident could prompt government-mandated closure of some or all of our mining operations, which would then require us to spend significant resources on remediation which could consume our available capital resources.  Further, until such remediation is completed, we would be required to obtain our raw coal inputs from other third party suppliers at a higher price, which would adversely affect our gross margins on coal and coke products. Although the likelihood of a major mining accident is extremely difficult to predict, we note that we have never suffered a casualty or major mining-related accident since inception, we have never been found to be out of compliance with government safety standards, and management believes our mining operations are safer than the industry average in China.

 

Our ability to operate effectively could be impaired if we loses key personnel or fails to attract qualified personnel.

 

Our business is managed by a number of key personnel, the loss of any of which could have a material adverse effect on operations. In addition, as business develops and expands, we believe that our future success will depend greatly on our continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel. We cannot assure that key personnel will continue to be employed by us or that we will be able to attract and retain qualified personnel in the future. We employ our key personnel on an at-will basis, which means that either the Company or the employee may generally terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason. Accordingly, if we are not able to effectively fill vacancies of departing key persons, our business may be impaired. Further, we note that our management is heavily dependent on the skills, experience, contacts, and business relationships of our founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jianhua Lv. Accordingly, the loss of Mr. Lv could cause significant impairment to the business of our Company.

 

A downturn in global economic conditions may materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

Our business and results of operations are affected by international, national and regional economic conditions. Financial markets in the United States, Europe and Asia have experienced significant disruption in the past year, including among other things, heightened volatility in security prices, constrained liquidity and credit availability, rating downgrades of certain investments and declining values of others. We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of the current disruptions in financial markets, credit availability, and adverse economic conditions throughout the world. These economic developments affect businesses in a number of ways that could result in unfavorable consequences to us. Adverse global economic conditions, including within the PRC, could negatively affect commodity prices, or may cause our current or potential customers to delay or reduce purchases which could, in turn, result in reductions in sales volumes or prices, materially and adversely affecting results of operations and cash flows. Volatility and disruption of global financial markets could limit our customers' abilities to obtain adequate financing to maintain operations and proceed with planned or new capital spending initiatives, leading to a reduction in sales volume that could materially and adversely affect results of operations and cash flow. In addition, a decline in our customers' abilities to pay as a result of an economic downturn may lead to increased difficulties in the collection of accounts receivable, higher levels of reserves for doubtful accounts and write-offs of accounts receivable, and higher operating costs as a percentage of revenues.

 

Certain of our shareholders control a significant amount of our common stock.

 

As of September 19, 2013, approximately 31.7% of our outstanding common stock was controlled by one holding entity, of which our founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jianhua Lv, is a director and beneficiary. Accordingly, Mr. Lv presently has significant relative voting power and influence over any action requiring shareholder approval, including the election of our directors.

 

Our acquisitions may disrupt or have a negative impact on our business.

 

We could have difficulty integrating personnel and operations of Shuangrui Coal, Xingsheng Coal and Shunli Coal with our own. In addition, their key personnel may not be willing to work for us. In addition to the risks described above, acquisitions are accompanied by a number of inherent risks, including, without limitation, the following:

 

·the effect of any government regulations which relate to the business acquired;

 

25
 

 

·delays and waiting periods associated with required safety inspections, as well as government licensing or permitting procedures;
·difficulties in disposing of the excess or idle facilities of an acquired company or business and expenses in maintaining such facilities;
·difficulties in maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies;
·the potential impairment of relationships with employees and customers as a result of any integration of new management personnel;
·potential unknown liabilities associated with acquired businesses and the associated operations, or the need to spend significant amounts to retool, reposition or modify the existing operations; and
·the defense of any litigation, whether or not successful, resulting from actions of the acquired company prior to the acquisition.

 

For instance, as a required part of the process of consolidating mines in China, a consolidator is required to undergo safety inspections which apply to its existing and operating mines as well as acquired mines. These government inspections, as well as the required permitting and permitting process, may require substantial time to complete, and this may cause interruptions our coal mining operations. In light of the mining moratorium, we do not know when such clearance will be issued, if at all (see “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” above). Further, if safety issues are identified by government mine inspection authorities, we may be required to undertake costly and time-consuming remedial measures in order to restore production.

 

Our business could be impaired to the extent that management is unable to succeed in addressing any of these risks or other problems encountered in connection with these acquisitions, many of which cannot be presently identified. Such risks and problems could disrupt our ongoing business, distract the management and employees, increase our expenses and adversely affect our results of operations.

 

A large portion of our current revenue is derived from relatively few customers.

 

We depended on four major customers for a substantial portion of our revenue in fiscal 2013. Nonrenewal or termination of our arrangements with these customers may have a materially adverse effect on our revenue. In the event that any one of our major customers does not renew or terminates its arrangement with us, there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into another arrangement similar in scope. Additionally, there can be no assurance that our business will not remain largely dependent on a limited customer base accounting for a substantial portion of revenue.

 

Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure

 

If the Chinese government determines that the contractual arrangements through which we control Hongli do not comply with applicable regulations, our business could be adversely affected. If the PRC regulatory bodies determine that such agreements do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment, we could be subject to severe penalties. In addition, changes in such Chinese laws and regulations may materially and adversely affect our business.

 

There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to the laws, rules and regulations governing the validity and enforcement of the contractual arrangements between Hongyuan and Hongli. Although we have been advised by our PRC counsel that based on their understanding of the current PRC laws, rules and regulations, the contractual arrangements with Hongli and its owners, as well our ability to enforce our rights thereunder, comply with all applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, and do not violate, breach, contravene or otherwise conflict with any applicable PRC laws, rules or regulations, we cannot assure you that the PRC regulatory authorities will not determine that our corporate structure and contractual arrangements violate PRC laws, rules or regulations. If the PRC regulatory authorities determine that our contractual arrangements are in violation of applicable PRC laws, rules or regulations, they will become invalid or unenforceable. In addition, new PRC laws, rules and regulations may be introduced from time to time to impose additional requirements that may be applicable to our contractual arrangements.

 

The Chinese government has broad discretion in dealing with violations of laws and regulations, including levying fines, revoking business and other licenses and requiring actions necessary for compliance. In particular, licenses and permits issued or granted to us by relevant governmental bodies may be revoked at a later time by higher regulatory bodies. We cannot predict the effect of the interpretation of existing or new Chinese laws or regulations on our businesses. We cannot assure you that our current ownership and operating structure would not be found in violation of any current or future Chinese laws or regulations. As a result, we may be subject to sanctions, including fines, and could be required to restructure our operations or cease to provide certain services. Any of these or similar actions could significantly disrupt our business operations or restrict us from conducting a substantial portion of our business operations, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

26
 

 

If we, Hongyuan or Hongli are determined to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws, rules or regulations or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required governmental permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including:

 

·revoking the business and operating licenses of Hongli and/or voiding the contractual arrangements;
·discontinuing or restricting the operations of Hongli;
·imposing conditions or requirements with which we or Hongyuan or Hongli may not be able to comply;
·requiring us to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations;
·restricting or prohibiting our use of the proceeds from our initial public offering to finance our business and operations in China; or
·imposing fines or other forms of economic penalties.

 

As we do not have direct ownership of Hongli, the imposition of any of these penalties may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Our contractual arrangements with Hongli and its owners as well as our ability to enforce our rights thereunder may not be as effective in providing control over Hongli as direct ownership.

 

We have no equity ownership interest in Hongli, and rely on contractual arrangements to control the company. We cannot assure you that the Owners will always act in our best interests, and these contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing control over the company as direct ownership. For example, Hongli could fail to take actions required for our business despite its contractual obligation to do so. If Hongli fails to perform under its agreements with us, we are required by the terms of these agreements to enforce our rights by arbitration before The China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC). According to the Rule of CIETA, to initiate such proceeding, we must first prepare and submit an arbitration request to CIETAC for its acceptance. Once accepted, CIETAC will form an arbitration tribunal to hear the matter, set a hearing date and notify Hongli of the proceeding. Hongli will have 45 days from the receipt of such notice to prepare its statement of defense. While we have been advised by our PRC counsel that current CIETAC rules requires a decision to be rendered within six months from the selection of the arbitration tribunal, the passage of any prolong period of time without resolution may disrupt and negatively affect our business operations. Further, we must borne half of CIETAC’s fees in addition to our own expenses incurred to prepare for such proceeding, which fees may become prohibitively expensive as the arbitration must take place in Shanghai and be conducted in Chinese. As we are also contractually bound by CIETAC’s decision, in the event such decision is unfavorable to us, we may effectively lose our control over Hongli, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations. 

 

Management members of Hongli have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may adversely affect our business and your ability for recourse.

 

Mr. Jianhua Lv, our Chief Executive Officer, is also the Chairman of Hongli and owns 85.4% of its equity ownership interests. Conflict of interest between his duties to our company and Hongli may arise. As our director and executive officer, he has a duty of loyalty and care to us under U.S. law when there are any potential conflicts of interests between our company and Hongli. We cannot, however, assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, he will act completely in our interests, or that conflicts of interests will be resolved in our favor. For example, he may determine that it is in Hongli’s interests to sever the contractual arrangements with Hongyuan irrespective of the effect such action may have on us. Because we derive our income entirely from the contractual arrangements with Hongli, we would have no or minimal operations and assets if these contractual arrangements are severed. In addition, Mr. Lv could violate his legal duties by diverting business opportunities from us to others, thereby reducing the amount of payment that Hongli is obligated to remit to us under the consulting services agreement.

 

In the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the U.S. securities laws or otherwise as a result of any one of the circumstances described above, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against Hongli or our officers or directors, all of whom reside within China. Even if you are successful in bringing an action, the laws of China may render you unable to enforce a judgment against the assets of Hongli and its management, all of which are located in China.

 

Our principal shareholder may be subject to registration requirements under current regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents, the non-compliance of which may subject us to fines and sanctions that could adversely affect our business.

 

In October 2005 and June 2011, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) promulgated the Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Corporate Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles, or Circular 75, and its implement rule, respectively, that state that if PRC citizens residing in the PRC, or PRC residents, use assets or equity interests in their PRC entities as capital contributions to establish offshore companies or inject assets or equity interests of their PRC entities into offshore companies to raise capital overseas, they must register with local SAFE branches with respect to their overseas investments in offshore companies. They must also file amendments to their registrations if their offshore companies experience material events involving capital variation, such as changes in share capital, share transfers, mergers and acquisitions, spin-off transactions, long-term equity or debt investments or uses of assets in China to guarantee offshore obligations. Under this regulation, their failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in such regulation may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant PRC entity, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent, as well as restrictions on the capital inflow from the offshore entity to the PRC entity.

 

27
 

 

Risks Related To Doing Business in China

 

Our operations are primarily located in China and may be adversely affected by changes in the policies of the PRC government.

 

The political environment in the PRC and the policies of the PRC government may adversely affect our business operations. The PRC has operated as a socialist state since 1949. In recent years, however, the government has introduced economic reforms aimed at creating a “socialist market economy” and policies have been implemented to allow business enterprises greater autonomy in their operations. Changes in the political leadership of the PRC may have a significant effect on laws and policies related to the current economic reforms program, other policies affecting business and the general political, economic and social environment in the PRC, including the introduction of measures to control inflation, changes in the rate or method of taxation, the imposition of additional restrictions on currency conversion and remittances abroad, and foreign investment. These effects could substantially impair our business, profits or prospects. Moreover, economic reforms and growth in the PRC have been more successful in certain provinces than in others, and the continuation or increases of such disparities could affect the political or social stability of the PRC. 

 

The PRC government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which companies in China must conduct their business activities.

 

The PRC only recently has permitted greater provincial and local economic autonomy and private economic activities. The government of the PRC has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in the PRC or particular regions thereof, and if this were to occur, we could be required to divest the interests we then hold in Chinese properties or joint-ventures. Any such developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition and prospects.

 

Future inflation in China may inhibit economic activity and adversely affect our operations.

 

In recent years, the Chinese economy has experienced periods of rapid expansion and within which some years with high rates of inflation and deflation, which have led to the adoption by the PRC government, from time to time, of various corrective measures designed to restrict the availability of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. While inflation has moderated since 1995, high inflation may in the future cause the PRC government to impose controls on credit and/or prices, or to take other action, which could inhibit economic activity in China, and thereby adversely affect our business operations and prospects.

 

We may be unable to enforce our rights due to policies regarding the regulation of foreign investments in China.

 

The PRC’s legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes in which decided legal cases have little value as precedents, unlike the common law system prevalent in the United States. The PRC does not have a well-developed, consolidated body of laws governing foreign investment enterprises. As a result, the administration of laws and regulations by government agencies may be subject to considerable discretion and variation, and may be subject to influence by external forces unrelated to the legal merits of a particular matter. China’s regulations and policies with respect to foreign investments are evolving. Definitive regulations and policies with respect to such matters as the permissible percentage of foreign investment and permissible rates of equity returns have not yet been published. Statements regarding these evolving policies have been conflicting and any such policies, as administered, are likely to be subject to broad interpretation and discretion and to be modified, perhaps on a case-by-case basis. The uncertainties regarding such regulations and policies present risks that we will not be able to achieve our business objectives. There can be no assurance that we will be able to enforce any legal rights we may have under our contracts or otherwise.

 

We depend upon the acquisition and maintenance of licenses to conduct our business in the PRC.

 

In order to conduct business in the PRC, we need licenses from the appropriate government authorities, including general business licenses and licenses and/or permits specific to our industry. The loss or failure to obtain or maintain these licenses in full force and effect will have a material adverse impact on our ability to conduct our business and on our financial condition. Mining licenses in China are generally subject to periodic renewal, and license fees associated with renewal may be subject to negotiation between the Company and the relevant government authorities. The government may in the future decide to increase these fees, or impose levies or surcharges on coal mine and mining rights. No assurance can be given regarding the timing or magnitude of these types of government actions.

 

28
 

 

Price controls may affect both our revenues and net income.

 

The laws of the PRC provide the government broad power to fix and adjust prices. Although coal and coke are not presently subject to direct price controls by the PRC government, we cannot give any assurance that these products will not be made subject to such controls in the future. To the extent that these products are subject to price controls, our revenue, gross profit, gross margin and net income may be adversely affected since the revenue we derive may become limited and we may face no limitation on our costs. In such a scenario, we may not be able to pass on any increases in costs to our customers. Further, if price controls affect both the revenue and the costs, our ability to operate profitably and the extent of the profitability will be effectively subject to determination by the applicable PRC regulatory authorities.

 

Since our officers and directors reside outside of the United States, it may be difficult for you to enforce your rights against them or enforce United States court judgments against them in the PRC.

 

Our directors and executive officers reside in the PRC and all of our assets are located in the PRC. It may therefore be difficult or impossible for United States investors to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties of our directors and officers under federal securities laws. Further, there are no extradition treaties now in effect between the United States and the PRC, which may limit the effective enforcement against us or our officers and directors of criminal penalties under the U.S. federal securities law or otherwise.

 

Since our funds are held in banks which do not provide insurance, the failure of any bank in which we deposit our funds could affect our ability to continue in business.

 

Banks and other financial institutions in the PRC do not provide insurance for funds held on deposit. As a result, in the event of a bank failure, we may not have access to funds we deposit in PRC banks. Depending upon the amount of money we maintain in a PRC bank that fails, our inability to have access to cash could impair operations, and, if we are not able to access funds to pay our suppliers, employees and other creditors, we may be unable to continue in business.

 

Failure to comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.

 

We are subject to the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which generally prohibits United States companies from engaging in bribery or other prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Foreign companies, including some that may compete with us, are not subject to these prohibitions. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs, theft and other fraudulent practices occur from time-to-time in the PRC. We can make no assurance, however, that our employees or other agents will not engage in such conduct for which SinoCoking might be held responsible. If our employees or other agents are found to have engaged in such practices, SinoCoking could suffer severe penalties and other consequences that may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We may be restricted from freely converting the RMB to other currencies in a timely manner.

 

The RMB is not a freely convertible currency at present. We receive all of our revenue in RMB, which may need to be converted to other currencies, primarily U.S. dollars, in order to be remitted outside of the PRC. Effective July 1, 1996, foreign currency “current account” transactions by foreign investment enterprises, including Sino-foreign joint-ventures, are no longer subject to the approval of SAFE, but need only a ministerial review, according to the Administration of the Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange Provisions promulgated in 1996 (the “FX regulations”). “Current account” items include international commercial transactions, which occur on a regular basis, such as those relating to trade and provision of services. Distributions to joint-venture parties also are considered “current account transactions.” Other non-current account items, known as “capital account” items, remain subject to SAFE approval. Under current regulations, we can obtain foreign currency in exchange for RMB from swap centers authorized by the government. We do not anticipate problems in obtaining foreign currency to satisfy our requirements; however, there is no assurance that foreign currency shortages or changes in currency exchange laws and regulations by the PRC government will not restrict us from freely converting Renminbi in a timely manner.

 

Fluctuations in the exchange rate could have an adverse effect upon our business and reported financial results.

 

We conduct our business in RMB, thus our functional currency is the RMB, while our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, the political situation as well as economic policies and conditions. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade old policy of pegging its currency to the U.S. currency. Under the current policy, the RMB is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. This change in policy has resulted in an approximate 31.16% appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar between July 21, 2005 and June 30, 2013. However, there remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt an even more flexible currency policy, which could result in a further and more significant appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar. To the extent any of our future revenues are denominated in currencies other than the United States dollar, we would be subject to increased risks relating to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results since operating results are reported in United States dollars and significant changes in the exchange rate could materially impact our reported earnings. 

 

29
 

 

Our PRC subsidiary and controlled entities are subject to restrictions on making payments to us, which could adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to pay dividends on our capital stock.

 

We are a holding company incorporated in the State of Florida and do not have any assets or conduct any business operations other than our investment in the VIEs that we control in China. As a result of our holding company structure, we rely entirely on contractual payments from the VIEs and dividends from our PRC subsidiary for our cash needs, including the funds necessary to pay any dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, to service any debt we may incur and to pay our operating expenses. The payment of dividends by entities established in China is subject to limitations. Regulations in China currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with accounting standards and regulations in China. Each of our PRC subsidiary and VIEs is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to its general reserves or statutory capital reserve fund until the aggregate amount of such reserves reaches 50% of its respective registered capital. As a result, they are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to us in the form of dividends, loans or advances. We anticipate that in the foreseeable future our PRC subsidiary and VIEs will need to continue to set aside 10% of their respective after-tax profits to their statutory reserves. Further, our PRC subsidiary and VIEs may incur debt on their own in the future, and the instruments governing such debt may restrict their ability to make contractual or dividend payments to us. If we are unable to receive all of the funds we require for our operations through contractual or dividend arrangements with our PRC subsidiary and VIEs, we may not have sufficient cash flow to fund our corporate overhead and regulatory obligations in the United States and may be unable to pay dividends on our shares of capital stock.

 

Risks Related to an Investment in Our Securities

 

The rights of the holders of common stock may be impaired by the potential issuance of dilutive securities, namely preferred stock, convertible debt, and additional common stock.

 

Our board of directors has the right, without shareholder approval, to issue other dilutive securities with voting, dividend, conversion, liquidation or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power and equity interest of the holders of our common stock. These additional securities could be issued with the right to more than one vote per share, and/or could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change of control. The possible impact on takeover attempts could adversely affect the price of the common stock. Although we have no present intention to issue any additional dilutive securities for financing purposes, we may issue such shares in the future.

 

Under our charter and relevant corporate and securities law, the board of directors may approve the issuance of common stock in connection with certain types of transactions such as of acquisitions of other companies or mining assets, without obtaining shareholder approval. As a result, additional securities may be issued in the event of such transactions, resulting in dilution of the holdings of all pre-transaction shareholders, even though one or more of our shareholders may disagree with our decision to acquire a target or assets.

 

The market price for our common stock may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations, which may adversely affect the price at which you can sell our shares.

 

The market price for our common stock may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including the following:

 

·actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operations results;
·changes in financial estimates or projections developed by us or securities research analysts;
·conditions in foreign or domestic coal or coke markets;
·changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other meat processing companies;
·announcements by us or our competitors of new products, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint-ventures or capital commitments;
·addition or departure of key personnel;
·fluctuations of exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar;
·intellectual property litigation; and
·general economic or political conditions in China.

 

In addition, the securities market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our stock.

