Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition should be read together with our consolidated group financial statements and the notes thereto and other financial information, which are included elsewhere in our annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, our financial statements and the financial information included in this report reflect our organization transactions and have been prepared as if our current corporate structure had been in place throughout the relevant periods.
This section contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to various factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Further, as a result of these factors, risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events may not occur. Relevant factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in “Item 1. Business,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s beliefs and opinions as of the date of this report. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview and Strategy
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context requires or is otherwise specified, references to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar expressions include the following entities (as defined herein):
(i) China Xingbang Industry Group Inc., a Nevada corporation (“China Xingbang”);
(ii) Xing Bang Industry Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant (“Xingbang BVI”);
(iii) China Group Purchase Alliance Limited, a Hong Kong company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xingbang BVI (“Xingbang HK”);
(iv) Guangzhou Xingbang Information Consulting Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, or the “WFOE”, formed in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xingbang HK;
(v) Guangdong Xingbang Industry Information & Media Co. Ltd., our principal operating subsidiary, which is a Chinese variable interest entity that the WFOE controls through certain contractual arrangements (“Guangdong Xingbang”); and
(vi) Xinyu Xingbang Information Industry Co., Ltd., an entity incorporated in the PRC which the WFOE and Guangdong Xingbang each owns 50% of its equity interest, (“ Xinyu Xingbang”). Xinyu Xingbang will continue the business of Guangdong Xingbang.
Through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Xingbang BVI and Xingbang HK, we own the WFOE, which controls Guangdong Xingbang, a variable interest entity (“VIE”), through a series of variable interest entity, or VIE contractual arrangements. Guangdong Xingbang is currently our sole source of income and operations. A summary of our business is described below.
We were formed as a Nevada corporation on April 12, 2011 to acquire operational control over Guangdong Xingbang. Since foreign investors are restricted by the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China to operate the media and e-commerce business in China, we operate our business through ownership of the WFOE that provides management, consulting, investment and technical services to Guangdong Xingbang. We do not own any direct equity interest in Guangdong Xingbang. In May 2011, the WFOE entered into a series of contractual arrangements which effectively give the WFOE operational control over Guangdong Xingbang despite the lack of direct ownership. As a result of these contractual arrangements, we treat Guangdong Xingbang as a variable interest entity, or VIE, under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and we have included its historical financial results in our consolidated financial statements.
Our subsidiaries, Xingbang BVI and Xingbang HK are holding companies which do not have any operations or own any assets except for the ownership of the WFOE. The only current operation of the WFOE is to provide consulting and management services to Guangdong Xingbang. Currently, we rely on results of operations of Guangdong Xingbang and Xinyu Xingbang. If the PRC government declares the VIE agreements are not enforceable, we will not be able to exercise effective control over Guangdong Xingbang and consolidate the financial results of Guangdong Xingbang. In such case, our results of operations and financial position will be materially adversely affected.
Guangdong Xingbang was founded in 2005 as a print-media based advertising operator and consulting services provider. In 2010, we made a significant shift of our business model and began laying the groundwork to transition to the business of operating a home furnishings e-commerce platform, ju51 Online Mall. Since 2012, we have been phasing out our advertising and consulting segments and, as of September 30, 2013, our advertising and consulting operations generate negligible revenue. We are currently in the process of building out our e-commerce platform and, once the platform is fully operational, we expect to derive all of our revenue from this business.
Xinyu Xingbang was incorporated in the PRC in June 2012 for the purpose of continuing the business of Guangdong Xingbang in the near future as Guangdong Xingbang winds down its operations. Pursuant to the Articles of Associations of Xinyu Xingbang, Guangdong Xingbang and the WFOE each invested $787,030 (RMB 5,000,000) in Xinyu Xingbang and each owns 50% of the equity interest of Xinyu Xingbang. Under the Xinyu Xingbang Articles of Association, the WFOE is entitled to appoint the sole director and all members of the management team of Xinyu Xingbang and the WFOE is entitled to receive 99.99% of Xinyu Xingbang’s net profit. Based on the relevant PRC regulations, an Internet Content Provider license, or ICP license, issued by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, is required for Xinyu Xingbang to conduct business as currently contemplated. In order to be granted the ICP license, foreign investor’s ownership of Xinyu Xingbang cannot exceed 50%. Xinyu Xingbang obtained its ICP license in February 2013. Guangdong Xingbang will gradually wind down its operations and Xinyu Xingbang will carry out Guangdong Xingbang’s business except that Guangdong Xingbang will fulfill its contractual obligations under the existing customer contracts. Guangdong Xingbang will grant an exclusive license to Xinyu Xingbang to permit Xinyu Xingbang to use trademark, domain names, intellectual property rights and any know-how Guangdong Xingbang owns. Guangdong Xingbang will also assign the management right and right to receive revenue from the ju51 Mall and our newspaper publication, called Industry Economy Review, to Xinyu Xingbang. Guangdong Xingbang will continue its corporate existence to hold the equity interest in Xinyu Xingbang.
