SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITY
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
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Commission file number 00028358
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CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
NEVADA 11-2243727
(State or Other Jurisdiction (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of Incorporation or Organization)
61, EAST GARDEN ROAD, YANGZHOU, JIANGSU, CHINA 225003
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including area code, (212) 629-7378
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
None.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports to
be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days Yes X No
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Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.[X]
The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant, based upon the closing sale price of common stock on October 17,
1997, as quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., was approximately $443,817.
As of November 6, 1997, there were 25,000,273 shares of the registrant's
common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE.
List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the
Part of the Form 10-K (e.g., Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is
incorporated: (1) any annual report to security holders; (2) any proxy or
information statement; and (3) any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 (b) or
(c) under the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be clearly
described for identification purposes (e.g., annual report to security holders
for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).
2
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
FORM 10-K
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
GENERAL
China Container Holdings Limited ("Holdings") is a Nevada corporation
which owns 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of an intermediate
holding company, China Container Holdings Limited ("CCHL-BVI"), a British Virgin
Islands company. CCHL-BVI owns 80% of the registered capital of Yangzhou Tongyun
Container Company Ltd., a Sino-foreign equity joint venture company ("TY
Container"), which manufactures and sells international standard commercial
freight ("ISO") containers. CCHL-BVI also owns 80% of the registered capital of
Yangzhou Tongsheng Container Co. Ltd. ("Tongsheng"), a Sino-foreign equity joint
venture company. The minority shareholdings in Tongsheng are identical to that
of TY Container. Since the completion of its production facilities in May 1996,
Tongsheng also manufactures and sells ISO containers. See "Sino-Foreign Equity
-------------------
Joint Venture Enterprises in General," below, for more detailed information.
- ------------------------------------
References herein to the "Company" are to Holdings and its direct and
indirect subsidiaries, collectively.
In addition to TY Container and Tongsheng, Holdings indirectly, through
TY Container, has a majority interest in a company which manufactures ISO
integrated refrigerated containers, and minority interests in: four
manufacturers of container components, one manufacturer of container chassis and
specialized semi-trailers, one manufacturer of plastic injection equipment, and
one real estate development company.
The Company maintains its books of account in Renminbi ("RMB"), the
national currency of the People's Republic of China (the "PRC"). The Company
believes that it is easier for current and potential investors to understand the
Company's financial statements if the United States dollar is used as the
Company's currency for financial statement presentations. Accordingly, the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements are stated in United States dollars
("US$"). All balance sheet accounts have been translated from RMB to US$ using
the exchange rates in effect at December 31 of the applicable balance sheet
date. All income statement amounts have been translated using the average
exchange rate for the applicable year. Prior to January 1, 1994, the PRC
maintained a dual exchange rate system which included both an official rate and
the rate available at the Foreign Exchange Adjustment Centers, the so called
"Swap Centers." The Swap Center rate was in large part determined by the supply
and demand for foreign currencies in the PRC. On January 1, 1994, the PRC
government abolished the dual rate system and established a single floating
official exchange rate. The conversion rates used herein for currency
translations are those quoted by the Swap Center in Shanghai prior to January 1,
1994, and by the People's Bank of China on or after January 1, 1994.
The following table sets forth the RMB/US$ conversion rates which were
used for currency translations provided herein:
Year RMB Equivalent of US$1
- ---- ----------------------
As at 12/31 Average Rate
----------- ------------
1991 5.90 5.90
1992 7.71 6.66
1993 8.70 8.70
1994 8.45 8.62
1995 8.32 8.35
1996 8.30 8.31
As of December 31, 1996, approximately 40% of the shares of Holdings
were owned indirectly by Jiangsu Tongyun Group Company ("TYG") through its
wholly owned subsidiary, Jiangyang Automobile (H.K.) Limited, which owns 50% of
Sinocity Group Limited, which holds approximately 80% of the shares of Holdings.
In addition, TYG indirectly owns approximately 2.85% of the shares of Holdings
through its 95% beneficial interest in Ocean Asia International Ltd. which owns
100% of Tactical Investments Ltd, which holds approximately 3% of the shares of
Holdings. TYG is owned by Yangzhou City, a city located in Jiangsu Province of
the PRC. TYG owns equity interests, directly or indirectly, in 13 enterprises,
including TY Container, in Jiangsu Province. TY Container's main facilities are
located in Yangzhou City. See Item 13. "CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS," below, which is incorporated in this Item 1 by reference.
The following organizational chart shows the ownership of the Company and its
ownership of the various affiliated entities.
[Graphic omitted. Original graphic shows: Yangzhou City owns 100% of TYG; TYG
owns 100% of Jiangyang (H.K.) Auto, 95% of Ocean Asia and 5% of each TY
Container and Tongsheng; Ocean Asia owns 100% of Tactical Investments Ltd;
Sinocity Group Ltd. is owned by Jiangyang (H.K.) Auto (50%), Keep Benefit Ltd.
(12.5%), Wide Shine Development Ltd. (12.5%) China Auto (USA) Corp. (6.25%) and
Everbest Auto Ltd. (18.75%); CCHL (Nevada) is owned by Sinocity Group Ltd.
(80.275%), Gordon Capital Ltd. (7.5%), Bonnaire International Ltd. (4.225%),
Tactical Investments Ltd. (3%) and Public Shareholders (5%), CCHL (Nevada) owns
100% of CCHL(BVI), which owns 80% of each TY Container and Tongsheng; TY
Container owns 25% of Behai, 51% of Reefer, 35.51% of Tongda, 44% of Tongyang
Machinery and 25% of Universal.
OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES
DESCRIPTION OF TY CONTAINER AND TONGSHENG
TY Container was established as a Sino-foreign equity joint venture
company in the PRC on March 27, 1989. Tongsheng was established as a Sino-
foreign equity joint venture company in the PRC in December 1995. Tongsheng,
like TY Container, produces ISO dry containers. Tongsheng's facilities, which
are located adjacent to TY Container's main production facility, came on line in
May 1996 and was designed for an annual capacity of 40,000 twenty-foot
equivalent units ("TEU"). Tongsheng is managed by TY Container's current
management and shares some common facilities, such as a container yard and
office space, with TY Container. All of Tongsheng's production is marketed by TY
Container. The ownership of Tongsheng is identical to that of TY Container, with
CCHL-BVI holding an 80% interest in the company (giving Holdings an 80% indirect
interest in the company), Bexi Iron and Steel Company holding 10%, China
Automobile Import and Export holding 5%, and Jiangsu Tongyun Group Company
holding the remaining 5% of the company. The Company's management considers
Tongsheng to be essentially a second production line for TY Container. (TY
Container and Tongsheng together, are hereinafter sometimes referred to as "TY
Container Group.") TY Container Group is primarily engaged in the manufacture in
the PRC of ISO containers for export and sale outside the PRC. In 1996, TY
Container Group produced a total of 40,161 TEU.
TY CONTAINER GROUP HISTORICAL CONTAINER PRODUCTION
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
TEU 1,712 14,749 26,846 31,112 33,745 39,792 40,161
Principal Products
------------------
TY Container Group produces ISO containers for dry freight of the
following dimensions: 20'x 8'x 8'6", 40'x 8'x 8'6", 40'x 8'x 9'6" (High Cube)
and 45'x 8'x 9'6". In addition, TY Container Group manufactures non-standard
containers according to customers' specifications. The containers feature either
a corrugated door or a flat door and are constructed of either structuring steel
or Corton steel. Containers produced by TY Container Group have been certified
by the American Bureau of Shipping Industrial Verification, Inc. ("ABS") of the
United States, Bureau Veritas Branche Industrie of France, Germanischer Lloyd of
Germany, Lloyd's Register of the United Kingdoms, and ZC of China. TY Container
Group's manufacturing facilities have qualified for ISO-9002 certification.
Sources and Availability of Raw Materials and Components
--------------------------------------------------------
The raw materials required for the production of dry commercial freight
containers include steel, plywood, paint, and sealants. In 1996, approximately
95%, by cost, of TY Container Group's raw materials and components were imported
and paid for by TY Container Group in U.S. dollars; of the remaining 5%, all
were purchased in PRC domestic transactions and paid for in RMB. In order to
take advantage of economies of scale, TY Container Group purchases all of its
raw materials through its sales and purchasing agent, Jiangsu Tongyun Group
Trading Company ("TYG Trading Co."), a wholly owned subsidiary of TYG (see Item
13. "CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS").
In 1996, TY Container Group purchased steel from South Korea and
domestically. TY Container Group generally maintains an inventory of steel
sufficient for three months production. Paint was obtained from sources in South
Korea and domestically. Plywood was obtained from sources in Indonesia. Weather
resistant sealant was obtained domestically, including from Wuxi Tongfa Economic
& Technical Development Company Ltd., a company in which TY Container holds a
10% equity interest. TY Container Group also purchased container components from
suppliers in South Korea as well as domestically. TY Container Group purchased
some of those components from companies in which TY Container holds a minority
equity interest, including Yangzhou Tongda Forging Ltd., in which it owns a
35.57% interest, as described below in "TY Container Affiliated Companies."
---------------------------------
Purchases from affiliated companies are at prices and on other terms and
conditions at least as favorable, and generally significantly more favorable, to
TY Container Group than it would receive from unaffiliated companies. Plywood
and paint are ordered as needed upon receipt of firm customer orders. TY
Container Group typically maintains a two month supply of sealant. All other
container components are purchased on an as needed basis, with next day delivery
generally available.
TY Container Group works closely with its suppliers to ensure product
quality and availability and believes it has established a reliable network of
suppliers for its raw materials and components. It is TY Container Group's
intention to further diversify its sources of raw materials and components, to
the extent consistent with its ability to obtain high quality raw materials and
components at low cost and on a timely basis.
Seasonal Nature of Business
---------------------------
Demand for commercial freight containers is seasonal, with 21.6%, 45.4%,
7.0% and 21.6% of TY Container Group's sales in 1996 occurring in the first,
second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. In order to reduce the effects
of seasonal fluctuations in demand, and to avoid lost sales resulting from
inadequate inventory a portion of TY Container Group's annual production (0%,
13%, 3% and 28%, in each of the first, second, third and fourth quarters,
respectively) is based upon what it refers to as "stock orders" received
from its major customers. Stock orders are not firm orders, but, rather,
represent a customer's estimate of its requirements for the following quarters,
and provide for TY Container Group's holding the finished containers in
inventory for delivery to the customer in three to six months. Stock orders are
not considered "firm orders" until a formal purchase order is received,
typically within ten days prior to delivery. Payment is usually made within 30
days of delivery. TY Container Group has found stock orders to be an accurate
measure of future demand.
Markets
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TY Container Group's main facilities are located in Yangzhou City, which
is in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, in Jiangsu Province, China. In
1996, approximately 51% of TY Container Group's production was shipped to nearby
ports in the Yangtze River Delta (e.g. Shanghai, Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Ningbo,
Zhangjiagang, Yangzhou and Lianyungang) for delivery to customers; approximately
20% of TY Container Group's production was delivered to nearby railway stations
for delivery to the PRC Railway Ministry; 19% of TY Container Group's production
was delivered to other ports in China (other than Hong Kong); and 10% of TY
Container Group's production was delivered to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong
deliveries were typically sold on a "Free Used" basis (i.e., free freight, but
used once), whereby the customer takes delivery of the containers in its home
markets once-used by an unrelated shipper, but at a slight discount from the
market price. TYG Trading Co. arranges to lease such containers, for the first
use, to a shipping or freight forwarding company for a nominal amount. The
lessee is responsible for any damage incurred during the shipping, and is
obligated to deliver the leased container empty and in good condition to TY
Container Group's customer at the destination port.
In 1996, TY Container Group did not have any long term sales contracts
with its customers. All of its sales were based upon purchase orders, typically
received approximately 6 weeks prior to the desired delivery date (other than
purchase orders for containers manufactured pursuant to "stock orders," which
are typically received approximately ten days prior to the desired delivery
date. See "Seasonality of Business," above).
-----------------------
TY Container Group markets its products both directly, through the
efforts of its executives and employees, and indirectly, through independent
sales agents. TY Container Group currently has non-exclusive sales
representative agreements with Container Trade and Services, Ltd. ("CTS"). While
the agreements do not limit CTS to a particular geographic area, in practice CTS
has originated sales primarily from customers in North America. In 1996, CTS was
responsible for the sale of approximately 16% of TY Container Group's total
production. In 1996, TY Container and Tongsheng executed new agreements with CTS
with a term of ten years.
In June 1996, Tongsheng executed an agreement with TYG Trading Co under
which TYG Trading Co. agreed to provide certain support services to Tongsheng..
This agreement is virtually identical to an April 1995 agreement between TY
Container and TYG Trading Co under which TYG Trading Co. agreed to provide
certain services for TY Container which TY
Container had previously performed itself. These services include the purchase
of raw materials (see "Sources and Availability of Raw Materials and
---------------------------------------------
Components", above), the design of containers to be made to customer
- ----------
specifications, and certain sales support services, such as scheduling
deliveries and arranging the lease of containers to be delivered on a "Free
Used" basis. The agreements provide for the payment by TY Container Group to TYG
Trading Co. of an agency fee in an amount equal to TYG Trading Co.'s anticipated
costs, currently set at one percent of TY Container Group's sales. In November
1996, TYG Trading Co. agreed to waive the payment by TY Container Group of any
amounts accruing under the agreements for 1996, in recognition of the difficult
competitive situation faced by TY Container Group. TY Container Group believes
that its agreements with TYG Trading Co., which enable it to take advantage of
certain economies of scale, has resulted in significant savings to TY Container
Group.
Competition
-----------
There are more than forty container manufacturers in China, some of
which are larger and better capitalized than TY Container Group. However, due to
the relatively high cost of shipping an empty container, TY Container Group
competes primarily with container manufacturers located in the Yangtze River
Delta. To a lesser extent, TY Container Group also competes with container
manufacturers in the Pearl River Delta and the northern China ports of Qingdao,
Dalian and Tianjin, to the extent these manufacturers can make use of the "Free
Used" method to transport their containers to Shanghai. TY Container Group also
faces potential competition for foreign destinations from container companies
around the world and faces potential competition from new entrants, other than
new foreign invested enterprises in the PRC. In 1995, the PRC government
promulgated new regulations which prohibit any additional foreign investment in
the PRC container industry, whether through Sino-foreign joint ventures, sole
foreign invested enterprises or any other form of foreign investment.
TY Container Group competes with other container manufacturers on the
basis of price, quality, service and warranty. When necessary, TY Container
Group believes it is able to compete effectively on the basis of price because
of a lower cost structure resulting from certain economies of scale and its
equity interests in its suppliers of components. However, the high quality of
its products has generally enabled TY Container Group to sell its containers for
prices higher than its competitors'. TY Container Group is one of only three
Chinese container manufacturers to qualify for ISO-9002 certification. TY
Container Group has established a reputation in the industry for a high level of
customer service and has been an industry leader in devising innovative programs
to meet its customers' needs. It was the first Chinese container manufacturer to
offer customers the non-standard 45 foot "High Cube" container, the first
Chinese container manufacturer to accept so called "stock orders" and in 1996
introduced a program called "One Second Delivery," which meets customers'
unexpected container requirements by regularly storing a number of containers on
the customer's property in China, available for immediate use. TY Container
Group has also assisted customers in obtaining financing, from unrelated third
parties, for its container purchases. TY Container Group's strong
relationship with local banks has given it access to working capital lines of
credit which are not available to many of its competitors. These credit lines
provide TY Container Group with the financial ability to offer programs such as
"stock orders" to its customers. In addition, the high quality of TY Container
Group's products permit it to provide an attractive warranty to its customers.
Typically, TY Container Group provides a 12 to 24 months warranty on the
container structure, a three to five year warranty on the paint (which is backed
by the paint manufacturer's warranty), and a seven year warranty on the
markings. Normally, warranty claims are settled, without the acrimony common in
the industry, in accordance with a pre-determined payment schedule which sets
forth the amount of claim payment the customer is entitled to receive from TY
Container Group, based on the type and extent of the defect.