 

30
 

 

As we are subject to the penny stock rules, you may have difficulty selling our common stock.

 

Listed companies with a stock price trading at less than $5.00 per share will be subject to the SEC’s penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements and restrictions on broker-dealers that sell our stock to persons other than established customers and institutional accredited investors. As we have become subject to these rules, these rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell our common stock and may affect your ability to sell any common stock you may own. According to the SEC, the market for penny stocks has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include:

 

·control of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer;
·manipulation of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases;
·boiler room practices involving high pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced sales persons;
·excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differentials and markups by selling broker-dealers; and
·wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired level, along with the inevitable collapse of those prices with consequent investor losses.

 

Our common stock is a relatively new listing, has a limited public float, and a short trading history. As a result, in the near future and beyond, liquidity in our shares may be limited, and you may be unable to sell at or near the purchased price or at all if you need to sell your shares or otherwise liquidate your holdings.

 

We cannot predict the extent to which an active public market for our common stock will develop or be sustained. Our common stock became listed on NASDAQ in February 2010, and our shares have only a limited amount of trading history. In addition, our common stock has a limited public float, and we are relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume. As a consequence, there have been and may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in the shares is or will be minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer that has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. We cannot provide any assurance that a broader or more active public trading market for our common stock will develop or be sustained in the future, or that any particular level of trading volume in our stock will be sustained.

 

The market for our common stock is expected to be characterized by significant price volatility when compared to seasoned issuers, and we anticipate that our share price will continue to be more volatile than a seasoned issuer for some time. The price at which you purchase our common stock may not be indicative of the price that will prevail in the trading market. You may be unable to sell your common stock at or above your purchase price if at all, which may result in substantial losses to you. Volatility in share prices is attributable to a number of factors. In the near future, our common stock is expected to be sporadically and/or thinly traded. As a consequence of this lack of liquidity, the trading of relatively small quantities of shares by our shareholders may disproportionately influence the price of those shares in either direction. The price for our shares could, for example, decline precipitously in the event a large number of our common shares are sold on the market without commensurate demand, as compared to a seasoned issuer which could better absorb those sales without adverse impact on our share price. The following factors also may add to the volatility in the price of our common stock: actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly or annual operating results; adverse outcomes; additions to or departures of key personnel, as well as other items discussed under this Risk Factor section, as well as elsewhere in our reports, filings and public disclosures. Many of these factors are beyond our control and may decrease the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. We cannot make any predictions or projections as to what the prevailing market price for our common stock will be at any time, including as to whether our common stock will sustain any particular trading price, or as to what effect the sale of shares or the availability of common shares for sale at any time will have on the then prevailing market price.

 

Volatility in our common stock price may subject us to securities litigation.

 

The future market for our common stock may be characterized by significant price volatility when compared to seasoned issuers, and we expect our share price will be more volatile than a seasoned issuer for the indefinite future.  There are periods during which the trading volume of our stock is relatively low, which may exacerbate volatility and result in exaggerated price changes in the common stock. In the past, plaintiffs have often initiated securities class action litigation against a company following periods of volatility in the market price of our securities. We may, in the future, be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and liabilities and could divert management’s attention and resources.

 

31
 

 

Techniques employed by manipulative short sellers in Chinese small cap stocks may drive down the market price of our common stock

 

Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has, supposedly, borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale.   As it is therefore in the short seller’s best interests for the price of the stock to decline, many short sellers (sometime known as “disclosed shorts”) publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a stock short.  While traditionally these disclosed shorts were limited in their ability to access mainstream business media or to otherwise create negative market rumors, the rise of the Internet and technological advancements regarding document creation, videotaping and publication by weblog (“blogging”) have allowed many disclosed shorts to publicly attack a company’s credibility, strategy and veracity by means of so-called research reports that mimic the type of investment analysis performed by large Wall Street firm and independent research analysts.  These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market, on occasion in large scale and broad base.  Issuers with business operations based in the PRC and who have limited trading volumes and are susceptible to higher volatility levels than U.S. domestic large-cap stocks, can be particularly vulnerable to such short attacks.

 

These short seller publications are not regulated by any governmental, self-regulatory organization or other official authority in the U.S., are not subject to the certification requirements imposed by the SEC in Regulation AC (Regulation Analyst Certification) and, accordingly, the opinions they express may be based on distortions of actual facts or, in some cases, fabrications of facts. In light of the limited risks involved in publishing such information, and the enormous profit that can be made from running just one successful short attack, unless the short sellers become subject to significant penalties, it is more likely than not that disclosed shorts will continue to issue such reports.

 

While we intend to strongly defend our public filings against any such short seller attacks, oftentimes we are constrained, either by principles of freedom of speech, applicable state law (often called “Anti-SLAPP statutes”), or issues of commercial confidentiality, in the manner in which we can proceed against the relevant short seller.  You should be aware that in light of the relative freedom to operate that such persons enjoy – oftentimes blogging from outside the U.S. with little or no assets or identity requirements – should we be targeted for such an attack, our stock will likely suffer from a temporary, or possibly long term, decline in market price should the rumors created not be dismissed by market participants.

 

We have incurred and will continue to incur increased costs as a public company which may affect our profitability.

 

As a public company, we have incurred and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. We are subject to the SEC’s rules and regulations relating to public disclosure. SEC disclosures generally involve a substantial expenditure of financial resources. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as new rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and NASDAQ, has required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. For example, we are required to maintain independent board committees and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. Such practices have significantly increased our legal and financial compliance costs and made some activities more time-consuming and costly. Management may also need to increase compensation for senior executive officers, engage senior financial officers able to adopt financial reporting and control procedures, allocate a budget for an investor and public relations program, and increase our financial and accounting staff in order to meet the demands and financial reporting requirements as a public reporting company. Such additional personnel, public relations, reporting and compliance costs will affect our financial results.

 

Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results and shareholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting.

 

Internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our operating results could be harmed. Failure to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a material adverse effect on our stock price. Although we are not required to have an auditor’s report on internal controls over financial reporting under current SEC regulations, our management is required to and has assessed our internal control implementation and concluded that our internal controls were ineffective for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

 

Generally, we have not paid any cash dividends to our shareholders and no cash dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future.

 

We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future and it may not have sufficient funds legally available to pay dividends. Even if the funds are legally available for distribution, we may nevertheless decide or may be unable to pay any dividends. We intend to retain all earnings for our operations.

 

Activities prior to the Share Exchange relating to our prior business then known as “Ableauctions.com, Inc.” may lead to future liability.

 

Prior to our acquisition of Top Favour on February 5, 2010, we were known as “Ableauctions.com, Inc.,” and engaged in businesses unrelated to our current operations. Although certain previously controlling shareholders of Ableauctions.com and its related liquidating trust have provided certain indemnifications against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arising out of or based on any breach of or inaccuracy in any of their representations, warranties and covenants made regarding such acquisition, including a $1 million reserve fund set aside by a liquidating trust for purposes of paying any indemnification claims by us, any liabilities relating to such prior business against which we are not completely indemnified may have a material adverse effect on us (and indirectly our shareholders) may not be able to benefit from any funds in reserve.

 

32
 

 

Reverse merger transactions of the type conducted between us and Top Favour are often heavily scrutinized by the SEC and we may encounter difficulties or delays in obtaining future regulatory approvals.

 

Historically, the SEC has not generally favored transactions in which a privately-held company merges into a public reporting company with listed securities. The SEC or other regulatory authorities may unexpectedly assert a different interpretation of existing rules than the interpretation we or our advisors relied upon, used and/or considered reasonable, which could increase the cost of, or adversely affect our ability to, file and achieve effectiveness for our registration statements, or interfere with or negate the ability of our shareholders to rely upon Rule 144 or similar rules.

 

Future sales of our common stock may decrease the price for such shares.

 

Actual sales, or the prospect of sales by our shareholders, may have a negative effect on the market price of the shares of our common stock. We may also register certain shares of our common stock that are subject to outstanding convertible securities, if any, or reserved for issuance under our stock option plans. Once such shares are registered, they can be freely sold in the public market upon exercise of the options. At any given time, if any of our shareholders either individually or in the aggregate cause a large number of securities to be sold in the public market, or if the market perceives that these holders intend to sell a large number of securities, such sales or anticipated sales could result in a substantial reduction in the trading price of shares of our common stock and could also impede our ability to raise future capital.

 

The elimination of monetary liability against our directors, officers and employees under state law and the existence of indemnification rights to our directors, officers and employees may result in substantial expenditures by us and may discourage lawsuits against our directors, officers and employees.

 

Our articles of incorporation contain specific provisions that eliminate or limit the liability of directors for monetary damages to us and our shareholders, and we are prepared to give such indemnification to our directors and officers to the extent permissible under state law. We may also maintain or enter into, from time to time, agreements that obligate us to indemnify our officers and directors. Such indemnification obligations could result in our incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against any such officer or director, which we may be unable to recoup. These provisions and resultant costs may also discourage us from bringing a lawsuit against our officers and directors for breaches of their fiduciary duties, and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our shareholders against our officers and directors even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders.

 

We will need additional capital, and the sale of additional shares or other equity securities could result in additional dilution to our shareholders.

 

We will require additional cash resources to meet our ongoing obligations. If our resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain additional credit, although we have no firm commitments to do so. The sale of additional equity securities could result in additional dilution to our shareholders. Incurring indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to it, if at all.

 

The registration and potential sale, either pursuant to our prospectus or pursuant to Rule 144, by certain selling security holders of a significant number of shares could encourage short sales by third parties.

 

There may be significant downward pressure on our stock price caused by the sale or potential sale of a significant number of shares by certain of selling security holders pursuant to our effective registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus or under Rule 144, which could allow short sellers of our stock an opportunity to take advantage of any decrease in the value of our stock. The presence of short sellers in our common stock may further depress the price of our common stock. If the selling security holders sell a significant number of shares of common stock, the market price of our common stock may decline. Furthermore, the sale or potential sale of the offered securities pursuant to the prospectus and the depressive effect of such sales or potential sales could make it difficult for us to raise funds from other sources.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

Not applicable.

 

33
 

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

The following table lists certain information our current facilities, all of which are located in Henan Province:

 

Location   Approximate
Floor Area
(Square 
Meters)
  Ownership
Status
  Principal Uses
Kuanggong Road and Tiyu Road, 10/F, Xinhua District, Pingdingshan   600   Leased   Corporate principal executive office (1)
1601-16/F, SPD International Finance Center, Jinshui Road, Jinshui District, Zhengzhou   455   Leased   Zhonghong’s office (2)
Zhaozhuang Village, Daying Town, Baofeng, Pingdingshan   95,013   Owned   Baofeng plant, operational office, rail track, coal washing, power generation
Zhaozhuang Village, Daying Town, Baofeng, Pingdingshan   371,628   Owned   New coking plant (3)
Industry Intensified Zone, Shilong District, Pingdingshan   2,076   Leased   Hongfeng plant (4)
Zhaozhuang Village, Daying Town, Baofeng, Pingdingshan   310,000   Owned (5)   Hongchang coal mine
Liping Village, Daying Town, Baofeng, Pingdingshan   470,000   Owned (5)   Shuangrui coal mine
Southwest Zhaozhuang Village, Daying Town, Baofeng, Pingdingshan   190,000   60%
Owned (5)
  Xingsheng coal mine
West Zhaozhuang Village, Daying Town, Baofeng   80,000   Owned (5)   Shunli coal mine

 

(1)Our principal executive office is in downtown Pingdingshan, approximately 60 kilometers from the Baofeng plant, and houses our executive and administrative staff and oversees our operations. We currently lease the premises on a month-to-month basis for $3,171 (RMB 19,600) per month.

 

(2)Zhonghong currently leases its office on a month-to-month basis, with monthly lease payments of $5,999 (RMB 37,075).

 

(3)As of June 30, 2012, we prepaid (through Hongli) a total of approximately $9.0 million (RMB 58.05 million) to acquire the land use rights to approximately 371,628 square meters of residential land adjacent to the Baofeng plant, as the site for our new coking plant. Such prepayments were paid to the land’s former occupants and are not refundable. As of the date of this Report, we have not received the land used right from the Baofeng Land and Resource Bureau, although we expect to acquire such rights by June 30, 2014, at an estimated total cost of approximately $11.5 million (RMB 73.05 million). We also anticipate paying an additional $1.9 million (RMB 12.45 million) for administrative fees relating to reconfiguring the land for industrial use. As of the date of this Report, plant construction has not been completed.

 

(4)On April 8, 2013, we entered into an agreement with Pingdingshan Hongfeng Coal Processing and Coking, Ltd. (“Hongfeng”) to lease the Hongfeng plant for one year. We pay Hongfeng a monthly leasing fee based on the quantity of coke we produce from the Hongfeng plant at the rate of RMB 60 per metric ton. We are also responsible for the operation, maintenance and repairs of the Hongfeng plant.

 

(5)We do not own the mines (as all mineral resources are state-owned), but we control the mining permits to extract coal from these mines through our ownership of the operators of these mines.

 

ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We know of no material, existing or pending legal proceedings against us, nor are we involved as a plaintiff in any material proceeding or pending litigation. There are no proceedings in which any of our directors, officers or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial stockholder, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our company.

 

ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

The information required by Item 4 is not applicable to us, as we have no mining operations in the United States.

 

34
 

 

PART II

 

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

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock has been trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SCOK” since February 17, 2010. The following table sets forth the high and low bid information for our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market since February 17, 2010 for the periods indicated:

 

   The Nasdaq
Capital Market
Price per Share
 
   High   Low 
2012          
Quarter ended September 30, 2013 (1)  $1.55   $1.27 
Quarter ended June 30, 2013   1.78    1.09 
Quarter ended March 31, 2013   1.30    1.00 
           
2011          
Quarter ended December 31, 2012  $1.76   $1.12 
Quarter ended September 30, 2012   2.33    1.60 
Quarter ended June 30, 2012   2.46    1.76 
Quarter ended March 31, 2012   3.25    2.21 
           
2010          
Quarter ended December 31, 2011  $4.08   $2.03 

 

(1)Through September 19, 2013.

 

Holders

 

As of September 19, 2013, there were approximately 610 shareholders of record of our common stock. This number does not include an indeterminate number of shareholders whose shares are held by brokers in street name.

 

Dividends

 

Other than the distribution of our pre-Share Exchange assets to, and the assumption of our pre-Share Exchange liabilities by, the Liquidating Trust, we have not paid dividends on our common stock since inception. The decision to pay dividends on common stock is within the discretion of the board of directors. It is our current policy to retain any future earnings to finance the operations and growth of our business.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

Please see the discussion in Item 12 titled “Equity Compensation Plan Information” below.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

None.

 

ITEM 6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 7.         MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of the results of our operations and financial condition for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 should be read in conjunction with the Selected Financial Data, our financial statements, and the notes to those financial statements that are included elsewhere in this Report. All monetary figures are presented in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

 

35
 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

The statements in this discussion that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” The words “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “estimate,” “continue,” the negative forms thereof, or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements are identified by those words or expressions. Forward-looking statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond our control. Actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements depending on a variety of important factors, including, but not limited to, weather, local, regional, national and global coke and coal price fluctuations, levels of coal and coke production in the region, the demand for raw materials such as iron and steel which require coke to produce, availability of financing and interest rates, competition, changes in, or failure to comply with, government regulations, costs, uncertainties and other effects of legal and other administrative proceedings, and other risks and uncertainties. We are not undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

 

Overview

 

We are a vertically-integrated coal and coke producer based in Henan Province, China. Our coal products include raw (unprocessed) coal, washed coal, mid-coal and coal slurries. Our coke products include metallurgical coke, coke provider, coal tar and crude benzol.

 

Our business operations are conducted through Hongli, a PRC company that we control by a series of contractual arrangements between Hongli and Hongyuan. Hongyuan is a PRC company wholly-owned by Top Favour, a British Virgin Island company and our wholly-owned subsidiary.

 

As of June 30, 2013:

 

·coke related activities were carried out by Hongli and Hongli’s branch operation, Baofeng Coking;

 

·coal related activities were carried out by Hongchang Coal, Shuangrui Coal and Xingsheng Coal, all subsidiaries of Hongli; and

 

·electricity generation was carried out by another Hongli subsidiary, Hongguang Power.

 

The coal-related activities for the periods discussed below are those of Hongchang Coal only, although we have been unable to extract coal since September 2011 due to the ongoing moratorium on mining activities. See “Our Products and Operations – Coal – Coal Mining Moratorium” in Part I, Item I of this Report. It is our intention to transfer all coal related activities to Hongyuan CSG, our joint-venture with the state-owned Henan Coal Seam Gas, although such transfer has not been carried out as of the date of this Report.

 

Results of Operations

 

Our revenue in fiscal 2013 decreased by approximately 15.49% from a year ago as sales of most products slowed. 59% of the revenue was derived from coke products as compared to 51% in fiscal 2012, and 41% from coal products as compared to 49% in fiscal 2012.

 

On a macro level, management has observed the following trends, which may have a direct impact on our operations in the near future: (1) domestic coke market can be expected to remain soft until the Chinese steel industry can work through its oversupply of crude steel, which may take some time absent any sudden, sharp uptick in the economy; and (2) the slower economy, along with an oversupply of mid-coal starting in early 2013, will continue to keep mid-coal price down.

 

Comparison of Years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

 

Revenue

 

Revenue decreased by $12,226,469 as compared to fiscal 2012. Such decrease mainly resulted from decreased sales of coke, coal tar, raw coal, mid-coal, and washed coal, offset by increased sales of coal slurries as well as sales of coke powder and crude benzol that commenced during fiscal 2013. Revenue and quantity sold by product type for fiscal 2012 and 2013 are as follows: 

 

   Revenues     
   Coke Products   Coal Products   Total 
Revenue               
Fiscal Year 2012  $40,602,950   $38,309,820   $78,912,770 
Fiscal Year 2013  $39,056,535   $27,629,766   $66,686,301 
Decrease in $  $(1,546,415)  $(10,680,054)  $(12,226,469)
% decrease   (3.81)%   (27.88)%   (15.49)%
                
Quantity Sold (metric tons)               
Fiscal Year 2012   174,021    257,893    431,914 
Fiscal Year 2013   196,575    187,943    384,518 
Increase (decrease)   22,554    (69,950)   (47,396)
% increase (decrease)   12.96%   (27.12)%   (10.97)%

 

36
 

 

Coke products include finished coke (a key raw material for producing steel), coke powder (a smaller-grained coke that can be produced along with coke and used by non-ferrous metallurgical industry), coal tar, and crude benzol. Coal tar and crude benzol are byproducts of the coke manufacturing process with various industrial applications. Coal products include unprocessed metallurgical coal, processed or washed coal, mid-coal and coal slurries, which are by-products of the coal washing process and used primarily to generate electricity and for heating. As used in this discussion and analysis, unless otherwise indicated, “coke” includes both coke and coke powder, and “raw coal” includes coal that is unwashed and relatively unprocessed, as well as mid-coal and coal slurries.

 

Average selling prices per metric ton of our products during fiscal 2012 and 2013 are as follows:

 

Average Selling Price of Coke Products
 
    Coke     Coal Tar     Crude
Benzol
    Coke Powder  
Fiscal Year 2012   $ 232      $ 254     N/A     N/A  
Fiscal Year 2013   208      $ 267     $ 339     $ 152  
Increase (decrease) in $   (24 )    $ 13     $ 339     $ 152  
% increase (decrease)     (10.34 )%     5.12 %     N/A     N/A

 

Average Selling Price of Coal Products
 
    Raw Coal   Mid-coal     Coal Slurries     Washed Coal  
Fiscal Year 2012   $ 97     $ 72     $ 45     $ 179  
Fiscal Year 2013   $ 114     $ 58     $ 49     $ 183  
Increase (decrease) in $   $ 17     $ (14   $ 4     $ 4  
% increase (decrease)     17.52 %     (19.44 )%     8.89 %     2.23 %

 

Generally, our selling prices are driven by a number of factors, including the particular composition and quality of the coal or coke we sell, their prevailing market prices locally and throughout China, as well as in the global marketplace, timing of sales, delivery terms, and our relationships with our customers and our negotiations of their purchase orders.  The lower coke and mid-coal prices reflect weak demands. The higher raw coal price is due to the coal’s higher heat value, and the higher coal tar price is due to higher quality of the coal tar.

