SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
[_] | REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
[X] |
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2020 |
OR
[_] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
[_] | SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Commission File Number: 000-55631
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
F/K/A China Biotech Holdings Limited
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Suite 2432, Sun Hung Kai Centre
30 Harbour Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong
(Address of principal executive offices)
CHANG TingTing
Telephone: + 852 2919-8916
Email: tina19900208@163.com
Suite 2431, Sun Hung Kai Centre
30 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
(Name, Telephone, email and/or fax number and address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
ORDINARY SHARES, PAR VALUE $0.0001
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None.
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
171,450,000 Ordinary Shares, $0.0001 par value, at March 31, 2020
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Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Yes [_] No [X]
If the report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes [_] No [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [_]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes [X] No [_]
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company.
Large Accelerated Filer [_] Accelerated Filer [_] Non-accelerated filer [X] Emerging Growth Company [X]
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the Registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP [X]
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board [_]
Other [_]
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17 [_] Item 18 [_]
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)
Yes [_] No [X]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I | Page | |
Item 1. | Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors | 2 |
Item 2. | Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable | 2 |
Item 3. | Key Information | 2 |
Item 4. | Information on the Company | 22 |
Item 4A. | Unresolved Staff Comments | 43 |
Item 5. | Operating and Financial Review and Prospects | 43 |
Item 6. | Directors, Senior Management and Employees | 46 |
Item 7. | Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions | 50 |
Item 8. | Financial Information | 51 |
Item 9. | The Offer and Listing | 51 |
Item 10. | Additional Information | 52 |
Item 11. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | 55 |
Item 12. | Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities | 55 |
PART II | 56 | |
Item 13. | Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies | 56 |
Item 14. | Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds | 56 |
Item 15. | Controls and Procedures | 56 |
Item 16. | Reserved | 58 |
Item 16A. | Audit Committee Financial Expert | 58 |
Item 16B. | Code of Ethics | 58 |
Item 16C. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services | 58 |
Item 16D. | Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees | 58 |
Item 16E. | Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliates Purchasers | 58 |
Item 16F. | Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountants | 58 |
Item 16G. | Corporate Governance | 58 |
Item 16H. | Mine Safety Disclosure. | 58 |
PART III | ||
Item 17. | Financial Statements | 59 |
Item 18. | Financial Statements | 59 |
Item 19. | Exhibits | 59 |
SIGNATURES | 60 |
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements. A forward-looking statement is a projection about a future event or result, and whether the statement comes true is subject to many risks and uncertainties. These statements often can be identified by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "approximate" or "continue," or the negative thereof. The actual results or activities of the Company will likely differ from projected results or activities of the Company as described in this Annual Report, and such differences could be material.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results and performance of the Company to be different from any future results, performance and achievements expressed or implied by these statements. In other words, our performance might be quite different from what the forward-looking statements imply. You should review carefully all information included in this Annual Report.
You should rely only on the forward-looking statements that reflect management's view as of the date of this Annual Report. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. You should also carefully review the risk factors described in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Private Securities Reform Act of 1995 contains a safe harbor for forward-looking statements on which the Company relies in making such disclosures. In connection with the "safe harbor," we are hereby identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" under Item 3. -– "Key Information."
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND CURRENCY PRESENTATION
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and publish our financial statements in United States Dollars.
REFERENCES
In this Annual Report, “China” refers to all parts of the People's Republic of China other than the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. The terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Group” and the “Company” refer to Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited and, where the context so requires or suggests, our direct and indirect subsidiaries. References to “dollars,” “U.S. Dollars” or “US$” are to United States Dollars, “HK$” are to Hong Kong Dollars, “Euros” or “euro” are to the European Monetary Union's Currency and “RMB” are to Chinese Renminbi.
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PART I
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors
Not Applicable.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not Applicable.
Item 3. Key Information
Selected Financial Data
The selected consolidated financial data as of March 31, 2020 and 2019, and for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are derived from the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes which appear elsewhere in this Annual Report.
The Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and expressed in United States Dollars. The selected consolidated financial data are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in the F pages of this Annual Report and Item 5. – "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" included in this Annual Report.
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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
Statement of Operations Data
(in US$)
For the Year Ended March 31, |
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2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Net sales | $ | 1,219,650 | $ | 1,217,588 | ||||
Cost of sales | (257,034 | ) | (320,836 | ) | ||||
Gross profit | 962,616 | 896,752 | ||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses | (598,610 | ) | (373,898 | ) | ||||
Research and development expenses | (182,309 | ) | (42,704 | ) | ||||
Selling and marketing expenses | (267,206 | ) | (168,014 | ) | ||||
Operating income (loss) | (85,509 | ) | 312,136 | |||||
Other income (expenses) | ||||||||
Other income (expenses) | (424 | ) | 303 | |||||
Gain on disposal a subsidiary | — | 3,127 | ||||||
Subsidy income | 2,298 | — | ||||||
Interest income | 2,451 | 605 | ||||||
Interest expense | (6,115 | ) | (20,076 | ) | ||||
Total other income (expenses), net | (1,790 | ) | (16,041 | ) | ||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | (87,299 | ) | 296,095 | |||||
Income tax expense | — | (15,912 | ) | |||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (87,299 | ) | $ | 280,183 | |||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | (14,229 | ) | 8,701 | |||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (101,528 | ) | $ | 288,884 | |||
(Loss) earnings per share – basic and diluted (cents) | (0.052 | ) | 0.173 | |||||
Weighted average number of shares – basic and diluted(1) | 166,881,967 | 161,500,000 | ||||||
(1) Share and per share data have been retroactively restated to give effect to the share exchange effected on August 31, 2019. See Item 4. “Information on the Company – History and Development of the Company.”
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Balance Sheet Data
(in US$)
At March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||
Cash at bank | $ | 60,790 | $ | 5,377 | ||||
Available-for-sale investment | — | 342,706 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net | 329,891 | 363,491 | ||||||
Inventories | 224,879 | 246,881 | ||||||
Due from related companies | 772,661 | 720,150 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | 141,017 | 187,770 | ||||||
Total current assets | 1,529,238 | 1,866,375 | ||||||
Non-current assets | ||||||||
Deposit for acquisition | 446,192 | — | ||||||
Right-of-use assets | 294,188 | — | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 9,839 | 9,343 | ||||||
Total other assets | 750,219 | 9,343 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,279,457 | $ | 1,875,718 | ||||
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||
Short-term loans | $ | 460,030 | $ | 206,070 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other payables | 66,673 | 150,181 | ||||||
Due to a director | — | 41,673 | ||||||
Value added and other taxes payable | 8,901 | 10,414 | ||||||
Lease liabilities, current | 93,077 | — | ||||||
Income tax payable | — | 15,309 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 628,681 | 423,647 | ||||||
Non-current liabilities | ||||||||
Lease liabilities, non-current | 170,966 | — | ||||||
Total liabilities | 799,647 | 423,647 | ||||||
Stockholders' deficit | ||||||||
Preferred shares, $0.0001 par value,
20,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively |
— | — | ||||||
Ordinary Shares, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 171,450,000 and 161,500,000 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively(1) |
17,145 | 16,150 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 1,563,472 | 1,435,200 | ||||||
Accumulated losses | (214,247 | ) | (126,948 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 113,440 | 127,669 | ||||||
Total stockholders' equity | 1,479,810 | 1,452,071 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit | $ | 2,279,457 | $ | 1,875,718 |
(1) Par value of Ordinary Shares, additional paid-in capital and share data have been retroactively restated to give effect to the share exchange effected on August 31, 2019. See Item 4. “Information on the Company – History and Development of the Company.”
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Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the following risks, together with all other information included in this Annual Report. The realization of any of the risks described below could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and future prospects.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and results of operations.
The Company is in the process of developing its business and has a limited operating history. You should consider our future prospects in light of the risks and uncertainties experienced by early stage companies. Some of these risks and uncertainties relate to our ability to:
• | offer products of sufficient quality to attract and retain a larger customer base; |
• | attract additional customers and increase spending per customer; |
• | increase awareness of our products and continue to develop customer loyalty; |
• | respond to competitive market conditions; |
• | respond to changes in our regulatory environment; |
• | maintain effective control of our costs and expenses; |
• | raise sufficient capital to sustain and expand our business; and |
• | attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel. |
If we are unsuccessful in addressing any of these risks and uncertainties, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
We envision a period of rapid growth that may impose a significant burden on our administrative and operational resources that, if not effectively managed, could impair our growth.
Our strategy envisions a period of rapid growth that may impose a significant burden on our administrative and operational resources. The growth of our business will require significant investments of capital and management’s close attention. Our ability to effectively manage our growth will require us to substantially expand the capabilities of our administrative and operational resources and to attract, train, manage and retain qualified management, research and development, sales and marketing and other personnel; we may be unable to do so. In addition, our failure to successfully manage our growth could result in our sales not increasing commensurately with capital investments. If we are unable to successfully manage our growth, we may be unable to achieve our goals.
We may not be able to raise the additional capital necessary to execute our business strategy, which could result in the curtailment of our operations.
We will need to raise additional funds to fully fund our existing operations and for development and expansion of our business. We have no current arrangements with respect to sources of additional financing and the needed additional financing may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, on a timely basis or at all. The inability to obtain additional financing when needed would have a negative effect on us, including possibly requiring us to curtail our operations. If any future financing involves the sale of equity securities, the Ordinary Shares held by our shareholders could be substantially diluted. If we borrow money or issue debt securities, the Company will be subject to the risks associated with indebtedness, including the risk that interest rates may fluctuate and the possibility that it may not be able to pay principal and interest on the indebtedness when due. Insufficient funds would prevent us from implementing our business plan and would require us to delay, scale back or eliminate certain of our operations.
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We will be required to hire and retain skilled managerial, research and development and sales and marketing personnel.
Our continued success depends in large part on our ability to attract, train, motivate and retain qualified management, research and development and sales and marketing personnel. Any failure to attract and retain the required personnel that are integral to our business may have a negative impact on our operations, which would have a negative impact on revenues. There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract and retain skilled persons and the loss of skilled personnel would adversely affect us.
We are dependent upon our officers and management for direction and the loss of any of these persons could adversely affect our operations and results.
We are dependent upon our officers and those of our sole operating subsidiary, Bao Feng Bio-Technology (Beijing) Limited (“Bao Feng”), for implementation of our proposed strategy and execution of our business plan. The loss of any of our or Bao Feng’s officers could have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations and financial position. We do not maintain “key person” life insurance for any of our or Bao Feng’s officers. The loss of any of our or Bao Feng’s officers could delay or prevent the achievement of our business objectives.
We currently have only one operating subsidiary and one line of products.
We are a holding company with a total of four subsidiaries; however, at the current time only one of those subsidiaries, Bao Feng, is conducting operations. Although the Company plans to expand the marketing and sale of Bao Feng’s products into the international arena and to have a different subsidiary, Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, handle the international business, it is expected that China will remain our primary market. In addition, the products sold in the international market will be the same products developed by Bao Feng. Therefore, we will remain primarily dependent on Bao Feng for our revenue. If Bao Feng is not profitable, our business, results of operations and cash flows could be significantly and adversely affected.
We may be sued or become a party to litigation, which could require significant management time and attention and result in significant legal expenses and may result in an unfavorable outcome, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We may be subject to a number of lawsuits from time to time arising in the ordinary course of our business. The expense of defending ourselves against such litigation may be significant. The amount of time to resolve these lawsuits is unpredictable and defending ourselves may divert management’s attention from the day-to-day operations of our business, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, an unfavorable outcome in such litigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows.
Future sales of our securities, or the perception in the markets that these sales may occur, could depress our stock price.
We currently have issued and outstanding 17,145,000 Ordinary Shares (after a reverse stock split effected on July 24, 2020). Although only 2,236,192 of those Shares have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), the remaining 14,908,808 Shares also may be sold in the future if registered under the Securities Act or if the shareholder qualifies for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act, or other applicable exemption. The market price of our capital stock could drop significantly if the holders of these restricted Shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors also could make it more difficult for us to raise capital or make acquisitions through the issuance of additional Ordinary Shares or other equity securities.
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The ability of the Board of Directors of the Company to issue preferred shares and any anti-takeover provisions we adopt may depress the value of our Ordinary Shares.
Our Articles of Association authorize our Board of Directors to provide, out of unissued shares, for preferred shares in one or more classes or series within a class upon authority of the Board without further shareholder approval. While no preferred shares are currently issued or outstanding, we may issue preferred shares in the future. Any preferred shares issued in the future may rank senior to the Ordinary Shares with respect to the payment of dividends or amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or both, and any such preferred shares may have class or series voting rights. The future issuance of preferred shares could materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of our Ordinary Shares and dilute the ordinary shareholders’ holdings.
In addition, the Board of Directors may, in the future, adopt anti-takeover measures (albeit the Board of Directors may not introduce any anti-takeover measures in our Articles of Association within a Special Resolution of Shareholders). The authority of the Board of Directors to issue preferred shares and any future anti-takeover measures it may adopt may, in certain circumstances, delay, deter or prevent takeover attempts and other changes in control of the Company not approved by its Board of Directors. As a result, the Company’s shareholders may lose opportunities to dispose of their Shares at favorable prices generally available in takeover attempts or that may be available under a merger proposal and the market price of the Ordinary Shares and the voting and other rights of the Company’s shareholders may also be affected.
Our shareholders may face difficulties in protecting their interests, and their ability to protect their rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and all of our directors and officers reside outside the United States.
We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands and conduct substantially all of our operations in China. Both of our directors and officers reside outside the United States and their assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for a shareholder to effect service of process or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the Cayman Islands or in Hong Kong or China in the event that a shareholder believes that his rights have been infringed under the securities laws or otherwise. Even if a shareholder is successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and China may render the shareholder unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. There is no statutory recognition in the Cayman Islands or Hong Kong of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong will generally recognize and enforce a non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended and restated from time to time, and by the Companies Law (Revised) and common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take legal action against us and our directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, which provides persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States and provides significantly less protection to investors. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in U.S. federal courts.
PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedure Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest.
As a result, our shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against us, our management, our directors or our major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.
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It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigation or collect evidence within China.
Shareholder claims or regulatory investigations that are common in the United States generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to providing information needed for regulatory investigations or litigation initiated outside China. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States may not be efficient in the absence of a mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or Article 177, which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. While detailed interpretation of or implementation rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by our shareholders in protecting their interests.
There may be conflicts of interest between our management and our non-management shareholders.
Conflicts of interest create the risk that our officers and directors may have an incentive to act adversely to the interests of the Company. A conflict of interest may arise between our officers and directors’ personal pecuniary interests and their fiduciary duty to our shareholders.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, shareholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the future trading price of our Shares.
Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Ineffective internal control could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the future trading price of our Shares.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in the Company and in our subsidiaries. As defined in Regulation 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, a “material weakness” is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented, or detected on a timely basis. Specifically, we determined that we had the following material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting: (i) we have limited controls over information processing; (ii) we have inadequate segregation of duties; (iii) we do not have a formal audit committee with a financial expert; and (iv) we do not have sufficient formal written policies and procedures for accounting and financial reporting with respect to the requirements and application of both generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP, and SEC guidelines. Although our financial statements and footnotes are reviewed by our management, we do not have a formal policy to review significant accounting transactions and the accounting treatment of such transactions.
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Even if we develop effective internal controls over financial reporting, such controls may become inadequate due to changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with such policies or procedures may deteriorate, which could result in the discovery of additional material weaknesses and deficiencies. In any event, the process of determining whether our existing internal control over financial reporting is compliant with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“Section 404”) and is sufficiently effective requires the investment of substantial time and resources by our senior management. As a result, this process may divert internal resources and take a significant amount of time and effort to complete. In addition, we cannot predict the outcome of this process and whether we will need to implement remedial actions in order to establish effective controls over financial reporting. The determination of whether or not our internal controls are sufficient, and any remedial actions required could result in us incurring additional costs that we did not anticipate, including the hiring of additional outside consultants. We may also fail to timely complete our evaluation, testing and any remediation required to comply with Section 404.
We are required, pursuant to Section 404, to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, for as long as we are a “smaller reporting company,” our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. While we could be a smaller reporting company for an indefinite amount of time, and thus relieved of the above-mentioned attestation requirement, an independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting could detect problems that our management’s assessment might not. Such undetected material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could lead to financial statement restatements and require us to incur the expense of remediation.
To the extent that our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit documentation related to their audit reports for the Company are, or will be, located in China, the PCAOB may not be able to inspect such audit documentation and, as a result, you may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection.
Our independent registered public accounting firm issued audit opinions on the financial statements included in this Annual Report and will issue audit reports related to the Company in the future. As the auditor of a company filing reports with the SEC and as a firm registered with the PCAOB, our auditor is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB. However, to the extent that our auditor’s work papers are or become located in China, such work papers will not be subject to inspection by the PCAOB because the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities. Inspections of certain other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside of China have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of our auditors’ work papers in China would make it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to PCAOB inspections. Investors may consequently lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements. As a result, our investors may be deprived of the benefits of the PCAOB’s oversight of our auditors through such inspections.
In addition, trade tensions and policy changes between China and the United States have also led to measures that could have adverse effects on China-based issuers, including proposed legislation in the United States that would require listed companies whose audit reports and/or auditors are not subject to review by the PCAOB to be subject to enhanced disclosure obligations and be subject to delisting if they do not comply with the requirements. If our auditor is sanctioned or otherwise penalized by the PCAOB or the SEC as a result of failure to comply with inspection or investigation requirements, our financial statements could be determined to be not in compliance with the requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or other laws or rules in the United States, which could ultimately result in our Shares being delisted from whatever exchange they may become listed on.
We have never paid dividends on our Shares.
We have never paid dividends on our Shares and do not presently intend to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. We anticipate that any funds available for payment of dividends will be re-invested into the Company to further its business strategy.
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Risks Related to the Business of Bao Feng
Our business depends on the market recognition of our brand. If we are not able to maintain our reputation and enhance our brand recognition, our business and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.
The quality and acceptance of our products will determine whether our brand becomes recognized as a leading brand in the industry. We believe that market recognition of our brand is a key factor to ensuring our future success. As we continue to grow in size and broaden the scope of our product offerings, however, it may become increasingly difficult to maintain the quality and consistency of the products we offer, which may negatively impact our brand and the popularity of our products offered thereunder.
Our brand value will also be affected by customer perceptions. Those perceptions are affected by a number of factors, some of which are based on first-hand observation of our product quality and effectiveness while others may be based on indirect information from media or other sources. Incidents and any negative publicity related thereto, even if factually incorrect, may lead to significant deterioration of our brand image and reputation, and consequently negatively affect customers’ interest in our products, as well as top-notch sales and marketing personnel’s interest in being associated with our brand. Particularly in the age of digital media and social network, impacts of negative publicity associated with any single incident could be easily amplified and potentially cause impacts that go beyond our estimation or control.
In addition, scientific studies on health products are constantly evolving and new or innovative conclusions on effectiveness may affect customers’ perception of our products. If we are unable to maintain our reputation, enhance our brand recognition or increase positive awareness of our products, it may be difficult to maintain and grow our customer base and distribution channels, and our business and growth prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
We may face increasing competition in our industry and may not be able to successfully compete with our competitors.
Our business is in an industry that we expect to become increasingly competitive, and many of our competitors, both local and international, may have substantially greater technical, financial and marketing resources than we have. As a result, we may be unable to compete successfully with these competitors. As competition increases, we may also face pressures on pricing which could result in lower margins. Lower margins may affect our ability to cover our costs, which could have a material negative impact on our operations and our business.