Below is our updated organizational structure after the incorporation of Xinyu Xingbang.
Historically, our revenue has highly correlated to the Chinese real estate market and was seasonal. Chinese government’s policies restraining real estate growth will result in decrease in the demand for home furnishings, which will have a significant impact on our revenue. Generally, the first half of the year is low season for the home furnishings market, as people generally do not decorate their home during this period because of wet weather and other factors, so our revenue in advertising and consulting (except for consulting provided to local governments) has been relatively low during this period. We expect our revenue derived from our new ju51 Mall, once operational, to continue to follow these seasonal patterns.
In 2012, the Company decided to phase out its advertising and consulting operations and focus its efforts on its e-commerce business model. Therefore revenue from advertising and consulting dropped significantly during 2012. We previously intended to have our distributors develop our technical service stations as well as deliver products from manufactures to technical service stations. On February 14, 2012, the board of directors exempted its distributors, or the so called “channel service providers,” from paying service charges from October 2011 to June 2012, considering that the distributors recorded losses resulting from low sales volume on the ju51 Mall, and in order to maintain a good and sustainable cooperation relationship with them. The board also authorized Mr. Xiaohong Yao (“Mr. Yao”), the Company’s Chairman, CEO and President, to exempt distributors from paying service charges at the technical service stations or from paying franchise fees based on sales volume generated on the ju51 Mall. However in the first and second quarters of 2012, we found that many distributors failed to meet the agreed operating goals. As a result, in June 2012, the Company terminated all the contracts with its distributors. Management also determined that the e-commerce platform would not be launched until it was fully developed. We do not expect revenue generated from service charges and commissions from the transactions on the e-commerce platform until the platform is fully operational.
Since February 2012, the Company has been developing direct sales stores (later rebranded as “technical service stations”) and recruiting interior designers and decoration technicians to join a web portal called “China Decoration Technicians Network” at http://www.zgzxjg.com as part of our sales effort. The web portal is owned by Xinyu Zhongxing Decoration Technicians Network Company Limited, a related party that is 80% owned by Mr. Yao and 20% owned by his spouse. The technical service stations (previously called “direct sales stores”) are intended to function as our local representative offices. Interior designers and decoration technicians will help us reach out to consumers and act as shopping guides, using the technical service stations as their physical base. Consumers who place orders through of the interior designers and decoration technicians will enjoy a special “membership price”, which will be lower than the direct sale price listed on the ju51 Mall. Interior designers and decoration technicians will earn commissions from the flagship stores.
Since June 2013, Xingyu Xingbang has entered into franchise agreements with companies who are interested in setting up an online retail store on the e-commerce website, www.ju51.com. Some of the franchisees had set up physical showroom in the Company’s “Home Furnishing Procurement Headquarters,” which is located in Xinyu City, China. The purpose of the agreement is to generate transactional volume on the e-commerce platform. At this stage, the agreements do not require a franchise fee or service charge for the services provided by Xingyu Xingbang, only a security deposit of $3,268 (RMB 20,000), which is refundable within two months after termination or expiration of the agreement. Once the ju51 Mall is operational, Xingyu Xingbang will begin to collect fees under the agreement, unless such fees are otherwise waived. As of September 30, 2013, Xingyu Xingbang had signed agreements with 491 companies, 18 of them had set up their showrooms and paid the security deposits. In order to attract more franchisees, on all new franchise agreements signed in the third quarter of 2013, we agreed postpone the retainer payment until revenue is generated. Our promotional efforts resulted in a total of 474 new franchise agreements were signed in the third quarter of 2013, as compared to 17 agreements in the preceding quarter.
