Blueprint
FORM 20-F
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016
Commission
file number 000-22113
EURO TECH HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED
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(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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EURO TECH HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED
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(Translation
of Registrant’s name into English)
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British Virgin Islands
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(Jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
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Unit D, 18/F Gee Chang Hong Centre, 65 Wong Chuk Hong Road, Hong
Kong
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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T.C. Leung
FAX: 852-28734887
Unit D, 18/F Gee Change Hong Centre
65 Wong Chuk Hong Road
Hong Kong
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(Name,
Telephone, Email and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company
Contact Person)
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Securities
registered or to be registered pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each class
|
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Ordinary
Shares, no par value
|
|
NASDAQ
Capital Market
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Securities
registered or to be registered pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Act.
Not Applicable
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(Title
of Class)
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Securities
for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Act.
Not Applicable
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(Title
of Class)
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Indicate
the number of issued and outstanding shares of each of the
issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close
of the period covered by the annual report 2,061,909 Ordinary Shares
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as
defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ☐
Yes ☑ No
If this
report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if
the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. ☐ Yes ☑ No
Note
— Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant
required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their
obligations under those Sections.
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 ☐
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
and posed on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data
File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of
Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to submit and post such files). ☑ Yes ☐
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging
growth company. See definition of "large accelerated filer,"
"accelerated filer,"
and " emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act (Check one).
Large
accelerated filer ☐
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Accelerated
filer ☐
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Non-accelerated
filer ☑
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Emerging Growth Company
☐
|
If an
emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in
accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards†
provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act.
†The
term “new or revised financial accounting standards”
refers to any update by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to
its accounting Standards Codification after April 5,
2012.
Indicate
by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to
prepare the financial statements included in this
filing:
U.S.
GAAP ☑
|
International
Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International
Accounting Standards Board ☐
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Other
☐
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If
“Other” has been checked in response to the previous
question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the
registrant has elected to follow. ☐ Item
17 ☐ Item 18
If this
is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). ☐ Yes ☑ No
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
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4
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
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4
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GLOSSARY
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5
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PART I
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ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND
ADVISERS
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6
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ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED
TIMETABLE
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6
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ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
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6
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Item
3A.
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Selected
Financial Data
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6
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Item
3D.
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Risk
Factors
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8
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ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
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15
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Item
4A.
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History
and Development of the Company
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15
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Item
4B.
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Business
Overview
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16
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Item
4C.
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Organizational
Structure
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22
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Item
4D.
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Property,
Plant and Equipment
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23
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ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND
PROSPECTS
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23
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Item
5A.
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Operating
Results
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23
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Item
5B.
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Liquidity
and Capital Resources
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26
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Item
5C.
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Research
and Development, Patents and Licenses
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32
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Item
5D.
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Trend
Information
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32
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Item
5E.
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Off
Balance Sheet Arrangements
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32
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Item
5F.
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Tabular
Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
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33
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ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND
EMPLOYEES
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33
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Item
6A.
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Directors
and Senior Management
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33
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Item
6B.
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Compensation
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35
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Item
6C.
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Board
Practices
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36
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Item
6D.
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Employees
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36
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Item
6E.
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Share
Ownership
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36
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ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY
TRANSACTIONS
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Item
7A.
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Major
Shareholders
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33
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Item
7B.
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Related
Party Transactions
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37
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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37
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Item
8A.
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Consolidated
Statements and Other Financial Information
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37
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Item
8B.
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Significant
Changes
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37
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ITEM 9. THE OFFERING AND LISTING
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38
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Item
9A.
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Listing
Details
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38
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Item
9C.
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Markets
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38
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ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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39
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Item
10A.
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Share
Capital
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Item
10B.
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Memorandum
and Articles of Association
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39
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Item
10C.
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Material
Contracts
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40
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Item
10D.
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Exchange
Controls
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40
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Item
10E.
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Taxation
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40
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Item
10H.
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Documents
on Display
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43
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Item
10I.
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Subsidiary
Information
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43
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ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
MARKET RISK
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43
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PART II
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ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF
SECURITYHOLDERS
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44
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ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
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44
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ITEM 16. [RESERVED]
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Item
16A.
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Audit
Committee Financial Expert
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46
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Item
16B.
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Code Of
Ethics
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46
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Item
16C.
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Principal
Accountant Fees And Services
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46
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Item
16D.
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Exemption
From Listing Standards
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47
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Item
16E.
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Purchases
of Equity Securities by Issuer and Affiliated
Purchasers
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47
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Item
16F.
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Change
in Registrant’s Certifying Accountants
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PART III
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ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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48
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ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
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49
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INTRODUCTION
In this
Form 20-F, references to ”us”, “we”, the
“Company” and “Euro Tech” are to Euro Tech
Holdings Company Limited and its subsidiaries unless otherwise
expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.
Forward Looking Statements
This
annual report contains forward looking statements. Additional
written or oral forward looking statements may be made by the
Company from time to time in filings with the Commission or
otherwise. Such forward looking statements are within the meaning
of that term in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Such statements may include,
but not be limited to, projections of revenues, income, or loss,
capital expenditures, plans for future operations, financing needs
or plans, and plans relating to products or services of the
Company, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. The
words “believe,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “estimate,”
“project,” and similar expressions identify forward
looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement
was made. Forward looking statements are inherently subject to
risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or
quantified. Future events and actual results could differ
materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying
the forward looking statements. Statements in this Annual Report,
including those contained in the sections entitled
Part I, Item 3D. “Risk Factors” and Item 5.
“Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and the
notes to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements,
describe factors, among others, that could contribute to or cause
such differences.
GLOSSARY
The
following glossary of terms may be helpful in understanding the
terminology used in this Annual Report.
Ambient
Air:
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Atmospheric
air (outdoor as opposed to indoor air).
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Anaerobic:
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Treating
waste water biologically in the absence of air.
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Atomic
Spectrometer:
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An
analytical instrument used to measure the presence of an element in
a substance by testing a sample which is aspirated into a flame and
atomized. The amount of light absorbed or emitted is measured. The
amount of energy absorbed or emitted is proportional to the
concentration of the element in the sample.
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Coalescer:
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A
process that coalesces smaller oil particles to form larger oil
particles that can readily float to a tank’s
surface.
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Colorimeter:
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An
analytical instrument that measures substance concentration by
color intensity when the substance reacts to a chemical
reagent.
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Human
Machine Interface Software:
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A type
of software to interface (or coordinate) the interaction between
machine or equipment and a human being.
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Lamella:
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Synthetic
media installed in a clarifier tank to assist in particle
flocculation (coming together in a “floc” or
“flakes”).
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Mass
Spectrometer:
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An
analytical instrument that separates and identifies chemical
constituents according to their mass-to-charge ratios and is used
to identify organic compounds.
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Membrane
Biological Reactor (MBR):
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A
suspended-growth bioreactor combined with a membrane liquid/solids
separation unit. The “MBR” uses an advanced membrane
technology that treats biological wastes to a quality level which
in many industries is sufficient for reuse or low-cost disposal to
sewers.
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Multi-Channel
Digital Recorder:
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A
device that measures and records more than one input of a digitized
signal (signal in the form of pulses).
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pH
Controller:
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A
process instrument that measures and controls the acidity or
alkalinity of a fluid.
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Reagent:
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A
chemical substance used to cause a chemical reaction and detect
another substance.
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Sequential
Batch Reactor (SBR):
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A
waste-water treatment process that combines aeration and settling
in one reactor tank thus saving on space. Used for the treatment of
industrial waste-water as well as municipal sewage. The SBR is a
batch process that is ideal for waste-waters of changing
characteristics.
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PART I
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR
MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not
Applicable.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED
TIMETABLE
Not
Applicable.
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
ITEM 3A. SELECTED FINANCIAL
DATA
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Amounts
expressed in thousands, except share and per share data and unless
otherwise stated)
The
selected consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive
income/(loss) data for years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31,
2016, and 2015 set forth below are derived from audited
consolidated financial statements of the Company included herein
and should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to such financial statements, including the
notes thereto and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects.” The selected consolidated statement of operations
and comprehensive income/(loss) data for the years ended December
31, 2013 and 2012 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data
as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 set forth below are derived
from audited consolidated financial statements of the Company which
are not included herein.
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Balance
Sheet Data:
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Cash and cash
equivalents
|
3,751
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2,480
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4,857
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5,406
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7,468
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Working
capital(1)
|
3,101
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3,698
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5,267
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5,830
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5,706
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Total
assets
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23,104
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21,270
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23,399
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23,878
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24,947
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Short-term
debt(2)
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720
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0
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0
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0
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0
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Net
assets
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16,618
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16,456
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17,530
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17,877
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17,756
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Capital
Stock
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123
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123
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123
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123
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123
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______________________
(1)
Current assets minus current liabilities.
(2)
Short-term debt includes short-term borrowings and current portion
of long-term bank loans.
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Statement
of Operations and Comprehensive Income/(loss) Data:
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Revenue
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22,478
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18,302
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18,822
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18,602
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21,645
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Cost of
revenue
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(17,527)
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(14,259)
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(13,991)
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(13,138)
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(15,480)
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Gross
profit
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4,951
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4,043
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4,831
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5,464
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6,165
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Finance
costs
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(19)
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(4)
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-
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-
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-
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Selling and
Administrative Expenses
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(5,602)
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(5,997)
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(5,802)
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(5,719)
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(6,224)
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Operating
loss
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(670)
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(1,958)
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(971)
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(255)
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(59)
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Interest
Income
|
18
|
45
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27
|
45
|
46
|
Other income,
net
|
5
|
9
|
65
|
54
|
48
|
Gain/(loss) on
disposal of fixed assets
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7
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-
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-
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(1)
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(22)
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(Loss)/income
before taxes
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(640)
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(1,904)
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(879)
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(157)
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13
|
|
|
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|
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Income taxes
(expenses)/credit
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(228)
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47
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(18)
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(73)
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(142)
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Net gain on deemed
disposal of affiliate
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24
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-
|
-
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-
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-
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Equity in income of
affiliates
|
1,002
|
850
|
605
|
325
|
9
|
Net Income/(Loss)
|
158
|
(1,007)
|
(292)
|
95
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(120)
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|
|
|
|
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Less: net
loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest
|
73
|
391
|
169
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(113)
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(309)
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Net income/(loss)
attributable to the Company
|
231
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(616)
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(123)
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(18)
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(429)
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Other comprehensive
income/(loss)
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|
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Net
income/(loss)
|
158
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(1,007)
|
(292)
|
95
|
(120)
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Foreign exchange
translation adjustments
|
4
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(63)
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(15)
|
181
|
-
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Release of
translation reserves upon disposal of a subsidiary
|
-
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-
|
-
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(74)
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-
|
|
|
|
|
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Comprehensive
income/(loss)
|
162
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(1,070)
|
(307)
|
202
|
(120)
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Less: Comprehensive
loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest
|
127
|
477
|
176
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(167)
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(309)
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|
|
|
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Comprehensive
income/(loss) attributable to the Company
|
289
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(593)
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(131)
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35
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(429
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|
|
|
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Net income/(loss)
per Ordinary Share-Basic
|
0.11
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(0.30)
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(0.06)
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(0.01)
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(0.21)
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-Diluted
|
0.11
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(0.30)
|
(0.06)
|
(0.01)
|
(0.21)
|
|
|
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Weighted Average
Number of Ordinary Shares Outstanding
|
|
|
|
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Basic
|
2,061,909
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2,063,738
|
2,069,223
|
2,069,223
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2,070,685
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Diluted
|
2,061,909
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2,063,738
|
2,069,223
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2,069,223
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2,076,315
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The
Company maintains its books and records in United States dollars
(“US$” or “U.S. Dollars”). Its
subsidiaries, retail shops and affiliates maintain their books and
records either in US$, Hong Kong dollars (“HK$” or
“Hong Kong Dollars”) or in Chinese Renminbi
(“RMB” or “Renminbi”).
The
Hong Kong dollar is freely convertible into other currencies
(including the U.S. dollar). Since 1983, the Hong Kong dollar has
effectively been officially linked to the U.S. dollar at the rate
of approximately HK$ 7.80 = US$ 1.00. However, the market exchange
rate of the Hong Kong dollar against the U.S. dollar continues to
be influenced by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign
exchange market. Exchange rates between the Hong Kong dollar and
other currencies are influenced by the rate between the U.S. dollar
and the Hong Kong dollar.
Since
1994, the conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including
U.S. dollars, has been based on rates set by the People’s
Bank of China, which are set daily based on the previous
day’s interbank foreign exchange market rates. From 1994
through 2004, the official exchange rate for the conversion of
Renminbi to U.S. dollars was generally stable and maintained at the
rate of approximately RMB 8.30 = US$ 1.00. However, from 2012
through 2016, the Renminbi has fluctuated and at the end of 2016,
2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the exchange rates were approximately
RMB 6.9445, RMB 6.48554 = US$ 1.00, RMB 6.2069 = US$
1.00, RMB, 6.0540 = US$ 1.00, and RMB 6.2306 = US$ 1.00,
respectively. The value of the Renminbi fluctuates and is subject
to changes in PRC political and economic conditions.
The
high, low and average exchange rates are set forth
below:
|
|
|
|
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US$ to
RMB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Fiscal
2012
|
6.2306
|
6.2223
|
6.3889
|
6.3094
|
Fiscal
2013
|
6.0540
|
6.0540
|
6.2456
|
6.1480
|
Fiscal
2014
|
6.2069
|
6.0428
|
6.2611
|
6.1612
|
Fiscal
2015
|
6.4855
|
6.1931
|
6.4900
|
6.2854
|
Fiscal
2016
|
6.9445
|
6.4571
|
6.9593
|
6.6444
|
|
|
|
|
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US$ to
HK$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal
2012
|
7.7505
|
7.7500
|
7.7688
|
7.7571
|
Fiscal
2013
|
7.7538
|
7.7417
|
7.7656
|
7.7566
|
Fiscal
2014
|
7.7502
|
7.7500
|
7.7677
|
7.7524
|
Fiscal
2015
|
7.7564
|
7.7493
|
7.8240
|
7.7549
|
Fiscal
2016
|
7.7555
|
7.7504
|
7.8267
|
7.7624
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Following Months
|
|
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US$ to
RMB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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October 2016
|
6.6684
|
6.7790
|
6.7256
|
November 2016
|
6.7535
|
6.9278
|
6.8386
|
December 2016
|
6.8666
|
6.9569
|
6.9214
|
January
2017
|
6.8414
|
6.9552
|
6.8961
|
February
2017
|
6.8581
|
6.8850
|
6.8723
|
March
2017
|
6.8676
|
6.9149
|
6.8941
|
|
|
|
|
US$ to
HK$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
October 2016
|
7.7532
|
7.7589
|
7.7567
|
November 2016
|
7.7542
|
7.7578
|
7.7558
|
December 2016
|
7.7529
|
7.7670
|
7.7588
|
January
2017
|
7.7529
|
7.7583
|
7.7556
|
February
2017
|
7.7557
|
7.7624
|
7.7589
|
March
2017
|
7.7609
|
7.7705
|
7.7652
|
ITEM 3D. RISK FACTORS
You
should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this
annual report and the following risk factors. The risks below are
not the only ones we face. Additional risks not currently known by
us or that we deem immaterial may also impair our business
operations. Our business, financial condition or results of
operations could be materially adversely effected by any of these
risks. This annual report also contains forward looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties. Our results could materially
differ from those anticipated in these forward looking statements
as a result of certain factors, including the risks we face as
described below and elsewhere. See – “Forward Looking
Statements.”
Certain Risks Relating to Doing Business in Hong Kong and the
People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or
“China”).
PRC Sovereignty over Hong Kong is Still Developing.
The
Company’s executive and principal offices are located in Hong
Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China (or
“SAR”; Hong Kong is sometimes herein referred to as the
“Hong Kong SAR”).
As
provided in the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of
Hong Kong (the “Joint Declaration”) and the Basic
Law of the Hong Kong SAR of China (the “Basic Law”),
the Hong Kong SAR is provided a high degree of autonomy except in
foreign and defense affairs. The PRC’s political system and
policies are not practiced in Hong Kong. Under this principle of
“one country, two systems,” Hong Kong maintains a legal
system that is based on common law and is different from that of
the PRC.
There
is friction between Hong Kong residents pressing for greater
democracy and the new government leadership in Beijing. Leadership
personnel at Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong had been
abruptly replaced. The formula for the preservation of Hong
Kong’s independent legal and economic system under Chinese
sovereignty has been referred to as “one country, two
systems.” There appears to be a deep suspicion
that Hong Kong’s democracy advocates are being manipulated by
the United States to cause difficulties at China’s doorstep
as regional tensions rise, i.e. as China has been asserting
territorial claims in the East and South China Seas. The foregoing
is raising concerns that civil liberties in Hong Kong may be eroded
in the years to come. At this point in time it is not possible to
predict if this trend will continue and what effect it will have on
the Company, if any.
The
Company’s results of operations and financial condition may
be influenced by the political situation in Hong Kong and by the
general state of the Hong Kong economy. See —
“Economic Stability Uncertain.”
There
can be no assurance that these past, or any prospective future,
changes in political, economic or commercial conditions in Hong
Kong and the PRC will not result in a material adverse effect upon
the Company.
Economic Stability in the Far East is Uncertain.
Most
economies in the Far East have suffered from an economic
instability. There can be no assurance that there will be a
recovery, most especially in light of the recent global economic
downturn. Continued growth in the PRC depends on an adequate supply
of energy. There is no assurance that adequate supplies of energy
can be developed or found to fuel the PRC’s continued
economic growth.
The PRC’s Economic, Political and Social Conditions; Slowdown
in Growth.
The PRC
economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in
many respects, including the amount of government involvement,
level of development, growth rate, and control of foreign exchange
and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced
significant growth in the past thirty years, growth has been
uneven, both geographically and among the various sectors of the
economy. The PRC government has implemented various measures to
encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources.
Some of these measures benefit the overall PRC economy, but may
also have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial
condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by
changes in applicable tax regulations, rates of currency exchange,
inflation and effects to curb inflation.
The PRC
economy appears to be moving from a planned economy to a more
market-oriented economy. Although the PRC government has
implemented measures since the late 1970s emphasizing the
utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of
state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of
improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a
substantial portion of productive assets in the PRC are still owned
by the PRC government. In addition, the PRC government continues to
play a significant role in regulating industry development by
imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises
significant control over the PRC’s economic growth through
the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign
currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and
providing preferential treatment to particular industries or
companies. Recently, the Chinese economy experienced a steep
slowdown in growth from a 9.5% GDP in 2011 to 6.7% GDP in 2016 as
the Chinese government focuses on raising the incomes of the
average citizen and seek a national economy less driven by
investment and more by consumer demand. Although past predictions
have not always proven reliable, if these predictions prove
accurate, they, as well as future actions and policies of the PRC
government, could suffer a material adverse effect.
Also,
financial reporting suggests a real estate “bubble”
exists in the PRC. If a real estate “bubble” truly
exists in the PRC and it bursts, the PRC’s economy and the
Company could suffer a material adverse effect.
The
success of the Company’s activities in the PRC depends on the
Company’s continued ability to overcome circumstances
specifically effecting the industrial sector, including the
relatively poor infrastructure, road transportation and
communications network and an uncertain legal and regulatory
environment.