 

Revenue and quantity sold of each coke product for fiscal 2012 and 2013 are as follows:

 

Coke Products
 
    Coke     Coke Powder     Coal Tar       Crude Benzol     Total  
Revenue                                
Fiscal 2012   $ 38,656,636     $ 0     $ 1,946,314     $ 0     $ 40,602,950  
Fiscal 2013   $ 31,171,635     $ 6,104,376     $ 1,719,416     $ 61,108     $ 39,056,535  
Increase (decrease) in $   $ (7,485,001   $ 6,104,376     $ (226,898   $ 61,108     $ (1,546,415
% increase (decrease)     (19.36 )%     100 %     (11.66 )%     100 %     (3.81 )%
                                         
Quantity Sold (metric tons)                                        
Fiscal 2012     166,373       0       7,648       0       174,021  
Fiscal 2013     149,882       40,080       6,433       180       196,575  
Increase (decrease)     (16,491     40,080       (1,215  )     180       22,554  
% increase (decrease)     (9.91 )%     100 %     (15.89 )%     100 %     12.96 %

 

The lower coke revenue for fiscal 2013 resulted from weak market demand. The lower coal tar revenue for fiscal 2013 mainly resulted from lower sales volume, despite a 5.12% increase in the average selling price. As a result of facility upgrades, the Baofeng plant has yielded less coal tar than before. We started selling coke powder and crude benzol in fiscal 2013. We purchase most of the coke powder on the open market, and sell it to our customers in the steel industry. We produce crude benzol from the Hongfeng plant, which we have doing since we conducted trial production in April.

 

37
 

 

Revenue and quantity sold of each coal product for fiscal 2012 and 2013 are as follows:

 

Coal Products
 
    Raw Coal     Mid-coal   Coal Slurries     Washed Coal     Total  
Revenue                            
Fiscal 2012   $ 1,434,443   $   3,614,057   $ 393,481     $ 32,867,839     $ 38,309,820  
Fiscal 2013   $ 604,331   $   1,933,332   $ 819,134     $ 24,272,969     $ 27,629,766  
Increase (decrease) in $   $ (830,112 ) $   (1,680,725 ) $ 425,653     $ (8,594,870 )   $ (10,680,054 )
% increase (decrease)     (57.87 )%     (46.51 )%   108.18 %     (26.15 )%     (27.88 )%
                                       
Quantity Sold (metric tons)                                      
Fiscal 2012     14,815       50,357     8,818       183,903       257,893  
Fiscal 2013     5,283       33,141     16,589       132,930       187,943  
Increase (decrease)     (9,532 )     (17,216 )   7,771       (50,973 )     (69,950 )
% increase (decrease)     (64.34 )%     (34.19 )%   88.13 %     (27.72 )%     (27.12 )%

 

Our raw coal revenue continued to suffer from very limited raw coal supply created by the ongoing mining moratorium. We currently anticipate the moratorium to end sometime in the first half of calendar 2014, although there cannot be any assurance as to the exact timing. In response to the higher price of raw coal used to make washed coal, we have adapted our coal washing process to increase washed coal yield. Doing so has also resulted in less mid-coal but more coal slurries being produced, which when combined with the effect of selling price changes, resulted in the revenue fluctuations for both mid-coal and coal slurries.

 

Our lower washed coal revenue for fiscal 2013 resulted from the limited amount of washed coal sold to our customers due to the limited availability of raw coal with which to produce washed coal.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

Cost of revenue decreased to $58,478,301 from $63,745,461 a year ago. This was manly driven by lower sales volumes for most of our products, and the higher cost of obtaining raw coal, as compared to last year.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit was $8,208,000, a decrease of $6,959,309 or 45.88% from $15,167,309 a year ago, reflecting our lower revenue as discussed above. Gross profit margin decreased by approximately 6.91% from approximately 19% for the prior fiscal year, mainly due to lower selling price of coke.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses, which consist of selling expenses and general and administrative expenses, was $3,088,403, a decrease of $115,745 or 3.61% from a year ago. Selling expenses decreased by $46,741 or 22.20%, to $163,827, from slight reduction in expenses relating to selling activities. General and administrative expenses decreased by $69,004 or 2.31%, to $2,924,576, due to the following factors: (1) our rental expense decreased by $113,756, from closing our Beijing office; and (2) consulting expense for internal control decreased by $109,127 after discount we obtained from our consultant. Such decrease was offset as follows: (1) depreciation expense increased by $72,181; (2) repair and maintenance expense increased by $77,718; and (3) other general expenses increased by $67,838.

 

Other Income and Expense 

 

Other income and expense includes finance expense (which consists of interest and other finance expenses, net of interest income), income and expense not related to our principal operations, and change in fair value of warrants.

 

Finance expense was $3,356,179, an increase of $2,188,778 or 187.49% from a year ago. This is largely due to the following: (1) no interest was capitalized, as compared to $914,688 a year ago; (2) we incurred an additional $620,995 in interest in connection with extending Hongli’s loan with Bairui Trust Co., Ltd. (“Bairui Trust”); (3) we collected a RMB 30,000,000 ($4,779,000) loan receivable, thereby reducing the corresponding interest income by $316,623; and (4) the interest income from $8,032,037 in loan receivable decreased by $313,376, due to lowered interest rate of 7% from 10% last fiscal year.

 

38
 

 

We had income not related to our principal operations of $229,036, including $191,160 from our investment in Pingdingshan Rural Cooperative Bank (“PRCB”) – Xinhua District Branch. We also recorded other income from the gain in fair value of warrants in the amount of $716,627.

 

As a result of the foregoing, we had other expense of $2,410,516, as compared to other income of $3,926,633 a year ago.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

Provision for income taxes decreased by $1,733,849 from a year ago, reflecting our lower taxable income.

 

Net income

 

Net income, including the change in fair value of warrants, was $1,047,693, as compared to $12,494,557 a year ago.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of June 30, 2013, our current liabilities exceeded current assets by $24,312,407. Our accounts have accordingly been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP on a going concern basis. The going concern basis assumes that assets are realized and liabilities are extinguished in the ordinary course of business at amounts disclosed in the financial statements. Our ability to continue as a going concern depends upon expenditure requirement and repayments of our long-term loan facilities with Bairui Trust as and when they become due.

 

In an effort to improve our financial position, we intend to negotiate with Bairui Trust to extend our loan maturity date, and to increase sales of higher margin products such as coal tar and crude benzol. In the meantime, we are still waiting for the mining moratorium to conclude. If and when that occurs, we should be able to obtain a line of credit to facilitate additional liquidity by pledging our mining rights. Management believes that these and other actions taken can provide us the opportunity to continue as a going-concern.

 

In summary, our cash flows are as follows:

 

   Year Ended June 30, 
   2013   2012 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  $6,627,554   $(12,232,756)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities  $866,920   $(15,856,609)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  $(8,815,001)  $3,755,806 

 

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2013 was approximately $6.6 million, as compared to net cash used in operating activities of approximately $12.2 million for fiscal 2012. Except for $1,107,666 in non-cash adjustment such as depreciation, amortization and depletion, bad debt and change in fair value of warrants which increased our cash-based net income, net operating inflow for fiscal 2013 resulted from the following factors: (1) our account receivable decreased by $2,757,701, due to improved collection of receivables from our customers; (2) advances to suppliers decreased by $3,681,517, due to tightening control of our prepayments; (3) we did not have prepaid expense, which increased our cash inflow by $636,908; and (4) our other payables and liabilities increased by $1,405,131, including interest payables to Bairui Trust, salary payables, and others related to general and administrative expenses. Cash inflow was mainly offset as follows: (1) notes receivable decreased by $398,250 due to the maturity and cashing of such notes; (2) inventory increased by $576,227 mainly due to soft market demands for our products; and (3) tax payable decreased by $414,772 due to lower taxable income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, as compare to the same period last year.

 

The cash position in operation for fiscal 2012 was due to the combination of the following factors: (a) we received bank guaranteed notes from our customers rather than cash, which increased our note receivables by approximately $14.1 million while reducing our cash inflow; (b) accounts receivable increased by approximately $3.30 million from a decrease in the average accounts receivable turnover ratio, from 10.8 in fiscal 2011 to 7.7; (c) advances to suppliers increased by approximately $3.17 million from coal purchases; (d) other receivable increased by approximately $0.99 million from money borrowed by unrelated parties, although such loans were repaid in August 2012; and (e) tax payables decreased by $1.39 million from lower taxable income.

 

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities

 

Net cash provided by investing activities for fiscal 2013 reflects: (1) $9,558,000 in loan receivable to an unrelated party, which was repaid in April 2013; and (2) $1,234,300 in loan receivable we collected from a borrower.

 

39
 

 

Net cash used in investing activities for fiscal 2012 included: (1) approximately $32.05 million for the construction of our new coking plant, (2) approximately $2.85 million borrowed by two unrelated parties at interest rates of 6% and 3.5%, respectively, and (3) approximately $1.90 million for the land use rights to the land underlying our new coking plant. On the other hand, we received approximately $9.89 million from loan receivable repayments and approximately $11.06 million in refund from prepayments for mine acquisitions that were cancelled.

 

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

 

Net cash used in financing activities for fiscal 2013 included: (1) $9,558,000 in notes payable we obtained from Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (“SPDB”) in February 2013, which matured and was fully repaid in August 2013; (2) a loan of $9,558,000 we received from SPDB, which was fully repaid in April 2013; (3) $4,779,000 in notes payable from SPDB that we repaid in September and October 2012 when they matured; and (4) $5,734,800 of Hongyuan’s loan from SPDB that was repaid in June 2013. We also repaid a total of $7,965,000 to Bairui Trust in December 2012 and April 2013.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for fiscal 2012 largely resulted from activities related to short-term borrowings, including our proceeds from, and our repayments of, such borrowings. On September 14, 2011, we repaid approximately $5.04 million (RMB 32 million) in short-term loan from SPDB and we renewed the loan for another year with SPDB to borrow approximately $5.04 million (RMB 32 million) with annual interest rate of 6.71%. On March 15, 2012, the loan was repaid and we entered into a new loan and borrowed approximately $5.67 million (RMB 36,000,000) for one year with annual interest rate of 7.22%. Top Favour deposited $6.5 million with SPDB with an annual interest rate of 1.3% as collateral, and the new loan is also guaranteed by our CEO. On December 22, 2011, we deposited approximately $1.57 million (RMB 10 million) with SPDB as restricted cash, and issued approximately $3.14 million of guaranteed bank notes. Such notes matured and were repaid on June 21, 2012, and the related restricted cash was returned to us accordingly. On March 19, 2012, we entered into an agreement with SPDB and issued approximately $1.57 million (RMB 10 million) of bank guaranteed notes by depositing the same amount as restricted cash with the bank. On April 25, 2012, we entered into another agreement with SPDB, and issued approximately $3.14 million (RMB 20 million) of bank guaranteed notes, and deposited approximately $1.57 million (RMB 10 million) as restricted cash for such notes. We also repaid our CEO approximately $0.31 million that he loaned us for working capital.

 

Capital Resources

 

Funding for our business activities has historically been provided by cash flow from operations, short-term bank loan financing, and loans from our Chairman.

 

We also have arrangements with certain banks pursuant to which we are able to issue short-term notes to pay our vendors, secured against our deposits with the banks of 50% or 100% of the face value of the notes as well as guarantees from our Chairman, Hongli and/or unrelated third party. We currently have such arrangements with SPDB. Under our arrangements with SPDB, we are subject to a diligence review for each note issued, and SPDB charges us a processing fee based on 0.05% of the face value of each note.

 

On April 2, 2011, Hongli entered into a loan agreement with Bairui Trust, pursuant to which Bairui Trust agreed to loan Hongli RMB 360 million (approximately $57.06 million), of which RMB 180 million was due on April 2, 2013, and RMB 180 million on April 2, 2014, with annual interest rate of 6.3%. Bairui Trust made the loan to Hongli on April 3, 2011. On November 30, 2011, Hongli entered into a supplemental agreement with Bairui Trust to amend the terms such that RMB 30 million (approximately $4.8 million) would be due on October 2, 2012, RMB 100 million (approximately $15.8 million) on April 2, 2013, RMB 50 million (approximately $7.9 million) on October 2, 2013, and RMB 180 million (approximately $28.5 million) on April 2, 2014. We made the October 2, 2012 payment on December 25, 2012, including outstanding interest charge for late payment. We repaid $3.2 million (RMB 20 million) on April 3, 2013, and entered into another supplemental agreement with Bairui Trust on April 23, 2013 to extend the due date for the remaining $12.7 million (RMB 80 million). Of such remaining principal, the due date for $3.2 million (RMB 20 million) has been extended to December 2, 2013 with an annual interest rate of 6.3% starting from April 23, 2013. The due date for $4.8 million (RMB 30 million) has been extended to January 2, 2014 with an annual interest rate of 6.3% starting from April 23, 2013. The due date for $4.8 million (RMB 30 million) has been extended to February 2, 2014 with an annual interest rate of 6.3% starting from April 23, 2013. Between April 3, 2013 and April 23, 2013, Bairui Trust charged a 9.45% annual interest rate on the entire $12.7 million outstanding. We intend to negotiate with Bairui Trust to further extend the maturity dates by an additional two to three years, and to repay the loan through our operational cash flow.

 

Our business plan involves growing our business through: (1) expanding our current production capacity and product mix by leasing the Hongfeng plant, and completing construction of our new coking plant when market conditions improve; (2) expanding the market for our clean coke product produced at the Baofeng plant to offset the weak demand for conventional coke; (3) capturing more coke by-products for refinement into useful industrial chemicals, and producing more high value-added chemical products when construction completes at our new coking plant; and (4) acquiring other coal mines and building long term strategic relations with other mining operators to source raw coal. Of the foregoing, the following is expected to require capital resources:

 

40
 

 

·New Coking Facility. We intend to use existing cash, cash flow from operations, bank loans, collection of our loan receivables, along with other finance arrangements such as extending our long term loan from Bairui Trust, to complete the construction of our new coking facility. Due to ongoing market conditions, however, we have once again slowed down constriction, but plan to resume at full pace if and when market improves.

 

·Coal Mine Safety Improvement Projects. The total estimated cost for government-mandated safety upgrades is approximately $31.5 million. We will be responsible for approximately 70% of the total estimated cost, approximately $22.0 million, under the structure of our joint-venture with Henan Coal Seam Gas. We also intend to use our line of credit from PRCB to complete these projects. These projects have not commenced as of the date of this Report, although we currently expect to complete them sometime in first half 2014.

 

During fiscal 2013, we had minimal capital expenditures.

 

We have not experienced any material losses since inception relating to accidents or other similar events.  See “Risk Factors - We may suffer losses resulting from industry-related accidents and lack of insurance.

 

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. Other than warrants liability, we have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to its shares and classified as shareholder’s equity or that are not reflected in its consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or that engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with us.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported net sales and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

While our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to our financial statements elsewhere in this Report, we believe that the following accounting policies are the most critical to aid you in fully understanding and evaluating this management discussion and analysis:

 

Revenue recognition

 

We recognize revenue from the sale of coal and coke, our principal products, at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations on our part exist and collectability is reasonably assured.  This generally occurs when coal or coke is loaded onto trains or trucks at one of our loading facilities or at third-party facilities.  Accordingly, management is required to apply its own judgment regarding collectability based on its experience and knowledge of its current customers, and thus exercise a certain degree of discretion.

 

Most, if not all, of the electricity generated by Hongguang Power is typically used internally by Baofeng Coking.  Supply of surplus electricity generated by Hongguang Power to the national power grid is mandated by the local utilities board.  The value of the surplus electricity supplied, if it exists, is calculated based on actual kilowatt-hours produced and transmitted and at a fixed rate determined under contract.

 

Coal and coke sales represent the invoiced value of goods, net of a value-added tax (“VAT”), sales discounts and actual returns at the time when product is sold to the customer.

 

41
 

 

Accounts receivables, trade

 

During the normal course of business, we extend unsecured credit not exceeding three months to our customers. Management regularly reviews aging of receivables and changes in payment trends by its customers, and records allowance when management believes collection of amounts due are at risk. Accounts receivables are considered past due after three months from the date credit was granted. Accounts considered uncollectible after exhaustive efforts to collect are written off. We regularly review the credit worthiness of our customers and, based on the results of such credit review, determine whether extended payment terms can be granted to or, in some cases, partial prepayment is required from certain customers. No allowance for doubtful accounts is considered necessary at the balance sheets dates.

 

Intangible assets - mining rights, net

 

Mining rights are capitalized at fair value when acquired, including amounts associated with any value beyond proven and probable reserves, and amortized to operations as depletion expense using the units-of-production method over the estimated proven and probable recoverable tons.  Our coal reserves are controlled through direct ownership by our VIEs which generally last until the recoverable reserves are depleted.

 

Long-term investment

 

Entities in which we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but do not have a controlling interest, are accounted for under the equity method. Significant influence is generally considered to exist when we have between 20% and 50% of ownership interest in the voting stock, but other factors, such as representation on the board of directors, voting rights and the impact of commercial arrangements, are considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate.

  

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

We evaluate long-lived tangible and intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable from its estimated future cash flows, in accordance with the accounting guidance regarding “Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”  Recoverability is measured by comparing an asset’s carrying value to the related projected undiscounted cash flows generated by the long-lived asset or asset group, considering a number of factors including past operating results, budgets, economic projections, market trends and product development cycles.  When the carrying value of the asset exceeds the related undiscounted cash flows, the asset is considered impaired, and a second test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value.  As of June 30, 2013 and 2012, there was no impairment of long-lived assets. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and/or third party independent appraisals.

 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

 

In February 2013 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an accounting standards update ("ASU") No. 2013-02 "Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income," requiring new disclosures for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"), including (1) changes in AOCI balances by component and (2) significant items reclassified out of AOCI. The guidance does not amend any existing requirements for reporting net income or OCI in the financial statements. The standards update was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012, to be applied prospectively. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements. As this guidance only requires expanded disclosures, the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05 “Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity,’ requiring the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity.  The standards update is effective prospectively for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2013.  Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, A Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (A Consensus the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU 2013-11 provides guidance on financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The FASB’s objective in issuing this ASU is to eliminate diversity in practice resulting from a lack of guidance on this topic in current U.S. GAAP. This ASU applies to all entities with unrecognized tax benefits that also have tax loss or tax credit carryforwards in the same tax jurisdiction as of the reporting date. This amendment is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

General

 

We do not use derivative financial instruments and have no foreign exchange contracts. Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term obligations. We generally consider investments in highly liquid instruments purchased with a remaining maturity of 90 days or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

 

42
 

 

Currency Fluctuations and Foreign Currency Risk

 

Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China. All of our sales and purchases are conducted within China in RMB, which is the official currency of China. As a result, the effect of the fluctuations of exchange rates is considered minimal to our business operations.

 

Substantially all of our revenues and expenses are denominated in RMB. However, we use the United States dollar for financial reporting purposes. Conversion of RMB into foreign currencies is regulated by the People’s Bank of China through a unified floating exchange rate system. Although the PRC government has stated its intention to support the value of RMB, there can be no assurance that such exchange rate will not again become volatile or that RMB will not devalue significantly against the U.S. dollar. Exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect the value, in U.S. dollar terms, of our net assets and income derived from our operations in China.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our short-term and long-term obligations. Accordingly, fluctuations in applicable interest rates would not have a material impact on the fair value of these securities. At June 30, 2013, we had approximately $10.5 million in cash. A hypothetical 2% increase or decrease in applicable interest rates would not have a material impact on our earnings or loss, or the fair market value or cash flows of these instruments.

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

We are a coal and coke producer, and as discussed elsewhere in this Report, our business is affected by prevailing market prices for coal and coke. However, we do not currently engage in any hedging activities, such as futures, forwards, or options contracts, with respect to any of our inputs or products.

 

Credit Risk

 

We are exposed to credit risk from our cash at bank and fixed deposits and accounts receivable. The credit risk on cash at bank and fixed deposits is limited because the counterparties are recognized financial institutions. Accounts receivable are subjected to credit evaluations. An allowance has been made for estimated irrecoverable amounts which have been determined by reference to past default experience and the current economic environment.

 

Inflation

 

Inflationary factors, such as increases in the cost of our products and overhead costs, could impair our operating results. Although we do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our financial position or results of operations to date, a high rate of inflation in the future may have an adverse effect on our ability to maintain current levels of gross margin and selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales revenue if the selling prices of our products do not increase with these increased costs.