We may not be successful in introducing new products or enhancing our existing products.
We currently offer four health supplement products, plus our acer truncatum seedlings. We intend to continue developing new products, as well as further enhancing our existing products. This process is subject to risks and uncertainties, such as unexpected technical, regulatory, operational, logistical or other problems that could delay the process temporarily or permanently. Moreover, we cannot assure you that any of these new products or enhancements of existing products will fulfill customer needs, match the quality or popularity of those developed by our competitors, achieve widespread market acceptance or generate incremental revenues.
In addition, introducing new products or enhancing existing products requires us to make various investments in research and development, incur personnel expenses and potentially reallocate other resources. If we are unable to develop new products or cannot do so in a cost-effective manner or are otherwise unable to manage effectively the quality of those products, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
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Our business is affected by global, national and local economic conditions, as the products we sell are discretionary.
We depend upon factors relating to discretionary consumer spending in China. These factors include economic conditions, consumers, employment rates, the amounts of consumers' disposable income, business conditions, interest rates, consumer debt, availability of credit and applicable taxation in regional and local markets where we sell our products. There can be no assurance that consumer spending for our products will not be adversely affected by changes in economic conditions.
Our ability to establish effective marketing and advertising campaigns is the key to our success.
Our advertisements promote our products and the pricing of such products. If we are unable to increase awareness of our brands and our products, we may not be able to attract new customers. Our marketing activities may not be successful in promoting or pricing our products or retaining and enlarging our customer base. We cannot assure you that our marketing programs will be adequate to support our future growth, which may lead to material adverse effects on our results of operations.
Consumer preferences in the health care industry change rapidly and are difficult to predict.
The success of our business depends on our ability to anticipate accurately and respond to future changes in consumer demand, maintain the correct inventory, deliver the appropriate products at the right prices and produce our products at minimum costs. We must optimize our product selection and inventory based on consumer preferences and sales trends. If we fail to anticipate, identify or react appropriately to changes in consumer demand, we could experience excess inventories, higher than normal markdowns or be unable to sell the products, which will reduce our revenue, financial position and results of operations.
While we must maintain sufficient inventory to operate our business successfully and meet our customers' demands, we must be careful to not overstock.
Changing consumer demands and uncertainty surrounding new product launches expose us to increasing inventory risks. Demand for products can change rapidly and unexpectedly, including the back order time and availability for sale. We carry five different products for which we must maintain sufficient inventory amounts. In the event that consumer demand for certain of our products decreases, we may be unable to sell our inventory of those products. Our inventory holding costs will increase if we maintain excess inventory. However, if we do not have sufficient inventory to fulfill customer orders, we may lose orders or customers, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot assure you that we can accurately predict consumer demand and events and avoid over-stocking or under-stocking products.
We primarily depend on a few products for our revenue.
We currently rely on five products, including our acer truncatum seedlings, for our revenue. We do not currently have any other products that we could rely on to support our operations if we were to experience any difficulty with the manufacture, marketing, sale or distribution of these product lines. If we are unable to sustain or increase the price or sales levels for these product lines, our business could be harmed.
If we are to expand our product offerings, or if we experience increased capital requirements for any reason, we may need to raise additional capital.
We primarily depend on our Neuro Enhancer product line for 70% of our revenue. We may decide to expand our product portfolio, which would entail increased research and development expenses. If cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy our requirements in this regard, we may need to raise additional capital. If we are unable to raise additional required capital in a timely manner, or on acceptable terms, we could be forced to reduce our growth plans. There can be no assurance that additional capital will be available to us or that it will be available on acceptable terms.
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We depend upon our largest customers for a significant portion of our sales revenue, and we cannot be certain that sales to these customers will continue. If sales to these customers do not continue, then our sales revenue will decline and our business will be negatively impacted.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, three customers accounted for approximately 55% of Bao Feng’s sales. We do not enter into long-term contracts with our customers but manufacture based upon purchase orders and therefore cannot be certain that sales to these customers will continue. Unless we were able to replace them with other customers, the loss of any of our largest customers would have a material negative impact on our sales revenue and our business. There can be no assurance that we would be able to compensate for the loss of any of these major customers.
Product liability claims could adversely affect our business.
As a manufacturer of products that are ingested, we could face product liability claims if, among other things, our products are alleged to result in injury to a consumer. If we are found liable for product liability claims, we could be required to pay substantial monetary damages. Furthermore, even if we successfully defend ourselves against this type of claim, we could be required to spend significant management, financial and other resources, which could disrupt our business.
In addition, any product liability claim or adverse side effects, even if caused by improper use of our product, may result in adverse publicity regarding us and our products, which would harm our reputation.
If we fail to protect our trademarks and trade names, then our ability to compete could be negatively affected, which would harm our financial condition and operating results.
The market for our products depends to a significant extent upon the goodwill associated with our trademarks and trade names. We own the material trademark and trade name rights used in connection with the packaging, marketing and distribution of all but one of our products in the markets where those products are sold. Therefore, trademark and trade name protection is important to our business. Our trademarks are registered in China, and Chinese law may not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. The loss or infringement of our trademarks or trade names could impair the goodwill associated with our brands and harm our reputation, which would harm our financial condition and operating results.
There is limited protection of intellectual property available in China. Accordingly, we face the risk in China that unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain or use our trademarks, copyrights, product formulations or other intellectual property. Further, because Chinese commercial law is relatively undeveloped, we may have limited legal recourse in the event we encounter significant difficulties with intellectual property theft or infringement. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately protect our product formulations or other intellectual property.
Our manufacturing activity is subject to certain risks.
We manufacture all of our products, other than our acer truncatum seedlings, through contractual arrangements with various manufacturers. As a result, we are dependent upon the uninterrupted and efficient operation of their manufacturing facilities, over which we have no control. In addition, our acer truncatum trees are grown on several tree farms in Inner Mongolia and Liaoning Province, in China. The facilities manufacturing our products and the tree farms at which our acer truncatum trees are grown are subject to the risk of catastrophic loss due to, among other things, earthquake, fire, flood or other natural or man-made disasters, and the manufacturing facilities are also subject to the risk of significant equipment failures. If any of these facilities were to experience a catastrophic loss, it would be expected to disrupt their operations and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
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Cyber security risks and the failure to maintain the integrity of data belonging to our company, employees and customers could expose us to data loss, litigation and liability, and our reputation could be significantly harmed.
We collect and retain large volumes of data relating to our business and from our employees and customers for business purposes, including for transactional and promotional purposes, and our various information technology systems enter, process, summarize and report such data. The integrity and protection of this data is critical to our business. We are subject to significant security and privacy regulations, as well as requirements imposed by the credit card industry. Maintaining compliance with these evolving regulations and requirements could be difficult and may increase our expenses. In addition, a penetrated or compromised data system or the intentional, inadvertent or negligent release or disclosure of data could result in theft, loss or fraudulent or unlawful use of data relating to our company or our employees, independent distributors or customers, which could harm our reputation, disrupt our operations or result in remedial and other costs, fines or lawsuits.
Difficulties in registering our products for sale in Mainland China could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Although Bao Feng has obtained all required approval documents for its current products, which are considered dietary supplements, if it expands into the medical market, it will need to apply for medical qualifications. This process may involve an extended period of time and significant man-hours and may delay us from offering new medical products for sale or prevent us from launching new product initiatives.
For example, products marketed in China as “health foods” or for which certain claims are used are subject to “blue cap” or “blue hat” registrations, which involve extensive laboratory and clinical analysis by governmental authorities. This registration process can take anywhere from 18 months to 3 years, but may be substantially longer. We currently market dietary supplements. However, if government officials should determine that our products should be categorized as health foods, this could end or limit our ability to market such products in China and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our business operations may be adversely affected by the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19 or future epidemics or pandemics.
An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) first emerged in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China in late 2019 and continued to expand within the PRC and globally. The new strain of coronavirus is considered highly contagious and poses a serious public health threat. With the aim of containing the COVID-19 outbreak, the PRC government imposed extreme measures across the PRC including, but not limited to, the complete lockdown of Wuhan city on January 23, 2020, partial lockdown measures across various cities in the PRC, the extended shutdown of business operations and mandatory quarantine requirements on infected individuals and anyone deemed potentially infected. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and on March 11, 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted China’s economy in the first quarter of 2020. Despite the PRC government’s efforts to revive China’s economy, China’s economy experienced a significant slowdown since the outbreak and will continue to face new difficulties and challenges due to the spread of the pandemic, increasing risk of imported cases and heightened volatility and uncertainties in the global economy, and there remains uncertainty as to how soon or whether economic activities in China will rebound to the level prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Our business has been and may continue to be adversely impacted. Our sole operating subsidiary is located in China, as are all of its employees, suppliers, product manufacturers, distributors and customers. Although Bao Feng’s online sales were not significantly affected by the epidemic, its total sales decreased by approximately 60.7% from RMB3,863,441 (approximately US$544,147) during the three months ended March 31, 2019 to RMB1,520,125 (approximately US$214,102) for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Its production capacity was significantly reduced due to the government lockdown and orders were filled through existing inventory. In addition, Bao Feng’s planned business expansion has been delayed due to travel restrictions and other factors, the planting of acer truncatum seedlings has had to be postponed for a year and the company has been unable to work towards expanding its distribution network.
The potential downturn brought by and the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak is difficult to assess or predict and the full impact of the virus on our operations will depend on many factors beyond our control. A major resurgence of the epidemic in China could be expected to negatively impact our business in much the same way as the first occurrence of the epidemic. In addition, our business operations could be disrupted again if our product manufacturers are instructed to close their manufacturing facilities or if any of our employees, or those of our product manufacturers, is suspected of contracting COVID-19, since our or their employees could be quarantined and/or our or their facilities be shut down for disinfection. The extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak impacts our business, results of operations and financial condition remains uncertain. Our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be materially adversely affected to the extent that COVID-19 persists in China or harms the Chinese and global economy in general.
We may also experience negative effects from future public health crises beyond our control. These events are impossible to forecast, their negative effects may be difficult to mitigate and they could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China
Recent trade policy initiatives announced by the United States administration against the PRC may adversely affect our business.
On August 14, 2017, the President of the United States issued a memorandum instructing the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) to determine whether to investigate, under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 (Trade Act), laws, policies, practices, or actions of the PRC government that may be unreasonable or discriminatory and that may be harming U.S. intellectual property rights, innovation, or technology development. Based on information gathered in that investigation, the USTR published a report on March 22, 2018 on the acts, policies and practices of the PRC government supporting findings that certain such acts, policies and practices are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce.
On March 8, 2018, the President exercised his authority to issue the imposition of significant tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from a number of countries, including the PRC. Subsequently, the USTR announced an initial proposed list of 1,300 goods imported from the PRC that could be subject to additional tariffs and initiated a dispute with the World Trade Organization against the PRC for alleged unfair trade practices. The President indicated that his two primary concerns to be addressed by the PRC were (i) a mandatory $100 billion reduction in the PRC/U.S. trade deficit and (ii) limiting the planned $300 billion PRC government support for advanced technology industries including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electric cars and commercial aircraft. On June 15, 2018, the President announced that the U.S. would proceed with tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods, including agriculture and industrial machinery, which prompted the PRC government to impose tariffs on $34 billion worth of goods from the U.S., including beef, poultry, tobacco and cars. In response to the PRC’s proposed retaliatory measures, the President announced on June 19, 2018 that the U.S. would compile a list of $200 billion in Chinese goods for levies should the PRC move forward with their proposed tariffs. On August 7, 2018, the U.S. announced a tariff of 25% on approximately $16 billion worth of predominantly industrial goods from China, including tractors, plastic tubes and antennas, which went into effect on August 23, 2018. In response, on August 8, 2018, China announced a 25% tariff on $16 billion worth of U.S. goods, including large passenger cars, motorcycles, chemical items and diesel fuel, which also went into effect on August 23, 2018. On September 7, 2018, the President warned that he was prepared to impose tariffs on another $267 billion worth of Chinese goods, which, in addition to the other previously announced tariffs, would cover virtually all of China’s imports into the U.S. but, instead, on September 17, 2018 the U.S. imposed a 10% tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. On September 18, 2018, China retaliated with 5% tariffs on $60 billion of US goods. On May 10, 2019 the U.S. announced an increase from 10% to 25% in the tariff imposed on September 17, 2018 and on May 13, 2018 China announced increases from 5% to either 10%, 20% or 25% in the tariffs on many of the goods covered by the tariffs announced by on September 18, 2018. As of the date of this filing, the U.S. has applied 25% tariffs on US$250 billion worth of Chinese products. In response, China has imposed tariffs on $110 billion worth of U.S. goods.
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In addition to the retaliatory tariffs, the President also directed the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to develop new restrictions on PRC investments in the U.S. aimed at preventing PRC-controlled companies and funds from acquiring U.S. firms with sensitive technologies. The Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, which modernizes the restrictive powers imposed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, was signed by President Trump on August 13, 2018.
Since late 2019, as a result of ongoing negotiations with the United States, China unveiled several tariff exemptions for U.S. products, including various agricultural products. Under the phase one trade deal agreed with the United States by the end of 2019, China released additional exemptions from tariffs and agreed to purchase at least an additional US$200 billion worth of U.S. goods and services by the end of 2021. It is uncertain whether there will be any further material changes to China’s tariff policies. Any further actions to increase existing tariffs or impose additional tariffs could result in an escalation of the trade conflict, which would have an adverse effect on manufacturing levels, trade levels and industries, including logistics, retail sales and other businesses and services that rely on trade, commerce and manufacturing, as well as on our marketplaces that rely upon imports.
The institution of trade tariffs both globally and between the U.S. and China specifically carries the risk of negatively affecting China’s overall economic condition, which could have a negative impact on us. Furthermore, imposition of tariffs could have a negative impact on our supply chain and on foreign demand for our products and, thus, could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations. During the year ended March 31, 2020, approximately 56.9% of our sales were to customers in the United States.
Trade tensions and policy changes have also led to measures that could have adverse effects on China-based issuers, including proposed legislation in the United States that would require listed companies whose audit reports and/or auditors are not subject to review by the PCAOB to be subject to enhanced disclosure obligations and be subject to delisting if they do not comply with the requirements.
The Market Price For Our Shares Could Be Adversely Affected By Increased Tensions Between The United States and China.
Recently there have been heightened tensions in the economic and political relations between the United States and China. On June 30, 2020, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People's Congress issued the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). This law defines the duties and government bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security and four categories of offences—secession, subversion, terrorist activities and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security—and their corresponding penalties. On July 14, 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, or HKAA, into law, authorizing the U.S. administration to impose blocking sanctions against individuals and entities who are determined to have materially contributed to the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy. On August 7, 2020 the U.S. government imposed HKAA-authorized sanctions on eleven individuals, including HKSAR chief executive Carrie Lam. The HKAA further authorizes secondary sanctions, including the imposition of blocking sanctions, against foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct a significant transaction with foreign persons sanctioned under this authority. The imposition of sanctions such as those provided in the HKAA is in practice discretionary and highly political, especially in a relationship as extensive and complex as that between the United States and China. It is difficult to predict the full impact of the HKAA on Hong Kong and companies like the Company. Furthermore, legislative or administrative actions in respect of Sino-U.S. relations could cause investor uncertainty for affected issuers, including us, and the market price of our Shares could be adversely affected.
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The Chinese government may exert substantial influence over the manner in which we conduct our business operations in China.
The Chinese government has exercised, and continues to exercise, substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to conduct our operations in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to regulation of the health product industry, taxation, import and export tariffs, environmental regulations, land use rights, property ownership and other matters. We believe that our operations in China are in material compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, the central or local governments of the jurisdictions in which we operate may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on us and our business.
China’s economic policies could affect our business.
Substantially all of our assets are located in China and substantially all of our revenue is currently derived from our operations in China. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects are subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political and legal developments in China.
While China’s economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been irregular, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and the rate of growth has been slowing since 2012. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in the policies of the Chinese government or in the laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, lead to reduction in demand for our products and adversely affect our competitive position. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures benefit the overall economy of China but may also have a negative effect on us. For example, our operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations.
The economy of China has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy. In recent years the Chinese government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform and the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises; however, a substantial portion of productive assets in China are still owned by the Chinese government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. It also exercises significant control over China's economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
Fluctuation of the RMB may affect our financial condition by affecting the volume of cross-border money flow.
The value of the RMB fluctuates and is subject to changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions. Since July 2005, the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including USD, has been based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China which are set based upon the interbank foreign exchange market rates and current exchange rates of a basket of currencies on the world financial markets.
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We may face obstacles from the communist system in the PRC.
Foreign companies conducting operations in the PRC face significant political, economic and legal risks. The communist regime in the PRC may hinder Western investment in the Company.
We may have difficulty establishing adequate management, legal and financial controls in the PRC.
The PRC historically has been deficient in Western style management and financial reporting concepts and practices, as well as in modern banking, computer and other control systems. We may have difficulty in hiring and retaining a sufficient number of qualified employees to work in the PRC. As a result of these factors, we may experience difficulty in establishing management, legal and financial controls, collecting financial data and preparing financial statements, books of account and corporate records and instituting business practices that meet Western standards.
The PRC legal system embodies uncertainties, which could limit law enforcement availability.
The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, decided legal cases have little precedence. In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past several decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investment in China. Our PRC operating subsidiary and affiliate is subject to PRC laws and regulations. However, these laws and regulations change frequently, and the interpretation and enforcement involve uncertainties. For instance, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce the legal protection that we are entitled to by law or contract. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting statutory and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative court proceedings and the level of law enforcement that we would receive in more developed legal systems. Such uncertainties, including the inability to enforce our contracts, could affect our business and operation. In addition, confidentiality protections in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other countries. Accordingly, we cannot predict the effect of future developments in the PRC legal system, particularly with regard to our business, including the promulgation of new laws. This may include changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of local regulations by national laws. These uncertainties could limit the availability of law enforcement, including our ability to enforce our agreements.
Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.
Companies operating in China are required to participate in various government sponsored employee benefit plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where they operate their businesses. The requirement of employee benefit plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations. Our failure in making contributions to various employee benefit plans and in complying with applicable PRC labor-related laws may subject us to late payment penalties. We may be required to make up the contributions for these plans as well as to pay late fees and fines. If we are subject to late fees or fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
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We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
We are a Cayman Islands holding company and we rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries for our cash requirements, including for servicing any debt we may incur. Our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends is based upon their distributable earnings. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to their respective shareholders only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiaries are required to set aside at least 10% of their after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of their registered capital. Our PRC subsidiaries, as foreign invested enterprises, or FIEs, are also required to further set aside a portion of their after-tax profit to fund an employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at their discretion. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. If our PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to their shareholders could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
Changes to PRC tax laws may subject us to greater taxes.
We base our tax position upon the anticipated nature and conduct of our business and upon our understanding of the tax laws of the various administrative regions and countries in which we have assets or conduct activities. However, our tax position is subject to review and possible challenge by taxing authorities and to possible changes in law, which may have retroactive effect. We cannot determine in advance the extent to which some jurisdictions may require us to pay taxes or make payments in lieu of taxes.
Risks Related to the Company’s Ordinary Shares
There is currently no trading market for our Ordinary Shares.
There currently is no trading market for our Ordinary Shares. Our unregistered outstanding Shares cannot be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred unless subsequently registered pursuant to, or exempt from registration under, the Securities Act and any other applicable federal or state securities laws or regulations in the United States. These restrictions will limit the ability of certain of our shareholders to liquidate their investment.