Economic Reforms May Not Continue or Impact Positively On the
Company; Changing Business Environment.
Over
the past several years, the PRC’s government has pursued
economic reform policies including encouraging private economic
activities and decentralization of economic deregulation. It
appears that the PRC government may not continue to pursue these
policies or may significantly alter them to our detriment from time
to time without notice. Changes in policies by the PRC government
resulting in changes in laws, regulations, or their interpretation,
or the imposition of confiscatory taxes, restrictions on currency
conversion and imports could materially and adversely affect our
business and operating results. From 2013 through 2016, the annual
growth rates in imports and exports were 7.3%, 0.4%, 14.1%, -5.5%
and 7.9%, 6.1%, -2.8%, -7.7%, respectively. The nationalization or
other expropriations of private enterprises by the PRC government
could result in a loss of our investments in actual funds and time
and effort, in China.
The
Company’s results at times may also be adversely effected by:
(1) changes in political, economic and social conditions in
the PRC; (2) changes in government policies such as changes in
laws and regulations (or their interpretation); (3) the
introduction of additional measures to control inflation;
(4) changes in the rate or method of taxation;
(5) imposition of additional restrictions on currency
conversion remittances abroad; (6) reduction in tariff
protection and other import restrictions; and (7) a return to
the more centrally-planned economy that existed
previously.
We Are Subject To International Economic And Political Risks, Over
Which We Have Little Or No Control.
Doing
business entirely outside the United States subjects us to various
risks, including changing economic and political conditions,
exchange controls, currency fluctuations, armed conflicts and
unexpected changes in United States and foreign laws relating to
tariffs, trade restrictions, transportation regulations, foreign
investments and taxation. We have no control over most of these
risks and other unforeseeable risks and may be unable to anticipate
changes in international economic and political conditions and,
therefore, unable to alter our business practice in time to avoid
the adverse effect of any of these changes.
The International Financial Crisis and Economic Conditions May Have
A Material Adverse Impact on Our Business and Financial
Conditions.
With
deteriorating worldwide economies, global markets have experienced
significant turmoil and upheavals characterized by extreme
volatility and the volatility in prices and securities and
commodities, diminished credit availability, inability to access
capital markets, waves of bankruptcies, high unemployment and
declining consumer and business confidence. It appears that
international economic deterioration has negatively impacted our
revenue and other results of operation. We cannot predict the short
and long-term impact of these events on our business and financial
condition that may be materially and adversely affected in the
future.
Our revenue and net income may be materially and adversely affected
by any economic slowdown in China.
The PRC
government has in recent years implemented a number of measures to
control the rate of economic growth, including by raising interest
rates and adjusting deposit reserve ratios for commercial banks as
well as by implementing other measures designed to tighten credit
and liquidity. These measures have contributed to a slowdown of the
PRC economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of
China, China's GDP growth rate was 6.7% in 2016. Any continuing or
worsening slowdown could significantly reduce domestic commerce in
China, including through the Internet generally and within our
ecosystem. An economic downturn, whether actual or perceived, a
further decrease in economic growth rates or an otherwise uncertain
economic outlook in China or any other market in which we may
operate could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
We May be Impacted by Inflation in PRC .
In
recent years, the PRC has not experienced significant inflation,
and thus inflation has not had a significant effect on our business
historically. In response to the increased inflation rate during
2004, the Chinese government announced measures to restrict lending
and investment in the PRC in order to reduce inflationary pressure
on the PRC’s economy; More recently, the inflation rate has
increased by 2.7%, 2.6%, 1.9%, 1.4% and 2.0 in 2012, 2013, 2014,
2015 and 2016, respectively. Efforts by the PRC to curb inflation
may also curb economic growth, increase our overhead costs and
adversely affect our sales. Inflationary increases cause a
corresponding increase in our general overhead. If the PRC rate of
inflation continues to increases, the Chinese government may
introduce further measures intended to reduce the inflation rate in
the PRC. Any such measures adopted by the Chinese government may
not be successful in reducing or slowing the increase in the
PRC’s inflation rate. A sustained or increased inflation in
the PRC may have an adverse impact on the PRC’s economy and
may materially and adversely affect our business and financial
results.
There is an Uncertain Legal System and Application of
Laws.
The
legislative trend in the PRC over the past decade has been to
enhance the protection afforded to foreign investment and allow for
more active control by foreign parties of foreign invested
enterprises. This may not continue. In addition, as the PRC
economy, business and commercial framework and legal system all
continue to develop, that development may adversely affect the
Company’s activities in the PRC or the ability of the Company
to enter into Sino-foreign agreements.
The Business Laws of the PRC Legal System Are Still
Developing.
The PRC
does not yet possess a comprehensive body of business law or a
consolidated body of laws governing foreign investment enterprises.
As a result, the enforcement, interpretation and implementation of
existing laws, regulations or agreements may be sporadic,
inconsistent and subject to considerable discretion. The
PRC’s judiciary has not had sufficient opportunity to gain
experience in enforcing laws that exist, leading to a higher than
usual degree of uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation. As
the legal system develops, entities such as the Company may be
adversely affected by new laws, changes to existing laws (or
interpretations thereof) and preemption of provincial or local laws
by national laws. Even when adequate law exists in the PRC, it may
not be possible to obtain speedy and equitable enforcement of the
law.
The PRC Government Imposes Currency Controls.
The PRC
government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in
part through direct regulation of the conversion of its currency,
Renminbi, into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign
imports. The conversion of RMB into Hong Kong Dollars and U.S.
Dollars must be based on rates set by the People’s Bank of
China, which rates are set daily based on the previous day’s
Chinese interbank foreign exchange market rate with reference to
current exchange rates on the world financial markets.
Currently, the RMB
is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow band against the U.S.
Dollar. Exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect the Company
because of increases in overhead costs, adverse effects on sales,
foreign currency denominated liabilities, and may materially
adversely affect the value, translated into U.S. dollars, of the
Company’s net fixed assets situated and to be situated in the
PRC, earnings and dividends.
There is a Foreign Currency Risk.
The
Company operates in Hong Kong, the PRC and trades with both local
and overseas customers, and is exposed to foreign exchange risk
arising from various currency exposures, primarily with respect to
purchases in, Hong Kong dollar, Renminbi, US dollars, the Japanese
yen and Euro. Foreign exchange risk arises from committed and
unmatched future commercial transactions, such as confirmed import
purchase orders and sales orders, recognized assets and
liabilities, and net investment in the PRC operations. The Company
uses derivative financial instruments such as foreign exchange
contracts to hedge certain foreign currency exposures but does not
currently adequately hedge its foreign exchange positions. There
can be no assurances that the Company’s hedging strategies
will be adequate to avoid this foreign exchange risk.
The PRC has had Turbulent Relations with the United States of
America (“United States”).
Differences between
the United States and PRC governments on some political issues
continue occasionally to color their relationship. These occasional
controversies could materially and adversely affect our business
and operations. Political or trade friction between the two
countries could also materially and adversely affect the market
price of our ordinary shares (“Ordinary Shares”),
whether or not they adversely affect our business.
Certain Risks Relating to the Company’s
Business.
Decline in Revenues; Operating Loss; Loss Before Income
Taxes.
Since
Fiscal 2008, the Company’s revenues have declined and its
losses have increased, with revenues having declined from
approximately $31,738,000 in 2008 to approximately $22,478,000 in
2016, operating losses having increased from approximately $371,000
in income in 2008 to approximately $670,000 of losses in 2016, and
losses before income taxes having increased from approximately
$560,000 in income in 2008 to approximately $640,000 of losses
before income taxes in 2016. The Company primarily attributes the
revenue reduction, and the increase in operating losses and losses
before income taxes to the global international economic downturns
and having key suppliers selling their products through China
suppliers other than the Company. Exacerbating these losses in
Fiscal 2010 was the further inclination of key suppliers selling
their products other than through the Company and the delay of site
readiness of several waste water treatment contracts including one
site delayed by a fatal traffic accident. During Fiscal 2014, the
Company had revenues of approximately US$18,822,000, operating
losses of approximately US$971,000, and losses before income
tax of approximately US$879,000. The principal reason for the
operating losses for Fiscal 2014 was the drop in sales revenue and
gross margin from engineering activities as a result of strong
competition and the international economic slowdown. During Fiscal
2015, the Company had revenues of approximately US$18,302,000,
operating losses of approximately US$1,958,000, and
losses before income tax of approximately US$1,904,000 The
principal reason for the operating losses for Fiscal 2015 was a
further drop in sales revenue and gross margin from engineering
activities. During Fiscal 2016, the Company had revenues of
approximately US$22,478,000, operating losses of approximately
US$670,000, and losses before income tax of approximately
US$640,000. The principal reason for the operating losses for
Fiscal 2016 was research and development costs of approximately
US$475,000.
We
encountered difficulties in the PRC in obtaining certain new
customers for our products and services as these potential new
customers appear reluctant to separate from their current service
providers and sellers.
As the
international economic downturn appears to be continuing, showing
only modest positive economic improvement and the Company may face
further competition by having key suppliers selling their products
through China suppliers other than the Company, there can be no
assurance that the Company’s revenues will not decline
further and losses will not increase.
Future Plans to Increase Revenue; Decrease Losses and Return to
Profitability Uncertain.
The Company has been attempting to stem the
decline in revenue by streamlining its activities. The Company has
reduced its staff, consolidated offices and is trying to improve
staff efficiencies. To date, this has not been successful but the
Company plans to continue these economizing efforts. The
Company obtained formal certification from
China’s Classification Society (“CCS”),
acceptance from the U.S. Coast Guard for use as an Alternate
Management Systems (“AMS”) in U.S. waters
for its 200, 300, 500, 750, 1200 and
1250 Cubic Meters per hour BWTS, and RS type approval (Russian
Maritime Register) for its 300 Cubic Meters per hour BWTS . The
Company entered into a contract to supply a 300 Cubic Meters per
hour BWTS for a maritime institute in Jiangsu during 2015 and the
goods were delivered in 2016. The Company hopes to receive revenues
from orders to retrofit and install its ballast water treatment
process into ocean going vessels and is working on a number of
sales quotations. There can be no assurance that continuing its
streamlining of efforts and its sales of its ballast water
treatment process will be successful or, if successful, that the
process will result in significant revenues to the Company. Even if
the Company builds a market for a product or service, the research
and development and marketing of that product or service will
result in losses to the Company for a significant period of time,
even if that product or service ultimately becomes profitable.
However, we were unable to market such energy meters. There
can be no assurance that products, if any, that we develop in the
future, will not have similar results with the time, effort and
expense used to develop any such products having a material adverse
effect on the Company.
We Have Made And May Make Further Acquisitions Without Your
Approval.
Although we
endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any particular
acquisition, there can be no assurance that we will properly or
accurately ascertain all such risks. We will have virtually
unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting prospective
acquisition candidates and in deciding if they should be acquired
for cash, equity or debt, and in what combination of cash, equity
and/or debt.
We have
taken equity positions in related businesses. We will not seek
stockholder approval for any additional acquisitions unless
required by applicable law and regulations. Our stockholders may
not have an opportunity to review financial and other information
on acquisition candidates prior to consummation of any acquisitions
under almost all circumstances.
Investors will be
relying upon our management, upon whose judgment the investor must
depend, with only limited information concerning management’s
specific intentions.
There
can be no assurance that the Company will locate and successfully
complete any such additional acquisitions, or any acquisition will
perform as anticipated, will not result in significant unexpected
liabilities or will ever contribute significant revenues or profits
to the Company or that the Company will not lose its entire
investment in any acquisition.
Dependence upon Management.
The
Company is dependent upon the services of its executive
officers, in particular Mr. T.C. Leung, the Chairman of the
Company’s Board of Directors and its Chief Executive Officer.
The business of the Company could be adversely affected by the loss
of services of, or a material reduction in the amount of time
devoted to the Company by its executive officers. The Company does
not maintain “Key Man” life insurance on the lives of
any of its officers and directors. See – Item 6.
“Directors, Senior Management and
Employees.”
Material Adverse Effect upon the Company of PRC’s Credit
Restrictions.
The
Company faces increasing competition from other distributors of
substantially similar products and manufacturers themselves, both
foreign and Chinese. The Company faces its principal competition
from foreign manufacturers and other distributors of their products
situated in Hong Kong and the PRC. Competition may cause purchaser
demands for price reductions and reduced profit
margin.
Competition with Vendors.
As the
Company assembles products of the kind that it presently
distributes, the Company may directly compete with certain of its
vendors. Any such direct competition may adversely affect its
relationship with its vendors.
Dependence on Vendors; Lack of Long Term Arrangements; Loss of
Vendors.
The
Company distributes supplies manufactured by a number of vendors.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Group (“Thermo”), Stanford
Research Systems, Inc. (“Stanford”), Hach Company
(“Hach”), and Hioki E. E. Corporation
(“Hioki”) are among the Company’s largest
suppliers, pursuant to short term arrangements. Although
alternative sources of supply exist, there can be no assurance that
the termination of the Company’s relationship with any of the
above or other vendors would not have an adverse effect on the
Company’s operations due to the Company’s dependence on
these vendors. A substantial number of the Company’s
suppliers have been selling their products into China directly and
through other distributors. During Fiscal 2014, our sales revenue
from trading activities slightly increased by approximately 6%.
During Fiscal 2015, our sales revenue from trading activities
slightly increased by approximately 5%. During Fiscal 2016, our
sales revenue from trading activities increased by approximately
12%. A loss of a substantial vendor or substantial number of our
other vendors and/or our competing with them would have a material
adverse effect on our revenues from trading
activities.
Risks Relating To the Company Itself; Control by T.C. Leung;
Potential Conflict of Interests.
T.C.
Leung, the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, as a practical matter, is able to nominate and
cause the election of all the members of the Company’s Board
of Directors, control the appointment of its officers and the
day-to-day affairs and management of the Company. As a consequence,
Mr. Leung can have the Company managed in a manner that would
be in his own interests and not in the interests of the other
shareholders of the Company. See – Item 6. “Directors,
Senior Management and Employees” and Item 7. “Major
Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”
Certain Legal Consequences of Incorporation in the British Virgin
Islands; Rights of Shareholders Not As Extensive As In U.S.
Corporations.
Principles of
British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) corporate law relating
to such matters as the validity of the Company procedures, the
fiduciary duties of management and the rights of the
Company’s shareholders may differ from those that would apply
if the Company were incorporated in a jurisdiction within the
United States.
The
rights of shareholders under BVI law are not as extensive as the
rights of shareholders under legislation or judicial precedent in
many United States jurisdictions. Under United States law, majority
and controlling shareholders generally have certain
“fiduciary” responsibilities to the minority
shareholders. United States shareholder action must be taken in
good faith and actions by controlling shareholders in a United
States jurisdiction and executive compensation which are obviously
unreasonable may be declared null and void.
The BVI
law protecting the interests of the minority shareholders is not as
protective in all circumstances as the law protecting minority
shareholders in United States jurisdictions. The shareholders of
the Company may have more difficulty in protecting their interests
in the face of actions by the Company’s Board of Directors,
and may have more limited rights, than they might have as
shareholders of a company incorporated in many United States
jurisdictions.
Anti-Takeover Provisions.
The
Company has 5,000,000 shares of “blank check preferred
stock” authorized. The “blank check preferred
stock” is intended to strengthen the Company’s ability
to resist an unsolicited takeover bid and may be deemed to have an
anti-takeover effect. The Board of Directors has the right to fix
the rights, terms and preferences at the time of issue of
“blank check preferred stock” without further action by
our shareholders.
Uncertainty of Enforcing United States Judgments.
There
is some uncertainty whether BVI courts would enforce judgments of
the courts of the United States and of other foreign jurisdictions,
or enforce actions brought in the BVI which are based upon the
securities laws of the United States. A final monetary judgment
obtained in the United States will be treated as a cause of action
in itself by the BVI courts so that no retrial of the issues would
be necessary, provided that material preconditions are met and the
proceedings pursuant to which judgment was obtained were not
contrary to the rules of natural justice.
All of
the Company’s directors and executive officers reside outside
of the United States, service of process upon the Company and such
persons may be difficult to effect in the United States upon all
such directors and officers.
All of
the Company’s assets are and will be located outside of the
United States, in Hong Kong and the PRC, and any judgment obtained
in the United States may not be enforced in those jurisdictions.
Hong Kong courts will not directly enforce against the Company or
such persons judgments obtained in the United States. There is also
substantial doubt as to the enforceability in the PRC of actions to
enforce judgments of the United States’ courts arising out of
or based on the ownership of the securities, including judgments
arising out of or based on the civil liability provisions of United
States federal or state securities laws or otherwise. See —
“Certain Legal Consequences of Incorporation in the British
Virgin Islands; Rights of Shareholders not as Extensive as in U.S.
Corporations.”
Being a Foreign Private Issuer Exempts Us from Certain SEC and
NASDAQ OMX (“NASDAQ”) Requirements.
We are
a foreign private issuer within the meaning of
rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the “Exchange Act”). As such, with certain
limitations, we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to
United States public companies including: (1) the
rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the
Commission of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current
reports on Form 8-K; (2) the sections of the Exchange Act
regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations
in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;
(3) the provisions of Regulation FD aimed at preventing
issuers from making selective disclosures of material information;
and (4) the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to
file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities
and establishing insider liability for profits realized from any
“short-swing” trading transaction (i.e., a purchase and
sale, or sale and purchase, of the issuer’s equity securities
within less than six months). Because of these exemptions,
investors are not afforded the same protections or information
generally available to investors holding shares in public companies
organized in the United States.
Our Securities Must Continue To Meet Qualitative And Quantitative
Listing Maintenance Criteria For NASDAQ; Recent Deficiency
Cured.
Our
securities are quoted and traded on NASDAQ. There can be no
assurance that we will continue to meet both the qualitative and
quantitative criteria for continued quotation and trading of our
securities on NASDAQ. One of NASDAQ’s listing requirements is
the maintenance of a closing bid price of US$ 1.00 per share.
During periods of time in 2008 and 2009 the Company was not in
compliance with that requirement but NASDAQ had generally suspended
that requirement and others due to market conditions and/or the
US$1.00 per share bid price was not met for a sufficient period of
time to cause a NASDAQ deficiency action.
In September
20, 2011, the Company received a deficiency letter from NASDAQ that
the Company was no longer in compliance with NASDAQ’s listing
maintenance rule for failing to have a bid price of at least US$
1.00 per share for the prior thirty trading days. In January 2012,
the Company effected a combination or reverse stock split of its
issued Ordinary Shares, and thereafter, in February 2012, the
Company received a letter from NASDAQ advising that it had regained
compliance with NASDAQ’s maintenance listing
requirements.
If we
are unable to meet the continued quotation criteria of NASDAQ and
are suspended from trading on these markets, our securities could
possibly be traded in the over-the-counter market and be quoted in
the so-called “pink sheets” or, if then available, the
OTC Bulletin Board. In such an event, an investor would likely find
it more difficult to dispose of, or even obtain accurate quotations
of, our securities. See—“We Are Also Required To Meet
Certain, But Not All Corporate Governance Criteria Applicable to
NASDAQ Listed Issuers.”