 

Company’s Operations are Substantially in Foreign Countries

 

Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China and are subject to various political, economic, and other risks and uncertainties inherent in conducting business in China. Among other risks, our operations are subject to the risks of restrictions on transfer of funds; export duties, quotas, and embargoes; domestic and international customs and tariffs; changing taxation policies; foreign exchange restrictions; and political conditions and governmental regulations. Additional information regarding such risks can be found under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Report.

 

ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are included in Part III, Item 15 (a) (1) and (2) of this Report.

 

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

 

None.

 

43
 

 

ITEM 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a)Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

 

Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) require public companies to maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” which are defined as controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

We conducted an evaluation, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2013. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2013, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective.

 

(b)Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management has continued to focus on internal controls over financial reporting. While various remedial actions have been taken this year, we want to highlight the following specific changes in internal control over financial reporting during the year:

 

·We engaged a third-party consultant firm who is knowledgeable in and is experienced in U.S. GAAP to assist with our financial reporting process, and the firm assigns some of its staff to work in our accounting department throughout the year;

 

·As of June 30, 2013, we did not have any material investment activities without proper preapproval process in accordance with our internal control over investments;

 

·We continued to set up internal control policies, such as clear segregation of duties among our employees; and

 

·We hired more professional staff to fulfill accounting department duties, which has improved our internal communications and approval process.

 

(c)Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) for the Company. These controls are designed and implemented under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance to the management and the Board of Directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:

 

1.Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;

 

2.Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded properly to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorization of our management and directors; and

 

3.Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisitions, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Because of the inherent limitations of internal control, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

 

44
 

 

As of June 30, 2013, management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in Internal Control— 1992 Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) and SEC guidance on conducting such assessments. Based on such evaluation, management identified deficiencies that were determined to be material weaknesses.

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Because of the following material weaknesses, management concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting were ineffective as of June 30, 2013:

 

1.We did not have sufficient skilled accounting personnel that are either qualified as Certified Public Accountants in the United States or that have received education from U.S. institutions or other educational programs that would provide adequate relevant education relating to U.S. GAAP. Our Chief Financial Officer and Controller have limited experience with U.S. GAAP and are not U.S. Certified Public Accountants. Furthermore, our operating subsidiaries are based in China and are therefore required to comply with PRC GAAP, rather than U.S. GAAP. Thus, the accounting skills and understanding necessary to fulfill the requirements of U.S. GAAP-based reporting, including the preparation of consolidated financial statements, remain inadequate and thus constitute a material weakness.

 

2.In addition, since we only completed the design of our internal controls and assessments for all of our financial reporting cycles in March 2012, we are not yet able to declare our controls as effective over a sufficient period of time in order to demonstrate the operating effectiveness of our controls as of June 30, 2013. Therefore, we have determined that such lack of time to evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of our controls is also a material weakness.

 

In an effort to remedy the foregoing material weaknesses in the future, we intend to do the following:

 

·Develop a comprehensive training and development plan for our finance, accounting and internal audit personnel, including our Chief Financial Officer and Controller, in the principles and rules of U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting requirements and the application thereof;

 

·Design and implement a program to provide ongoing company-wide training regarding our internal controls, with particular emphasis on our finance and accounting staff;

 

·Implement an internal review process over financial reporting to review all recent accounting pronouncements and to verify that any accounting treatment identified in such report has been fully implemented and confirmed by our third-party consultant, and to continue to improve our ongoing review and supervision of our internal control over financial reporting; and

 

·Hire a full-time employee who possesses the requisite U.S. GAAP experience and education.

 

Despite the material weaknesses and deficiencies reported above, our management believes that our consolidated financial statements included in this report fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented and that this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report.

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

 

ITEM 9B.OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Our current directors and executive officers, their ages, their respective offices and positions, and their respective dates of election or appointment are as follows:

 

Name   Age   Position Held   Officer/Director since
Jianhua Lv   45   President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board   February 5, 2010
Zan (“Sam”) Wu   36   Chief Financial Officer   February 5, 2010
Hui Zheng   41   Vice President of Operations and Director   February 5, 2010
Yushan Jiang   59   Independent Director   February 5, 2010
Hui Huang   45   Independent Director   February 5, 2010
Haoyi Zhang   39   Independent Director   February 5, 2010

 

45
 

 

Business Experience

 

The following is a summary of the educational background and business experience during the past five years of each of our directors and executive officers. The following information includes the person’s principal occupation during the period, and the name and principal business of the organization by which he or she was employed.

 

Jianhua Lv has been the executive director and Chairman of Hongli since 1996, when he founded the company. Prior to this, from 1989 to 1996 Mr. Lv held a number of positions at the Henan Province Pingdingshan Coal Group, where he developed many years of experience in the coal and coking industries. In early 2007, Mr. Lv was appointed as a standing committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of Baofeng, Henan Province, and as a standing committee member of the National People’s Congress of Baofeng, Henan Province. Mr. Lv has been honored as an outstanding entrepreneur of the year in 2003 and 2004. Mr. Lv holds a bachelor’s degree from Henan University in Chinese, a master’s degree in economics from Henan University, and a master of law degree from the Central Party School.  Mr. Lv’s experience as our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and his extensive knowledge of the coal and coking industries qualifies him to serve on our Board.

 

Zan (“Sam”) Wu has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Hongli since July 2009. Prior to this, Mr. Wu worked as an auditor at the Zhong Rui Hui Accounting Firm from 2000 to 2001. Mr. Wu was a financial analyst at VIR Consultancy Ltd. from 2003 to 2004. From 2004 through 2006, Mr. Wu held the positions of assistant manager and financial manager at Domino Scientific Equipment Ltd. Mr. Wu was the chief representative of Global American, Inc. (China Representative Office) from 2006 – 2009. Except for Hongli, our VIE, none of these companies is related to or affiliated with the Company.  Mr. Wu holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Capital University of Economics and Business and a master’s degree in financial management and control from Aston Business School. 

 

Hui Zheng has served as vice manager of Human Resources at Hongli since 2006. Prior to this Mr. Zheng worked at SinoCoking as a statistician, secretary and vice-dean from 1998 until 2006. Mr. Zheng has worked in the materials industry since 1996. Mr. Zheng holds a degree from Zhengzhou University. Mr. Zheng’s in-depth working experience as vice manager at Hongli and operating business in the PRC, his knowledge and his lengthy working experience in the Chinese coal and materials industries qualify him to serve on our Board.

 

Yushan Jiang has served as the chief executive officer of the Pingdingshan Coal Group Shoushan Coking Co., Ltd. since February 2007. Prior to this, from 2001 to 2007, he was chief engineer at the Henan Tianhong Coking Company. Mr. Jiang developed expensive experience in the coking industry as an employee, director, and head of research and development for various coking operations since 1972.  None of these operations is related to or affiliated with the Company. Mr. Jiang is also currently a vice-director and member of the Coking Committee of the Henan Province Metals Association, and vice-secretary of the Henan Province Institute of Coal & Coke. Mr. Jiang holds a Bachelor’s degree in Coal and Chemistry from the Wuhan College of Iron & Steel. Mr. Jiang’s extensive working and leadership experience in the coking industry and his educational background qualify him to serve on our Board.

 

Hui Huang is the chairman and chief executive officer of Wuhan Pingdingshan Coal and Wuhan Steel Unification Coking Company (“WPCWSUCC”). Mr. Huang has also served as director of sales and administration of the same company from 1985 to 1996. He then served as director of the Economics and Technology Cooperation Center of the Pingdingshan Coal Group (now known as the Wuhan Pingdingshan Coal and Wuhan Steel Unification Coking Company) from 1996 to 2008, of which he is now chairman of the board. None of these companies is related to or affiliated with the Company. Mr. Huang is also a director of the China Association of Comprehensive Resource Utilization, a vice-director of the Henan Institute of Coal (a branch of the China Association of Comprehensive Resource Utilization), and vice-secretary of the Pingdingshan Youth Union.  Mr. Huang holds a bachelor’s degree in Economic Management and an MBA from the University of Mining and Technology. Mr. Huang’s vast experience in the coal and coking industry in management and as an executive officer and director of WPCWSUCC and as a leader in various coal industry related associations qualify him to serve on our Board.

 

Haoyi Zhang serves as the chief financial officer of Henan Pinggao Electricity Ltd., one of the major A-Share public companies traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, a position he has held since January 2005. From January 2005 to March 2009, he served as the chief accountant of Henan Pinggao DongZhi Gao Ya Kaiguan Ltd., a Sino-Japanese Joint-venture with Toshiba, concurrently with his position as the chief financial officer at Henan Pinggao Electricity Ltd. From April to December 2004, he served as the chief accountant of Henan Pinggao DongZhi Gao Ya Kaiguan Ltd. Mr. Zhang held numerous positions from July 1995 to March 2004 as the deputy director, the director, the deputy chief accountant, the assistant general manager and the chief accountant at China Beifang Industry Company, Xiamen Branch.  None of these companies is related to or affiliated with the Company.  Mr. Zhang holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Xiamen University and an EMBA degree from Xian Jiaotong University.  Mr. Zhang’s extensive financial and accounting experience at numerous Chinese companies and his educational background qualify him to serve on our Board.

 

46
 

 

There are no family relationships among our current directors or executive officers.

 

During the past ten years none of our current directors or executive officers was involved in any legal proceedings described in subparagraph (f) of Item 401 of Regulations S-K.

 

Mr. Lv was appointed to his director and officer positions, and Mr. Wu was appointed to his officer position, because they had held similar positions at Hongli, and upon the closing of the Share Exchange on February 5, 2010, they assumed these respective positions. Messrs. Huang and Jiang were selected to serve as independent directors on the board because of their deep and substantial experience in the coal and coking industry. Mr. Haoyi Zhang was selected to serve on as an independent director because of his expertise in public company matters, with particular expertise in accounting, auditing, controls and procedures and financial matters.

 

Board of Directors

 

Our board of directors is currently composed of five members. All members of our board of directors serve in this capacity until their terms expire or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Our bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors will be not less than one and not more than seven. There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.

 

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, our board of directors and its committees held the following number of meetings and took the following number of actions by unanimous written consent:

 

    Meetings     Unanimous
written
consents
 
Board of directors    

2

     

1

 
Audit committee     0       1  
Compensation committee     0       1  
Nominating committee     0       1  

 

Director Independence and Board Committees

 

Based upon information submitted to the Company, the board of directors has determined that Messrs. Yushan Jiang, Hui Huang and Haoyi Zhang are each “independent” under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

The board of directors has an audit committee that was established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee members include Mr. Haoyi Zhang (chairman), Mr. Hui Huang and Mr. Yushan Jiang. Mr. Zhang is the audit committee financial expert who is independent, as independence for audit committee members is defined in the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market. The audit committee operates under a written charter adopted by the board of directors on February 16, 2010.

 

The board of directors established a compensation committee on February 16, 2010. The compensation committee consists of Mr. Yushan Jiang (chairman), Mr. Haoyi Zhang, and Mr. Hui Huang, each of whom is an independent director. Our compensation committee oversees and, as appropriate, makes recommendations to the board of directors regarding the annual salaries and other compensation of our executive officers, and other related policies, and provides assistance and recommendations with respect to our compensation policies and practices. The compensation committee operates under a written charter adopted by the board of directors on February 16, 2010.

 

The board of directors established a nominating committee on February 16, 2010. The nominating committee consists of Mr. Hui Huang (chairman), Mr. Haoyi Zhang and Mr. Yushan Jiang, each of whom is an independent director. Our nominating committee assists in the selection of director nominees, approves director nominations to be presented for shareholder approval at our annual shareholder meetings and fill any vacancies on our board of directors, considers any nominations of director candidates validly made by shareholders, and reviews and considers developments in corporate governance practices. The nominating committee operates under a written charter adopted on February 16, 2010.

 

47
 

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock with the SEC. Directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock are required by SEC regulations to furnish to the Company copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

 

To our knowledge, based solely upon review of the copies of such reports received or written representations from the reporting persons, we believe that during our 2013 fiscal year, our directors, executive officers and persons who owned more than 10% of our common stock complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. We will provide a copy of our code of ethics to any person who requests a copy in writing to the Secretary of the Company, including the e-mail address or facsimile number of the requesting party. Any written requests should be mailed to us at Kuanggong Road and Tiyu Road 10th Floor, Chengshi Xin Yong She, Tiyu Road, Xinhua District, Pingdingshan, Henan Province, P.R. China 467000.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth, for the fiscal years indicated, all compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our Named Executive Officers:

 

Name and Principal Position  Fiscal
Year
  Salary
($)
   Bonus
($)
   Stock
Awards
($)
   Option
Awards
($)
   Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
   Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)
   All other
Compensation
($)
   Total ($) 
Jianhua Lv (1)  2013   240,000    0    0    00    0    0    0    240,000 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer  2012   240,000    0    0    00    0    0    0    240,000 
Zan Wu (2)  2013   180,000    0    0    00    0    0    0    180,000 
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary  2012   180,000    0    0    00    0    0    0    180,000 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards

 

There was no equity awards granted to our officers or directors in the year ended June 30, 2013.

 

Retirement Plans

 

We currently have no plans that provide for the payment of retirement benefits, or benefits that will be paid primarily following retirement, including but not limited to tax-qualified defined benefit plans, supplemental executive retirement plans, tax-qualified defined contribution plans and nonqualified defined contribution plans.

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control

 

We currently have no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement, whether written or unwritten, that provides for payments to a named executive officer at, following, or in connection with any termination, including without limitation resignation, severance, retirement or a constructive termination of a named executive officer, or a change in control of the Company or a change in the named executive officer’s responsibilities, with respect to each named executive officer.

 

Employment Agreements

 

We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Lv on February 5, 2010. Mr. Lv agreed that in the event that he leaves his employment for any reason, he will refrain from using or disclosing our confidential information in any manner which might be detrimental to or conflict with our business interests. Both we and Mr. Lv have the right to terminate his employment with or without cause by giving prior notice. Any disputes arising from Mr. Lv’s employment, termination of his employment or breach of any covenant of good faith related to his employment shall be conclusively settled by final and binding decision of the court located in Henan Province, China. The employment agreement does not provide for any fixed term or duration, and Mr. Lv is employed on an at-will basis.

 

48
 

 

We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Wu on February 5, 2010. Mr. Wu agreed that in the event that he leaves his employment for any reason, he will refrain from using or disclosing our confidential information in any manner which might be detrimental to or conflict with our business interests. Both we and Mr. Wu have the right to terminate his employment with or without cause by giving prior notice. Any disputes arising from Mr. Wu’s employment, termination of his employment or breach of any covenant of good faith related to his employment shall be conclusively settled by final and binding decisions of the court located in Henan Province, China. The employment agreement does not provide for any fixed term or duration, and Mr. Wu is employed on an at-will basis. 

 

Director Compensation

 

The following table provides compensation information for our directors during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013:

   

Name  Fees
Earned or
Paid in Cash($)
   Stock
Awards
($)
   Option
Awards
($)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation ($)
   Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)
   All Other
Compensation
($)
   Total
($)
 
Jianhua Lv (1)  $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $- 
Hui Zheng  $10,000   $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $10,000 
Yushan Jiang  $10,000   $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $10,000 
Hui Huang  $10,000   $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $10,000 
Haoyi Zhang  $10,000   $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $10,000 

 

(1) This individual’s compensation is reflected in the Summary Compensation Table for our executive officers above.

 

All of our current directors were appointed on February 5, 2010 in connection with the Share Exchange. On February 5, 2010, we entered into letter agreements with all of our current directors and pursuant to which we agreed to pay cash compensation in the amount of $10,000 to each of the directors for their services on our board of directors in 2010. The terms and conditions under these agreements remained effective for fiscal 2013.

 

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

 

The following table sets forth information, as of September 19, 2013, regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by any person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding common stock, by directors and certain executive officers, and by all of our directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise noted, our officers and directors utilize the following address for correspondence purposes: Kuanggong Road and Tiyu Road 10th Floor, Chengshi Xin Yong She, Tiyu Road, Xinhua District, Pingdingshan, Henan Province, China 467000.

 

Name and Address  Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
   Percent (%) of Class* 
Jianhua Lv (1)   6,694,091    31.7%
Zan Wu   0    0%
Hui Zheng   0    0%
Hui Huang   0    0%
Yushan Jiang   0    0%
Haoyi Zhang   0    0%
All Officers and Directors as a Group (5 total)   6,694,091    31.7%
           
5% Shareholders:          
Honour Express Limited (2)   6,694,091    31.7%

 

Applicable percentage ownership is based on 21,121,372 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 19, 2013.

 

(1)Represents shares held directly by Honour Express Limited, a British Virgin Islands international business company (“Honour Express”). Mr. Lv is a director of Honour Express, and in such capacity, he may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the shares held directly by Honour Express. Mr. Lv is also an indirect beneficiary, as he holds an option to acquire shares of Honour Express. Pursuant to a certain Incentive Option Agreement dated July 6, 2009, as amended (“Incentive Option Agreement”), Mr. Lv has the right to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Honour Express held by a nominee, subject to certain conditions.

 

(2)The address of Honour Express Limited is: P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

 

49
 

 

To our knowledge, none of our directors, officers or affiliates, or any 5% or greater shareholder of the Company, or any associate or any such directors, officers or affiliates, is a party in any material legal proceeding that is adverse to the Company.

 

Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans

 

We maintain the following equity compensation plans. The discussions below give effect to the 1-for-12 reverse stock split effected on January 15, 2009 and the 1-for-20 reverse stock split the Company effected on February 5, 2010.

 

2012 Equity Incentive Plan

 

On April 5, 2012, our board of directors approved a stock incentive plan for officers, directors, employees, and consultants entitled “SinoCoking Coal and Coke Chemical Industries, Inc. 2012 Equity Incentive Plan” (the “2012 Plan”).  The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the Plan is 2,000,000 shares of our common stock.  The 2012 Plan was approved by our shareholders at our annual meeting held on June 29, 2012.  Under the 2012 Plan, we may issue common stock and/or options to purchase common stock.  The 2012 Plan is administered by our board of directors or a committee that it designates comprising of at least three independent directors.  The board (or the committee if one is designated) has full and complete authority, in its discretion, but subject to the express provisions of the 2012 Plan, to grant awards, to determine the number of awards to be granted and the time or times at which awards shall be granted; to establish the terms and conditions upon which awards may be exercised; to remove or adjust any restrictions and conditions upon awards; to specify, at the time of grant, provisions relating to exercisability of awards and to accelerate or otherwise modify the exercisability of any awards; and to adopt such rules and regulations and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or desirable for the administration of the 2012 Plan.  As of June 30, 2013, 2,000,000 shares of common stock remained available for future issuance under the 2012 Plan.

 

2002 Stock Option Plan for Directors

 

On October 11, 2002, our board of directors adopted a 2002 Stock Option Plan for Directors (the “Directors Plan”) to attract and retain the services of experienced and knowledgeable individuals to serve as our directors. On the date the Directors Plan was adopted, the total number of shares of common stock subject to it was 11,057. This number of shares may be increased on the first day of January of each year so that the common stock available for awards will equal 5% of the common stock outstanding on that date; provided, however, that the number of shares included in the Directors Plan may not exceed more than 10% of all shares of common stock outstanding. The Directors Plan is administered by the board of directors, or any committee that it designates comprising of non-employee directors. The grant of an option under the Directors Plan is discretionary. The exercise price of an option must be the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. An option grant may be subject to vesting conditions. Options may be exercised in cash, or with shares of the common stock already owned by the person. The term of an option granted pursuant to the Directors Plan may not be more than 10 years. The Directors Plan terminated in October 2012 in accordance with its terms.

 

1999 Stock Option Plan

 

On October 14, 1999, our board of directors adopted a 1999 Stock Option Plan (the “Option Plan”) in order to retain the services of employees and consultants and others who are valuable to the Company and to offer incentives to such persons to achieve the objectives of our shareholders. The total number of shares of common stock subject to the Option Plan is 45,417. The Option Plan is administered by the board of directors, or any committee that it designates comprising of non-employee directors. Employees eligible for awards under the Option Plan may receive incentive options to purchase common stock. If a recipient does not receive an incentive option, he or she will receive a non-qualified stock option. The exercise price of an option must be no less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, unless the recipient of an award owns 10% or more of our common stock, in which case the exercise price of an incentive stock option must not be less than 110% of the fair market value. An option grant may be subject to vesting conditions. Options may be exercised in cash, or with shares of the common stock of the Company already owned by the recipient of the award. The term of an option granted pursuant to the Option Plan may not be more than five years if the option is an incentive option granted to a recipient who owns 10% or more of our common stock, or 10 years for all other recipients and for recipients of non-qualified stock options. Incentive stock options may be granted until the day immediately preceding the 10 year anniversary of its adoption date. Non-qualified stock options may be granted until the Option Plan is terminated by the board of directors in its sole discretion.