Modernization
-------------
TY Container's management halted production at TY Container's main
facility for a period of approximately two months, commencing in July 1996, and
allocated the production to Tongsheng instead. During this period, TY Container
upgraded and modernized its main assembly line in order to enhance production
throughput and improve product quality. TY Container's management estimates that
the modernization plan cost approximately US$1.2 million in capital
expenditures, all of which was funded from TY Container's internal cash flow. A
portion of the workforce from TY Container was assigned to Tongsheng during the
modernization. As a result, TY Container did not have to furlough any of its
workforce and Tongsheng had sufficient experienced workers to assist the company
in the training of new hires.
Backlog
-------
As of September 30, 1997, TY Container had backlog orders believed to be
firm of US$20 million, as compared to US$33 million as of September 30, 1996.
The Company expects approximately 70% of such orders to be filled within the
current fiscal year.
Employees
---------
As of December 31, 1996, TY Container Group employed approximately 1,142
people, about 30 of whom are management personnel, 53 technical and
administrative personnel, 30 security and auxiliary personnel and approximately
1,029 (including 2 shifts) production workers and supervisors.
TY CONTAINER SUBSIDIARY
-----------------------
YANGZHOU TONGLEE REEFER CONTAINER COMPANY LTD. Yangzhou Tonglee Reefer
Container Company Ltd. ("Reefer") was established as a Sino-foreign equity joint
venture company in the PRC on December 31, 1993. Reefer is located near the
Biangang Port, in the lower portion of the Yangtze River. Reefer operates a new
manufacturing facility which produces international standard integrated
refrigerated containers ("reefers"). These containers are used for the
international transport of temperature sensitive cargo, including agricultural,
biological and medical products, which require a stable cold or warm
environment. Reefer's manufacturing facility, which came on line in May 1995,
was designed to produce 4,000 TEU of reefer containers annually and produced
1,995 TEU of reefer containers in 1996. TY Container, which initially held a
50% interest in Reefer, increased its interest to 51% in January 1996, giving
Holdings a 40.8% indirect interest in the company. TYG holds a 19% interest in
the company (see Item 1. "General" and Item 13. "CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND
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RELATED TRANSACTIONS"), Liuwei Village Municipal Authority has a 5% interest,
and Singapore Nanlee holds the remaining 25% of the company.
Principal Products
------------------
Reefer produces ISO refrigerated containers of the following dimensions:
20'x 8'x 8'6", 40'x 8'x 8'6" and 40'x 8'x 9'6". The containers feature either a
riveted alloy side rail structure, a riveted steel side rail structure or a
welded steel side rail structure. Containers produced by Reefer have been
certified by the American Bureau of Shipping Industrial Verification, Inc.
("ABS") of the United States, Bureau Veritas Branche Industrie of France,
Germanischer Lloyd of Germany, Lloyd's Register of the United Kingdoms, and ZC
of China. Reefer's manufacturing facilities have qualified for ISO-9002
certification.
Sources and Availability of Raw Materials and Components
--------------------------------------------------------
The raw materials required for the production of reefers include steel
plate, aluminum plate, aluminum frame, foam insulation and refrigeration units.
In 1996, approximately 85%, by cost, of Reefers' raw materials and components
were imported and paid for by Reefer in U.S. dollars; of the remaining 15%, all
were purchased in PRC domestic transactions and paid for in RMB. In 1996, Reefer
purchased steel plate from Japan and aluminum plate from Japan and domestically.
Aluminum frame was obtained from sources in South Korea and domestically. Foam
insulation was obtained from sources in Germany and Britain, and refrigeration
units were obtained from the United States. Components were obtained
domestically, including from Yangzhou Tongda Forging Ltd., in which TY Container
owns a 35.57% interest, as described below in "TY Container Affiliated
-----------------------
Companies." Reefer generally maintains an inventory of steel and aluminum plate
- ---------
and aluminum frame sufficient to manufacture approximately 500 units (200 twenty
foot reefers and 300 forty foot reefers). Refrigeration units are ordered as
needed upon receipt of firm customer orders. Foam insulation and all other
container components are purchased on an as needed basis, with next day delivery
generally available.
Reefer works closely with its suppliers to ensure product quality and
availability and believes it has established a reliable network of suppliers for
its raw materials and components. It is Reefer's intention to further diversify
its sources of raw materials and components, to the extent consistent with its
ability to obtain high quality raw materials and components at low cost and on a
timely basis.
Seasonal Nature of Business
---------------------------
Demand for reefers fluctuated in 1996, with 5%, 33%, 50% and 12% of
Reefer's sales occurring in the first, second, third and fourth quarters,
respectively; however, it is unclear to what extent such fluctuation was based
upon seasonality as opposed to competitive factors which may be unique to 1996.
Markets
-------
Reefer's main facilities are located near the Biangang Port, in the
lower portion of the Yangtze River, in Jiangsu Province, China. In 1996,
approximately 95% of Reefer's production was shipped to nearby ports in the
Yangtze River Delta (e.g. Shanghai and Ningbo) for delivery to customers. The
remaining five percent was delivered to ports in northern China.
In 1996, Reefer marketed its products primarily through TYG Trading Co.
There has been no formal agreement between Reefer and TYG Trading Co. and TYG
Trading Co. has received no compensation for its services. Holdings management
believes that TYG Trading Co. will be compensated for future services once
Reefer becomes profitable. Reefer does not have long term sales contracts with
its customers. All of its sales are based upon purchase orders, typically
received approximately 50 days prior to the desired delivery date.
Competition
-----------
Reefer competes primarily with the four other reefer manufacturers
located in China, all of which are larger and better capitalized than Reefer.
Reefer competes with other container manufacturers primarily on the basis of
quality. Reefer is currently the only Chinese reefer manufacturer which has
qualified for ISO-9002 certification. As a result, Reefer can generally charge a
slightly higher price for its products than its competitors.
Modernization
-------------
Reefer's management halted production at its main facility for a period
of approximately three months, commencing in October 1996, and upgraded and
modernized its main assembly line in order to increase annual capacity from
4,000 to 10,000 units, and provide Reefer with the capability of manufacturing
reefers with a welded steel side rail structure. Reefer's management estimates
that the modernization cost approximately US$2.75 million in capital
expenditures, all of which was funded from the proceeds of bank loans.
Backlog
-------
As of September 30, 1997, Reefer had backlog orders believed to be firm
of US$10.5 million, as compared to US$33 million as of September 30, 1996.
Reefer's management expects 70% of such orders to be filled within the current
fiscal year.
Employees
---------
As of December 31, 1996, Reefer employed approximately 450 people, 6 of
whom are management personnel, and about 40 technical and administrative
personnel, 34 security and auxiliary personnel and approximately 370 (including
2 shifts) are production workers and supervisors.
COMPANY SALES
During the past three years, the Company's consolidated sales by
geographic region of destination and by major customers are as follows:
Year ended December 31
----------------------------
1994 1995 1996
US$'000 US$'000 US$'000
By geographic region of destination of sales:
United States of America 57,597 65,933 30,222
Denmark 7,719 2,339
United Kingdom 7,310 --
Hong Kong 1,877 20,178 44,795
People's Republic of China -- 14,512
Others 5,268 815 3,271
------- ------- -------
79,771 89,265 92,800
======= ======= =======
By major customer:
A.P. Moller 7,719 2,339
China Railway Container Transportation Center -- 14,512
Interpool Limited 12,255 12,407 2,147
Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. 19,684 13,946
P & O 7,310
Textainer Capital Corporation 12,832 14,480 8,743
Transamerica Leasing Inc. 19,805 17,655 8,435
Triton Container International Limited 12,704 19,463 8,598
Wide Shine Development Limited 28,899
Others 7,146 3,237 7,520
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79,771 89,265 92,800
======= ======= =======
TY CONTAINER AFFILIATED COMPANIES
---------------------------------
The Company reports its share in the earnings and losses of those
companies in which it owns greater than a 20% interest (but less than a 51%
interest) on the equity method of accounting. In 1996, the net losses
attributable to affiliates was US$816,000, as reported in its Consolidated
Statement of Income under the line item "Share of Net Losses of Associated
Companies." TY Container owns minority interests in affiliated companies as
follows:
BEIHAI TONGHAI CONTAINER COMPANY LTD. (25%) Beihai Tonghai Container
Company Ltd. ("Beihai Container") was established as a Sino-foreign equity joint
venture company in the PRC on March 1, 1993. Beihai Container is located in the
vicinity of Beihai City in the southern province of Guangxi, south of the Pearl
River, making it a convenient delivery point to the port of Hong Kong. Beihai
Container operates a manufacturing facility which was designed to produce 12,000
TEU annually of international standard commercial freight containers primarily
for export and sale outside the PRC. Beihai Container's manufacturing facility
came on line in May 1995 and produced 8,874 TEU in 1996. TY Container holds a
25% interest in Beihai Container, giving Holdings a 20% indirect interest in the
company. Beihai Huarui Company, a Chinese company, holds a 45% interest in
Beihai Container, and Ocean Asia International Ltd., a Hong Kong company and 95%
owned subsidiary of TYG ("Ocean Asia"), holds the remaining 30% interest.
YANGZHOU TONGDA FORGING LTD. (35.57%) Yangzhou Tongda Forging Ltd.
("Tongda") was established as a Sino-foreign equity joint venture company in the
PRC on June 28, 1993. Tongda produces container door hinges and locking devices
to be used as a complete set. These products meet the inspection standards of
ABS, receiving certification from Houston ABS. In 1996, approximately 49.4% of
Tongda's production was sold to TY Container Group and 3.9% of its production
was sold to Reefer, which accounted for nearly 60% of TY Container Group's and
100% of Reefer's requirements, respectively, for door hinges and locking
devices. TY Container holds a 35.57% interest in Tongda, giving Holdings a 28%
indirect interest in the company. Yangzhou Valve Factory, a PRC government
owned company, holds a 39.43% interest in Tongda, and Ocean Asia holds the
remaining 25% of the company.
YANGZHOU UNIVERSAL COMMERCIAL BUILDING SHAREHOLDINGS CO., LTD. (25%)
Yangzhou Universal Commercial Building Shareholdings Co., Ltd. ("Universal") was
established as a PRC
company on May 29, 1993. Universal owns and manages the second largest shopping
center in Yangzhou City. TY Container holds a 25% interest in Universal, giving
Holdings a 20% indirect interest in the company. Jiaotong Bank, various bank
branches located in Yangzhou and certain other banking entities hold a 33.3%
interest in Universal, approximately 2,000 employees of the shopping center own
a 33.3% interest and a number of unrelated local companies own the remaining
8.4% of the company.
YANGZHOU TONGYANG MACHINERY CO., LTD. (44%) Yangzhou Tongyang Machinery
Co., Ltd. ("Tongyang Machinery") was established as a Sino-foreign equity joint
venture company in the PRC on April 8, 1993. Tongyang Machinery manufactures
and sells plastic injection equipment used in the toy industry. TY Container
holds a 44% interest in Tongyang Machinery, giving Holdings a 35.2% indirect
interest in the company. The remaining 56% of Tongyang Machinery is held by
Ocean Asia (25%), TYG (11%), Jiangsu Machinery Import and Export Company (10%)
and Dujiang Village Industry Company (10%).
SINO-FOREIGN EQUITY JOINT VENTURE ENTERPRISES IN GENERAL
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Each of TY Container, Tongsheng, and Reefer (the "Operating
Subsidiaries") is organized under PRC law as a Sino-foreign equity joint venture
enterprise, which is a distinct legal entity with limited liability. Such
entities are governed by the law of the PRC on Joint Ventures Using Chinese and
Foreign Investments and implementing regulations related thereto (the "Equity
Joint Venture Law"). The parties to an equity joint venture have rights in the
returns of the joint venture in proportion to the joint venture interests that
they hold. The operations of equity joint ventures are subject to an extensive
body of law governing such matters as formation, registration, capital
contribution, capital distributions, accounting, taxation, foreign exchange,
labor and liquidation.
TAXATION
A Sino-foreign equity joint venture with a term of 10 years or more and
engaged in production is exempt from PRC central government income tax for the
first two years after it attains profitability, and for three years thereafter
it is eligible for a 50% reduction in such income tax. It is further entitled to
a 50% reduction in the PRC central government income tax for each year in which
its export sales exceed 70% of its total sales.
GOVERNANCE, OPERATIONS AND DISSOLUTION
Governance, operations and dissolution of a Sino-foreign equity joint
venture enterprise are governed by the Equity Joint Venture Law and by the
parties' joint venture contract and the joint venture's articles of association.
The Board of Directors of each Operating Subsidiary exercises authority by
majority vote over major corporate decisions, including the appointment of
officers, strategic planning and budgeting, employee compensation and welfare
and distribution of after-tax profits. Pursuant to relevant PRC law, certain
major actions of each Operating Subsidiary require unanimous approval by all of
the directors present at the meeting called to decide upon such actions (e.g.
amendments to its contract and articles of association; increases in, or
assignments of, the registered capital of the joint venture; a merger of the
joint venture with another entity; or dissolution of the enterprise). In
addition, PRC government approval is necessary for increases in authorized
registered capital and for certain borrowings.
Each Operating Subsidiary is subject to the Sino-foreign Equity Joint
Venture Enterprise Labor Management Regulations. In compliance with these
regulations, the management of each Operating Subsidiary may hire and discharge
employees and make other determinations with respect to wages, welfare,
insurance and discipline of its employees.
The term of a Sino-foreign equity joint venture enterprise may be
extended with the agreement of all the partners, subject to the approval of the
relevant PRC governmental authorities. Pursuant to the Equity Joint Venture Law,
Sino-foreign equity joint venture enterprises may be terminated prior to the
expiration of their term in certain limited circumstances, including the
inability of the enterprise to conduct its business owing to a breach by one of
its parties or insolvency or force majeure. Upon termination, the board of
directors establishes a liquidating committee to dissolve the enterprise, which
dissolution is subject to PRC government review and approval.
Resort to PRC courts to enforce a joint venture contract or to resolve
disputes between the parties over the terms of the contract is permissible. In
practice, however, disputes between the parties are often resolved by
negotiation. The Company believes that it has good working relationships with
the Chinese joint venture partners to the Operating Subsidiaries and that it
will be able to reach agreement with them on business policies and decisions for
the Operating Subsidiaries.
TAXES APPLICABLE TO HOLDINGS AND CCHL-BVI
Holdings generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax of 35
percent on distributions from CCHL-BVI that are out of its current or
accumulated earnings and profits, and such distributions will not be eligible
for the dividends-received deduction. Because CCHL-BVI and the Operating
Subsidiaries are "controlled foreign corporations" for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, Holdings may be required to include in gross income (x) those
companies' "Subpart F" income, which includes certain passive income and income
from certain transactions with related persons (whether or not such income is
distributed to Holdings), and (y) increases in those
companies' earnings invested in certain U.S. property. Based on the current and
expected income, assets and operations of CCHL-BVI and the Operating
Subsidiaries, the Company believes that it will not have significant U.S.
federal income tax consequences under the "controlled foreign corporation"
rules.
So long as (x) Holdings owns ten percent or more of the voting stock of
CCHL-BVI, (y) CCHL-BVI owns ten percent or more of the voting stock of TY
Container and Tongsheng, and (z) the stock ownership percentage described in
(x), when multiplied with the stock ownership percentage described in (y) with
respect to either TY Container or Tongsheng, equals or exceed five percent,
subject to certain limitations CCHL-BVI will be deemed to have paid a
proportionate amount of the PRC income taxes of TY Container or Tongsheng, as
the case may be, when a dividend is distributed from TY Container or Tongsheng,
and Holdings generally will be entitled to claim a credit for such PRC income
taxes when a dividend is distributed from CCHL-BVI to Holdings.
The Company believes that dividends received by CCHL-BVI from TY
Container or Tongsheng will not be subject to income taxation by the British
Virgin Islands and that CCHL-BVI will not be required to withhold British Virgin
Islands taxes on dividends paid to CCHL.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
The Operating Subsidiaries are subject to the PRC's national
Environmental Protection Law, which was promulgated on December 26, 1989, as
well as a number of other national and local laws and regulations regulating
air, water and noise pollution and setting pollutant discharge standards.
Violation of such laws and regulations could result in warnings, fines, orders
to cease operations and even criminal penalties, depending on the circumstances
of such violation. The Company believes that all manufacturing and other
operations of the Operating Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable
laws relating to air, water and noise pollution.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
The Company owns no real property. According to the laws of the PRC,
title to all land is retained by the PRC. Generally, the Company occupies its
facilities through "land use rights" of a specified term of years.