We Are Also Required To Meet Certain, But Not All, Corporate
Governance Criteria Applicable To NASDAQ Listed
Issuers.
Although, in the
past, we have been able to satisfy corporate governance criteria
applicable to NASDAQ listed issuers, those criteria are difficult
to comply with and include, among other things: (a) a
heightened degree of independence of members of the board of
directors with independent directors to, among other things: hold
regular meetings among themselves only; (b) establishment of a
code of conduct addressing compliance with laws; and (c) a
limit on payments to independent directors and their family members
(other than for services on the board of directors).
These
corporate governance requirements and a strict definition of
“independent director” make it more difficult to find
independent directors for our Board of Directors. There is intense
competition for qualified independent directors, including those
persons with accounting experience and financial statement acumen
to serve on audit committees. We believe that continued compliance
with the corporate governance requirements applicable to NASDAQ
listed issuers may be difficult and increase our costs and expenses
as the costs of finding and compensating independent directors
escalate and the costs of administering their new powers and
responsibilities is an added financial burden. If we are unable to
attract and keep a sufficient number of independent directors
willing to take on the responsibilities imposed by such
rules on what we believe to be commercially reasonable terms,
our securities may be delisted from NASDAQ. See—“Being
a ‘Controlled Company’ Exempts Us from Certain Other
Corporate Governance Criteria Applicable to NASDAQ Listed
Issuers.”
Being A “Controlled Company” Exempts Us From Certain
Other Corporate Governance Criteria Applicable To NASDAQ Listed
Issuers.
As a
result of T.C. Leung, the Company’s Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer, beneficially owning the
majority voting power of our Ordinary Shares, we are a
“controlled company” as that term is defined in
rules and regulations applicable to NASDAQ listed issuers. As
a “controlled company,” we are not required to comply
with certain NASDAQ corporate governance criteria including, among
other things, the requirements that the majority of our Board be
independent directors, and their having the authority to approve
director nominations and executive officer
compensation.
We Are Not Subject To Various Corporate Governance Measures, Which
May Result In Shareholders Having Limited
Protections.
Recent
federal legislation, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(“SOX”), has resulted in the adoption of various
corporate governance measures by securities exchanges and NASDAQ
designed to promote the integrity of the corporate management and
the securities markets. Being a “controlled company,”
we are exempt from many, but not all, of those requirements.
Furthermore, the absence of such practices with respect to our
Company may leave our shareholders without protections against
interested director transactions, conflicts of interest and similar
matters.
We May Be Exposed To Potential Risks Relating To Our Internal
Controls Over Financial Reporting.
Pursuant to
Section 404 of SOX, the SEC adopted rules requiring
public companies to include a report of management on the
Company’s internal controls over financial reporting in their
annual reports, including Form 20-F.
We
expend significant resources in developing and maintaining the
necessary documentation and testing procedures required by SOX,
there is a risk that we will not maintain compliance with all of
these requirements.
In the
event we identify significant deficiencies or material weaknesses
in our internal controls that we cannot remediate in a timely
manner our ability to obtain equity or debt financing could suffer
and the market price of our shares could decline.
The Market Price Of Our Securities Has Been Fluctuating
Widely.
During
the past several years, the market price of our Ordinary Shares has
fluctuated widely on occasion. Except for the price declines that
the Company attributes to the current international economic
downturn, the Company knows of no reason for these wide
fluctuations. See – Item 9.C
“Markets.”
There Are Risks In Purchasing Low-Priced Securities.
If our
securities were to be suspended or delisted from NASDAQ, they could
be subject to rules under the Exchange Act which impose
additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell
such securities to persons other than established clients and
“accredited investors.” For transactions covered by
such rules, a broker-dealer must make a special suitability
determination of the purchaser and have received the
purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to the
sale. Consequently, such rules may affect the ability of
broker-dealers to sell our securities and the ability to sell any
of our securities in any secondary market that may develop for such
securities. In the event our securities are no longer listed on
NASDAQ or are not otherwise exempt from the provisions of the
SEC’s “penny stock” rules, such rules may
also affect the ability of broker-dealers and investors to sell our
securities.
There Is No Assurance Of A Continued Public Market For Our
Securities.
There
can be no assurance that a trading market for our Ordinary Shares
will continue.
We May Be Considered To Be A Passive Foreign Investment Company For
The 2016 Calendar Year And May Be A Passive Foreign Investment
Company For Future Years, Which Would Result In Adverse U.S.
Federal Income Tax Consequences To U.S. Holders Of Our Ordinary
Shares.
A
non-U.S. corporation will be considered a passive foreign
investment company (“PFIC”) for U.S. income tax
purposes, for any taxable year if either (i) at least 75% of
its gross income is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of the
value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of
the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that
produce or are held for the production of passive income. The
annual PFIC determination to be made by a U.S. holder of our
ordinary shares is an inherently factual determination and there is
limited guidance regarding the application of the PFIC rules to
specific situations. We currently hold a substantial amount of cash
and cash equivalents, and investments in PRC enterprises, and the
value of our goodwill and other assets may be based in part on the
market price of our ordinary shares, which has experienced
significant fluctuations. Although the determination of PFIC status
is subject to factual uncertainties because it depends upon the
valuation of our ordinary shares, as well as our goodwill and other
assets and income, we are uncertain if we would be considered to be
a PFIC for 2016. In addition, as the determination of PFIC status
is made on an annual basis and depends on variables over which we
have limited control, there can be no assurance that we will not be
a PFIC for 2016 or any future years. If we are a PFIC in any year,
U.S. holders will be subject to certain adverse United States
federal income tax consequences, and are urged to consult with his
or her tax advisor. See— Item 10. “Taxation—United
States Federal Income Taxation .”
If We Become Directly Subject to the Recent Scrutiny Involving
U.S.-Listed Chinese Companies, We May Have to Expend Significant
Resources to Investigate and/or Defend the Matter, Which Could Harm
our Business Operations, Stock Price and Reputation and Could
Result in a Complete Loss of Your Investment in Us.
U.S.
listed companies that have substantial operations in China have
been the subject of intense scrutiny by investors, financial
commentators and regulatory agencies. Much of the scrutiny has
centered on financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, a
lack of effective internal controls over financial reporting and,
in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result of the scrutiny,
the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed China-based companies
that have been the subject of such scrutiny has sharply decreased
in value. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder
lawsuits and/or SEC enforcement actions that are conducting
internal and/or external investigations into the allegations. If we
become the subject of any unwarranted scrutiny, even allegations
that are not true, we may have to expend significant resources to
investigate such allegations and/or defend the Company. Such
investigations or allegations will be costly and time-consuming and
distract our management from our business plan and could result in
our reputation being harmed and our stock price could decline as a
result of such allegations, regardless of the truthfulness of the
allegations.
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
ITEM 4A. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COMPANY
The
Company was organized under the laws of the BVI on
September 30, 1996 for the purposes of raising capital and for
acquiring all the outstanding capital stock of Euro Tech (Far East)
Limited, a Hong Kong corporation involved in the distribution of
advanced water treatment equipment (“Far East”). In
March 1997, the Company acquired all the issued and
outstanding capital stock of Far East and it became a wholly-owned
subsidiary and was the primary operational entity of the
Company.
Yixing
Pact Environmental Technology Company Limited
(“Yixing”) and Pact Asia Pacific Limited
(“Pact,” collectively with “Yixing”,
“Pact-Yixing”), companies engaged in the water and
waste-water treatment solution business, became our majority-owned
subsidiaries in 2005, and we acquired additional two percent (2%)
and five percent (5%) equity interests in Pact and Yixing in
January 2010 and July 2011, respectively.
Pact-Yixing,
situated in Shanghai, specialize in the design, manufacture and
operation of water and waste-water treatment plants in several
industries situated in China. Pact-Yixing, through agents and
business alliances, also conduct similar operations in the Middle
East.
We
established Shanghai Euro Tech Environmental Engineering Company
Ltd. (“Shanghai Environmental”) as a wholly-owned
subsidiary under the laws of the PRC, to carry on our environmental
engineering department with that line of business and its personnel
transferred from our subsidiary, Far East. Shanghai Environmental
is focusing on our water and waste-water treatment engineering
business. We are scaling down this company to avoid duplication of
costs and efforts as we have a 58% equity interest in Pact-Yixing
which operate similar business activities. Shanghai Environmental
is just completing its outstanding projects and had made an
operating loss of approximately US$ 558,000 in Fiscal
2015 and $105,000 in Fiscal 2016 and we plan to wind it down upon
collection of outstanding account receivable.
China’s rapid
economic growth had led it to become one of the world’s
largest emitters of sulfur dioxide. The damage due to acid rain
caused by sulfur dioxide is vast, and is also affecting the
neighboring countries as air currents transport sulfur dioxide. To
tackle these environmental and geo-political issues, China has
established targets to reduce key pollutants, namely, sulfur
dioxide, nitrogen oxides and suspended particulates. Heavy
polluters are being warned to reduce their emissions or face
penalties. We believe that as a result, the demand of
desulphurization and dust removal equipment will increase
accordingly.
Far
East owns a 19.7% equity interest in Zhejiang Tianlan Environmental
Protection Technology Company Limited (“Blue Sky”),
founded in 2000. Blue Sky provides design and general contracting
services, equipment manufacturing, installation, testing and
operation management for the purification treatment of industrial
waste gases (specifically as desulphurization, flue gas
de-nitration, dust removal) emitted from various boilers and
industrial furnaces of power plants, steelworks and chemical
plants. By securing an equity stake in Blue Sky’s business,
we have a strategic partner to work within China’s
environmental protection business. With Blue Sky’s technology
and technical support, we believe we are able to provide services
and environmental solutions not only for water and waste-water
treatment but also for air pollution control for industrial clients
in China. Blue Sky's revenue increased during Fiscal 2014 and
Fiscal 2015, and decreased during Fiscal 2016, and net income has
steadily increased during Fiscal 2014, Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal
2016. Blue Sky has
received approval from the National Equities Exchange and
Quotations (“NEEQ”) to list its shares on the New Third
Board in the PRC on November 17, 2015 and is now listed in the New
Third Board. The New Third Board is a national over-the-counter
market in the PRC regulated by China Securities Regulatory
Commission, and managed by NEEQ. New Third Board serves as a
trading platform for small and medium-sized enterprises. Any new
issuance of Blue Sky's shares on the New Third Board will dilute
our ownership in Blue Sky. On the other hand, the New Third Board
provides us with an exit channel to sell our position in Blue Sky
if the price is attractive.
We have
a 20% equity interest in Zhejiang Jia Huan Electronic Co. Ltd.,
(“Jia Huan”). Jia Huan has been in the environmental
protection business since 1969. Approximately 95% of Jia
Huan’s business is related to air pollution control and less
than 5% is related to water and wastewater treatment. Jia Huan
designs and manufactures automatic control systems and electric
voltage control equipment for electrostatic precipitators which are
used as air purification equipment for power plants, cement plants
and incinerators to remove and collect dust and pollutants from
exhaust stacks.
In
Fiscal 2016, Blue Sky and Jia Huan made income contribution of
approximately US$689,000 and US$313,000, respectively, to the
Company. In Fiscal 2015, Blue Sky and Jia Huan made income
contribution of approximately US$663,000 and US$187,000,
respectively, to the Company. In Fiscal 2014, Blue Sky and Jia
Huan made income contribution of approximately US$453,000 and
US$152,000, respectively, to the Company. China’s 13th
Five Year Plan promotes a cleaner and greener economy, with strong
commitments to environmental management and protection, clean
energy and emissions controls, ecological protection and security,
and the development of green industries. This demonstrates a clear
focus on charting a sustainable course for the economy in the
long-term and the desire to play a global role in curbing
greenhouse gas emissions. Management believes such development in
the Chinese government policy will benefit our business as well as
those of these two affiliates.
ITEM 4B. BUSINESS OVERVIEW
The
Company had been primarily a distributor of a wide range of
advanced water treatment equipment, laboratory instruments,
analyzers, test kits and related supplies and power generation
equipment (including recorders and power quality analyzers). The
Company acts as an exclusive and non-exclusive distributor for
well-known manufacturers of such equipment, primarily to commercial
customers and governmental agencies or instrumentalities in Hong
Kong and the PRC.
The
Company distributes products through its Hong Kong headquarters,
its trading companies and representative offices in Beijing,
Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Xi´An, and Shenyang. The
Company’s PRC trading subsidiaries are Chongqing Euro Tech
Rizhi Technology Company, Rizhi Euro Tech Investments (Shaanxi)
Company Limited and Guangzhou Euro Tech Environmental Equipment
Company Limited.
Laboratory
instruments, analyzers and test kits are used to analyze the
chemical content and ascertain the level of impurities or other
contaminants in water. The Company distributes analytical re-agents
and chemicals to support testing systems of laboratory and portable
instruments, process analyzers and portable test kits and assist in
the analysis process. The Company offers a wide variety of test
kits to test water quality. The Company believes that these
portable test kits are easy to use and preadapted for rugged field
use. These test kits are used to monitor drinking water
distribution systems.
Laboratory and
portable instruments generally consist of analytical instruments
including, but not limited to the following: spectrophotometers,
colorimeters, turbidimeters, ion-selective electrodes, chemical
oxygen demand apparati, digestion apparati, and precision re-agent
dispensing devices which are used to test and monitor impurities
and contaminants in water systems. See –
“Glossary.”
The
Company also distributes continuous-reading process analyzers,
process turbidimeters, pH controllers and analyzer accessories.
These products are generally used to monitor and control drinking
water quality to ensure that water treatment procedures comply with
regulatory standards. See –
“Glossary.”
In
2005, we acquired Pact-Yixing to allow the Company to bid on larger
water, waste-water and power generation projects. The Company
believes that the Pact-Yixing business is complementary to the
Company’s business as the Company expects to have a
competitive advantage by offering customers and potential customers
not only hardware but solutions to engineering problems as
well.
Pact-Yixing
completed a substantial number of industrial water and waste-water
treatment projects in the PRC. The majority of these projects are
for large multinational manufacturing facilities for clients from
the USA, Europe and Japan. Process design as well as mechanical and
electrical engineering are completed in-house and manufacturing
contracted to approved fabricators of components. Fabrication
drawings are also done in-house for submittal to said fabricators
under the supervision of Pact-Yixing’s quality control
engineers.
Pact-Yixing’s
clients cover a varied spectrum of industries covering
semiconductor, pharmaceutical, petrochemicals, auto and auto parts,
steel, food and beverage and beauty products.
The
water and waste-water treatment processes applied at Pact-Yixing
cover chemical, physical, biological and membrane separation.
Combinations of those processes are normally used to treat a
specific industrial process feed or effluent. With respect to the
water treatment side of Pact-Yixing’s business, they design
and build filtration equipment, ion-exchange softeners and
demineralizers, reverse osmosis, electro-deionization, chemical
treatment systems and package type mobile water treatment plants.
As for waste-water treatment, Pact-Yixing design and build
biological treatment systems, oil coalescers, dissolved air
flotation, lamella clarifiers, chemical reactor tanks,
ultrafiltration, microfiltration, dewatering systems and package
type mobile sewage treatment plants. Biological treatment plants
cover both aerobic and anaerobic processes. State-of-the-art
aerobic processes of SBR (sequential batch reactors) and MBR
(membrane biological reactors) are technologies also covered by
Pact-Yixing. See
– “Glossary.”
In
2006, Pact-Yixing commenced selling water and waste-water treatment
equipment. Pact and Engineering FZC (“PACTFZC”), a
Middle Eastern water treatment company based in Dubai, and a third
party formed a joint venture (the “JV”). Pact invested
US$300,000 and had a 60% controlling interest of the JV, PACTFZC,
majority owned by George Hayek, Pact-Yixing’s managing
director, and a third party each invested US$100,000 in
consideration for 20% interests. In 2013, The JV was liquidated and
its business has been taken over by Pact-Yixing.
We
continue the process of shifting our emphasis from the distribution
of instruments and equipment to engineering and manufacturing
activities. Revenues from our trading activities have fallen-off as
a substantial number of our suppliers have been selling their
products into China directly and through other distributors. Many
of these other distributors are local Chinese companies and can
operate with a lower overhead.
During
Fiscal 2014, there were slight increases in revenues from trading
activities. Revenue from Pact-Yixing decreased in 2014, while
Shanghai Environmental incurred an operating loss of $238,000. In
addition, we incurred research and development costs of
approximately US$631,000 in 2015 relating to BWTS and Pact-Yixing
incurred an operating loss of approximately US$402,000. This
resulted in operating loss from engineering activities of
approximately US$640,000.
During
Fiscal 2015, there were slight increases in revenues from trading
activities. Revenue from Pact-Yixing decreased in 2015, while
Shanghai Environmental incurred an operating loss of $558,000. In
addition, we incurred research and development costs of
approximately US$851,000 in 2015 relating to BWTS and Pact-Yixing
incurred an operating loss of approximately US$1,084,000. This
resulted in operating loss from engineering activities of
approximately US$1,624,000.
During
Fiscal 2016, there were increases in revenues from both trading and
engineering activities. Revenue from Pact-Yixing increased
significantly in 2016 to $8,757,000, while Shanghai Environmental
incurred an operating loss of $105,000. In addition, we incurred
research and development costs of approximately US$475,000 in 2016
relating to BWTS and Pact-Yixing incurred an operating loss of
approximately US$104,000. This resulted in operating loss from
engineering activities of approximately US$209,000. We continue to
scale down Shanghai Environmental to avoid duplication of costs and
efforts, as Pact-Yixing operate similar business activities, and we
plan to wind it down upon collection of outstanding account
receivable.
Our Growth Strategy
We are
focusing our trading activities in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong
under a more productive operation. These cities are located close
to our Hong Kong headquarters, our customers are more concentrated
in these cities rendering customer support easier while incurring
less travel expenses and while supporting distributorships in these
cities as opposed to distributorships throughout China. We will
continue our efforts to control costs to enhance operational
efficiency. At the same time we will place greater focus at the
manufacturing level on the chemical reagent business that the
Company believes is very profitable and easier to sell. These
chemical reagents are manufactured in our plant in Shanghai. These
reagents include but are not limited to chemical oxygen demand
(COD) analyzers, fine carbon tetrachloride, total nitrogen and free
chlorine. These reagents are used by water and wastewater treatment
plants and other industries such as beverage, as consumables with
the water analyzers to monitor the quality of the water/ discharged
water. To date, our existing distribution network for these
products has not been that effective, although in 2013 we received
three engineering contracts from two foreign companies outside
China and one company in China worth about US$ 2.3 million. Two of
said contracts were completed in Fiscal 2013 and the remaining one
contract was completed in Fiscal 2014. In 2016, we received a
contract worth about US$ 6 million from a foreign mobile phone
company that covers design, supply,
installation and the commissioning of industrial wastewater
treatment and scrubber systems for its OEM plants in Shanghai,
Shenzhen and Zhengzhou, China. A major portion of this
contract was completed in Fiscal 2016. We have been investing
significant portion of our resources to developing our BWTS for the
global market and feet positive about our ability to expand our
worldwide customer base by working closely and actively with some
international engineering companies because of Pact-Yixing’s
competitive prices and the high quality of its services, although
no assurance can be given.
Our
plans for the near term also include use of our
“on-line” product sales (via www.yibaynet.com.cn) will
allow us to continue to offer products at lower prices than our
competitors. This website is not that effective at this
moment.