We are experiencing delays in our schedule for rolling out our e-commerce platform and to date have not generated any revenue from this business. We did not generate any revenue from this business during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 due to the restructuring of our marketing team and marketing strategy. We have made substantial progress in setting up our infrastructure, establishing 84 new technical service stations in the third quarter of 2013. However, to date we have been unable to identify qualified personnel to oversee the build out of our technical service stations, online flagship stores, and physical showrooms.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
In preparing our condensed consolidated group financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, we make estimates and assumptions that affect the accounting, recognition and disclosure of our assets, liabilities, stockholders’ equity, revenues and expenses. We make these estimates and assumptions because certain information that we use is dependent upon future events, which cannot be calculated with a high degree of precision from data available or cannot be readily calculated based upon generally accepted methodologies. In some cases, these estimates are particularly difficult and therefore require a significant amount of judgment. Actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our consolidated group financial statements.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, there were no significant changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Results of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2012.
The following table presents, for the three months indicated, our consolidated statements of operations information.
| | Three months ended September 30, | |
| | 2013 | | | 2012 | |
| | | | | | |
REVENUE | | | | | | |
Advertising | | $ | 35 | | | $ | 112,059 | |
Consulting service | | | 34 | | | | 144,398 | |
E-commerce | | | - | | | | - | |
Total revenue | | | 69 | | | | 256,457 | |
| | | | | | | | |
COST OF REVENUE | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | | 1,317 | | | | (15,026 | ) |
Consulting service | | | 19,408 | | | | 17,047 | |
E-commerce | | | 84,238 | | | | 72,235 | |
Total cost of revenue | | | 104,963 | | | | 74,256 | |
| | | | | | | | |
GROSS (LOSS) PROFIT | | | (104,894 | ) | | | 182,201 | |
| | | | | | | | |
OPERATING EXPENSES | | | | | | | | |
Selling expenses | | | 78,867 | | | | 188,918 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 322,802 | | | | 181,667 | |
Impairment of website development cost | | | 72,955 | | | | - | |
Depreciation – property and equipment | | | 22,852 | | | | 24,891 | |
Total Operating Expenses, net | | | 497,476 | | | | 395,476 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NET LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | | | (602,370 | ) | | | (213,275 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES), NET | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 176 | | | | 1,923 | |
Other income | | | 50,065 | | | | 650 | |
Other expenses | | | (5,665 | ) | | | (988 | ) |
Gain (Loss) on disposal of property and equipment | | | 4,632 | | | | (4 | ) |
Total Other Income, net | | | 49,208 | | | | 1,581 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NET LOSS BEFORE TAXES | | | (553,162 | ) | | | (211,694 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Income tax expenses | | | - | | | | (69,941 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET LOSS | | | (553,162 | ) | | | (281,635 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation loss | | | (5,405 | ) | | | 4,633 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | | $ | (558,567 | ) | | $ | (277,002 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net loss per share | | | | | | | | |
- basic and diluted | | $ | (0.01 | ) | | $ | (0.00 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period | | | | | | | | |
- basic and diluted | | | 81,244,000 | | | | 81,244,000 | |
Revenue
During the three months ended September 30, 2013, we had total revenue of $69, a decrease of 99.97% compared to the same period in 2012. Of this, $35 was attributable to revenue generated from advertising and $34 was attributable to consulting service rendered. During the three months ended September 30, 2012, total revenue was $256,457. Of this, $112,059 was attributable to revenue generated from advertising and $144,398 was attributable to consulting service rendered. The decrease of $256,388 was mainly due to decrease in advertising and consulting revenue as a result of the change of our business model to focus on revamping our e-commerce business. We spent the year ended December 31, 2012 and the first three quarters of 2013 repositioning the Company to shift our core business from advertising and consulting to e-commerce. During this time, management does not think it is appropriate to generate revenue from our e-commerce platform until our new e-commerce revenue models are finalized and driver supports are ready. Therefore revenue from e-commerce was $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue is comprised of printing cost, editorial fee, agent fee, salaries of consulting service providers, amortization of website development costs, salaries of website administrators and business tax relating to advertising and consulting service rendered.