We are seeking to identify a market maker to apply for our Shares to be admitted to quotation on the OTCQB. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify a market maker that will file such application or that, if the Shares are admitted to quotation, a public market will ever develop. There is no guarantee that our Shares will ever be quoted on the OTCQB or any exchange. Furthermore, you will likely not be able to sell your Shares if a regular trading market for our securities does not develop and we cannot predict the extent, if any, to which investor interest will lead to the development of a viable trading market in our Shares. We expect the initial market for our Shares to be limited, if a market develops at all. Even if a limited trading market does develop, there is a risk that the absence of potential buyers will prevent any potential sellers from selling their Shares.
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Recent regulatory and enforcement actions by FINRA will make it difficult for investors to dispose of their Ordinary Shares as long as they remain an OTC security.
In order to be able to publicly trade a security, such security is required to have a trading symbol. Trading symbols for OTC securities are assigned by FINRA following a submission by a market maker of a Form 211. We are seeking to identify a market maker to submit that form. In the past, the review of such submissions by FINRA was a routine matter that would typically be completed within weeks. Recently, FINRA reviews have often taken well in excess of six months, with many securities being subject to indefinite delays. As a result of the enhanced regulatory scrutiny and long review process, many market makers are now declining to submit Forms 211.
In addition, and in response to increased scrutiny and recent regulatory actions by FINRA, many brokers have started to refuse deposits of OTC securities, whether restricted or free trading and regardless of the price at which these securities are traded, even after they obtained a trading symbol. As a result, investors may find it increasingly difficult to dispose of their Ordinary Shares.
We may not be able to achieve secondary trading of our Shares in certain states because our Ordinary Shares are not nationally traded, which could subject our shareholders to significant restrictions and costs.
Our Ordinary Shares are not eligible for trading on The NASDAQ Capital Market or on a national securities exchange. Therefore, our Ordinary Shares are subject to the securities laws of the various states and jurisdictions of the United States in addition to federal securities law. While we may register our Ordinary Shares or qualify for exemptions for our Ordinary Shares in one or more states, if we fail to do so the investors in those states where we have not taken such steps may not be allowed to purchase our Shares or those who presently hold our Shares may not be able to resell their Shares without substantial effort and expense. These restrictions and potential costs could be significant burdens on our shareholders.
It is likely that there will be significant volatility in the trading price of our Ordinary Shares.
In the event that a public market for our Ordinary Shares is created or maintained in the future, market prices for the Shares will be influenced by many factors and will be subject to significant fluctuations in response to variations in operating results of Bao Feng and other factors. Our stock price will also be affected by the trading price of the stock of our competitors, investor perceptions of Bao Feng, interest rates, general economic conditions and those specific to our industry, developments with regard to Bao Feng’s operations and activities, our future financial condition and changes in our management.
Risks relating to low priced stocks.
The Company’s Ordinary Shares are not quoted and traded in any market or on any exchange, and the price at which the Shares will trade in the future cannot currently be estimated. There can be no assurance that trading will be commenced or sustained, although management intends to take such actions as are necessary to initiate quotation of our Ordinary Shares on the OTCQB. The trading price of the Shares will most likely be below $5.00. If our Shares trade below $5.00 per Share, trading in the Shares may be subject to the requirements of certain rules promulgated under the Exchange Act, which require additional disclosure by broker-dealers in connection with any trades involving a stock defined as a penny stock (generally, any non-NASDAQ equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions) and a two business day “cooling off period” before broker-dealers can effect transactions in penny stocks. For these types of transactions, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and have received the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to the sale. The broker-dealer also must disclose the commissions payable to the broker-dealer, current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock and, if the broker-dealer is the sole market-maker, the broker-dealer must disclose this fact and the broker-dealer’s presumed control over the market. These, and the other burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by the penny stock requirements, could discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our Shares, which could severely limit the market liquidity of our Shares and the ability of holders of our Shares to sell them.
We are controlled by Zhong Yuan Investment Limited, whose interest may differ from those of the other shareholders.
As of the date of this filing, Zhong Yuan Investment Limited (‘Zhong Yuan Investment”) is the record and beneficial owner of approximately 88.4% of our Ordinary Shares. Zhong Yuan Investment is owned of record by five parties, including Ting Ting Chang, our Chief Executive Officer and director, Fung Ming Pang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, and Xianyang Chen, Bao Feng’s Chief Technical Officer, and its Board of Directors consists of Ms. Chang and Ms. Pang. As the only two directors of Zhong Yuan Investment, Ms. Chang and Ms. Pang hold shared voting power over the Shares held by it, Zhong Yuan Investment is in a position to elect the Board of Directors and to control the business and affairs of the Company including significant corporate actions such as mergers and acquisitions, the sale or purchase of assets and the issuance and sale of our securities. The Company also may be prevented from entering into transactions that could be beneficial to the Company's other shareholders. The interest of our largest shareholder may differ from the interests of our other shareholders.
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Our principal shareholder may engage in a transaction to cause the Company to repurchase its Ordinary Shares.
In order to provide an interest in the Company to a third party, our principal shareholder may choose to cause the Company to sell its securities to third parties, with the proceeds of such sale being utilized by the Company to repurchase its Ordinary Shares. As a result of such transaction, our management, principal shareholders and Board of Directors may change.
This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements and information relating to us, our industry and other businesses.
The forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. When used in this Annual Report, the words "estimate," "project," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in our forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Annual Report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act and will take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act and take advantage of certain exemptions from various requirements applicable to other reporting companies that are not emerging growth companies including, most significantly, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for so long as we are an emerging growth company. As a result, if we elect not to comply with such auditor attestation requirements, our investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important.
The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised financial accounting standards. The Company has elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised financial accounting standards under Section 102(b)(2) of the JOBS Act that allows the Company to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies.
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Certain Legal Consequences of Foreign Incorporation and Operations
Judgments against the Company and management may be difficult to obtain or enforce.
We are organized as an exempted company under the laws of the Cayman Islands, our principal executive offices are located in Hong Kong and we conduct substantially all of our operations in China. Both of our directors and officers reside outside the United States and their assets are located outside of the United States. Outside the United States, it may be difficult for investors to enforce judgments obtained against us in actions brought in the United States, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of United States federal securities laws. In addition, since both of our officers and directors reside outside the United States, and their assets are located outside the United States, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon them or to enforce against the Company or them judgments predicated upon the liability provisions of United States federal securities laws. There is substantial doubt as to the enforceability against us or our officers and directors in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of United States courts in claims for liability based on the civil liability provisions of United States federal securities laws.
No treaty exists between Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands and the United States providing for the reciprocal enforcement of foreign judgments. However, the courts of Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands are generally prepared to accept a foreign judgment as evidence of a debt due. An action may then be commenced in Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands for recovery of this debt. A Hong Kong or Cayman Islands court will only accept a foreign judgment as evidence of a debt due if:
· | the judgment is for a liquidated amount in a civil matter; |
· | the judgment is final and conclusive; |
· | the judgment is not, directly or indirectly, for the payment of foreign taxes, penalties, fines or charges of a like nature (in this regard, a Hong Kong court is unlikely to accept a judgment for an amount obtained by doubling, trebling or otherwise multiplying a sum assessed as compensation for the loss or damage sustained by the person in whose favor the judgment was given); |
· | the judgment was not obtained by actual or constructive fraud or duress; |
· | the foreign court has taken jurisdiction on grounds that are recognized by the common law rules as to conflict of laws in Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands; |
· | the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice (i.e., the concept of fair adjudication); |
· | the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained, the judgment itself and the enforcement of the judgment are not contrary to the public policy of Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands; |
· | the person against whom the judgment is given is subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign court; and |
· | the judgment is not on a claim for contribution in respect of damages awarded by a judgment, which fall under Section 7 of the Protection of Trading Interests Ordinance, Chapter 7 of the Laws of Hong Kong. |
Enforcement of a foreign judgment in Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands may also be limited or affected by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, arrangement and moratorium, or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and will be subject to a statutory limitation of time within which proceedings may be brought.
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under PRC Civil Procedure Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedure Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or in the Cayman Islands.
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Because we are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, you may not have the same protections as shareholders of U.S. corporations.
We are organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Principles of law relating to matters affecting the validity of corporate procedures, the fiduciary duties of our management, directors and controlling shareholder and the rights of our shareholders differ from, and may not be as protective of shareholders as, those that would apply if we were incorporated in a jurisdiction within the United States. Our directors have the power to take certain actions without shareholder approval, including approving certain fundamental corporate transactions, such as reorganizations and the sale or transfer of assets. In addition, there is doubt that the courts of the Cayman Islands would enforce liabilities predicated upon United States federal securities laws.
Our shareholders do not have the same protections or information generally available to shareholders of U.S. corporations because the reporting requirements for foreign private issuers are more limited than those applicable to public corporations organized in the United States.
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. We are not subject to certain provisions of the Exchange Act applicable to United States public companies, including: the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K, the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations with respect to a security registered under the Exchange Act and the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and establishing insider liability for profits realized from any “short-swing” trading transaction (i.e., a purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the issuer’s equity securities within six months or less). Because we are not subject to these rules, our shareholders are not afforded the same protections or information generally available to investors in public companies organized in the United States.
Item 4. Information on the Company
History and Development of the Company
The Company was originally incorporated under the name “Agate Island Acquisition Corporation” on April 4, 2016 under the laws of the State of Delaware to engage in any lawful corporate undertaking, including, but not limited to, selected mergers and acquisitions. Until the share exchange described below, the business purpose of the Company was to seek the acquisition of, or merger with, an existing company.
On March 13, 2017, the Company changed its name to China Biotech Holdings Limited. The Company changed its name in anticipation of entering into a transaction with a company in China engaged in the Biopharma or Biotech industry.
On May 3, 2017, the Company effected a change of its control. The Company cancelled an aggregate of 19,500,000 shares of the then 20,000,000 shares of outstanding stock valued at par. James M. Cassidy resigned as the Company's president, secretary and director and James McKillop resigned as the Company's vice president and director. Ting Ting Chang was then named sole director and President, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. On May 4, 2017, the Company issued 8,000,000 shares of its Common Stock to Ting Ting Chang for no consideration as a result of the change in control.
The Company registered its Common Stock on a Form 10 registration statement filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and Rule 12(g) thereof. The Company files periodic and current reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under Rule 13(a) of the Exchange Act. Prior to the redomicile merger described below, the Company filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K.
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On November 15, 2017, our Board of Directors unanimously adopted resolutions approving the redomicile of the Company from Delaware to the Cayman Islands. The Company changed its domicile, effective August 21, 2018, by merging into its wholly-owned Cayman Islands subsidiary, Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (the “Redomicile Merger”). As a result of the Redomicile Merger, the Company’s name was changed to Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited, each outstanding share of Common Stock was exchanged for one Ordinary Share and we became governed by our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and by the Companies Law (Revised) of the Cayman Islands rather than by our previous Articles and Bylaws and the Delaware Corporate Code.
On August 31, 2019, the Company closed on a share exchange (the “Share Exchange”) with Zhong Yuan Investment, a Seychelles company limited by shares. Prior to the exchange, Zhong Yuan Investment owned 100% of the shares of China Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (“China Bio”), a company organized under the laws of the Republic of Seychelles. Under the Share Exchange Agreement, Zhong Yuan Investment exchanged all of the shares that it held in China Bio for 161,500,000 Ordinary Shares of the Company. As a result of the Share Exchange, China Bio is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. As a result of the acquisition, the Company, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of developing and marketing nervonic acid-based health supplements and sales of acer truncatum seedlings.
On December 13, 2019, the Company closed on the sale of 1,450,000 Ordinary Shares, at a purchase price of $0.10 per Share, pursuant to a private securities offiering (the “2019 Private Offering”) conducted under Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. In accordance with Regulation S, the Shares were offered and sold solely outside the United States to investors who are not U.S. persons, as defined in Regulation S.
On January 17, 2020, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form F-1, which was declared effective on June 29, 2020, by which it registered 22,361,920 Shares for resale by existing shareholders. The Company is currently seeking a market maker to file an application for the Company’s Shares to be quoted on the OTCQB.
On July 24, 2020, the Company completed a one-for-ten reverse stock split of the Company’s Ordinary Shares (the “Reverse Stock Split”). As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, the authorized share capital of the Company was decreased to 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.001 each, and the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares was decreased to 17,145,000 Shares.
When we refer in this Annual Report to business and financial information for periods prior to the consummation of the Share Exchange, we are referring to the business and financial information of Zhong Yuan Investment and its subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise; when we use phrases such as “we,” “our,” “company” and “us,” we are referring to the Company and all of its subsidiaries, as a combined entity.
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Corporate Structure
The following chart sets forth our corporate structure immediately following the Share Exchange.
China Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (“China Bio”) was incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Seychelles on June 27, 2016 under the name Hua Hong Powerloop Technology Limited. On February 13, 2017, its name was changed to China Bio-Technology Limited, and on March 6, 2017 it was changed to China Bio-Technology Holdings Limited. It became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company on August 31, 2019 as a result of the Share Exchange described above.
Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology (Hong Kong) Limited (“Zhong Yuan-HK”) was incorporated in Hong Kong on June 13, 2016. The original shareholders transferred all of Zhong Yuan-HK’s outstanding shares to China Bio on February 27, 2017.
Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology (Shenzhen) Limited (“Zhong Yuan-SZ”) was established under the laws of the PRC on June 10, 2014. The original shareholders transferred all of Zhong Yuan-SZ’s outstanding shares to Zhong Yuan-HK on September 27, 2018.
Bao Feng Bio-Technology (Beijing) Limited (“Bao Feng)” was incorporated in the PRC on August 30, 2012 under the name Beijing Acer Truncatum Century Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd. On August 10, 2017, the company’s name was changed to Bao Feng Bio-Technology (Beijing) Limited. It became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhong Yuan-SZ on February 13, 2019.
Business of Bao Feng
Bao Feng is in the business of nervonic acid research, the development and sale of health supplements containing nervonic acid and the sale of acer truncatum seeds from which nervonic acid is derived. Nervonic acid is a long chain unsaturated omega 9 fatty acid that is an important component in myelin biosynthesis in the central and peripheral nervous system. Myelin insulates nerve cell axons to increase the speed at which information (encoded as an electrical signal) travels from one nerve cell body to another or from a nerve cell to another type of cell in the body. It is thought that nervonic acid may enhance brain function and prevent demyelination of nerve cells, and that, therefore, it may be effective in retaining or improving the health of the brain, for example in preventing or ameliorating attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (“ADHD”) in children, Alzheimer's disease and mental degradation in the elderly and cerebrovascular disease, as well as promoting normal brain development in premature infants. The role of nervonic acid is also being studied with respect to psychotic illnesses, such as schizophrenia.
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Nervonic acid is not present in foods. Since it is considered to be an important biomarker for many neurological diseases, such as ADHD in children and neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly, it is in high demand among those populations. The price of nervonic acid in the world market ranges from approximately $2,000 to approximately $6,000 per kilogram, depending on the purity.
Bao Feng’s marketing efforts are primarily aimed at the elderly population. The problem of the aging of the world population is becoming more and more serious. According to the "2015 global aging cause" report, the world's 60 and over population is about 901 million, or 12.3% of the world's population. By 2030, this proportion is expected to reach 16.5%, or approximately 1 billion, 200 million people. According to China’s social security network data, the-over 60-year-old Chinese population will reach 250 million in 2020, of which the neurodegenerative disease population will account for 5%, or more than 10 million.
In the past, nervonic acid was derived from the brains of sharks. However, the extraction process from that source is difficult and the cost is too high for commercialization. In addition, sharks are protected by the United Nations and many countries in the world. Another good source of nervonic acid is the malania oleifera plant, which is native to southern China. That plant is said to have up to 40.9% to 50% nervonic acid; however, it is a threatened species in the world and is on the list of key wild plants for state protection. It was also found that the dried seeds of the acer truncatum tree, which is a type of maple native to northern China, Mongolia and Korea, contain 5.8% nervonic acid. Therefore, the seed oil is considered to be a good source of natural nervonic acid, as well as other compounds such as Vitamin E.
The table below contains a list of natural plant and animal sources of nervonic acid, with nervonic acid content shown in milligrams/100 grams.
Nervonic Acid Content (mg/100g)
Plant Sources | ||||
Acer truncatum | 580 | |||
Brassica oil seeds | 69 - 83 | |||
Sesame seeds | 35 | |||
Macademia nuts | 18 | |||
Tropaeolum speciosum | 10 | |||
Lunaria (money plant) | 8 | |||
Animal Sources | ||||
King salmon (chinook) | 140 | |||
Sockeye salmon | 40 | |||
(Source: Herb Nutritionals, September 25, 2015, http://herbnutritionals.com)
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The raw material sources of nervonic acid are insufficient to meet the demand in China. Therefore, Bao Feng has a contract with the Weng Niu Te Qi government pursuant to which it obtains acer truncatum seeds and seedlings both for use in making its products and for sale.
The market for nervonic acid products shows great potential. According to the 2015 Alzheimer's Report, the number of dementia patients in the world reached 46.8 million in 2015, of which 50% to 75% were Alzheimer's patients. According to www.CHINANEWS.com, a government-affiliated newspaper, data collected by Professor Hong Zhen Huashan Sub-Hospital of Fudan University showed that, in 2010, there were more than 10 million dementia patients in China, which is the country with the largest number of senile dementia patients in the world. It has become the fourth cause of death after cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. With China's aging trend accelerating, Alzheimer's disease will be increasingly re-regulated by the government and the biomedical community. In addition, according to incomplete statistics, the incidence of cerebral palsy in China accounted for 1.84% of the population and 2.23% of mentally retarded children. A thousand new cases of encephalopathy occur every year, and 75% of them are fatal or disabling. The market for prevention and treatment of brain diseases in China alone is estimated at over US $100 billion.
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When Bao Feng was formed in 2012, its management was aware of only three major competitors engaged in nervonic acid biotechnology, making Bao Feng one of the first enterprises specializing in the production and application of nervonic acid in China. Our team of scientists has over 30 years combined experience in the field of acer truncatum tree research, and more than 10 years in nervonic acid applications. In addition, Bao Feng achieved the National High-Tech Enterprise Award in 2017.This award recognizes the continuous research and development and the transformation of technological achievements in the high-tech fields supported by the state, forming the core independent intellectual property rights of the enterprise, and the carrying on of business activities on this basis in China (not including resident enterprises registered in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) for more than one year.
Our Products
Background. We extract the nervonic acid utilized in our products from the seeds of acer truncatum trees. Our seeds are supplied by the Weng Niu Te Qi District government farm in Inner Mongolia, which contains approximately 70,000 mu of wild 100-year old acer truncatum trees. In March 2017, Bao Feng entered into a cooperation agreement with the Weng Niu Te Qi District under which Bao Feng is to provide the seedlings for an additional 10,000 mu of acer truncatum trees and the government farm will provide the land and plant and maintain the seedlings. The government farm harvests the seeds, which are currently estimated to be approximately 400,000 tons per year, and Bao Feng has the exclusive right to purchase the seeds from both the old and the new trees.
Bao Feng’s breeding base of seedlings results from agricultural technology developed by scientists under contract with Bao Feng. The concentration of nervonic acid from young trees is significantly lower than that from older trees. Our breeding base serves as a strategic reserve for the supply of raw materials for non-high-content nervonic acid products. Low levels of nervonic acid are used for daily supplements, medium levels for health care and high levels for future use in medicine and therapy. As the young trees mature, the concentration of nervonic acid in the seeds of those trees will increase. Therefore, our breeding base is an important part of Bao Feng’s strategy for corporate sustainability.