The
Company believes that by assembling the products it distributes it
may realize increased gross profit margins and greater revenues and
net income than if it remains only a product distributor. During
the next twelve months, we intend to assemble and/or manufacture
additional products, and seek opportunities with our suppliers to
assemble their products, secure manufacturing and/or assembly
facilities. We begin to promote our BWTS product that currently
treats wastewater at a rate of 200, 300, 500, 750, 1,200 and 1,250
cubic meters per hour.
We also
anticipate that an additional US$250,000 in research and
development costs will be expended on similar projects and
potential research and development projects for the development of
BWTS, portable ballast water checker, air and water testing
equipment and monitoring equipment during Fiscal 2017.
Future Planning and Expansion
We
continuously search for products and equipment with substantial
market potential for design and development. For example,
international shipping ballast water cargo stowaway species and
microorganisms that create unpredictable ecosystem contaminations
as ballast water tanks are emptied or refilled at ports of call.
The International Maritime Organization (“IMO”)
requires that the Ballast Water Management (“BWM”)
Convention will enter into force 12 months after ratification by 30
States, representing 35% of world merchant shipping tonnage. If and
when it goes into force, all ocean going vessels will be fitted
with dedicated water treatment systems treating ballast water
before port-of-call discharge. Pact has been attempting to
develop a non-chemical BWTS since late 2010. In 2012, Pact
successfully completed and passed the land based test requirement,
and, in 2014, PACT passed ship board testing and obtained
CCS certification in the PRC and compliance with the IMO
convention. In September 2016,
the International Maritime
Organization had received acceptance from 52 States,
representing 35.1441% of world merchant shipping tonnage.
The
Ballast Water Management Convention will enter into force
12 months after this ratification, i.e. September 8,
2017. The Company
has since received a number of enquiries for its BWTS from China,
Hong Kong, Russia, India and other
Southeast Asian countries, despite worldwide recession in shipping
industries. We anticipate that the costs of any such
acquisition or product development would be drawn from our general
working capital and, possibly, by seeking strategic partners such
as companies in the BWM Convention shipping industries or funding
raising from substantial investors, and by private sales of our
securities. We have no commitments or received no indications of
interest for the private sales of our securities.
Product Distribution and Other Services
Scientific Instruments. The Company distributes
analytical instruments, environmental quality monitoring
instruments, sample pre-treatment equipment and general purpose
laboratory instruments. Analytical instruments include, but are not
limited to, chromatographs, mass spectrometers, flow injector
analyzers, automated sample preparation workstations and atomic
spectrometers. Environmental monitoring instruments include both
air and water quality monitoring instruments. Air quality
monitoring instruments are generally divided into those which
monitor ambient (i.e., atmospheric) air, and those which monitor
pollution sources. The revenue from sales of air quality monitoring
instruments is nominal as the Company has not been able to acquire
a distributorship for air quality instruments from brand name
manufactures that we believe engage in direct customer sales or
rely on their existing distributors. Sample pre-treatment
equipment is used to clean-up the sample prior to chemical analysis
for checking pesticides and drug residues in food. Additionally,
the Company offers general purpose laboratory instruments including
a variety of water quality monitoring and analysis equipment, such
as continuous reading process analyzers, process turbidimeters, pH
controllers, and test kits for monitoring chemical content in water
(i.e., chlorine, fluorides, etc.). See –
“Glossary.”
Customers for the
analytical instruments include government agencies, academic and
research institutions, major laboratories and beverage producers,
including analytical system to the Hong Kong Government Laboratory
for analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and pesticides
in the environment. Customers for water quality monitoring
instruments also include government agencies. Customers for sample
pre-treatment equipment are mainly different laboratories of major
cities under the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection
and Quarantine in the PRC. The Company derived approximately 75.0%,
64.7% and 67.5% of its revenues from the sale of scientific
instruments during Fiscal 2016, 2015 and Fiscal 2014,
respectively.
Power Solutions
and Process Automation Products. The Company
distributes general testing and measuring equipment including
multi-channel digital and analogue recorders, signal amplifiers and
calibration equipment for energy conservation, renewable energy
equipment, power quality analyzers, continuous emissions monitoring
systems and air pollution control systems to industries including
power plants, railway and aero-space industries, utilities,
educational institutions and telecommunications
companies.
The
Company also provides process control systems specifically designed
for the industrial needs of clients including sensors, temperature
gauges, pressure gauges, power and energy consumption meters, flow
meters, valves, temperature and pressure transmitters and control
devices, temperature and pressure calibrators, moisture, power,
energy and harmonic analyzers. Customers for the foregoing
distributed products include government water supply agencies,
water treatment facilities, power and electric companies,
petrochemical plants and instrument manufacturers.
In
conjunction with the distribution of products such as programmable
logic controllers, telemetry units and supervisory control and data
acquisition (SCADA) systems and software, the Company also provides
systems engineering to government agencies, waste-water treatment
and power generation plants and beverage producers. Specific
services provided include automated control system design, the
operation and management of various waste-water, water and power
generation projects. We endeavor to introduce, develop, and promote
new and advanced technologies, products, and appropriate technical
developments from abroad. We have also been cooperating with
established technology companies and engage in systems and special
projects in Programmable Logic Control, Telemetry unit, SCADA
systems, Human Machine Interface Software and Sequential Event
Recording.
The
Company derived approximately 23.6%, 33.6% and 31.2% of revenues
from the sale of Power Solutions and Process during Fiscal 2016,
2015 and Fiscal 2014, respectively.
Technical Support. The
Company’s technical support staff provides customers with
maintenance, installation assistance, and calibration services, and
assists sales personnel in giving technical advice to and
performing product demonstrations for customers. The Company
derived approximately 1.4%, 1.7% and 1.3% of its revenues from
technical support operations during Fiscal 2016, 2015 and Fiscal
2014, respectively.
Customers. During Fiscal 2016, the
Company distributed products to approximately 1,000 customers,
located in Hong Kong, the PRC and Macau such as the Hong Kong
Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong Water Supplies
Department, Government Laboratory, Drainage Services Department,
and various Environmental Monitoring Centers in the PRC. The
Company does not believe that any single customer is material to
its operations.
Manufacturing and Product Assembly Operations
The
Company, through its PRC subsidiary, Shanghai Euro Tech Limited
located in the Pudong Jin Qiao Export Processing Zone of Shanghai,
engages in the development, production, sales and servicing of
environmental equipment, including the development of modern
laboratory analyzers, on-line measuring equipment and other
analyzers for chemicals. Our products are “tailor-made”
for the diversified needs of equipment users. Main products include
infrared photometric oil analyzer (“IPOA”), COD
analyzers, total organic carbon (“TOC”) analyzer,
turbidity meters, total suspended solid analyzers, dissolved oxygen
analyzers, various types of spectrophotometers as well as a full
spectrum of matching chemical reagents. We also offer turbidity
meters manufactured by the Company and directed at water treatment
plants, environmental monitoring status, and hydrological stations.
We also offer our own TOC analytical instrument that measures the
degree of the pollution. We have also upgraded other existing
instruments and developed a quick response COD test instrument for
use on surface water, underground water and domestic and industrial
wastewater. Additionally, we offer a flue gas emissions analyzer
for use in environmental compliance monitoring. We also
developed energy meters (devices measuring electric energy
consumption and corresponding carbon dioxide emissions) and water
toxicity analysis instruments. Although it takes substantial time,
effort and expense to develop, test and market a product, our sales
of the TOC analyzer and the flue gas emissions analyzer have been
nominal to date. We have been unable to find a suitable market to
sell the energy meters. We have developed evaporator for extraction
of organic solvents to remove the impurities prior to chemical
analysis and are developing a larger size evaporator. Our customers
are analyzing environmental pollutants, toxic substances such as
pesticides and drug residues in food, drugs in clinical or forensic
applications. We started test sale of this product in second half
of fiscal 2015 and expect to receive more orders in 2017 (sold 9
sets in 2016). We are working on the development of a handheld
portable ballast water checker for quick indications of gross
exceedance of the Ballast Water compliance standards. Shanghai Euro
Tech Limited achieved its economic breakeven point in Fiscal
2014.
Sources of Supply
The
Company distributes products manufactured by a substantial number
of major American, European and Japanese corporations, including
Thermo, Stanford, Hach and Hioki, which are the Company’s
largest suppliers, with purchases from them accounting for
approximately 33%, 11%, 6% and 6% during Fiscal 2014,
39%, 11%, 6%, and 5% during Fiscal 2015, and 63%, 7%, 5%
and 5% during fiscal 2016, respectively. The Company has
exclusivity agreements for specified geographic areas with many of
its suppliers for certain products. Those agreements do not
encompass all products distributed by the Company or all of the
market areas serviced by the Company. In addition, some of these
agreements are memorialized not as formal contracts but rather
through other acknowledgements or correspondence which may contain
a vague, if any, description of the terms and conditions of such
agreement or arrangement, and therefore may be
unenforceable. The Company has agreements with Hach. The
Company has only an Authorization Letter from Thermo granting the
Company rights to sell Thermo’s Mass Spec Products in Hong
Kong and Macau which is valid until December 31, 2017. The Company
has only an Authorization Letter from Stanford appointing the
Company as Stanford’s sales representative in the PRC and
Hong Kong. The Company has only an Authorization Letter from Hioki
appointing the Company as Hioki’s sole agent in Hong Kong and
Macau. Although alternative sources of supply exist, there can be
no assurance that the termination of the Company’s
relationship with any of the above or other vendors would not have
an adverse effect on operations.
Regulatory
Environment
Concerns about and
awareness of pollution problems and environmental issues have grown
at all levels of PRC government as the PRC experienced economic
growth. Environmental protection laws and strict regulations have
been enacted and are buttressed by increased budget allocations for
environmental regulation, monitoring and enforcement. The
PRC’s primary environmental protection agency is the Ministry
of Environmental Protection (“MEP”), under which there
are Environment Protection Bureaus in each city and county.
According to information provided by MEP, there are over 2,700
monitoring stations to collect and analyze the environmental data
of each city and county. MEP has identified over 14,400
major industrial polluters, including wastewater discharging
enterprises, flue gas emitting enterprises, municipal wastewater
treatment plants and heavy metal producing enterprises, for
pollution control. MEP is considering to adding on-line toxicity as
one of the parameters for on-line monitoring stations in China. The
PRC government established ambitious targets in its 12th Five-Year
Program (2011-2015) to slash emissions of pollutants, including
sulfur dioxide emissions and COD by 8% and ammonia nitrogen and
nitrogen dioxide by 10%. The PRC government passed a law requiring
power distributors to combat global warming. A central government
fund, financed by a national tariff increase, will subside the
tariff gap between more expensive renewable energy and the national
average tariff. Preferential policies also encourage construction
of renewable energy projects, projects in poorer interior regions
that are often rich in water, solar and wind resources. In 2015,
COD, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide
emissions declined by 3%, 3%, 5% and 9%, respectively. The overall
objectives its 13th Five-Year Program (2016-2020) are:
to improve the overall quality of the ecological environment,
significantly reducing emissions of major pollutants. The Company
has supplied water and air quality monitoring and analytic
instruments to these monitoring stations for several years. There
can be no assurance that the agencies will continue to use the
Company’s products for these purposes, or that other market
competitors will not enter the market with superior products,
distribution systems or more competitive prices. See –
“Competition.”
Competition
The
Company faces competition from other distributors of substantially
similar products as well as the manufacturers of such products, and
in both foreign and Chinese markets. The Company faces its
principal competition from manufacturers and other distributors of
its core products located in Hong Kong and the PRC. Moreover, the
Company has implemented plans to assemble products of the kind that
it presently distributes (see – “Manufacturing and
Product Assembly Operations”). Assembly operations have
developed to the stage where some products have already been
presented to the market and the Company is in direct and
unavoidable competition with certain of its vendors. There can be
no assurance that the existence of this direct competition will not
impair the Company’s ability or such competitor’s
willingness to continue providing other products for continued
distribution by the Company and that such a development would not
materially adversely affect the Company’s core
business.
During
Fiscal 2016, Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2014, the Company’s gross
profit margins were approximately 22%, 22% and 26%, respectively.
The Company believes that it competes with the PRC manufacturers on
the basis of quality and technology. The Company believes it offers
foreign-manufactured products which are of higher quality and use
more advanced technology than products manufactured in the PRC. The
Company believes that it competes with foreign manufacturers and
other distributors of their products on the basis of the
Company’s more extensive distribution network and an
established reputation. Pact-Yixing focuses on a market of
providing water and waste water treatment services to multinational
companies. The Company competes in this market based upon the
quality of its products and having a knowledgeable staff, but faces
competition from large PRC and multinational engineering companies,
that, in the Company’s view, market their services based upon
low pricing as opposed to quality of service.
Website
The
Company has an internet platform located at
http://www.chinah2o.com. The website is directed toward
environmental businesses in China. The website provides
environmental news, directories of western suppliers, potential
clients in China, and advertisement space but has not generated
sufficient external revenue and is now being operated directly
through the Company instead of through a subsidiary deregistered in
February 2012.
The
Company, through its subsidiary, Euro Tech Trading (Shanghai)
Limited, a PRC corporation, has an internet platform. The website
is located at http://www.yibaynet.com.cn. The website is an
instrument sourcing platform under which potential customers can
ask for sales quotations and place orders via internet. It can
replace some functions of the closed retail shops.
Sales and Marketing
The
Company distributes products through its principal office located
in Hong Kong and its representative PRC offices located in Beijing,
and its wholly-owned trading/retail companies and their
representative offices in Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenyang
and Xi’an. During Fiscal 2014, the Company had a marketing
and sales force of 27 people who are paid a salary plus a
sales-based commission. During Fiscal 2015, the Company had a
marketing and sales force of 26 people who are paid a
salary plus a sales-based commission. During Fiscal 2016, the
Company had a marketing and sales force of 21 people who are
paid a salary plus a sales-based commission. Our sales
staff assists customers in selecting the equipment, auxiliary parts
and products to suit customer specifications. We will continue to
consolidate our operations by closing companies and offices that do
not appear to be contributing to the Company.
Our
remaining sales subsidiaries are located in: Shanghai, Chongqing,
Guangzhou and Xi’an.
Our
remaining representative office is located in: Beijing and
Shenyang. The representative office in Beijing is a liaison office
of Far East, and the representative office in Shenyang is a sales
office of Shanghai Euro Tech Limited while the sales subsidiaries
are actually engaged in sales of the Company's products and
assisting customers in the use of our products.
Litigation
Shanghai Euro Tech
Environmental Engineering Limited (“Shanghai
Environmental”) is a plaintiff in a civil action claim from
the defendant, GuangXi Tiandong Industrial Investment Development
Co., Ltd. for outstanding accounts receivable debts of
approximately of US$416,000. The litigation has not been concluded,
but having taken legal advice, the directors are of the opinion
that no provision is required to be made in the consolidated
financial statements since based on the evidence that Shanghai
Environmental has a reasonable chance of recovering the whole
debts.
ITEM 4C. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Euro
Tech Holdings Company Limited (the “Company”,
“we”, or “us”) was incorporated in the
British Virgin Islands on September 30, 1996.
Far
East is the principal operating subsidiary of the
Company. It is principally engaged in the marketing and
trading of water and waste water related process control,
analytical and testing instruments, disinfection equipment,
supplies and related automation systems in Hong Kong and in the
People’s Republic of China (the
“PRC”).
Details
of the Company’s current significant subsidiaries are
summarized as follows:
Name
|
|
Percentage of
equity ownership
|
|
Place of
incorporation
|
|
Principal
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subsidiaries:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Euro
Tech (Far East) Limited
|
|
100%
|
|
Hong
Kong
|
|
Marketing
and trading of water and waste water related process control,
analytical and testing instruments, disinfection equipment,
supplies and related automation systems
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Euro
Tech Trading (Shanghai) Limited
|
|
100%
|
|
PRC
|
|
Marketing
and trading of water and waste water related process control,
analytical and testing instruments, disinfection equipment,
supplies and related automation systems
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shanghai Euro Tech
Limited
|
|
100%
|
|
PRC
|
|
Manufacturing
of analytical and testing equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shanghai Euro Tech
Environmental Engineering Company Limited
|
|
100%
|
|
PRC
|
|
Undertaking
water and waste-water treatment engineering projects
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chongqing Euro Tech
Rizhi Technology Co., Ltd
|
|
100%
|
|
PRC
|
|
Marketing
and trading of water and waste water related process control,
analytical and testing instruments, disinfection equipment,
supplies and related automation systems
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rizhi
Euro Tech Instrument (Shaanxi) Co., Ltd
|
|
100%
|
|
PRC
|
|
Marketing and
trading of water and waste water related process control,
analytical and testing instruments, disinfection equipment,
supplies and related automation systems
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guangzhou Euro Tech
Environmental Equipment Co., Ltd
|
|
100%
|
|
PRC
|
|
Marketing and
trading of water and waste water related process control,
analytical and testing instruments, disinfection equipment,
supplies and related automation systems
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yixing
Pact Environmental Technology Co., Ltd
|
|
58%
|
|
PRC
|
|
Design,
manufacture and operation of water and waste water treatment
machinery and equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pact
Asia Pacific Limited
|
|
58%
|
|
British
Virgin Islands
|
|
Selling
of environment protection equipment, undertaking environment
protection projects and providing relevant technology advice,
training and services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Affiliates:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zhejiang Tianlan
Environmental Protection Technology Co. Ltd. (Formerly known as
Zhejiang Tianlan Desulfurization and Dust–Removal Co.
Ltd.)
|
|
19.7%
|
|
PRC
|
|
Design,
general contract, equipment manufacturing, installation, testing
and operation management of the treatment of waste gases
emitted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zhejiang Jia Huan
Electronic Co. Ltd.
|
|
20%
|
|
PRC
|
|
Design
and manufacturing automatic control systems and electric voltage
control equipment for electrostatic precipitators (air purification
equipment)
|
ITEM 4D. PROPERTY, PLANT AND
EQUIPMENT
The
Company has various operating lease agreements for office and
industrial premises. Rental expenses for the year ended December
31, 2016 were approximately US$297,000. Future minimum rental
payments as of December 31, 2016, under the agreements classified
as operating leases with non-cancellable terms amounted to
US$341,000, of which US$225,000 are payable in the year 2017 and
US$116,000 are payable within years 2018 to 2022.
The
Company maintains an executive office at Unit C and D, 18/F Gee
Chang Hong Centre, 65 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong. The Company
occupies approximately 7,000 square feet of office and warehouse
storage space under a two year lease that expires in May 2017
with a monthly rental payment of approximately US$6,000. The
warehouse storage space is used to hold products for distribution
to our customers via common carriers.
The
Company owns approximately 1,200 square feet of space in a building
in Hong Kong. This property is now vacant, and the Company is
looking to sublet it to a third party.
The
Company’s four field and representative offices are rented by
the Company pursuant to short-term leases with an aggregate rent of
approximately US$1,616 per month.
Euro
Tech Trading (Shanghai) Ltd. has two offices rented pursuant to
short term leases, at an aggregate monthly rent of approximately
US$1,030. Shanghai Euro Tech Limited’s premises are rented
pursuant to a short term lease for a monthly rent of approximately
US$3,136. Shanghai Euro Tech Environmental Engineering Company,
Ltd.’s premises are also rented pursuant to a short term
lease for a monthly rent of approximately US$1,439.