TY Container's main facilities are located in the City of Yangzhou,
Jiangsu Province, and are occupied under land use rights of 15 years, with 8
years remaining. The facilities occupy approximately 65,000 square meters,
consisting of a 13,000 square meter (140,700 square foot) factory building, a
36,000 square meter (390,000 square foot) container yard, a 1,462 square meter
(15,800 square foot) administrative building, and a 14,500 square meter (157,000
square feet) raw material storage and preparation facility. In addition to the
above facilities, TY Container has 50 years land use rights as to 66,000 square
meters (713,000 square feet) of land near the Port of Yangzhou, approximately 15
kilometers (9 miles) from TY Container's main
facilities, for container storage. The off-site container storage yard is
adjacent to the main facilities of Reefer. TY Container's production facilities
have an annual capacity of approximately 40,000 TEU. Those facilities are
currently operating at full capacity.
Tongsheng's plant is located in Yangzhou City, adjacent to TY
Container's main facilities, and is occupied under land use rights of 15 years,
with 13 years remaining. The facilities occupy 12,000 square meters (129,000
square feet) for the main factory building and 44,666 square meters (480,900
square feet) for supporting facilities. Tongsheng's production facilities have
been designed to have an annual capacity of 40,000 TEU and came on line in May
1996. Those facilities are currently operating at full capacity.
Reefer's facilities, located near the port of Yangzhou, are occupied
under land use rights of 50 years, with 47 years remaining, and cover over
50,000 square meters (538,200 square feet), including 13,700 square meters
(147,470 square feet) for the main factory building and 5,500 square meters
(59,200 square feet) for supporting facilities. Reefer's production facilities
have an annual capacity of approximately 10,000 TEU. Those facilities are
currently operating at approximately 45% of capacity.
The Company leases a small amount of office space in New York City for
administrative purposes. The Company believes that the foregoing properties are
adequate in light of its current plans.
The land use rights covering the majority of the site on which TY
Container's main facility at East Garden Road, Yangzhou City, is situated were
contributed by the Jiangsu Tongyun Group Company (formerly known as Jiangyang
Automobile Company; see Item 13. - "CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS") in exchange for a portion of its interest in TY Container; the
remainder of such rights were purchased from the same company, which received
its land use rights through allocation by the PRC. TY Container's management is
in negotiation with the Provincial Land Administration Bureau of Jiangsu
Province (the "Land Bureau") for the issue of land use rights certificates for
the above sites to TY Container. The Company believes that upon obtaining formal
land use rights certificates for the above sites, a land use rights premium may
be levied on TY Container by the Land Bureau. While the Company is unable to
quantify the amount of the premium which may be levied on TY Container in the
absence of similar statistics in the area, based upon the current status of the
negotiations, the Company believes that the amount of any such premium will not
be material.
The land use rights for Reefer's facilities were contributed by Liuwei
Village Municipal Authority in exchange for its 15% interest in the company, and
Reefer has obtained a formal granted land use rights certificate relating to
such facilities. The land use rights for Tongsheng's facilities were purchased
from Semi-Trailer and Jiangyang Automobile Company. The Company submitted
applications for formal land use rights certificates relating to Tongsheng's
facilities in 1996 and expects to receive such certificates in 1997.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On or about August 6, 1997, plaintiffs Barbara Waldman and Rachelle
Preiserowicz, derivatively on behalf of Holdings, and individually and on behalf
of shareholders similarly situated, served a complaint on Holdings, as a nominal
defendant and its Secretary and Treasurer, Ma Tieyi. In October 1997, the
plaintiffs served a complaint on each of Cheung Sau Yung, the Company's
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board and a director, and
Liu Jingxin and Sung Hiu Ngan, directors of Holdings. An additional defendant
in the suit (which has not been served) is Sinocity Group Limited ("Sinocity"),
Holdings' majority shareholder. The suit in is the Supreme Court of the State
of New York, County of New York, and the complaint contains three counts. The
first count (which purports to be a derivative suit) seeks an injunction against
the directors to require filings of certain reports on Forms 10Q and 10K with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. The second count (which also purports
to be a derivative suit) seeks in excess of $500,000 in damages from the
directors for breach of fiduciary duty for failure to file such reports. The
final count seeks in excess of $1 million in damages plus punitive damages
against defendants Cheung and Sinocity for breach of fiduciary duty against
minority shareholders, and purports to be a class action. Pursuant to a
stipulation between the parties, nominal defendant Holdings and defendant Ma
Tieyi have not yet responded to the complaint.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
On May 10, 1995, the common stock of Holdings was listed for quotation
on the OTC Bulletin Board of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "Bulletin Board"). Prior to that date there was no established public
trading market for Holdings's securities or for the securities of any of its
subsidiaries. The following table sets forth the high and low bid for
the common stock of Holdings, as quoted on the Bulletin Board, for each full
quarterly period since May 10, 1995./1/
1995 1996
---------------- --------------------------
3rd Q 4th Q 1st Q 2nd Q 3rd Q 4th Q
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
High 3.625 5.750 4.250 5.000 5.000 3.500
Low 0.125 2.125 1.750 2.375 1.910 2.000
As of September 30, 1997, there were approximately 439 record holders of
Holdings's common stock.
The sole funds available to Holdings for the payment of dividends on its
common stock will be the result of dividends, if any, declared and paid on the
common stock of CCHL-BVI, and the sole funds available to CCHL-BVI for the
payment of dividends will be the result of dividends, if any, received from TY
Container, Tongsheng or Reefer. It is the present policy of Holdings and CCHL-
BVI to declare dividends on their common stock, to the extent funds are legally
available therefor after the payment of any tax or other liabilities. There is
no assurance that this policy will not change. Neither Holdings nor any of its
direct or indirect subsidiaries declared a dividend in 1995 or 1996. In 1995, it
was decided that it was in the Company's best interests to use the funds which
would otherwise have been available for dividends to finance the Company's
expansion. In 1996, there were no funds legally available for dividends. The
Company expects TY Container, Tongsheng and Reefer to declare annual dividends
in future years, to the extent funds are legally available therefor, and to the
extent their respective boards of directors, exercising their discretion,
conclude that it is in the best interests of such companies to do so. Pursuant
to the relevant PRC laws and regulations for Sino-foreign joint venture
companies, the earnings of TY Container, Tongsheng and Reefer are determined in
accordance with the relevant PRC accounting rules and regulations and are
available for distribution to their shareholders after they (a) satisfy all tax
liabilities, (b) provide for losses in previous years, and (c) make
appropriations to various reserve funds in an amount equal, in the aggregate, to
15% of their respective after-tax profits.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
- ---------------
/1/ Such bids represent quotations between dealers, do not include retail mark-
up, mark-down or commission and may not represent actual transactions. The
Company has obtained this information from sources it believes to be
reliable, but no assurance can be given as to its accuracy.
The information set forth below with respect the Company's fiscal years
ended December 31, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 has been selected from the
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, which have been audited by
Ernst & Young, independent public accountants, whose report on the Consolidated
Financial Statements of the Company for the three years ended December 31, 1994,
1995 and 1996 appears in Item 8 of this Annual Report. This information should
be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to,
the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, including the notes
thereto, included in Item 8 of this Annual Report. In May 1995, Holdings
(formerly known as Dial-A-Brand, Inc.) acquired 100% of the issued and
outstanding common stock of CCHL-BVI in exchange for approximately 95% of the
issued and outstanding common stock of Holdings (the "Stock Swap"), and then
took its present name. Immediately prior to the Stock Swap, all of the former
assets of Holdings, other than Holding's stock books and other corporate
records, were transferred to a separate corporation, which assumed all of
Holdings' then existing liabilities, and was itself acquired by the former
majority shareholder of Holdings. Because the Stock Swap has been accounted for
as a reverse acquisition, the information set forth below has been prepared
based on the historical financial statements of CCHL-BVI, for the period prior
to the Stock Swap, and on the historical financial statements of TY Container,
for the period prior to the Reorganization (as defined in Item 13), and gives
effect to the Reorganization and the Stock Swap as if they had been completed
prior to January 1, 1992.
(Amounts in Thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
INCOME STATEMENT DATA: US$ US$ US$ US$ US$
Net sales......................... 61,549 60,960 79,771 89,265 92,800
Operating income/(loss)........... 6,561 5,875 6,116 7,702 (5,952)
Interest expense, net............. (965) (883) (1,625) (2,540) (3,528)
Foreign exchange gains/ (losses),. (4,252) (5,079) 412 458 (199)
net
Reorganization expense............ - - - (1,382) -
Share of net losses of Associated. - (25) (90) (1,308) (816)
Companies
Income taxes...................... (160) (657) (742) (992) (160)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------
Net income (loss) before minority. 6,235 5,163 5,932 3,808 (6,914)
interests
Minority interests................ (1,247) (1,033) (1,187) (1,038) 2,240
------- ------- ------- ------- ------
Net income (loss)................. 4,988 4,130 4,745 2,770 (4,674)
======= ======= ======= ======= ======
Net income (loss) per share....... 0.20 0.17 0.19 0.11 (0.19)
======= ======= ======= ======= ======
At December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE SHEET DATA: 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Current assets................... 21,079 29,415 29,508 51,749 65,498
Fixed assets..................... 6,846 6,107 6,374 6,335 23,137
Construction in progress......... - - - 5,325 747
Other assets..................... 763 4,391 8,006 7,896 21,973
------ ------- ------- ------- --------
Total assets..................... 28,688 39,913 43,888 71,305 111,355
Short-term debt.................. 16,466 23,305 25,147 48,175 80,758
Total liabilities................ 22,927 32,136 33,128 56,587 100,432
Minority interests............... 1,152 1,555 2,810 3,060 3,893
Total stockholders' equity....... 4,609 6,222 7,950 11,658 7,030
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED 0.11 0.08 0.13 - -
PER SHARE.......................... ====== ======= ======= ======= ========
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
Holdings is a Nevada corporation whose principal activity is the
management of the business of its indirectly held operating subsidiaries, which
manufacture international standard commercial freight containers in the PRC.
The statements in this section under "Results of Operations" and
"Liquidity and Capital Resources" relate to the operations and conditions of
Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table shows selected consolidated income statements data
of Holdings and its subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996. The data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial
Statements of Holdings and related Notes thereto set forth in Item 8 of this
Form 10-K, and other financial information included elsewhere herein. The
financial statements of Holdings are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP.
Year ended December 31,
1994 1995 1996
Sales quantity (TEU) 35,022 38,107 32,397
Sales (US$ million) 79.8 89.3 92.8
Gross margin (US$ million) 11.1 14.0 4.3
Gross profit margin 13.9% 15.7% 4.6%
Selling and administrative
expenses (US$ million) (3.8) (4.2) (6.3)
Financial expenses, net
(US$ million) (1.2) (2.1) (3.7)
Reorganization expenses
(US$ million) 0 (1.4) 0
Share of net losses of
associated companies
(US$ million) 0 (1.3) (0.8)
Net income/(loss) (US$ million) 4.8 2.8 (4.7)
Year Ended December 31, 1996 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1995:
1. Sales increased by 3.9% from US$89.3 million in 1995 to US$92.8
million in 1996, and sales quantity decreased by 15.4% from 38,107 TEU in 1995
to 32,241 TEU in 1996. Calendar 1996 reflects the consolidation of the results
of Reefer, which was acquired as at January 1, 1996. Reefer's products have a
significantly higher per-unit sales price than the Company's other containers.
2. The gross profit margin decreased from 15.7% on net sales in 1995
to 4.6% in 1996 primarily because of a decrease in the average unit sales price,
while the overall cost of raw materials remained unchanged. Over the course of
1996, prices decreased by
approximately 15% and 22% for dry box containers and reefers, respectively.
Although sales quantity was down in 1996, dry box container and reefer capacity
increased by approximately 100% and 250%, respectively, over 1995.
3. Selling and administrative expenses increased by 50.0% from US$4.2
million in 1995 to US$6.3 million in 1996 primarily as a result of the
consolidation of the results of Reefer.
4. Financial expenses increased by 76% from US$2.1 million in 1995
to US$3.7 million in 1996, which was primarily due to the increase in US$ loan
balances by US$31 million and RMB loan balances by US$1.6 million in 1996. The
following factors contributed to the significant increase in the loan balances:
(i) the consolidation of the results of Reefer and the additional
US$2.75 million spent by Reefer in upgrading and modernizing its
existing production lines; and
(ii) an increase in TY Container Group's working capital requirements
as a result of filling the order from the CRCT, based on eight
year payment terms.
5. The Company's share of net losses of associated companies
decreased by 37% from US$1.3 million in 1995 to US$800,000 in 1996 primarily
because the losses incurred by Reefer were no longer treated as a loss of an
associated company, as they had been in 1995, due to the consolidation of the
results of Reefer in 1996.
Year Ended December 31, 1995 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1994:
1. Sales increased by 11.3% from US$80 million in 1994 to US$89
million in 1995, and sales quantity increased by 8.8% from 35,022 TEU in 1994 to
38,107 TEU in 1995, as both orders and capacity increased. Capacity increased
because of the following:
(i) At the end of 1994, TY Container acquired new production
equipment and machinery and also upgraded its existing production
lines; and
(ii) Average working hours increased from 48 hours per week at the
beginning of the year to 65 hours per week during the period from
August to October 1995, after which they decreased to 48 hours
through the end of the year.
2. The gross profit margin increase from 13.9% on net sales in 1994
to 15.7% in 1995 primarily because of a decrease in the unit cost of sales due
to the following:
(i) TY Container increased its purchases of Corton steel from
domestic suppliers, which, on average, was approximately 17% less
expensive than steel from Japan and Korea in 1994;
(ii) the manufacturers of container components in which TY Container
had invested became operational in 1995. Once their quality was
determined to be acceptable, TY Container began to purchase such
components, at prices which were three to ten percent lower than
imported components in 1994;
(iii) paint and plywood suppliers lowered their prices; and
(iv) a computer system was installed to optimize the use of raw
materials, reducing TY Container's unit consumption of steel.
3. Selling and administrative expenses increased by 10.5% from
US$3.8 million in 1994 to US$4.2 million in 1995.
In general, selling and administrative expenses increased as sales activity
increased. For example, sales commissions increased by 8.5%, coinciding
approximately with an 8.4% increase in sales, and more overtime compensation (at
200% of the base salaries) was paid to administrative staff. Overtime
compensation was partly offset by the savings achieved by reducing the number of
administrative staff.
4. Financial expenses increased by 75% from US$1.2 million in 1994
to US$2.1 million in 1995, which was primarily due to the combined effect of the
following factors on interest expenses:
(a) the increase in the average interest rate of RMB loans and US$
loans from 10.1% and 7.6%, respectively, in 1994 to 13.18% and
8.49%, respectively, in 1995; and
(b) the increase in US$ loan balances by US$22 million in 1995. The
following factors contributed to the significant increase in the
loan balances:
(i) TY Container invested US$ 1.15 million in Beihai Container
and US$ 4 million in Reefer. TY Container invested a further
US$5.17 million in Tongsheng and spent US$638,000 upgrading
and modernizing its existing production lines.
(ii) TY Container's working capital requirements increased as
sales and production increased.
(iii) TY Container's working capital requirements increased as
TY Container began purchasing steel from domestic suppliers,
which required a three month advance deposit to secure the
supply.
5. In 1995, the Company incurred US$1.38 of reorganization expenses
in relation to the Reorganization and Stock Swap.
The reorganization expenses included (i) US$577,000 of audit and
consultancy fees incurred, and (ii) US$805,000 that represented the fair value
of (A) the five percent of CCHL-BVI received by Bonnaire International Limited,
in connection with the Reorganization, and (B) the 12.5% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Holdings's common stock held by Holdings' shareholders
prior to the Stock Swap and certain other parties who received restricted shares
of common stock in exchange for services rendered in connection with the Stock
Swap. This US$805,000 does not represent any actual cash outlays incurred by
Holdings or any other party.
6. In 1995, the Company's share of losses of associated companies
was US$1.32 million.
In 1995, TY Container had the following five associated companies: Yangzhou
Tonglee Reefer Containers Company Ltd. ("Reefer"), Beihai Tonghai Containers Co.