 

The following table illustrates, as of June 30, 2013, information relating to all of our equity compensation plans.

 

 

 

Plan Category

  Number of
securities
to
be issued
upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
   Weighted
average
exercise
price of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
   Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance
under equity
compensation
plans
 
Equity Compensation Plan Approved by Security Holders               
The 2012 Plan   0    n/a    2,000,000 
The Option Plan   6,059   $96.00    0 
                
Equity Compensation Plan Not Approved by Security Holders               
The Directors Plan   3,126   $96.00    0 

   

50
 

 

ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Our Officers and Directors’ Relationship with Us, Our Subsidiaries and VIE

 

As described in “Business –History and Corporate Structure” above, we control Hongli Group through contractual arrangements between Hongyuan, our wholly-owned subsidiary, and Hongli.  Our Chief Executive Officer holds a majority of the equity interests of Hongli.  Because he also owns a substantial amount of our issued and outstanding common stock, we believe that our interests are aligned with Hongli Group.  However, see “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure – Our contractual arrangements with Hongli and its owners as well as our ability to enforce our rights thereunder may not be as effective in providing control over Hongli as direct ownership,” and “Management members of Hongli have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may adversely affect our business and your ability for recourse.”

 

Other Related Party Transactions

 

We had advances from our Chief Executive Officer in the amounts of $140,465 and $156,227 at June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Such advances are interest free, due on demand and will be settled in cash.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

The following table shows the fees that were billed for audit and other services provided by Friedman LLP, our independent accountants, during the following fiscal years:

 

   Fiscal Year Ended
June 30,
 
   2013   2012 
Audit Fees (1)  $310,000   $310,000 
Audit-related Fees (2)   -    - 
Tax Fees (3)   -    - 
All Other Fees (4)   24,318    33,016 
Total  $334,318   $343,016 

 

(1)Audit Fees – This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements, review of financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and services that are normally provided by independent auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or the engagement for fiscal years. This category also includes advice on audit and accounting matters that arose during, or as a result of, the audit or the review of interim financial statements.

 

(2)Audit-Related Fees – This category consists of assurance and related services by our independent auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported above under "Audit Fees." The services for the fees disclosed under this category include consultation regarding our correspondence with the SEC.

 

(3)Tax Fees – This category consists of professional services rendered by our independent auditors for tax compliance and tax advice. The services for the fees disclosed under this category include tax return preparation and technical tax advice.

 

(4)All Other Fees – This category consists of fees for other miscellaneous items such as travel and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures of the Audit Committee

 

Our Audit Committee approves the engagement of our independent auditors and is also required to pre-approve all audit and non-audit expenses.  Prior to engaging its accountants to perform particular services, our Audit Committee obtains an estimate for the service to be performed.  All of the services described above were approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with its procedure.

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(1) Financial Statements

 

The following consolidated financial statements for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, and for the two years ended June 30, 2013, are included in Part II, Item 8 of this Report:

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

51
 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

 

Consolidated Statements of Equity

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

Schedules are omitted because the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule or because the information required is given in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

(3) Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit

Number

  Description

 

2.1   Share Exchange Agreement dated July 17, 2009 between Ableauctions.com, Inc., Abdul Ladha and Hanifa Ladha, Top Favour and the shareholders of Top Favour (5)
2.2   First Amendment to the Share Exchange Agreement between Ableauctions.com, Inc., Abdul Ladha and Hanifa Ladha, Top Favour and the shareholders of Top Favour dated November 25, 2009 (8)
3.1   Articles of Incorporation, as amended (1)
3.2   Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (2)
3.3   Bylaws (1)
4.1   Specimen Stock Certificate (2)
4.2   1999 Stock Option Plan (4)
4.3   2002 Stock Option Plan for Directors (3)
4.4   2012 Equity Incentive Plan (15)
10.1   Agreement establishing the Able (U.S.) Liquidating Trust (6)
10.2   Agreement establishing the Able (U.S.) Distribution Trust (6)
10.3   Agreement establishing the Able (Canada) Distribution Trust (6)
10.4   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (Regulation S) (2)
10.5   Form of Warrant dated February 5, 2010 (Regulation S) (2)
10.6   Form of Director’s Offer and Acceptance Letter (2)
10.7   Form of Officer’s Offer and Acceptance Letter (2)
10.8   Consulting Services Agreement dated March 18, 2009 (2)
10.9   Operating Agreement dated March 18, 2009 (2)
10.10   Equity Pledge Agreement dated March 18, 2009 (2)
10.11   Option Agreement dated March 18, 2009 (2)
10.12   Voting Rights Proxy Agreement dated March 18, 2009 (2)
10.13   Form of Warrant dated March 11, 2010 (Regulation S) (9)
10.14   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (Regulation D) (9)
10.15   Form of Registration Rights Agreement (9)
10.16   Form of Warrant dated March 11, 2010 (Regulation D) (9)
10.17   Placement Agent Agreement (9)
10.18   Re-execution of Equity Pledge Agreement dated September 9, 2011 (13)
10.19   Re-execution of Operating Agreement dated September 9, 2011 (13)
10.20   Re-execution of Option Agreement dated September 9, 2011 (13)
10.21   Re-execution of Voting Rights Proxy Agreement dated September 9, 2011 (13)
10.22   Supplemental Agreement between Hongli and the owners of Shuangrui Coal dated September 2, 2011 (14)
10.23   Supplemental Agreement between Hongli and the owners of Xingsheng Coal dated September 2, 2011 (14)
10.24   Supplemental Agreement between Hongchang and the owners of Shunli Coal dated September 2, 2011 (14)
14   Code of Ethics (7)
21   Subsidiaries *
23   Consent of Friedman LLP *
31.1   Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) (4) of Chief Executive Officer *
31.2   Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) (4) of Chief Financial Officer *
32.1   Certification Pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code of Chief Executive Officer*

   

52
 

 

32.2   Certification Pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code of Chief Financial Officer*
99.1   Equity Interests Transfer Agreement between Hongli on the one hand, and Dongping Wu, Xiaoling Zhao and Dianqing Li on the other, for the Shuangrui Equity Interests dated August 10, 2010 (10)
99.2   Equity Interests Transfer Agreement between Hongli on the one hand, and Mingxun Du and Xingling Li on the other, for the Xingsheng Equity Interests dated August 10, 2010 (10)
99.3   Loan Agreement by and between Hongli and Bairei Trust dated April 2, 2011 (11)
99.4   Guarantee Agreement by and between Hongyuan and Bairei Trust dated April 2, 2011 (11)
99.5   Loan Agreement between Top Favour and Ziben Tiantang dated June 17, 2011 (12)
99.6   Equity Interest Transfer Agreement between Hongchang, on the one hand, and Jianguo Yang, Yaoqun Wang and Zhanjing Yang on the other, for the Shunli Equity Interests dated May 19, 2011 (14)
99.7   Lease Agreement between Hongli and Pingdingshan Hongfeng Coal Processing and Coking, Ltd. dated April 8, 2013 *
99.8   Second Supplemental Agreement to Loan Agreement among Hongli, Hongyuan, Jianhua Lv and Bairui Trust dated April 23, 2013 *
99.9   Second Supplemental Agreement to Guarantee Agreement between Hongli and Bairui Trust dated April 23, 2013 *
99.10   Loan Agreement between Top Favour and Ziben Tiantang dated June 8, 2013 *
99.11   Loan Agreement between Top Favour and Ziben Tiantang dated August 2, 2013 *
99.12   Assets Transfer Agreement between Hongli and Pingdingshan Rural Cooperative Union dated September 18, 2013 *
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document *
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document *
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document *
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document *
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document *
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document *

  

* Filed herewith
(1) Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-SB filed by the registrant with the SEC on November 18, 1999.
(2) Incorporated by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the registrant with the SEC on February 8, 2010.
(3) Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 filed by the registrant with the SEC on March 27, 2003.  
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Form S-8 Registration Statement filed by the registrant with the SEC on June 13, 2003.
(5) Incorporated by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the registrant with the SEC on July 17, 2009.
(6) Incorporated by reference to the registration statement on Form 10-K filed by the registrant with the SEC on March 31, 2010.
(7) Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 filed by the registrant with the SEC on March 30, 2004.
(8) Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K Current Report filed by the registrant with the SEC on November 25, 2009.
(9) Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K Current Report filed by the registrant with the SEC on March 15, 2010.
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K Current Report filed by the registrant with the SEC on August 10, 2010.
(11) Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K Current Report filed by the registrant with the SEC on April 5, 2011.
(12) Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K Current Report filed by the registrant with the SEC on June 23, 2011.
(13) Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K Current Report filed by the registrant with the SEC on September 12, 2011.
(14) Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 filed by the registrant with the SEC on September 11, 2011.
(15) Incorporated by reference to the Schedule 14A filed by the registrant with the SEC on May 24, 2012.

   

53
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

   

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Registrant)

 
         
         
  Date: September 30, 2013 By: /s/ Jianhua Lv  
      Jianhua Lv  
      Chief Executive Officer  
         
  Date: September 30, 2013 By: /s/ Zan Wu  
      Zan Wu  
      Chief Financial Officer  

 

In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name   Title   Date
         
/s/ Jianhua Lv   Chief Executive Officer / Director   September 30, 2013
Jianhua Lv        
         
/s/ Zan Wu   Chief Financial Officer   September 30, 2013
Zan Wu        
         
/s/ Hui Huang   Director   September 30, 2013
Hui Huang        
         
/s/ Haoyi Zhang   Director   September 30, 2013
Haoyi Zhang        
         
/s/ Yushan Jiang   Director   September 30, 2013
Yushan Jiang        

 

54
 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders

SinoCoking Coal and Coke Chemical Industries, Inc.

 

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SinoCoking Coal and Coke Chemical Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, cash flows and equity for the years then ended. SinoCoking Coal and Coke Chemical Industries, Inc.’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

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

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of SinoCoking Coal and Coke Chemical Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2013 and 2012, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has a working capital deficiency which raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding this matter are described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

 

/s/ Friedman LLP

 

New York, New York

September 30, 2013

 

 

  

55
 

    

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

ASSETS 
   AS OF JUNE 30,  
   2013   2012 
CURRENT ASSETS          
Cash  $782,018   $2,366,718 
Restricted cash   9,708,000    9,668,000 
Accounts receivable, trade   9,474,197    12,017,231 
Notes receivable, trade   -    14,176,800 
Notes receivable, mine acquisition   -    9,155,520 
Other receivables   4,334,370    1,412,008 
Loans receivable   8,032,037    9,849,937 
Inventories   3,018,909    2,382,444 
Advances to suppliers   8,791,837    12,267,806 
Refundable deposit   -    4,752,000 
Prepaid expenses   -    633,313 
Total current assets   44,141,368    78,681,777 
           
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net   15,269,766    16,211,984 
           
CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS   40,224,821    39,379,553 
           
OTHER ASSETS          
Refundable deposit   4,854,000    - 
Prepayments   61,562,890    36,071,853 
Intangible assets, net   32,244,071    31,635,487 
Long-term investments   2,886,383    2,825,730 
Other assets   113,260    110,880 
Total other assets   101,660,604    70,643,950 
           
Total assets  $201,296,559   $204,917,264 
           
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 
           
CURRENT LIABILITIES          
Short term loan - bank  $-   $5,702,400 
Current maturity of long term loan   50,158,000    20,592,000 
Accounts payable, trade   183,504    4,023 
Notes payable   9,708,000    4,752,000 
Other payables and accrued liabilities   2,229,341    802,028 
Other payables - related parties   140,465    156,227 
Acquisition payable   4,692,200    4,593,600 
Customer deposits   208,815    138,457 
Taxes payable   1,133,450    1,522,062 
Total current liabilities   68,453,775    38,262,797 
           
LONG TERM LIABILITIES          
Long term loan   -    36,432,000 
Warrants liability   21    716,648 
Total long term liabilities   21    37,148,648 
           
Total liabilities   68,453,796    75,411,445 
           
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES          
           
EQUITY          
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized,          
21,121,372 shares issued and outstanding   21,121    21,121 
Additional paid-in capital   3,592,053    3,592,053 
Statutory reserves   3,689,941    3,689,941 
Retained earnings   111,304,825    110,257,132 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   9,903,223    7,613,972 
Total SinoCoking Coal and Coke Chemicals Industries, Inc's  equity   128,511,163    125,174,219 
           
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS   4,331,600    4,331,600 
           
Total equity   132,842,763    129,505,819 
           
Total liabilities and equity  $201,296,559   $204,917,264 

    

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

 

56
 

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

   For the Years Ended
  June 30,
 
   2013   2012 
         
REVENUE  $66,686,301   $78,912,770 
           
COST OF REVENUE   58,478,301    63,745,461 
           
GROSS PROFIT   8,208,000    15,167,309 
           
OPERATING EXPENSES:          
Selling   163,827    210,568 
General and administrative   2,924,576    2,993,580 
Total operating expenses   3,088,403    3,204,148 
           
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS   5,119,597    11,963,161 
           
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)          
Interest income   783,938    1,413,937 
Interest expense   (3,875,029)   (2,356,333)
Other finance expense   (265,088)   (225,005)
Other income, net   229,036    241,635 
Change in fair value of warrants   716,627    4,852,399 
Total other (expense) income, net   (2,410,516)   3,926,633 
           
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   2,709,081    15,889,794 
           
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES   1,661,388    3,395,237 
           
NET INCOME   1,047,693    12,494,557 
           
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME          
Foreign currency translation adjustment   2,289,251    2,502,100 
           
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  $3,336,944   $14,996,657 
           
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES          
Basic and diluted  21,121,372    21,093,525 
           
EARNINGS PER SHARE          
Basic and diluted  $0.05   $0.59 

     

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

 

57
 

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

 

                       Accumulated         
           Additional   Retained earnings   other         
   Common Share   paid-in   Statutory       comprehensive   Noncontrolling     
   Shares   Par Value   capital   reserves   Unrestricted   income   interest   Total 
BALANCE, July 1, 2011   21,090,948   $21,091   $3,442,083   $3,403,793   $98,004,993   $5,111,872   $8,663,200   $118,647,032 
Shares issued for services   30,424    30    149,970                        150,000 
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest                                 (4,331,600)   (4,331,600)
Net income                       12,494,557              12,494,557 
Adjustment of statutory reserve                  286,148    (242,418)             43,730 
Foreign currency translation adjustments                            2,502,100         2,502,100 
BALANCE, June 30, 2012   21,121,372   $21,121   $3,592,053   $3,689,941   $110,257,132   $7,613,972   $4,331,600   $129,505,819 
Net income                       1,047,693              1,047,693 
Foreign currency translation adjustments                            2,289,251         2,289,251 
BALANCE, June 30, 2013   21,121,372   $21,121   $3,592,053   $3,689,941   $111,304,825   $9,903,223   $4,331,600   $132,842,763 

 

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

 

58
 

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

   For the Years Ended
  June 30,
 
   2013   2012 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
Net income  $1,047,693   $12,494,557 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by          
(used in) operating activities:          
Depreciation   1,270,847    1,352,871 
Amortization and depletion   69,371    439,871 
Write-off of other receivables and prepayments   484,075    530,902 
Change in fair value of warrants   (716,627)   (4,852,399)
Reservation of mine maintenance fee   -    43,730 
Equity investment income   -    (6,171)
Stock issued for services   -    150,000 
Change in operating assets and liabilities          
Accounts receivable, trade   2,757,701    (3,303,927)
Notes receivable, trade   (398,250)   (14,087,300)
Other receivables   (2,862,730)   (993,811)
Inventories   (576,277)   1,807,743 
Advances to suppliers   3,681,517    (3,165,668)
Prepaid expenses   636,908    (628,746)
Accounts payable, trade   176,623    (142,663)
Other payables and accrued liabilities   1,405,131    (485,054)
Customer deposits   66,344    7,385 
Taxes payable   (414,772)   (1,394,076)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   6,627,554    (12,232,756)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Principal advances of loans receivable   (9,924,800)   (2,847,200)
Repayment of loans receivable   10,792,300    9,886,453 
Payments on equipment and construction in progress   (580)   (15,526,921)
Prepayments on construction in progress   -    (16,527,000)
Refunds of coal mine acquisition prepayments   -    11,061,403 
Prepayments of intangible assets   -    (1,903,344)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   866,920    (15,856,609)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Change in restricted cash   128,000    (1,287,000)
Proceeds from notes payable   9,558,000    7,870,000 
Payments of note payable   (4,779,000)   (3,148,000)
Proceeds from short-term loans - bank   9,558,000    10,703,200 
Payments of short-term loan - bank   (15,292,800)   (10,073,600)
Payments of long term loan   (7,965,000)   - 
Payments to related parties   (22,201)   (308,794)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (8,815,001)   3,755,806 
           
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH   (264,173)   433,590 
           
DECREASE IN CASH   (1,584,700)   (23,899,969)
           
CASH, beginning of year   2,366,718    26,266,687 
           
CASH, end of year  $782,018   $2,366,718 
           
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:          
Cash paid for income tax  $1,960,151   $4,326,734 
Cash paid for interest expense, net of capitalized interest  $2,148,427   $2,984,940 
NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS OF INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES          
Construction-in-progress acquired with prepayments made by note receivables, trade  $15,611,400   $- 
Construction-in-progress acquired with prepayments made by note receivables, mine acquisition  $9,207,540   $- 
Repayment of loan receivables through note receivables, trade  $955,800   $- 
Transferred from advances to suppliers-related parties to other receivables  $-   $585,748 
Reclassification of coal mine acquisition prepayments to notes receivable, mine acquisition  $-   $9,097,720 
Refunds of coal mine acquisition prepayments offset by inventory purchases  $-   $1,110,261 
Reclassification of prepayment to refundable deposit  $-   $4,722,000 
Acquisition payable accrued for coal mine acquisition  $-   $4,407,200 

   

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

 

59
 

   

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 – Nature of business and organization

 

SinoCoking Coal and Coke Chemical Industries, Inc. (“SinoCoking” or the “Company”) was organized on September 30, 1996, under the laws of the State of Florida.

 

The Company is a vertically-integrated coal and coke producer based in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC” or “China”). All of the Company’s business operations are conducted by a variable interest entity (“VIE”), Henan Pingdingshan Hongli Coal & Coking Co., Ltd., (“Hongli”), which is controlled by Top Favour’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Pingdingshan Hongyuan Energy Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Hongyuan”), through a series of contractual arrangements.