Pact
occupies a 700 square meter facility in Shanghai, pursuant to a
three year lease expiring in January 2017, providing for a
monthly rent of approximately US$8,127.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND
PROSPECTS
Overview. The Company is engaged in two
different major segments, namely trading and manufacturing and
engineering.
For the
trading segments, the Company is a distributor of a wide range of
advanced water treatment equipment, laboratory instruments,
analyzers, test kits and related supplies and power generation
equipment (including recorders and power quality
analyzers).
For the
engineering segment, the Company, through its PRC subsidiary,
Shanghai Euro Tech Limited located in the Pudong Jin Qiao Export
Processing Zone of Shanghai, engages in the development,
engineering, production, sales and servicing of environmental
protection equipment, and energy conservation and related products.
Through its majority owned subsidiaries, Pact-Yixing, its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai Environmental, and its minority
owned affiliates, Blue Sky and Jia Huan, the Company also engages
in water and waste-water treatment engineering and air pollution
control business.
ITEM 5A. OPERATING RESULTS
Background - Political and Economic Conditions in Hong Kong and the
PRC
The
Company’s operations are located almost entirely within, and
revenues are almost entirely generated from, Hong Kong and the PRC.
Set forth below are the approximate percentage of the
Company’s sales made to customers in the PRC and Hong Kong
for the fiscal years indicated:
Fiscal Year
|
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
58%
|
33%
|
2015
|
51%
|
48%
|
2016
|
47%
|
52%
|
Sales
to customers situated in Macau and elsewhere through Fiscal 2016
were nominal. This makes the Company particularly susceptible to
changes in the political and economic climate of either Hong Kong
or the PRC.
Hong Kong. Hong Kong has been one
of the prime centers for commercial activity and economic
development recently in Southeast Asia. On July 1, 1997,
sovereignty over Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom
to the PRC. As provided in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and
the Basic Law, the Hong Kong SAR is provided a high degree of
autonomy except in foreign and defense affairs. The Basic Law
provides that the Hong Kong SAR is to have its own legislature,
legal and judicial system and full economic autonomy for 50 years
after the transfer of sovereignty. Based on the current political
conditions and the Company’s understanding of the Basic Law,
the Company does not believe that the transfer of sovereignty over
Hong Kong has had or will have an adverse impact on its financial
and operating environment. Although the Chinese government has
pledged to maintain the economic and political autonomy of Hong
Kong over its internal affairs, there is no assurance that such
pledge will continue to be honored if there are changes in the
Chinese political or economic climate. Sales in Hong Kong,
expressed as a percentage of our revenue, increased by 7% in Fiscal
2013 as compared with Fiscal 2012. Sales in Hong Kong, expressed as
a percentage of our revenue, increased by 1% in Fiscal 2014 as
compared with Fiscal 2013. Sales in Hong Kong, expressed as a
percentage of our revenue, increased by 15% in Fiscal 2015 as
compared with Fiscal 2014. Sales in Hong Kong, expressed as a
percentage of our revenue, increased by 4% in Fiscal 2016 as
compared with Fiscal 2015. See – Item 3D.
“Key Information — Risk Factors.”
PRC. The PRC has been a socialist
state since 1949. For more than half a century, the PRC’s
economy has been, and presently continues to be, a socialist
economy operating under government controls promulgated under
various state plans adopted by central Chinese government
authorities and implemented, to a large extent, by provincial and
local authorities who may set production and development targets.
However, since approximately the early 1980s, the PRC’s
national government has undertaken certain reforms to permit
greater provincial and local economic autonomy and private economic
activities. Any change in political or economic conditions may
substantially adversely affect these reform initiatives and, in
turn, the Company. Sales in the PRC, expressed as a percentage of
total revenue, decreased by 7% in Fiscal 2013 as compared with
Fiscal 2012. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in
engineering revenues from the PRC as a result of competition from
companies offering similar services, which we believe to be of
lower quality than our services, at lower prices. Sales in the PRC,
expressed as a percentage of total revenue, decreased by 8% in
Fiscal 2014 as compared with Fiscal 2013. The decrease was
primarily due to a decrease in engineering revenues from the PRC as
a result of competition from companies offering similar services,
which we believe to be of lower quality than our services, at lower
prices. Sales in the PRC, expressed as a percentage of total
revenue, decreased by 7% in Fiscal 2015 as compared with Fiscal
2014. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in engineering
revenues from the PRC as a result of keen competition under the
current tough microeconomic environment. Sales in the
PRC, expressed as a percentage of total revenue, decreased by 4% in
Fiscal 2016 as compared with Fiscal 2015. The decrease was
primarily due to the fact that the increase in sales in PRC were
less than the overall increase in sales of the Company. See –
Item 3D. “Key Information — Risk
Factors.”
Results from Operations
The
following operating and financial review should be read in
conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes
thereto appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. All financial
data referred to in the following discussion has been prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States (“US GAAP”).
The
following table presents selected statement of operations data
expressed in thousands of US$ and as a percentage of revenue
for the Company’s fiscal years indicated below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
22,478
|
100%
|
18,302
|
100%
|
18,822
|
100%
|
18,602
|
100%
|
21,645
|
100%
|
Cost of
revenue
|
17,527
|
78.0%
|
14,259
|
77.9%
|
13,991
|
74.3%
|
13,138
|
70.6%
|
15,480
|
71.5%
|
Gross
Profit
|
4,951
|
22.0%
|
4,043
|
22.1%
|
4,831
|
25.7%
|
5,464
|
29.4%
|
6,165
|
28.5%
|
Selling and
administrative Expenses
|
5,602
|
24.9%
|
5,997
|
32.8%
|
5,802
|
30.8%
|
5,719
|
30.7%
|
6,224
|
28.8%
|
(Loss)/income
before income Taxes
|
(640)
|
-2.8%
|
(1,904)
|
-10.4%
|
(879)
|
-4.7%
|
(157)
|
-0.8%
|
13
|
0.1%
|
Income taxes
(expenses)/credit
|
(228)
|
-1.0%
|
47
|
0.3%
|
(18)
|
-0.1%
|
(73)
|
-0.4%
|
142
|
0.7%
|
Equity in income of
Affiliates
|
1,002
|
4.5%
|
850
|
4.6%
|
605
|
3.2%
|
325
|
1.7%
|
9
|
0.1%
|
Net
income/(loss)
|
158
|
0.7%
|
(1,007)
|
-5.5%
|
(292)
|
-1.6%
|
95
|
0.5%
|
(120)
|
-0.6%
|
Net loss/(income)
attributable to Non-controlling interest
|
73
|
0.3%
|
391
|
2.1%
|
169
|
0.9%
|
(113)
|
-0.6%
|
(309)
|
-1.4%
|
Net income/(loss)
attributable to the Company
|
231
|
1.0%
|
(616)
|
-3.4%
|
(123)
|
-0.7%
|
(18)
|
-0.1%
|
(429)
|
-2.0%
|
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to Fiscal Year
Ended December 31, 2015
Revenue; Gross Profit and Cost of Revenue.
Revenue increased by approximately US$4,176,000 or 22.8% to
approximately US$22,478,000 in Fiscal 2016 from approximately
US$18,302,000 in Fiscal 2015. Revenue from trading and
manufacturing activities and engineering activities increased by
approximately US$1,465,000 and US$2,711,000, respectively. The
increase in revenues from engineering activities was principally
due to receipt of a contract from a foreign mobile phone company.
Pact-Yixing’s revenues of approximately US$8,757,000 and
US$5,994,000 were included in our revenues in Fiscal 2016 and
Fiscal 2015, respectively.
Gross
profits increased by approximately US$908,000 or 22.5% to
approximately US$4,951,000 for Fiscal 2016 as compared to
approximately US$4,043,000 for Fiscal 2015. During
Fiscal 2016, the Company’s cost of revenue was approximately
US$17,527,000 or 78.0% of revenues, in comparison to approximately
US$14,259,000, or 77.9% for Fiscal 2015. Cost of revenue expressed
as a percentage of revenue increased by 0.1% in Fiscal 2016 as
compared with Fiscal 2015. Pact-Yixing contributed approximately
US$2,576,000 to our gross profit in Fiscal 2016, an increase of
approximately US$910,000 from Fiscal 2015.
Selling and Administrative Expenses.
Selling and administrative expenses were approximately US$5,602,000
in Fiscal 2016, a decrease of approximately US $395,000 or 6.6%
from approximately US$5,997,000 in Fiscal 2015. The decrease was
largely due to a decrease in research and development expenses
resulting from BWTS. The research and development expenses
decreased from approximately US$851,000 in Fiscal 2015 to
approximately US$475,000 in Fiscal 2016.
Equity in Income of Affiliates. Equity
in income of affiliates was approximately US$1,002,000 in Fiscal
2016, an increase of approximately US$152,000 or 17.9% from
approximately US$850,000 in Fiscal 2015 because of increase in
sales revenue of the affiliates.
Interest Income. Interest income in Fiscal 2016 was
approximately US$18,000 as compared to approximately US$45,000 in
Fiscal 2015.
Other Income. Other income decreased by approximately
US$4,000, or 44%, to approximately US$5,000 in Fiscal 2016 from
approximately US$9,000 in Fiscal 2015. The decrease in other income
was principally due to decrease in rental
income.
Income Taxes. Tax expenses of approximately
US$228,000 in Fiscal 2016 as compared to tax credit of
approximately US$47,000 in Fiscal 2015. This change was
primarily the result of an increase in net taxable income for
Fiscal 2016.
Net Income. Profit from continuing operations was
approximately US$231,000 in Fiscal 2016 as compared to loss from
continuing operations of approximately US$616,000 in Fiscal
2015. This change was primarily due to an increase in sales
revenue, decrease in selling and administrative expenses and
increase in profit contribution from affiliates.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to Fiscal Year
Ended December 31, 2014
Revenue; Gross Profit and Cost of Revenue.
Revenue decreased by approximately US$520,000 or 2.8% to
approximately US$18,302,000 in Fiscal 2015 from
approximately US$ 18,822,000 in Fiscal 2014. Revenue from trading
and manufacturing activities increased by approximately US$609,000,
while revenue from engineering activities decreased by
approximately US$1,129,000. The decrease in revenues from
engineering activities was principally due to keen competition
under the tough economic environment in PRC. Pact-Yixing’s
revenues of approximately US$5,994,000 and US$ 7,060,000 were
included in our revenues in Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2014,
respectively.
Gross
profits increased by approximately US$908,000 or 22.5% to
approximately US$4,951,000 for Fiscal 2016 as compared to
approximately US$4,043,000 for Fiscal 2015. During
Fiscal 2016, the Company’s cost of revenue was approximately
US$17,527,000 or 78.0% of revenues, in comparison to approximately
US$14,259,000, or 77.9% for Fiscal 2015. Cost of revenue expressed
as a percentage of revenue increased by 0.1% in Fiscal 2016 as
compared with Fiscal 2015.
Pact-Yixing contributed approximately US$2,576,000 to our gross
profit in Fiscal 2016, an increase of approximately US$910,000 from
Fiscal 2015.
Selling and Administrative Expenses.
Selling and administrative expenses were approximately US$5,997,000
in Fiscal 2015, a slight increase of approximately US $195,000 or
3.4% from approximately US$ 5,802,000 in Fiscal 2014. The increase
was largely due to increase in the research and development
expenses resulting from BWTS. The research and development expenses
increased from approximately US$631,000 in Fiscal 2014 to
approximately US$851,000 in Fiscal 2015. Such increase was
offset by the reduction of selling and administrative expenses
other than research and development expenses.
Equity in Income of Affiliates. Equity
in income of affiliates was approximately US$850,000 in Fiscal
2015, an increase of approximately US$245,000 or 40% from
approximately US$ 605,000 in Fiscal 2014 because of increase in
sales revenue of the affiliates.
Interest Income. Interest income in Fiscal 2015 was
approximately US$45,000 as compared to approximately US$27,000 in
Fiscal 2014.
Other Income. Other income decreased by approximately
US$56,000 or 86% to approximately US$9,000 in Fiscal 2015 from
approximately US$ 65,000 in Fiscal 2014. The decrease in other
income was principally due to increase in currency exchange loss of
approximately US$63,000.
Income Taxes. Taxes credit of approximately
US$47,000 in Fiscal 2015 as compared to tax expenses of
approximately US$18,000 in Fiscal 2014. This change was
primarily the result of decrease net taxable income for Fiscal
2015.
Net Income. Loss from continuing operations increased
by approximately US$493,000 or 400% to approximately US$616,000 in
Fiscal 2015 from approximately US$123,000 in Fiscal 2014. This
was primarily due to decrease in revenue from engineering
activities and research and development expenses for
BWTS.
ITEM 5B. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL
RESOURCES
The
Company has primarily used its own funds to finance accounts
receivable, inventories, and capital expenditures including
purchases of property, office furniture and equipment, computers
and calibration equipment. The Company has historically met its
cash requirements from cash flows from operations, short-term
borrowings, bank lines of credit, and long-term mortgage bank
loans. The Company expects, but can make no assurances that its
present cash reserves, cash from operations and existing available
bank credit facilities exercises would be sufficient to fund its
future capital expenditure requirements. Working capital at the end
of Fiscal 2016 and Fiscal 2015 were approximately US$ 3,101,000 and
US$ 3,698,000, respectively.
As of
December 31, 2016, we had approximately US$3,751,000 in cash
and cash equivalents, compared to approximately US$2,480,000 in
cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2015. Net cash
provided by / (used in) operating activities was US$153,000 for the
year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to (US$2,972,000) for the
year ended December 31, 2015 and (US$470,000) for the year ended
December 31, 2014. Net cash provided by / (used in) investing
activities was US$390,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016 as
compared to US$675,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015 and
(US$64,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014. Net cash provided
by / (used in) financing activities was US$720,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2016 as a result of short term bank loan to
finance trade purchases, as compared to (US$20,000) for the year
ended December 31, 2015 and (US$0) for the year ended December 31,
2014.
During
Fiscal 2016, the Company generated approximately US$720,000 in
financing activities as a result of short term bank loan to finance
trade purchases.
The
Company had various banking facilities available for overdraft,
import and export credits and foreign exchange contracts
from which the Company could have accessed up to approximately
US$1,660,000 at December 31, 2016. The aforementioned
available credit facilities were obtained on the conditions that,
among other things, the Company not create a charge or lien on its
other assets in favor of third parties without such bank’s
consent, and the Company maintaining a certain level of net worth.
These credit facilities were obtained on the conditions that, among
other things, the Company pledge rented out property of
approximately 1,200 square feet in Hong Kong as security, not
create a charge or lien on its other assets in favor of third
parties without such bank’s consent, and the Company
maintaining a certain level of net worth.
Cash
increased from approximately US$2,480,000 at the end of Fiscal 2015
to US$3,751,000 at the end of Fiscal 2016. The principal reason for
the increase in cash was the net cash inflow from operating,
investing and financing activities.
The
Company’s net accounts receivable decreased from
approximately US$4,500,000 at the end of Fiscal 2015 to
US$4,393,000 at the end of Fiscal 2016. The amount of receivables
subject to collection is expected to be received under normal
commercial trading terms.
The
Company’s inventory decreased from approximately US$557,000
at the end of Fiscal 2015 to US$344,000 at the end of Fiscal
2016.
The
Company’s capital expenditures were approximately US$60,000
and US$21,000 in Fiscal 2016 and Fiscal 2015, respectively. Capital
expenditures during Fiscal 2016 and Fiscal 2015 were incurred
primarily in connection with the purchase of office equipment,
furniture and fixtures. The Company continues to develop new
products, for example, non-chemical ballast water treatment system.
If such products developments are indeed made, the Company may
expect to incur significantly larger capital expenditures, for
which the Company presently intends, but as to which no assurance
can be made, to use existing cash reserves, cash from operations
and available bank credit facilities.
Goodwill
Goodwill related to
the engineering segment which is profitable. As of
December 31, 2016, we completed the annual impairment test.
Based on the result of the first step of the test, the Company
determined that there was no impairment of goodwill.
Anticipated Future Resources and Uses of Cash
The
Company has historically funded its working capital, capital
expenditure, investing and expansions needs from operations,
available bank credit facilities and proceeds from the issuances of
our ordinary shares and expects to continue funding these
requirements from operations and available bank credit facilities.
The Company may use its funds to form strategic alliances with
third parties, invest in product research and development, or
expand its sales offices or, with third parties, seek to acquire
new products or form strategic alliances. The Company expects, but
can make no assurances that its present cash reserves, cash from
operations and existing available bank credit facilities would be
sufficient to fund its future cash requirements.
Inflation
The
Company believes generally that past declining rates of inflation
in the PRC have had a positive effect on its results from
operations. As a result of the recent rise in the rate of inflation
in the PRC, we anticipate increases in the overhead costs of our
PRC affiliates and offices. The Company believes, although no
assurance can be given, that as credit restrictions are gradually
lifted, it will be able to increase prices in the market for its
products and thus realize increased profit margins.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimate
Basis
of Consolidation
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Euro Tech
Holdings Company Limited and its subsidiaries (the
“Group”). The financial statements of variable interest
entities (“VIEs”), as defined by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting
Standards Codification (“ASC”) Subtopic 810-10,
Consolidation, are included in the consolidated financial
statements, if applicable. All material intercompany balances and
transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.
Subsidiaries
and affiliates
A
subsidiary is a company in which the Company, directly or
indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power; has
the power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the
board of directors; to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of
the board of directors or to govern the financial and operating
policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the
shareholders or equity holders.
An
investment in business entities in which the Company does not have
control, but has the ability to exercise significant influence over
operating and financial policies (generally 20-50 percent
ownership), are accounted for using the equity method of
accounting.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Group’s main source of revenue is the sale of water and waste
water related process control, analytical and testing instruments,
disinfection equipment, supplies and related automation systems.
The Company recognises revenue when the product is delivered and
the title is transferred. For certain products where installation
is necessary, revenue is recognised upon completion of
installation. Revenue earned from customer support services, which
represents a minor percentage of total revenues, is recognised when
such services are provided.
Revenues and
profits in long term fixed price contracts or engineering income
are recognised using the percentage of completion method in
accordance with FASB ASC Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition
– Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts. This
approach primarily based on contract costs incurred to date
compared with total estimated contract costs. Changes to total
estimated contract costs or losses, if any, are recognised in the
period they are determined. Revenues recognised in excess of
amounts billed are classified as costs and estimated earnings in
excess of billings on uncompleted contracts. Essentially all of
such amounts are expected to be billed and collected within one
year and are classified as current assets. Billings in excess of
costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts are
classified as current liabilities. When reasonably dependable
estimates cannot be made, construction contract revenues are
recognised using the completed contract method.
Taxation
The
Group accounts for income and deferred tax under the provision of
FASB ASC Subtopic 740-10, Income Taxes, under which deferred taxes
are recognised for all temporary differences between the applicable
tax balance sheets and the consolidated balance sheet. Deferred tax
assets and liabilities are recognised for the estimated future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial
statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and
their respective tax bases. ASC 740-10 also requires the
recognition of the future tax benefits of net operating loss carry
forwards. A valuation allowance is established when the deferred
tax assets are not expected to be realised within a reasonable
period of time.