The nervonic acid is extracted from the acer truncatum seeds and our products are produced by Inner Mongolia Xingyuan Vegetable Oil Co., Ltd., located in Mongolia, and by Heze Zonghoo Jianyuan Biotech Co., Ltd., which is located in Shandong Province, China, under contract with Bao Feng. Under the agreements, Bao Feng provides the acer truncatum seeds, the extraction technology and the formula for producing the products, while the other party extracts the nervonic acid from the seeds, provides the other raw materials and manufactures and packages the finished products in accordance with the specifications of Bao Feng.
Main Products. Our main products are nervonic acid series supplements, marketed under the “Muzhiyuan-Neuro Enhancer" brand, and high-quality seedlings specially cultivated by Bao Feng. Our nervonic acid products are 100% organic.
1. NEURO ENHANCER nervonic acid oil
There are 12 kinds of fatty acids in NEURO ENHANCER nervonic acid oil, more than 90% of which are unsaturated fatty acids. The product contains 18 amino acids, 8 of which are essential to the human body, high levels of vitamin E and various trace elements. The special functional fatty acid - nervonic acid, - is up to 6.89%, which is intended to provide enough nutrition for the brain with the goal of preventing and improving brain diseases.
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2. Muzhiyuan acer truncatum formula oil
Formula oil contains a variety of fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and trace elements. Its main components are nervonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, which also has a unique role in brain health but which is less expensive than nervonic acid. Therefore, it is more affordable and better suited for daily consumption by the entire population.
3. NEURO ENHANCER capsule
Neuro Enhancer capsule combines high quality neuroacids with many other beneficial and synergistic vitamins, minerals and bioactive plant-based substances. This product contains neurotransmitters, such as GABA, and is aimed at maintaining normal nervous system function. The active ingredients are easy to absorb and thought to be beneficial to brain nerve cells. This product is not produced by Bao Feng but is sold under Bao Feng’s Distribution Agreement with Medical Nutrition Research and Development Enterprise of America, described below.
4. Life’s NA Candy
Life’s NA Candy is a composite gel candy with omega 9 nervonic acid, omega 3 DHA and other omega 6 fatty acids. The formula was determined based on expert recommendations and preliminary clinical trials, and it contains a complex combination of neurotrophic agents which is prospectively designed and innovative. In addition, the product tastes good and the active ingredients are easy to absorb.
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5. High-quality seedlings of Acer Truncatum
In cooperation with Xingyan Wang, who is China’s leading economic forest expert, a professor at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University and also the founder and pioneer of the acer truncatum industry in China, Bao Feng culminated more than 30 years, combined, of biological engineering research by successfully cultivating high-quality acer truncatum seedlings with strong stress resistance, stable quality and a wide range of adaptability. The company markets these seedlings to the PRC government, landscaping companies and individuals.
Distribution Agreement with Medical Nutrition Research and Development Enterprise of America
Bao Feng has entered into a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Medical Nutrition Research and Development Enterprise of America (“MNRDEA”), an American health product company, under which Bao Feng serves as the exclusive distributor in China of MNRDEA’s products. The initial term of the Distribution Agreement expires on September 1, 2021 and will automatically renew unless terminated by either party. Currently, the only product purchased and sold by Bao Feng pursuant to the Distribution Agreement is the AcerAcid Neuro Enhancer capsule described above. Under the Distribution Agreement, Bao Feng purchases the finished product from MNRDEA at a set price and is responsible for storing and transporting the product within the PRC in such a way as to not negatively affect the quality of the product. Bao Feng also must meet certain minimum annual performance requirements. Bao Feng is responsible for maintaining the product in good condition after delivery by MNRDEA and is obligated to market and sell the product in its original, unaltered packaging and under trademarks owned by MNRDEA. Management expects that the Distribution Agreement will renew at the end of its initial term.
Future Business Plan
In the future, the company aims to achieve full coverage of products in the fields of food, health care products and medicine, and become the preeminent brand for brain health supplements.
1. New product development
• | The company plans to develop different forms of food-based nervonic acid products targeted at different age groups, such as a different form of candy, drinks, effervescent tablets, meal powder and others. |
• | Management of Bao Feng also intends to expand the company’s product lineup by building factories for purification of nervonic acid for medical level product usage. The company is working on improving its purification process of nervonic acid so as to realize purification to high (medical) grade, pure nervonic acid by 2021, followed by the development of pharmaceutical products or the sale of raw materials for nervonic acid products in China and abroad. At present, the laboratory production has been completed, and the next step is to achieve mass production in the factory. There can be no assurance, however, that the company will be able to effect this plan. |
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2. Development of new nervonic acid combination drugs
The company plans to develop new nervonic acid combination drugs which we expect will be superior to single-ingredient drugs for neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's. The procedure involves preclinical preparation, including target and biomarker analysis, determination of the drug dosage form and applying for clinical approval (IND). We hope to obtain approval within 2 years.
3. Development of biomarkers for screening
• |
We have accumulated certain data and patents in the recent years of research and development and clinical practice, which confirm that nervonic acid is one of the important biomarkers for a series of brain diseases. We also have developed a novel method (patent under review) for detecting nervonic acid using LC-MS in serum or cerebrospinal fluid. Therefore, we intend to develop an early screening kit for brain diseases (including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, autism, etc.) in an attempt to promote early detection.
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4. Scientific research
• | We plan to study the role of nervonic acid in our genetic metabolism laboratory through metabolomics and genomics. Our genetic metabolism laboratory was jointly established by Bao Feng and the National Health and Occupational Safety and Health Research Center. We believe that understanding the mechanism through which nervonic acid prevents brain disease will lay a theoretical foundation for the development of new products. |
• | We plan to continue to apply for patents related to nervonic acid, and expect to apply for 20 patents within five years to achieve technical barriers to competition in the field of nervonic acid, including the technology of extraction and purification, application of biomarker and the clinical function with drug combination. |
Sales and Marketing
To date, the company's promotion strategy has been mainly offline, supplemented by online. It has relied heavily on off-line word-of-mouth publicity. For example, a small number of clinical trials were conducted with elderly people in Yanda Hospital (Class A) to test the effectiveness of the products, following which the products were sold in the nursing home channel.
However, Bao Feng currently has 40 agents to distribute its products throughout China. Bao Feng’s main sales channels currently are:
• | Basic wholesale channels: We supply nervonic acid products to retailers at wholesale prices, then they re-sell them at market retail prices. |
• | TV shopping channels: The company has just started to sell its nervonic acid products through TV shopping channels. We expect a high sales volume through this sales method because we believe that the people who watch TV shopping channels are the company’s primary target group, and the company offers its products in combination packages at lower cost. |
• | Conference marketing: This entails both selling through conference marketing companies, whereby Bao Feng simply provides the products, and lectures on brain protection held, for example, in pension channels and training institutions, followed by direct sales of products to lecture attendees. |
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• | E-commerce: including Alibaba and other third-party channels. |
• | Special sales channels: chain pharmacies, pension rehabilitation institutions, hospitals and self-built brain nerve rehabilitation centers. The company also cooperates with hospital director experts who recommend its products through hospitals and other institutions. |
• | Direct sales: Through promotions, the company finds target users, and then sells directly by telephone. The company acquires accurate user data, which can be maintained for an extended period of time, to optimize the repurchase rate. Sales through this channel are made at a 30% discount. |
Management intends to expand Bao Feng’s marketing to include:
• | Targeted advertising: for example, “I am a big doctor,” “Yang sheng tang” and other programs. The company also plans to advertise through “Douyin,” “Kuaishou” and other network programs, as well as live broadcasts, and through video communication for fans, and hopes to guide viewers to the company’s store to purchase products. |
• | Recruit city partners, accelerate the replication of successful models to big cities, such as Shanghai and Guangzhou, and expand sales channels. |
Customers
We market and sell our products both to individuals and to wholesale and retail outlets in China. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, sales revenue from three major customers was RMB4,626,389 (approximately US$664,349), or approximately 55% of the Company’s total sales for the year. No other single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues during the year.
Raw Materials
Nervonic acid. We obtain acer truncatum seeds, from which we extract nervonic acid, from the Inner Mongolia government farm and individual farmers, with whom we have cooperation agreements, and from large suppliers. We are not dependent on any individual suppliers.
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It normally takes five to six years to get seeds from an acer truncatum tree. Our company’s unique variety of acer truncatum, developed with our proprietary technology, has a higher yield than other kinds of acer truncatum trees and a shorter time to maturity, normally three to four years, which result in increased production of nervonic acid.
Acer truncatum seedlings. Our acer truncatum seedlings are grown under long-term cooperation agreements with the PRC government and others, to ensure the stability of our supply of seedlings.
In order to control and insure the quality of its acer truncatum seeds and seedlings, on March 1, 2020, Bao Feng entered into an Equity Transfer Agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Dandong Baofeng Seedling Technology Co., Limited (“Dandong”), a PRC corporation, for a total purchase price of RMB10,500,000 (approximately $1,482,600). The agreement provides for an independent third-party appraisal of the assets of Dandong, and if the assets appraise at less than RMB10,500,000, the purchase price is to be adjusted accordingly. Dandong’s assets include approximately 3,000,000 acer truncatum trees that are grown on land that is subject to a 10-year lease that commenced on January 1, 2019 and expires on December 31, 2028. Dandong has paid the rent under the lease through December 31, 2020. Management expects that the lease will be renewed at the expiration of its term. The sole shareholder of Dandong is Yu Chang, the record owner of 41.6% of the outstanding shares of Zhong Yuan Investment and Ting Ting Chang’s father. The acquisition is expected to close on December 31, 2020.
Seasonality
Nervonic acid. Nervonic acid product sales are not seasonal. The amount of sales is stable throughout the year, except for increased sales during the holidays.
Acer truncatum seedlings. Seedling sales are normally higher during the periods from February to April and November to December due to the growth characteristics of the acer truncatum tree.
Competition
The nervonic acid health product industry is in its early stages; therefore, Bao Feng does not face as much competition as it would in a more established industry. However, as more companies enter the market the competition may be expected to become more intense. Management of Bao Feng plans to preempt the effect of such competition by (i) increasing its acer truncatum production; (ii) increasing its investment in research and development; and (iii) enhancing its purification of nervonic acid technology to enter the medical usage market. We will also continue to emphasize marketing in an effort to maintain and strengthen the company’s position in the nervonic acid health product market and will attempt to build the leading nervonic acid health product brand in China.
Currently, Bao Feng’s main competitors in the nervonic acid products market in China are:
● | Yong chuntang |
● | DAZONG Group |
● | Haizhiling |
● | Weifang lvyuan |
At present, these companies are still in the early stage of industrial development. They obtained raw materials of acer truncatum seed oil and initially processed it into products for sale in the market at prices similar to Bao Feng’s, but the content of nervonic acid is about 4%-5% on average, while the content of nervonic acid produced by Bao Feng can reach 6.89%.
In addition, Bao Feng enjoys the following competitive advantages:
● | Bao Feng has its own national laboratories. Genetic metabolism key laboratory is a joint project of Bao Feng and Health Commission Occupational Disease Research Center. Complete analytical and testing instruments are available, including LC-MS, GC-MS and LC-MS-Tof, for targeted and untargeted metabolomics, etc. Excellent laboratories are necessary to develop and prove our theories on the applications of nervonic acid, and research on the mechanism through which nervonic acid works provides the direction for future applications of nervonic acid, giving Bao Feng a competitive edge in the future. |
● | Bao Feng focuses on the clinical application of nervonic acid. At present, the company has formed a strategic partnership with the first affiliated hospital of Tsinghua University, Tiantan Hospital, and the first hospital of Sanming City. The doctors of the hospital are our consultants. In the future, we plan to carry out clinical application trials of nervonic acid in different areas of medicine. Only through clinical trials can the application and effective concentration of nervonic acid be found, and effective combinations of nervonic acid and other drugs to improve the efficacy of a single target drug be determined. |
● | Excellent acer truncatum germplasm resources. Although many manufacturers sell crude acer truncatum oil, the content cannot reach our concentration of nervonic acid, because we have an excellent seed plasm resource. Our acer truncatum forest has 70,000 mu, all of which are over 100-year-old trees with high and stable nervonic acid content, located in Inner Mongolia. The company cooperates with the government, and the annual limit capacity is estimated to be 400,000 tons. This germplasm resource is unmatched by other companies using newly sown Acer truncatum. Therefore, by using this high content, acer truncatum crude oil, we can obtain a higher content of nervonic acid with the same process and cost as our competitors. |
● | Price. Through product innovation and exclusive formulae, we improve our products’ effectiveness and taste, while maintaining a low product cost and sales price. In this way we produce unique products at prices suitable for mass consumption. |
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Properties
Bao Feng leases approximately 400 square meters of office space located at Room 1002, Building 1, East Shilipu Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China. The lease term commenced on March 8, 2020 and expires on June 7, 2023. The lease provides for an annual rental of RMB 641,208 (approximately US$91,334), payable semi-annually. Bao Feng is responsible for paying for all utilities.
In addition, Bao Feng leases approximately 314 square meters of warehouse space in which it stores its inventory. The lease for this space, which commenced on August 15, 2018 and expires on August 14, 2024, provides for a rental of RMB 24,000 (US$3,631) to be paid quarterly. In addition, Bao Feng is responsible for paying for all utilities, management and maintenance fees, leasing tax and other expenses.
The Company does not own or lease any land to grow its acer truncatum trees. The trees are grown under cooperation agreements under which the Company purchases the seeds from the other party, which is responsible for leasing the land and growing the trees.
We believe that our existing office facilities will be sufficient for our operations for the next year.
Employees
As of the date of this Annual Report, we employ a total of approximately 20 full-time employees, 18 of whom are employed by Bao Feng. All employment contracts are in accordance with the laws of the PRC. The Company believes its relationships with its employees are satisfactory.
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Intellectual Property
Patents and Copyrights. The following table contains a list of all patents and copyrights obtained by Bao Feng as of the date of this Annual Report.
List of Patents and Copyrights | |||||
no. | Patent Name | Patent Category | Registration Number | Date of Registration | Country |
1 |
Dietary analysis and nutrition evaluation system of acer truncatum seed oil |
Computer software copyright registration certificate |
1959832 | 2016/11/11 | China |
2 |
Emergency warning system for the elderly with dementia |
Computer software copyright registration certificate |
1959823 | 2016/11/11 | China |
3 |
Nervonic acid data analysis software for brain efficacy |
Computer software copyright registration certificate |
1959805 | 2016/11/11 | China |
4 | Acer truncatum Health care products management platform | Computer software copyright registration certificate | 1960093 | 2016/11/11 | China |
5 | Acer truncatum online mall platform software |
Computer software copyright registration certificate |
1963897 | 2016/11/11 | China |
6 |
Quality seed and seedling breeding management system of Acer truncatum |
Computer software copyright registration certificate |
1963907 | 2016/11/11 | China |
7 |
Model selection and treatment methods and devices for identifying mild cognitive impairment |
Patent for invention | 201810481834.7 | 2018/10/31 | China |
8 | The invention relates to a method for identification and determination of neuronal acid by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry | Patent for invention | 201710619206.6 | 2017/12/20 | China |
Trademarks. Bao Feng has registered, or filed applications to register, the following trademarks: Life’s NA 30 (under application; registration number: 36871310), Neuro Enhancer (under application; registration number: 34025681) and Muzhiyuan (registration number: 16233849; issue date: April 14, 2016; expiration date: April 13, 2026).
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Regulations in China Applicable to our Business
Consumer Protection. According to the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests (the “Consumer Protection Law”), as amended in October 2013 and effective in March 2014, the rights and interests of consumers who buy or use commodities or receive services for the purposes of daily consumption are protected and all producers, service providers and distributors involved (collectively, the “Operator”) must ensure that the products and services will not cause damage to persons and properties. The amended Consumer Protection Law further strengthens the protection of consumers and imposes more stringent requirements and obligations on the Operators selling through the Internet. For example, consumers are entitled to return goods purchased online, subject to certain exceptions, within seven days after receipt of such goods for no reason. Violations of the Consumer Protection Law may result in indemnification liabilities and/or the imposition of fines. In addition, if the circumstances are serious, the Operators will be ordered to suspend their operations and their business licenses will be revoked. Criminal liability may be incurred in some serious cases in accordance with the relevant PRC laws.
Product Quality. According to the Product Quality Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Product Quality Law”) as amended and effective in December 2018, consumers who sustain losses or damages from defective products are entitled to be indemnified by either manufacturers or distributors. Nevertheless, if manufacturers are responsible for the defective products and the losses or damage caused thereby, the distributors which have indemnified consumers for their losses may seek claims on the indemnities against the manufacturers. In addition, products offered for sale must satisfy the relevant quality and safety standards. Enterprises shall not produce or sell counterfeit products in any fashion. Violations of the Product Quality Law may result in civil liabilities and administrative penalties, such as compensation for damages, fines, suspension or shutdown of business, as well as confiscation of products illegally produced and sold and the proceeds from such sales. Severe violations may subject the responsible individual or enterprise to criminal liabilities.
Competition Law. Pursuant to the Anti-unfair Competition Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Competition Law”), as amended and effective in April 2019, business operators shall abide by the principles of voluntariness, equality, fairness, honesty and credibility, comply with laws and business ethics, and shall not conduct any act that disrupts the order of market competition or causes damage to the lawful rights and interests of other operators or consumers in violation of the Competition Law. Violations of the Competition Law may result in civil liability, the imposition of fines and, in serious cases, revocation of the operator’s business license as well as incurrence of criminal liability.
Administrative Measures for the Administration of Sales Promotion Activities of Retailers. According to the Administrative Measures for the Sales Promotion Activities of Retailers as promulgated in September 2006 and effective in October 2006, when undertaking sales promotion activities, retailers should follow the principles of lawfulness, fairness and good faith and may not impair the lawful rights and interests of consumers or other business operators. Furthermore, when undertaking sales promotion activities, a retailer should display the promotion contents at an eye-catching place in its business site and clearly mark the prices with the price tags; a retailer shall not cheat or induce the consumers to buy commodities by giving them a discount on the basis of a false original price or by marking a misleading price or taking a misleading price method; and a retailer shall not reduce the quality or after-sale service level for the promotion commodities. No retailer may undertake any sales promotion activity by making up a reason such as rummage sale, store dismantlement, termination of business, suspension of business or shifting to another business. Violations of the above rules may result in relevant administrative or criminal responsibilities.
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Administrative Measures for Online Trading. According to the Administrative Measures for Online Trading as promulgated in January 2014 and effective in March 2014, where a company engages in online commodity trading and related services, it shall (a) obtain relevant administrative license for the commodities sold or services provided as required by law; (b) disclose the basic information indicated on its business license or give a hyperlink to its business license at a notable position of the homepage of its website or the webpage on its business operations; (c) state integral information of its commodities and the dealing details; (d) ensure the integrity of such commodities or services; (e) issue such purchase vouchers or service receipts such as invoices to consumers; (f) allow consumers to return the commodities within seven days from receiving the commodities without cause and refund the prices paid by consumers; (g) employ bold manners to remind consumers of clauses of significant interests to consumers; (h) not by standard terms and conditions and other means, impose unfair or unreasonable rules on consumers to exclude or restrict consumer rights, reduce or remit the responsibilities of dealers, aggravate the responsibilities of consumers, among others, or force consumers into any transactions by standard terms and conditions and technical means; and (i) protect the consumers’ private information. In addition, online commodity operators may not use unauthorized similar domain name, name or logo to mislead consumers, conduct misleading and false propaganda, make lottery sales, harm competitors’ business reputation or conduct other unfair competition acts. Violations of the above rules may result in the imposition of warning and the order to make corrections, and fines may be imposed if the violator refuses to do so.