 

Due to the continuing provincial-wide consolidation program in Henan, all small to mid-scale mines are required to be consolidated and undergo mandatory safety checks and inspections by relevant authorities before receiving clearance to resume coal mining operations. This requirement applies to all SinoCoking mines.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the activities of the Company and each of the following entities:

 

Name   Background   Ownership  
Top Favour  

·     A British Virgin Islands company

·     Incorporated on July 2, 2008

 

100%

 

 

Hongyuan

 

 

·     A PRC limited liability company and deemed a wholly foreign owned enterprise (“WFOE”)

·      Incorporated on March 18, 2009

·      Registered capital of $3 million fully funded

  100%  

Hongli

 

 

·      A PRC limited liability company

·     Incorporated on June 5, 1996

·    Initial registered capital of $1,055,248 or 8,808,000 Renminbi (“RMB”), further increased to $4,001,248 (RMB 28,080,000) on August 26, 2010, fully funded

·     85.40% of equity interests held by Jianhua Lv, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chairman of the Board of Directors

·     Operates a branch, Baofeng Coking Factory (“Baofeng Coking”)

  VIE by contractual arrangements  
Baofeng Hongchang Coal Co., Ltd. (“Hongchang Coal”)  

·    A PRC limited liability company

·     Incorporated on July 19, 2007

·    Registered capital of $396,000 (RMB 3,000,000) fully funded

 

VIE by contractual arrangements as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hongli

 

 
Baofeng Shunli Coal Co., Ltd.(“Shunli Coal”)  

·    A PRC limited liability company

·    Incorporated on August 13, 2009

·    Registered capital of $461,700 (RMB3,000,000) fully funded

·    Acquired by Hongchang Coal on May 20, 2011

   Dissolved on July 4, 2012

  VIE by contractual arrangements as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hongli  
Baofeng Hongguang Power Co., Ltd. (“Hongguang Power”)  

·    A PRC limited liability company

·    Incorporated on August 1, 2006

·    Registered capital of $2,756,600 (RMB 22,000,000) fully funded

 

VIE by contractual arrangements as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hongli

 

 
Baofeng Xingsheng Coal Co., Ltd. (“ Xingsheng Coal”)  

·    A PRC limited liability company

·    Incorporated on December 6, 2007

·    Registered capital of $559,400 (RMB 3,634,600) fully funded

·    60% of equity ownership acquired by Hongli on May 20, 2011

 

VIE by contractual arrangements as a 60% owned subsidiary of Hongli

 

 
Baofeng Shuangrui Coal Co., Ltd. ( “Shuangrui Coal”)  

·    A PRC limited liability company

·    Incorporated on March 17, 2009

·    Registered capital of $620,200 (RMB4,029,960) fully funded

·    60% of equity ownership acquired by Hongli on May 20, 2011

·    100% of equity ownership acquired by Hongchang on June 20, 2012

 

VIE by contractual arrangements as a 100% owned subsidiary of Hongchang

 

 
Zhonghong Energy Investment Company (“Zhonghong”)  

·    A PRC company

·    Incorporated on December 30, 2010

·    Registered capital of $7,842,800 (RMB51,000,000) fully funded equity interests of 100% held by three nominees on behalf of Hongli pursuant to share entrustment agreements

  VIE by contractual arrangements as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hongli  
Baofeng Hongrun Coal Chemical Co., Ltd. (“Hongrun”)  

·    A PRC limited liability company

·    Incorporated on May 17, 2011

·     Registered capital of $ 4,620,000 (RMB30 million) fully funded

 

VIE by contractual arrangements as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hongli

 

 

 

60
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Company believes that the equity owners of Hongli do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of the operations and residual returns of Hongli and, in the event of losses, would be required to absorb a majority of such losses. Accordingly, the Company consolidates Hongli’s results, assets and liabilities in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Selected financial data of Hongli and its subsidiaries is set forth below:

 

   June 30,
2013
   June 30,
2012
 
Total current assets  $31,713,194   $58,535,803 
Total assets  $188,868,385   $184,771,289 
Total current liabilities  $97,057,869   $53,633,472 
Total liabilities  $97,057,869   $90,065,472 

 

Presently, the Company’s coking related operations are carried out by Baofeng Coking, coal related operations by Hongchang Coal, Shuangrui Coal, Shunli Coal and Xingsheng Coal, and electricity generation by Hongguang Power. However, it is the Company’s intention to transfer all coal related operations to a joint-venture between Zhonghong and Henan Province Coal Seam Gas Development and Utilization Co., Ltd. (“Henan Coal Seam Gas”) (see Note 12). As of June 30, 2013, the Company’s coal related operations had not been transferred to the joint-venture, and Shuangrui Coal, Shunli Coal and Xingsheng Coal had had no operations since their acquisitions by the Company (see Note 21).

 

Liquidity and going concern

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going-concern basis. The going concern basis assumes that assets are realized and liabilities are extinguished in the ordinary course of business at amounts disclosed in the financial statements. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern depends upon its expenditure requirements and repayments of its long-term loan facilities with Bairui Trust Co., Ltd. (“Bairui Trust”) as and when they fall due (see Note 13). As of June 30, 2013, the Company's current liabilities exceed its current assets by $24,312,407.

 

In an effort to improve its financial position, the Company would try to negotiate with Bairui Trust to extend the loan and to improve the sales of higher profit margin coke by-products. Meanwhile, the Company is still waiting for the conclusion of the mining moratorium. If the moratorium could be concluded in the next year, the Company should be able to obtain a line of credit by pledging its mining rights for additional liquidity purpose. Management believes that these and other actions taken by management can provide the Company the opportunity to continue as a going-concern.

 

Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies

 

Principles of consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries – Top Favour and Hongyuan, and its VIEs – Hongli and its subsidiaries. All significant inter-company transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries and VIEs are eliminated upon consolidation.

 

61
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

VIEs are generally entities that lack sufficient equity to finance their activities without additional financial support from other parties or whose equity holders lack adequate decision making ability. All VIEs with which the Company is involved are evaluated to determine the primary beneficiary of the risks and rewards of the VIE. The primary beneficiary is required to consolidate the VIE for financial reporting purposes. As a result of the contractual arrangements described below, the Company, through Hongyuan, is obligated to absorb a majority of the risk of loss from Hongli’s activities and the Company is enabled to receive a majority of Hongli’s expected residual returns. The Company accounts for Hongli as a VIE and is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is required to consolidate the VIE for financial reporting purposes. Management makes ongoing assessments of whether Hongyuan is the primary beneficiary of Hongli and its subsidiaries.

 

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810 – “Consolidation” addresses whether certain types of entities referred to as VIEs, should be consolidated in a company’s consolidated financial statements. The contractual arrangements entered into between Hongyuan and Hongli are comprised of the following series of agreements:

 

(1)a Consulting Services Agreement, through which Hongyuan has the right to advise, consult, manage and operate Hongli and its subsidiaries (“the Operating Companies”), collect, and own all of the respective net profits of the Operating Companies;

 

  (2) an Operating Agreement, through which Hongyuan has the right to recommend director candidates and appoint the senior executives of the Operating Companies, approve any transactions that may materially affect the assets, liabilities, rights or operations of the Operating Companies, and guarantee the contractual performance by the Operating Companies of any agreements with third parties, in exchange for a pledge by the Operating Companies of their respective accounts receivable and assets;

 

  (3) a Proxy Agreement, under which the equity holders of the Operating Companies have vested their voting control over the Operating Companies to Hongyuan and will only transfer their equity interests in the Operating Companies to Hongyuan or its designee(s);

 

  (4) an Option Agreement, under which the equity holders of the Operating Companies have granted Hongyuan the irrevocable right and option to acquire all of its equity interests in the Operating Companies, or, alternatively, all of the assets of the Operating Companies; and

 

  (5) an Equity Pledge Agreement, under which the equity holders of the Operating Companies have pledged all of their rights, title and interest in the Operating Companies to Hongyuan to guarantee the Operating Companies’ performance of their respective obligations under the Consulting Services Agreement.

 

Since Top Favour, Hongyuan and Hongli are under common control, the above corporate structure including the above contractual arrangements have been accounted for as a reorganization of entities and the consolidation of Top Favour, Hongyuan and Hongli has been accounted for at historical cost and prepared on the basis as if the contractual arrangements had become effective as of the beginning of the first period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.   

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to coal reserves that are the basis for future cash flow estimates and units-of-production depletion calculations; asset impairments; allowance for doubtful accounts and loans receivable; valuation allowances for deferred income taxes; reserves for contingencies; stock-based compensation; going concern assumption and the fair value and accounting treatment for warrants. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

The Company records share-based compensation expense based upon the grant date fair value of share-based awards. The value of the award is principally recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service periods. The Company uses the Black-Scholes Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model, which incorporates various assumptions including volatility, expected life and interest rates to determine fair value. The Company’s expected volatility assumption is based on the historical volatility of Company’s stock. The expected life assumption is primarily based on the simplified method of the terms of the options. The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

 

62
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized based on awards expected to vest.  U.S. GAAP require forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised in subsequent periods, if necessary, when actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.  There were no estimated forfeitures as the Company has a short history of issuing options.

 

Revenue recognition

 

Coal and coke sales are recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations of the Company exist and collectability is reasonably assured.  This generally occurs when coal and coke is loaded onto trains or trucks at one of the Company’s loading facilities or at third party facilities.

 

Substantially, if not all, of the electricity generated by Hongguang Power is typically used internally by Baofeng Coking.  Supply of surplus electricity generated by Hongguang Power to the national power grid is mandated by the local utilities board.  The value of the surplus electricity supplied, if it exists, is calculated based on actual kilowatt-hours produced and transmitted and at a fixed rate determined under contract.

 

Coal and coke sales represent the invoiced value of goods, net of a value-added tax (“VAT”), sales discounts and actual returns at the time when product is sold to the customer.

 

Foreign currency translation and other comprehensive income

 

The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Company, its subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC is denominated in RMB.

 

For the subsidiaries and VIEs whose functional currencies are other than the U.S. dollar, all assets and liabilities accounts were translated at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date; shareholders’ equity is translated at the historical rates and items in the statement of operations are translated at the average rate for the period. Items in the cash flow statement are also translated at average translation rates for the period, therefore, amounts reported on the statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheet. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the statement of equity.  The resulting transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations. 

 

The balance sheet amounts, with the exception of equity, at June 30, 2013 and 2012 were translated at RMB 6.18 to $1 and RMB 6.31 to $1, respectively.  The average translation rates applied to income and cash flow statement amounts for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 were at RMB 6.28 to $1 and RMB 6.35 to $1, respectively.

 

Fair value of financial instruments

 

The Company uses a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosures of fair value measurement.  The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets for receivables, payables and short term loans qualify as financial instruments are a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the short period of time between the origination of such instruments, their expected realization and, if applicable, the stated rate of interest is equivalent to rates currently available. The three levels of valuation hierarchy are defined as follows:

 

Level 1 Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
   
Level 2

Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.

 

Level 3     Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable.

 

The Company determined that the carrying value of the long-term loans approximated their fair value using level 2 inputs by comparing the stated loan interest rate to the rate charged by the Bank of China on similar loans (see Note 13).

 

63
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2013:

 

   Carrying value at
June 30, 2013
 Fair value measurement at
June 30, 2013
 
     Level 1  Level 2 Level 3  
Warrants liability  $21 $   $21 $  

 

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of warrants liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis using observable inputs as of June 30, 2013 and 2012:

 

   June 30,   June 30, 
   2013   2012 
Beginning fair value  $716,648   $5,569,047 
Realized gain recorded in earnings   (716,627)   (4,852,399)
Ending fair value  $21   $716,648 

 

The Company’s warrants are not traded on an active securities market; therefore, the Company estimates the fair value of its warrants using the Cox-Ross-Rubinstein binomial model on June 30, 2013 and 2012.

 

   June 30,
2013
   June 30,
2012
 
Number of shares exercisable   3,906,853    3,906,853 
Range of exercise price  $6.00-48.00   $6.00-48.00 
Stock price  $1.39   $2.05 
Expected term (years)   1.6-3.78    2.60-4.78 
Risk-free interest rate   0.28-0.95%   0.38-0.69%
Expected volatility   39-70%   75-85%

    

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company is required to record certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a non-recurring basis.  Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis as a result of impairment charges.  For the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, long term investments are not considered impaired.

 

The Company did not identify any other assets and liabilities that are required to be presented on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value.

 

Cash

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents for cash flow statement purposes. Cash includes cash on hand and demand deposits in accounts maintained with state owned banks within the PRC and with banks in Hong Kong and in the United States of America.

 

Balances at financial institutions or state owned banks within the PRC are not covered by insurance.  Balances at financial institutions in Hong Kong may, from time to time, exceed Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board’s insured limits.  As of June 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company had $10,391,195 and $11,880,025 of cash deposits, including restricted cash, which were not covered by insurance, respectively. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

 

Restricted cash

 

Restricted cash represents amounts set aside by the Company in accordance with the Company’s debt agreements with certain financial institutions in the PRC. These cash amounts are designated for the purpose of paying down the principal amounts owed to the financial institutions, and these amounts are held at the same financial institutions with which the Company has the debt agreements. Due to the short-term nature of the Company’s debt obligations to these banks, the corresponding restricted cash balances have been classified as current in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Accounts receivables, trade

 

During the normal course of business, the Company extends unsecured credit not exceeding three months to its customers. Management regularly reviews aging of receivables and changes in payment trends by its customers, and records an allowance when management believes collection of amounts due are at risk. Accounts receivables are considered past due after three months from the date credit was granted. Accounts considered uncollectible after exhaustive efforts to collect are written off. The Company regularly reviews the credit worthiness of its customers and, based on the results of the credit review, determines whether extended payment terms can be granted to or, in some cases, partial prepayment is required from certain customers. No allowance for doubtful accounts is considered necessary at the balance sheets dates.

 

64
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Notes receivable, trade

 

These notes receivable represented trade accounts receivable due from customers where the customers’ banks had guaranteed the payment of the receivable. This amount was non-interest bearing and is normally paid within three to nine months. The Company is allowed to submit its request for payment to the customers’ banks prior to the due dates. However, early request for payment will incur an interest charge and a processing fee. In the ordinary course of business, certain notes receivable may be assigned to suppliers as advances in lieu of cash.

 

Notes receivable, mine acquisition

 

These notes receivable represented settlement of the receivables from payments made for mine acquisition where the issuers’ banks had guaranteed the payment of the receivables. This amount was non-interest bearing and is normally paid within three to nine months.

 

Other receivables

 

Other receivables include security deposit made for auction of purchasing financial assets, interest receivable on loans, advances to employees for general business purposes and other short term non-traded receivables from unrelated parties, primarily as unsecured demand loans, with no stated interest rate or due date. Management regularly reviews aging of receivables and changes in payment trends and records a reserve when management believes collection of amounts due are at risk. Accounts considered uncollectible are written off after exhaustive efforts at collection. No allowance for doubtful accounts is considered necessary at the balance sheet dates.

 

Loans receivable

 

Loans receivable represents the amount the Company expects to collect from unrelated parties. The loans either are due on demand or mature within a year, and are either unsecured or secured by the properties of the borrowers or guaranteed by unrelated parties. All loans receivables are subject to interest charges. No allowance for doubtful accounts is considered necessary at the balance sheet dates.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, using the weighted average cost method. Inventories consist of raw materials, supplies, work in process, and finished goods.  Raw materials mainly consist of coal (mined and purchased), rail, steel, wood and additives used by the Company.  The cost of finished goods includes (1) direct costs of raw materials, (2) direct labor, (3) indirect production costs, such as allocable utilities cost, and (4) indirect labor related to the production activities, such as assembling and packaging. Management compares the cost of inventories with the market value and an allowance is made for writing down the inventory to its market value, if lower than cost. On an ongoing basis, inventories are reviewed for potential write-down for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventories equal to the difference between the costs of inventories and the estimated net realizable value based upon forecasts for future demand and market conditions. When inventories are written-down to the lower of cost or market, they are not marked up subsequently based on changes in underlying facts and circumstances.  As of June 30, 2013 and 2012, no allowance for inventory valuation was deemed necessary.

 

Advances to suppliers

 

The Company advances monies or may legally assign its notes receivable-trade (which are guaranteed by banks) to certain suppliers for raw material purchases. Such advances are interest-free and unsecured. Management regularly reviews aging of advances to suppliers and changes in materials receiving trends and records an allowance when management believes collection of materials due are at risk. Advances aged over one year and considered uncollectible are written off after exhaustive efforts at collection. No allowance for doubtful accounts is considered necessary at the balance sheet dates.

 

Plant and equipment, net

 

Plant and equipment are stated at cost.  Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to earnings as incurred, while additions, renewals and betterments that extend the useful life are capitalized.  When items of plant and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is included in operations. Mine development costs are capitalized and amortized by the units of production method over estimated total recoverable proven and probable reserves. Depreciation of plant and equipment is provided using the straight-line method for substantially all assets with estimated lives as follows:

 

  Estimated useful life
Building and plant 20 years
Machinery and equipment 10-20 years
Other equipment 1-5 years
Transportation equipment 5-7 years

 

65
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Construction-in-progress (“CIP”) includes direct costs of construction for mining tunnel improvements and the Company’s new coking plant. Interest incurred during the period of construction, if material, is capitalized. For the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, $0 and $914,688 in interest were capitalized into CIP, respectively. All other interest is expensed as incurred. CIP is not depreciated until such time the asset in question is completed and put into service.

 

Refundable deposit

 

A deposit was made to Henan Coal Seam Gas and is refundable when the joint venture between it and Zhonghong starts operations.

 

Intangible assets

 

Costs to obtain land use rights are recorded based on the fair value at acquisition and amortized over 36 years, the contractual period of the rights. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives and reviewed at least annually for impairment.

 

Mining rights are capitalized at fair value when acquired, including amounts associated with any value beyond proven and probable reserves, and amortized to operations as depletion expense using the units-of-production method over the estimated proven and probable recoverable amounts.  The Company’s coal reserves are controlled through its VIEs, which control generally lasts until the recoverable reserves are depleted.

 

Impairment of long - lived assets

 

The Company evaluates long-lived tangible and intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable from its estimated future cash flows, in accordance with the accounting guidance regarding “Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”  Recoverability is measured by comparing an asset’s carrying value to the related projected undiscounted cash flows generated by the long-lived asset or asset group, considering a number of factors including past operating results, budgets, economic projections, market trends and product development cycles.  When the carrying value of the asset exceeds the related undiscounted cash flows, the asset is considered impaired, and a second test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value.   Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.

 

Long-term investment

 

Investments in equity securities of privately-held companies in which the Company holds less than 20% voting interest and to which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for under the cost method.

 

Entities in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not have a controlling interest, are accounted for under the equity method. Significant influence is generally considered to exist when the Company has between 20% and 50% of ownership interest in the voting stock, but other factors, such as representation on the board of directors, voting rights and the impact of commercial arrangements, are considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate.

 

The Company evaluates potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investments may not be recoverable. For investments carried at cost, the Company recognizes impairment in the event that the carrying value of the investment exceeds the Company’s proportionate share of the net book value of the investee. As of June 30, 2013, management believes no impairment charge necessary.

 

Asset retirement cost and obligations

 

The Company accounts for the asset retirement cost and obligations to retire tangible long-lived assets in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires that the Company’s legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets be recognized at fair value at the time the obligations are incurred. Such obligations are incurred when development commences for underground mines or construction begins for support facilities, refuse areas and slurry ponds. If an entity has a conditional asset retirement obligation, a liability should be recognized when the fair value of the obligations can be reasonably estimated.

 

The obligation’s fair value is determined using discounted cash flow techniques and is accreted over time to its expected settlement value. Upon initial recognition of a liability, a corresponding amount is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Amortization of the related asset is calculated on a unit-of-production method by amortizing the total estimated cost over the salable reserves as determined under SEC Industry Guide 7, multiplied by the production during the period.

 

66
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Asset retirement costs generally include the cost of reclamation (the process of bringing the land back to its natural state after completion of exploration activities) and environmental remediation (the physical activity of taking steps to remediate, or remedy, any environmental damage caused).

 

In May 2009, the Henan Bureau of Finance and the Bureau of Land and Resource issued regulations requiring mining companies to file an evaluation report regarding the environmental impacts of their mining (the “Evaluation Report”) before December 31, 2010. The relevant authorities would then determine whether to approve the Evaluation Report after performing on-site investigation, and the asset retirement obligation would be determined by the authorities based on the approved filing. Such requirement was extended along with the extension of the provincial mine consolidation schedule, although the specific extension date has not been finalized by the relevant provincial authorities.

 

The Company did not record any asset retirement obligation as of June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012 because the Company did not have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of such obligation. The range of time over which the Company may settle the obligation is unknown and cannot be reasonably estimated. In addition, the settlement method for the obligation cannot be reasonably determined. The amount of the obligation to be determined by the relevant authorities is affected by several factors, such as the extent of remediation required in and around the mining area, the methods to be used to remediate the mining site, and any government grants which may or may not be credited to the mining companies.

 

The Company will recognize the liability in the period when sufficient information is available to reasonably estimate its fair value.

 

Income taxes

 

Deferred income taxes are provided on the asset and liability method for temporary differences arising from differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax basis used in the computation of assessable tax profit.  In principle, deferred tax liabilities are recognized for all taxable temporary differences, and deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probably that taxable profit will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilized.  Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized or the liability is settled.  Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it related to items credited or charged directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

 

An uncertain tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the period incurred.  No significant penalties or interest relating to income taxes have been incurred during the years ended June 30, 2013, and 2012. 

 

Chinese income taxes

 

The Company’s subsidiary and VIEs that operate in the PRC are governed by the national and local income tax laws of that country (the “Income Tax Laws”), and are generally subject to a statutory income tax rate of 25% of taxable income, which is based on the net income reported in the statutory financial statements after appropriate tax adjustment. 