In
accordance with ASC 740-10, the Company recognises tax benefits
that satisfy a greater than 50% probability threshold and provides
for the estimated impact of interest and penalties for such tax
benefits. The Company did not have such uncertain tax positions in
2016, 2015 and 2014.
Deferred tax assets
and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected
to be applicable for taxable income in the years in which temporary
differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on
deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is
recognised in income for the period that includes the enactment
date.
Impairment
The
Group has adopted FASB ASC Subtopic 360-10, Property, Plant, and
Equipment, which requires impairment losses to be recorded for
property, plant and equipment to be held and used in operations
when indicators of impairment are present. Reviews are regularly
performed to determine whether the carrying value of assets is
impaired. The Group determines the existence of such impairment by
measuring the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without
interest charges) and comparing such amount to the carrying amount
of the assets. An impairment loss, if one exists, is then measured
as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the
discounted estimated future cash flows. Assets to be disposed of
are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value of
such assets less costs to sell. Asset impairment charges are
recorded to reduce the carrying amount of the long-lived asset that
will be sold or disposed of to their estimated fair values. Charges
for the asset impairment reduce the carrying amount of the
long-lived assets to their estimated salvage value in connection
with the decision to dispose of such assets. There was no
impairment losses recorded during each of the three years ended
December 31, 2016.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price in a business
combination over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible
assets acquired. Under ASC 350, goodwill is not amortized, but
rather is subject to an annual impairment test. Goodwill is tested
for impairment at the reporting unit level by comparing the fair
value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. The Company
performs its annual impairment analysis of goodwill in the fourth
quarter of the year, or more often if there are indicators of
impairment present.
The provisions of ASC 350 require that a two-step impairment test
be performed on goodwill at the level of the reporting units. In
the first step, or Step 1, the Company compares the fair value of
each reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value
exceeds the carrying value of the net assets, goodwill is
considered not impaired, and the Company is not required to perform
further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets exceeds
the fair value, then the Company must perform the second step, or
Step 2, of the impairment test in order to determine the implied
fair value of goodwill. To determine the fair value used in Step 1,
the Company uses discounted cash flows. If and when the Company is
required to perform a Step 2 analysis, determining the fair value
of its net assets and its off-balance sheet intangibles would
require it to make judgments that involve the use of significant
estimates and assumptions.
Foreign Currency Translation
The
Company maintains its books and records in United States dollars.
Its subsidiaries and affiliates maintain their books and records
either in Hong Kong dollars or Chinese Renminbi (“functional
currencies”). Foreign currency transactions during the year
are translated into the respective functional currencies at the
applicable rates of exchange at the dates of the transactions.
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies
are translated into the respective functional currencies using the
exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet dates. Gains or
losses from foreign currency transactions are recognised in the
consolidated statements of income during the year in which they
occur. Translation adjustments on subsidiaries’ equity are
included as accumulated comprehensive income or loss.
Use of Estimates
The
preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the
consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures.
Although these estimates are based on management’s best
knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may
undertake in the future, actual results may be different from the
estimates.
Related Parties
Related parties are affiliates of the enterprise; entities for
which investments are accounted for by the equity method by the
enterprise; trusts for the benefit of employees, such as pension
and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the
trusteeship of management; principal ownersof the enterprise; its
management; members of the immediate families of principal owners
of the enterprise and its management; and other parties with which
the enterprise may deal if one party controls or can significantly
influence the management or operating policies of the other to an
extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from
fully pursuing its own separate interests. Another party also is a
related party if it can significantly influence the management or
operating policies of the transacting parties or if it has an
ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can
significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of
the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its
own separate interests.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In May
2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with
Customers, which provides guidance for revenue recognition.
The standard’s core principle is that a company will
recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to
customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the
company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or
services. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and
make more estimates than under today’s guidance. These may
include identifying performance obligations in the contract,
estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the
transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each
separate performance obligation. This guidance was deferred by ASU
2015-14, issued by the FASB in August 2015, and this new accounting
guidance will be effective for the interim and annual period
beginning after December 31, 2019. The Company is currently in the
process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this ASU on the
Company's Consolidated and Combined Financial
Statements.
In
April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the
Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which changes the required
presentation of debt issuance costs from an asset on the balance
sheet to a deduction from the related debt liability. This new
accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual period
beginning after December 31, 2017. The adoption of this guidance is
not expected to have a material impact on the Company's
Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
In
April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Customers' Accounting for
Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, which clarifies the
circumstances under which a cloud computing customer would account
for the arrangement as a license of internal-use software under ASC
350-40. This new accounting guidance will be effective for the
interim and annual period beginning after December 31, 2017. The
adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact
on the Company's Consolidated and Combined Financial
Statements.
In January
2016, the FASB has issued Accounting Standards Update
(“ASU”) No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments –
Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial
Assets and Financial Liabilities. The new guidance is intended to
improve the recognition and measurement of financial instruments.
The new guidance makes targeted improvements to existing U.S. GAAP
by: (1) requiring equity investments (except those accounted for
under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in
consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with
changes in fair value recognized in net income. Requiring public
business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the
fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (2)
Requiring separate presentation of financial assets and financial
liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset
(i.e., securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or
the accompanying notes to the financial statements; (3) Eliminating
the requirement for public business entities to disclose the
method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair
value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments
measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; and. (4) Requiring
a reporting organization to present separately in other
comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair
value of a liability resulting from a change in the
instrument-specific credit risk (also referred to as “own
credit”) when the organization has elected to measure the
liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option
for financial instruments. The new guidance is effective for public
companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017,
including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company
does not anticipate that this adoption will have a significant
impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash
flows.
In
February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842),
which supersedes the existing guidance for lease accounting, Leases
(Topic 840). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize leases on
their balance sheets, and leaves lessor accounting largely
unchanged. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within
those fiscal years. Early application is permitted for all
entities. ASU 2016-02 requires a modified retrospective approach
for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of
initial application, with an option to elect to use certain
transition relief. he Company does not anticipate that this
adoption will have a significant impact on its financial position,
results of operations, or cash flows.
In
April 2016, the FASB released ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock
Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based
Payment Accounting. The ASU includes multiple provisions intended
to simplify various aspects of the accounting for share-based
payments. While aimed at reducing the cost and complexity of the
accounting for share-based payments, the amendments are expected to
significantly impact net income, EPS, and the statement of cash
flows. Implementation and administration may present challenges for
companies with significant share-based payment activities. The ASU
is effective for public companies in annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years. The
Company does not anticipate that this adoption will have a
significant impact on its financial position, results of
operations, or cash flows.
In
April 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying
Performance Obligations and Licensing. The amendments clarify the
following two aspects of Topic 606: (a) identifying performance
obligations; and (b) the licensing implementation guidance. The
amendments do not change the core principle of the guidance in
Topic 606. The effective date and transition requirements for the
amendments are the same as the effective date and transition
requirements in Topic 606. Public entities should apply the
amendments for annual reporting periods beginning after December
15, 2017, including interim reporting periods therein (i.e.,
January 1, 2018, for a calendar year entity). Early application for
public entities is permitted only as of annual reporting periods
beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting
periods within that reporting period. The Company does not
anticipate that this adoption will have a significant impact on its
financial position, results of operations, or cash
flows.
In May
2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-11 Revenue Recognition (Topic
605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815); Rescission of SEC
Guidance Because of Accounting Standards Updates 2014-09 and
2014-16 Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 EITF
Meeting, which is rescinding certain SEC Staff Observer comments
that are codified in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and Topic 932,
Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas, effective upon adoption of
Topic 606. The Company does not anticipate that this adoption will
have a significant impact on its financial position, results of
operations, or cash flows.
In May
2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12—Revenue from Contracts with
Customers (Topic 606); Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical
Expedients, which is intended to not change the core principle of
the guidance in Topic 606, but rather affect only the narrow
aspects of Topic 606 by reducing the potential for diversity in
practice at initial application and by reducing the cost and
complexity of applying Topic 606 both at transition and on an
ongoing basis. The Company does not anticipate that this adoption
will have a significant impact on its financial position, results
of operations, or cash flows.
In
August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash
Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash
Payments, to provide guidance on the presentation and
classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments on the
statement of cash flows. The guidance specifically addresses cash
flow issues with the objective of reducing the diversity in
practice. The guidance will be effective for the Company in fiscal
year 2018, but early adoption is permitted. The Company does not
anticipate that this adoption will have a significant impact on its
financial position, results of operations, or cash
flows.
In
October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic
810): Interest Held through Related Parties That Are under Common
Control, to provide guidance on the evaluation of whether a
reporting entity is the primary beneficiary of a VIE by amending
how a reporting entity, that is a single decision maker of a VIE,
treats indirect interests in that entity held through related
parties that are under common control. The amendments are effective
for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal
years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an
interim period. The Company does not anticipate that this adoption
will have a significant impact on its financial position, results
of operations, or cash flows.
In
November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, "Statement of Cash
Flows: Restricted Cash". The amendments address diversity in
practice that exists in the classification and presentation of
changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. The
amendment is effective for public companies for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within
those fiscal years. The Company does not anticipate that this
adoption will have a significant impact on its financial position,
results of operations, or cash flows.
ITEM 5C. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND
LICENSES
During
Fiscal 2016, Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2014, the Company expensed
approximately US$475,000, US$852,000 and US$631,000, respectively,
on the research and development of its products.
ITEM 5D. TREND INFORMATION
There
are increasing demands in the PRC for clean water, clean air,
greater industrial pollution controls, waste management and
electricity. We also see additional distributors competing with us.
However, given the political situation in the PRC, trends could
quickly disappear and we do not know if they will continue in the
future. We note that, as evidenced by our acquisition of
Pact-Yixing, we are placing greater emphasis on developing our
engineering solution business in an effort to capitalize on these
increased demands (clean water, pollution controls and waste
management).
The
Company believes that the expenses incurred in product development
may result in increases in revenue but such increases are unlikely
to allow for a recovery of the expenses for approximately the next
two years.
ITEM 5E. OFF BALANCE SHEET
ARRANGEMENTS
None.
ITEM 5F. TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL
OBLIGATIONS
Payments Due By Period
Contractual Obligations
|
|
Total
|
|
Less than
1 Year
|
|
1-3 Years
|
|
4-5 Years
|
|
After
5 Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Leases
|
|
US$
|
341,000
|
|
US$
|
225,000
|
|
US$
|
116,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Contractual Cash Obligations
|
|
US$
|
341,000
|
|
US$
|
225,000
|
|
US$
|
116,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND
EMPLOYEES
ITEM 6A. DIRECTORS AND SENIOR
MANAGEMENT
Information
concerning the Directors and Executive Officers of the Company are
as follows:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
T.C.
Leung
|
|
73
|
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry
Wong
|
|
58
|
|
Director
and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alex
Sham
|
|
53
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y.K.
Liang
|
|
87
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fu Ming
Chen
|
|
68
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vincent
Pak Kan Wong
|
|
67
|
|
Director
|
Set
forth below is a brief background of the executive officers and
directors based upon the information supplied by them to the
Company:
T.C. Leung has been Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of both
the Company and Far East since their inception. Before establishing
Far East, Mr. Leung was an engineer for English Electric in
England, from 1965 to 1968, and Lockheed Aircraft in Hong Kong,
from 1968 to 1970. Mr. Leung also served as managing director
of Eurotherm (Far East) Ltd. (“Eurotherm”) between 1971
and 1992. From 1988 until he retired in February 2005,
Mr. Leung had also served as managing director of Eurotherm
Hong Kong. Mr. Leung received a Master’s degree in
Business Administration from the University of East Asia, Macau in
1986 and is a Chartered Engineer, a title bestowed upon a member of
the Council of Engineering Institutions in the United
Kingdom.
Jerry Wong has served as Director
and Chief Financial Officer of Far East since 1994 and has been
with Far East since 1987. Mr. Wong has been the Chief
Financial Officer and a Director of the Company since its
inception. From 1985 until 1987, Mr. Wong worked for MUA
Agencies Ltd., a subsidiary of a Hong Kong publicly listed company
engaged in the insurance business, as deputy manager of its
secretarial, legal and accounting department. From 1981 until 1985,
Mr. Wong served as a senior accountant in Price
Waterhouse-Hong Kong. He is a Fellow of the Association of
Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom and a
Certified Public Accountant in Hong Kong.
Alex Sham has been a Director of
the Company since its inception. Mr. Sham joined Far East in
1988 and has been its Sales Manager since 1993 and became a
Director of Far East in 1996. Mr. Sham received a Bachelor of
Science in Applied Chemistry from Hong Kong Baptist University in
1990. Prior to joining Far East, Mr. Sham was employed by the
Environmental Protection Department of the Hong Kong Government
from 1986 until 1988. Mr. Sham received a Master’s
Degree in Business Administration from the University of Adelaide
in 2003.
Y.K. Liang has been a Director of
the Company since February 1998. Mr. Liang was a director
of Wong Liang Consultants Ltd. (“Consultants”) and a
member of the certified public accounting firm of Y.K.
Liang & Co. (“LCO”). Mr. Liang has been a
director of Sammy Lau CPA Limited for more than the past five
years. Consultants is a general business consulting
firm.
Fu Ming Chen has been a Director of the
Company since August 24, 2015. Mr. Chen has a background
in accounting and tax. He served as the Finance and Tax Manager of
Shanghai Huaxiang Woolen Dressing Co., Ltd. from 1995 to 2013.
Prior to that, from 1978 to 1994, he served as the Chief Accountant
at Gulu Chemical Factory, where he was a member of the senior
management. He held a County Township Audit Certificate issued by
Shanghai ChuanSha County People’s Government from 1991 to
2001 which authorized him to carry out audit of Township and
Village Enterprises in Shanghai ChuanSha County on behalf of local
tax authority. He also holds a Certificate of Accounting
Professional – Intermediate Level Accountant as well as a
Higher Professional Education Certificate issued by Shanghai
Television University. The Board believes Mr. Chen’s
qualifications to sit on the Board include his significant
experience with accounting and tax, as well as his leadership of
business organizations.
Vincent Pak Kan Wong became a Director
of the Company on March 30, 2015. He has a background in accounting
and business management. He served as the Deputy Company Secretary
of John Swire & Sons (HK) Ltd, which specializes in divisions
of property, beverages, industrial, offshore oil and shipping
services from 2007 to 2013. From 2004 to 2006, he served as the
General Manager of Guangmei Foods Co. Ltd. He is also a director of
Primroses Park Ltd., which is a property investment holding company
in the United Kingdoms. He is an Associate Member of The Chartered
Association of Certified Accountants, FCCA and Hong Kong Institute
of Certified Public Accountants.
Directors of the
Company serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders of the
Company and until their successors are elected and duly qualified.
Officers of the Company are elected annually by the Board of
Directors and serve at the discretion of the Board of
Directors.
Currently to our
knowledge, there is no material legal proceeding involving any
director, officer or holder of more than five percent of the
Company’s Ordinary Shares.
There
are no family relationships between any of the
above. There was no arrangement or understanding with
any major shareholders, customers, suppliers or others pursuant to
which any person above was selected as a director or member of
senior management.
Key
Employees
George Hayek, Managing Director. He is
the founder of Pact-Yixing and is a civil engineer (1967) and
post-graduate certificate holder in sanitary engineering and
environmental management from the American University of Beirut and
the University of California at Irvine (in 1971 and 1988,
respectively). Since 1971, he has occupied several key posts in
water and waste-water treatment companies in the USA, the UK,
Spain, Cyprus, The Middle East, Southeast Asia and the last 14
years in the PRC. From 1998 to date, he has been the managing
director of Pact. His international experience helped Pact in
securing most of the contracts with European and American
multinational industries in the PRC.
David YL Leung is the General
Manager of Yixing Pact Environmental Technology Ltd, Shanghai. His
responsibility includes management of engineering, sales,
marketing, projects, and procurement. Before joining PACT, he was
the Business Development Manager of Euro Tech (Far East) Ltd, the
parent company of Yixing Pact in Hong Kong, and has been working
for the parent company for more than 10 years. Mr. Leung has gained
a solid sales and marketing experience in distributing power,
analytical and scientific testing equipment in Hong Kong and Macau.
He has also worked for a high tech Japanese company focused on
power and electrical testing instrument in Japan from 2000 and 2001
as a trainee. Mr. Leung is an environmental studies graduate from
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada (1997) with a special focus on
Environmental Impact Assessment, and a Master of Management
graduate from Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Sydney
Australia (2010). Mr. David YL Leung is the son of Mr. T.C. Leung,
the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman.
ITEM 6B. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
From
the Company and its subsidiaries, for services rendered in all
capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries during Fiscal 2016,
T.C. Leung, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
received a yearly salary of US$195,000, Jerry Wong, Chief Financial
Officer received a yearly salary of US$108,000 and George Hayek, a
Key Employee of the Company, received a yearly salary of US$66,000.
David YL Leung, a Key Employee of the Company receives an annual
salary of US$130,000 and is reimbursed for actual travel and
lodging expenses in Shanghai. There is no other information with
respect to the compensation paid by the Company and its
subsidiaries, for services rendered in all capacities to the
Company and its subsidiaries during Fiscal 2016 to the Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer and a Key Employee of the
Company. No other executive officer or employee received in excess
of US$ 100,000 as compensation during Fiscal 2016.
Compensation of
Directors.
Directors of the do not receive compensation for their
services as directors; however, Board of Directors authorize the
payment of compensation to the Directors for their attendance at
regular and annual meetings of the Board and for attendance at
committee meetings of the Board as is customary for similar
companies. Directors are reimbursed for their reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their duties to the
Company. .
Pension Plan. Prior to
December 1, 2000, the Company had only one defined
contribution pension plan for all its Hong Kong employees. Under
this plan, all employees were entitled to pension benefits equal to
their own contributions 50% to 100% of individual fund account
balances contributed by the Company, depending on their years of
service with the Company. The Company was required to make specific
contributions at approximately 10% of the basic salaries of the
employees to an independent fund management company.
With
the introduction of the Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme, a defined
contribution scheme managed by an independent trustee on
December 1, 2000, each of the Company and its employees who
joined the Company subsequently makes monthly contributions to the
scheme at 5% of the employee’s cash income as defined under the Mandatory
Provident Fund legislation. Contributions of both the Company and
its employees are subject to a cap of monthly relevant income of
HK$25,000 or HK$30,000 (effective from 1 June 2015) and thereafter
contributions are voluntary and are not subject to any
limitation. The Company and its employees made their first
contributions in December 2000.
As
stipulated by the rules and regulations in the PRC, the
Company contributes to state-sponsored retirement plans for its
employees in the PRC. The Company contributes approximately 14% to
21% of the basic salaries of its employees, and has no further
obligations for the actual payment of pension or post-retirement
benefits beyond the annual contributions. The state-sponsored
retirement plans are responsible for the entire pension obligations
payable to retired employees.
During
the year ended December 31, 2016, the aggregate contribution
of the Company to the aforementioned pension plans and retirement
benefit schemes was approximately US$314,000.
Company
Option Plans.