Cost of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2013 was $104,963, compared to $74,256 for the three months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of $30,707, or approximately 41.35%. The increase was due to the approximate 108.76% increase in the cost of advertising revenue, which was $16,343, the approximate 13.85% increase in the cost of consulting revenue, which was $2,361, and the 16.62% increase in the cost of e-commerce, which was $12,003. The reason for the increase in cost of revenue was the increase in agent fee, printing cost, business tax relating to advertising, amortization of website development costs and salary of website administrators.
Gross (loss) profit
Gross loss was $104,894 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $287,095, or approximately 157.57%, compared to a gross profit of $182,201 of the same period in 2012. The decrease was mainly due to the decrease in advertising and consulting revenue.
Operating expenses
Operating expenses consist of selling, general and administrative expenses, impairment of website development cost and depreciation.
Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2013 were $497,476, mainly composed of $78,867 in selling expenses, $322,802 in general and administrative expenses, $72,955 in impairment of website development cost, and $22,852 in depreciation. Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2012 were $395,476, mainly composed of $188,918 in selling expenses, $181,667 in general and administrative expenses, and $24,891 in depreciation. The increase in operating expenses from the three months ended September 30, 2012 to the three months ended September 30, 2013 was $102,000, or approximately 25.79%. And it was mainly due to the increase in the impairment of website development cost of $72,955.
Other income (expenses), net
Other income (expenses), net, consists mainly of net of interest income, other income, other expenses, and gain/loss on disposal of property and equipment.
Other income, net, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 was $49,208 compared to other income, net of $1,581 for the three months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of $47,627, or approximately 3,012.46%. The increase in other income (expenses), net, was mainly due to the increase in other income of $49,415, representing the prior year over provision of income tax, for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to $650 for the same period in 2012.
Income tax expenses
Income tax benefit was $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to income tax expenses of $69,941 for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The Company did not recognize the deferred tax asset arising from the net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2013, due to the fact that the Company has sustained continuous losses over the years. Our effective income tax rate was 0% and approximately 33% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Under PRC law, the Company’s qualification as a “New or High Technology Enterprise” is subject to review every year.
Net Loss
Net loss was $553,162 and $281,635 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increase was mainly the result of a decrease in advertising and consulting revenue, the revamp of the e-commerce business model, and also the Company’s waiver of fees charged for the use of its former e-commerce platform in 2012. Another reason for the increase was due to the increase in rental expenses in general and administrative expenses. Moreover, the unamortized website development cost was fully impaired since second quarter of 2013.
Other comprehensive loss
Other comprehensive loss was $5,405 and a gain of $4,633 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The change of foreign currency translation loss was primarily caused by the fluctuation in the RMB to U.S. dollar exchange rate in 2013 compared to 2012.
Results of Operations — Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012.
The following table presents, for the nine months indicated, our consolidated statements of operations information.
| | Nine months ended September 30, | |
| | 2013 | | | 2012 | |
| | | | | | |
REVENUE | | | | | | |
Advertising | | $ | 10,062 | | | $ | 460,184 | |
Consulting service | | | 9,730 | | | | 395,132 | |
E-commerce | | | - | | | | - | |
Total revenue | | | 19,792 | | | | 855,316 | |
| | | | | | | | |
COST OF REVENUE | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | | 21,154 | | | | 146,482 | |
Consulting service | | | 58,930 | | | | 52,203 | |
E-commerce | | | 320,225 | | | | 293,209 | |
Total cost of revenue | | | 400,309 | | | | 491,894 | |
| | | | | | | | |
GROSS (LOSS) PROFIT | | | (380,517 | ) | | | 363,422 | |
| | | | | | | | |
OPERATING EXPENSES | | | | | | | | |
Selling expenses | | | 357,072 | | | | 806,841 | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 1,048,009 | | | | 556,498 | |
Impairment of website development cost | | | 479,918 | | | | - | |
Depreciation – property and equipment | | | 74,778 | | | | 76,053 | |
Total Operating Expenses, net | | | 1,959,777 | | | | 1,439,392 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NET LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | | | (2,340,294 | ) | | | (1,075,970 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES), NET | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 1,092 | | | | 4,059 | |
Other income | | | 50,065 | | | | 819 | |
Other expenses | | | (7,156 | ) | | | (2,654 | ) |
Gain on disposal of property and equipment | | | 4,632 | | | | 2,292 | |