Electronical Commerce Law. According to the Electronical Commerce Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “E-commerce Law”) as promulgated in August 2018 and effective in January 2019, a series of requirements on e-commerce are stipulated, i.e. natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated associations that are engaged in business activities of selling products or providing services over the Internet and other information networks, which shall include e-commerce platform operators, persons doing online business over e-commerce platforms, and e-commerce operators that sell products or provide services over their own websites or through other network services. Pursuant to the currently effective Administrative Measures for Online Trading, a natural person engaging in online trading of commodities and provision of relevant services shall conduct business activities through a third-party trading platform, and provide the platform with his or her valid and true contact and identity information, and if registration conditions are met, the natural person shall undergo industrial and commercial registration formalities in accordance with the law. However, the E-Commerce Law requires all e-commerce operators to go through the formalities for the registration of market entities, i.e. industrial and commercial registration formalities in accordance with the law, except for certain limited cases as stipulated in the E-commerce Law. According to Measures for the Investigation and Punishment of Unpermitted and Unlicensed Business Operations as promulgated in August 2017 and effective in October 2017, whoever engages in business operation without going through industrial and commercial registration formalities may be subject to punishment by local administrative authority for industry and commerce, including but not limited to being ordered to stop illegal conduct, confiscation of the illegal gains and imposition of fines of not more than RMB10,000. The E-commerce Law also requires e-commerce operators to protect consumers’ right to know as well as their right to choose, protect their personal information, and also requires e-commerce operators to clearly point out to consumers their tie-in sales in which additional services or products are added by merchants to a purchase, and not to assume consumers’ consent to such tie-in sales by default.
Regulations Related to Foreign Invested Enterprises. According to the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (2019) (the “Negative List”) as promulgated and effective in July 2019, the original Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (2018) was repealed. Overseas investors are not allowed to invest in any foreign investment prohibited field on the Negative List and shall have an access permit for investing in a non-prohibited investment field on the Negative List. Fields not included in the Negative List for the market entry of foreign investment shall be managed according to the principle of equal treatment of domestic and foreign investment.
The business scope of Bao Feng is nervonic acid research, the development and sale of health supplements containing nervonic acid and the sale of acer truncatum, and related business and advertisement. According to the Negative List, the business scope of Bao Feng does not fall in any field on the Negative List and therefore is not subject to any special management measures for the access of foreign investment.
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The Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Foreign Investment Law”), which was promulgated in March 2019 and became effective on January 1, 2020, replaced the three legacy laws on foreign invested enterprises including the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprises Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprises Law”) which was previously applicable to ZDSE. The organizational form, organization structure and activities of a foreign-invested enterprise are now governed by the provisions of the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Partnership Enterprise Law of the People’s Republic of China and other relevant laws. However, the Foreign Investment Law sets up a transitional period of 5 years after the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law, during which foreign-invested enterprises established according to the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law before the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law may maintain their original organization forms, etc. Specific implementing measures are to be prescribed by State Council.
Intellectual property rights, also known as “knowledge ownership rights,” refer to “property rights enjoyed by right holders for the intellectual work created by their intellectual work,” and are generally only valid for a limited time. Various intellectual creations such as inventions, designs, literary and artistic works, as well as signs, names and images used in commerce, can all be considered intellectual property owned by a person or organization. Since the 1980s, while continuously improving the construction of the domestic legal system, China has successively joined some major international conventions, treaties and agreements for the protection of intellectual property rights. In particular, on December 11, 2001, China became a member of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights.
Trademark. The Trademark Law of the PRC was passed by the National People’s Congress on August 23, 1982 and last amended in April 2019 (effective November 1, 2019). The law states that an applicant for trademark registration should fill in the product category and product name of the used trademark in accordance with the stipulated commodity classification form and file an application for registration. Trademark registration applicants can apply for registration of the same trademark for multiple categories of goods through one application. A registered trademark is valid for a period of ten years from the date of approval of the registration. If the registered trademark has expired and it needs to continue to be used, the trademark registrant must go through the renewal formalities within 12 months before the expiration of the time limit; if it cannot be handled during this period, it may grant a grace period of six months. Each renewal registration is valid for a period of ten years, counting from the date following the expiration of the previous validity period of the mark. If registrants fail to complete the renewal formalities at the expiration of the time limit, their registered trademarks are cancelled. In addition, if the registered trademark is a well-known trademark, it is managed in accordance with the Regulations on the Recognition and Protection of Well-known Trademarks issued by the State Administration of Industry and Commerce on July 3, 2014. The regulation states that well-known trademarks are trademarks that are well-known to the relevant public in China. The relevant public includes consumers who are related to the use of a certain type of goods or services marked by the trademark, other operators who produce the aforementioned goods or provide services and the sellers and related personnel involved in the distribution channels. The recognition of well-known trademarks follows the principle of case identification and passive protection.
As of the date of this Annual Report, Bao Feng has registered, or filed applications to register, three trademarks in the PRC.
Copyright. The Copyright Law as amended in February 2010 and effective in April 2010, and the Regulations for the Implementation of Copyright Law as amended in January 2013 and effective in March 2013, provide protection to copyright of the works of Chinese citizens, legal persons or other organizations, whether published or not. The copyright includes multiple types of personal rights and property rights: right of publication, authorship, alteration, integrity, reproduction, distribution, rental, exhibition, performance, projection, broadcasting, dissemination via information network, cinematography, adaptation, translation, compilation and so on. The protection of an author’s rights of authorship, alteration and integrity shall not be subject to a limit, while the term of protection with respect to a citizen’s work for the right of publication, reproduction and others is the lifetime of the author plus 50 years. The term of protection for the right of publication and other rights to the work of a legal person or other organization, or a work for hire in which the copyrights (excluding the right of authorship) shall vest in a legal person or other organization, shall be 50 years, and shall end on December 31 of the 50th year after the work’s first publication. Use of another’s work shall be subject to conclusion of a licensing contract while under certain circumstances a work may be used without authorization and without payment of remuneration, such as for personal study, research or enjoyment.
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As of the date of this Annual Report, Bao Feng owns six computer software copyrights in the PRC.
Patent. According to the Patent Law as amended in December 2008 and effective in October 2009, and Rules for the Implementation of the Patent Law as amended in January 2010 and effective in February 2010, inventions, utility models and designs are encouraged and the lawful rights and interests of patentees are protected. Invention patents are valid for 20 years, while design patents and utility model patents are valid for 10 years, from the date of application. The Chinese patent system adopts a first-to-file principle, which means that where more than one person files a patent application for the same invention, a patent will be granted to the person who files the application first. To be patentable, invention or utility models must meet three criteria: novelty, inventiveness and practicability. Any organization or individual that intends to exploit the patent of another person shall conclude a license contract with the patentee and pay the royalties. The use of a patent without the consent of or a proper license from the patent owner constitutes an infringement of the owner’s patent rights.
As of the date of this Annual Report, Bao Feng owns two invention patents in the PRC.
Foreign Currency Exchange. The Regulations on Foreign Exchange Management of the PRC were promulgated by the State Council of the PRC on January 29, 1996 and revised on January 14, 1997 and August 1, 2008, respectively. The regulations stipulate that foreign exchange income from current accounts of domestic institutions shall be sold to the designated foreign exchange bank in accordance with the provisions of the State Council concerning the management of foreign exchange, sales of foreign exchange and payment of foreign exchange, or be approved to open foreign exchange accounts in designated foreign exchange banks. The remittances used by domestic institutions for the current account shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the State Council concerning the management of foreign exchange, sales of foreign exchange and payment of foreign exchange, with valid certificates and commercial documents, to foreign exchange designated banks. Foreign exchange collections and import payments made by domestic institutions shall be subject to verification procedures in accordance with the regulations of the State on the management of the cancellation of foreign exchange receipts for export and the verification of the import payment and foreign exchange cancellation. Foreign exchange earnings from capital accounts of domestic institutions shall be subject to the opening of foreign exchange accounts in designated foreign exchange banks in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State and shall be approved by the foreign exchange administrative authority if they are sold to designated foreign exchange banks.
On October 21, 2005, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) issued a Circular on the Relevant Issues Concerning Domestic Investors Financing through Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles and Foreign Exchange Management of Return Investment, namely Document No. 75, which came into effect on November 1, 2005. The term “special purpose company” as mentioned in the circular refers to an overseas company directly established or indirectly controlled for the purpose of overseas equity financing (including convertible bond financing) by a domestic resident legal person or a domestic resident natural person with the assets or equity of a domestic company held by it. The “return investment” in the circular refers to the direct investment activities carried out by domestic residents through the special purpose company, including but not limited to the following methods: purchasing or replacing the Chinese company’s equity in a domestic company, setting up a foreign-invested enterprise in the country and purchasing or negotiating the control of domestic assets through the company, negotiating the purchase of domestic assets, establishing a foreign-invested enterprise with the investment in the asset and increasing the capital of the domestic enterprise. The “domestic resident legal person” in the circular refers to a legal person and other economic organization legally established in China; “domestic resident natural person” refers to a natural person holding a legal ID card such as an ID card or passport of the PRC, or natural persons habitually residing in China because of economic interests although they do not have legal status in China. The term “control” in this circular refers to the acquisition, trust, holding, voting right, repurchase, convertible bonds, etc. of domestic residents to acquire the operating right, income right or decision-making right of a special purpose company or a domestic company. Before a domestic resident establishes or controls an overseas special purpose company, he must, with relevant materials, apply to the local foreign exchange branch and foreign exchange administration department (hereinafter referred to as the SAFE) to apply for foreign exchange registration procedures for overseas investment. Domestic residents who inject the assets or equity of domestic enterprises owned by them into special purpose companies or conduct overseas equity financing after injecting assets or equity into special purpose companies, must go through the formalities for the change in the foreign exchange registration of overseas investment in relation to their equity in the special purpose company and their changes, and they should provide relevant materials when handling. After injecting a special purpose company or investing in foreign equity financing after injecting assets or equity into a special purpose company, the company shall handle the foreign exchange registration change procedures for overseas investment in relation to the equity of the special purpose company and its changes and shall provide relevant material. After completing procedures for the foreign exchange registration and change of overseas investment in accordance with regulations, the domestic residents may pay special purpose companies for profits, dividends, liquidation, equity conversion, capital reduction, etc. If a special purpose company has any significant capital changes such as capital increase or reduction, equity transfer or replacement, merger or division, long-term equity or debt investment, external guarantee, etc. and does not involve return investment, the domestic residents must apply to SAFE for handling the change of foreign exchange registration of overseas investment or filing procedures within 30 days from the occurrence of major events. If a domestic resident set up or controlled a special purpose company abroad before the implementation of this notice and completed the return investment but failed to register the foreign investment registration of the foreign investment according to the provisions, he was required to go to the local SAFE to renew the foreign investment registration of the foreign investor before March 31, 2006 according to the provisions of this notice. After completing the renewing registration of foreign exchange registration of overseas investment, SAFE may handle foreign exchange registration procedures for foreign investment and foreign debt for the relevant domestic enterprise.
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On August 29, 2008, SAFE issued a Circular on the Improvement of the Business Operations Related to Foreign Exchange Capital Payment and Foreign Exchange Capital Management of Foreign-invested Enterprises, that is, Circular No. 142. The circular indicates that the RMB funds received from the foreign exchange enterprise’s capital gains shall be used within the business scope approved by the government approval department. Unless otherwise specified, the RMB funds obtained through settlement shall not be used for domestic equity investment. Excluding commercial real estate investment enterprises, foreign-funded enterprises may not purchase domestic real estate that is not for their own use in the form of RMB funds obtained through capital settlement. The use of RMB funds from foreign exchange-funded enterprises for capital investment in securities shall be implemented in accordance with relevant state regulations.
On November 9, 2011, SAFE issued a circular on further clarifying and standardizing issues concerning the management of foreign exchange operations for certain capital accounts, namely Circular 45, which clarified the scope of application of Circular 142. The circular pointed out that foreign-invested enterprises must not use the RMB funds derived from the foreign exchange capital settlement for domestic equity investment. Foreign-invested enterprises with equity investment approved by the relevant competent authorities must use their foreign exchange capital and domestic Chinese-funded institutions must use the foreign exchange funds in the asset liquidation account for domestic equity investments, with reference to the principle of foreign exchange capital contribution management of foreign-invested companies. Foreign-funded enterprises must not issue entrusted loans, repay inter-enterprise loans (including third-party advances) or repay bank loans that are re-lending to third parties in the form of RMB funds derived from foreign exchange capital settlement. Foreign-funded enterprises may not, in principle, deliver various types of deposits in the form of RMB funds derived from foreign exchange capitalization. Funds in the dedicated deposit account may not be settled.
On July 4, 2014, SAFE issued a circular on the issues relating to the pilot reform of foreign exchange capital management of foreign-invested enterprises in certain regions (i.e., Circular 36). The circular pointed out that since August 4, 2014, pilot projects for the reform of the management of foreign exchange capital in foreign exchange enterprises will be carried out in some regions. The foreign exchange capital recognized in the capital contribution account of a foreign-invested enterprise through the foreign exchange administration where it is located can be processed at the bank according to the actual business needs of the enterprise. The capital of a foreign-invested enterprise and the RMB funds derived from its settlement of foreign exchange shall not be used for the following purposes:
(i) | it shall not be used directly or indirectly for expenditures outside the scope of business operations or prohibited by national laws and regulations; |
(ii) | unless otherwise provided by laws and regulations, no direct or indirect investment in securities may be used; |
(iii) | it may not directly or indirectly be used to issue RMB entrusted loans (except for business scope permits), repayment of inter-enterprise loans (including third-party advances), and repayment of bank-denominated loans that have been transferred to third parties; and |
(iv) | except for commercial investment in real estate companies, they may not be used to pay for the purchase of non-self-use real estate. |
Also, on July 4, 2014, SAFE issued a circular on the related issues concerning the Domestic Residents’ Foreign Investment through Special Purpose Companies and Foreign Exchange Management for Return. This is known as Document No. 37. Compared with Circular 75, Circular 37 further simplified and facilitated the cross-border capital transactions of domestic residents involved in investment and financing activities through special purpose companies. The circular stipulates that SAFE shall exercise registration management for the establishment of special purpose companies for domestic residents. Before a domestic resident can use the legal assets or rights at home and abroad to invest in a special purpose company, he shall apply to SAFE for the foreign exchange registration formalities for overseas investment. If the domestic residents’ profits and bonuses obtained from special purpose companies are transferred back to China, they shall be handled in accordance with the current regulations on foreign exchange management; if the foreign exchange income from capital changes is transferred back to China, they shall be handled in accordance with the foreign exchange management provisions for capital accounts.
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On March 30, 2015, SAFE issued a notice on reforming the foreign exchange capital management of foreign-invested enterprises, namely, Circular No. 19, which took effect on June 1, 2015. The circular indicates that SAFE has decided to implement the reform of foreign exchange capital management of foreign-invested enterprises on a nation-wide basis after summarizing the pilot experience in previous regions. At the same time, Circular 142 and Circular 36 were repealed.
Regulations on Dividend Distribution. The principal regulations governing dividend distributions by wholly foreign owned enterprises include the Company Law, as amended and effective in October 2018, the Foreign Investment Law and Regulation on the Implementation of the Foreign Investment Law as promulgated and effective in January 2020. Under these laws and regulations, wholly foreign owned enterprises in the PRC may pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with the PRC accounting standards and regulations. Additionally, a wholly foreign owned enterprise is required, as other enterprises subject to PRC laws, to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund statutory reserve funds of the enterprise until the cumulative amount of such funds reaches 50% of its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. Under the relevant PRC law, no net assets other than the accumulated after-tax profits can be distributed in the form of dividends.
Regulations on Labor. According to the Labor Law of the PRC (promulgated in 1994, amended in 2009), Labor Contract Law of the PRC (promulgated in 2007, amended in 2012) and Implementation Regulations of the Labor Contract Law of the PRC (promulgated in 2008), it is stipulated that employers and laborers should establish labor contracts when they establish labor relations. The labor contract concluded according to law is binding, and employers and laborers shall perform the obligations stipulated in the labor contract. Where a labor relationship has been established and a written labor contract has not been concluded at the same time, a written labor contract shall be concluded within one month from the date of employment. Where an employer and a laborer conclude a labor contract prior to employment, the labor relationship shall be established from the date of employment. The state implements a minimum wage security system. The specific standards for minimum wages are stipulated by the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and reported to the State Council for the record. The employer’s payment of laborers’ wages must not be less than the local minimum wage standard. The employer must provide laborers with labor safety and hygiene conditions that are in compliance with the state regulations and necessary labor protection supplies. Workers engaged in occupational hazard operations should carry out regular health checks.
The provisions concerning the employment of foreigners in China are mainly based on the Regulations on the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China jointly issued by the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation on January 22, 1996, as amended on November 12, 2010 and March 13, 2017. The regulation states that employers employing foreigners must apply for employment permits for the foreigner. Foreigners can only be hired after obtaining permission and obtaining the Employment License for Foreigners of the PRC (hereinafter referred to as “permit”). Foreigners employed in China should enter the country on a Z-visa (if they have a mutual visa exemption agreement, they should be dealt with according to the agreement). After entering China and obtain the Foreigner’s Employment Permit (hereinafter referred to as “employment permit”), they will be able to obtain employment in China. Foreigners who have not obtained a residence permit (namely, those with F, L, C and G visas), foreigners studying in China or performing internships and dependents of foreigners holding a Z visa may not be employed in China. In exceptional circumstances, the employer may apply for a permit in accordance with the approval procedures stipulated in these Regulations. Foreigners employed with a permit to the public security agency change their status and apply for an employment permit or residence permit. Employing units and foreigners hired shall conclude labor contracts according to law. The duration of a labor contract must not exceed five years. When the employment contract signed between the foreigner and the employing unit expires, the employment permit will be invalid.
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The circular concerning the Handling of Work Permits for Foreign Experts Coming to China issued by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs on September 30, 2004, states that foreign experts hired to work in China should obtain the Work Permit for Foreign Experts to Come to China. Foreign experts applying for Work Permits for Foreign Experts to Work in China shall abide by Chinese laws and regulations, be in good health, have no criminal record and meet one of the following conditions:
(i) | to implement intergovernmental agreements and agreements between international organizations, and foreign trade contracts, foreign professional skills or management personnel working for employment in China; |
(ii) | foreign professionals who are engaged in education, scientific research, journalism, publishing, culture, arts, health, sports, etc. in China; |
(iii) | appointed as a deputy general manager or above in an enterprise in China, or a foreign professional or technical person enjoying equal treatment; |
(iv) | foreign experts or human agency agencies accredited by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs Representatives of nationalities; and |
(v) | applicants for work in the fields of economy, technology, engineering, trade, finance, accounting, taxation, tourism, etc., with special expertise, foreign professional skills or management personnel in short supply in China. |
Foreign experts in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) shall have a bachelor’s degree or above and more than 5 years of relevant work experience. All units intending to hire foreign experts shall be entitled to Accreditation of Foreign Experts Units and obtain the Certificate of Employment of Foreign Expert Units. This certificate is the basic proof of foreign nationals applying for work permits, invitation letters, foreign expert certificates and residence procedures in China. The Provincial Foreign Experts Bureaus, State Council related ministries and commissions, and the directly-affiliated agencies’ foreign affairs divisions (bureaus) are responsible for the annual inspection work of the local or department according to the annual inspection notice issued by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and submit the regional annual inspection report to the State Administration of Foreign Experts Bureau by the end of December. The National Bureau of Foreign Experts conducts annual inspections of all eligible units from January 1 to January 31 every year.