Effective November
22, 2014, the Company entered into a stock option contract with a
Business Development Manager of Yixing-Pact, granting the optionee
the right to purchase 20,692 Ordinary Shares, 1% of the
Company’s issued and outstanding shares, at an exercise price
of $3.44 per share. The exercise price was determined by the
average closing price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares as
reported by NASDAQ for a ten day period prior to the end of the
Business Development Manager’s probationary period on
November 22, 2014, the effective date of the stock option contract.
The stock options granted are exercisable three years after the
effective date and terminate five years after the effective date.
In the event of the optionee’s termination, except for his
resignation, the options may be exercisable within three months of
the termination. In the event of optionee’s death, retirement
or disability, he or his legal representative shall have up to one
year to exercise the option.
Changes
in outstanding options under various plans mentioned above were as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average exercise price
|
|
Weighted average exercise price
|
|
Weighted average exercise price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding,
beginning of year
|
20,692
|
3.44
|
20,692
|
3.44
|
-
|
-
|
Granted
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
20,692
|
3.44
|
Cancelled/Expired
|
(20,692)
|
(3.44)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Exercised
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding, end of
year
|
-
|
-
|
20,692
|
3.44
|
20,692
|
3.44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable, end of
year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
As of
December 31, 2015, there were 20,692 options
outstanding.
As of
December 31, 2016, there were no options outstanding.
ITEM 6C. BOARD PRACTICES
The
term of each of the Company’s directors expires at the
election and qualification of their successors at the next annual
meeting of the Company’s shareholders, anticipated to be held
in September of this year. All of the Company’s six directors
were re-elected at the Company’s last annual meeting of
shareholders in August 2016. The Board has a standing Audit
Committee to assist the Board in carrying out its duties. The Audit
Committee has a written charter approved by the Board. The chair of
the Audit Committee determines the meeting agenda of the Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee members receive materials in advance
of Committee meetings allowing them to prepare for the
meeting.
The
Company had two meetings of its Board of Directors during Fiscal
2016, while its Audit Committee had four meetings during
Fiscal 2016.
The
Audit Committee assists the Board in monitoring the Company’s
financial accounting, controls, planning and reporting. Among its
duties, the Audit Committee:
|
●
|
reviews
the Company’s auditing, accounting and financial reporting
process;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviews
the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviews
the independence, fee arrangements, audit scope, and performance of
the Company’s independent auditors, and recommends the
appointment or replacement of independent auditors to the Board of
Directors;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviews
and approves all non-audit work, if any, to be performed by the
auditors;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviews
the scope of our internal auditing and the adequacy of the
organizational structure and qualifications of the internal
auditing staff;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviews,
before release, the audited financial statements and operating and
financial review and prospects contained in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 20-F, and recommends that the Board of
Directors submit these items to the shareholders’ meeting for
approval;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
provides
an open avenue of communication among the Company’s
independent auditors, financial and senior management, the internal
audit function and the Board of Directors;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviews
and updates the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
and ensure that there is a system to enforce same and that this
Code complies with all applicable rules and
regulations;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
ensures
that the Company’s management and auditors assess current
financial reporting issues and practices; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviews
and pre-approves both audit and non-audit services to be provided
by the Company’s auditors.
|
The
Audit Committee is currently composed of Y.K. Liang, Vincent Pak
Kan Wong and Fu Ming Chen. The Audit Committee’s
“financial expert” is Y.K. Liang. The Board has
determined that the membership of the Audit Committee meets the
current independence requirements of the NASDAQ listing standards
as same applies to private foreign issuers and the applicable
rules and regulations of the SEC because they are not
currently employed by us, and do not fall into any of the
enumerated categories of who cannot be considered independent in
NASDAQ’s listing standards.
ITEM 6D. EMPLOYEES
At
April 11, 2017, the Company (exclusive of Yixing-Pact) had
approximately 64 full-time employees. At December 31, 2016,
2015 and 2014, staffing levels were approximately as
follows:
|
|
|
|
Marketing and
sales
|
21
|
26
|
27
|
Administrative
|
28
|
30
|
30
|
Technical
|
16
|
19
|
22
|
Total full time
employees
|
65
|
75
|
79
|
At
April 11, 2017, Pact-Yixing had approximately 47 full-time
employees. As of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014,
respectively, staffing levels were approximately as follows:
Engineers - 41, 41 and 39; Administrative Persons - 8, 8 and
12.
The
Company is not subject to any collective bargaining agreement and
believes that its relations with its employees are good. The
Company’s Management consists of its officers and
directors.
ITEM 6E. SHARE OWNERSHIP
With
respect to the share ownership of the directors and senior
management of the Company, reference is made to Items 7.
“Major Shareholders” and 7B. “Related Party
Transactions.”
ITEM 7A. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
The
following table sets forth, as of April 11, 2017, certain
information concerning beneficial ownership of the Company’s
voting shares that date, with respect to (i) each person known
to the Company to own 5% or more of the outstanding Ordinary
Shares, (ii) each director and executive officer of the
Company, and (iii) all officers and directors of the Company
as a group. Based upon 2,061,909 shares of the Company’s
Ordinary Shares outstanding as of April 20, 2017. The
Company’s major shareholders do not have different voting
rights.
|
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(4)
|
Approximate Percentage Of Ordinary Shares Owned
|
|
|
|
T.C. Leung
(1)
|
1,059,924
|
51.4%
|
|
|
|
Alex
Sham(1)
|
53,722
|
2.6%
|
|
|
|
Jerry
Wong(1)
|
34,866
|
1.7%
|
|
|
|
Y.K.
Liang(1)
|
*
|
*
|
|
|
|
Fu Ming
Chen(1)
|
*
|
*
|
|
|
|
Vincent Pak Kan
Wong (1)
|
*
|
*
|
|
|
|
All Executive
Officers And Directors of the Company as a group (6
persons)
|
1,148,512
|
55.7%
|
*
Denotes Nil
(1)
|
The
address for the Company’s officers and directors is c/o Euro
Tech (Far East) Ltd., Unit D, 18/F Gee Chang Hong Centre, 65 Wong
Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong.
|
ITEM 7B. RELATED PARTY
TRANSACTIONS
See
– Item 6B. Compensation.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 8A. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item
8A.1
|
See
– Item 18.
|
|
|
Item
8A.2
|
See
– Item 18.
|
|
|
Item
8A.3
|
See
– Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms,
pages F-2 and F-3.
|
|
|
Item
8A.4
|
We have
complied with this requirement.
|
|
|
Item
8A.5
|
Not
applicable.
|
|
|
Item
8A.6
|
Not
applicable.
|
|
|
Item
8A.7
|
Legal
Proceedings. See – Item 4B. Business
Overview-Litigation.
|
|
|
Item
8A.8
|
Dividend
Policy.
|
The
Company has not paid cash dividends to date. The payment of cash
dividends, if any, in the future is within the discretion of the
Board of Directors. The payment of cash dividends, if any, in the
future will depend upon the Company’s earnings, capital
requirements and financial conditions and other relevant factors.
The Company’s Board of Directors does not presently intend to
declare any cash dividends in the foreseeable future, but instead
intends to retain all earnings, if any, for use in the Company and
Far East’s business operations.
ITEM 8B. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
There
has not been any significant change since the date of the annual
financial statements included in this Report.
ITEM 9. THE OFFERING AND LISTING
ITEM 9A. LISTING DETAILS
The
Company has one class of securities presently registered: Ordinary
Shares. These securities are presently traded on the NASDAQ’s
Capital Market under the trading symbols
“CLWT”.
The
high and low prices for the Ordinary Shares in the periods
indicated, as reported by NASDAQ, are set forth
below:
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2012
|
1.98
|
6.30
|
2013
|
2.40
|
6.75
|
2014
|
2.56
|
6.24
|
2015
|
2.04
|
4.41
|
2016
|
|
|
Quarters Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2015
|
2.04
|
4.41
|
June 30,
2015
|
2.61
|
2.73
|
September 30,
2015
|
2.41
|
2.60
|
December 31,
2015
|
2.76
|
2.896
|
March 31,
2016
|
3.01
|
3.17
|
June 30,
2016
|
3.99
|
1.45
|
September 30,
2016
|
4.43
|
2.07
|
December 31,
2016
|
4.08
|
2.28
|
March 31,
2017
|
4.15
|
3.39
|
The Following Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
October
2016
|
3.11
|
2.28
|
November
2016
|
4.08
|
2.35
|
December
2016
|
4.00
|
3.15
|
January
2017
|
4.15
|
3.39
|
February
2017
|
3.95
|
3.45
|
March
2017
|
3.90
|
3.45
|
Based
upon information received from its transfer agent, the Company
believes that it has approximately 35 shareholders of record
including 905 beneficial owners of its Ordinary Shares held in
nominee names by large clearing houses.
ITEM 9C. MARKETS
See
– Item 9A. “Listing Details.”
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ITEM 10B. MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF
ASSOCIATION
On
January 1, 2005, the BVI Business Companies Act, as amended, (the
“BC ACT”) came into force, with the objective of
replacing the now repealed International Business Companies Act (
the “IBC” Act ) over a 2 year transitional period. The
Company was incorporated under the IBC Act, on January 1, 2007, the
Company was automatically re-registered under the BC Act as a BVI
Business Company. Companies that were automatically re-registered
on January 1, 2007 were not required to submit a new
Memorandum and Articles of Association and certain key
sections of the IBC Act were “grandfathered” into the
BC Act: these are known as the “Transitional
Provisions”. The Transitional Provisions ensure that well
established and recognized concepts from the IBC Act, such as
“ authorized capital:, “capital accounts” and
“surplus accounts , remain relevant until such time as that
company elects to adopt and register a New Memorandum and Articles
of Association that fully conform with the BC Act. In November 2011
and January 2012, the Company filed an Amended and Restated
Memorandum and Articles of Association with the Registry of
Corporate Affairs of the BVI Financial Services Commission that on
November 29, 2011 and January 30, 2012 that became as of filing
with the BVI authorities to, among other things, (i) not apply the
Transitional Provisions and (ii)remove these concepts from the
Company’s charter documents eliminating a layer of
requirements that would otherwise apply to share divisions
(splits), combinations (reverse splits), redemptions and dividends.
The Company’s accounting treatment of share capital need not
change. Changes in the Company’s Amended and Restated
Memorandum are summarized in the Company’s Forms 6-K filed
with the SEC on November 30, 2011 and February 6,2012.The foregoing
Forms 6-K are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully stated
herein. Set forth below is a summary of certain terms of the
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of
Association and the BC Act relating to the Company’s
securities. This description and the descriptions contained in the
Forms 6-K incorporated by reference does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to BVI statutory law
and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of
Association.
Holders
of the Company’s Ordinary Shares are entitled to one vote for
each whole share on all matters to be voted upon by shareholders,
including the election of directors. Holders of Ordinary Shares do
not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. All
shares of Ordinary Shares are equal to each other with respect to
liquidation and dividend rights. In the event of the liquidation of
the Company, all assets available for distribution to the holders
of Ordinary Shares are distributable among them according to their
respective share holdings. All of the outstanding shares of
Ordinary Shares of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.
Pursuant to the
Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and pursuant
to the laws of the BVI, the Company’s Memorandum and Articles
of Association may be amended by a resolution of the Board of
Directors without shareholder approval. This includes amendments to
increase or reduce the authorized capital stock of the Company or
to increase or reduce the par value of its shares. The ability of
the Company to amend its Memorandum and Articles of Association
without shareholder approval could have the effect of delaying,
deterring or preventing a change in control of the Company without
any further action by the shareholders including but not limited
to, a tender offer to purchase the Common Stock at a premium over
then current market prices.
Under
United States law, majority and controlling shareholders generally
have certain “fiduciary” responsibilities to the
minority shareholders. Shareholder action must be taken in good
faith and actions by controlling shareholders which are obviously
unreasonable may be declared null and void. The BVI law protecting
the interests of the minority shareholders is not as protective in
all circumstances as the law protecting minority shareholders in
United States jurisdictions. While BVI law does not permit a
shareholder of a BVI company to sue its directors derivatively,
i.e., in the name of and for the benefit of the Company, and to sue
the Company and its directors for his benefit and the benefit of
others similarly situated, the circumstances in which any such
action may be brought that may be available in respect of any such
action may result in the rights of shareholders of a British Virgin
Island company being more limited than those rights of shareholders
in a United States company.
The
Board of Directors of the Company, without further shareholder
action, may issue shares of Preferred Stock in any number of series
and may establish as to each such series the designation and number
of shares to be issued and the relative rights and preferences of
the shares of each series, including provisions regarding voting
powers, redemption, dividend rights, rights upon liquidation and
conversion rights. The issuance of shares of Preferred Stock by the
Board of Directors could adversely affect the rights of holders of
Ordinary Shares by, among other matters, establishing preferential
dividends, liquidation rights and voting power. The Company has not
issued any shares of Preferred Stock and has no present intention
to issue shares of Preferred Stock. The issuance thereof could
discourage or defeat efforts to acquire control of the Company
through acquisition of Ordinary Shares.
Share Register and Voting Restrictions.
The Company maintains a share register at its registered
office in the BVI. The Company’s registered number is 200960.
The objects of the Company are to engage in any act or activity
that is not prohibited under any law of the BVI. Under the
Articles, the Company is not required to treat the holder of a
registered share in the Company as a shareholder until that
person’s name has been entered in the share register. The
holders of Ordinary Shares have one vote for each Ordinary Share
held of record. The holders of Preferred Shares have such voting
powers, full or limited, or no voting powers and such restrictions
as may be stated and expressed in the resolution providing for the
issuance of the Preferred Shares.
Shareholders Meeting. The
directors of the Company may convene meetings of the shareholders
of the Company at such times and in such manner and places within
or outside the BVI as the directors consider necessary or
desirable. Upon the written request of the shareholders holding ten
(10%) percent or more of the outstanding voting shares in the
Company the directors must convene a meeting of
shareholders.
A
shareholder may participate at a meeting of shareholders by
telephone or other electronic means, as long as all shareholders
participating in the meeting are able to hear each
other.
A
meeting of shareholders is duly constituted if, at the commencement
of the meeting, there are present in person or by proxy not less
than fifty (50%) percent of the votes of the shares or class series
of shares entitled to vote on resolutions of shareholders to be
considered at the meeting. If a quorum is not present, the meeting,
if convened upon the requisition of shareholders, shall be
dissolved; in any other case it shall stand adjourned to the next
business day at the same time and place or to such other time and
place as the directors may determine, and if at the adjourned
meeting there are present in person or by proxy not less than one
third of the votes of the shares or each class or series of shares
entitled to vote on the resolutions to be considered by the
meeting, those present shall constitute a quorum but otherwise the
meeting shall be dissolved.
Any
action that may be taken by the shareholders at a meeting may also
be taken by a resolution of shareholders consented to in writing or
by written electronic communication by a majority or greater number
of shares entitled to vote, without the need for any notice, but if
not a unanimous writing, a copy of such resolution shall be sent to
all non-consenting shareholders.
Pre-emptive Rights. The holders of
Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares are not entitled to any
pre-emptive or similar rights.
Conflict of Interests. No
agreement or transaction between the Company and one or more of its
directors or any person in which any director has a financial
interest or to whom any director is related, including as a
director of that other person, is void and avoidable for this
reason only, or by reason only that the director is present at the
meeting of directors, or at the meeting of the committee of
directors that approves the agreement or transaction, or that the
vote or consent of the director is counted for that purpose, if the
material facts of the interest of each director in the agreement or
transaction and his interest in or relationship to any other party
to the agreement or transaction are disclosed in good faith, or are
known by the other directors. A director who has an interest in any
particular business to be considered at a meeting of directors or
shareholders may be counted for purposes of determining whether the
meeting is duly constituted.
Generally, no
purchase, redemption or other acquisition of shares shall be made
unless the directors determine that immediately after purchase,
redemption or other acquisition the Company will be able to satisfy
its liabilities as they become due in the ordinary course of its
business and the realizable value of the assets of the Company will
not be less than the sum of its total liabilities, other than
deferred taxes, as shown in the books of account, and its capital
and, in the absence of fraud, the decision of the directors as to
the realizable value of the assets of the Company is conclusive,
unless a question of law is involved.
Duration, Liquidation, Merger. The
Company shall continue until wound-up and dissolved by a resolution
of shareholders, or under the terms of any insolvency or
liquidation laws in force in the BVI. Under BVI law the Company may
merge with another company, including a parent company or
subsidiary, incorporated in the BVI, or in a jurisdiction outside
of the BVI where the laws of that jurisdiction permit the merger. A
merger must be authorized by the directors of the Company and
approved by the shareholders.
Board of Directors. The business
and affairs of the Company are managed by the directors who may
exercise all such powers of the Company as are not by BVI law or by
the Company’s Articles reserved to the shareholders of the
Company.
ITEM 10C. MATERIAL CONTRACTS
During
the two year period prior to the filing of this Report, the Company
did not enter into any material contracts.
ITEM 10D. EXCHANGE CONTROLS
There
are no exchange control restrictions on payment of dividends on the
Company’s Ordinary Shares or on the conduct of the
Company’s operations either in Hong Kong, where the
Company’s principal executive offices are located, or the
BVI, where the Company is incorporated. There are no BVI laws which
impose foreign exchange controls on the Company or that effect the
payment of dividends, interest, or other payments to non-resident
holders of the Company’s securities. BVI laws and the
Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association impose no
limitations on the right of non-resident or foreign owners to hold
the Company’s securities or vote the Company’s Ordinary
Shares. The PRC government has established a unified exchange rate
system and system of exchange controls to which the Company is
subject.
ITEM 10E. TAXATION
BVI
The
Company is exempted from taxation in the BVI.
HONG KONG
The
Company’s subsidiaries organized in Hong Kong, Far East and
Euro Tech (China) Limited, provide for Hong Kong profits tax at a
rate of 16.5% in 2015 on the basis of their income for financial
reporting purposes, adjusting for income and expense items which
are not assessable or deductible for profits tax
purposes.
PRC
Euro
Tech Trading (Shanghai) Limited (“ETTS”), a subsidiary
of the Company, provides for PRC Enterprise Income Tax at a rate of
25% after offsetting losses brought forward, if any, on the basis
of its income for financial reporting purposes, adjusting for
income and expense items which are not assessable or deductible for
PRC Enterprise Income Tax purposes. As of December 31, 2016, ETTS
had an assessable loss carried forward of US$764,808 as agreed by
the local tax authority to offset its profit for the forth coming
years. Such loss will expire in 5 years.
In
accordance with the relevant income tax laws and regulations
applicable to foreign investment enterprises in the PRC, Shanghai
Euro Tech Limited (“SET”), a subsidiary of the Company,
provides for the PRC Enterprise Income Tax of 25% for 2015. As of
December 31, 2016, SET had an assessable loss carried forward of
US$256,664 as agreed by the local tax authority to offset its
profit for the forth coming years. Such loss will expire in 5
years.
According to the
relevant PRC tax rules and regulations, Shanghai Euro Tech
Environmental Engineering Limited (“SETEE”) provides
for the PRC Enterprise Income Tax of 25%. As of December 31, 2016,
SETEE had an assessable loss carried forward of US$1,074,609 as
agreed by the local tax authority to offset its profit for the
forth coming years. Such loss will expire in 5 years. Chongqing
Euro Tech Rizhi Technology Co., Ltd, Rizhi Euro Tech Instrument
(Shaanxi) Co., Ltd and Guangzhou Euro Tech Environmental Equipment
Co., Ltd provide for PRC Enterprise Income Tax at a rate of 25%,
after offsetting losses brought forward, if any, on the basis of
its income for financial reporting purposes, adjusting for income
and expense items which are not assessable or deductible for PRC
Enterprise Income Tax purposes.