 

Value added tax (“VAT”)

 

Sales revenue represents the invoiced value of goods, net of VAT.  All of the Company’s coal and coke are sold in the PRC and subject to a VAT at a rate of 17% of the gross sales price.  This VAT may be offset by VAT paid by the Company on raw materials and other materials included in the cost of producing finished products.  The Company records VAT payable and VAT receivable net of payments in its consolidated financial statements.  The VAT tax return is filed to offset the payables against the receivables.

 

Warrants liability

 

A contract is designated as an asset or a liability and is carried at fair value on the Company’s balance sheet, with any changes in fair value recorded in its results of operations.  The Company then determines which options, warrants and embedded features require liability accounting and records the fair value as a derivative liability. The changes in the values of these instruments are shown in the accompanying consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as “change in fair value of warrants.”

 

In connection with the Company’s share exchange transaction in February 2010 with Top Favour, whereby Top Favour became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Share Exchange”), the Company adopted the provisions of an accounting standard regarding instruments that are indexed to an entity’s own stock.  This accounting standard specifies that a contract that would otherwise meet the definition of a derivative but is both (a) indexed to the Company’s own stock and (b) classified in equity in the statement of financial position would not be considered a derivative financial instrument.  It provides a new two-step model to be applied in determining whether a financial instrument or an embedded feature is indexed to an issuer’s own stock and thus able to qualify for the scope exception within the standards. As a result of adopting this accounting standard, all warrants issued after the Share Exchange are recorded as a liability because their strike price is denominated in U.S. dollars, while the Company’s functional currency is denominated in RMB.

 

67
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

All warrants issued before the Share Exchange, which were treated as equity pursuant to the derivative treatment exemption prior to the Share Exchange, are also no longer afforded equity treatment for the same reason. Since such warrants are no longer considered indexed to the Company’s own stock, all future changes in their fair value will be recognized currently in earnings until they are exercised or expire. 

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

As further discussed in Note 21, noncontrolling interests mainly consist of a 40% equity interest of Xingsheng Coal owned by unrelated parties. For the years ended June 30, 2013, and 2012, there was no net income or loss attributable to such noncontrolling interests because Xingsheng Coal was not operational during such periods.

 

Earnings per share

 

The Company reports earnings per share in accordance with the provisions of ASC – 260 “Earnings Per Share.” This standard requires presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share in conjunction with the disclosure of the methodology used in computing such earnings per share. Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share takes into account the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised and converted into common stock. Dilution is computed by applying the treasury stock method. Under this method, option and warrants are assumed to be exercised at the beginning of the period (or at the time of issuance, if later), and as if funds obtained thereby are used to purchase common stock at the average market price during the period.

 

Comprehensive income

 

Accounting standard regarding comprehensive income establishes requirements for the reporting and display of comprehensive income, its components and accumulated balances in a full set of general purpose financial statements. This accounting standard defines comprehensive income to include all changes in equity except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Among other disclosures, it also requires all items recognized under current accounting standards as components of comprehensive income to be reported in financial statement that is presented with the same prominence as other financial statements. The Company's only current component of comprehensive income is the foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

 

In February 2013 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an accounting standards update ("ASU") No. 2013-02 "Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income," requiring new disclosures for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"), including (1) changes in AOCI balances by component and (2) significant items reclassified out of AOCI. The guidance does not amend any existing requirements for reporting net income or OCI in the financial statements. The standards update was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012, to be applied prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements. As this guidance only requires expanded disclosures, the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05 “Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity,’ requiring the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity.  The standards update is effective prospectively for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2013.  Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, A Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (A Consensus the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU 2013-11 provides guidance on financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carrforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The FASB’s objective in issuing this ASU is to eliminate diversity in practice resulting from a lack of guidance on this topic in current U.S. GAAP. This ASU applies to all entities with unrecognized tax benefits that also have tax loss or tax credit carryforwards in the same tax jurisdiction as of the reporting date. This amendment is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. The company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

68
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 3 – Concentration risk

 

For the year ended June 30, 2013, 75.8% of the Company’s total revenues were from four major customers who individually accounted for 24.7%, 20.7%, 15.7% and 14.7% of total revenues, respectively. For the year ended June 30, 2012, 90.5% of the Company’s total revenues were from four major customers who individually accounted for 25.4%, 23.6%, 21.0% and 20.5% of total revenues, respectively. Accounts receivable of four customers were 41.5%, 25.2%, 2.4% and 2.3% of the total accounts receivable balance at June 30, 2013, respectively. Accounts receivable of four customers were 25.5%, 22.9%, 22.8% and 22.2% of the total accounts receivable balance at June 30, 2012, respectively.

 

For the year ended June 30, 2013, three major suppliers provided 37.3% of the Company’s total raw material purchases, with each supplier individually accounting for 14.1%, 12.5% and 10.7% of total purchases, respectively. For the year ended June 30, 2012, five major suppliers provided 61.9% of total raw material purchases, with each supplier individually accounting for 15.8%, 12.7%, 12.5%, 10.7% and 10.2% of total raw material purchases, respectively The Company held no accounts payable from its major suppliers as of June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012.

 

Note 4 – Loans receivable

 

On June 8, 2011, Ziben Tiantang Co., Ltd. (“Ziben”), an unrelated party, borrowed $10,044,200 from Top Favour in an unsecured loan at an annual interest rate of 9.45%, with interest due every six months. The loan matured on June 7, 2012. On June 8, 2012, Top Favour and Ziben entered into a supplemental agreement to extend the maturity date to December 7, 2012, and to decrease the interest rate to 7% annually. On December 8, 2012, both parties entered into another supplemental agreement to extend the maturity date to December 7, 2013, with a 7% annual interest rate. Ziben repaid $2,262,163 through June 30, 2013.

 

In August 2011, Top Favour loaned an additional $801,000 to Ziben. This loan is unsecured, interest free, and due on demand. On November 4, 2011, Top Favour entered into a supplement agreement with Ziben to extend the loan to November 4, 2012 and to add an annual interest rate of 7%. Ziben fully repaid the loan principal on November 7, 2012.

 

In August and September 2012, Top Favour loaned an additional $350,000 to Ziben. This loan is unsecured and has an annual interest rate of 7%, and is due on August 11, 2013. On August 2, 2013, the Company and Ziben entered into a supplemental agreement to extend the remaining balance due to December 31, 2013. Ziben repaid $100,000 through June 30, 2013.

 

On February 20, 2012, the Company loaned $951,000 (RMB 6 million) to Pingdingshan Hongfeng Coal Wash Co., Ltd. (“Hongfeng”), an unrelated party. This loan was due on August 20, 2012, was unsecured, and had an annual interest rate of 3.5%. The loan principal was settled in full on August 9, 2012 by notes from Hongfeng guaranteed by its bank, which notes were legally assigned to a Company supplier for purchases during the quarter ended December 31, 2012.

 

On February 7, 2013, Hongli entered into an agreement to loan $9,564,000 (RMB 60 million) to Hongxin Industrial Co., Ltd. (“Hongxin”), an unrelated party. Per the agreement, Hongli obtained a short-term bank loan from Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (see Note 14) on behalf of Hongxin, and Hongxin was responsible for repayment of the note’s principal and interest. The loan is due on February 6, 2014, and is unsecured, and has an annual interest rate of 6.6%. Hongxin fully repaid the loan on April 8, 2013 by issuing notes guaranteed by its bank to Hongli. Such notes will mature on October 2, 2013.

 

For the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, interest income from loans receivable amounted to $783,938 and $1,370,939, respectively.

 

Note 5 – Other receivables

 

Other receivables consisted of the following:  

 

   June 30,
2013
   June 30,
2012
 
Security deposit for auction  $3,236,000   $- 
Receivables from an unrelated company   103,554    1,099,910 
Advances to employees   18,843    117,394 
Interest receivable   974,290    193,119 
Miscellaneous   1,683    1,585 
Total  $4,334,370   $1,412,008 

 

69
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Security deposit for auction

 

On January 26, 2013, Hongli entered into an agreement with Pingdingshan Rural Credit Cooperative Union (“PRCCU”) to pay $3,236,000 (RMB 20 million) as a security deposit to bid for a financial instrument valued at $19.4 million (RMB 120 million) at an auction. Per the agreement, were Hongli to win the auction, the deposit would be applied against Hongli’s bid price for the instrument. Otherwise, PRCCU would refund the deposit back to Hongli before September 30, 2013. On September 18, 2013, Hongli and PRCCU entered into a supplemental agreement to postpone the auction date and extend the refund date to December 31, 2013.

 

Note 6 – Inventories

 

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

   June 30,
2013
   June 30,
2012
 
Raw materials  $158,908   $244,425 
Work in process   306,678    315,143 
Supplies   52,986    55,043 
Finished goods   2,500,337    1,767,833 
Total  $3,018,909   $2,382,444 

 

Note 7 – Advances to suppliers

 

Most of the Company’s vendors require an advance to ensure timely delivery and favorable pricing.

 

Such advances to suppliers amounted to $8,791,837 and $12,267,806 as of June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. For the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company did not write off any uncollectible advances to suppliers.  

 

Note 8 – Prepayments

 

Prepayments consisted of the following:

 

   June 30,
2013
   June 30,
2012
 
Land use rights  $11,349,040   $11,110,556 
Construction   50,213,850    24,961,297 
Total  $61,562,890   $36,071,853 

 

Prepayments for land use rights

 

Prepayments for land use rights are advances made in connection with acquiring land use rights to expand the site of the Company’s new coking plant that is still under construction. Such prepayments were paid to the former occupants of the land underlying the land use rights, and are not refundable.  As of June 30, 2013 and 2012, such prepayments amounted to $11,349,040 and $11,110,556, respectively. The Company is in the process of registering the land use right certificates with the relevant authorities and expects to complete such registrations by December 31, 2013, at an estimated total cost of $11,819,490 (RMB 73,050,000).

 

Prepayments for construction

 

Prepayments for construction consisted of the following:

 

   June 30,
2013
   June 30,
2012
 
Baofeng new coking plant (1)  $20,475,010   $20,526,097 
Hongchang new mining tunnels (2)   1,294,400    1,267,200 
Hongchang safety instruments (3)   3,236,000    3,168,000 
Xingsheng safety instruments (4)   14,092,780    - 
Hongchang mine consolidation (5)   11,115,660    - 
Total  $50,213,850   $24,961,297 

 

70
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(1)At June 30, 2013, the Company made prepayments of approximately $20.5 million (RMB 126.5 million) toward construction of its new coking plant.

 

(2)The Company made prepayments of approximately $1.29 million (RMB 8 million) during the year ended June 30, 2010 for constructing new mining tunnels at Hongchang coal mine. As of June 30, 2013, this project had not commenced, but the Company expects to do so after approval from the relevant authorities.

 

(3)The Company made prepayments of approximately $3.24 million (RMB 20 million) during May 2012 for upgrading the safety equipment at Hongchang coal mine. As of June 30, 2013, this project had not commenced, but the Company expects to do so after approval from the relevant authorities.

 

(4)The Company made prepayments of approximately $14.1 million (RMB 87.1 million) in August and September 2012 for upgrading the safety equipment at Xingsheng coal mine. As of June 30, 2013, this project had not commenced, but the Company expects to do so after obtaining approval from the relevant authorities.

 

(5)The Company made prepayments of approximately $11.1 million (RMB 68.7 million) during August and September 2012 for consolidating Hongchang, Shunli and Shuangrui coal mines. As of June 30, 2013, this project had not commenced, but the Company expects to do so after approval from the relevant authorities, which approval is expected by the end of June 2014.

 

Note 9 –Plant and equipment, net

 

Plant and equipment consisted of the following:

 

   

June 30,

2013

   

June 30,

2012

 
Buildings and improvements   $ 11,066,523     $ 10,833,976  
Mine development cost     11,691,720       11,446,035  
Machinery and equipment     7,478,106       7,320,964  
Other equipment     446,775       436,810  
Total     30,683,124       30,037,785  
Less accumulated depreciation     (15,413,358 )     (13,825,801 )
Total plant and equipment, net   $ 15,269,766     $ 16,211,984  

 

Depreciation expense amounted to $1,270,847, and $1,352,871 for the years ended June 30, 2013, and 2012, respectively. No depreciation expense was incurred for mining-related assets due to the shutdown of all coal mine operations since September 2011.

 

Note 10 – Construction in progress

 

CIP at June 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $40,224,821 and $39,379,553, respectively, and relates to the new coking plant. No depreciation is provided for CIP until such time the asset in question is completed and placed into service. Due to the delay of the mine consolidation process, management estimated the completion date for CIP may be delayed until July 2014.

 

Project  Total  as of June 30, 2013   Estimated cost to complete   Estimated total cost   Estimated completion date
New coking plant  $40,224,821   $26,826,890   $67,051,711   July 2014

 

Note 11 – Intangible assets

 

Intangible assets consisted of the following:

 

   June 30,
2013
   June 30,
2012
 
Land use rights  $2,536,555   $2,483,253 
Mining rights   43,917,745    42,994,875 
Total intangible assets   46,454,300    45,478,128 
Accumulated amortization – land use rights   (669,369)   (586,323)
Accumulated depletion – mining rights   (13,540,860)   (13,256,318)
Total intangible assets, net  $32,244,071   $31,635,487 

 

71
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Amortization expense for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $69,371, and $68,544, respectively. Depletion expense for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $0 and $371,327, respectively. Depletion expense was charged to cost of revenue in the period incurred using the unit-of-production method. No depletion was incurred due to the shutdown of all coal mine operations since September 2011.

 

Amortization expense of the land use rights for the next five years and thereafter is as follows:

 

Year ending June 30,  Amortization
expense
 
2014  $69,371 
2015   69,371 
2016   69,371 
2017   69,371 
2018   69,371 
Thereafter   1,520,331 
      Total  $1,867,186 

 

Note 12 – Long-term investments

 

Long-term investments consisted of investments accounted for using the cost and equity methods.

 

In February 2011, the Company invested approximately $1.3 million (RMB 8 million) in Pingdingshan Rural Cooperative Bank – Xinhua District (“Cooperative Bank”). This investment represents 2.86% interest in Cooperative Bank, and is accounted for under the cost method. During the year ended June 30, 2013, the Company received approximately $191,160 of dividend income from such investment.

 

In April 2011, Hongyuan CSG was established by Zhonghong (49%) and Henan Coal Seam Gas (51%) as a joint venture. The total registered capital of Hongyuan CSG is approximately $16.18 million (RMB 100 million). As of June 30, 2012, approximately $3.24 million (RMB 20 million) was funded, of which $1.6 million (RMB 9.8 million) was paid by Zhonghong. The remaining registered capital was due on April 20, 2013, of which approximately $6.3 million (RMB 39.2 million) will be paid by Zhonghong. Zhonghong’s investment in Hongyuan CSG is accounted for under the equity method since Zhonghong has significant influence but not control. As of June 30, 2013, Zhonghong has not contributed the remaining registered capital as Hongyuan CSG has remained inactive. Zhonghong and Henan Coal Seam Gas are in the process of negotiating with the appropriate PRC authorities to extend the due date for the outstanding registered capital.

 

For the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, equity investment income was $0 and $6,171, respectively.

 

Note 13 – Loans

 

Short-term loan

 

In 2010, Hongyuan entered a one-year loan agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development bank (“SPDB”) to borrow $4,950,400 (RMB 32 million) with a per annum interest rate of 6.435%. The collateral for this bank loan was pledged by Top Favour through a bank deposit with SPDB of $6 million with an annual interest rate of 1.3%, which is classified as restricted cash and the loan was also guaranteed by the Company’s CEO. The loan was paid off on September 14, 2011, and Hongyuan renewed the loan for another year with SPDB to borrow $5,033,600 (RMB 32 million) with per annum interest rate of 6.71%. On March 15, 2012, the loan was paid off and Hongyuan entered into a new loan agreement and borrowed $5,706,000 (RMB 36 million) for one year with a per annum interest rate of 7.22%. On March 15, 2013, Hongyuan entered an agreement to extend the loan to June 13, 2013, with an annual interest rate of 6.765%. The collateral for this bank loan was pledged by Top Favour through a bank deposit with SPDB of $6.5 million with an annual interest rate of 1.3%. The new loan is guaranteed by the Company’s CEO. On June 8, 2013, the loan was fully repaid. As of June 30, 2013 and 2012, the balance of short-term loan amounted to $0 and $5,702,400, respectively.

 

On February 7, 2013, Hongli entered into a one-year factoring loan agreement with SPDB to borrow $9,564,000 (RMB 60 million) with an annual interest rate of 6.6%. Hongli used its account receivables from Hongxin as collateral for the loan. Per the agreement, Hongli has the right to repurchase the pledged account receivables when the loan matures. Hongli then entered into an agreement to lend the money to Hongxin on terms identical to the factoring loan agreement (see Note 4). On April 8, 2013, Hongxin repaid the money by issuing notes guaranteed by its bank to Hongli. On April 30, 2013, Hongli fully repaid the loan.

 

72
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Long-term loan

 

On April 2, 2011, Hongli entered into a loan agreement with Bairui Trust pursuant to which Bairui Trust agreed to loan Hongli the sum of approximately $58.2 million (RMB 360 million) with annual interest of 6.3%, of which approximately $29.1 million (RMB 180 million) would be due on April 2, 2013, and approximately $29.1 million (RMB 180 million) on April 2, 2014. The loan was issued on April 3, 2011 and guaranteed by Hongyuan and the Company’s CEO.

 

On November 30, 2011, Hongli entered into a supplemental agreement with Bairui Trust, pursuant to which approximately $4.9 million (RMB 30 million) with annual interest of 6.3% became due on October 2, 2012, approximately $16.2 million (RMB 100 million) with annual interest of 6.3%, became due on April 2, 2013, approximately $8.1 million (RMB 50 million) with annual interest of 6.3% would now be due on October 2, 2013, and approximately $29.1 million (RMB 180 million) with annual interest of 6.3% would now be due on April 2, 2014. For the $4.9 million (RMB 30 million) principal payment due on October 2, 2012, the Company entered into another supplemental agreement with Bairui Trust on October 8, 2012 to extend the due date to April 2, 2013 with an annual interest rate of 8.7% starting from October 3, 2012. The $4.9 million was paid in full on December 25, 2012. For the $16.2 million (RMB 100 million) principal payment due on April 2, 2013, the Company paid $3.2 million (RMB 20 million) on April 3, 2013, and entered into another supplemental agreement with Bairui Trust on April 23, 2013 to extend the due date for the remaining $13.0 million (RMB 80 million) as follows: (a) $3.2 million (RMB 20 million) has been extended to December 2, 2013 with an annual interest rate of 6.3% starting from April 23, 2013; (b) $4.9 million (RMB 30 million) has been extended to January 2, 2014 with an annual interest rate of 6.3% starting from April 23, 2013; and (c) $4.9 million (RMB 30 million) has been extended to February 2, 2014 with an annual interest rate of 6.3% starting from April 23, 2013. For the period between April 3, 2013 and April 23, 2013, Bairui Trust charged a 9.45% annual interest rate on the entire $13.0 million outstanding.

 

Weighted average interest rate of the short-term and long-term loans was 7.01% and 5.30% for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Interest expense for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 amounted to $3,875,029 and $3,271,021, respectively, of which $0 and $914,688 was capitalized into CIP, respectively.

 

Note 14 – Notes payable

 

Notes payable represents lines of credit extended by SPDB. When purchasing raw materials, the Company often issues short term notes payable to vendors, which are funded with draws on such lines of credit. Such notes are guaranteed by the banks for their complete face values through a letter of credit, and mature within three to six months of issuance. SPDB requires the Company to deposit 100% of the notes payable balance as a guarantee deposit, which was classified on the balance sheet as restricted cash. In addition, the Company’s CEO and Hongli guarantee these notes. SPDB charges a processing fee based on 0.05% of the face value of each note. 

 

Pursuant to an agreement dated March 19, 2012, SPDB agreed to grant the Company a line of credit of $1,618,000 (RMB 10 million) maturing on September 21, 2012, to purchase raw coal. The notes payable under this arrangement were satisfied on September 22, 2012.

 

On April 25, 2012, the Company entered into another note payable agreement with SPDB. Pursuant to the agreement, SPDB agreed to grant the Company a line of credit of $3,236,000 (RMB 20 million) maturing on October 25, 2012, to purchase raw coal. The notes payable under this arrangement were satisfied on October 25, 2012.