Ltd. ("Beihai Container"), Yangzhou Tongda Forging Co. Ltd., Yangzhou Tongyang
Machinery Co. Ltd. and Yangzhou Universal Commercial Building Shareholding Co.
Ltd.
Reefer commenced its trial production in May 1995. In exchange for the
assistance of Wide Shine Development Limited ("Wide Shine") in promoting
Reefer's products overseas, Reefer sold 50 refrigerated containers to Wide Shine
at below market prices, resulting in a trading loss to Reefer in 1995. Together
with a write off, made in conformity with U.S. GAAP, of pre-operating expenses
as other selling and administrative expenses the Company's share of Reefer's
loss in 1995 was US$1.06 million.
Beihai Container also commenced its production during 1995. The Company's
share of Beihai Container's loss was US$240,000 and mainly consisted of the
write off, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, of pre-operating expenses as selling
and administration expenses.
The profit or loss of the other three associated companies were also shared
by the Company based on the equity holdings therein.
Foreign Exchange
- ----------------
TY Container's books of account are maintained in RMB, and the Company's
consolidated financial statements are stated in US$. Currency translations into
US$ are made using the applicable rates of exchange quoted by the Shanghai
Foreign Exchange Adjustment Center prior to January 1, 1994 and by the People's
Bank of China on or after January 1, 1994. All balance sheet accounts have been
translated from RMB to US$ using the exchange rates in effect at December 31 of
the applicable balance sheet date. All income statement amounts have been
translated using the average exchange rate for the applicable year.
The following table sets forth the RMB/US$ exchange rates, net sales in US
dollars, total TEU sold and average sales price per TEU in US dollars, for each
of 1994, 1995 and 1996.
1994 1995 1996
RMB equivalent of US$1:
At December 31, 8.45 8.32 8.30
High 8.70 8.44 8.34
Low 8.45 8.30 8.29
Average 8.62 8.35 8.31
Net sales in US$'000 79,771 89,265 92,800
Total TEU sold 35,022 38,107 [32,397]
Sales in US$ per TEU 2,278 2,342 [2,869]
During 1994, the dual exchange rates were unified. The exchange rate
appreciated from RMB 8.7 : US$1 at January 1, 1994 to RMB 8.45 : US$1 at
December 31, 1994. The appreciation in the RMB in 1994 and 1995 resulted in
exchange gains of US$400,000 and US$500,000, respectively, primarily in respect
of TY Container's net U.S. dollar liabilities. In 1996, the Company had a
US$200,000 exchange loss, primarily in respect of TY Container Group's net RMB
liabilities.
As indicated in the above table, the average sales price per TEU increased
by 3% in 1995 and increased by 23% in 1996. The sales volume increased by 9% in
1995 and decreased by 15.4% in 1996. The increase in the average sales price
per TEU in 1996 is the result of the consolidation of Reefer, whose reefer
containers have a higher per unit sales price than the Company's other
containers. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the Company's revenues
is minimal as the prices of containers are quoted in US dollars and revenues are
reported in US dollars. An increase in the value of the RMB, however, has the
effect of increasing RMB-denominated expenses, including significant raw
material costs and all productive labor costs.
While the Company has not employed hedging strategies in the past,
management is currently exploring its options in that regard. The material
unhedged monetary assets and liabilities of the Company at December 31, 1996 are
accounts receivable, accounts payable and bank loans, which amounted to US$6.2
million, US$14.4 million and US$80.8 million, respectively.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
1. Inventories increased by 93.5% from US$21.6 million as at December 31,
1995 to US$41.8 million as at December 31, 1996, primarily as a result of (i)
certain unforeseen difficulties in effecting delivery of finished containers to
the PRC Railway Ministry, contributing in an increase in finished goods in
inventory from US$4.8 million in 1995 to US$16.9 million in 1996, and (ii) the
subsequent lengthening of the delivery schedule for such order which
contributed to a 23.8% increase in raw materials in inventory from US$16.8
million in 1995 to US$20.8 million in 1996.
2. Accounts payable increased by 289.2% from from US$3.7 million as at
December 31, 1995 to US$14.4 million as at December 31, 1996, primarily as a
result of (i) an increase in the amount of raw materials purchased in the third
and fourth quarters of 1996, relating to the order from the PRC Railway
Ministry, and (ii) the lengthening of the average payment terms for amounts
payable by the Company to its suppliers.
3. Accrued liabilities and other payables increased by 161.1% from from
US$1.8 million as at December 31, 1995 to US$4.7 million as at December 31,
1996, primarily as a result of the consolidation of the results of Reefer.
4. Cash and cash equivalents decreased by 60.8% from US$7.4 million as at
December 31, 1995 to US$2.9 million as at December 31, 1996, primarily as a
result of payments made to suppliers of raw materials.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Operating Subsidiaries' primary liquidity needs are to finance
accounts receivable, inventories, construction in progress, and the expansion of
business operations. Historically, the Operating Subsidiaries have financed
their working capital requirements through a combination of internally generated
cash and short term bank borrowings.
Net cash provided/(used) by operating activities was US$7.1 million,
(US$6.0 million) and (US$4.4 million) in the years 1994, 1995 and 1996,
respectively. Net cash flows from the Company's operating activities are
attributable to the Company's income and changes in its operating assets and
liabilities.
To finance its working capital, TY Container Group obtained a US$62
million and US$1.6 million (denominated in RMB and valued as RMB 13 million) in
short term bank loans and overdraft facilities which are renewable in 1997. In
these facilities, one of the banks has committed to providing short term
revolving borrowing for a period of five years expiring in 2000 for an amount
not less than US$44 million. TY Container Group has also obtained, as required,
certain short term overdraft facilities to accommodate its additional financing
requirements in excess of the foregoing facilities.
The Company had outstanding bank loans and overdrafts, mainly with the
Bank of China, Yangzhou Branch, amounting to US$80.8 million as at December 31,
1996. As at December 31, 1996, the loans and overdraft facility bore interest
at average rates ranging from 7.09% (for US dollar loans) to 9.18% (for RMB
loans) per annum. The bank loans, to the extent of US$26.0 million, are
collateralized by pledge of certain of TY Container's assets and, to the extent
of US$45 million, guaranteed by TYG.
Bill-and-Hold Transactions
A bill-and-hold transaction is a practice whereby a customer purchases the
goods but the seller retains physical possession until the customer requests
shipment to a designated location and delivery is made thereto.
In 1996, US$4.3 million of the Operating Subsidiaries' revenues consisted
of bill-and-hold transactions which were recognized as sales (1994: Nill, 1995:
US$8.9 million). The Company believes bill-and-hold transactions are required
in its business, as a practical matter, because containers are large in size and
often are not wanted on the customer's premises until needed for a shipment.
The Operating Subsidiaries' bill-and-hold transactions arise as follows: upon
satisfactory inspection of the containers by quality control inspectors employed
by the customer, the customer then requests that the finished containers be
stored at the Operating Subsidiary's premises. The containers are held pursuant
to such requests and then subsequently delivered to specific locations as
instructed by the customer and transportation expenses incurred by the Operating
Subsidiary are recovered from the customers. Under the Company's accounting
practices, no bill-and-hold transactions of the Operating Subsidiaries may be
recognized as sales unless done at the request of the customer.
Normally, the Operating Subsidiaries would recognize sales upon delivery
of goods to customers. The Company recognized certain bill-and-hold
transactions as sales in 1996, prior to delivery, because the customers, having
inspected and accepted the quality of the containers, had settled the invoiced
amount for such goods prior to year end, as required under the relevant sales
contracts, and under such contracts the legal title of the goods passed to the
customer upon the earlier of its settlement of the invoiced amount or physical
delivery of the goods. The Operating Subsidiaries had transferred the
commercial risk regarding those goods, which were completed and held separately
from other goods (identifiable by the customers' logo and serial numbers), and
the goods were delivered to customers according to a fixed delivery schedule
provided by the customers.
Inflation
In 1996, approximately 84% of the Company's products were exported
(including to Hong Kong) and approximately 95% of its major components and raw
materials were imported. Virtually all of these transactions were settled in US
dollars. Since the prices of such goods are determined largely by market demand
and supply in international trade, the inflation in the PRC has only a minimal
effect on the selling prices; however, inflation in the PRC has generally
resulted in upward pressure on wages and salary payable to the Company's
employees, and on prices for domestic-sourced raw materials. Selling prices may
be affected by global inflation and the fluctuation of foreign currencies,
particularly US dollars. The fluctuation of steel prices has the most
significant effect on the Company's costs of raw materials, as it is the primary
raw material used in the construction of containers.
FASB Statement No. 121
In March 1995, the FASB issued Statement No. 121, Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of,
which requires impairment losses to be recorded on long-lived assets used in
operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash
flows estimated to be generated by those assets are the assets' carrying amount.
Statement No. 121 also addresses the accounting for long-lived assets that are
expected to be disposed of. The Company adopted Statement No. 121 in the first
quarter of 1996 and found the effect of adoption to be immaterial.
Sales by Geographic Region
Approximately 33% of the Company's sales in 1996 were to customers based
in the United States; down from 72% in 1994 and 74% in 1995. Because only ten
major container shipping and leasing companies control approximately 80% of the
world's container fleet, the Company's sales by geographic region are driven by
the orders of only a few customers. In 1996, the Company received orders from
the PRC Railway Ministry, a new customer. As a result of the shutdown of TY
Container's production facilities in connection with its modernization, the
Company did not have sufficient capacity in 1996 to meet the demand of certain
longstanding customers, some of which were located in the United States. The
Company intends to aggressively compete for orders from all of the major
containers shipping and leasing companies, regardless of where they are based.
The Company also intends to compete for orders from PRC governmental
agencies and expects that domestic sales to PRC governmental agencies will
continue to constitute a material portion of its overall sales.
Modernization
During July and August of 1996, the Company upgraded and modernized TY
Container's main production facilities (see Item 1, "BUSINESS, Description of TY
Container and Tongsheng - Modernization", above). The modernization cost
-------------
approximately US$1.2 million in capital expenditures. Management believes that
the modernization of TY Container improved the quality of the containers and
lowered production costs by approximately 1.5%. During the fourth quarter of
1996, the Company upgraded and modernized Reefer's main production facilities at
a total cost of approximately US$2.75 million (see Item 1, "BUSINESS,
Description of TY Container and Tongsheng - TY Container Subsidiary -
Modernization", above). The modernization of Reefer increased annual its
- -------------
capacity from 4,000 TEU to 10,000 TEU.
Land Use Rights Certificates
TY Container's existing premises, which were either allocated by the
government to, or purchased by, TY Container during 1989 to 1992, are situated
in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. The Provincial Land Administration Bureau of
Jiangsu Province ("the Land Bureau") is in the process of measuring the area of
land used by every factory within Jiangsu Province so as to permit the issuance
of land-use rights certificates. The Company has obtained confirmation from the
Land Bureau that the land use rights in question were granted to TY Container.
The
Company believes that the issuance of the land use rights certificates is
only a formality and management does not expect any difficulty in obtaining
certification. The Company has been informed by the Land Bureau that land use
rights certificates are expected to be issued in 1997.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements required by Regulation S-X appear on pages F-1
through F-31 of this Form 10-K.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Directors and Executive Officers
The directors and executive officers of Holdings are identified below.
Each were elected and/or appointed to his or her position(s) as of May 10, 1995.
The directors and executive officers will serve in such capacity until the next
annual stockholders meeting, and until their successors are duly qualified and
elected or appointed.
Name Age Position
- ---- --- --------
Cheung Sau Yung 52 Chairman of the Board Director,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Liu Jingxin 57 Director
Sung Hiu Ngan 46 Director
Ma Tieyi 31 Secretary and Treasurer
Cheung Sau Yung, age 52, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Holdings, CCHL-BVI, and TY Container. He is also the President and Chief
Executive Officer of CCHL-BVI and was General Manager of TY Container Group from
1989 through February 1997. Mr. Cheung is also Chairman of Jiangsu Tongyun
Group Company and acts as Chairman of the following companies in which TY
Container and/or TYG holds an equity interest: Sinocity Group Limited, Ocean
Asia International Ltd., Yangzhou Tonglee Reefer Container Company Ltd., and
Yangzhou Tonghua Semi-Trailer Company Ltd. Mr. Cheung began his career in 1966
with First Auto Transport General Corp., rising to the position of Manager of
their Technology Department. From 1976 through 1984, he worked for China
Foreign Trade Transportation Company where he rose to the position of General
Manager and also became a Director. From 1984 through 1985, Mr. Cheung worked as
a Manager at China National Foreign Trade
Transportation Company from 1985 through 1987 Mr. Cheung served as Deputy
Commissioner of the Yangzhou Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission. In
1987, he joined the Jiangsu Jiangyang Automobile Company, where he held the
position of Deputy General Manager until he joined TY Container in 1989. Mr.
Cheung holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and has over 30 years of experience in
the transportation industry. (see Item 13. "CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS")
LIU JINGXIN, age 57, is a Director of Holdings, CCHL-BVI, and TY
Container. Mr. Liu also is a Director and the General Manager, a position he has
held since 1988, of Wide Shine Development Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
China National Foreign Trade Transportation Corporation ("Sinotrans") engaged in
container cargo shipping and container leasing and handling. Prior to joining
Wide Shine, Mr. Liu was with Sinotrans, Beijing Branch, and American Huayun
Company. Mr. Liu has more than 34 years experience in the transportation
industry.
SUNG HIU NGAN, age 46, is a Director of Holdings and CCHL-BVI. Ms. Sung
also is the Deputy Chairperson and General Manager of Broadsino Investment
Company Limited, a Hong
Kong investment company wholly owned by Jiangsu International Investment Co.
("JITIC"), a position she has held since 1992. Ms. Sung also serves as a
Director of PSB Investments Limited and PSB Management Limited, two companies
founded by Broadsino and Peregrine Investments Holdings Limited. Prior to
joining Broadsino, Ms. Sung worked in the Investment Department of JITIC from
1988 to 1992, rising to the position of Department Manager. Prior to joining
JITIC, Ms. Sung held a number of management and technical positions in the
Ministry of Chemical Industry and at China Ocean Shipping Company. Ms. Sung
holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and has more than 26 years experience in the
transportation industry and the investment business.
MA TIEYI, age 31, is Secretary and Treasurer of Holdings. He is also
Deputy Director of the Investment & Securities Department at TY Container. Mr.
Ma received his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1992 and worked as
Deputy Manager in the Import Department of the Yangzhou Foreign Trade Corp., an
import/export company, from 1992 until joining TY Container in 1994.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND KEY MANAGERS OF OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES
In addition to Mr. Cheung, whose business experience is described above,
the executive officers and key managers of the Operating Subsidiaries are
identified below.
DONG XIAOJUN, age 47, is a Director and General Manager of TY Container.
Mr. Dong has been employed by TY Container since 1989, holding various
managerial positions, including Deputy General Manager, Office Manager, Head of
Management, Head of Production, and Head of Trade. Mr. Dong began his career
with the Jiangsu Jiangyang Automobile Company in 1978 as a worker, and advanced
to the level of Assistant Manager. Mr. Dong holds an Associate Degree, and has
19 years of experience in the transportation industry.
MA CUNGUI, age 49, is a Director and the General Manager of Reefer.
Mr. Ma has been employed by Reefer since 1994. Mr. Ma began his career with the
Jiangyang Automobile Company in 1968, holding various managerial positions,
including Head of Management, Head of Production and Deputy Director, until
moving to TY Container in 1989 where he was employed as a Deputy General
Manager.
WANG GONGQING, age 46, is a Deputy General Manager of TY Container. Mr.
Wang began working for TY Container in 1990 as an Office Manager and rose to the
level of Deputy General Manager. Mr. Wang began his career with the Yangzhou
Kaiguan Plant in 1964. He joined the Jiangsu Jiangyang Automobile Company in
1967 as a worker and advanced to the position of Office Manager. Mr. Wang holds
an Associates Degree and is an economist by profession. Mr. Wang has 33 years
of experience in the transportation industry.
AI ZHIYUAN, age 46, is a Deputy General Manager of Reefer. Mr. Ai has
been employed by Reefer since 1996. Mr. Ai began his career with the Jiangsu
Production Construction Military Unit, later moving to a Special Unit of the
People's Liberation Army and achieving the rank of Lieutenant. Mr. Ai joined the
Jiangsu Jiangyang Automobile Company in 1979 and rose to become the head of the
Party Department, before moving to TY Container in 1990 where he advanced to
Vice General Manager in 1995. Mr. Ai holds an Associate Degree and is an
economist. Mr. Ai has been associated with the transportation industry for 18
years.
WU ZHENYU, age 53, is the Chief Economist of TY Container. Mr. Wu began
working for TY Container in 1989 as the Director of Production. He has also
held the position of Assistant Chief Economist. Mr. Wu began his career in 1958
as a worker and technician for the Jiangsu Jiangyang Automobile Company, where
he rose to the position of Production Manager. Mr. Wu has 39 years of
experience in the transportation industry.
LI HAIXING, age 48, is a Director and Deputy General Manager of Reefer.
Mr. Li began working for Reefer in 1996. Mr. Li began his career in 1970 at the
Taixing Machinery Repair Plant. He later went on to study machinery at Tianjin
University. After receiving his Associate Degree, Mr. Li joined the Design
Department of Jiangsu Jiangyang Automobile Company and became an Assistant
Manager for the company. Mr. Li joined TY Container in 1989 as Assistant Chief
Engineer and became Principal Engineer of TY Container. Mr. Li has 27 years of
experience as an engineer in the transportation industry.
SUN DEYONG, age 40, is a Vice General Manager of TY Container Group.
Mr. Sun has been employed by TY Container Group since 1990, holding various
managerial positions, including Head of Equipment Division, Vice Manager and
Head of Production. Mr. Sun began his career with the Jiangsu Automobile Company
in 1982 as a staff member in the Equipment Division and advanced to the position
of Vice Director of that Division. Mr. Sun holds a Bachelor's Degree and has 15
years of experience in the transportation industry.
YANG WENZHEN, age 52, is a Vice General Manager of TY Container. Mr.
Yang has been employed by TY Container since 1997. Mr. Yang began his career
with the No. 636 Factory in Changchun. Since then he has worked at a number of
factories, including Piston Sleeve Factory in Yangzhou, Yangzhou Valve Factory
and Yangtze River Pharmaceutics. He worked at Reefer as Vice General Manager
from 1994 through 1997. Mr. Yang holds a Bachelor's Degree.
TY CONTAINER GROUP DIRECTORS
The Boards of Directors of TY Container and Tongsheng each currently
consist of 11 members, each of which serves for a term of four years and until
their successors are duly qualified and elected. TY Container's and Tongsheng's
Articles of Association each provide the partners with the right to designate a
certain number of directors, based upon the amount of their
interest in the company. Prior to the Liquidation, they provided as follows: 5-
14.9%, one director; 15-24.9%, two directors; 25-34.9%, three directors; 35-
44.9%, four directors; and 45% or more, five directors. At elections held prior
to the Liquidation (as defined in Item 13), this provision resulted in Jiangyang
Automobile (H.K.) Limited and China Everbest Motors designating four and two
directors, respectively, for election to TY Container's Board, and China
Automobile Import and Export Company, Bexi Iron and Steel, Keep Benefit Limited,
Wide Shine Development, China Auto (USA) Corporation and Jiangsu Tongyun Group
Company each designating one director. (China Auto (USA) Corporation and China
Automobile Import and Export Company have each designated the same individual as
director and such individual has two votes on the Boards.) (see Item 13.
"CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS").
Following the completion of the Liquidation, TY Container's and
Tongsheng's Articles of Association were amended to provide that CCHL-BVI shall
have the right to designate eight directors to each company's board. As a
result, at the next elections CCHL-BVI will have the right to designate eight of
the 11 directors, with eight of the 12 votes on the boards.
In April 1996, the shareholders of Sinocity executed a shareholders
agreement under which they agreed to use their best efforts to cause Sinocity to
cause Holdings to cause CCHL-BVI to designate four nominees of Jiangyang
Automobile (H.K.) Limited, two nominees of China Everbest Motors, and one
nominee of each of Keep Benefit Limited and Wide Shine Development,
respectively, to TY Container's board of directors. In October 1997, this
agreement was amended to apply to Tongsheng's board of directors as well.
TONGLEE DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of Reefer currently consists of nine members, each of
which serves for a term of four years and until their successors are duly
qualified and elected. Reefer's Articles of Association provide the partners
with the right to designate a certain number of directors, based upon the amount
of their interest in the company, resulting in three directors designated by
TYC, two directors designated by TYG, three directors designated by Singapore
Nanlee and one director designated by Liuwei Village Municipal Authority.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Other than Mr. Ma Tieyi, Secretary and Treasurer of Holdings, whose compensation
is set forth below, none of the directors and executive officers of Holdings
received any compensation as such for the fiscal year ended in 1996. The
following table sets forth, in addition to Mr. Ma's compensation, the
compensation of the chief executive officer and the four
most highly compensated executive officers of TY Container Group and Tonglee for
the last three fiscal years.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Name and Principal
Position Year Salary Bonus
- ----------------------------------------------
Cheung Sau Yung
CEO (TY Container
Group) 1996 US$4,519 US$435
1995 US$5,445 US$448
1994 US$3,634 US$339
Ma Cungui
CEO (Reefer) 1996 US$2,949 US$0
1995 US$3,242 US$0
1994 US$3,270 US$305
Li Haixin
Deputy General
Manager (Reefer) 1996 US$6,332 US$392
1995 US$4,900 US$403
1994 US$3,271 US$305
Ai Zhiyuan
Deputy General
Manager (Reefer) 1996 US$5,487 US$394
1995 US$4,961 US$409
1994 US$3,246 US$308
Dong Xiaojun
Deputy General
Manager
(TY Container Group) 1996 US$4,095 US$395
1995 US$4,970 US$410
1994 US$3,283 US$308
Wu Zhenyu
Chief Economist
(TY Container Group)
1996 US$4,108 US$396
1995 US$4,979 US$410
1994 US$3,326 US$309
Ma Tieyi
Secretary/Treasurer
(Holdings) 1996 US$12,500 US$0
1995 US$ 3,500 US$0
1994 US$ 1,800 US$190
None of the directors of TY Container Group or Reefer receive any compensation
for their services as such.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the number and percentage of the shares
of Holdings's common stock owned of record and beneficially by each person
owning more than five percent of such common stock, as reflected in the list of
shareholders provided to Holdings by its transfer agent dated as of September
30, 1997. Holdings's common stock is the only class of equity securities issued
by Holdings. None of Holdings's directors or executive officers, nor any of TY
Container Group's or Reefer's directors or executive officers, beneficially own
any equity securities in Holdings, or in any of its parents or subsidiaries.
Name and Address of Number of Shares Percent of
Beneficial Owner Owned Class
- ----------------------------------------------
Sinocity Group Limited 20,068,750 80.274%
16th Floor,
1622-36 Swire House
9-25, Chater Road, Central
Hong Kong
Gordon Capital Limited 1,875,000 7.499%
c/o Ruffa & Ruffa
150 East 58th Street
New York, New York 10022
In addition to the foregoing, approximately five percent of the shares
of Holdings' common stock is widely held and the remainder is held by persons
beneficially owning less than five percent of such common stock. The Company is
not aware of any arrangements the operation of which may at a subsequent date
result in a change in control of the Company.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
The following companies were the joint venture participants of record on
January 1, 1995: Jiangsu Tongyun Group Company (then known as Jiangyang
Automobile Company) (5%), Jiangyang Automobile (H.K.) Limited (40%), Bexi Iron
and Steel Company (20%), China Everbest Motors Company Limited (15%), Wide Shine
Development Limited (10%), China Automobile Import and Export Company (5%), and
China Auto (USA) Corporation (5%). Pursuant to certain agreements dated November
29, 1994, which were approved by the relevant PRC authorities on March 3, 1995,
the following share transfers (the "Reorganization") were effected: (a)(i) Bexi
Iron and Steel Company transferred half of its 20% interests in TY Container to
Keep Benefit Limited; and (ii) each of Jiangyang Automobile (H.K.), Keep Benefit
Limited, China Everbest Motors Company Limited, Wide Shine Development Limited
and China Auto (USA) Corporation acquired a newly incorporated company (each a
"New Company" and, collectively, the "New Companies") registered in the British
Virgin Islands, and each transferred into its New Company its respective
interests in TY Container, in exchange for 100% of the shares of such New
Company; (b) each of the aforenamed companies then transferred its interests in
its New Company into Sinocity Group Limited, a newly formed British Virgin
Islands company ("Sinocity"), in exchange for shares of Sinocity; (c) Sinocity
then transferred its interests in the New Companies into the newly formed CCHL-
BVI in exchange for 95% of the shares of CCHL-BVI, with the remaining 5% of
CCHL-BVI being issued to Bonnaire International Limited, a British Virgin
Islands company wholly-owned by Broadsino Investment Company Limited
("Broadsino"), in return for services provided by Broadsino in connection with
the Reorganization. The joint venture participants of record upon the
organization of Tongsheng in December 1995 were Jiangsu Tongyun Group Company
(5%), Bexi Iron and Steel Company (10%), China Automobile Import and Export
Company (5%) and the New Companies (80%), exactly the same ownership structure
as TY Container at that time. In April 1996, the Company began the process of
liquidating the New Companies, which resulted in the distribution of their
interests in TY Container and Tongsheng to CCHL-BVI (the "Liquidation"). Since
the completion of the Liquidation, which occurred in June 1996, CCHL-BVI
directly holds 80% of each of TY Container and Tongsheng.
JIANGSU TONGYUN GROUP COMPANY
Jiangsu Tongyun Group Company ("TYG"), a Yangzhou City owned holding
company with equity interests in thirteen enterprises in Jiangsu Province, has a
5% direct interest in TY Container Group and also owns a 100% interest in
Jiangyang Automobile (H.K.), which had owned 40% of TY Container Group directly
and currently owns 50% of Sinocity which owns 80.275% of Holdings, which
indirectly owns 80% of TY Container Group. Jiangsu Tongyun Group Trading Company
("TYG Trading Co.") and Jiangyang Automobile Company ("JAC")
are wholly owned subsidiaries of TYG. Mr. Li Haixing, a director of TY Container
Group, is also the General Manager of TYG Trading Co.
In 1996, Tongsheng executed an agreement with TYG Trading Co. under
which TYG Trading Co. agreed to provide certain services for Tongsheng (see Item
1. -"BUSINESS - Subsidiaries - Description of TY Container and Tongsheng -
Markets"). These services include the purchase of raw materials, the design of
- -------
containers to be made to customer specifications, and certain sales support
services, such as scheduling deliveries and arranging the lease of containers to
be delivered on a "Free Used" basis. This agreement is virtually identical to an
agreement entered into by TY Container and TYG Trading Co. in 1995. In November
1996, TYG Trading Co. agreed to waive the payment by TY Container Group of any
amounts accruing under the agreements for 1996, in recognition of the difficult
competitive situation faced by TY Container Group. In connection with its
agreement with TYG Trading Co., in 1995 TYC made a US$429,000 loan to TYG
Trading Co., which was unsecured and interest free. The proceeds of this loan
were used to expand the operations of TYG Trading Co. in order to enable it to
meet its obligations under the agreement with TYC. The principal balance of such
loan as of December 31, 1996 was US$312,000.
In 1996, TY Container Group made a loan in the amount of US$274,000 to
TYG. This loan is unsecured and interest free.
In 1996, TYG entered into an agreement (the "TYG Agreement") with the
China Railway Container Transportation Center ("CRCT"), pursuant to which TYG
agreed to supply CRCT with 25,000 TEU of containers. TYG then entered into an
agreement with TY Container Group whereby TY Container Group would supply 18,000
TEU to the CRCT, on the identical terms and conditions as those set forth in the
TYG Agreement, in exchange for a total purchase price of US$52,034,400, payable,
as in the TYG Agreement, in 32 quarterly installments.
In 1996, TYG guaranteed TY Container's obligations under its working
capital loan agreement with the Bank of China to the extent of US$37 million.
OCEAN ASIA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Ocean Asia is a 100% beneficially owned subsidiary of TYG. Mr. Cheung
Sau Yung, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Holdings, a director of CCHL-BVI, and a director and former General
Manager of TY Container Group, is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Ocean Asia. In addition, Mr. Cheung holds 95% of the shares of Ocean Asia in his
name for the benefit of TYG, pursuant to a declaration of trust.
In 1994, TY Container purchased certain raw materials, including
plywood, paint and steel, from Ocean Asia for an aggregate purchase price of
US$4,700,000. Included in that amount was a deposit of US$2,000,000 for the
purchase of steel. The steel was not delivered on
schedule and TY Container canceled the contract. In 1995, Ocean Asia agreed to
repay the deposit in four equal monthly installments, beginning in February
1996. The deposit has been repaid in full.
In 1993, 1994 and 1995, TY Container made a series of loans to Ocean
Asia. These loans were unsecured and bore interest at a floating market rate. As
December 31, 1996, the aggregate principal balance of such loans was
$2,489,000. In October 1997, TYG assumed liability for such loans and agreed to
repay them in full.
In 1996, TY Container Group purchased components used in the manufacture
of containers from Yangzhou Tongda Forging Ltd. ("Tongda") in the amount of
US$1,750,000 and from Wuxi Tongfa Economic & Technical Development Company Ltd.
("Wuxi") in the amount of US$500,000. In addition, Reefer purchased components
from Tongda in the amount of US$200,000. Ocean Asia owns 25% of Tongda and 70%
of Wuxi. TY Container owns 35.57% of Tongda and 10% of Wuxi, and Mr. Cheung is
also a director of each of Tongda and Wuxi.
WIDE SHINE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
Wide Shine Development Limited, a Hong Kong company ("Wide Shine"), is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of China National Foreign Trade Transportation
Corporation which was organized in 1988. Wide Shine is engaged in container
cargo transportation and container leasing and handling, and operates a shipping
agency for container liner services. Prior to the Reorganization, Wide Shine
directly owned 10% of the shares of TY Container. Following the Reorganization,
Wide Shine became a 12.5% shareholder in Sinocity, which currently owns 80.275%
of the shares of Holdings, which indirectly owns 80% of the shares of TY
Container. Mr. Liu, a director of Holdings and of TY Container, is also a
director and General Manager of Wide Shine.
In 1996, Wide Shine purchased containers from TY Container Group and
Reefer at market prices and subject to normal trade credit terms. These
purchases amounted to US$28,899,000.
Wide Shine owns 25% of Yangzhou Tongjiang Container Fittings Company
Ltd. ("Tongjiang"). TY Container also owns 10% of Tongjiang. During 1996, TY
Container Group purchased components used in the manufacture of containers from
Tongjiang at below market prices and subject to normal trade credit terms. These
purchases amounted to US$500,000. The favorable prices received by TY Container
are primarily the result of the large volume of such components purchased from
Tongjiang, accounting for approximately 50% of Tongjiang's production.
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
a. A list of the financial statements filed herewith is set forth in the
Index to Financial Statements attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference.
b. The Exhibits filed herewith are identified in the Exhibit Index
attached hereto, which Exhibits are incorporated herein by reference.
24. SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (continued)
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description Page No.
- ---------- ----------- -------
3(1)* Articles of Incorporation of Registrant, filed
August 8, 1985.
3(2)* Articles of Amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation of Registrant, filed April 16, 1986
(changed name to Dial-A-Brand).
3(3)* Articles of Amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation of Registrant, filed May 15, 1995
(changed name to China Container Holdings Limited
and authorized issuance of preferred stock).
3(4)* By-Laws of Registrant.
3(5)+* Joint Venture Contract of Yangzhou Tongyun Container
Company Ltd., as amended.
3(6)+* Articles of Association of Yangzhou Tongyun Container
Company Ltd., as amended.
3(7)+* Joint Venture Contract of Yangzhou Tongsheng Container
Co. Ltd., as amended.
3(8)+* Articles of Association of Yangzhou Tongsheng Container
Co. Ltd., as amended.
3(9)+* Joint Venture Contract of Yangzhou Tonglee Reefer
Container Company Ltd.
24. SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (continued)
3(10)+* Articles of Association of Yangzhou Tonglee Reefer
Container Company Ltd.
10(1)* Sales Agreement, dated March 27,1996, between Yangzhou
Tongyun Container Company Ltd. and Container Trade
and Service, Ltd.
10(2)+* Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 1996, between
Yangzhou Tongyun Container Company Ltd. and Mr. Cheung
Sau Yung.
10(3)+* Service Agreement, dated April 1995, between Yangzhou
Tongyun Container Company Ltd. and Jiangsu Tongyun
Group Trading Company.
10(4)+* Service Agreement, dated June 1996, between Yangzhou
Tongsheng Container Co. Ltd. and Jiangsu Tongyun Group
Trading Company.
21* Subsidiaries of Registrant.
27 Financial Data Schedule
* Incorporated by reference to the registrant's Registration Statement on
Form 10, as amended.
+ English translation of Chinese language document
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
By /s/ Ma Tieyi
-----------------------
Ma Tieyi
Secretary and Treasurer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Cheung Sau Yung Chairman of the Board, Director, November 7, 1997
- ---------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer
Cheung Sau Yung
/s/ Ma Tieyi Secretary and Treasurer November 7, 1997
- ----------------------
Ma Tieyi
/s/ Liu Jingxin Director November 7, 1997
- ----------------------
Liu Jingxin
/s/ Sung Hiu Ngan Director November 7, 1997
- ----------------------
Sung Hiu Ngan
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Pages
Report of independent auditors F-1
Consolidated statements of income for each of the years F-2
ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996
Consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity F-3
for each of the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996
Consolidated balance sheets as at December 31, 1995 and 1996 F-4
Consolidated statements of cash flows for each of the years F-6
ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996
Notes to consolidated financial statements F-8
Consolidated Financial Statements
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Pages
Report of independent auditors F-1
Consolidated statements of income for each of the years
ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 F-2
Consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity
for each of the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 F-3
Consolidated balance sheets as at December 31, 1995 and 1996 F-4
Consolidated statements of cash flows for each of the years
ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 F-6
Notes to consolidated financial statements F-8
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
China Container Holdings Limited
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of China Container
Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries (the "Group") as of December 31, 1995 and
1996 and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders'
equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1996. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the
Group's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the
Group as at December 31, 1995 and 1996 and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.
ERNST & YOUNG
Hong Kong
16 May 1997
F-1
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
Year ended December 31
------------------------------------------------
Notes 1994 1995 1996
US$ US$ US$
NET SALES
Related parties 10 1,439 959 43,411
Other parties 78,332 88,306 49,389
-------- --------- ----------
79,771 89,265 92,800
COST OF SALES ( 68,645) ( 75,243) ( 88,478)
SELLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES ( 3,789) ( 4,238) ( 6,251)
ALLOWANCES FOR DOUBTFUL OTHER
RECEIVABLES - - ( 119)
PROVISION FOR NET REALIZABLE VALUE
OF INVENTORIES - - ( 177)
-------- --------- ----------
7,337 9,784 ( 2,225)
FINANCIAL EXPENSES, NET 5 ( 1,213) ( 2,082) ( 3,727)
OTHER INCOME/(EXPENSES), NET 6 640 ( 212) 14
REORGANIZATION EXPENSES 7 - ( 1,382) -
-------- --------- ----------
INCOME/(LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES 6,764 6,108 ( 5,938)
INCOME TAXES 8 ( 742) ( 992) ( 160)
-------- --------- ----------
6,022 5,116 ( 6,098)
SHARE OF NET LOSSES OF ASSOCIATED
COMPANIES ( 90) ( 1,308) ( 816)
-------- --------- ----------
INCOME/(LOSS) BEFORE MINORITY INTERESTS 5,932 3,808 ( 6,914)
MINORITY INTERESTS ( 1,187) ( 1,038) 2,240
-------- --------- ----------
NET INCOME/(LOSS) 4,745 2,770 ( 4,674)
======== ========= ==========
NET INCOME/(LOSS) PER SHARE 4(k) 0.19 0.11 ( 0.19)
======== ========= ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-2
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
Retained
Additional earnings/ Currency
Paid-up paid-in (accumulated translation
Notes Capital capital Reserves losses) adjustments Total
US$ US$ US$ US$ US$ US$
Balance at January 1, 1994 25 3,882 811 2,026 ( 523) 6,221
Net income - - - 4,745 - 4,745
Transfer to reserves 27 - - 2,157 ( 2,157) - -
Currency translation adjustments - - - - 276 276
Dividends (US$0.13 per share) 4(l) - - - ( 3,292) - ( 3,292)
------- ---------- ------ -------- ------ ----------
Balance at December 31, 1994 25 3,882 2,968 1,322 ( 247) 7,950
Net income - - - 2,770 - 2,770
Transfer to reserves 27 - - 2,911 ( 2,911) - -
Currency translation adjustments - - - - 137 137
Reorganization expenses 7 - 801 - - - 801
------- ---------- ------ -------- ------ ----------
Balance at December 31, 1995 25 4,683 5,879 1,181 ( 110) 11,658
Net loss - - - ( 4,674) - ( 4,674)
Transfer to reserves 27 - - 1,724 ( 1,724) - -
Currency translation adjustments - - - - 46 46
------- ---------- ------ -------- ------ ----------
Balance at December 31, 1996 25 4,683 7,603 ( 5,217) ( 64) 7,030
======= ========== ====== ======== ====== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-3
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS AT DECEMBER 31, 1996
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
December 31
-----------------------
Notes 1995 1996
US$ US$
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents 7,431 2,873
Accounts receivable 7,642 6,188
Deposits and other receivables, net of allowances
of Nil in 1995 and US$119 in 1996 9,996 7,544
Inventories, net of provision of Nil in 1995
and US$177 in 1996 9 21,605 41,804
Deferred income taxes 84 -
Amounts due from associated companies 10 1,234 908
Amounts due from related companies 10 3,757 6,181
------ --------
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 51,749 65,498
INTANGIBLE ASSETS 13 499 2,864
FIXED ASSETS 14 6,335 23,137
CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS 15 5,325 747
INTERESTS IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES 16 5,826 2,009
AMOUNTS DUE FROM RELATED COMPANIES 10 670 15,783
OTHER ASSETS 17 901 1,317
------ --------
TOTAL ASSETS 71,305 111,355
====== ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-4
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
AS AT DECEMBER 31, 1996
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
December 31
----------------------------
Notes 1995 1996
US$ US$
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank loans and overdrafts 18 48,175 80,758
Accounts payable 3,705 14,428
Accrued liabilities and other payables 1,803 4,735
Income taxes payable 274 -
Amount due to an associated company 10 - 320
Amount due to a related company 10 2,630 191
------ -------
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 56,587 100,432
MINORITY INTERESTS 3,060 3,893
------ -------
59,647 104,325
------ -------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 21
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Share capital - shares of
100,000,000 common stock of US$0.001
each and 5,000,000 preferred stock of
US$0.01 each authorised; shares
of 25,000,273 common stock of
US$0.001 each outstanding 19 25 25
Additional paid-in capital 19 4,683 4,683
Reserves 27 5,879 7,603
Retained earnings/(accumulated losses) 27 1,181 ( 5,217)
Currency translation adjustments ( 110) ( 64)
------ -------
11,658 7,030
------ -------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 71,305 111,355
====== =======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-5
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Year ended December 31
--------------------------------
1994 1995 1996
US$ US$ US$
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income/(loss) 4,745 2,770 ( 4,674)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by/(used in) operating activities:
Minority interests 1,187 1,038 ( 2,240)
Reorganization expenses - 801 -
Amortisation 71 61 67
Depreciation 714 805 1,901
Allowances for doubtful debts - - 119
Provision for net realizable value of inventories - - 177
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 5 7 -
Share of net losses of associated companies 90 1,308 816
Deferred income taxes ( 312) - 84
Foreign exchange losses/(gain) ( 594) ( 486) 199
Decrease/(increase) in assets:
Accounts receivable ( 657) (6,172) 1,907
Deposits and other receivables 645 (7,872) 3,135
Inventories 3,280 ( 343) (13,625)
Amounts due from associated companies ( 294) ( 926) ( 127)
Amounts due from related companies ( 767) 29 ( 1,977)
Increase/(decrease) in liabilities:
Accounts payable ( 1,530) 1,814 10,065
Accrued liabilities and other payables 132 ( 917) 2,760
Income taxes payable 287 ( 358) ( 273)
Amount due to an associated company 126 ( 130) 320
Amount due to a related company - 2,620 ( 3,059)
------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities 7,128 (5,951) ( 4,425)
------- -------- --------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-6
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
Year ended December 31
------------------------------------------
Note 1994 1995 1996
US$ US$ US$
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING
ACTIVITIES
Purchases of fixed assets ( 803) ( 711) ( 113)
Increase in construction in progress - ( 5,306) ( 5,924)
Increase in investments in associated companies ( 4,900) ( 1,161) ( 60)
Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets - 37 -
Increase in other assets ( 37) ( 589) ( 416)
Purchase of Tonglee (net of cash acquired) 12 - - 468
Advances to a related company 122 - ( 15,113)
------- -------- ----------
Net cash used in investing activities ( 5,618) ( 7,730) ( 21,158)
------- -------- ----------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY/(USED
IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Dividends paid ( 2,474) ( 2,692) -
Dividends paid to minority interests ( 618) ( 673) -
Repayments of bank loans and overdrafts ( 31,250) ( 14,045) ( 15,499)
Proceeds from bank loans and overdrafts 32,382 36,599 36,858
Exchange differences on bank loans
denominated in foreign currencies 594 486 ( 199)
------- -------- ----------
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities ( 1,366) 19,675 21,160
------- -------- ----------
Exchange differences on cash and cash equivalents 75 ( 141) ( 135)
------- -------- ----------
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 219 5,853 ( 4,558)
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of year 1,359 1,578 7,431
------- -------- ----------
Cash and cash equivalents, at end of year 1,578 7,431 2,873
======= ======== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-7
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
1. FUNDAMENTAL ACCOUNTING CONCEPT
These financial statements have been prepared assuming the Group will
continue as a going concern because management anticipates the Group's
bankers will continue to provide adequate banking facilities for the
foreseeable future to enable the Group to meet its day-to-day commitments
as and when they fall due. In addition, the Company's controlling
shareholders have agreed to provide adequate funds for the Group to meet
its liabilities as they fall due.
2. ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
China Container Holdings Limited ("China Container") was formerly known as
Dial-A-Brand, Inc. ("DAB") which was incorporated in the State of Nevada,
the United States of America.
China Container Holdings Limited ("CCHL(BVI)") was incorporated in the
British Virgin Islands on November 16, 1994 and became a wholly-owned
subsidiary of China Container on May 10, 1995.
Yangzhou Tongyun Container Company Limited ("TYC") was established as a
Sino-foreign joint venture company in the People's Republic of China (the
"PRC") on March 27, 1989 with a tenure of 15 years. The tenure can be
extended by agreement with the joint venture partners after obtaining the
necessary approval from the relevant government agencies. TYC's principal
activity is the manufacturing of international standard commercial freight
containers in the PRC.
Pursuant to certain restructuring agreements (the "Reorganization"), each
of the 5 of the 8 original shareholders, holding an 80% interest in TYC in
aggregate (the "Foreign TYC Shareholders"), transferred their interests in
TYC into their respective newly incorporated subsidiaries (the "New
Companies") and transferred into Sinocity Group Limited, a then newly
incorporated company ("Sinocity") their respective holdings in the New
Companies in exchange for a pro rata share of the shares of Sinocity.
Sinocity then transferred its interests in the New Companies to the then
newly formed CCHL(BVI) in exchange for 95% of the shares of CCHL(BVI). The
remaining 5% interest in CCHL(BVI) was issued to a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Broadsino Investment Company Limited ("Broadsino") in return for
services provided by Broadsino in connection with the Reorganization. On
June 24, 1996, the New Companies were liquidated and their interests in TYC
were distributed to CCHL(BVI) (the "Liquidation").
As a result of the Reorganization and the completion of the Liquidation,
CCHL(BVI) directly holds 80% of the paid-up capital of TYC.
Prior to the Reverse Acquisition (defined hereinafter), DAB had 4,474,658
shares of common stock, par value US$0.001 per share, issued and
outstanding. In connection with the Reverse Acquisition and immediately
prior thereto, the following transactions occurred:
F-8
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
2. ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES (continued)
(i) retirement of 797,500 shares of common stock previously held by DAB as
treasury stock;
(ii) DAB sold the then existing business of DAB including all of its assets
and liabilities as at May 10, 1996, to Dial-A-Brand, Inc, a then newly
formed Delaware corporation ("DAB-Delaware"), in exchange for all of
the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of DAB-Delaware;
(iii) the former majority shareholder of DAB agreed to acquire from DAB
all of the issued and outstanding common stock of DAB-Delaware in
exchange for 1,784,400 shares of DAB's common stock and an indemnity
from such shareholder with respect to any contingent liabilities
relating to the former business of DAB. The 1,784,400 shares of
common stock received were then cancelled by DAB;
(iv) a reverse stock split of 7 to 1 of DAB's then existing issued and
outstanding common stock into 270,667 shares of DAB's common stock of
US$0.001 each, which, because of the practice of rounding up for each
existing stock certificate, resulting in 273 additional shares; and
(v) the issuance of 979,606 shares of DAB's common stock, par value
US$0.001 per share, to certain parties in return for services provided
in relation to the Reverse Acquisition.
As of May 10, 1995, pursuant to a stock purchase agreement (as amended by a
supplementary agreement, the "Agreement") among Sinocity, Broadsino,
CCHL(BVI) and DAB, DAB acquired the entire issued and outstanding share
capital of CCHL(BVI). In exchange, DAB issued 21,875,000 shares of its
common stock to the former shareholders of CCHL(BVI) (and their designee)
on a pro rata basis, and 1,875,000 shares of its common stock to Gordon
Capital Limited for services rendered in connection with the Reverse
Acquisition, representing a 87.5% and 7.5% holding, respectively, in China
Container's shares of common stock outstanding after the Reverse
Acquisition.
On May 10, 1995, DAB changed its name to China Container Holdings Limited.
The above transactions have been treated as a recapitalization of CCHL(BVI)
with CCHL(BVI) as the acquirer (the "Reverse Acquisition"). Accordingly,
the historical financial statements of China Container for the period prior
to May 10, 1995 are those of CCHL(BVI) or TYC (prior to the Reorganization)
except for paid-in capital which represent that of DAB immediately after
the Reverse Acquisition.
Subsequent to the Reverse Acquisition, China Container's principal activity
is the management of the business of its indirectly held operating
subsidiaries.
F-9
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
2. ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES (continued)
In the opinion of the directors of China Container, the above
Reorganization and Reverse Acquisition constitute a reorganization under
common control and subsequent to which, the ultimate control of TYC remains
substantially the same as before the Reorganization and the Reverse
Acquisition.
Yangzhou Tonglee Reefer Containers Company Limited ("Tonglee") was
established as a Sino-foreign joint venture company in the PRC on December
31, 1993 with a tenure of 20 years with a total registered capital of
US$8,000. Tonglee's principal activity is the manufacturing of reefer
containers in the PRC. As at January 1, 1996. TYC increased its
shareholding in Tonglee from 50% to 51% for US$80. The remaining 49%
interest is held by TYG (19%), Singapore Namlee Steel (Private) Limited
(25%) and Han Jiang Liu Wei Agricultural Industrial Commercial Company
(5%). Due to the acquisition of control by TYC, the results of Tonglee were
consolidated into China Container since January 1, 1996.
Yangzhou Tongsheng Container Company Limited ("Tongsheng") was established
by the Group (80%) and the existing PRC holders of TYC (20%) as a Sino-
foreign joint venture company in the PRC on December 21, 1995 with a tenure
of 15 years with a total registered capital of US$4,800. The tenure can be
extended by agreement with the joint venture partners after obtaining the
necessary approval from the relevant government agencies. Tongsheng's
principal activity is the manufacturing of international standard
commercial freight containers in the PRC. As at January 31, 1996, the Group
injected capital of US$4,800 into Tongsheng in the same proportion, and in
exchange for the same shareholdings, as in TYC.
Yingkou Tongyun Container Company Limited ("Yingkou") was established as a
Sino-foreign joint venture company in the PRC on June 29, 1995 with a
tenure of 50 years with a total registered capital of US$10,000. Yingkou's
principal activity is expected to be the manufacturing of international
standard commercial freight containers in the PRC. CCHL(BVI) holds an 80%
interest in Yingkou. The remaining 20% interest of Yingkou is equally held
by 2 shareholders of the Group. No capital has yet been paid by the
shareholders and Yingkou has not yet commenced operation.
3. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared based
on TYC's historical financial statements for the years ended December 31,
1994 and 1995 and to give effect to the Reorganization and the Reverse
Acquisition as set out in note 1 to these consolidated financial statements
as if they had been completed prior to January 1, 1994.
F-10
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
3. BASIS OF PRESENTATION (continued)
The consolidated financial statements of the Group are prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America ("US GAAP"). This basis of accounting differs from that
used in the statutory financial statements of the Group's subsidiaries in
the PRC which are prepared in accordance with the accounting principles and
the relevant financial regulations applicable to Sino-foreign joint venture
companies in the PRC.
The principal adjustment made to conform the statutory financial statements
of the Group's subsidiaries in the PRC to US GAAP is the reclassification
of the staff bonus and welfare reserve appropriation from reserves to a
charge to income, the timing of recognising sales revenue and recording
expenses, write off of pre-operating expenses and the basis of providing
depreciation of fixed assets.
4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Cash and cash equivalents
-------------------------
The Group considers cash and cash equivalents to include cash on hand
and deposits with banks with an original maturity of three months or
less.
(b) Inventories
-----------
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and market value. Cost is
determined on the weighted-average basis and in the case of work in
progress and finished goods, comprises direct materials, direct labor
and an appropriate proportion of overheads.
(c) Fixed assets and depreciation
-----------------------------
Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.
Depreciation of fixed assets is calculated on the straight-line basis
to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over
its estimated useful life. The principal annual rates used for this
purpose are as follows:
Buildings 7%
Plant, machinery and equipment 10%
Motor vehicles 20%
Office equipment 20%
No depreciation is provided on construction in progress until the
asset is completed and put into productive use.
F-11
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
(d) Construction in progress
------------------------
Construction in progress represents plant and machinery and other
fixed assets under construction or installation and is stated at cost.
Cost comprises direct costs of construction and installation as well
as interest charges on related borrowed funds. Capitalization of
interest charges ceases when an asset is ready for its intended use.
Construction in progress is transferred to fixed assets upon
commissioning when it is capable of producing saleable output on a
commercial basis.
(e) Intangible assets
-----------------
Intangible assets mainly represent land use rights and the technical
knowledge for the production of reefer containers contributed as
capital by a shareholder of Tonglee. Amortisation is provided on the
straight-line basis over the remaining tenure of the joint venture.
(f) Associated companies
--------------------
An associated company is a company, not being a subsidiary,
in which the Group exerts significant influence.
The Group's share of the associated companies' post-acquisition
results is included in the consolidated statements of income under the
equity method of accounting. The Group's investments in associated
companies are stated at cost plus the Group's share of the associated
companies' post-acquisition results and capital transactions.
(g) Revenue recognition
-------------------
Sales represent the invoiced value of goods sold, net of returns.
Revenue is recognised upon delivery to customers or in the case of
bill and hold transactions, revenue is recognised when risks and legal
title of the goods are passed to customers according to the contract
terms.
(h) Foreign currency translation
----------------------------
The Group's financial records are maintained in Renminbi ("RMB"), the
national currency of the PRC, which is the functional currency of the
Group.
Foreign currency transactions are translated into RMB using the
applicable rates of exchange quoted by the People's Bank of China (the
"Exchange Rates"). Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in
foreign currencies are translated into RMB at the applicable Exchange
Rates at the respective balance sheet dates. The resulting exchange
gains or losses are credited or charged to the Group's consolidated
statements of income.
The market risks associated with changes in exchange rates and the
restrictions over the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies
are discussed in note 22 to the consolidated financial statements.
F-12
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
(h) Foreign currency translation (continued)
----------------------------------------
These financial statements have been translated into U.S. dollars in
accordance with FASB Statement No. 52, Foreign Currency Translation.
Assets and liabilities have been translated using the exchange rates
in effect at the balance sheet date. Income statement amounts have
been translated using the average exchange rate for the year. The
gains and losses resulting from the changes in exchange rates from
year to year have been reported separately as a component of
shareholders' equity.
(i) Income taxes
------------
A deferred tax liability is recognized for all significant taxable
temporary differences and a deferred tax asset is recognized for all
significant deductible temporary differences carryforwards. A
valuation allowance is recognized if it is more likely than not that
some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realised.
(j) Retirement benefits
-------------------
Retirement benefits are charged to the statements of income based on
the contributions to an insurance company (note 23).
(k) Net income/(loss) per share
---------------------------
The calculation of net income/(loss) per share is based on an
aggregate of 25,000,273 shares of common stocks outstanding as if the
Reverse Acquisition had been completed as at January 1, 1994 (note
19).
(l) Dividends per share
-------------------
Dividends are the amount paid/payable to the then shareholders of TYC
prior to the Reorganization.
Dividends per share is based on an aggregate of 25,000,273 shares of
common stock outstanding as if the Reverse Acquisition had been
completed at January 1, 1994 (note 19).
(m) Use of estimates
----------------
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
5. FINANCIAL EXPENSES, NET
Financial expenses, net represent:
Year ended December 31
------------------------------
1994 1995 1996
US$ US$ US$
Bank loan interest ( 1,863) ( 3,173) ( 4,879)
Less: Bank loan interest capitalized
in construction in progress - 258 389
------- -------- --------
( 1,863) ( 2,915) ( 4,490)
Interest income 238 375 962
Foreign exchange gains/(losses), net 412 458 ( 199)
------- -------- --------
( 1,213) ( 2,082) ( 3,727)
======= ======== ========
6. OTHER INCOME/(EXPENSES), NET
Other income/(expenses), net represent:
Year ended December 31
-----------------------
1994 1995 1996
US$ US$ US$
Professional fee received in respect of technical
assistance provided to an associated company 589 - -
Other 51 ( 212) 14
---- ------ -----
640 ( 212) 14
==== ====== =====
F-14
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
7. REORGANIZATION EXPENSES
Concurrent with the Reorganization and the Reverse Acquisition set out in
note 1 to the financial statements, reorganization expenses were incurred
which reduced net income by US$1,382. The reorganization expenses included
(i) US$581 of related audit and consultancy fees incurred, and (ii) US$801
which represented the fair value of (a) the 5% of the issued and
outstanding shares of CCHL-BVI received by a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Broadsino in connection with the Reorganization, and (b) the 12.5% of the
issued and outstanding shares of the common stock of China Container held
by the shareholders of DAB prior to the Reverse Acquisition and by certain
other parties who received restricted shares of common stock in exchange
for services rendered in connection with the Reverse Acquisition. The
amount of the expenses in (a) and (b) above were determined based on the
fair value of CCHL-BVI's net assets as determined by an appraisal performed
by an independent PRC appraiser, adjusted for factors affecting the
transferability of the shares.
8. INCOME TAXES
Income taxes on profits from PRC operations for the years was as follows:
Year ended December 31
-----------------------
1994 1995 1996
US$ US$ US$
Current 1,054 992 76
Deferred ( 312) - 84
----- ----- -----
742 992 160
===== ===== =====
It is management's intention to reinvest all the income attributable to
China Container earned by its operations outside the United States as at
December 31, 1996. Accordingly, no United States corporate income taxes
have been provided in these financial statements.
Under the current British Virgin Islands' law, dividends that the Group
will distribute in future, and capital gains arising from the Group's
investments are not subject to income taxes in the British Virgin Islands.
TYC, Tonglee and Tongsheng (collectively "the PRC subsidiaries") are Sino-
foreign equity joint venture companies governed by the Income Tax Law of
the People's Republic of China concerning Foreign Investment Enterprises
and various local income tax laws (the "Income Tax Laws").
F-15
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
8. INCOME TAXES (continued)
In the Yangzhou District, where TYC is located, the basic rate of income
tax applicable to TYC exclusive of the local income tax is 24%. TYC's local
income tax liability of 3% is exempted by the local tax authorities.
Pursuant to the Income Tax Laws, TYC was further exempted from income taxes
for a period of two years commencing from the first profitable year (1990)
and was entitled to a 50% tax exemption for the following three years.
Thereafter, pursuant to tax concessions under the Income Tax Laws granted
to companies engaged in export sales activities, TYC is further entitled to
a 50% tax exemption for each of the years in which its export sales exceed
70% of its total sales.
Giving effect to the above tax concessions, the actual tax rate for the
three years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 was 12% as the export
sales of TYC exceed 70% of its total sales in the respective years.
The PRC subsidiaries and TYC's associated companies are Sino-foreign equity
joint venture companies and enjoy similar tax exemptions as TYC. No
provision for PRC income taxes has been made for them as they either
incurred a loss or were in their tax holiday period during the relevant
years.
The tax benefit to the PRC subsidiaries as a result of the tax holiday for
the year ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 amounted to US$812, US$733
and Nil (China Container: US$650, US$586 and Nil), respectively. The
effective tax benefit per share for China Container for each of the years
ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 amounted to US$0.03, US$0.02 and
Nil, respectively.
A reconciliation of the effective income tax rates (excluding the
reorganization expenses) with the statutory income tax rate in the PRC is
as follows:
Year ended December 31
------------------------
1994 1995 1996
Statutory tax rate 24.0% 24.0% (24.0%)
Tax holiday (12.0%) (12.0%) 15.0%
Item which give rise to no tax benefit:
Net loss of China Container - - 11.2%
Other items ( 1.0%) 1.0% 0.5%
------ ----- -----
11.0% 13.0% 2.7%
====== ===== =====
Accumulated losses of the China Container's foreign subsidiaries
amounted to US$3,049 at December 31, 1996 (1995: undistributed earnings of
US$2,563).
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
9. INVENTORIES
Inventories comprise:
December 31
---------------
1995 1996
US$ US$
Raw materials 16,828 20,801
Work in progress - 4,283
Finished goods 4,777 16,897
------ -------
21,605 41,981
Less: Provision for net realizable value of inventories - ( 177)
------ -------
21,605 41,804
====== =======
Provision for net realisable value of inventories of US$177 was provided in 1996
(1995: Nil).
F-17
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
10. RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS
(i) The amounts due from related companies, Jiangsu Tongyun Group Company
(formerly known as Jiangyang Automobile Company, "TYG"), Ocean Asia
International Limited ("Ocean Asia"), Jiangsu Tongyun Trading Company
("Jiangsu Tongyun") and Wide Shine Development Limited ("WSD")
comprise:
December 31
--------------
1995 1996
US$ US$
Loan receivable from Ocean Asia 2,566 2,489
Trade receivable from Ocean Asia 157 -
----- -------
2,723 2,489
Loan receivable from Jiangsu Tongyun 429 312
Trade receivable from TYG - 16,412
Trade receivable from WSD 1,275 2,477
Loan receivable from TYG - 274
----- -------
4,427 21,964
===== =======
Due within one year 3,757 6,181
Due after more than one year 670 15,783
----- -------
4,427 21,964
===== =======
F-18
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
10. RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (continued)
TYG is a direct 5% owner of TYC and a 50% shareholder of Sinocity, the
majority shareholder of China Container. Jiangsu Tongyun is a wholly-
owned subsidiary of TYG. Ocean Asia is a wholly beneficially owned
subsidiary of TYG in which Mr Cheung Sau Yung, a director of China
Container, is also a director of Ocean Asia. In addition, Mr. Cheung
Sau Yung holds 95% of the shares of Ocean Asia in his name for the
benefit of TYG pursuant to a declaration of trust. WSD is a 12.5%
shareholder of Sinocity.
The loan receivable from Ocean Asia included a loan of US$331 (1995:
US$331) made to Ocean Asia to acquire a building in Hong Kong in 1993.
The loan receivable from Ocean Asia is unsecured and bears interest at
market rates (weighted average of 8.49% and 7.09% as at December 31,
1995 and 1996 per annum, respectively). Interest income on the above
loan receivable from Ocean Asia amounted to US$74, US$271 and US$166
for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
Apart from an amount of US$853 (1995: US$992) receivable from WSD
which is unsecured and bears interest at 4.75% per annum, the trade
receivable from Ocean Asia and WSD and the loans receivable from
Jiangsu Tongyun and TYG are unsecured and interest-free. Interest
income received from WSD amounted to US$79, US$82 and US$82 for the
years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
(ii) Sale transactions with related parties are summarised as follows:
Year ended December 31
----------------------
1994 1995 1996
Notes US$ US$ US$
WSD a 1,439 959 28,899
China Railway Container
Transportation Centre ("CRCT") b - - 14,512
----- ----- -------
1,439 959 43,411
===== ===== =======
(a) The PRC subsidiaries sold containers to WSD, which is subject to
normal trade credit terms.
(b) In August 10, 1996, TYG entered into a sales contract with CRCT to
sell an agreed quantity of containers to CRCT. The sales revenue
is to be settled by 32 equal quarterly instalments.
F-19
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
10. RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (continued)
(b) (continued)
On August 18, 1996, TYG entered into an agreement with TYC to
allocate 18,000 containers of the container supply contract to TYC,
with the same repayment terms as agreed with CRCT. During the year
ended December 31, 1996, 7,853 containers with a total sales value
of US$14,512 were delivered to CRCT. The face value of the related
trade receivable from TYG, before discounting for the implicit 8%
interest element, amounted to US$22,559. The trade receivable from
TYG is unsecured, and is repayable on a quarterly basis.
(iii) Other transactions with related companies are summarised as follows:
Year ended December 31
--------------------------------------
1994 1995 1996
US$ US$ US$
Purchases of raw materials
from Yangzhou Tongda 412 667 9
Purchases of raw materials from Ocean Asia 4,700 - -
Sales commissions paid to Ocean Asia 288 - -
Sales commissions paid to WSD 281 - -
Service charge paid to TYG for the
provision of staff messing services 191 - -
====== ==== ====
(iv) The amounts due from/to associated companies are unsecured, bear
interest at market rates (weighted average of 8.49% and 7.09% as at
December 31, 1995 and 1996 per annum, respectively) and are repayable
on demand.
(v) The amount due to a related company, Singapore Namlee Steel (Private)
Ltd, a direct 25% owner of Tonglee, is unsecured, non-interest bearing
and has no fixed terms of repayment.
(vi) Pursuant to a sales and purchase agreement dated April 30, 1995, TYC
purchased for a period of 15 years up to 2010 from Yangzhou Tonghua
Semi-Trailer Co Ltd ("Tonghua") a right to use a site, a factory
building and plant and machinery at an aggregate consideration of
US$2,816. Tonghua is owned/controlled by TYG.
(vii) Pursuant to a sales and purchase agreement dated November 25, 1995,
TYC purchased a right to use a site and plant and machinery from TYG
for a period of 10 years up to 2005 at a consideration of US$3,005.
As at December 31, 1995, US$1,203 has been paid as a deposit for the
purchase with the remainder being paid in January 1996.
F-20
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
11. TRANSACTIONS WITH STATE-OWNED ENTITIES
A significant portion of the Group's transactions during the year ended
December 31, 1996 has been undertaken, directly or indirectly, with State-
owned enterprises in the PRC and on such commercial terms as determined
between the relevant Chinese State-owned enterprises and the Group.
12. PURCHASE OF YANGZHOU TONGLEE REEFER CONTAINERS COMPANY LIMITED
On January 1, 1996, China Container's 80% subsidiary, TYC increased its
shareholding in Tonglee from 50% to 51% for US$80. Due to the acquisition
of control by TYC, the results of Tonglee were consolidated into China
Container since January 1, 1996.
The unaudited consolidated results of operations of China Container and its
subsidiaries, on a pro forma basis as if Tonglee had been acquired as of
January 1, 1994, are as follows:
Year ended
December 31
1994
(Unaudited)
US$
Net sales 79,771
Cost of sales (68,645)
Selling and administrative expenses ( 3,789)
-------
7,337
Financial expenses, net ( 1,213)
Other income/(expenses), net 640
Reorganization expenses -
-------
Income before income taxes 6,764
Income taxes ( 742)
-------
Income after income taxes 6,022
Shares of net losses of associated companies ( 90)
-------
Income before minority interests 5,932
Minority interests ( 1,187)
-------
Net income 4,745
=======
Pro forma earnings per share, based on
25,000,273 shares of common stock outstanding (note 4(k)) 0.19
=======
F-21
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
13. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets comprise:
December 31
------------
1995 1996
US$ US$
Cost:
Land use rights 501 2,007
Technical knowhow - 1,000
Other 123 123
---- ------
624 3,130
---- ------
Accumulated amortisation:
Land use right 125 186
Technical knowhow - 80
Other - -
---- ------
125 266
---- ------
499 2,864
==== ======
The PRC subsidiaries are required to pay a premium upon obtaining official
certificates for the above land use rights. Further details are set out in
note 21(i) to the consolidated financial statements.
14. FIXED ASSETS
Fixed assets comprise:
December 31
-------------
1995 1996
US$ US$
Cost:
Buildings 1,839 6,644
Plant, machinery and equipment 6,194 19,186
Motor vehicles 1,140 1,823
Office equipment 198 421
----- -------
9,371 28,074
----- -------
Accumulated depreciation:
Buildings 538 894
Plant, machinery and equipment 1,942 3,090
Motor vehicles 456 788
Office equipment 100 165
----- -------
3,036 4,937
----- -------
Net book value 6,335 23,137
===== =======
F-21
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
15. CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS
Construction in progress comprises:
December 31
------------
1995 1996
US$ US$
Rights to use sites 1,445 -
Plant and machinery 3,474 423
Interest capitalisation 259 30
Others 147 294
----- -----
5,325 747
===== =====
16. INTERESTS IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES
Interests in associated companies comprise:
December 31
----------------
1995 1996
US$ US$
Unlisted shares, at cost 7,249 3,193
Share of post-acquisition profits less losses, net ( 1,423) ( 1,184)
-------- -------
5,826 2,009
======== =======
Particulars of the associated companies, all of which are registered in the
People's Republic of China, are summarised as follows:
Registered Equity holding Tenure Commencement
Name of company capital held by the Company years date
1995 1996
Yangzhou Tongda US$1,050 35.57% 35.57% 15 March 11, 1994
Forging Co. Ltd.
("Yangzhou Tongda")
F-23
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
16. INTERESTS IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES (continued)
Registered Equity holding Tenure Commencement
Name of company capital held by the Company years date
1995 1996
Yangzhou Tongyang US$2,000 44% 44% 15 April 8, 1994
Machinery Co. Ltd.
("Yangzhou Tongyang")
Beihai Tonghai US$4,500 25% 25% 15 February 19,
Containers Co. Ltd. 1995
Yangzhou Universal RMB30,000 25% 25% # May 29, 1994
Commercial Building
Shareholdings
Co Ltd ("Yangzhou
Universal")
Yangzhou Tonglee US$8,000 50% - 20 December 8,
Reefer Containers 1993
Co. Ltd ("Tonglee")
# Yangzhou Universal is a company limited by shares with indefinite tenure.
Other than Yangzhou Universal, the tenure of each of the other associated
companies can be extended by agreement with the joint venture partners
after obtaining the necessary approval from the relevant government
agencies.
On December 1, 1994, TYC entered into an agreement (the "Sale Agreement")
with Metchem Company Limited ("Metchem") providing for the sale of its 44%
interest in Yangzhou Tongyang to Metchem for a cash consideration of
US$880. Mr Cheung Sau Yung, a director of China Container and TYC, is also
a director of Metchem. On January 27, 1995, the Sale Agreement was duly
approved by the PRC government authorities. However, due to the change in
the investment plans of Metchem, Metchem decided to delay its investment in
Yangzhou Tongyang and the sale of TYC's interest in Yangzhou Tongyang has,
therefore, not yet been completed. Management is still in the process of
negotiating with Metchem regarding the consummation of the sale.
On January 1, 1996, TYC increased its shareholding in Tonglee from 50% to
51% for US$80. Due to the acquisition of control by TYC, Tonglee became a
subsidiary of China Container (note 12).
F-24
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
17. OTHER ASSETS
Other assets mainly comprise the Group's investment in some PRC companies.
The investment is stated at cost. The Group exerts no significant influence
over the PRC companies.
18. BANK LOANS AND OVERDRAFTS
The Company's bank loans and overdrafts comprise:
December 31
Weighted -----------------
average 1995 1996
interest rates US$ US$
Short term bank loans and overdrafts:
Denominated in US Floating -
(note (i)) 46,990 77,963
Denominated in RMB Floating -
(note (ii)) 1,185 2,795
------- -------
48,175 80,758
======= =======
Notes:
(i) 8.49% and 7.09% at December 31, 1995 and 1996 per annum, respectively.
(ii) 13.18% and 9.18% at December 31, 1995 and 1996 per annum,
respectively.
A bank has granted to TYC a US$54,000 and RMB10,000 (US$1,205) short term
bank loan and overdraft facility which is renewable in 1997. In this
facility, the bank has guaranteed the renewal of short term borrowings for
a period of five years expiring in 2000 for an amount not less than
US$44,000. TYC has also negotiated, as required, with the same bank for
certain short term overdraft facilities to accommodate its additional
financing requirements in excess of the foregoing facilities. Two other
banks have granted TYC short term bank loans of US$7,980 and RMB3,000
(US$361). As at December 31, 1996, the extent of banking facilities
utilized by TYC were US$60,980 and RMB13,000.
The bank loans of TYC to the extent of US$26,000 (1995: US$26,000) are
collateralized by a floating charge over all of TYC's inventories and fixed
assets and to the extent of US$36,540 (1995: US$19,202) are guaranteed by
TYG.
F-25
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
18. BANK LOANS AND OVERDRAFTS (continued)
A bank has also granted to Tonglee a US$17,000 and RMB10,000 short term
bank loan and overdraft facility which are renewable in 1997. All bank
loans of Tonglee are guaranteed by TYC, except to the extent of US$8,000
which are guaranteed by TYG. As at December 31, 1996, the extent of banking
facilities utilized by Tonglee were US$16,983 and RMB10,000.
19. SHARE CAPITAL AND ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL
As of May 10, 1995, after giving effect to the Reverse Acquisition set out
in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, there were an aggregate
of 25,000,273 shares of China Container's common stock, par value US$0.001
per share, issued and outstanding.
These consolidated financial statements were prepared as if China Container
had been in existence throughout the years. Accordingly, paid-up share
capital of 25,000,273 shares of China Container's common stock, par value
US$0.001 per share, is reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as at
the respective year ends.
On May 10, 1995, the Board of Directors of China Container approved an
Action by Written Consent to amend the Company's Article of Incorporation
to authorize 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value US$0.01 per
share. The shares of preferred stock may be issued in one or more series at
the discretion of the Board of Directors. In establishing a series the
Board of Directors shall give to it a distinctive designation so as to
distinguish it from the shares of all others series and classes, shall fix
the number of shares in such series, and the preferences, rights and
restrictions thereof.
Additional paid-in capital represents a transfer of US$1,581 from retained
earnings in the year 1993, and the notional difference between the paid-up
share capital of China Container over 80% of TYC's paid-in capital and
capital reserves, and the nominal value of the Company's shares exchanged
under the Reverse Acquisition and Reorganization as set out in note 1 to
the consolidated financial statements.
20. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Year ended December 31
----------------------
1994 1995 1996
US$ US$ US$
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest paid, net of interest capitalized 2,305 3,076 4,879
Income tax 767 1,350 348
===== ====== ======
F-26
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
21. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
As at December 31, 1996, the Group had the following capital commitments
and contingencies:
i) According to the laws of the PRC, title to all land is retained by the
PRC. TYC's and Tongsheng's premises, which were either contributed by
its joint-venture parties in exchange for an interest in TYC and
Tongsheng or purchased by TYC and Tongsheng during the period from
1989 to 1995, are situated in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. Management
is in negotiation with the Provincial Land Administration Bureau of
Jiangsu Province (the "Land Bureau") for the issuance of land use
rights certificates for the above sites to TYC and Tongsheng.
Management is of the opinion that upon obtaining a formal land use
rights certificate for such sites, a land use rights premium may be
levied on TYC and Tongsheng. Management is, however, unable to
quantify the amount of the premium which may be levied on TYC and
Tongsheng in the absence of similar statistics in the area.
It is the Group's policy to capitalize the aforesaid land use rights
premiums on the balance sheet of the Group as intangible assets and to
amortise them over the terms of the remaining joint venture tenure of
TYC and Tongsheng.
ii) The Group had capital commitments for the acquisition of plant and
machinery of US$257.
22. FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE
The Renminbi ("RMB") is not freely convertible into foreign currencies.
Prior to January 1, 1994, all foreign exchange transactions involving RMB
were required to take place either through the People's Bank of China or
other banks authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies, or at approved
Foreign Exchange Adjustment Centers ("Swap Centers"). The Swap Centers are
institutions which belong to the State Administration of Exchange Control
and its branches. The exchange rates used for transactions through the
People's Bank of China and other authorized banks ("Official Rates") are
set by the State Administration for Exchange Control whereas the exchange
rates available at a Swap Center ("Swap Center Rates") were determined
largely by supply and demand based on foreign currency and RMB requirements
of enterprises operating in or doing business in the PRC. Foreign currency
payments were subject to the availability of foreign currency which was
provided by export sales or allocated to the PRC subsidiaries by the State
or was arranged through one of the Swap Centers with government approval.
F-27
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
22. FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE (continued)
On January 1, 1994, the PRC government abolished the dual rate system and
introduced a single rate of exchange as quoted daily by the People's Bank
of China (the "Unified Exchange Rate"). The Unified Exchange Rate is quoted
at levels similar to those quoted by the Swap Centers. However, the
unification of the exchange rates does not imply convertibility of RMB into
United States dollars or other foreign currencies. All foreign exchange
transactions continue to take place either through the People's Bank of
China or other banks authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies at the
exchange rates quoted by the People's Bank of China. Approval of foreign
currency payments by the People's Bank of China or other institutions
requires submitting a payment application form together with suppliers'
invoices, shipping documents and signed contracts. As at December 31, 1996,
China Container's share of PRC subsidiaries reserves was US$6,514, which is
subjected to the foreign exchange control.
The Unified Exchange Rates at December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996
were as follows:
December 31
----------------
1994 1995 1996
RMB RMB RMB
RMB equivalent of US$1.00 8.45 8.32 8.30
==== ==== ====
23. RETIREMENT PLAN
As stipulated by the regulations of the PRC government, the PRC
Subsidiaries are required to make an annual contribution equivalent to 23%
of the annual base salaries of their PRC employees to an insurance company,
which is responsible for providing pension benefits to the PRC
Subsidiaries' PRC employees. All staff are entitled to an annual pension
equal to the twelve-month average base salary immediately prior to their
retirement date.
The pension costs charged to the consolidated statements of income amounted
to US$369, US$564 and US$469 for each of the years ended December 31, 1994,
1995 and 1996, respectively.
F-28
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
24. CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISKS
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Group to a
concentration of credit risk principally consist of cash deposits and
accounts receivable.
The Group places its cash deposits with various PRC state-owned banks.
Accounts receivable comprise primarily the PRC Subsidiaries' trade
receivables with customers who are mainly reputable international shipping
and leasing companies. The PRC Subsidiaries periodically performs credit
analysis and monitors the financial condition of its customers and
generally collateral is not required.
As of December 31, 1996, accounts receivable from customers totalled
US$6,188 (1995: US$7,642). Concentration of credit risks with respect to
accounts receivables is limited as the Group carefully assess the financial
strength of its customers and generally does not require collateral.
25. CURRENT VULNERABILITY DUE TO CERTAIN CONCENTRATIONS
The Group's operating assets and primary source of income and cash flow are
its interests in its subsidiaries in the PRC. The value of the Group's
interests in these subsidiaries may be adversely affected by significant
political, economic and social uncertainties in the PRC. Although the PRC
government has been pursuing economic reform policies for the past 17
years, no assurance can be given that the PRC government will continue to
pursue such policies or that such policies may not be significantly
altered, especially in the event of a change in leadership, social or
political disruption or unforeseen circumstances affecting the PRC's
political, economic and social conditions. There is also no guarantee that
the PRC government's pursuit of economic reforms will be consistent or
effective.
Currently, a large proportion of the Group's revenue come from the sales of
containers manufactured in the PRC, which is vulnerable to an increase in
the level of competition or a change in the supply and demand relationship
in the container industry in the PRC and internationally.
26. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The carrying amounts of the Group's cash and cash equivalents approximate
their fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.
The carrying amounts of bank loans and overdrafts approximate their fair
value based on the borrowing rates currently available for bank loans and
overdrafts with similar terms and average maturity.
F-29
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
27. DISTRIBUTION OF PROFIT
Pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations for Sino-foreign joint
venture companies, earnings of the PRC subsidiaries are determined in
accordance with the relevant PRC accounting rules and regulations and are
available for distribution to each of their joint venture partners after
the PRC subsidiaries (1) satisfies all tax liabilities; (2) provides for
losses in previous years; and (3) makes appropriations to reserve accounts,
in aggregate, at 15% of profit after taxation. These reserve accounts
comprise general reserve, enterprise expansion reserve and staff bonus and
welfare reserve and the amount of the allocation to the respective reserve
accounts is determined at the sole discretion of the board of directors.
The appropriations to general reserve and enterprise expansion reserve
attributable to China Container totalling US$7,603 are reflected as
reserves in the consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 1996. Such
amounts are non-distributable except for an amount of US$5,483 included in
the 1996 balance, being voluntarily appropriated into the enterprise
expansion reserve during 1995 and 1996 which is in addition to the
statutorily required appropriation. This amount is distributable upon
approval by the board of directors of TYC. In 1996, TYC had an operating
profit under PRC accounting rules and regulations, accordingly,
appropriations to general reserve and enterprise expansion reserve were
made based on the profits under the PRC regulations.
Staff bonus and welfare benefits are amounts set aside for the provision of
bonus and welfare benefits to the employees of the PRC subsidiaries. In
accordance with US GAAP, the amounts designated for payments of staff bonus
and welfare benefits to employees have been charged to income before
arriving at net consolidated income and the remaining balance is reflected
as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
The retained earnings balances in these financial statements reflect China
Container's share of the PRC Subsidiaries' retained earnings, including
share of results of associated companies, prepared under US GAAP. In
addition to the distributable reserve of US$5,483 as at December 31, 1996,
the amount of distributable retained earnings under the PRC regulations as
at December 31, 1995 and 1996 are US$1,422 and US$Nil, respectively.
F-30
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
28. SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Group is principally engaged in the manufacture and export of
international standard commercial freight containers. An analysis of sales
by geographic region of the destination of sales and by major customers for
the respective years is as follows:
Year ended December 31
----------------------
1994 1995 1996
US$ US$ US$
By geographic region of destination of sales:
United States of America 57,597 65,933 30,222
Denmark 7,719 2,339 -
United Kingdom 7,310 - -
Hong Kong 1,877 20,178 44,795
People's Republic of China - - 14,512
Others 5,268 815 3,271
------ ------- -------
79,771 89,265 92,800
====== ======= =======
By major customer:
A P Moller 7,719 2,339 -
China Railway Container Transportation Center - 14,512
Interpool Limited 12,255 12,407 2,147
Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd - 19,684 13,946
P & O 7,310 - -
Textainer Capital Corporation 12,832 14,480 8,743
Transamerica Leasing Inc 19,805 17,655 8,435
Triton Container International Limited 12,704 19,463 8,598
WSD - - 28,899
Others 7,146 3,237 7,520
------ ------- -------
79,771 89,265 92,800
====== ======= =======
F-31
CHINA CONTAINER HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share data)
29. LITIGATION (UNAUDITED)
On or about August 6, 1997, China Container has been named as a nominal
defendant in a derivative suit case, certain shareholders of China
Container, derivatively on behalf of China Container, and individually and
on behalf of shareholders similarly situated, against certain directors and
officers of China Container and Sinocity Group Limited, a major Shareholder
of China Container. In such case, the plaintiffs seek injunctive relief
requiring the director defendants to comply with applicable federal
securities law and seek monetary damages arising from defendants' purported
breaches of fiduciary duty. Also, a class of action is raised to seek
damages against a director of China Container and Sinocity Group Limited
for the breach of fiduciary duty toward the minority shareholders.
Management is of the opinion that there are no claims directed against
China Container and hence no liabilities needed to be accrued in the
consolidated financial statements as at December 31, 1996.
F-32