According to the
relevant PRC tax rules and regulations, Yixing-Pact Environmental
Technology Co., Ltd is registered in Shanghai as a Foreign Owned
Enterprise that is entitled to Enterprise Income Tax rate of
25%.
Variable Interest
Entities (“VIEs”) of the Company provide for PRC
Enterprise Income Tax at a rate of 25% after offsetting losses
brought forward, if any, on the basis of its income for financial
reporting purposes, adjusting for income and expense items which
are not assessable or deductible for PRC Enterprise Income Tax
purposes.
Under
the New Enterprise Income Tax Law and the implementation rules,
profits of the PRC subsidiaries earned on or after January 1, 2008
and distributed by the PRC subsidiaries to foreign holding company
are subject to a withholding tax at a rate of 10% unless reduced by
tax treaty. Aggregate undistributed earnings of the Company’s
subsidiaries located in the PRC that are available for distribution
to the Company of approximately US$1.2 million at December 31, 2016
are intended to be reinvested, and accordingly, no deferred
taxation has been made for the PRC dividend withholding taxes that
would be payable upon the distribution of those amounts to the
Company. Distributions made out of pre January 1, 2008 retained
earnings will not be subject to the withholding tax.
The
principle reconciling items from income tax computed at the
statutory rates and at the effective income tax rates are as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computed tax using
respective companies’ statutory tax rates
|
(136)
|
(177)
|
(194)
|
Change in valuation
allowances
|
350
|
455
|
93
|
Under-provision for
income tax in prior years
|
-
|
(69)
|
-
|
Nondeductible
expenses
|
14
|
(256)
|
119
|
Total
provision/(credit) for income tax at effective tax
rate
|
228
|
(47)
|
18
|
PRC statutory reserves.
Under
the relevant PRC laws and regulations, the PRC subsidiaries are
required to appropriate certain percentage of their respective net
income to two statutory funds i.e. the statutory reserve fund and
the statutory staff welfare fund. The PRC subsidiaries can also
appropriate certain amount of their net income to the enterprise
expansion fund.
(i)
Statutory reserve fund.
Pursuant to
applicable PRC laws and regulations, the PRC subsidiaries are
required to allocate at least 10% of the companies’ net
income to the statutory reserve fund until such fund reaches 50% of
their respective registered capital. The statutory reserve fund can
be utilized upon the approval by the relevant authorities, to
offset accumulated losses or to increase registered capital of the
companies, provided that such fund is maintained at a minimum of
25% of the companies’ registered capital.
Under
the PRC laws and regulations, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries
are restricted in their ability to transfer certain of their net
assets to the Company in the form of dividend payments, loans or
advances. The amounts restricted include paid-in capital and
statutory reserves, as determined pursuant to PRC generally
accepted accounting principles, totaling US$3,520,000 as at
December 31, 2016.
(ii)
Statutory staff welfare fund.
Pursuant to
applicable PRC laws and regulations, the PRC subsidiaries are
required to allocate certain amount of their respective net income
to the staff welfare funds determined by the Company. The staff
welfare funds can only be used to provide staff welfare facilities
and other collective benefits to their employees. This fund is
non-distributable other than upon liquidation of the PRC
subsidiaries.
(iii)
Enterprise expansion fund.
The
expansion fund shall only be used to make up losses, expand the PRC
respective subsidiaries’ production operations, or increase
the capital of the subsidiaries. The expansion fund can be utilized
upon approval by relevant authorities, to convert into registered
capital and issue bonus capital to existing investors, provided
that such fund is maintained at a minimum of 25% of the
companies’ registered capital.
UNITED STATES
The
following discussion is a summary of the material United States
federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to the
purchase, holding, ownership, disposition or sale of our ordinary
shares.
This
discussion is general in nature and does not discuss all aspects of
U.S. federal income taxation which may be important to particular
investors in light of their individual circumstances, including
investors subject to special U.S. taxation rules.
A U.S.
Holder holding or considering acquiring or disposing of our
ordinary shares is urged to consult his or her own tax advisor
concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and
other tax consequences of the holding, ownership, purchase,
disposition or sale of our ordinary shares in light of such U.S.
Holder’s particular circumstances.
A
“U.S. Holder” for purposes of this discussion is a
beneficial owner of ordinary shares that is, for U.S. federal
income tax purposes: (a) a citizen or resident of the United
States; (b) a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any
state thereof, or the District of Columbia; (c) an estate the
income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation,
regardless of its source; or (d) a trust if it is subject to the
primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or
more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial
decisions of the trust or has a valid election in effect under
applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S.
person. If a partnership holds our ordinary shares, the tax
treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the
partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner of a
partnership holding our ordinary shares is urged to consult its own
tax advisor regarding an investment in our ordinary
shares.
Passive foreign investment company
rules. A passive foreign investment company
(“PFIC”) for any taxable year in which either
(a) at least 75% of our gross income is passive income or
(b) at least 50% of the value (determined on the basis of a
quarterly average) of our assets is attributable to assets that
produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this
purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest,
royalties, rents (other than rents and royalties derived in the
active conduct of a trade or business and not derived from a
related person), annuities and gains from assets that produce
passive income.
The
annual PFIC determination to be made by a U.S. Holder of our
ordinary shares is an inherently factual determination and there is
limited guidance regarding the application of the PFIC rules to
specific situations. Although the determination of PFIC status is
subject to factual uncertainties because it depends upon the
valuation of our ordinary shares as well as our goodwill and other
assets and income. In addition, as the determination of PFIC status
is made on an annual basis and depends on variables over which we
have limited control, there can be no assurance that we will not be
classified as a PFIC for 2016 or any future calendar
years.
If we
are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year, a U. S. Holder
could be treated as owning a proportionate share of some of our
subsidiaries and, in the absence of certain elections, will subject
to special rules that will have a penalizing effect on certain
“excess distributions” (as defined).
A U. S
Holder that holds our Ordinary Shares in any year in which we are
classified as a PFIC may make a “deemed sale” election
with respect to such ordinary shares in a subsequent taxable year
in which we are not classified as a PFIC. If you make a
valid deemed sale election with respect to your Ordinary Shares,
you will be treated as having sold all of your Ordinary Shares for
their fair market value on the last day of the last taxable year in
which we were a PFIC and such Ordinary Shares will no longer be
treated as PFIC stock. You will recognize gain (but not
loss), which will be subject to tax as an “excess
distribution” received on the last day of the last taxable
year in which we were a PFIC. Your basis in the Ordinary
Shares would be increased to reflect gain recognized, and your
holding period would begin on the day after we ceased to be a
PFIC.
Also, a
U. S. Holder may be required to file certain forms with the U.S.
Treasury Department.
A U.S.
Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale
or other disposition of our Ordinary Shares in an amount equal to
the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and
the holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ordinary
shares. Any capital gain or loss will be long-term if
the Ordinary Shares have been held for more than one year and will
generally be United States source gain or loss for United States
foreign tax credit purposes.
Certain
U.S. Holders are required to report information to the Internal
Revenue Service relating to an interest in “specified foreign
financial assets,” including shares issued by a non-United
States corporation, for any year in which the aggregate value of
all specified foreign financial assets exceeds $50,000 (or a higher
dollar amount prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service), subject
to certain exceptions. These rules also impose penalties
if a holder is required to submit such information to the Internal
Revenue Service and fails to do so.
ITEM 10H. DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
The
documents that are exhibits to or incorporated by reference in this
annual report can be read at the U.S. SEC’s public reference
facilities at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549-2001 or on
the Commission’s website: www.sec.gov.
ITEM10I. SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
For
information on the Company’s subsidiaries see – Item
4C. The separate financial statements of Blue Sky and Jia Huan, as
required under Regulation S-X 210.3-09, entities in which the
Company owns a 20% equity interest are attached
hereto.
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The
Company’s primary risk exposures arise from changes in
interest rates and foreign currency exchanges rates.
Foreign Currency Risks
The
Company is exposed to risk from changing foreign currency exchange
rates. The Company’s sales are denominated either in HK
dollar or RMB. The majority of the Company’s expenses and
cost of revenue are denominated in HK dollars, followed by RMB,
U.S. dollars, Japanese yen and the Euro. The Company is subject to
a variety of risks associated with changes among the relative value
of the U.S. dollar, HK dollar, RMB, Japanese yen and the Euro. The
Company does not currently adequately hedge its foreign exchange
positions. Any material increase in the value of the HK dollar,
RMB, Japanese yen and the Euro relative to the U.S. dollar would
increase the Company’s expenses and cost of revenue and
therefore would have a material adverse effect on the
Company’s business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Inflation
The
Company cannot accurately determine the precise effect of inflation
on its operations; however, it does not believe inflation has had a
material effect on sales or results of operations during the past
several years. Efforts by the PRC to curb inflation may also curb
economic growth, increase our overhead costs and adversely affect
our sales. If the PRC rate of inflation continues to increase, the
Chinese government may introduce further measures intended to
reduce the inflation rate in the PRC. Any such measures adopted by
the Chinese government may not be successful in reducing or slowing
the increase in the PRC’s inflation rate. Sustained or
increased inflation in the PRC may have an adverse impact on the
PRC’s economy and may materially and adversely affect our
business and financial results.
The
Company is currently not exposed to material future earnings or
cash flow exposures from changes in interest rates on debt
obligations as the Company had no bank indebtedness in Fiscal 2015.
The Company does not currently anticipate entering into interest
rate swaps and/or similar instruments.
PART II
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND
DELINQUENCIES
None.
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF
SECURITYHOLDERS
In November
2011 and February 2012 the Company restated its Memorandum and
Articles of Association. In January of 2012, the Company combined
or reverse split each eleven of its outstanding Ordinary Shares
into two shares of its Ordinary Shares. The reason for the
foregoing was to comply with NASDAQ Listing Rules.
On
September 20, 2011, the Company received a deficiency letter from
NASDAQ that the Company was no longer in compliance with
NASDAQ’s listing maintenance rule for failing to have a bid
price of at least US$ 1.00 per share for the prior thirty trading
days. In order to regain compliance, in January 2012, the Company
effected a combination or reverse split of its Ordinary
Shares.
To
facilitate the combination, Company changed the par value of its
Ordinary Shares from US$ 0.01 per share to no par
value.
The
Company had been originally incorporated under the International
Business Companies Act (the “IBC” Act). On January 1,
2005 the BVI Business Companies Act, (as amended, the “BC
Act”) came into force, with the objective of replacing the
IBC Act over a 2 year transitional period.
On
January 1, 2007, the Company was automatically re-registered under
the BC Act as a BVI Business Company. Companies that were so
automatically re-registered were not required to submit new
Memorandum and Articles of Association and certain key sections of
the IBC Act were “grandfathered” into the BC Act. See
– Item 10B. Memorandum and Articles of Association. In
December 2011 and January 2012, the Company filed Amended and
Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with the Registry
of Corporate Affairs of the BVI Financial Services Commission to,
among other things, (i) not apply the Transitional Provisions and
(ii) remove these concepts from the Company's charter documents
eliminating a layer of requirements that would otherwise apply to
share divisions (splits), combinations (reverse splits),
redemptions and dividends. The Company's accounting treatment of
share capital need not change. Changes in the Company's Amended and
Restated Memorandum are summarized in the Company's Forms 6-K filed
with the SEC on November 30, 2011 and February 6,
2012.
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and
Procedures
Management,
including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
has conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period
covered by this annual report. Disclosure controls and procedures
are defined under SEC rules as controls and other procedures that
are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by
a company in the reports that it files or submits under the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
required time periods. Disclosure controls and procedures include
controls and procedures designed to ensure that information 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 disclosures.
There
are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of
disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of
human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and
procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and
procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their
control objectives.
Based
upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief
Financial Officer has concluded that our disclosure controls and
procedures were effective as of December 31, 2016.
(b)
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
Our
management, under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and
maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as
defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act.
Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation and fair presentation of our consolidated financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. Our Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer assessed the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. In making
this assessment, they used the criteria established in Internal
Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).
Based on this assessment, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2016, our
internal control over financial reporting is
effective.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, all internal control systems, no matter how well
designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems
were determined to be effective they may not prevent or detect
misstatements and can provide only reasonable assurance with
respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also,
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.
(c)
Not Applicable
(d)
Changes in Internal Controls
There
were no changes in our internal controls that occurred during the
period covered by this annual report that has materially affected,
or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control
over financial reporting.
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL
EXPERT
The
Committee includes one non-employee director who meets the
independence and “financial expert” requirements and
two other members who meet the independence requirements of the
NASDAQ listing standards and the rules and regulations of the
SEC. The Committee includes Mr. Y.K. Liang the
“financial expert” on that committee. See Mr.
Liang’s biographical data in “Item 6A. Directors
and Senior Management” contained in this
Report.
Our
Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs. Y.K. Liang, Vincent
Pak Kan Wong, and Fu Ming Chen.. Our board of directors has
determined Mr. Y.K. Liang as an "audit committee financial
expert" as such term is defined in Item 407 of Regulation S-K
promulgated by the SEC. Our board of directors has also determined
both Vincent Pak Kan Wong, and Fu Ming Chen are independent
directors as defined in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the
NASDAQ listing rules.
ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS
Our
Board of Directors has adopted a code of business conduct and
ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees,
including certain provisions that specifically apply to our chief
executive officer, chief financial officer and any other persons
who perform similar functions for us. The Company agrees to
undertake to provide to any person without charge, a copy of our
code of business conduct and ethics within ten working days after
we receive such person’s written request addressed to our
offices set forth on the cover page of this Report.
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND
SERVICES
The
following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories
specified below in connection with certain professional services
rendered by Centurion ZD CPA Ltd. (fka DCAW (CPA) Ltd. as successor
to Dominic K. F. Chan & Co.) and Dominic K. F. Chan & Co.
(“DKFC”) who were the principal external auditors for
fiscal years 2016 and 2015, respectively.
|
For the Year Ended December 31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
fees(1)
|
121,000
|
111,000
|
Audit-related
fees(2)
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Tax
fees(3)
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
All other
fees
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Our
Audit Committee has adopted a pre-approval policy for the
engagement of our independent accountant to perform permitted audit
and non-audit services. Under this policy, which is designed to
assure that such engagements do not impair the independence of our
auditors, the Audit Committee pre-approves annually a range of
specific audit and non-audit services in the categories of Audit
Service, Audit-Related Services, Tax Services and other services
that may be performed by our independent accountants, and the
maximum pre-approved fees that may be paid as compensation for each
pre-approved service in those categories. Any proposed services
exceeding the maximum pre-approved fees require specific approval
by the Audit Committee.
__________________
(1)
|
“Audit
fees” means the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal
years listed for professional services rendered by our principal
auditors for the audit of our annual financial
statements.
|
(2)
|
“Audit-related
fees” means the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal
years listed for assurance and related services by our principal
auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the
audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported
under “Audit fees.” Services comprising the fees
disclosed under the category of “Audit-related fees”
involve principally the performance of certain agreed upon
procedures for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015,
respectively.
|
(3)
|
“Tax
fees” means the aggregated fees billed in each of the years
listed for professional services rendered by our principal auditors
for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
|
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM LISTING
STANDARDS
The
Company is a “Controlled Company” as defined in
NASDAQ’s corporate governance rules as a majority of our
shares are owned by a “control group” consisting of
T.C. Leung and Pearl Venture Ltd., who have disclosed their
“control group” status in their filings with the
Commission. So long as that “controlled company” status
remains in effect, the Company will be exempt from certain of
NASDAQ corporate governance rules that, including among other
things, would require: (a) a majority of our directors be
independent; (b) the compensation of our chief executive
officer be determined or recommended by independent directors; and
(c) director nominations be determined or recommended by
independent directors.
The
Company believes it is in compliance with NASDAQ’s corporate
governance rules as in effect and intends to comply with the
changes to said rules no later than the date that they become
effective.
ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY
ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
None.
Item 16F. CHANGE
IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
On
April 30, 2016, our former independent registered public accounting
firm, Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. (“DKFC”) merged (the
“Merger”) with AWC (CPA) Limited and formed DCAW (CPA)
Limited (“DCAW”), which is registered with the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).
As a
result of the Merger, DKFC resigned as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm on April 30, 2016. On
May 11, 2016, the Company engaged DCAW as its independent
registered public accounting firm. The engagement of DCAW was
approved by the Company’s board of directors on May 11, 2016.
On November 14, 2016, DCAW changed the name to Centurion ZD CPA
Limited (“Centurion”).
The
reports of DKFC on our financial statements for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 did not contain an adverse opinion
or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, and in the
subsequent interim periods through November 14, 2016, there were no
disagreements with DKFC and DCAW on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing
scope and procedure which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of
DKFC and DCAW, would have caused DKFC and DWAC to make reference to
the matter in its report.
PART III
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
following financial statements are filed as part of this annual
report on Form 20-F.
Euro
Tech Holdings Company Limited
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
Consolidated
balance sheets
|
|
Consolidated
statements of income
|
|
Consolidated
statements of cash flows and changes in shareholders’
equity
|
|
Zhejiang
Tianlan Environmental Protection Technology Company
Limited
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
Consolidated
balance sheets
|
|
Consolidated
statements of income
|
|
Consolidated
statements of cash flows and changes in shareholders’
equity
|
|
Zhejiang
Jia Huan Electronic Co., Ltd.
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
Consolidated
balance sheets
|
|
Consolidated
statements of income
|
|
Consolidated
statements of cash flows and changes in shareholders’
equity
|
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
Lists
of Exhibits
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Amended
and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
(1)
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
Amendments
to Exhibit 3.1 ( 2)
|
|
|
|
4.11
|
|
Registrant’s
Audit Committee Charter (3)
|
|
|
|
8.1
|
|
List of
Subsidiaries *
|
|
|
|
12.1
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 *
|
|
|
|
12.2
|
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 *
|
|
|
|
13.1
|
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 *
|
|
|
|
13.2
|
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 *
|
|
|
|
101
..INS*
|
|
XBRL
Instance Document
|
|
|
|
101
..SCH*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
|
|
|
|
101
..CAL*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
|
|
|
|
101
..DBF*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
|
|
|
|
101
..LAB*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
|
|
|
|
101
..PRE*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
|
* Filed
with this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
1. Incorporated
by reference, previously filed as an Exhibit to
Registrant’s Form 6-K on November 30, 2011.
2. Incorporated
by reference, previously filed as an Exhibit to
Registrant’s Form 6-K on February 6, 2012.
3. Incorporated
by reference, previously filed as an Exhibit to
Registrant’s Form 20-F filed on August 19,
2002
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the
requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly
caused and authorize the undersigned to sign this annual report on
its behalf.
|
EURO TECH HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED
|
|
|
(REGISTRANT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
April
26, 2017
|
By:
|
/s/ T.C.
Leung
|
|
|
|
T.C.
Leung
|
|
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of
Directors
|
|
|
|
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
EURO TECH HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
Page
|
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting |