UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 |
TO FORM S-1 |
REGISTRATION STATEMENT |
UNDER |
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
ANPULO FOOD, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
British Virgin Islands | | | | |
(State or other jurisdiction of | | (Primary Standard Industrial | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification |
incorporation) | | Classification Code Number) | | Number) |
Hangkong Road, Xiangfeng Town,
Laifeng County, Hubei 445700, China
+86 (718) 628 8576
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Copies of communications to:
Gregg E. Jaclin, Esq.
Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein & Blader, P.C.
101 Grovers Mill Road, Suite 200,
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Tel: (609) 275 0400
Fax: (609) 557 0969
Andrew Swapp, Esq.
Codan Trust Company (B.V.I.) Ltd.
Commerce House, Wickhams Cay 1,
P.O. Box 3140, Road Town,
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, VG 1110
+1 (284)852 1141
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ |
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | ¨ | Smaller reporting company | x |
Calculation of Registration Fee
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | | Amount to be Registered (1) | | | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share | | | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | | | Amount of Registration Fee (2) | |
Ordinary Shares, par value $0.001 per share | | | 15,500,000 | | | $ | 0.20 | | | $ | 3,100,000 | | | $ | 399.28 | |
(1) In accordance with Rule 416(b), the registrant is also registering hereunder an indeterminate number of additional ordinary shares of the same class are issued or issuable resulting from the split of, or the stock dividend on, the registered securities.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a). The proposed maximum offering price per share is based on the last effective private sale price for the ordinary shares of the registrant as there is currently no public market price for the registrant’s ordinary shares. The last private sales price is further determined by the price at which the common stock of registrant’s sole operating entity and wholly-owned subsidiary (“Anpulo HK”) was sold in a shares-for-debt transaction occurred on October 21, 2013, prior to the share exchange transaction where the common stock of Anpulo HK were subsequently exchanged for the registrant’s ordinary shares. On October 21, 2013, Mr. Wenping Luo, the then shareholder of Anpulo HK transferred 280 shares of the common stock of Anpulo HK that he owned to six creditors in exchange for the cancellation of $5.6 million of debt that owed by Mr. Luo. These creditors subsequently exchanged each share of the common stock of Anpulo HK for 100,000 ordinary shares of the Company in the share exchange occurred on October 30, 2013. The last private sale price for the common stock of Anpulo HK in the shares-for-debt transaction was $20,000 per share and following the share exchange, the last effective private sale price for the registrant’s ordinary share was $0.2 per ordinary share.
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the securities act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the commission, acting pursuant to such section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION | |
Anpulo Food, Inc.
15,500,000 Ordinary shares
This prospectus relates to the resale by the selling shareholders named in this prospectus of up to 15,500,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share.
Our ordinary shares are presently not traded on any market or securities exchange and there is currently no public trading market for our shares. We intend to apply for quotation of our ordinary shares on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board (the “OTC Bulletin Board”). There can be no assurance that a market maker will agree to file the necessary documents with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), nor can there be any assurance that such an application for quotation will be approved. In the absence of a trading market or an active trading market, investors may be unable to liquidate their investment or make any profit from the investment. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop, or if an active market does develop, that it will continue.
The selling shareholders will offer and sell our ordinary shares at $0.20 per share until a public market emerges for our ordinary shares and, thereafter, at prevailing market prices.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the ordinary shares by the selling shareholders. We have agreed to pay all of the registration expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the ordinary shares, but we will not pay any of the selling commissions, brokerage fees and related expenses.
We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for future filings. However, we have elected to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b), and this election is irrevocable. Please refer to more discussions under “Prospectus Summary” beginning on page 4 and “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of how and when we may lose emerging growth company status and the various exemptions that are available to us.
Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 to read about factors you should consider before investing in our ordinary shares.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is: JUNE 24, 2014
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| F-1 |
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus that we authorize to be distributed to you. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus that we authorize to be distributed to you. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it seeking an offer to buy, these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information in this prospectus speaks only as of the date of this prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our ordinary shares.
Third Party Data
This prospectus contains estimates and other information concerning our industry, which are based on industry publications, surveys and forecasts, including those generated by us. This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations. Please contact us if you have any specific questions. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors."
This summary highlights select information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our ordinary shares. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the “Financial Statements,” before making an investment decision.
In this prospectus, the terms “Anpulo,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our,” refer to Anpulo Food, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiary Anpulo International Limited, a holding company formed in Hong Kong (“Anpulo HK”), Anpulo HK’s wholly-owned subsidiary Guangxiang Investment Consulting Co., Ltd., a limited liability company located in Shanghai, China (“Anpulo WFOE”), and our variable interest entity Laifeng Anpulo (Group) Food Development Co., Ltd. (“Anpulo Laifeng”).
Overview
We process, distribute and market pork and cured pork products in the People’s Republic of China, (the “PRC” or “China”). We do not raise hogs, but instead purchase live hogs from pig farms or individual farmers in Laifeng county and its neighboring area in China for slaughtering, processing and curing. As of March 31, 2014, our product line included over 183 unique meat products, including chilled pork, frozen pork and prepared meats. We sell all of our products under our “Anpulo” and “Linghaotuzhu” brand names.
Our value-added pork and cured pork products are targeting China’s middle and high income class. Our products are marketed domestically to supermarkets, warehouse club stores, foodservice distributors, restaurant operators, and non-commercial establishments, such as schools, hotel chains, healthcare facilities, army bases and other food processors. As of March 31, 2014, our wholesale customers included eight fast food companies, 16 processing factories and 51 school cafeterias, factory canteens, hotels, army bases, hospitals and government departments. As of such date, we also retail through 66 supermarket counter locations and 38 third-party owned and operated specialty boutique stores.
We currently have one processing plant in China, located in Laifeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Prefecture, Hubei province. Our total production capacity for chilled pork and frozen pork is approximately 85 metric tons per eight-hour day, or approximately 30,000 metric tons on an annual basis. In addition, we have production capacity for prepared meats of approximately 14 metric tons per eight-hour day, or approximately 5,000 metric tons on an annual basis.
We have a video monitored logistics system that integrates transportation and warehouse management. As of March 31, 2014, we had over 12 temperature-controlled trucks to handle our transportation needs and the capacity for our two temperature adjustable warehouses totaled approximately 5,230 cubic meters.
In 2013 and 2012, we had approximately $20.21 million and $18.12 million in sales, respectively, and $(0.87) million in net loss for 2013 and $0.23 million in net income for 2012, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we generated $4.4 million and $4.5 million revenues. Our net losses were ($0.1) million and ($0.2) million, respectively, for the first quarter of 2014 and 2013.
In 2012, our management decided to explore a business opportunity in real estate development. On November 18, 2012, we entered into a cooperation agreement with the Laifeng County to build and operate a high-end hotel. According to such agreement, in exchange for the land use right, we shall invest no less than RMB 30 million or approximate $4,760,000 in building a hotel in Laifeng County and, after the hotel is built we are entitled to operate the hotel and profit from the hotel operation for 20 years from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2032. After September 30, 2032, the title of the hotel shall be transferred to the Laifeng County and the Laifeng County shall not be liable for any debts associated with the hotel. In connection to the cooperation agreement, the Company also agreed to compensate for demolishing then existing properties on the land, which amount of RMB 4.2 million or $0.67 million has been paid in full. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we have invested $2,782,615 and $2,142,989 in the hotel construction and will need additional $2.95 million to complete the entire project, including but not limited to interior construction. On April 20, 2014, we assigned and transferred all of our rights and obligations under the cooperation agreement to Laifeng Fengming Manor Hotel Management Co., Ltd. (“Fengming”) for approximately RMB 17 million or $2.7 million. Fengming is owned by Mr. Junyi Luo, Mr. Wenping Luo’s son. Mr. Wenping Luo does not have any equity interest or hold any management position in Fengming, or control Fengming by any contractual arrangement.
Our History and Corporate Structure
Prior to October 30, 2013, we were organized as a vehicle to investigate and, if such investigation warrants, acquire a target company or business seeking the perceived advantages of being a publicly held corporation. From our inception on July 30, 2010 to October 30, 2013, we did not generate any revenue and we accumulated no significant assets as we explored a possible business combination. We entered into our current line of business on October 30, 2013 by acquiring Anpulo HK, its wholly-owned subsidiary Anpulo WFOE and the variable interest entity Anpulo Laifeng.
By way of background, in February 2012, Wenping Luo, the Chairman and principal shareholder of Anpulo Laifeng, took control of the Company and changed the Company’s name from Europa Acquisition VII, Inc. to Anpulo Food, Inc., in contemplation of bringing Anpulo Laifeng and its holding companies public in the United States through a reverse acquisition transaction. The contemplated reverse acquisition between the Company and Anpulo Laifeng and its holding companies was a mere intent of Mr. Luo at that time and, this intention was abandoned when in January 2013 Mr. Luo took control of another reporting company that was formed to acquire a target company or business, Specializer, Inc. and changed this company’s name from Specializer, Inc. to Anpulo Food Development, Inc.. In August 2013, Mr. Luo’s intention of a reverse acquisition between the Company and Anpulo Laifeng and its holding companies revived, and as the sole shareholder, officer and director of the Company at that time, he made the decision to proceed with the reverse acquisition transaction. To date, Mr. Luo, in his capacity as the principal shareholder and the sole officer and director of Anpulo Food Development, Inc. intends that Anpulo Food Development, Inc. remains as a company formed to acquire a target or business.
We do not directly own our business operation in China. We conduct our business operations through our variable interest entity, Anpulo Laifeng, which we control by a series of contractual arrangements. The following chart demonstrates our current corporate structure:
(1) | Contractual arrangements including an Entrusted Management Agreement, Exclusive Option Agreement, Shareholders’ Voting Proxy Agreement and Pledge of Equity Interest Agreement. For a description of these agreements, see “Corporate Structure— Contractual Arrangements with Anpulo and Anpulo’s Shareholders.” |
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(2) | The shareholders of Anpulo Laifeng are Wenping Luo (95%) and Jinfeng Hu (5%). |
Our Industry
The meat industry in China is characterized by fragmentation, sanitation and hygiene issues, as well as social demographic trends. According to the Earth Policy Institute, more than a quarter of all the meat produced worldwide is now eaten in China. Half the world’s pigs, about 476 million of them are said to reside in China. According to November 2013 report of the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), since 2010 the pork market in China has become the largest national market in the world, accounting over half of global production and consumption. Production in China has consistently expanded over the past several years and is forecast at another record 54.7 million tons in 2014, according to USDA. China became a net importer of pork in 2008. It has imported approximately 400,000 tons of pork per year in recent years. This compares with global pork trade of less than seven million, according to Rabobank and Earth Policy Institute. According to USDA November 2013 report, China pork imports are expected to grow to a record 775,000 tons, yet still only account for just over 1 percent of China consumption.
Competitions
The production and sale of meat and food products in China are highly competitive. Our pork products compete with several large and small regional pork processors. The principal competitive elements are price, product safety and quality, brand identification, breadth and depth of product offerings, availability of products, customer service and credit terms. Our competitive strategy is to increase and sustain consumer demand and loyalty by raising safe and healthy food awareness and educating customers of our premium pork products in our marketing activities, increase brand recognition, and build support for our pricing policies. Please see “Description of Business- Competition.”
Competitive Strengths
We believe that the following competitive strengths enable us to compete effectively in the meat products market in Hubei, China:
| o | Our “Anpulo” and “Linghaotuzhu” brand products are sold at premium prices to middle and high income market in China. Because hogs from our region are fed by local farmers with mountain grown herbs, fruits and crops, which are free from drug, hormone and heavy metals residues, we are able to price our pork products at a premium, approximately 20% to 50% higher than similar pork products. |
| o | Our geographic location offers lower cost labors and abundant hog supply. Our production and processing plant is located in Laifeng county, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, which we believe that provides lower cost labors than that is available for many of our competitors. Laifeng county, and its neighboring counties, are rich in pig farming, which provides us reliable sources to grow and expand. |
| o | The “Anpulo” brand name, to our belief, is well recognized throughout our target markets in Hubei Province, China. The brand identification differentiates us from many unorganized and low-end meat product suppliers, and therefore lends us support in developing customer base and implementing our pricing strategy. |
For more discussion regarding our competitive strengths, please see “Description of Business-Competitive Strengths.”
Our Growth Strategy
Our long-term business strategy is to establish our Company as a leading provider of premium pork and pork products in China. Our short-term objectives are to capitalize on current market opportunities and build on our competitive strengths to increase our market presence and enhance our position as a regional leader in the premium pork markets. The key elements of our growth strategy include the following:
| o | Continue the strategy of offering premium product at premium price. We apply different pricing strategy than our competitors, targeting health conscious consumers who are willing to pay premium price for safe, high quality pork products. We believe that food safety is a top concern of Chinese consumers who purchase meat products. Therefore, we expect that our products by giving consumers the comfort and security of safe and health food will remain marketable at extra cost. To distinguish our pork products from the rest, we plan to continue to sell our pork products at prices approximately 20% to 50% higher than the products of the same category. |
| o | Improve our warehouse capability. Our temperature adjustable warehouse capability, although totals approximately 5,230 cubic meters, falls short of the amount of products that our slaughterhouse could produce in its full capacity. As a result, we are currently utilizing less than one third of our production capacity at our slaughterhouse. We regard our logistics capabilities as a key to our growth strategy. We intend to construct new warehouse facilities with walk-in coolers and freezers. The estimated cost for this project is approximately $700,000. We are currently experiencing a lack of sufficient capital resources to fund the construction and may encounter difficulties in obtaining additional financing. See “Liquidity and Capital Resource-Requirement for Additional Funding” on page 62. However, if additional fund becomes available, we intend to prioritize the use of fund in constructing new warehouse facilities. |
| o | Increase our market presence in Wuhan City, Chongqing city and Hunan province. As of March 31, 2014, we operated sales offices in Laifeng County and Wuhan City and had one warehouse in each of two cities. We plan to increase our market presence by continue adding more counters in Wuhan City, at a pace of five to ten counters a year within the next five years, in new supermarkets or at new store location of supermarket already carrying our products. The estimated cost for adding one supermarket counter is approximately $50,000. We do not currently have sufficient cash reserve to fund adding more counters. To implement this strategy, we will need to seek additional financing, which may not be available, or at acceptable terms, to us at this time. See “Liquidity and Capital Resource-Requirement for Additional Funding.” If no fund is secured, we will have to delay or eventually abandon this strategy. In addition, though no specific action plan is formed, we are also strategizing to seek expansion opportunities in neighboring provinces. Laifeng county is located in the southwest part of Hubei province and it’s also in the junction of Hubei province, Hunan province and the municipality Chongqing city. As of March 31, 2014, we sell our products to 14 specialty retail stores in Chongqing city and Hunan province and had no supermarket counter in these two provinces. We believe our Laifeng location will enable us to continue service the three provinces and municipality and expand our presence there. |
| o | Expand our product lines. As of March 31, 2014, our product lines included over 183 types of pork and cured pork products, and we had over 30 new products under development. At such day, we were unable to ascertain the timeframe by which the development can be completed. In addition to in-house product development, when our financial conditions improve, we plan to seek collaboration with outside academic and research force to optimize and expand our product lines. We estimate that these research and development efforts will cost the Company approximately $100,000. Given to the lack of fund, we are uncertain when we will start this project. |
| o | Enhance our brand awareness. We believe that we can best achieve sustainable growth through further raising awareness of our brand names “Anpulo” and “Linghaotuzhu”. We plan to build our brand by focusing on educating consumers of our pork products through our ongoing holidays and special occasion promotions, and showcase our variety of pork products through our retail channels including our supermarket counters and third-party owned and operated boutique type, specialty retail stores. We believe that our retail channels will create additional brand awareness that will benefit our wholesale customers. |
Requirements for Additional Funding
We incurred a loss of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and a loss of 0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. In addition, we had loans as of March 31, 2014 for $18.9 million that are due in the next 12 months and our cash reserves was $3.8 million at the same date. We also had a negative working capital of $9.9 million as of March 31, 2014. We anticipate that our current cash reserves plus cash from our operating activities will not be sufficient to meet our ongoing obligations and fund our operations for the next twelve months. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Requirements for Additional Funding.”
As a result, we will need to seek additional funding in the near future. We currently do not have a specific plan of how we will obtain such funding; however, we anticipate that additional funding will be in the form of equity financing from the sale of shares of our common stock or renewing our current obligations with loaners. We may also seek to obtain short-term loans from our directors or unrelated parties. Additional funding may not be available, or at acceptable terms, to us at this time. If we are unable to obtain additional financing, we may be required to reduce the scope of our business development activities, which could harm our business plans, financial condition and operating results. These conditions have raised a substantial doubt of our auditor as to whether we may continue as a going concern.
Emerging Growth Company Status
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and, for as long as we continue to be an “emerging growth company,” we may choose to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies but not to “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
We could remain as an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, or until the earliest of (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1 billion, (ii) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, or (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three year period. Please see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 for various risks associated with investing in an emerging growth company like us.
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities Against Our Assets and Management in China
Our operations are conducted and our assets are located within China. In addition, all of our directors and all of our senior management personnel reside in China, where substantially all of their assets are located. You may experience difficulties in effecting service of process upon us, our directors or our senior management as it may not be possible to effect such service of process outside China. In addition, China does not have treaties with the United States and many other countries providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of court judgments. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China of judgments of a court in the United States or certain other jurisdictions may be difficult or impossible.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at Hangkong Road, Xiangfeng Town, Laifeng County, Hubei 445700, China and our telephone number is (86) 718 628 7598. Our website is www.anpulo.cn. No information available on or through our website is incorporated into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
The Offering
Ordinary shares offered by selling security holders | | 15,500,000 ordinary shares |
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Ordinary shares outstanding before the offering | | 123,000,000 ordinary shares |
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Ordinary shares outstanding after the offering | | 123,000,000 ordinary shares |
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| | $0.20 per share until a public market emerges for our ordinary shares and, thereafter, at prevailing market prices. |
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Use of proceeds | | We are not selling any ordinary shares covered by this prospectus, and, as a result, will not receive any proceeds from this offering. |
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Risk Factors | | See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of the risks you should carefully consider before making a decision to invest in our ordinary shares. |
Risks Relating to Our Financial Conditions and Capital Requirements
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Our auditor has indicated in their reports on our financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 that conditions exist that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern due to our recurring losses from operations, deficit in equity, and the need to raise additional capital to fund operations. A “going concern” opinion could impair our ability to finance our operations through the sale of debt or equity securities. Our ability to continue as a going concern will depend on our ability to obtain additional financing when necessary, which is not certain. If we are unable to achieve these goals, our business would be jeopardized and we may not be able to continue. If we ceased operations, it is likely that all of our investors would lose their investment
We require various licenses and permits to operate our business, and the loss of, failure to renew or failure to obtain any or all of these licenses and permits could require us to suspend some or all of our production or distribution operations.
In accordance with PRC laws and regulations, we are required to maintain various licenses and permits in order to operate our business, including, without limitation, a slaughtering permit for our chilled and frozen pork production facility, a permit for production of industrial products for our processed meat production facilities, and permits for distribution of our pork products. We are required to comply with applicable hygiene and food safety standards in relation to our production and distribution processes. Our premises and transportation vehicles are subject to regular inspections by the regulatory authorities for compliance with applicable regulations. Failure to pass these inspections, or the loss of or failure to renew our licenses and permits, could require us to temporarily or permanently suspend some or all of our production or distribution operations, which could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
Damages not covered by our insurance might result in losses for us, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
As is typical in our business, our plants, distribution centers, and vehicles, among others, are insured. However, our insurance is limited. We do not carry director and officer insurance which could incur substantial financial burdens on us if under our memorandum and articles of association we ought to defend our directors and officers in a claim brought against or indemnify them against judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement.
In addition, certain kinds of losses cannot be insured against, and our insurance policies are subject to liability limits and exclusions. If an event that cannot be insured occurs, or the damages are higher than our policy limits, we may incur significant costs. In addition, we could be required to pay indemnification to parties affected by such an event.
Furthermore, even where we incur losses that are ultimately covered by insurance, we may incur additional expenses to mitigate the loss, such as shifting production to another facility. These costs may not be fully covered by our insurance.
If our pork products become contaminated, we may be subject to product liability claims and product recalls.
Pork products may be subject to contamination by disease producing organisms. These organisms are generally found in the environment and as a result, regardless of the manufacturing practices employed, there is a risk that they could be present in our processed pork products as a result of food processing. Once contaminated products have been shipped for distribution, illness and death may result if the organisms are not eliminated at the further processing, foodservice or consumer level. Even an inadvertent shipment of contaminated products is a violation of law and may lead to increased risk of exposure to product liability claims, product recalls and increased scrutiny by regulatory agencies and may have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Regulatory enforcement crackdowns on food processing companies in China could increase our compliance costs and reduce our profitability.
We believe we are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable regulatory requirements of China and all local jurisdictions in which we operate. However, the PRC government authorities have taken certain measures to maintain China's food market in good order and to improve the integrity of China's food industry, such as enforcing full compliance with industry standards and closing certain food processing companies in China that did not meet regulatory standards. While the closing of competing meat processing plants that do not meet regulatory standards could increase our revenues in the long term, we may also experience increased regulatory compliance costs that could reduce our profitability.
Our failure to comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations and related litigation could result in significant penalties, damages and adverse publicity for our business.
Our operations and properties are subject to extensive and increasingly stringent laws and regulations pertaining to, among other things, the discharge of materials into the environment and the handling and disposition of wastes (including solid and hazardous wastes) or otherwise relating to protection of the environment. In addition, under PRC environmental regulations, we are required to obtain an approval on environmental impact assessment before the construction of our production facilities, and we are further required to undergo environmental protection examinations and obtain acceptance approval from the relevant governmental authorities after we complete the installation of our manufacturing equipment and before we commence commercial production. Failure to comply with any laws and regulations and future changes to them may result in significant consequences to us, including civil and criminal penalties, liability for damages and negative publicity.
We have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant capital and operating expenditures to comply with these laws and regulations. We cannot assure you that additional environmental issues will not require currently unanticipated investigations, assessments or expenditures, or that requirements applicable to us will not be altered in ways that will require us to incur significant additional costs.
If the global economy experiences another downturn or crisis, potential disruptions in the capital and credit markets may adversely affect our business, including the availability and cost of short-term funds for liquidity requirements, our ability to meet short-term and long-term commitments and our ability to grow our business; each could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
The global economy has recently experienced a significant contraction, with an almost unprecedented lack of availability of business and consumer credit. We rely on the credit markets, particularly for short-term borrowings from banks in China, as well as the capital markets, to meet our financial commitments and short-term liquidity needs if internal funds are not available from our operations. Disruptions in the credit and capital markets, as have been experienced since mid-2008, could adversely affect our ability to draw on our short-term bank facilities. Our access to funds under these credit facilities is dependent on the ability of the banks that are parties to those facilities to meet their funding commitments, which may be dependent on governmental economic policies in China. Those banks may not be able to meet their funding commitments to us if they experience shortages of capital and liquidity or if they experience excessive volumes of borrowing requests from us and other borrowers within a short period of time.
Long-term disruptions in the credit and capital markets, similar to those that have been experienced since mid-2008, could result from uncertainty, changing or increased regulation, reduced alternatives or failures of significant financial institutions and could adversely affect our access to liquidity needed for our business. Any disruption could require us to take measures to conserve cash until the markets stabilize or until alternative credit arrangements or other funding for our business needs can be arranged. Such measures could include deferring capital expenditures, and reducing or eliminating discretionary uses of cash.
Continued market disruptions could cause broader economic downturns, which may lead to lower demand for our products and increased incidence of customers' inability to pay their accounts. Further, bankruptcies or similar events by customers may cause us to incur bad debt expense at levels higher than historically experienced. These events would adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial position.
Our growth strategy may prove to be disruptive and divert management resources, which could adversely affect our existing businesses.
Over the last three years, we increased our retail locations from 68 to 156, including specialty retail stores and “Anpulo” supermarket counter locations. Our growth strategy includes the continued expansion of our retail locations. In addition, when our financial position permits, we intend to expand our network of sales offices and warehouses to additional cities in China. The implementation of such strategy involves present financial, managerial and operational challenges, including diversion of management attention from existing businesses, difficulty with integrating personnel and financial and other systems, increased expenses, including compensation expenses resulting from newly hired employees, assumption of unknown liabilities and potential disputes. We also could experience financial or other setbacks if any of our growth strategies incur problems of which we are not presently aware.
We may be unable to maintain our profitability in the face of a consolidating retail environment in China.
We sell substantial amounts of our products to supermarkets and large retailers. The supermarket and food retail industry in China has been, and is expected to continue, undergoing a trend of development and consolidation. As the retail food trade continues to consolidate and our retail customers grow larger and become more sophisticated, they may demand lower pricing and increased promotional programs. Furthermore, larger customers may be better able to operate on reduced inventories and potentially develop or increase their focus on private label products. If we fail to maintain a good relationship with our large retail customers, or maintain a wide offering of quality products, or if we lower our prices or increase promotional support of our products in response to pressure from our customers and are unable to increase the volume of our products sold, our profitability could decline.
Our operating results may fluctuate from period to period and if we fail to meet market expectations for a particular period.
Our operating results have fluctuated from period to period and are likely to continue to fluctuate as a result of a wide range of factors, including seasonal variations in live hog supply and processed meat products consumption. For example, demand for our products in general is relatively high before the Chinese New Year in January or February each year and lower thereafter. Our production and sales of chilled and frozen pork are generally lower in the summer due to a lower supply of live hogs, as well as a slight drop in meat consumption during the hot summer months. Interim reports may not be indicative of our performance for the year or our future performance, and period-to-period comparisons may not be meaningful due to a number of reasons beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our operating results will meet the expectations of market analysts or our investors.
Our largest shareholder has significant influence over our management and affairs and could exercise this influence against your best interests.
As of June 24, 2014, Mr. Wenping Luo, our founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our largest shareholder, along with his wife, beneficially owned approximately 74.8% of our outstanding common shares and 100% of our outstanding preferred shares, and our other executive officers and directors collectively beneficially owned an additional 0.16% of our outstanding common shares. As a result, pursuant to our memorandum of association and articles of association and applicable laws and regulations, our controlling shareholder and our other executive officers and directors are able to exercise significant influence over our company, including, but not limited to, any shareholder approvals for the election of our directors and, indirectly, the selection of our senior management, the amount of dividend payments, if any, our annual budget, increases or decreases in our share capital, new securities issuance, mergers and acquisitions and any amendments to our memorandum of association and articles of association. Furthermore, this concentration of ownership may delay or prevent a change of control or discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, which could decrease the market price of our shares.
The lack of public company experience of our management team could adversely impact our ability to comply with the reporting requirements of U.S. securities laws.
Our management, including our President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and our directors, has never been responsible for managing a publicly traded company with active operational activities and has no trainings or experience in maintaining books and records and preparing financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our management’s lack of public company experience could impair our ability to comply with federal securities laws and make required disclosures on a timely basis including those imposed by Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Our management may not be able to implement programs and policies in an effective and timely manner that adequately respond to such increased legal, regulatory compliance and reporting requirements, including establishing and maintaining internal controls over financial reporting. Any such deficiencies, weaknesses or lack of compliance could have a materially adverse effect on our ability to comply with the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) which is necessary to maintain our public company status. If we were to fail to fulfill those obligations, our ability to continue as a U.S. public company would be in jeopardy in which event you could lose your entire investment in our company.
If we fail to develop and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud; as a result, current and potential shareholders could lose confidence in our financial reports, which could harm our business and the trading price of our common shares.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires us to evaluate and report on our internal controls over financial reporting and have our independent registered public accounting firm annually attest to our evaluation, as well as issue their own opinion on our internal controls over financial reporting. We cannot be certain that the measures we have undertaken to comply with Section 404 will ensure that we will maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future. Furthermore, if we are able to rapidly grow our business, the internal controls that we will need will become more complex, and significantly more resources will be required to ensure our internal controls remain effective. Failure to implement required controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we or our auditors discover a material weakness in our internal controls, the disclosure of that fact, even if the weakness is quickly remedied, could diminish investors' confidence in our financial statements and harm our share price. In addition, non-compliance with Section 404 could subject us to a variety of administrative sanctions, including the suspension of trading, ineligibility for listing on one of the national securities exchanges and the inability of registered broker-dealers to make a market in our common shares, which could reduce our share price.
Our classified board structure may prevent a change in our control.
Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. The current terms of the directors expire in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Directors of each class are chosen for three-year terms upon the expiration of their current terms, and each year one class of directors is elected by the shareholders. The staggered terms of our directors may reduce the possibility of a tender offer or an attempt at a change in control, even though a tender offer or change in control might be in the best interest of our shareholders.
We may not pay dividends.
We have not previously paid any cash dividends, and we do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common shares. We cannot assure you that our operations will continue to result in sufficient revenues to enable us to operate at profitable levels or to generate positive cash flows. Furthermore, there is no assurance our Board of Directors will declare dividends even if we are profitable. Dividend policy is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on, among other things, our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our common shares in the future, we will be dependent, in large part, on receipt of funds from Anpulo Laifeng. See “Dividend Policy.”
We are an “emerging growth company” under the jobs act and any decision on our part to comply with certain reduced disclosure requirements applicable to “emerging growth companies” could make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and, for as long as we continue to be an “emerging growth company,” we may choose to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies but not to “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We could be an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, or until the earliest of (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1 billion, (ii) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, or (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three year period.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. However, we have elected to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with the revised accounting standards.
Our status as an “emerging growth company” under the jobs act of 2012 may make it more difficult to raise capital as and when we need it.
Because of the exemptions from various reporting requirements provided to us as an “emerging growth company,” we may be less attractive to investors and it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital as and when we need it. Investors may be unable to compare our business with other companies in our industry if they believe that our reports are not as transparent as other companies in our industry. If we are unable to raise additional capital as and when we need it, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Risks Relating To Our Industry
An outbreak of A/H1N1 influenza (commonly referred to as “swine flu”) or other diseases could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
A spread of A/H1N1 influenza such as that which occurred in 2009 and 2010, or any outbreak of other epidemics in China affecting animals or humans might result in material disruptions to our operations, material disruptions to the operations of our customers or suppliers, a decline in the supermarket or food retail industry or slowdown in economic growth in China and surrounding regions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and sales revenue. Negative association of the A/H1N1 flu with hogs and pork products, since it is commonly referred to by laypersons as “swine flu”, could have a negative impact on sales of pork products. Moreover, our facilities and products may be affected by A/H1N1 flu or similar diseases in the future, or that the market for pork products in China may decline as a result of fear of such an outbreak. If either case should occur, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be adversely and materially affected.
The hog slaughtering and processed meat industries in China are subject to extensive government regulation, which is still evolving and could adversely affect our ability to sell products in China or increase our production costs.
The hog slaughtering and processed meat industries in China are heavily regulated by a number of governmental agencies, including primarily the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Health, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the State Environmental Protection Administration. These regulatory bodies have broad discretion and authority to regulate many aspects of the hog slaughtering and processed meat industries in China, including, without limitation, setting hygiene standards for production and quality standards for processed meat products. In addition, the hog slaughtering and processed meat products regulatory framework in China is still in the process of being developed. If the relevant regulatory authorities set standards with which we are unable to comply or which increase our production costs and hence our prices so as to render our products non-competitive, our ability to sell products in China may be limited.
The hog slaughtering and processed meat industries in China may face increasing competition from both domestic and foreign companies, as well as increasing industry consolidation, which may affect our market share and profit margin.
The hog slaughtering and processed meat industries in China are highly competitive. Our processed meat products are targeted at mid- to high-end consumers, a market in which we face increasing competition, from both domestic and foreign suppliers. See “Description Business-Competition”. In addition, the evolving government regulations in relation to the hog slaughtering industry has driven a trend of consolidation through the industry, with smaller operators unable to meet the increasing costs of regulatory compliance and therefore at a competitive disadvantage. We believe that our ability to maintain our market share and grow our operations within this landscape of changing and increasing competition is largely dependent upon our ability to distinguish our products and services.
Our current or potential competitors may develop products of a comparable or superior quality to ours, or adapt more quickly than we do to evolving consumer preferences or market trends. In addition, our competitors in the raw meat market may merge or form alliances to achieve a scale of operations or sales network which would make it difficult for us to compete. Increased competition may also lead to price wars, counterfeit products or negative brand advertising, all of which may adversely affect our market share and profit margin. In an effort to expand market share or enter into new markets, some of our competitors have used, and we expect they will continue to use, aggressive pricing strategies, greater incentives and subsidies for distributors, retailers and customers. If their efforts are successful, our market share and profit margin may be adversely affected. Furthermore, consolidation among industry participants in China may potentially result in stronger domestic competitors better able to compete as end-to-end suppliers as well as competitors more specialized in particular areas and geographic markets. We may not be able to compete effectively with our current or potential competitors, and our inability to compete successfully against competitors could result in lost customers, loss of market share and reduced operating margins, which would adversely impact our results of operations.
The outbreak of animal diseases or other epidemics could adversely affect our operations.
An occurrence of serious animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, or any outbreak of other epidemics in China affecting animals or humans might result in material disruptions to our operations, material disruptions to the operations of our customers or suppliers, a decline in the supermarket or food retail industry or slowdown in economic growth in China and surrounding regions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and turnover. In 2006, there was an outbreak of streptococcus suis in hogs, principally in Sichuan province, PRC, with a large number of cases of human infection following contact with diseased hogs. There also were unrelated reports of diseased hogs in Guangdong province, PRC. Our procurement and production facilities are located in Henan province, PRC and were not affected by the streptococcus suis infection. In 2010, there were reports of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in several provinces in China, such as Guangdong, Gansu, Jiangxi, Xinjiang and Tibet, and tens of thousands of hogs were culled after such disease outbreak in 2010. In addition, in 2010 and 2011, there have been reports of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in countries and regions near China, such as in Japan and South Korea. Such outbreaks could spread to China. There can be no assurance that our facilities or products will not be affected by an outbreak of this disease or similar ones in the future, or that the market for pork products in China will not decline as a result of fear of disease. In either case, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be adversely and materially affected.
Consumer concerns regarding the safety and quality of food products or health concerns could adversely affect sales of our products.
Our sales performance could be adversely affected if consumers lose confidence in the safety and quality of our products. Consumers in China are increasingly conscious of food safety and nutrition. Consumer concerns about, for example, the safety of pork products, or the safety of food additives used in processed meat products, could discourage them from buying certain products and cause our results of operations to suffer. Specifically in 2011, there was some negative publicity regarding the quality and safety of some of our competitors’ meat products. While we believe that we maintain an advanced system for quality assurance and control, our operations may be impacted by the deteriorating reputation of the food industry in China due to recent food safety scandals.
We may be subject to substantial liability should the consumption of any of our products cause personal injury or illness and, unlike most food processing companies in the United States, we do not maintain product liability insurance to cover our potential liabilities.
The sale of food products for human consumption involves an inherent risk of injury to consumers. Such injuries may result from tampering by unauthorized third parties or product contamination or degeneration, including the presence of foreign contaminants, chemical substances or other agents or residues during the various stages of the procurement and production process. The PRC Food Safety Law which became effective on June 1, 2009 enhances the supervision and examination of governmental authorities over food production and provides that no exemption from such inspections and examinations shall be permitted. While we are subject to governmental inspections and regulations, we cannot assure you that consumption of our products will not cause a health-related illness in the future, or that we will not be subject to claims or lawsuits relating to such matters.
Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful or is not fully pursued, the negative publicity surrounding any assertions that our products caused personal injury or illness could adversely affect our reputation with customers and our corporate and brand image. Unlike most food processing companies in the United States, but in line with industry practice in China, we do not maintain product liability insurance. Furthermore, our products could potentially suffer from product tampering, contamination or degeneration or be mislabeled or otherwise damaged. Under certain circumstances, we may be required to recall products. Even if a situation does not necessitate a product recall, we cannot assure you that product liability claims will not be asserted against us as a result. A product liability judgment against us or a product recall could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, profitability and business reputation.
Our product and company name may be subject to counterfeiting and/or imitation, which could have an adverse effect upon our reputation and brand image, as well as lead to higher administrative costs.
We regard brand positioning as the core of our competitive strategy, and intend to position our “Anpulo” and “Linghaotuzhu” brand to create the perception and image of health, nutrition, freshness and quality in the minds of our customers. There have been frequent occurrences of counterfeiting and imitation of products in China in the past. We cannot guarantee that counterfeiting or imitation of our products will not occur in the future or that we will be able to detect it and deal with it effectively. Any occurrence of counterfeiting or imitation could negatively affect our corporate and brand image, particularly if the counterfeit or imitation products cause sickness, injury or death to consumers. In addition, counterfeit or imitation products could result in a reduction in our market share, a loss of revenues or an increase in our administrative expenses in respect of detection or prosecution.
Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property rights may undermine our competitive position, and litigation to protect our intellectual property rights may be costly.
We have registered our “Anpulo” and “Linhaotuzhu” as trademarks in China for the product categories for which they are currently used. However, there can be no assurance that additional applications, if any, we make to register such mark, or any other trade name or trademark we may seek to register, will be approved and/or that the right to the use of any such trademarks outside of their respective current areas of usage will not be claimed by others. We also own the rights to two domain names that we use in connection with the operation of our business. We believe that such trademarks and domain names provide us with the opportunity to enhance our marketing efforts for our products. Failure to protect our intellectual property rights may undermine our marketing efforts and result in harm to our reputation and the growth of our business.
PRC intellectual property-related laws and their implementation are still under development. Accordingly, intellectual property rights in China may not be as effective as in the United States or many other countries. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights and the outcome of any such litigation may not be in our favor. Given the relative unpredictability of China's legal system and potential difficulties enforcing a court judgment in China, there is no guarantee that we would be able to halt the unauthorized use of our intellectual property through litigation in a timely manner or at all. Furthermore, any such litigation may be costly and may divert management attention away from our business and cause us to expend significant resources. An adverse determination in any such litigation will impair our intellectual property rights and may harm our business, prospects and reputation. We have no insurance coverage against litigation costs so we would be forced to bear all litigation costs if we cannot recover them from other parties. All of the foregoing factors could harm our business and financial condition.
Risks Relating To Conducting Business in China
Substantially all of our assets and operations are located in China, and substantially all of our revenue is sourced from China. Accordingly, our results of operations and financial position are subject to a significant degree to economic, political and legal developments in China, including the following risks:
We derive virtually all of our revenues from sales in China and a general economic downturn, a recession or a sudden disruption in business conditions in China could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Consumer spending is generally affected by a number of factors, including general economic conditions, the level of unemployment, inflation, interest rates, energy costs, gasoline prices and consumer confidence generally, all of which are beyond our control. Consumer purchases of discretionary items tend to decline during recessionary periods, when disposable income is lower, and may impact sales of our products. In addition, sudden disruption in business conditions as a result of a terrorist attack, retaliation and the threat of further attacks or retaliation, war, adverse weather conditions and climate changes or other natural disasters, pandemic situations or large scale power outages can have a short or, sometimes, long-term impact on consumer spending.
All of our revenues are generated from sales in China. We anticipate that revenues from sales of our products in China will continue to represent a substantial proportion of our total revenues in the near future. A downturn in the economy in China, any recession or a sudden disruption of business conditions in China's economy could, among other things, adversely affect consumer buying power and discourage consumption of our products, which in turn would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in the political and economic policies of the PRC government, including those that are intended to address the rising inflation rates in China, could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Our business operations may be adversely affected by the political and economic environment in China. China has operated as a socialist state since 1949 and is controlled by the Communist Party of China. As such, the economy of China differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including, but not limited to:
● | structure | ● | capital re-investment |
● | government involvement | ● | allocation of resources |
● | level of development | ● | control of foreign exchange |
● | growth rate | ● | rate of inflation |
In recent years, however, the government has introduced measures aimed at creating a "socialist market economy" and policies have been implemented to allow business enterprises greater autonomy in their operations. Nonetheless, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the PRC government. Changes in the political leadership of China may have a significant effect on laws and policies related to the current economic reforms program, other policies affecting business and the general political, economic and social environment in China, including the introduction of measures to control inflation, changes in the rate or method of taxation, the imposition of additional restrictions on currency conversion and remittances abroad, and foreign investment. Moreover, economic reforms and growth in China have been more successful in certain provinces in China than in others, and the continuation or increases of such disparities could affect the political or social stability in China.
Although we believe the economic reform and the macroeconomic measures adopted by the Chinese government have had a positive effect on the economic development in China, the future direction of these economic reforms is uncertain and the uncertainty may decrease the attractiveness of our company as an investment, which may in turn materially adversely affect the price at which our shares trade.
Furthermore, in recent years the Chinese economy has experienced periods of rapid expansion and highly fluctuating rates of inflation. These factors have led to the adoption by the PRC government, from time to time, of various measures designed to restrict the availability of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. High inflation may cause the PRC government to impose controls on credit and/or prices, or to take other actions, which could result in a slowdown in economic activity in China, adversely affect the market demand for our products or increase the financing costs of our Company. In addition, if prices for our products increase at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the cost of hogs and other supplies due to inflation, and we are unable to mitigate these inflation increases through customer pricing, our profitability may be reduced and our growth prospects may be negatively impacted.
Social conditions in China could have a material adverse effect on our operations as the PRC government continues to exert substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities.
The government of China has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be adversely affected by changes in Chinese laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, import and export tariffs, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. We believe our operations in China are in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, the central or local governments may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Were the PRC government, or local municipalities, to limit our ability to develop, produce, import or sell our products in China, or to finance and operate our business in China, our business could be adversely affected.
We rely on contractual arrangement with Anpulo Laifeng and its shareholders for the operation of our domestic business in China, which may not be as effective as direct ownership. If Anpulo Laifeng and its shareholders fail to perform their obligations under these contractual arrangements, we may have to resort to litigation or arbitration to enforce our right, which may be time-consuming, unpredictable, expensive and damaging to our operations and reputation.
We have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with Anpulo Laifeng to operate our domestic business. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Description of Business- Our Corporate Structure- Control Agreements”. These contractual arrangements provide us with effective control over domestic entity and allow us to obtain economic benefit from it. Although we have been advised by our PRC counsel, Kai Tong Law firm, that these contractual arrangements are in compliance with current PRC laws, these contractual arrangements may not be effective in providing control as direct ownership. For example, Anpulo Laifeng and its shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by failing to operate our domestic business in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. In addition, if the shareholders of Anpulo Laifeng refuse to transfer their equity interests in Anpulo Laifeng to us or our designee when we exercise our call option pursuant to these contractual arrangements, we may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations.
If we were the controlling shareholder of Anpulo Laifeng with direct ownership, we would be able to exercise our rights as shareholders, rather than our rights under the powers of attorney, to effect changes to their boards of directors, which in turn could implement changes at the management and operational level. However, under the current contractual arrangements, as a legal matter, if Anpulo Laifeng or their respective shareholders fail to perform their obligations under these contractual arrangements, we may incur substantial costs to enforce such arrangements and rely on legal remedies under PRC law, which may not be sufficient or effective.
All of these contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal system in the PRC is not as developed as in other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. Under PRC law, rulings by arbitrators are final, parties cannot appeal the arbitration results in court and the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in PRC courts through arbitration award recognition proceedings, which would incur additional expenses and delay. If we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over Anpulo Laifeng and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected.
If we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, or if we suffer significant delay or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, our business and operations in China could be disrupted, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and damage our reputation. See "—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect our ability to enforce our legal rights."
Recent regulatory reforms in China may limit our ability as a foreign investor to acquire additional companies or businesses in China, which could hinder our ability to expand in China and adversely affect our long-term profitability.
Our long-term business plan may include an acquisition strategy to increase the number or types of products we offer, increase our manufacturing or production capabilities, strengthen our sources of supply or broaden our geographic reach. Recent PRC regulations relating to acquisitions of PRC companies by foreign entities may limit our ability to acquire PRC companies and adversely affect the implementation of our strategy as well as our business and prospects.
On August 8, 2006, the PRC Ministry of Commerce, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange jointly promulgated a new rule entitled “Provisions Regarding Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors” (the “M&A Rules”), which became effective on September 8, 2006 and were amended on June 22, 2009 by the Ministry of Commerce, relating to acquisitions by foreign investors of businesses and entities in China. The M&A Rules provide the basic framework in China for the approval and registration of acquisitions of domestic enterprises in China by foreign investors.
The M&A Rules establish additional procedures and requirements that could make some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex than in the past. After the promulgation of the M&A Rules, the PRC government can now exert more control over the acquisitions of Chinese companies, including requirements in some instances that the Ministry of Commerce be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a Chinese domestic enterprise.
The M&A Rules stress the necessity of protecting national economic security in China in the context of foreign acquisitions of domestic enterprises. Foreign investors must comply with comprehensive reporting requirements in connection with acquisitions of domestic companies in key industrial sectors that may affect the security of the “national economy” or in connection with acquisitions of domestic companies holding well-known trademarks or traditional brands in China. Failure to comply with such reporting requirements that cause, or may cause, significant affect on national economic security may be terminated by the relevant ministries or be subject to other measures as are deemed necessary to mitigate any adverse effect.
Our business operations or future strategy could be adversely affected by the M&A Rules. For example, if we decide to acquire a PRC company, complying with the requirements of the M&A Rules to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the Ministry of Commerce, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and adversely affect our business and prospects.
PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident shareholders to personal liability and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute profits to us, or otherwise materially and adversely affect us.
The PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, issued a public notice in October 2005 named Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents to Engage in Financing and Return Investments via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, or the Circular 75, requiring PRC residents, including both legal persons and natural persons, to register with an appropriate local SAFE branch before establishing or controlling any company outside of China, referred to as an "offshore special purpose company," for the purpose of acquiring any assets of or equity interest in PRC companies and raising fund from overseas. When a PRC resident contributes the assets or equity interests it holds in a PRC company into the offshore special purpose company, or engages in overseas financing after contributing such assets or equity interests into the offshore special purpose company, such PRC resident shall modify its SAFE registration in light of its interest in the offshore special purpose company and any change thereof. In addition, any PRC resident that is the shareholder of an offshore special purpose company is required to amend its SAFE registration with the local SAFE branch, with respect to that offshore special purpose company in connection with any increase or decrease of capital, transfer of shares, merger, division, long-term equity or debt investment or creation of any security interest over any assets located in China. PRC residents who have established or acquired direct or indirect control of offshore companies that have made onshore investments in China in the past were required to complete the registration procedures by March 31, 2006. Moreover, PRC subsidiaries of an offshore special purpose company are required to coordinate and supervise the filing in a timely manner of SAFE registrations by the offshore holding company's shareholders who are PRC residents. If these shareholders fail to comply, the PRC subsidiaries are required to report to the local SAFE authorities. If the PRC subsidiaries of the offshore parent company do not report to the local SAFE authorities, they may be prohibited from distributing their profits and proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to their offshore parent company and the offshore parent company may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiaries. Moreover, failure to comply with the above SAFE registration requirements could result in fines and other liabilities under PRC laws for evasion of foreign exchange restrictions.
Our shareholders, who are PRC citizens or residents, have not completed the necessary applications and filings as required under SAFE Circular 75 and other related rules. We have requested our shareholders, who are PRC citizens or residents to complete the required applications and filings. However, we cannot guarantee that they will complete the applications and filings or do so in a timely manner. As such, failure by any such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE Circular 75, could subject themselves to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our ability to contribute additional capital into or provide loans to our PRC subsidiaries and limit our PRC subsidiaries' ability to make distributions or pay dividends or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
In addition, the PRC National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC, promulgated a rule in October 2004 named the Interim Measures for the Administration of Examination and Approval of Overseas Investment Projects, or the NDRC Rule, which requires NDRC approvals for overseas investment projects made by PRC entities. The NDRC Rule also provides that approval procedures for overseas investment projects of PRC individuals must be implemented with reference to this NDRC Rule. However, there exist extensive uncertainties as to interpretation of the NDRC Rule with respect to its application to a PRC individual's overseas investment and, in practice, we are not aware of any precedents that a PRC individual's overseas investment has been approved by the NDRC or challenged by the NDRC based on the absence of NDRC approval. Our current beneficial owners who are PRC individuals did not apply for NDRC approval for investment in us. We cannot predict how and to what extent this will affect our business operations or future strategy. For example, the failure of our shareholders who are PRC individuals to comply with the NDRC Rule may subject these persons or our PRC subsidiary to certain liabilities under PRC laws, which could adversely affect our business.
Fluctuations in the value of the RMB or further movements in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
At present, all of our sales are denominated in RMB. The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions and China's foreign exchange policies. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the RMB to the U.S. dollar. However, the People's Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to limit fluctuations in RMB exchange rates and achieve policy goals. Following the removal of the U.S. dollar peg in July 2005, the RMB appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the three years following such removal. While international reaction to the RMB revaluation has generally been positive, there remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt an even more flexible currency policy, which could result in further and more significant appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies. On June 19, 2010, the People's Bank of China announced that it will allow a more flexible exchange rate for the RMB without mentioning specific policy changes, although it ruled out any large-scale appreciation. It is difficult to predict how long the current situation may last and when and how the RMB exchange rates may change going forward. As we rely entirely on dividends paid to us by our PRC subsidiaries, any significant revaluation of the RMB may have a material adverse effect on our revenues and financial condition, and the value of any dividends payable on our shares in foreign currency terms. Furthermore, appreciation or depreciation in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar would affect our financial results reported in U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations.
As very limited types of hedging transactions are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, we have not entered into any such hedging transactions. Accordingly, we cannot predict the impact of future exchange rate fluctuations on our results of operations and may incur net foreign exchange losses in the future.
Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the ability of our company to obtain working capital from our subsidiaries located in China and the value of your investment.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in RMB, which currently is not a freely convertible currency. Under our current structure, our income is primarily derived from the operations of Anpulo Laifeng. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict the ability of Anpulo Laifeng to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy its foreign currency-denominated obligations. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments relating to "current account transactions", including dividend payments, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from SAFE or its local branch is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China for capital-account transactions, such as the repatriation of equity investment in the PRC and the repayment of the principal loans denominated in foreign currencies. Our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Our PRC subsidiaries may also retain foreign currency in their respective current account bank accounts for use in payment of international current account transactions. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not take measures in the future to restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders.
Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on making payments to us, which could adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to pay dividends on our common shares.
We are a holding company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and do not have any assets or conduct any business operations other than our investment in our operating subsidiaries in China. As a result of our holding company structure, we rely entirely on contractual payments or dividends from our PRC subsidiaries for our cash needs, including the funds necessary to pay any dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, to service any debt we may incur and to pay our operating expenses. The payment of dividends by entities established in China is subject to limitations. Regulations in China currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with accounting standards and regulations in China. Each of our PRC subsidiaries, including Anpulo Laifeng, is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to its general reserves or statutory capital reserve fund until the aggregate amount of such reserves reaches 50% of its respective registered capital. As a result, our PRC subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to us in the form of dividends, loans or advances. We anticipate that in the foreseeable future our PRC subsidiaries will need to continue to set aside 10% of their respective after-tax profits to their statutory reserves. Further, as Anpulo Laifeng in China have in the past, and may in the future, incur debt on their own, the instruments governing such debt may restrict such subsidiary's ability to make contractual or dividend payments to any parent corporation or other affiliated entity. If we are unable to receive all of the funds we require for our operations through contractual or dividend arrangements with our PRC subsidiaries, we may not have sufficient cash flow to fund our corporate overhead and regulatory obligations in the United States and may be unable to pay dividends on our shares.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect our ability to enforce our legal rights.
We conduct our business primarily through Anpulo Laifeng, our subsidiary in China. Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. We are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in China and, in particular, laws applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.
Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently-enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until some time after the violation. The uncertainties regarding such regulations and policies present risks that may affect our ability to achieve our business objectives. If we are unable to enforce any legal rights we may have under our contracts or otherwise, our ability to compete with other companies in our industry could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources and management attention.
It may be difficult to effect service of process upon us or our directors or senior management who live in China or to enforce any judgments obtained from non-PRC courts.
Our operations are conducted and our assets are located within China. In addition, our directors and all of our senior management personnel reside in China, where substantially all of their assets are located. You may experience difficulties in effecting service of process upon us, our directors or our senior management as it may not be possible to effect such service of process outside China. In addition, China does not have treaties with the United States and many other countries providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of court judgments. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China of judgments of a court in the United States or certain other jurisdictions may be difficult or impossible.
Changes in China’s labor law restrict our ability to reduce our workforce in China in the event of an economic downturn and may increase our production costs.
In June 2007, the National People's Congress of China enacted new labor law legislation called the Labor Contract Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008. On September 18, 2008, the PRC State Council issued the implementing rules for the Labor Contract Law. The Labor Contract Law formalized workers' rights concerning overtime hours, pensions, layoffs, employment contracts and the role of trade unions. Considered one of the strictest labor laws in the world, among other things, the Labor Contract Law provides for specific standards and procedures for the termination of an employment contract and places the burden of proof on the employer. In addition, the law requires the payment of a statutory severance pay upon the termination of an employment contract in most cases, including the case of the expiration of a fixed-term employment contract. Further, the law requires an employer to conclude an "employment contract without a fixed-term" with any employee who either has worked for the same employer for 10 consecutive years or more or has had two consecutive fixed-term contracts with the same employer. An "employment contract without a fixed term" can no longer be terminated on the ground of the expiration of the contract, although it can still be terminated pursuant to the standards and procedures set forth under the Labor Contract Law. Finally, under the Labor Contract Law, downsizing of either more than 20 people or more than 10% of the workforce may occur only under specified circumstances, such as a restructuring undertaken pursuant to China's Enterprise Bankruptcy Law, or where a company suffers serious difficulties in production and/or business operations, or where there has been a material change in the objective economic circumstances relied upon by the parties at the time of the employment contract, thereby making the performance of such employment contract impossible. To date, there has been very little guidance as to how such circumstances for downsizing will be interpreted and enforced by the relevant PRC authorities. All of our employees working for us exclusively within China are covered by the Labor Contract Law and thus, our ability to adjust the size of our operations when necessary in periods of recession or less severe economic downturns may be curtailed as a result of this regulation. Accordingly, if we face future periods of decline in business activity generally or adverse economic periods specific to our business, we expect that the Labor Contract Law will exacerbate the adverse effects of the economic environment on our results of operations and financial condition.
PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds we received from our public offerings to make loans to our PRC subsidiaries or to make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
We are an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries. In utilizing the proceeds we received from any offering, we plan to make loans to our PRC subsidiaries, whether currently in existence or to be formed in the future, or make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries.
Any loans we make to our PRC subsidiaries cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with SAFE or its local counterparts. Under applicable PRC law, the government authorities must approve a foreign-invested enterprise's registered capital amount, which represents the total amount of capital contributions made by the shareholders that have registered with the registration authorities. In addition, the authorities must also approve the foreign-invested enterprise's total investment, which is equal to the company's registered capital plus the amount of shareholder loans it is permitted to borrow under the law. The ratio of registered capital to total investment cannot be lower than the minimum statutory requirement. If we make loans to Anpulo Laifeng, our first-tier PRC subsidiary, that do not exceed its current maximum amount of borrowings, we will have to register each loan with SAFE or its local counterpart for the issuance of a registration certificate of foreign debts. In practice, it could be time-consuming to complete such SAFE registration process. Alternatively or concurrently with the loans, we might make capital contributions to Anpulo Laifeng, and such capital contributions involve uncertainties of their own. Further, SAFE promulgated a circular (known as Circular 142) on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises in August 2008 with respect to the administration of conversion of foreign exchange capital contributions of a foreign invested enterprise. The circular clarifies that RMB converted from foreign exchange capital contributions can only be used for the activities within the approved business scope of such foreign invested enterprise and cannot be used for domestic equity investments unless otherwise permitted.
We may not be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we receive from public offerings and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely and materially affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
We may be subject to fines and legal sanctions by SAFE or other PRC government authorities if we or our employees who are PRC citizens fail to comply with PRC regulations relating to employee share incentive plan adopted by offshore listed companies for PRC citizens.
In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plans of Offshore Listed Companies, or the Stock Option Rule, which terminated the Operating Procedures for Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Ownership Plans and Stock Option Plans of Offshore Listed Companies issued by SAFE on March 28, 2007. Under the Stock Option Rule, PRC citizens who participate in any stock incentive plan including employee stock holding plans, share option plans or similar plans in an offshore listed company are required, through a Chinese agent which could be a PRC subsidiary of the offshore listed company, to register with the relevant local SAFE branch and complete certain other procedures. We and our Chinese employees who have participated in our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan are subject to the Stock Option Rule. Failure to comply with these regulations may subject us or our Chinese employees to fines or other legal sanctions imposed by SAFE or other PRC government authorities. In addition, the State Administration of Taxation has issued several circulars concerning employee share options. Under these circulars, our employees working in China who exercise our share options will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to make filings with relevant tax authorities related to employee share options and withhold individual income taxes resulting from the exercise of their share options. If our employees fail to pay and we fail to withhold their income taxes, we may face sanctions imposed by tax authorizes or other PRC government authorities.
We may be classified as a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, which could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.
The new PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, that became effective January 1, 2008 provides that enterprises established outside of China whose "de facto management bodies" are located in China are considered "resident enterprises" and are generally subject to the uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on their worldwide income. A recent circular issued by the PRC State Administration of Taxation regarding the standards used to classify certain Chinese-invested enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC group enterprises and established outside of China as "resident enterprises" clarified that dividends paid by such "resident enterprises" and other income paid by such "resident enterprises" will be considered to be PRC source income, subject to PRC withholding tax, currently at a rate of 10%, when received or recognized by non-PRC resident enterprise shareholders. This recent circular also subjects such "resident enterprises" to various reporting requirements with the PRC tax authorities. Under the implementation regulations to the EIT Law, a "de facto management body" is defined as a body that has material and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel and human resources, finances and assets of an enterprise. In addition, the recent circular mentioned above specifies that certain Chinese-invested enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC group enterprises will be classified as "resident enterprises" if the following are located or resident in China: senior management personnel and departments that are responsible for daily production, operation and management; financial and personnel decision-making bodies; key properties, accounting books, company seal, and minutes of board meetings and shareholders' meetings; and half or more of senior management or directors having voting rights. As this circular only applies to enterprises established outside of China that are controlled by PRC enterprises or groups of PRC enterprises, we do not believe that our legal entities organized outside of the PRC constitute PRC resident enterprises because our legal entities organized outside of the PRC are overseas incorporated enterprises controlled by individual PRC residents. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that has been deemed a PRC "resident enterprise" by the PRC tax authorities.
However, as the tax residency status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body” as applicable to our offshore entities. If we are classified as a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, our Company and non-PRC resident shareholders will face unfavorable tax consequences.
If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a “resident enterprise”, a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we will be subject to income tax at the rate of 25% on our worldwide income. The impact of the imposition of such enterprise income tax will be mitigated to the extent we can obtain a foreign tax credit for such taxes against our U.S. income tax liability on such income. Second, although under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiaries would qualify as "tax-exempted income", we cannot assure you that such dividends will not be subject to a 10% withholding tax, as the PRC foreign exchange control authorities, which enforce the withholding tax, have not yet issued guidance with respect to the processing of outbound remittances to entities that are treated as resident enterprises for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. Finally, dividends payable by us to our investors and gain on the sale of our shares may become subject to PRC withholding tax. In the case of dividends paid to non-U.S. holders, any PRC withholding tax on dividends may be in addition to U.S. withholding tax that could otherwise apply. This could have the effect of increasing our effective income tax rate and could also have an adverse effect on our net income and results of operations, and may require us to withhold tax on our non-PRC shareholders.
The discontinuation of the preferential tax treatments and government subsidies available to us could decrease our net income and materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our PRC subsidiaries are incorporated in China and are governed by PRC income tax laws and regulations. Prior to January 1, 2008, entities established in China were generally subject to a 30% national and 3% local enterprise income tax rate. Various preferential tax treatments promulgated by national tax authorities were available to foreign-invested enterprises. Under the new PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, China has adopted a uniform enterprise income tax rate of 25% for all PRC enterprises (including foreign-invested enterprises). Under the EIT Law and its implementation regulations, income derived by an enterprise from the primary processing of agricultural products (including slaughtering live hogs) could be exempt from enterprise income tax. Consequently, a majority of our subsidiaries in China that slaughter live hogs are exempted from enterprise income tax. For non-primary processing of agricultural products, we’re subject to the uniform 25% tax rate. We cannot assure you that the tax authorities will not change their position. We cannot assure you that our PRC subsidiaries will continue to qualify for benefits under the EIT Law, or that the local tax authorities will not, in the future, change their position and revoke any of our past preferential tax treatments, any of which could cause our effective tax rate to increase, cause our net income to decrease, and materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, the central and local PRC government has provided us with various subsidies to encourage our research and development activities, building new facilities using information technology, building cold chain logistic and distribution networks, and for other contributions to the local community, such as increasing employment opportunities. Subsidies granted to us by PRC governmental authorities are subject to review and may be adjusted or revoked at any time in the future. The discontinuation or reduction of subsidies currently available to us may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our non-compliance with certain social insurance contribution laws and regulations in the PRC may lead to the imposition of fines and penalties on us.
In accordance with the relevant PRC national labor laws and regulations, we are required to contribute to a number of employee social welfare schemes for the benefit of our employees. Such schemes include social insurance (including the basic pension insurance, the basic medical insurance for urban workers, the work-related injury insurance, the unemployment insurance and the maternity insurance) and housing provident fund contributions. We have not fully complied with the social insurance and housing fund contribution requirements for our employees.
According to the confirmation letter issued to us by Laifeng County Office of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Housing Provident Fund Management Center, it confirmed that it would not impose any financial penalties or other forms of administrative penalties on Anpulo Laifeng, nor would it require us to make good any overdue contributions in relation to housing provident fund.
In respect of social insurance contributions, as a majority of our employees are rural migrant workers or rural residents, they have participated in the rural cooperation medical insurance or the basic medical insurance for urban residents, according to the confirmation letter issued to us by Laifeng County Social Insurance Bureau, they are permitted not to participate in the basic medical insurance for urban workers. Under Social Insurance Law of the PRC and other relevant PRC Laws, the local social insurance authority is entitled to require us to pay the outstanding social insurance within a prescribed time limit and impose a late charge of 0.05% per day from the day when contribution becomes overdue. If we fail to do so within such prescribed time limit, a fine ranging from one to three times of the outstanding social insurance may be imposed on us.
Certain statements contained in this prospectus constitute “forward-looking statements” that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors described below.
| ● | our ability to obtain additional capital or financing to execute our business plan; |
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| ● | our ability to generate and sustain increased revenue levels and achieve profitability in the future; |
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| ● | our reliance on our President, Chief Executive Officer and director; |
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| ● | our ability to effectively manage our growth, including attracting and retaining qualified employees; |
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| ● | the intense competition in the pork product industry in China; |
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| ● | our reliance on a small percentage of our total users for substantially all of our revenue; |
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| ● | our ability to maintain and enhance a strong brand; |
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| ● | our ability to protect our trademarks; |
For a more detailed discussion of these and other factors that may affect our business, see the discussion in “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this prospectus. We caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and new factors may emerge, or changes to the foregoing factors may occur, that could impact our business.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “will,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to:
| ● | our expectations regarding the market for our products and services; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the continued growth of our industry in the PRC; |
| ● | our beliefs regarding the competitiveness of our business model; |
| ● | our expectations regarding the expansion of our operations; |
| ● | our expectations with respect to revenue generation and growth and our ability to achieve profitability resulting from increases in our sale volumes; |
| ● | our future business development, results of operations and financial condition; and |
| ● | competition from companies with similar businesses. |
Also, forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus, or that we filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.
Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
Third Party Data
This prospectus also contains estimates and other information concerning our industry which is based on industry publications, surveys and forecasts, including those generated by us. This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and please considers these estimates and information together with the assumptions and limitations that they are based on. Please contact us if you have any specific questions. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors.”
The selling shareholders are selling the ordinary shares covered by this prospectus for their own account. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of these shares. We have agreed to bear the expenses relating to the registration of the shares for the selling security holders, but we will not pay any of the selling commissions, brokerage fees and related expenses.
Since our ordinary shares are not currently listed or quoted on any exchange or quotation system, the offering price of the ordinary shares covered by this prospectus was estimated by the Company, based on the effective price at which our ordinary shares were last sold in a private transaction. The last effective private sales price is further determined by the price at which the common stock of Anpulo HK was sold in a shares-for-debt transaction occurred on October 21, 2013, prior to the share exchange transaction where the common stock of Anpulo HK were subsequently exchanged for the registrant’s ordinary shares. On October 21, 2013, Mr. Wenping Luo, the then shareholder of Anpulo HK and the Company’s current officer and director, transferred 280 shares of the common stock of Anpulo HK that he owned to six creditors in exchange for the cancellation of $5.6 million of debt that owed by Mr. Luo. These creditors subsequently exchanged each of their shares of the common stock of Anpulo HK for 100,000 ordinary shares of the Company in the share exchange occurred on October 30, 2013. The last private sale price for the common stock of Anpulo HK in the shares-for-debt transaction was $20,000 per share and following the share exchange, the last effective private sale price for the registrant’s ordinary share was $0.2 per ordinary share.
The offering price of our ordinary shares does not necessarily bear any relationship to our book value, assets, or any other established criteria of value. The facts considered in determining the offering price were our financial condition and prospects, our limited operating history and the general condition of the securities market.
Our ordinary shares are not currently listed or quoted for trading on any national securities exchange or national quotation system. Our intention is to apply for quotation of our ordinary shares on the OTC Bulletin Board maintained by FINRA. However, there is no guarantee that the OTC Bulletin Board, or any other quotation system, will permit our shares to be quoted and traded. The OTC Bulletin Board is an inter-dealer, over-the-counter market that provides significantly less liquidity than the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ Stock Market. The quotation of our shares on the OTC Bulletin Board may result in a less liquid market available for existing and potential shareholders to trade our shares, could depress the trading price of our ordinary shares and could have a long-term adverse impact on our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, FINRA has enacted changes that limit quotations on the OTC Bulletin Board to securities of issuers that are not current in their reports filed with the SEC. The effect on the OTC Bulletin Board of these rule changes and other proposed changes cannot be determined at this time.
In addition, there is no assurance that our ordinary shares will trade at market prices in excess of the purchase price as prices for the ordinary shares in any public market which may develop will be determined in the marketplace and may be influenced by many factors, including the breadth and liquidity of the trading in our shares.
This prospectus relates to the resale by the selling shareholders named below from time to time of up to a total of 15,500,000 ordinary shares that were issued or are issuable to selling shareholders pursuant to transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act. All of the ordinary shares offered by this prospectus are being offered by the selling shareholders for their own accounts.
On October 30, 2013, the selling shareholders received the shares being offered by this prospectus in a share exchange transaction where each of the selling shareholders tendered for exchange the shares of Anpulo HK that they held.
Among the 36 selling shareholders, six shareholders received their shares of Anpulo HK transferred from Anpulo HK’s then existing shareholder and the Company’s current officer and director, Mr. Wenping Luo, in exchange for the cancellation of Mr. Luo’s debts owed to them and, 30 shareholders received their shares of Anpulo HK from the Company as compensation for their services provided to the Company. There is no written agreement between the Company and the selling shareholders pursuant to which the Company shall register the shares offered in this prospectus for the selling shareholders. However, in the case of the shares-for-debt transaction, it was the mutual understanding of both Mr. Wenping Luo and the six creditors that Mr. Luo would cause the Company to register for the six creditors, the number of the Company’s shares that the Company would have registered for Mr. Luo as reward for Mr. Luo’s service to the Company on the Company’s first registration statement. Also, in the case of share grants, it was the mutual understanding of both the Company and the employees that the Company would register a number of shares held by the employees on the Company’s first registration statement.
On October 21, 2013, Mr. Wenping Luo transferred 280 shares of the common stock of Anpulo HK that he owned, to six creditors in exchange for the cancellation of $5.6 million of debt that owed by Mr. Luo. These creditors subsequently exchanged each of their shares of Anpulo HK for 100,000 common shares of the Company in the share exchange occurred on October 30, 2013.
On October 21, 2013, Anpulo HK issued a total of 30 shares of its common stock to 30 of its employees as compensation for services rendered. Same as above, these employees subsequently exchange each of their shares of Anpulo HK for 100,000 common shares of the Company in the share exchange occurred on October 30, 2013.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the selling shareholders and the shares offered by them in this prospectus. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC.
None of the selling shareholders has held a position as an officer or director of the Company, nor has any material relationship of any kind with us or any of our affiliates. All information with respect to share ownership has been furnished by the selling shareholders. The ordinary shares being offered is being registered to permit secondary trading of the shares and the selling shareholders may offer all or part of the ordinary shares owned for resale from time to time. In addition, none of the selling shareholders has any family relationships with our officers, directors or controlling shareholders. Furthermore, no selling shareholder is a registered broker-dealer or an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer.
The term “selling shareholders” also includes any transferees, pledges, donees, or other successors in interest to the selling shareholders named in the table below. To our knowledge, subject to applicable community property laws, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the ordinary shares set forth opposite such person’s name. We will file a supplement to this prospectus (or a post-effective amendment hereto, if necessary) to name successors to any named selling shareholder who is able to use this prospectus to resell the securities registered hereby.
Name and Address of Beneficial | | Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to the Offering (1) | | | Shares Being | | | Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offering (2) | |
Owner | | Number | | | Percentage (3) | | | Offered | | | Number | | | Percentage (3) | |
Fengjiao Huang (4) | | | 5,000,000 | | | | 4.07 | % | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2.03 | % |
Jingrong Jiang (5) | | | 5,000,000 | | | | 4.07 | % | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2.03 | % |
Benming Wang (6) | | | 5,000,000 | | | | 4.07 | % | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2.03 | % |
Yuxiang Qi (7) | | | 5,000,000 | | | | 4.07 | % | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2.03 | % |
Panpan Huang (8) | | | 4,000,000 | | | | 3.25 | % | | | 2,000,000 | | | | 2,000,000 | | | | 1.63 | % |
Zhiwei Qiao (9) | | | 4,000,000 | | | | 3.25 | % | | | 2,000,000 | | | | 2,000,000 | | | | 1.63 | % |
Jianguo Sun (10)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Gao Chen (11)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Tao Yang (12)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Maochun Kang (13)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Xiaoli Xiang (14)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Rong Dai (15)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Anyou Xie (16)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Qijun Hu (17)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Guojun He (18)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Hongbing Shi (19)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Keqin Wang (20)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Sheng Tan (21)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Yaodong Zhang (22)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Feng Ma (23)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Zhongyuan Hu (24)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Dan Hu (25)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Qun Wang (26)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Li Ran (27)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Lili Hu (28)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Mingke Hu (29)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Wenkun Luo (30)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Ying Lu (31)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Tianjun Yang (32)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Kaiwan Liang (33)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Youbo Zhang (34)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Shunli Yang (35)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Taiping Duan (36)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Zhijia He (37)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Jinju Tian (38)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Qing Han (39)* | | | 100,000 | | | | 0.08 | % | | | 50,000 | | | | 50,000 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Total | | | 31,000,000 | | | | 25.2 | % | | | 15,500,000 | | | | 15,500,000 | | | | 12.6 | % |
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Generally, a person is considered to beneficially own securities: (i) over which such person, directly or indirectly, exercises sole or shared voting or investment power, and (ii) of which such person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within 60 days (such as through exercise of share options or warrants).
(2) Assumes that all securities offered are sold.
(3) Based upon a total of 123,000,000 shares of ordinary shares outstanding as of April 14, 2014. Pursuant to Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, for each beneficial owner above, any share of which such person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within 60 days (such as through exercise of share options or warrants) have been included in the denominator.
(4) Principal address at Room 6-1, unit 2, 4 Bajiaomiao, Zitong Subdistrict, Tongnan County, Chongqing, China.(5) Principal address at Room 8, 4th Floor, Unit 2, Building 6, Erhuanlu Dong1duan27hao, Chenghua District, Chengdu, China.
(6) Principal address at Room 501, 29 Xinweifulu, Weihai, Shandong, China.
(7) Principal address at 9 Xingba Road, Xianfeng Village, Xingshugangzhen, Honggang District, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China.
(8) Principal address at 424 Huangjicun, Guguantunzhen, Dong'e County, Liaocheng, Shandong, China.
(9) Principal address at Room 13-1, 3rd Floor, Unit 4, 14 Jianshe Road, Chenghua District, Chengdu, China.
(10) Principal address at 24 Zhuyuan Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(11) Principal address at 8 Shadaogou St, Shadaogouzhen, Xuanen County, Hubei, China.
(12) Principal address at 4-601, 49 Hongsheng Road, Wuchang, Hubei, China.
(13) Principal address t 42 Longfeng Road, Min'an Subdistrict, Longshan County, Hunan, China.
(14) Principal address at No.5, 14 Hangxi 1st Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(15) Principal address at 64 Geleche 1st Road, Geleche Town, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(16) Principal address at Room 26, 34 Yu'e Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(17) Principal address at 4 Yujiagou Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(18) Principal address at Room 1, 3 Hangdong 1st Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(19) Principal address at 68 Jielongqiao Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(20) Principal address at Room 2-104, 17 Banbiancheng Road, Xiangfengzhen, Hubei, China.
(21) Principal address at 109 Jianshe Road, Zhushanzhen, Xuanen County, Hubei, China.
(22) Principal address at Room 2, 61 Jiefang Avenue, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(23) Principal address at Yujiagou Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(24) Principal address at Room 109, Building 2, 5 Yujiagou Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(25) Principal address at No.21, Unit 3, Xiangbi Village, Huatang Subdistrict, Longshan County, Hunan, China.
(26) Principal address at Room 106, Building 2, 30 Yu'e Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(27) Principal address at Room 101, Unit 2, Building 1, 2 Fengzhong Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(28) Principal address at Room 207, Building 1, 10 Yuhongqiao Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(29) Principal address at 9 Youmatou Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(30) Principal address at Chaoyang East Road, Min'an Subdistrict, Longshan County, Hunan, China.
(31) Principal address at 74 Fengnan Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(32) Principal address at No.3, Unit 6, Xiangbi Village, Huatang Subdistrict, Longshan County, Hunan, China.
(33) Principal address at No.95, Unit 15, Guihuashu Village, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(34) Principal address at No.12-1, Hongyan Village, Huatang Subdistrict, Longshan County, Hunan, China.
(35) Principal address at Unit 6, Xiangbi Village, Huatang Subdistrict, Longshan County, Hunan, China.
(36) Principal address at Room 109, Building 1, 2 Fengbei Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(37) Principal address at No.19, Unit 10, Guihuashu Village, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(38) Principal address at 1Xiang 1Qu 12Hao, Jinpenshan, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
(39) Principal address at 8 Wanjiatang Road, Xiangfengzhen, Laifeng County, Hubei, China.
The selling shareholders will offer and sell our ordinary shares at $0.20 per share until a public market emerges for our ordinary shares and, thereafter, at prevailing market prices. The selling shareholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests therein:
| ● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| ● | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| ● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| ● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| ● | privately negotiated transactions; |
| ● | short sales effected after the date the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC; |
| ● | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| ● | broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; and |
| ��� | a combination of any such methods of sale. |
The selling shareholders may also resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act after one year has elapsed from October 31, 2013 the date of filing of “Form 10 information” with the SEC, provided that we have filed all reports and other materials required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months, other than Form 8-K reports and that the selling shareholders meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.
The selling shareholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the ordinary shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the ordinary shares, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholders also may transfer the securities in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
In connection with the sale of our ordinary shares or interests therein, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the ordinary shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell our ordinary shares short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the ordinary shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The aggregate proceeds to the selling shareholders from the sale of the ordinary shares offered by them will be the purchase price of the ordinary shares less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the selling shareholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of ordinary shares to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchase of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The selling shareholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved, and in no case will the maximum compensation received by any broker-dealer exceed eight percent (8%).
Any underwriters, agents, or broker-dealers, and any selling shareholders may be deemed as underwriters within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. In such event, any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Because selling shareholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they may be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition, the ordinary shares covered by this prospectus which qualifies for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. We know of no existing arrangements between any of the selling shareholders and any other shareholder, broker, dealer, underwriter, or agent relating to the sale or distribution of the shares, nor can we presently estimate the amount, if any, of such compensation. See “Selling Shareholders” for a description of any material relationship that a shareholder has with us and the description of such relationship.
To the extent required, the shares of our ordinary shares to be sold, the names of the selling shareholders, the purchase price and public offering prices if a public offering is formulated, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.
In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the ordinary shares may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the ordinary shares may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
We have advised the selling shareholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the selling shareholders and their affiliates. In addition, we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling shareholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling shareholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
We have agreed to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by us incident to the registration of the shares. Such fees and expenses are estimated to be approximately $75,400. We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus.
General
We are authorised to issue 1,000,000,000 shares of ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, of which 123,000,000 shares of ordinary shares are issued and outstanding as of this filing. We have updated our share register to reflect the shares newly issued in the share exchange transaction completed on October 30, 2013.
We are a British Virgin Islands corporation and our affairs are governed by our memorandum of association and articles of association. The following are summaries of material provisions of our memorandum of association and articles of association insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares. A complete copy of our memorandum of association and articles of association is filed as an exhibit to our public filings.
Ordinary shares
All outstanding ordinary shares are of the same class and have equal rights and attributes. The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Company. All shareholders are entitled to share equally in dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available. In the event of liquidation, the holders of ordinary shares are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all liabilities. The shareholders do not have cumulative or preemptive rights.
Holders of the ordinary shares may receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of the assets legally available for that purpose and subject to the preferential dividend rights of any other classes or series of shares of our Company.
Holders of the ordinary shares are entitled to one vote per share in all matters as to which holders of ordinary shares are entitled to vote. Holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding shares of ordinary shares entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders constitute a quorum unless otherwise required by law.
Directors hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and are eligible for reelection at such meeting. Directors are elected by a plurality of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. There is no cumulative voting for directors.
Our directors are currently divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors permits. Class I directors shall face re-election at our annual general meeting of shareholders in 2014 and every three years thereafter. Class II directors shall face re-election at our annual general meeting of shareholders in 2015 and every three years thereafter. Class III directors shall face re-election at our annual general meeting of shareholders in 2016 and every three years thereafter.
If the number of directors changes, any increase or decrease will be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly as possible. Any additional directors of a class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class will hold office for a term that coincides with the remaining term of that class. Decreases in the number of directors will not shorten the term of any incumbent director. These board provisions could make it more difficult for third parties to gain control of our company by making it difficult to replace members of the Board of Directors.
A director may vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested, provided, however that the nature of the interest of any director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote on that matter. A general notice or disclosure to the directors or otherwise contained in the minutes of a meeting or a written resolution of the directors or any committee thereof of the nature of a director’s interest shall be sufficient disclosure and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction. A director may be counted for a quorum upon a motion in respect of any contract or arrangement which he shall make with our company, or in which he is so interested and may vote on such motion.
There are no membership qualifications for directors. Further, there are no share ownership qualifications for directors unless so fixed by us in a general meeting.
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of the ordinary shares have the right to receive ratably and equally all of the assets remaining after payment of liabilities and liquidation preferences of any preferred shares then outstanding.
While a director may vote on the plan of merger or consolidation even if he has a financial interest in the plan, the interested director must disclose the interest to all other directors of the company promptly upon becoming aware of the fact that he is interested in a transaction entered into or to be entered into by the company.
A transaction entered into by our company in respect of which a director is interested (including a merger or consolidation) is voidable by us unless the director’s interest was (a) disclosed to the board prior to the transaction or (b) the transaction is (i) between the director and the company and (ii) the transaction is in the ordinary course of the company’s business and on usual terms and conditions.
Notwithstanding the above, a transaction entered into by the company is not voidable if the material facts of the interest are known to the shareholders and they approve or ratify it or the company received fair value for the transaction.
Shareholders not otherwise entitled to vote on the merger or consolidation may still acquire the right to vote if the plan of merger or consolidation contains any provision which, if proposed as an amendment to the memorandum or articles of association, would entitle them to vote as a class or series on the proposed amendment. In any event, all shareholders must be given a copy of the plan of merger or consolidation irrespective of whether they are entitled to vote at the meeting to approve the plan of merger or consolidation.
The shareholders of the constituent companies are not required to receive shares of the surviving or consolidated company but may receive debt obligations or other securities of the surviving or consolidated company, other assets, or a combination thereof. Further, some or all of the shares of a class or series may be converted into a kind of asset while the other shares of the same class or series may receive a different kind of asset. As such, not all the shares of a class or series must receive the same kind of consideration.
After the plan of merger or consolidation has been approved by the directors and authorized by a resolution of the shareholders, articles of merger or consolidation are executed by each company and filed with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs in the British Virgin Islands.
A shareholder may dissent from a mandatory redemption of his shares, an arrangement (if permitted by the court), a merger (unless the shareholder was a shareholder of the surviving company prior to the merger and continues to hold the same or similar shares after the merger) or a consolidation. A shareholder properly exercising his dissent rights is entitled to a cash payment equal to the fair value of his shares.
A shareholder dissenting from a merger or consolidation must object in writing to the merger or consolidation before the vote by the shareholders on the merger or consolidation, unless notice of the meeting was not given to the shareholder. If the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the company must give notice of this fact to each shareholder within 20 days who gave written objection. These shareholders then have 20 days to give to the company their written election in the form specified by the BVI Act to dissent from the merger or consolidation, provided that in the case of a merger, the 20 days starts when the plan of merger is delivered to the shareholder.
Upon giving notice of his election to dissent, a shareholder ceases to have any shareholder rights except the right to be paid the fair value of his shares. As such, the merger or consolidation may proceed in the ordinary course notwithstanding his dissent.
Within seven days of the later of the delivery of the notice of election to dissent and the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a specified price per share that the company determines to be the fair value of the shares. The company and the shareholder then have 30 days to agree upon the price. If the company and a shareholder fail to agree on the price within the 30 days, then the company and the shareholder shall, within 20 days immediately following the expiration of the 30-day period, each designate an appraiser and these two appraisers shall designate a third appraiser. These three appraisers shall fix the fair value of the shares as of the close of business on the day prior to the shareholders’ approval of the transaction without taking into account any change in value as a result of the transaction.
There are both statutory and common law remedies available to our shareholders as a matter of British Virgin Islands law. These are summarized below:
A shareholder who considers that the affairs of the company have been, are being, or are likely to be, conducted in a manner that is, or any act or acts of the company have been, or are, likely to be oppressive, unfairly discriminatory or unfairly prejudicial to him in that capacity, can apply to the court under Section 184I of the BVI Act, inter alia, for an order that his shares be acquired, that he be provided compensation, that the Court regulate the future conduct of the company, or that any decision of the company which contravenes the BVI Act or our memorandum and articles of association be set aside.
In addition to the statutory remedies outlined above, shareholders can also petition for the winding up of a company on the grounds that it is just and equitable for the court to so order. Save in exceptional circumstances, this remedy is only available where the company has been operated as a quasi partnership and trust and confidence between the partners has broken down.
British Virgin Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any provision providing indemnification may be held by the British Virgin Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.
Under our memorandum and articles of association, we indemnify against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings for any person who:
These indemnities only apply if the person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to our best interests and, in the case of criminal proceedings, the person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Some provisions of our memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that provide for a staggered board of directors and prevent shareholders from taking an action by written consent in lieu of a meeting. However, under British Virgin Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, as they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a transaction that is material to the company. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.
Under British Virgin Islands law, our directors owe the company certain statutory and fiduciary duties including, among others, a duty to act honestly, in good faith, for a proper purpose and with a view to what the directors believe to be in the best interests of the company. Our directors are also required, when exercising powers or performing duties as a director, to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonable director would exercise in comparable circumstances, taking into account without limitation, the nature of the company, the nature of the decision and the position of the director and the nature of the responsibilities undertaken. In the exercise of their powers, our directors must ensure neither they nor the company acts in a manner which contravenes the BVI Act or our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and re-stated from time to time. A shareholder has the right to seek damages for breaches of duties owed to us by our directors.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. British Virgin Islands law provides that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a written resolution without a meeting signed by or on behalf of shareholders sufficient to constitute the requisite majority of shareholders who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting; provided that if the consent is less than unanimous, notice must be given to all non-consenting shareholders. However, our memorandum and articles of association do not permit shareholders to act by written consent.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings. British Virgin Islands law and our memorandum and articles of association allow our shareholders holding not less than 50% of the votes of the outstanding voting shares to requisition a shareholders’ meeting. We are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings, but our memorandum and articles of association do permit the directors to call such a meeting. The location of any shareholders’ meeting can be determined by the board of directors and can be held anywhere in the world.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. As permitted under British Virgin Islands law, our memorandum and articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our memorandum and articles of association, directors can be removed from office, with cause, by a resolution of shareholders or by a resolution of directors passed at a meeting of directors called for the purpose of removing the director or for purposes including the removal of the director.
The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware public corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting shares within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware public corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors. British Virgin Islands law has no comparable statute. However, our memorandum and articles of association expressly provide for the same protection afforded by the Delaware business combination statute.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board. Under the BVI Act and our memorandum and articles of association, we may appoint a voluntary liquidator by a resolution of the shareholders or by resolution of directors.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our memorandum and articles of association, if at any time our shares are divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class may only be varied, whether or not our company is in liquidation, by a resolution passed at a meeting by a majority of the votes cast by those entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of the issued shares in that class.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by British Virgin Islands law, our memorandum and articles of association may be amended by a resolution of shareholders and, subject to certain exceptions, by a resolution of directors. Any amendment is effective from the date it is registered at the Registry of Corporate Affairs in the British Virgin Islands.