According to the decision regarding the cancellation of 13 administrative licenses of the State Council issued by the State Council on February 13, 2016, the accreditation of foreign experts by the State Foreign Experts Bureau was cancelled.
On March 28, 2017, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued a notice on the Full Implementation of the Work Permit System for Foreigners to Come to China. The circular states that foreigners allowed to work in China will receive Work Permits for Foreigners to Come to China to replace Foreigner Employment Permits and Foreign Experts to Work Permits in China since April 1, 2017.
Although Bao Feng does not currently employ any foreigners, management hopes to employ foreigners and foreign experts in the future as part of its expansion plan.
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PRC corporate income tax. On March 6, 2007, the National People’s Congress of the PRC issued the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, which was implemented on January 1, 2008 and revised on February 24, 2017. The tax law stipulates that foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises have an income tax rate of 25%.
On April 22, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued a notice on Relevant Issues of Overseas Registered Chinese-Funded Controlled Enterprises Recognized as Resident Enterprises on the Basis of Actual Management Institutional Standards, which became effective on January 1, 2008. The circular states that overseas Chinese-invested enterprises that meet the following conditions shall determine that they are resident companies of the actual administrative agency in China (hereinafter referred to as non-domestically registered resident enterprises), implement corresponding tax administration and collect corporate income tax on their income from inside and outside China:
(i) | the places where senior management personnel responsible for the implementation of daily production and operation management operations and their senior management departments perform their duties are mainly located in China; |
(ii) | the company’s financial decisions (such as borrowings, lending, financing, financial risk management, etc.) and personnel decisions (such as appointments, dismissals, remunerations, etc.) are determined by institutions or personnel located in China or need to be approved by an organization or person located in China; |
(iii) | the company’s main property, accounting book, company seal, board of directors and minutes of shareholders’ meetings, etc. are located or stored in China; and |
(iv) | 50% or more of the voting directors or senior executives of the corporation often reside in China. |
On July 27, 2011, the State Administration of Taxation issued an announcement on the issuance of the Administrative Measures on the Income Tax of Overseas-registered Chinese-controlled Holding Enterprises (Trial), which took effect on September 1, 2011. The measure points out that non-domestic-registered resident enterprises shall, in accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations and regulations of the competent departments of finance and taxation under the State Council, formulate financial and accounting statements, and shall, within 15 days from the date of receipt of tax registration certificates, submit the enterprise’s financial and accounting systems or financial accounting, the handling methods and related information to the competent tax authorities for the record. Non-domiciled registered resident companies that obtain dividends, bonuses and other equity investment income derived from China, income from interest, rent, royalties, transfer of property income and other income, shall issue a copy of the company’s Certificate of Resident Identity of Overseas-registered Chinese-controlled Enterprises issued by the company. According to Article 26 of the Corporate Income Tax Law of the PRC and Articles 17, 18 and 91 of the Implementation Regulations on Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, the following income of enterprises is tax exempt income:
(i) | interest income from government bonds; |
(ii) | dividends, bonuses and other equity investment gains among eligible resident companies; |
(iii) | non-resident enterprises that have established establishments in China obtain dividends, dividends, and other equity investment income from resident enterprises that are actually in contact with the institution or site; and |
(iv) | income of qualified non-profit organizations. |
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The applicable tax rate for income obtained by non-resident enterprises is 20%. Corporate income tax on income earned by non-resident enterprises is levied at the rate of 10%. That is to say, general overseas companies transferring 10% of the corporate income tax shall be subject to the transfer of equity in Chinese enterprises or the dividend distribution of Chinese enterprises. However, if the non-resident enterprise is a resident enterprise belonging to a country or region that has signed a tax treaty or arrangement with China, it may enjoy preferential tax treaty provisions.
Small-scale and low-profit enterprises that meet certain conditions are subject to a 10% income tax rate. According to Notice 13 (2019) on Implementing the Policy of Inclusive Tax Relief for Small and Micro Enterprises issued by the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation on January 17, 2019 that become effective from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, in order for an enterprise to qualify as a small-scale and low-profit enterprise, its annual taxable income must not be more than RMB3 million; its number of employees must not exceed 300; and its total assets must not exceed RMB50 million. A qualified small-scale and low-profit enterprise can enjoy a reduced income tax rate of 5%, as compared with a general income tax rate of 25%, on annual taxable income not exceeding RMB1 million, and the remaining income (i.e. annual taxable income from RMB1 million to RMB3 million) can enjoy a reduced income tax rate of 10%.
High and new technology enterprises that satisfy regulatory requirements on high and new technology area, science and technology personnel, R&D expense, high and new technology income, innovation capability, etc., are taxed at a preferential income tax rate of 15%.
Bao Feng qualifies as a small scale and low-profit enterprise as well as a high and new technology enterprise, and is subject to the following income tax rates:
Annual taxable income | Corporate Income tax rate | |||
Not more than RMB1 million | 5% | |||
RMB1 million to RMB3 million | 10% | |||
Exceeding RMB3 million | 15% |
PRC withholding tax. Foreign enterprises have no institutions or places in China, but have obtained profits, interest, rent, royalties and other income from China, or have established institutions or places, but the above-mentioned income has no actual connection with institutions and places. The amount of income is subject to withholding income tax. In accordance with the accrued method, the payer (payer) pays the tax on the proceeds (payments) to the beneficiary (the payee). The withholding income tax belongs to personal income tax or corporate income tax, but it is only a source of income tax control. It is a taxation of a personal income tax or corporate income tax.
In 2008, China began to impose a dividend withholding income tax on foreign-invested enterprises at a tax rate of 20%, generally levied at 10%. Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Seychelles and others have signed tax treaties with China or have special taxes. The preferential national tax rate for the countries in the arrangement is as low as 5%. Therefore, when a Hong Kong company affiliated to the group obtains the after-tax profits distributed by the mainland Chinese company it invests, the mainland Chinese company must withhold and pay 5% of the withholding income tax.
In addition, Notice No. 88 (2017) on “the Issues Concerning the Direct Investment of Foreign Investors in Distributing the Withholding Income Tax Policy” stipulates that foreign investors who meet the conditions of direct investment shall not be subject to withholding tax.
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PRC Business Tax and Value-Added Tax (VAT). On March 23, 2016, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation issued a circular on the Full Implementation of the Business Tax Levy of VAT Pilots. The circular indicates that since May 1, 2016, pilots for the change of business tax to VAT have been fully promoted throughout the country, and all business tax taxpayers, including Bao Feng, were included in the scope of the pilot and were changed from paying business tax to paying VAT. According to notice No. 36 (2016) issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation, the Comprehensive Project replaces Business Tax with Value-added Tax. VAT standard rates are 6% to 17% of the gross sales price. A credit is available whereby VAT paid on the purchase of semi-finished products or raw materials used in the production of the Company’s finished products can be used to offset the VAT due on sales of the finished products and services.
According to notice No. 13 (2019), the VAT small-scale taxpayers with monthly sales of less than RMB 100,000 are exempt from VAT. The implementation date of this paper is from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. According to the "Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Exemption of Value-Added Tax for Small and Micro Enterprises" (State Administration of Taxation Announcement No. 52 of 2017, now abolished), from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 sales of small-scale VAT taxpayers shall not exceed RMB 30,000 (tax payment of RMB 90,000 per quarter) and enjoy the preferential policy of exemption from VAT.
Bao Feng currently pays a value-added tax of either 9% or 13% on sales, depending on the product, and 6% on technical services.
Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments
Not Applicable
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this Form 20-F.
Overview
The Company was originally incorporated in Delaware as “Agate Island Acquisition Corporation” on April 4, 2016 to engage in any lawful corporate undertaking, including, but not limited to, selected mergers and acquisitions. On March 13, 2017, the Company’s name was changed to China Biotech Holdings Limited in anticipation of entering into a transaction with a company in China engaged in the Biopharma or Biotech industry. Effective August 21, 2018, the Company was redomiciled from Delaware to the Cayman Islands by merging into its wholly-owned Cayman Islands subsidiary, Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (the “Redomicile Merger”). As a result of the Redomicile Merger, the Company’s name was changed to Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited.
On August 31, 2019, the Company closed on a Share Exchange Agreement with Zhong Yuan Investment whereby the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of China Bio in exchange for the issuance of our Ordinary Shares to Zhong Yuan Investment. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, China Bio became our wholly owned subsidiary and Zhong Yuan Investment became the owner of approximately 95.0% of our then outstanding Shares.
Immediately prior to the Share Exchange, the Company was a “shell company” (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) with nominal assets and no business operations. The acquisition of China Bio by the Company will be accounted for as a reverse merger because on a post-merger basis, the former shareholder of China Bio held a majority of our outstanding Ordinary Shares on a voting and fully diluted basis. As a result of the Share Exchange, the Company is engaged in the business of developing and marketing nervonic acid-based health supplements and sales of acer truncatum seedlings through its sole operating subsidiary, Bao Feng, which was incorporated under the laws of the PRC on August 30, 2012. Management of the Company believes that the Company is no longer a shell company. Also as a result of the Share Exchange, the Company changed its fiscal year end from December 31 to March 31.
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On December 13, 2019, the Company closed on the sale of 1,450,000 Ordinary Shares, at a purchase price of $0.10 per Share, pursuant to the 2019 Private Offering, which was conducted under Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
On January 17, 2020, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form F-1, which was declared effective on June 29, 2020, by which it registered 22,361,920 Shares for resale by existing shareholders. The Company is currently seeking a market maker to file an application for the Company’s Shares to be quoted on the OTCQB.
On July 24, 2020, the Company completed the one-for-ten Reverse Stock Split of the Company’s Ordinary Shares. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, the authorized share capital of the Company was decreased to 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.001 each, and the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares was decreased to 17,145,000 Shares.
Bao Feng’s business has been and may continue to be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Bao Feng is located in China, as are all of its employees, suppliers, product manufacturers, distributors and customers. Although Bao Feng’s online sales were not significantly affected by the epidemic, its total sales decreased by approximately 60.7% from RMB3,863,441 (approximately US$544,147) during the three months ended March 31, 2019 to RMB1,520,125 (approximately US$214,102) for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Its production capacity was significantly reduced due to the government lockdown and orders were filled through existing inventory. In addition, Bao Feng’s planned business expansion has been delayed due to travel restrictions and other factors, the planting of acer truncatum seedlings has had to be postponed for a year and the company has been unable to work towards expanding its distribution network.
The potential downturn brought by and the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak is difficult to assess or predict and the full impact of the virus on our operations will depend on many factors beyond our control. While a second wave of the virus in Beijing in June 2020 appears to have been brought under control within a few weeks, there can be no assurance that there will not be larger re-occurrences in the future. A major resurgence of the epidemic in China could be expected to negatively impact our business in much the way as the first occurrence of the epidemic. In addition, our business operations could be disrupted again if any of our employees, or those of our product manufacturers, is suspected of contracting COVID-19, since our or their employees could be quarantined and/or our or their facilities be shut down for disinfection. The extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak impacts our business, results of operations and financial condition remains uncertain. Our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be materially adversely affected to the extent that COVID-19 persists in China or harms the Chinese and global economy.
For purposes of the following discussion and analysis, references to ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘our’’ and ‘‘us’’ refers to Bao Feng.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report.
For the fiscal years ended March 31 2020 and 2019
Revenue
The Company generated $1,219,650 of net revenue for the year ended March 31, 2020, as compared to $1,217,588 for the year ended March 31, 2019. Net revenue increased by $2,062 or 0.2% as a result of an increase in our sale channels during the year.
Cost of sales
The cost of sales was $257,034 for the year ended March 31, 2020 whereas the cost of sales was $320,836 for the year ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in cost of sales by $63,802 or 19.9% over the prior year was mainly attributable to the increase in sales of high margin health products in 2020.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $962,616 and $896,752, respectively. Gross profit margin for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was 78.9% and 73.6% respectively. The increase in gross profit margin from 73.6% in 2019 to 78.9% in 2020 resulted from the increase in sales of high margin health products in 2020.
Total operating expenses
During the year ended March 31, 2020, we incurred operating expenses of $1,048,125, as compared to $584,616 incurred during the year ended March 31, 2019. Operating expenses are comprised of general and administrative expenses, research and development expenses and selling and marketing expenses. The increase in total operating expenses by $463,509 or 79.3% was attributable to the increase in general and administrative expenses by $224,712, the increase in research and development expenses by $139,605 and the increase in selling and marketing expenses by $99,192.
General and administrative expenses increased significantly from $373,898 for the year ended March 31, 2019 to $598,610 for the year ended March 31, 2020. The increase of $224,712 or 60.1% was mainly attributable to legal and professional fees incurred with regard to the reverse acquisition of China Bio in August 2019, the private placement of Shares in December 2019 and the registration statement filed with the SEC in January 2020, whereas the only extraordinary corporate event that occurred during the year ended March 31, 2019 was the Redomicile Merger.
Research and development expenses increased by $139,605 or 326.9% as a result of an increase in research relating to the effectiveness of the Company’s health products on Alzheimer’s disease.
Selling and marketing expenses increased by $99,192 or 59.0% from $168,014 for the year ended March 31, 2019 to $267,206 for the year ended March 31, 2020. The increase was mainly due to increased marketing and promotion of our products in trade shows and on the WeChat mobile platform.
Net income
For the year ended March 31, 2020, the Company had a net loss of $87,299, as compared to net income of $280,183 for the year ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in net income by $367,482 or 131.2% was mainly due to the $463,509 increase in total operating expenses discussed above.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2020, the Company had cash at banks of $60,790, total current assets of $1,529,238 and total current liabilities of $628,681. Net current assets were $900,557 and its working capital ratio was 2.43. As of March 31, 2020, the Company’s total assets and total liabilities amounted to $2,279,457 and $799,647, respectively. The Company had shareholders’ equity of $1,479,810, whereas it had one-year bank loans of $460,030. The Company’s gearing ratio was 0.31.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company's financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with US GAAP, which requires management to make certain estimates and apply judgments. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, current trends and other factors that management believes to be important at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. On a regular basis, we review our accounting policies and how they are applied and disclosed in our consolidated financial statements.
While we believe that the historical experience, current trends and other factors considered support the preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, actual results could differ from our estimates and such differences could be material.
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
Directors and Senior Management
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company's directors and executive officers:
Name | Age | Position | ||
Ting Ting Chang | 30 |
President, Chief Executive Officer,
Secretary and Director |
||
Fung Ming Pang | 50 | Chief Financial Officer and Director |
Ms. Chang serves as our Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and director, and has held those positions since May 4, 2017. Since 2013, Ms. Chang has worked at Beijing Acer Truncatum Century Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Limited ("Beijing Acer"), which changed its name to Bao Feng Bio-Technology (Beijing) Limited in August 2017. From 2013 to 2016, she served as Beijing Acer's sales manager responsible for planning, implementing and directing the sales activities of the company including developing strategic plans, budget preparation and coordination of the sales teams. From 2016 to the present, Ms. Chang has served as Beijing Acer's Chief Executive Officer responsible for setting strategy and direction, modeling and setting the company's culture and values, leading and training the senior executive team and allocating capital. In 2013, Ms. Chang received a Master of Sciences degree in Technology and Innovation Management from Sussex University in the United Kingdom and in 2012 she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Product Design from the same university. Ms. Chang is not compensated for serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary.
Ms. Pang has served as our Chief Financial Officer and director since May 2020. Ms. Pang is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Since July 2005, Ms. Pang has served as Managing Director of AGCA CPA Limited, a certified public accounting firm registered with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, which provides audit, tax and advisory services to individuals and corporations. In 1995, she helped start Able Secretarial Services Limited, which currently provides corporate management services to, and serves as government liaison for, approximately 50 companies registered in Hong Kong, and she has served as its Managing Director since February 2012. Ms. Pang holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
No arrangement or understanding exists between any such director or officer and any other persons pursuant to which any director or executive officer was elected as a director or executive officer. Our directors are elected annually and serve until their successors take office or until their death, resignation or removal. Directors are not compensated for serving as such. The executive officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
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Officers, Directors and Key Employees of Bao Feng
Name | Age | Positions | ||||
Ting Ting Chang | 30 | Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Xia Li | 46 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Xianyang Chen | 36 | Chief Technical Officer | ||||
Yu Gao | 36 | Chief Marketing Officer |
Ms. Chang has served as Bao Feng’s Chief Executive Officer since May 2016. For Ms. Chang’s biographical information, see “Officers and Directors of the Company,” above.
Ms. Li has served as Bao Feng’s Chief Financial Officer since 2014. Ms. Li is a certified public accountant with a master's degree from Renmin University of China. After graduation and before joining Bao Feng, she worked as a financial officer for several different companies, Ms. Li has financial management experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint-stock reform, tax planning, listed company mergers and other financial areas.
Mr. Chen has served as Bao Feng’s Chief Technical Officer since 2016. His work at Bao Feng primarily involves the establishment of a prediction model for alzheimer's disease and the extraction and purification of nervonic acid from acer truncatum and its application in the field of brain health. Prior to joining Bao Feng, from 2011 to 2015, Mr. Chen was employed as an assistant professor at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences where his work primarily involved metabolomics and data modeling, and where he presided over a natural science foundation project. Mr. Chen has published five articles and co-authored fifteen articles in various scientific journals. Mr. Chen holds a bachelor's degree in grass science from the School of Resources and Environment, Beijing Forestry University and a doctorate degree in developmental biology from the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Mr. Gao, Bao Feng’s CMO, received his Master’s Degree from the School of Management of Renmin University of China in 2005. From May 2017 to October 2018, he was employed as sales director of Kang Tai Chang Long Biotechnology Co., Limited, a private pharmaceutical/bioengineering company. Prior to that position, Mr. Gao was engaged in sales management for several other large and medium-sized companies.
Compensation
The following table summarizes all compensation received by our directors and our Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer and by the directors, executive officers and key employees of Bao Feng in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Summary Compensation Table
Compensation Paid | ||||
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary ($)(1) |
Bonus ($) |
Other Compensation ($) |
Ting Ting Chang, CEO, President, Secretary and Director
|
2019 2020 |
17,761(2) 17,761(2) |
Nil Nil |
N/A N/A |
Fung Ming Pang, CFO and Director |
2019 2020 |
Nil(3) Nil(3) |
Nil Nil |
N/A N/A |
Xianyang Chen, CTO of Bao Feng |
2019 2020 |
Nil(4) Nil(4) |
Nil Nil |
N/A N/A |
Xia Li, CFO of Bao Feng |
2019 2020 |
17,761 17,761 |
Nil Nil |
N/A N/A |
Yu Gao, CMO of Bao Feng |
2019 2020 |
17,761 17,761 |
Nil Nil |
N/A N/A |
(1) | Expressed in U.S. Dollars based on the annual average exchange rate as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York of 6.7104 RMB for each U.S. Dollar in 2019 and 6.9649 RMB for each U.S. dollar in 2020. | ||
(2) | Paid to Ms. Chang by Bao Feng as compensation for her services to that company. | ||
(3) | Ms. Pang became an officer and director of the Company on May 4, 2020. | ||
(4) | In lieu of a cash salary, Mr. Chen received shares of Bao Feng, which were later transferred to Zhong Yuan-SZ in exchange for shares of Zhong Yuan Investment as part of a corporate reorganization. |
We did not set aside or accrue any amounts to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors and officers for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, other than contributions to our Provident Fund Plan as social insurances and housing provident fund, which aggregated approximately $50,348 for officers and directors.
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Stock Option Grants and Exercises
The Company has not issued any options or stock appreciation rights to any officers, employees or directors. Our directors and executive officers may receive share options at the discretion of our Board of Directors in the future.