 

On February 19, 2013, the Company entered into another note payable agreement with SPDB. Pursuant to the agreement, SPDB agreed to grant the Company a line of credit of $4,854,000 (RMB 30 million) maturing on August 19, 2013, to purchase raw coal. The notes payable under this arrangement were satisfied on August 19, 2013.

 

On February 21, 2013, the Company entered into another note payable agreement with SPDB. Pursuant to the agreement, SPDB agreed to grant the Company a line of credit of $4,854,000 (RMB 30 million) maturing on August 21, 2013, to purchase raw coal. The notes payable under this arrangement were satisfied on August 21, 2013.

 

Note 15 – Other payables and accrued liabilities

 

Other payables mainly consisted of accrued salaries, interests payable, utilities, professional services, and other general and administrative expenses.

 

73
 

 

 
SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Other payables and accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2012 
         
Other payables  $681,381   $571,919 
Interest payables   1,038,156    - 
Accrued liabilities (1)   509,804    230,109 
Total  $2,229,341   $802,028 

 

(1)$280,000 salary payable in the accrued liabilities was payable to the Company’s CEO.

 

Note 16 – Related party payables

 

Other payables-related parties represent advances from the Company’s CEO. Advances from the CEO amounted to $140,465 and $156,227 at June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Such advances are interest free, due on demand and will be settled in cash.

 

Note 17 – Acquisition payable

 

On August 10, 2010, Hongli acquired 60% of the equity interest of Shuangrui Coal. During the year ended June 30, 2012, Hongli agreed to acquire the remaining 40%. The title thereof was transferred to Hongli, and Hongli had full control of Shuangrui Coal at June 30, 2012. The purchase price thereof was tentatively set at approximately $4,530,400 (RMB 28 million), subject to certain price adjustments to be finalized at closing. The balance is due on demand. As of June 30, 2013 and 2012, acquisition payable was $4,692,200 and $4,593,600, respectively, which represented the accrued purchase price of Shuangrui Coal (see Note 21).

 

Note 18 – Taxes

 

Income tax

 

SinoCoking is subject to the United States federal income tax provisions. Top Favour is a tax-exempt company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.

 

All of the Company’s businesses are conducted by its PRC subsidiary and VIEs, namely Hongyuan, Hongli, Baofeng Coking, Hongchang Coal, Shunli Coal, Xingsheng Coal, Shuangrui Coal, Hongguang Power and Zhonghong. All of them except Hongchang Coal are subject to the 25% enterprise income tax rate in China. Hongchang Coal has not been required to pay income tax since its operations were halted in September 2011.

 

There are no estimated tax savings from the foregoing reduced tax rate for the year ended June 30, 2013. The estimated tax savings from the foregoing reduced tax rate amounted to $322,449 for the year ended June 30, 2012. If the statutory income tax had been applied, the basic and diluted earnings per share would remain at $0.05 for the year ended June 30, 2013, but decrease basic and diluted earnings per share from $0.59 to $0.58 for the year ended June 30, 2012.

 

The provision for income taxes consisted of the following:

 

   For the years ended June 30, 
   2013   2012 
U.S. current income tax expense  $-   $- 
BVI current income tax expense   -    - 
PRC current income tax expense   1,661,388    3,395,237 
Total provision for income taxes   1,661,388   $3,395,237 

  

The following table reconciles the statutory rates to the Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012:

 

   For the years ended June 30, 
   2013   2012 
U.S. Statutory rate   34.0%   34.0%
Foreign income not recognized in U.S.A   (34.0)%   (34.0)%
BVI income tax   0.0%   0.0%
PRC income tax   25.0%   25.0%
China income tax exemption   0.0%   (2.8)%
Other item (1)   36.3%   (0.8)%
Effective rate   61.3%   21.4%

 

(1)The 36.3% for the year ended June 30, 2013 was mainly due to the Chinese entities, excluding Baofeng, which had losses before income taxes. Per Chinese tax regulations, net operating losses can be carried forward to offset operating income for the next five years. In addition, some of the expenses are not deductible for PRC income tax purpose. Deferred tax assets should be fully realized. Management evaluated the future operating forecast and noted that the Chinese entities, excluding Baofeng, would have losses in the next few years; and therefore, the management provided a 100% valuation allowance for the deferred tax assets. The (0.8)% for the year ended June 30, 2012 mainly represents a change in fair value of warrants of $4,852,399 incurred by the Company that was not subject to the income tax.

 

74
 

  

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

SinoCoking incurred a net operating loss for income tax purposes for 2013. As of June 30, 2013, the estimated net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. income tax purposes was approximately $2,106,000, which may be available to reduce future years’ taxable income. The net operating loss carry forward will expire through 2032 if not utilized. Management believes that the realization of the benefits arising from this loss appears to be uncertain due to the continuing losses for U.S. income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Company has provided a 100% valuation allowance at June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Management reviews this valuation allowance periodically and makes adjustments as necessary.

 

The following table reconciles the valuation allowance for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, which consisted of the following:

 

   For the years ended 
   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2012 
Beginning balance  $620,000   $460,000 
Additions   95,000    160,000 
Ending balance  $715,000   $620,000 

 

The Company had cumulative undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries of approximately $44.2 million as of June 30, 2013, which was included in consolidated retained earnings and will continue to be reinvested in its operations in China.  Accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. deferred taxes related to future repatriation of these earnings, nor is it practicable to estimate the amount of income taxes that would have to be provided if management were to conclude that such earnings will be remitted in the future.

 

Value added tax

 

The Company incurred VAT on sales and VAT on purchases in the PRC as follows:

 

   For years ended 
   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2012 
VAT on sales  $13,576,057   $13,954,823 
VAT on purchases  $11,831,245   $10,633,858 

 

Sales and purchases are recorded net of VAT collected and paid, as the Company acts as an agent for the PRC government.

 

Taxes payable

 

Taxes payable consisted of the followings:

 

   June 30,
2013
   June 30,
2012
 
VAT  $404,427   $499,658 
Income tax   528,242    814,217 
Others   200,781    208,187 
Total  $1,133,450   $1,522,062 

 

75
 

 

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 19 – Capital transactions

 

Under the 2002 Stock Option Plan for Directors, options exercisable for 1,666 shares of the Company’s common stock at $36.00 per share were granted on October 11, 2002, and expired on October 15, 2012. Options exercisable for 3,126 shares of the Company’s common stock at $96.00 per share were granted on November 16, 2004, and will expire on November 16, 2014.

 

Under the 1999 Stock Option Plan, options exercisable for 6,059 shares of the Company’s common stock at $96.00 per share were granted on November 14, 2004, and will expire on November 14, 2014. Such options were fully vested before the Share Exchange on February 5, 2010. No additional options have been granted.

 

In May 2012, the Company issued 30,424 shares of restricted common stock for consulting services, for a total expense of $150,000.

 

Options outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2013 are as follows:

 

Outstanding options   Exercisable options 
Number   Average
remaining
  Average   Number   Average
remaining
  Average 
of options   contract life  exercise price   of options   contractual life  exercise price 
 9,185   1.17 years  $81.26    9,185   1.17 years  $81.26 

 

The following is a summary of changes in options activities:

 

   Options 
Outstanding, June 30, 2011  10,851 
Granted   - 
Forfeited   - 
Exercised   - 
Outstanding, June 30, 2012   10,851 
Granted   - 
Forfeited   1,666 
Exercised   - 
Outstanding, June 30, 2013   9,185 

 

Warrants

 

The Company follows the provisions of U.S. GAAP regarding financial instruments that are indexed to an entity’s own stock.  This accounting standard specifies that a contract that would otherwise meet the definition of a derivative financial instrument but is both (a) indexed to the Company’s own stock and (b) classified in stockholders’ equity in the statement of financial position, would not be considered derivative.  It provides a two-step model to be applied in determining whether a financial instrument or an embedded feature is indexed to an issuer’s own stock and thus able to qualify for the scope exception within the standards.

 

As a result, the Company’s warrants are not afforded equity treatment because their strike price is denominated in U.S. dollar, a currency other than the Company’s functional currency RMB, and are therefore not considered indexed to the Company’s own stock. As such, all changes in the fair value of such warrants are recognized currently in earnings until such time they are exercised or expire. 

 

As of June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012, warrants that were exercisable for 3,906,853 shares of the Company’s common stock were recorded as derivative instruments. The value of warrants liability was $21 and $716,648 at June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively. The decrease in fair value of warrants was $716,627 and $4,852,399 for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and was recorded as gain on change in fair value of warrants.

 

76
 

 

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following is a summary of changes in warrant activities:

 

   Existing warrants
at $48.00 (1)
   Investor
warrants
at $12.00 (2)
   Callable
warrants
at $12.00
(3)(6)
   Callable
warrants
at $6.00
(4)(6)
   Callable
warrants at
$15.00
(5)(6)
   Total 
                         
Outstanding, June 30, 2011   36,973    590,446    3,199,190    30,244    50,000    3,906,853 
Granted   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Forfeited   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Exercised   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Outstanding, June 30, 2012   36,973    590,446    3,199,190    30,244    50,000    3,906,853 
Granted   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Forfeited   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Exercised   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Outstanding June 30, 2013   36,973    590,446    3,199,190    30,244    50,000    3,906,853 

  

(1)The warrants underlying 36,973 shares of the Company’s common stock are exercisable at any time until April 9, 2017, with remaining contractual term of 3.78 years as of June 30, 2013.

 

(2)The warrants underlying 590,446 shares of the Company’s common stock are exercisable at any time until February 5, 2015, with remaining contractual term of 1.60 years as of June 30, 2013.

 

(3)The warrants underlying 3,082,027 and 117,163 shares of the Company’s common stock are exercisable at any time until March 11, 2015 and March 18, 2015, respectively, with remaining contractual term of 1.70 and 1.72 years as of June 30, 2013, respectively.

 

(4)The warrants underlying 30,244 shares of the Company’s common stock are exercisable until March 11, 2015, with remaining contractual term of 1.70 years as of June 30, 2013.

 

(5)The warrants underlying 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are exercisable until July 1, 2015, with remaining contractual terms of 2.00 years as of June 30, 2013.

 

(6)The callable warrants are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance, and are callable at the Company’s election six months after the date of issuance if the Company’s common stock trades at a price equal to at least 150% of the exercise price  with an average trading volume of at least 150,000 shares of common stock (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combination and the like) per trading date for at least 10 consecutive trading days, and the underlying shares of common stock are registered.

 

Note 20 – Earnings per share

 

The following is a reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share computation:

 

   For the years ended June 30, 
   2013   2012 
Net  income  for earnings per share  $1,047,693   $12,494,557 
           
Weighted average shares used in basic and diluted computation   21,121,372    21,093,525 
Earnings per share – Basic and Diluted  $0.05   $0.59 

 

The Company had warrants and options exercisable for 3,916,038 and 3,917,704 shares of the Company’s common stock in the aggregate at June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. For the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, all outstanding options and warrants were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation since they were anti-dilutive.

 

Note 21- Coal mine acquisitions

 

On May 20, 2011, the Company acquired 60% of the equity interests of Shuangrui Coal and Xingsheng Coal, and 100% of the equity interests of Shunli Coal.

 

In August and September 2011, the Company entered into supplemental agreements with the sellers of these three companies (collectively the “Supplement Agreements”) to memorialize certain agreed terms that were not reflected in the original purchase agreements. Specifically, all assets and liabilities of each company on or before the closing of the Company’s acquisition, other than such company’s mining rights, would be disposed of and assumed by the sellers as soon as practicable. The Company’s acquisition of these three companies included only their mining rights, as all other assets and liabilities were being disposed of by the sellers, and none of the three companies was operational. Therefore, the operating results of these three companies (other than with respect to their mining rights) from May 20, 2011 through June 30, 2013, which were mainly from disposing assets and liabilities (other than their mining rights), are not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

77
 

 

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Although the Company has acquired the equity interests of these three entities, the parties’ intention, as memorialized in the Supplemental Agreements, is for the Company to acquire only their mining rights while all other assets and liabilities remain with the sellers. Thus, the respective purchase prices have been allocated solely to the mining rights.

 

Acquisition of Shuangrui Coal

 

On August 10, 2010, Hongli entered into an equity purchase agreement to acquire 60% of Shuangrui Coal, which operates Shuangrui coal mine, for a consideration of approximately $6.8 million (RMB 42 million), payable in cash. Transfer of such equity interests to Hongli, and registration of such transfer with the appropriate PRC authorities, were completed on May 20, 2011. As memorialized in the Supplement Agreement with the sellers, all assets and liabilities of Shuangrui Coal at the time of Hongli’s acquisition, other than its mining rights, are to be disposed of and/or assumed by the sellers. As such, Hongli’s acquisition consideration is equivalent to the purchase price for 60% ownership of Shuangrui’s mining rights. As of June 30, 2013, approximately $6.6 million (RMB 41 million) was paid. During the year ended June 30, 2012, Hongli acquired the remaining 40% and then transferred 100% of its ownership to Hongchang. As a result, the Company accrued $4,530,400 (RMB 28 million) payable to Shuangrui Coal’s sellers (see Note 17).

 

Acquisition of Xingsheng Coal

 

On August 10, 2010, Hongli entered into an equity purchase agreement to acquire 60% of Xingsheng Coal, which operates the Xingsheng Mine, for a consideration of approximately $6.8 million (RMB 42 million), payable in cash. Transfer of such equity interests to Hongli, and registration of such transfer with the appropriate PRC authorities, were completed on May 20, 2011. As memorialized in the Supplement Agreement with the sellers, all assets and liabilities of Xingsheng Coal at the time of Hongli’s acquisition, other than its mining rights, are to be disposed of and/or assumed by the sellers. As such, Hongli’s acquisition consideration is equivalent to the purchase price for 60% ownership of Xingsheng’s mining rights. The purchase price was paid in full in June 2011.

 

Acquisition of Shunli Coal

 

On May 19, 2011, Hongchang Coal entered into an equity purchase agreement to acquire 100% of Shunli Coal, which operates the Shunli Mine, for a consideration of approximately $6.8 million (RMB 42 million), payable in cash. Transfer of such equity interests to Hongchang, and registration of such transfer with the appropriate PRC authorities, were completed on May 20, 2011. As memorialized in the Supplement Agreement with the sellers, all assets and liabilities of Shunli Coal at the time of Hongli’s acquisition, other than its mining rights, were to be disposed of and/or are assumed by the sellers. As such, Hongli’s acquisition consideration is equivalent to the purchase price for 100% ownership of Shunli’s mining rights. The purchase price was paid in full in June 2011. On July 2, 3012, Shunli Coal and Hongchang Coal entered into an agreement to transfer all of Shunli Coal’s mining rights to Hongchang Coal, in connection with the Company’s plans to consolidate mining areas under Hongchang Coal for future production. On July 4, 2012, Shunli Coal was dissolved.

 

Since the initial accounting for these acquisitions were for the mining rights only, the entire purchase price was allocated to the mining rights. The mining rights acquired are not being amortized because the businesses have not commenced any operations since their acquisitions.

 

Note 22 – Commitments and contingencies

 

Lease agreement

 

Zhonghong leased an office place in Zhengzhou from February 25, 2011 to August 24, 2013, with monthly lease payments of $5,999 (RMB 37,075). The lease has become month-to-month commencing August 25, 2013.

 

For the years ended June 30, 2013, and 2012, lease expenses were $119,446 and $154,221, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2013, total future minimum lease payments for the unpaid portion under an operating lease were as follows:

 

Year ending June 30,  Amount 
2014   10,798 
Total  $10,798 

 

78
 

 

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

On April 12, 2013, the Company signed a leasing agreement with Pingdingshan Hongfeng Coal Processing and Coking, Ltd., (“Hongfeng Coal”). Per the agreement, the Company will utilize Hongfeng Coal’s coke production facility, which has an annual capacity of 200,000 metric tons, for a period of one year. Per the agreement, the Company agreed to pay Hongfeng Coal $9.60 (RMB 60) per metric ton of coke produced from the leased facility.

 

Purchase commitment

 

The Company entered into several contracts with contractors and suppliers for the following projects:

 

   Aggregate contract
amount
   Payments made   Purchase
 commitment
 
Baofeng new coking plant  $65,820,748   $58,924,121   $6,896,627 
Hongchang new mining tunnels   1,553,280    1,294,400    258,880 
Hongchang safety instruments   16,180,000    3,236,000    12,944,000 
Xingsheng safety instruments   19,598,834    14,092,780    5,506,054 
Hongchang mine consolidation   32,766,118    11,115,660    21,650,458 
Total  $135,918,980   $88,662,961   $47,256,019 

 

The Company has signed annual purchase agreements with its vendors to supply coal to be delivered based on the quarterly demand. For the calendar year ending December 31, 2013, the aggregate purchase contract amount is approximately $132.8 million (RMB 833.7 million). The Company had purchased approximately $22.6 million (RMB142.1 million) during the six months ended June 30, 2013, with the remaining $110.2 million (RMB 691.6 million) to be paid based on purchase contracts.

 

Note 23 – Statutory reserves

 

Applicable PRC laws and regulations require that before a foreign invested enterprise can legally distribute profits, it must first satisfy all tax liabilities, provide for losses in previous years, and make allocations, in proportions determined at the discretion of the board of directors, after the statutory reserves. The statutory reserves include the statutory surplus reserve fund and the enterprise expansion fund.

 

Each of the Company’s subsidiary and VIEs in the PRC is required to transfer 10% of its net income, as determined in accordance with the PRC Company Law, to a statutory surplus reserve fund until such reserve balance reaches 50% of each such entity’s registered capital. The transfer must be made before distribution of any dividends to shareholders. The surplus reserve fund is non-distributable other than during liquidation and can be used to fund previous years’ losses, if any, and may be utilized for business expansion or converted into share capital by issuing new shares to existing shareholders in proportion to their shareholdings or by increasing the par value of the shares currently held by them, provided that the remaining reserve balance after such issue is not less than 25% of the registered capital.

 

The enterprise fund may be used to acquire plant and equipment or to increase the working capital to expend on production and operation of the business. No minimum contribution is required

 

As of June 30, 2013, the statutory surplus reserves of Hongchang Coal and Hongli had reached 50% of each entity’s registered capital. Hongguang Power, Shuangrui Coal, Xingsheng Coal and Shunli Coal did not make any contribution to the statutory reserve due to their respective operating loss. Zhonghong and Hongrun did not make any contribution as neither entity had operations.

 

Hongchang Coal is required by the PRC government to reserve safety and maintenance expense to the cost of production based on the actual quantity of coal exploited.  The amount of reserves is determined within the unit price range provided by Ministry of Finance of PRC. Currently, Hongchang Coal reserves at RMB 6 per metric ton for safety expense and RMB 8.5 per metric ton for maintenance expense. Shuangrui Coal, Xingsheng Coal and Shunli Coal had no such reserve as of June 30, 2013.

 

79
 

 

 

SINOCOKING COAL AND COKE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The component of statutory reserves and the future contributions required pursuant to PRC Company Law are as follows:

 

   June 30, 
2013
   June 30, 
2012
   50% of registered
capital
   Future contributions
required as of 
June 30, 
2013
 
                 
Hongli  $2,067,215   $2,067,215   $2,064,905   $- 
Hongguang Power   -    -    1,514,590    1,514,590 
Hongchang Coal   218,361    218,361    218,361    - 
Shuangrui Coal   -    -    310,105    310,105 
Xingsheng Coal   -    -    279,682    279,682 
Hongrun   -    -    2,310,000    2,310,000 
Hongyuan   -    -    1,500,000    1,500,000 
Zhonghong   -    -    1,521,990    1,521,990 
Statutory surplus reserve   2,285,576    2,285,576    9,719,633    7,436,367 
Mine reproduction reserve   1,404,365    1,404,365    -    - 
Total  $3,689,941   $3,689,941   $9,719,633   $7,436,367 

 

Note 24 – Revenues by products

 

The Company considers itself, including its coal mining and coking operations and the sales of its coal and coke products, to be operating within one reportable segment. All of the Company’s products are sold within the PRC.  Major products for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 are summarized as follows:

 

   For the years ended 
June 30,
 
   2013   2012 
Coke  $31,171,635   $38,656,636 
Coal tar   1,719,416    1,946,314 
Raw coal   604,331    1,434,443 
Mid-coal   1,933,332    3,614,057 
Washed coal   24,272,969    32,867,839 
Coke powder   6,104,376    - 
Coal slurries   819,134    393,481 
Crude benzol   61,108    - 
Total  $66,686,301   $78,912,770 

 

80