Total Other Income, net | | | 48,633 | | | | 4,516 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NET LOSS BEFORE TAXES | | | (2,291,661 | ) | | | (1,071,454 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Income tax benefit | | | - | | | | 54,588 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NET LOSS | | | (2,291,661 | ) | | | (1,016,866 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation loss | | | (30,365 | ) | | | (5,390 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | | $ | (2,322,026 | ) | | $ | (1,022,256 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net loss per share | | | | | | | | |
- basic and diluted | | $ | (0.03 | ) | | $ | (0.01 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period | | | | | | | | |
- basic and diluted | | | 81,244,000 | | | | 81,244,000 | |
Revenue
During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we had total revenue of $19,792, a decrease of 97.69% compared to the same period in 2012. Of this, $10,062 was attributable to revenue generated from advertising and $9,730 was attributable to consulting service rendered. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, total revenue was $855,316. Of this, $460,184 was attributable to revenue generated from advertising and $395,132 was attributable to consulting service rendered. The decrease of $835,524 was mainly due to a decrease in advertising and consulting revenue as a result of the change of our business model to focus on revamping our e-commerce business. In the third quarter of 2013, 84 new technical service stations were created, compared to none in the second quarter of 2013, as well as 474 new franchise agreements signed in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 17 agreements in the second quarter of 2013. We spent the year ended December 31, 2012 and the first three quarters of 2013 repositioning the Company to shift our core business from advertising and consulting to e-commerce. During this time, management does not think it is appropriate to generate revenue from our e-commerce platform until our e-commerce revenue models are finalized and driver supports are ready. Therefore revenue from e-commerce was $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue is comprised of printing cost, editorial fee, agent fee, salaries of consulting service providers, amortization of website development costs, salaries of website administrators and business tax relating to advertising and consulting service rendered.
Cost of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $400,309, compared to $491,894 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $91,585, or approximately 18.62%. The decrease was due to the approximate 85.56% decrease in the cost of advertising revenue, which was $125,328, the approximately 12.89% increase in the cost of consulting revenue, which was $6,727 and the 9.21% increase in the cost of e-commerce, which was $27,016. The reason for the decrease was mainly due to the decrease in agent fees, printing cost and business tax relating to advertising services.
Gross (loss) profit
Gross loss was $380,517 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $743,939, or approximately 204.70%, compared to a gross profit of $363,422 of the same period in 2012. The decrease was mainly due to the decrease in advertising and consulting revenue.
Operating expenses
Operating expenses consist of selling, general and administrative expenses, impairment of website development cost and depreciation.
Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were $1,959,777, mainly composed of $357,072 in selling expenses, $1,048,009 in general and administrative expenses, $479,918 in impairment of website development cost, and $74,778 in depreciation. Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $1,439,392, mainly composed of $806,841 in selling expenses, $556,498 in general and administrative expenses and $76,053 in depreciation. The increase in operating expenses from the quarter ended September 30, 2012 to the quarter ended September 30, 2013 was $520,385, or approximately 36.15%. And it was mainly due to the impairment of website development costs of $479,918.
Other income (expenses), net
Other income (expenses), net, consists mainly of net of interest income, other income, other expenses, and gain on disposal of property and equipment.
Other income, net, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $48,633 compared to $4,516 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of $44,117, or approximately 976.90%. The increase in other income, net, was primarily due to the increase in other income of $49,246, representing the prior year over provision of income tax, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $819 for the same period in 2012.
Income tax benefit
Income tax benefit was $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to income tax benefit of $54,588 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The Company did not recognize any deferred tax asset arising from the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, due to the fact that the Company has sustained continuous losses over the years. Our effective income tax rate was 0% and approximately 5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Under PRC law, the Company’s qualification as a “New or High Technology Enterprise” is subject to review every year.
Net Loss
Net loss was $2,291,661 and $1,016,866 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increase was mainly the result of a decrease in advertising and consulting revenue, and the revamp of the e-commerce business model and also the Company waiver of the fees paid to it for the use of the platform. Another reason for the increase was due to the increase in rental expenses in general and administrative expenses. Moreover, the unamortized website development cost was fully impaired since second quarter of 2013.
Other comprehensive loss
Other comprehensive loss was $30,365 and $5,390 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The change of foreign currency translation loss was primarily caused by the fluctuation in the RMB to U.S. dollar exchange rate in 2013 compared to 2012.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of cash on hand and demand deposits at banks. We had $158,506 and $197,530 of cash and cash equivalents on hand as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. There was a decrease of $39,024 in our cash and cash equivalents from December 31, 2012 to September 30, 2013.
The decrease in our cash and cash equivalents from December 31, 2012 to September 30, 2013 was largely attributable to the combined effect of net loss for the period of $2,291,661, payments for website development cost of $142,303 and advances from related companies of $1,728,039.
We require cash for working capital, capital expenditures, repayment of debt, salaries, commissions and related benefits and other operating expenses and income taxes. We estimate that the actual amount of approximately $2,547,000 is needed in the near term to continue the operations. We expect that our working capital needs will increase for the foreseeable future, as we continue to develop and grow our business. See “Business — General” in our 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2013.
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
| | Nine months ended September 30, | |
| | 2013 | | | 2012 | |
Net cash (used in) operating activities | | $ | (1,678,180 | ) | | $ | (33,798 | ) |
Net cash (used in) investing activities | | $ | (226,805 | ) | | $ | (272,113 | ) |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | $ | 1,863,768 | | | $ | 1,579,307 | |
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities was $1,678,180 and $33,798 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The most significant items affecting the comparison of our operating cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are summarized below:
● | Increase in cash loss from operations - Our net loss from operations, excluding depreciation, amortization, impairment of website development cost and gain on disposal of property and equipment, increased by $800,386 on a period-to-period basis, from cash loss of $828,311 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to cash loss of $1,628,697 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, which negatively impacted our cash flows from operations. The increase in cash loss from operations was mainly due to the decrease in revenue and increase in rental expenses in general and administrative expenses in the first three quarters in 2013 from the same period last year. |
● | Decrease in accounts receivable – The decrease in account receivable was $0 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, while it decreased by $1,266,107 for the same period in 2012. The reason for the decrease was that we did not collect any accounts receivables in the first three quarters of 2013 as we decided to render services after a retainer was paid by our customers. Revenue decreased from $855,316 during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to $19,792 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. No collection of accounts receivable and no increase of deferred revenue received from the customers during the first three quarters of 2013 led to an increase in cash used in operating activities. |
● | Decrease in other payables and accrued expenses - Other payables and accrued expenses decreased by $27,892 during the first three quarters of 2013, while it decreased by $224,274 for the same period in 2012. Other payables and accrued expenses consisted of other tax payables, accrued professional fees, accrued expenses, deposits received from customers, other payable, accrued website development cost, accrued wages and accrued welfare. The decrease in other payables and accrued expenses was the net effect of the decrease of the accrued professional fee, accrued payables, and increase in accrued wages and other payables, which was mainly arising from the payments for construction in progress. |
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities. Our investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 used cash of $226,805 and $272,113, respectively. The net cash used in investing activities are comparable between two periods.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities. Our financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 provided cash of $1,863,768 and $1,579,307, respectively. Although there were advances of $1,728,039 from a related company, Xinyu Xingbang Industry Co., Ltd., the amount received from Mr. Yao and his spouse was decreased to $135,729 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 from $1,579,579 in the prior period. The net result leads to a decrease in cash provided by financing activities.
Capital Resources
We had negative working capital of $4,130,446 as of September 30, 2013 and $2,219,805 as of December 31, 2012, respectively. The reason for the increase in negative working capital from December 31, 2012 to September 30, 2013 was primarily due to the increase in amount due to related companies.
Under the VIEs’ agreements, Guangdong Xingbang pays the WFOE a consulting service fee, payable in RMB each quarter, equivalent to all of its net income for such quarter based on its quarterly financial statements, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the PRC. The WFOE then may transfer the cash payment to the offshore holding companies (Xingbang HK, Xingbang BVI and China Xingbang) via dividend payment, after deduction of relevant taxes. If we obtain funds through financing in the US, Xingbang HK may invest in the WFOE. It is generally prohibited for PRC resident enterprises, including foreign owned entities, to make inter-company loans. However, management believes it is in compliance with the current PRC law for the WFOE to deposit the funds into a PRC bank account and request the PRC bank to lend the funds to Guangdong Xingbang, and may use such means to obtain capital funding in the future.