Compensation of Directors
We do not have any agreements for compensating our directors for their services in their capacity as directors.
Employment Contracts
The employment agreements between the Company or Bao Feng and their executive officers are summarized below.
Ting Ting Chang, CEO of both the Company and Bao Feng, has entered into a five-year Employment Agreement with Bao Feng for a term which commenced May 16, 2017 and which terminates on May 15, 2022, unless renewed by mutual agreement or earlier terminated. The contract may be terminated by mutual agreement or by either party under certain specified conditions. Ms. Chang is currently paid a monthly salary of RMB10,000. In addition, Ms. Chang has entered into an Indemnification Agreement with the Company pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify her, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the Cayman Islands and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, against any and all expenses, liability and loss that she may incur as a result of any proceeding based on her alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer of the Company.
Fung Ming Pang, CFO of the Company, has entered into a three-year Employment Agreement with the Company for a term which commenced May 4, 2020 and which terminates on May 3, 2023, unless renewed by mutual consent for an additional one-year term or earlier terminated. Under the Agreement, Ms. Pang is paid a monthly salary of $2,000 until November 2020 and $6,000 thereafter. In addition, Ms. Pang is entitled to annual bonuses as determined by the Board of Directors and payable either in stock, stock options or cash, or any combination thereof. The Agreement further provides that Ms. Pang will be granted cashless options to purchase 600,000 (post-Reverse Stock Split) Ordinary Shares of the Company at $0.50 per share (as adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split) when the Company is quoted on OTCQB, which shall vest 50% immediately upon quotation on OTCQB and 50% on the first anniversary of such quotation, and which will be exercisable for five years after the date of vesting. Ms. Pang may be granted additional options upon approval of the Board of Directors. The Agreement may be terminated by the Company with or without cause, voluntarily by Ms. Pang or by Ms. Pang upon a change in control of the Company. The Agreement contains a covenant not to compete and a non-disclosure clause. In addition, Ms. Pang has entered into an Indemnification Agreement with the Company pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify her, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the Cayman Islands and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, against any and all expenses, liability and loss that she may incur as a result of any proceeding based on her alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer of the Company.
Xia Li, CFO of Bao Feng, has entered into a five-year Employment Agreement with Bao Feng for a term which commenced June 1, 2017 and which terminates on May 31, 2022, unless renewed by mutual agreement or earlier terminated. The contract may be terminated by mutual agreement or by either party under certain specified conditions. Ms. Li is currently paid a monthly salary of RMB 10,000.
Yu Gao, Bao Feng’s CMO, is currently employed under a three-year Employment Agreement with Bao Feng for a term which terminates on December 23, 2021, unless renewed by mutual agreement or earlier terminated. The contract may be terminated by mutual agreement or by either party under certain specified conditions. Mr. Gao is currently paid a monthly salary of RMB 6,000.
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Rather than an Employment Agreement, Xianyang Chen, Bao Feng’s CTO, has entered into a Technology Shareholding Cooperation Agreement, dated June 1, 2017, with Bao Feng pursuant to which he received shares equal to a 20% interest in Bao Feng in lieu of a salary. Pursuant to the re-organisation of China Bio, his 20% interest in Bao Feng was transferred to Zhong Yuan-SZ on January 19, 2018 in exchange for a 16% interest in Zhong Yuan Investment. If the Company is listed on either NASDAQ or the NYSE, Mr. Chen’s salary will be determined according to the salary structure of the listed Company. The Agreement contains a 5-year non-competition clause and a non-disclosure clause.
Limitation on Liability and Other Indemnification Matters
The Companies Law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our Memorandum and Articles permit indemnification of officers and directors for actions, proceedings, claims, losses, damages, costs, liabilities and expenses (“Indemnified Losses”) incurred in their capacities as such unless such Indemnified Losses arise from dishonesty of such directors or officers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Audit Committee
We do not have an audit committee.
Employees
The Company has approximately 20 full-time employees, 18 of which are employed by Bao Feng.
Share Ownership
The following table shows the number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by our directors and executive officers as of July 31, 2020:
Name and Address | Ordinary Shares Owned of Record | Options Held |
Total Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percent of Beneficial Ownership(1) | ||||||||||||
Ting Ting Chang
Suite 2432, Sun Hung Kai Centre 30 Harbour Road Wanchai, Hong Kong |
0 | 0 | 15,158,808 | (2) | 88.42 | % | ||||||||||
Fung Ming Pang
Suite 2432, Sun Hung Kai Centre 30 Harbour Road Wanchai, Hong Kong |
0 | 0 | 15,158,808 | (2) | 88.42 | % | ||||||||||
All Directors and Officers as a group (2 persons) | 0 | 0 | 15,158,808 | (2) | 88.42 | % |
(1) | Based on 17,145,000 Shares outstanding after the Reverse Stock Split effected on July 24, 2020. | |
(2) | Held of record by Zhong Yuan Investment. As the only directors of Zhong Yuan Investment, Ms. Chang and Ms. Pang, share voting and investment power over the Shares held of record by that entity. Zhong Yuan Investment is owned of record by Ting Ting Chang, our Chief Executive Officer (20%), Xianyang Chen, Bao Feng’s Chief Technical Officer (16%), Yu Chang, Ting Ting Chang’s father (41.6%), Shuju Chen (2.4%) and Prime Legend Limited (20%), which is 100% owned of record by Fung Ming Pang, our Chief Financial Officer. |
Stock Option and Bonus Plans
The Company currently has not authorized any compensation plans or stock option plans.
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Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
Major shareholders
We are not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any foreign government or by another corporation. The following table sets forth, as of July 31, 2020, beneficial ownership of our Ordinary Shares by each person, to the best of our knowledge, known to own beneficially 5% or more of our Ordinary Shares outstanding as of such date. Except as otherwise indicated, all Shares are owned directly and hold equal voting rights.
Name |
Ordinary Shares Owned(1) |
Options to Purchase Ordinary Shares |
Percent of Beneficial Ownership(2) |
|||||||||
Zhong Yuan Investment Limited(3) | 15,158,808 | 0 | 88.42 | % | ||||||||
Ting Ting Chang | 15,158,808 | (4) | 0 | 88.42 | % | |||||||
Fung Ming Pang | 15,158,808 | (5) | 0 | 88.42 | % | |||||||
Yu Chang | 6,306,064 | (6) | 0 | 36.78 | % | |||||||
Xianyang Chen | 2,425,409 | (6) | 0 | 14.15 | % |
(1) | As adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split effected on July 24, 2020. |
(2) | Based on 17,145,000 Ordinary Shares outstanding after the Reverse Stock Split effected on July 24, 2020. |
(3) | Zhong Yuan Investment is owned of record by Ting Ting Chang, our Chief Executive Officer and director (20%), Xianyang Chen, Bao Feng’s Chief Technical Officer (16%), Yu Chang, Ting Ting Chang’s father (41.6%), Shuju Chen (2.4%) and Prime Legend Limited (20%), which is 100% owned by Fung Ming Pang, our Chief Financial Officer and director. | |
(4) | Held of record by Zhong Yuan Investment Limited. Ms. Chang, our Chief Executive Officer and director, beneficially owns these Shares by virtue of her being one of two directors of Zhong Yuan Investment. | |
(5) | Held of record by Zhong Yuan Investment Limited. Ms. Pang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, beneficially owns these Shares by virtue of her being one of two directors of Zhong Yuan Investment. | |
(6) | Held of record by Zhong Yuan Investment Limited. |
In May 2020, Ting Ting Chang, our Chief Executive Officer, sold an aggregate of 8,000,000 Shares owned of record by her, and Zhong Yuan Investment sold an aggregate of 9,911,920 Shares owned of record by it, to existing, non-affiliated shareholders of the Company in private transactions under Regulation S (the “Private Sales”). The sales by Zhong Yuan Investment reduced the beneficial ownership of the Company’s principal shareholders proportionately to their interest in Zhong Yuan Investment as described in footnote 3, above.
There are no arrangements known to us that may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.
Related Party Transactions
The Company utilizes the office space and equipment of a business associate of management in Hong Kong at no cost. Management estimates the value of such office space and equipment to be immaterial.
On March 1, 2020, Bao Feng entered into an acquisition agreement to acquire a 100% interest in Dandong Bao Feng Seedling Technology Co., Limited from Yu Chang, the owner of 41.6% of the outstanding shares of Zhong Yuan Investment and the father of Ms. Ting Ting Chang, for a total consideration of RMB10,500,000 (approximately $1,482,600), RMB3,160,000 (approximately US$446,192) of which was paid upon signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement. The balance of RMB7,340,000 (approximately US$1,036,408) is payable upon completion of the acquisition, which is expected to occur on December 31, 2020.
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On August 31, 2019, the Company closed on the Share Exchange with Zhong Yuan Investment pursuant to which the Company acquired 100% of the shares of China Bio. At the time of the acquisition, Ms. Ting Ting Chang was the Company’s sole officer and director. Zhong Yuan Investment are affiliates of Ms. Fung Ming Pang, the Company’s current Chief Financial Officer and director. Three indirect subsidiaries of China Bio, Zhong Yuan (HK), Zhong Yuan (SZ) and Bao Feng, are affiliates of Ms. Ting Ting Chang, the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer and director.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Ting Ting Chang, our Chief Executive Officer and director, paid, either directly or indirectly, expenses of the Company aggregating $50,406 and $12,600, respectively. These are fees Ms. Chang paid on behalf of the Company. The advances were unsecured, non-interest bearing and payable on demand. As of March 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the amount due to Ms. Chang was $Nil, $41,473 and $Nil, respectively.
On May 3, 2017, the Company effected a change of its control. The Company cancelled an aggregate of 19,500,000 shares of the then 20,000,000 shares of outstanding stock valued at par. James M. Cassidy resigned as the Company's president, secretary and director and James McKillop resigned as the Company's vice president and director. Ting Ting Chang was then named sole director of the Company and was named President, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. On May 4, 2017, the Company issued 8,000,000 shares of its Common Stock to Ms. Chang for no consideration as a result of the change in control.
Except as otherwise indicated herein, there have been no other related party transactions, or any other transactions or relationships required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 and Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K.
Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not Applicable
Item 8. Financial Information
Financial Statements
Our Consolidated Financial Statements are set forth under Item 18. – "Financial Statements."
Item 9. The Offer and Listing
Offer and Listing Details
There is currently no public market for the Company's securities. We are seeking to identify a market maker to apply for our Shares to be admitted to quotation on the OTCQB. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify a market maker that will file such application or that, if the Shares are admitted to quotation, a public market will ever develop. There is no guarantee that our Shares will ever be quoted on the OTCQB or any exchange.
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Item 10. Additional Information
Share Capital
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability and our affairs are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Law, the common law of the Cayman Islands, our corporate governance documents and rules and regulations of the stock exchange on which our Shares may, in the future, be traded.
Our authorized capital, after the Reverse Stock Split, is $50,000, consisting of 50,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value per share. The Board of Directors has the right, in its absolute discretion and without approval of the existing shareholders, to issue shares, grant rights over existing shares or issue other securities in one or more series as it deems necessary and appropriate and to determine designations, powers, preferences, privileges and other rights, including dividend rights, conversion rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the powers and rights associated with the Shares held by existing shareholders, at such times and on such other terms as it deems proper. No preferred shares have been issued.
As of the date of this Annual Report (on a post Reverse Stock Split basis), there are 17,145,000 of our Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, 16,150,000 of which were issued in July 2019 in consideration for 100% of the outstanding shares of China Bio pursuant to the Share Exchange. All Shares are fully paid. We do not have any options to purchase Shares or any preferred shares outstanding.
Memorandum and Articles of Association
We are registered in the Cayman Islands and have been assigned company number 313036 in the register of companies. Our registered office is Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman KYI–9008, Cayman Islands. The objects for which the Company was established are unrestricted and the Company has full power and authority to carry out any object that is not prohibited under Cayman Islands law as set forth in Paragraph 4 of our Memorandum of Association. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are (subject to certain qualifications) prohibited from trading in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of our business carried on outside the Cayman Islands, owning land in the Cayman Islands and making any invitation to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of our shares or debentures. We do not believe that these restrictions materially affect our operations.
Objects of the Company
Under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, the objects of our Company are unrestricted and we have the full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands.
Powers of Directors
Paragraph 107 of our Articles of Association (our “Articles”) provides that a director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or a proposed contract with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the directors or by general notice to the directors. The director may vote in respect of the contract or arrangement notwithstanding his interest therein and his vote shall be counted, and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting at which the contract or arrangement is considered. Paragraph 86 of the Articles allows the directors to vote compensation to themselves in respect of services rendered to the Company. Paragraph 98 of the Articles provides that the directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertakings and property or any part thereof, to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. Such borrowing powers can be altered by an amendment to the Articles. There is no provision in the Articles for the mandatory retirement of directors. Paragraph 85 of the Articles provides that directors are not required to own shares of the Company in order to serve as directors.
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Our Ordinary Shares
Our authorized share capital is $50,000, divided into 50,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value. Holders of our Ordinary Shares are entitled to one vote for each whole Share on all matters to be voted upon by shareholders, including the election of directors. Holders of our Ordinary Shares do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. All of our fully paid Ordinary Shares are equal to each other with respect to dividend rights. Holders of our Ordinary Shares are entitled to receive dividends if and when declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor under Cayman Islands law. In the event of our liquidation, the liquidator will, after having discharged the debts, if any, of the Company, divide among the shareholders on a pari passu basis, in specie or kind, the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for such purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid. Holders of our Ordinary Shares have no preemptive rights to purchase any additional unissued Ordinary Shares. No preferred shares have been issued; however, the Board of Directors has the ability to determine the rights, preferences and restrictions of preferred shares at their discretion.
Paragraph 8 of the Articles provides that the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of preferred shares, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.
Amendment
Paragraph 153 of the Articles provides that our Memorandum and Articles of Association may be amended by a special resolution of members. A special resolution requires passage by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the shareholders entitled to vote on the matter, in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company or in writing by all of the shareholders entitled to vote.
General Meetings
Provisions in respect of the holding of annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings are set out in Paragraphs 55 through 69 of the Articles and under the Companies Law (Revised) of the Cayman Islands. The directors may convene meetings of the shareholders at such times and in such manner and places as the directors consider necessary or desirable, and they shall convene such a meeting upon the written request of shareholders holding not less than one-third of the share capital of the Company as at that date carries the right to vote at general meetings of the Company.
Limitations on Right to Own Shares
Cayman Islands law and our Memorandum and Articles of Association impose no limitations on the right of nonresident or foreign owners to hold or vote our securities. There are no provisions in the Memorandum and Articles of Association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Some provisions of our Articles may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our Company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that:
● | authorize our Board of Directors to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preferred shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders (subject to variation of rights of shares provisions in our Memorandum and Articles of Association); and | |
● | limit the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders. Our Memorandum and Articles of Association allow our shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than one-third of our share capital as carries the right to vote to requisition an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our directors are obliged to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. |
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our Memorandum and Articles of Association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our Company.
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Issuance of Additional Shares
Paragraph 6 of our Articles authorize our Board of Directors to issue additional Ordinary Shares from time to time as our Board of Directors shall determine, to the extent there are available authorized but unissued Shares.
Paragraph 7 of our Articles also authorizes our Board of Directors to establish from time to time one or more series of preferred shares and to determine, subject to compliance with the variation of rights of shares provision in the Articles, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:
● | the designation of the series; | |
● | the number of shares of the series; | |
● | the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights and voting rights; and | |
● |
the rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences.
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Our Board of Directors may issue preferred shares without action by our shareholders to the extent there are authorized but unissued shares available. Issuance of additional shares may dilute the voting power of holders of our Ordinary Shares. However, no shares may be issued in excess of the authorized share capital specified in our Memorandum of Association and to the extent the rights attached to any class may be varied, the Company must comply with the provisions in our Articles relating to variations in rights of shares.
A copy of our Memorandum and Articles of Association was filed as Exhibit A to the Definitive Schedule 14(C) filed with the SEC by the Company on January 16, 2018.
Material Contracts
Effective November 15, 2017, the Company (the “Delaware Company”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (the “Cayman Company), an exempted company limited by shares which was formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands, in order to effect a change in the Company’s domicile from Delaware to the Cayman Islands. The Merger Agreement provided that, upon effectiveness of the merger, (i) the Delaware Company would be merged with and into the Cayman Company with the Cayman Company being the surviving company; (ii) each share of Common Stock of the Delaware Company would convert into the right to receive one Ordinary Share of the Cayman Company; and (iii) the officers and directors of the Delaware Company would be the officers and directors of the Cayman Company. The Plan of Merger was approved by the shareholders of both the Delaware Company and the Cayman Company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company became a Cayman Islands exempted company as of August 21, 2018.
On July 2, 2019, the Company entered into a definitive Share Exchange Agreement with Zhong Yuan Investment and its affiliates, pursuant to which the Company acquired all of the outstanding Common Stock of China Bio in exchange for the issuance of 161,500,000 Ordinary Shares to Zhong Yuan Investment. On August 31, 2019 (the “Closing Date”), China Bio became our wholly owned subsidiary and Zhong Yuan Investment became the owner of approximately 95% of our voting Shares. The Share Exchange Agreement was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 5, 2019.
Summaries of our employment contracts with executive officers and key employees are disclosed under “Compensation of Executive Officers and Directors – Employment Contracts” and were filed as Exhibits 10.9 through 10.11 to our Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on September 5, 2019.
Summaries of our leases are disclosed under “Our Business – Properties” and were filed as Exhibits 10.13 and 10.14 to the Registration Statement of which this Annual Report is a part.
Bao Feng entered into a Joint Project Contract with the National Health and Occupational Safety and Health Research Center, effective from June 20, 2019 to June 20, 2023. The contract provides for the joint construction of a laboratory and cooperation between the parties on research and development and testing projects. An English translation of the Joint Project Contract was filed as Exhibit 10.2 to our Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on September 5, 2019.
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Exchange Controls
The government of the PRC imposes restrictions on the convertibility of the RMB and the collection and use of foreign currencies by Chinese entities. Under the current regulations, the RMB can be freely exchanged in current account transactions, including dividend distribution, interest payments and import and export of goods and services. However, the conversion of RMB into foreign currency and the conversion of foreign currency into RMB for capital account transactions, such as direct investment, securities investment and loans, generally require prior approval from the SAFE.
According to the current PRC regulations, foreign-invested enterprises, such as our subsidiaries in China, must apply for a Foreign Exchange Registration Certificate for Foreign-Invested Enterprise. With such a certificate, a foreign-invested enterprise may open foreign exchange bank accounts with banks authorized by SAFE to conduct foreign exchange business and may purchase, sell and remit foreign exchange through such banks, subject to documentation and approval requirements. Foreign-invested enterprises are required to open and maintain separate foreign exchange accounts for capital account transactions and current accounts. In addition, there are restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that foreign-invested enterprises can retain in such accounts.
There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Taxation
No reciprocal tax treaty regarding withholding exists between the United States and the Cayman Islands. Under current Cayman Islands law, dividends, interest or royalties paid by us to individuals are not subject to tax. If we were to pay a dividend, we would not be liable to withhold any tax, but shareholders would receive gross dividends, if any, irrespective of their residential or national status.
Dividends, if any, paid to any United States resident or citizen shareholder are treated as dividend income for United States federal income tax purposes. Such dividends are not eligible for the 50% dividends-received deduction allowed to United States corporations on dividends from a domestic corporation under Section 243 of the Internal Revenue Code. Various Internal Revenue Code provisions impose special taxes in certain circumstances on non-United States corporations and their shareholders. You are urged to consult your tax advisor with regard to such possibilities and your own tax situation.