We are a holding company with no significant revenue-generating operations of our own, and thus any cash flows from operations are and will be generated by Guangdong Xingbang through our WFOE’s existing consulting service management arrangement with Guangdong Xingbang. Our ability to service our debt and fund our ongoing operations is dependent on the results of these operations and their ability to provide us with cash. The WFOE’s ability to make loans or pay dividends are restricted under PRC law and may be restricted under the terms of future indebtedness, its governing documents or other agreements. With the cash on hand and the anticipated cash to be received from our operations, we may not be able to generate enough cash to support the expansion of the business operations. However, the Guangdong Xingbang’s Shareholders are fully committed to provide cash as needed to support the Company’s ongoing operations and continued growth. Therefore, we believe that our sources of liquidity will be sufficient to enable us to meet our cash needs for at least the next 12 months.
Nonetheless, our liquidity and capital position could be adversely affected by:
● | loss of revenue from advertising and consulting service; |
● | continued failure to generate revenue in the e-Commerce business; |
● | any change of policy on accounts receivable; |
● | the enactment of new laws and regulations; |
● | our inability to grow our business as we anticipate by expanding our revamped e-commerce business; |
● | any other changes in the cost structure of our underlying business model; and |
● | any of the other risks and uncertainties described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. |
Debt Obligations
The following is a summary of amounts outstanding under our debt obligations as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
| | As of September 30, 2013 | | | As of December 31, 2012 | |
Due to related companies | | $ | 1,879,712 | | | $ | 136,039 | |
Due to shareholders | | | 1,770,751 | | | | 1,605,110 | |
Accounts payable | | | - | | | | 2,183 | |
Total debt | | $ | 3,650,463 | | | $ | 1,743,332 | |
Due to related companies
As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Guangdong Xingbang owed $0 and $5,457, respectively, to ZhongshanXingbang Purchase & Exhibition Service Co., Ltd (“ZhongshanXingbang”) which is interest free, unsecured and repayable on demand. Mr. Yao is the director of ZhongshanXingbang.
As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Xinyu Xingbang owed $547,523 and $130,582, respectively, to Xinyu Xingbang Industry Co., Ltd for rental expense of showrooms. The amount due is unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.
As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Xinyu Xingbang owed $25,000 and $0, respectively, to Xinyu Xingbang Industry Co., Ltd for rental expense of office used by Xinyu Xingbang. The amount due is unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.
On September 5, 2013, Guangdong Xingbang entered into a loan agreement with Xinyu Xingbang Industry Co., Ltd, with an amount of $81,699. The loan is interest free and unsecured with a loan period started on September 10, 2013 and is due for repayment on September 10, 2014. The use of this loan is only for the operation of Guangdong Xingbang.
On September 5, 2013, Xinyu Xingbang entered into a loan agreement with Xinyu Xingbang Industry Co., Ltd, with an amount of $81,699. The loan is interest free and unsecured with a loan period started on September 12, 2013 and is due for repayment on September 11, 2014. The use of this loan is only for the operation of Xinyu Xingbang.
On July 25, 2013, Guangdong Xingbang entered into a loan agreement with Xinyu Xingbang Industry Co., Ltd, with an amount of $81,699. The loan is interest free and unsecured with a loan period started on July 31, 2013 and is due for repayment on July 30, 2014. The use of this loan is only for the operation of Guangdong Xingbang.
On May 30, 2013, Guangdong Xingbang entered into a loan agreement with Xinyu Xingbang Industry Co., Ltd, with an amount of $81,699. The loan is interest free and unsecured with a loan period started on June 6, 2013 and is due for repayment on June 5, 2014. The use of this loan is only for the operation of Guangdong Xingbang.
On January 10, 2013, Xinyu Xingbang entered into a loan agreement with Xinyu Xingbang Industry Co., Ltd, with an amount of $816,993. The loan is interest free and unsecured with a loan period started on January 15, 2013 and is due for repayment on January 14, 2014. The use of this loan is only for the operation of Xinyu Xingbang.
On January 3, 2013, Guangdong Xingbang entered into a loan agreement with Xinyu Xingbang Industry Co., Ltd, with an amount of $163,400. The loan is interest free and unsecured with a loan period started on January 5, 2013 and is due for repayment on January 4, 2014. The use of this loan is solely for the operations of Guangdong Xingbang.
Due to shareholders
As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, WFOE owed $816,993 and $802,555, respectively, to Mr. Yao. The loan is interest free and unsecured. The loan was entered into on May 31, 2012, and the loan period started on June 11, 2012 and is due for repayment on June 10, 2013. On May 31, 2013, the loan was renewed, and the loan period started on June 12, 2013 and is due for repayment on June 11, 2014. The proceeds of the loan was used as the capital investment in Xinyu Xingbang, which is 50% owned by WFOE and 50% owned by Guangdong Xingbang.
As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Guangdong Xingbang owed $816,993 and $802,555, respectively, to Mr. Yao. The loan is interest free and unsecured. The loan was entered into on May 31, 2012, and the loan period started on June 19, 2012 and is due for repayment on June 18, 2013. On June 10, 2013, the loan was renewed, and the loan period started on June 19, 2013 and is due for repayment on June 18, 2014.
As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Guangdong Xingbang owed $136,765 and $0, respectively, to Mr. Yao and his spouse for lease of office premises. The amounts due are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
On February 14, 2012, the board of directors resolved to exempt distributors from paying service charges from October 2011 to June 2012 and to authorize Mr. Yao to exempt distributors from paying service charges, and brick-and-mortar stores or decoration companies from paying franchise fees. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we did not have any off-balance sheet obligations involving unconsolidated subsidiaries that provide financing or potentially expose us to unrecorded financial obligations. All of our obligations with respect to Guangdong Xingbang have been presented on our consolidated balance sheets as of each such date.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
There have been no new accounting pronouncements during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 that are of significance, or potentially significance, to us.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
The Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer, reassessed the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of September 30, 2013 and has subsequently determined that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2013 due to certain material weaknesses, including: (i) a lack of sufficient accounting personnel with appropriate understanding of U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements; and (ii) a lack of standard charter of accounts and written accounting manual and closing procedures to facilitate preparation of financial statements under U.S. GAAP for financial reporting processes. As a result of such material weaknesses, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective. Our management has worked, and will continue to work to remedy the above material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls.
Readers are cautioned that our management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will necessarily prevent all fraud and material error. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the controls.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the first three quarters of 2013 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting, except as disclosed above.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
We may be involved in litigation and other legal proceedings from time to time in the ordinary course of our business. Except as otherwise set forth in this quarterly report, we believe the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
There were no issuances of our equity securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2013.
Limitations on Our Payment of Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends to date and we do not anticipate or contemplate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. It is the present intention of management to utilize all available funds for the development of our business.
In the future, we may be a party to agreements that limit or restrict our ability to pay dividends.
In addition, Nevada corporate law prohibits us from making any distribution (including a dividend) on our capital stock at a time when:
● | we would not be able to pay our debts as they become due in the usual course of business; or |
● | our total assets would be less than the sum of (i) our total liabilities plus (ii) the amount that would be needed, if we were to be dissolved at the time of distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential rights are superior to those receiving the distribution (although we presently do not have any shareholders with such preferential rights). |
WFOE is a wholly-foreign owned enterprise under the laws of the PRC. The principal regulations governing dividend distributions by wholly foreign owned enterprises and Sino-foreign equity joint ventures include:
● | The Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise Law (1986), as amended; |
● | The Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise Law Implementing Rules (1990), as amended; |
● | The Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law (1979), as amended; and |
● | The Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law Implementing Rules (1983), as amended. |
Under these regulations, wholly foreign owned enterprises and sino-foreign equity joint ventures in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Additionally, before paying dividends to their shareholders, these foreign invested enterprises are required to set aside at least 10% of their profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the amount of the cumulative total reserve funds reaches 50% of the relevant company’s registered capital. Accordingly, the WFOE is allowed to distribute dividends only after having set aside the required amount of its profits into the reserve funds as required under applicable PRC laws and regulations.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5.Other Information.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | | Description |
31.1* | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
31.2* | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
32.1* | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.2* | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
101.INS** | | XBRL Instance Document |
101.SCH** | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
101.CAL** | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
101.DEF** | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
101.LAB** | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
101.PRE** | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
* filed herein.
** XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| China Xingbang Industry Group Inc. |
| | |
Date: November 14, 2013 | By: | /s/ Xiaohong Yao |
| | Xiaohong Yao, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | (principal executive officer) |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Haigang Song |
| | Haigang Song, Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) |