A foreign corporation will be treated as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for United States federal income tax purposes if, after applying relevant look-through rules with respect to the income and assets of subsidiaries, 75% or more of its gross income consists of certain types of passive income or 50% or more of the gross value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents (other than rents and royalties derived in the active conduct of a trade or business), annuities and gains from assets that produce passive income. We presently believe that we are not a PFIC and do not anticipate becoming a PFIC. This is, however, a factual determination made on an annual basis and is subject to change. If we were to be classified as a PFIC in any taxable year, (i) United States holders would generally be required to treat any gain on sales of our Shares held by them as ordinary income and to pay an interest charge on the value of the deferral of their United States federal income tax attributable to such gain; and (ii) distributions paid by us to our United States holders could also be subject to an interest charge. In addition, we would not provide information to our United States holders that would enable them to make a “qualified electing fund” election under which, generally, in lieu of the foregoing treatment, our earnings would be currently included in their United States federal income.
In addition to United States federal income taxation, shareholders may be subject to state and local taxes upon their receipt of dividends. Further, non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to taxation upon their receipt of dividends in their tax jurisdiction.
Documents on Display
You may read and copy documents referred to in this Annual Report on Form 20-F that have been filed with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You can also obtain copies of our SEC filings by going to the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As a "smaller reporting company" as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, the Company is not required to provide this information.
Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities
Not Applicable
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PART II
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
None
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
On August 21, 2018, the Company, a Delaware corporation, completed a redomicile merger to reorganize itself as a Cayman Islands company. A comparison of the rights of shareholders under Delaware and Cayman Islands law appears in the Definitive Schedule 14(C) filed with the SEC by the Company on January 16, 2018, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer, Ting Ting Chang, and principal financial officer, Fung Ming Pang, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as of March 31, 2020. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective at such time to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act were recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer also concluded that our disclosure controls, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, were inappropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on management's assessment, the Company determined that there were material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2020. The material weaknesses identified were as follows::
● Due to the small size of the Company and the lack of an accounting and finance department or a sufficient number of experienced accounting and finance personnel, there were limited controls over information processing.
● There was an inadequate segregation of duties consistent with control objectives as management was composed of only two persons at fiscal year-end, and there remains an issue with inadequate segregation of duties as of the date of filing this Annual Report. In order to remedy this situation, we would need to hire additional managers and staff to provide greater segregation of duties. Currently, it is not financially feasible to hire additional managers and staff to obtain optimal segregation of duties. Management will reassess this matter on an ongoing basis to determine whether improvement in segregation of duties is feasible.
● The Company does not have a formal audit committee with a financial expert, and thus the Company lacks the board oversight role within the financial reporting process.
● Although the financial statements and footnotes are reviewed by our management, we do not have formal policies and procedures necessary to adequately review significant accounting transactions and the accounting treatment of those transactions.
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As a result of these material weaknesses, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of March 31, 2020. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. A significant deficiency is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting that is less severe than a material weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those responsible for oversight of the company's financial reporting.
Evaluation of Internal Controls and Procedures
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. As defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company's principal executive, principal operating and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the Company's Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The Company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company's assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the Company's management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at March 31, 2020, and determined that, as of March 31, 2020, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective.
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by the Company's registered public accounting firm pursuant to the exemption provided to issuers that are not "large accelerated filers" nor "accelerated filers" under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
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Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes to our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal year that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
Item 16. Reserved
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Company does not have an audit committee and the sole director does not qualify as a financial expert at this time.
Item 16B. Code of Ethics
Due to our size, limited number of employees, the fact that we presently have only two directors and two officers and are still in the development stage of our operations, the Company has not yet adopted a code of ethics that applies to our directors, officers, employees and representatives. We intend to adopt a code of ethics in the future when and if our circumstances warrant.
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Centurion ZD CPA & Co. is the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. Fees billed to the Company are set forth below:
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, |
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, |
|||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 45,000 | $ | 30,000 | ||||
Audit Related Fees | $ | 7,000 | $ | — | ||||
Tax Fees | — | — | ||||||
All other Fees | — | — | ||||||
Total | $ | 52,000 | $ | 30,000 |
"Audit Fees" consisted of fees billed for services rendered for the audit of the Company's annual consolidated financial statements included in the Company's annual reports on Form 20-F and other regulatory filings, and "audit related fees" are for review of the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's interim reports on Form 6-K.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
The Company's Shares are not listed on an exchange.
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None
Item 16F. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountants
On April 10, 2019, the Company engaged Centurion ZD CPA & Co. as its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of China Bio, the acquiree of the Share Exchange with Zhong Yuan Investment, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.
On December 30, 2019, the Company dismissed KCCW Accountancy Corp. (“KCCW”) as our independent registered public accounting firm. The reports of KCCW on our financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the period April 4, 2016 through December 31, 2016 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and they were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, except that such reports included a going concern qualification. During our fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and the subsequent interim period preceding their dismissal, there were no disagreements with KCCW, whether or not resolved, on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KCCW, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with their report on our financial statements.
On December 30, 2019, the Company engaged Centurion ZD CPA & Co. to replace KCCW as its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020.
Item 16G. Corporate Governance
Not Applicable
Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not Applicable
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PART III
Item 17. Financial Statements
Not Applicable
Item 18. Financial Statements
The following Financial Statements are filed as part of this Annual Report:
Pages | ||
Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm | F-1 | |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2020 and 2019 | F-2 | |
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 | F-3 | |
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 | F-4 | |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 | F-5 | |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | F-6 - F-18 |
Item 19. Exhibits
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SIGNATURE
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED | ||
Dated: August 17, 2020 | /s/ CHANG Ting Ting | |
CHANG Ting Ting | ||
President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Director | ||
Dated: August 17, 2020 | /s/ PANG Fung Ming | |
PANG Fung Ming | ||
Chief Financial Officer and Director | ||
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Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands)
Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2020
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ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Contents | Pages |
Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm | F-1 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2020 and 2019 | F-2 |
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 | F-3 |
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 | F-4 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 | F-5 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | F-6 to F-18 |
i
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中正達會計師事務所
Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
Certified Public Accountants (Practising)
Unit 1304, 13/F, Two Harbourfront, 22 Tak Fung Street, Hunghom, Hong Kong.
香港 紅磡 德豐街 22 號 海濱廣場二期 13 樓 1304 室
Tel 電話: (852) 2126 2388 Fax 傳真: (852) 2122 9078
Email 電郵 : info@czdcpa.com
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive losses, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended March 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended March 31, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
Hong Kong
August 17, 2020
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019
F-1
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ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY
HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||
Cash at bank | $ | 60,790 | $ | 5,377 | ||||
Available-for-sale investment | — | 342,706 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $nil | 329,891 | 363,491 | ||||||
Inventories | 224,879 | 246,881 | ||||||
Due from related companies | 772,661 | 720,150 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 141,017 | 187,770 | ||||||
Total current assets | 1,529,238 | 1,866,375 | ||||||
Other assets | ||||||||
Deposit for acquisition | 446,192 | — | ||||||
Right-of-use assets | 294,188 | — | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 9,839 | 9,343 | ||||||
Total other assets | 750,219 | 9,343 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,279,457 | $ | 1,875,718 | ||||
Liabilities and stockholders' equity |
||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||
Short term loans | $ | 460,030 | $ | 206,070 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other payables | 66,673 | 150,181 | ||||||
Due to a director | — | 41,673 | ||||||
Value added and other taxes payable | 8,901 | 10,414 | ||||||
Lease liabilities, current | 93,077 | — | ||||||
Income tax payable | — | 15,309 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 628,681 | 423,647 | ||||||
Lease liabilities, noncurrent | 170,966 | — | ||||||
Total liabilities | 799,647 | 423,647 | ||||||
Stockholders' equity | ||||||||
Ordinary shares, 500,000,000 shares authorized at par value of $0.0001 each, 171,450,000 and 161,500,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively* | 17,145 | 16,150 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital* | 1,563,472 | 1,435,200 | ||||||
Accumulated losses* | (214,247 | ) | (126,948 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 113,440 | 127,669 | ||||||
Total stockholders' equity | 1,479,810 | 1,452,071 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 2,279,457 | $ | 1,875,718 |
*Par value of ordinary shares, additional paid-in capital and share data have been retroactively restated to give effect to the share exchange that is discussed in Note 1
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-2
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
NET SALES | $ | 1,219,650 | $ | 1,217,588 | ||||
Cost of sales | (257,034 | ) | (320,836 | ) | ||||
Gross profit | 962,616 | 896,752 | ||||||
General and administrative expenses | (598,610 | ) | (373,898 | ) | ||||
Research and development expenses | (182,309 | ) | (42,704 | ) | ||||
Selling and marketing expenses | (267,206 | ) | (168,014 | ) | ||||
Operating income (loss) | (85,509 | ) | 312,136 | |||||
Other income (expenses) | ||||||||
Other income (expenses) | (424 | ) | 303 | |||||
Gain on disposal a subsidiary | — | 3,127 | ||||||
Subsidy income | 2,298 | — | ||||||
Interest income | 2,451 | 605 | ||||||
Interest expense | (6,115 | ) | (20,076 | ) | ||||
Total other income (expenses), net | (1,790 | ) | (16,041 | ) | ||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | (87,299 | ) | 296,095 | |||||
Income tax expense | — | (15,912 | ) | |||||
Net income (loss) | (87,299 | ) | 280,183 | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | (14,229 | ) | 8,701 | |||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (101,528 | ) | $ | 288,884 | |||
(Loss) earnings per share – Basic and diluted (cents) | (0.052 | ) | 0.173 | |||||
Weighted average number of shares – Basic and diluted* | 166,881,967 | 161,500,000 |
*Share and per share data have been retroactively restated to give effect to the share exchange that is discussed in Note 1
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ordinary Shares* | Paid-in | Accumulated | Comprehensive | |||||||||||||||||||||
shares | Amount | Capital | Losses | Income | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of April 1, 2018 | 161,500,000 | $ | 16,150 | $ | 1,435,200 | $ | (407,131 | ) | $ | 118,968 | $ | 1,163,187 | ||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 280,183 | — | 280,183 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | — | — | — | — | 8,701 | 8,701 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2019 | 161,500,000 | 16,150 | 1,435,200 | (126,948 | ) | 127,669 | 1,452,071 | |||||||||||||||||
Effect of shares exchange | 8,500,000 | 850 | (16,583 | ) | — | — | (15,733 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of shares through private placement | 1,450,000 | 145 | 144,855 | — | — | 145,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | (87,299 | ) | — | (87,299 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | — | — | — | — | (14,229 | ) | (14,229 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2020 | 171,450,000 | $ | 17,145 | $ | 1,563,472 | $ | (214,247 | ) | $ | 113,440 | $ | 1,479,810 |
*Share and per share data have been retroactively restated to give effect to the share exchange that is discussed in Note 1
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net (loss)/income | $ | (87,299 | ) | $ | 280,183 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | 6,278 | 5,923 | ||||||
Amortization of right-of-use assets | 13,300 | — | ||||||
Income tax expenses | — | 15,912 | ||||||
Loss on disposal of fixed assets | 291 | — | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts receivable | 14,813 | 140,088 | ||||||
Inventories | 9,228 | 174,258 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (6,409 | ) | 161,775 | |||||
Accrued expenses and other payables | (96,775 | ) | (31,026 | ) | ||||
Value added and other taxes payable | — | 10,414 | ||||||
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities | (146,573 | ) | 757,527 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from disposal of available-for-sale investment | 330,269 | — | ||||||
Payment of deposit for acquisition | (453,776 | ) | — | |||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (7,571 | ) | — | |||||
Purchase of available-for-sale investment | — | (342,706 | ) | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (131,078 | ) | (342,706 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from Private Placement | 145,000 | — | ||||||
Proceeds from short term loans | 467,849 | 206,070 | ||||||
Repayment of short term loans | (198,599 | ) | (208,926 | ) | ||||
Advances to the related companies | 114,413 | 74,937 | ||||||
Repayment from the related companies | (177,904 | ) | (489,129 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | 350,759 | (417,048 | ) | |||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | (17,695 | ) | 6,656 | |||||
Net increase in cash | 55,413 | 4,429 | ||||||
Cash at beginning of year | 5,377 | 948 | ||||||
Cash at end of year | $ | 60,790 | $ | 5,377 | ||||
Supplemental information: | ||||||||
Cash paid for income tax | $ | 15,309 | $ | 601 | ||||
Cash paid for interests | 10,208 | 11,268 |
Major non-cash transactions: | ||||||||
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations | $ | 312,489 | $ | — |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Nature of business and organization
Nature of operations
Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (“ZY Holdings” or the “Company”), through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of developing and marketing nervonic acid-based health supplements and sales of acer truncatum seedlings. ZY Holdings together with its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Company”.
Share Exchange
On August 31, 2019, ZY Holdings closed on a share exchange (the “Share Exchange”) with Zhong Yuan Investment Limited (“Zhong Yuan Investment”), a Seychelles company limited by shares. Prior to the exchange, Zhong Yuan Investment owned 100% of the shares of China Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (“China Bio”), a company organized under the laws of the Republic of Seychelles. Under the Share Exchange Agreement, ZY Holdings issued 161,500,000 shares to Zhong Yuan Investment in exchange of 100% equity interest in China Bio. As a result of the Share Exchange, China Bio is now a wholly owned subsidiary of ZY Holdings. Immediately following the closing of the Share Exchange, the Company had 170,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding, 95% of which were owned by Zhong Yuan Investment.
The Share Exchange has been accounted for as a reverse acquisition using the purchase method of accounting, with no goodwill being recognized. ZY Holdings (the legal acquirer) has been considered the accounting acquiree and China Bio (the legal acquiree) the accounting acquirer. The consolidated financial statements prior to the closing of the Share Exchange are actually those of China Bio, and the accounts of ZY Holdings are consolidated from the date of consummation of the Share Exchange.
Reorganization of China Bio
In and around January 2018 China Bio completed a reorganization of its legal structure. The reorganization involved the incorporation of China Bio and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology (Hong Kong) Limited (“ZY HK”, previously known as Hua Hong Powerloop Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, a holding company incorporated on June 13, 2016 under the laws of Hong Kong) and Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited (“ZY Shenzhen”, a holding company established on June 10, 2014 under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) and previously known as Shenzhen Chuang Feng Clear Energy Company Limited); and the transfer of all equity ownership of Bao Feng Bio-Technology (Beijing) Limited (“BF Beijing”, previously known as Beijing Yuan Bao Feng Century Agricultural Technology Limited, an operating company incorporated on August 30, 2012 under the laws of the PRC) to ZY Shenzhen from the former shareholders of BF Beijing.
On January 19, 2018, ZY Shenzhen entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the equity ownership of BF Beijing for a total cash consideration of $1,351,500 (RMB8,500,000) from the former shareholders of BF Beijing. To fund ZY Shenzhen’s acquisition of BF Beijing, these former shareholders agreed to provide an interest-free loan to China Bio which in turn provided an interest-free loan to ZY Shenzhen of the same amount of $1,351,500 (RMB8,500,000). For the purpose of this transaction, in January 2018, these former shareholders had established a majority ownership in China Bio whose shares were issued and paid up by way of capitalization of the said interest-free loan of $1,351,500 provided by these former shareholders. China Bio has a direct 100% equity interest in ZY Shenzhen. On February 13, 2019, ZY Shenzhen received approval from the Economic and Trade Bureau of Beijing, the PRC, on the acquisition of BF Beijing.
Since China Bio and its subsidiaries have effectively been controlled by the same group of shareholders before and after the reorganization, they are considered under common control. The above-mentioned transactions have been accounted for as recapitalization of BF Beijing with no adjustment to the historical basis of the assets and liabilities of BF Beijing and the operations were consolidated as though the transaction occurred as of the beginning of the first accounting period presented in these financial statements. For the purpose of presenting the financial statements on a consistent basis, the consolidated financial statements have been prepared as if the Company, ZY Shenzhen and ZY HK had been in existence since the beginning of the earliest period presented and throughout the whole periods covered by these financial statements.
Private Placement
On December 13, 2019, the Company closed on the sale of 1,450,000 Ordinary Shares, at a purchase price of $0.10 per Share, pursuant to a private securities offering.
F-6
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — Summary of significant accounting policies
Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation. All significant intercompany transactions and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries are eliminated upon consolidation.
Subsidiaries are those entities in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power; or has the power to govern the financial and operating policies, to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors, or to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of directors.
Use of estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include but not limited to the useful lives of property and equipment and capitalized development cost, impairment of long-lived assets, valuation of accounts receivables, revenue recognition, provision for contingent liabilities, and realization of deferred tax assets and uncertain tax positions. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Foreign currency translation
The subsidiaries within the Company maintain their books and records in their respective functional currency, Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”) and Hong Kong dollars (“HK$”), being the lawful currency in the PRC and Hong Kong, respectively. The Company’s financial statements are reported using U.S. Dollars. The results of operations and the consolidated statements of cash flows denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the average rates of exchange during the reporting period. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the applicable rates of exchange in effect at that date. The equity denominated in the functional currencies is translated at the historical rates of exchange at the time of capital contributions. Because cash flows are translated based on the average translation rates, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the consolidated statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the consolidated balance sheets. Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income included in consolidated statements of changes in equity. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income.
The exchange rates used to translate amounts in RMB and HK$ into U.S. Dollars for the purposes of preparing the consolidated financial statements are as follows:-
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts |
RMB1=$0.1412 HK$1=$0.1290 |
RMB1=$0.1490 HK$1=$0.1274 |
||||||
Items in statements of income and cash flows |
RMB1=$0.1436 HK$1=$0.1279 |
RMB1=$0.1490 HK$1=$0.1281 |
No representation is made that the RMB and HK$ amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at the above rates.
F-7
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Fair value measurement
ASC 825-10 requires certain disclosures regarding the fair value of financial instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
● |
Level 1 — inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. |
● |
Level 2 — inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data. |
● | Level 3 — inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable. |
Unless otherwise disclosed, the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments including cash, accounts receivable, prepayments, deposits and other current assets, accounts payable, customer deposits, salaries and benefits payables, and taxes payable approximates their recorded values due to their short-term maturities. The fair value of the long term prepayments, deposits and other assets approximate their carrying amounts because the deposits were paid in cash.
Cash
Cash comprise cash at banks and on hand, which includes deposits with original maturities of three months or less with commercial banks in PRC. As of March 31, 2020 and 2019, cash balances were $60,790 and $5,377. The Company maintains bank accounts in the PRC. Cash balances in bank accounts in PRC are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or other programs.
Prepayments, deposits and other assets, net
Prepayment, deposit and other assets, net, primarily consists of advances to suppliers for purchasing goods; rental deposit made to the landlord; prepaid expenses and other receivables. Prepayment, deposit and other assets are classified as either current or non-current based on the terms of the respective agreements. These advances are unsecured and are reviewed periodically to determine whether their carrying value has become impaired.
Accounts receivable, net
Accounts receivable, net, is stated at the original invoiced amount net of write-offs and allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company reviews the accounts receivable on a periodic basis and makes allowances when there is doubt as to the collectability of individual balances. Past-due balances over 90 days are reviewed individually for collectability. In evaluating the collectability of individual accounts receivable balances, the Company considers several factors, including the age of the balance, the customer’s payment history, current credit-worthiness, and current economic trends. Accounts receivable balances are written off after all collection efforts have been exhausted. Typically, the Company includes unbilled receivables in accounts receivable for contracts on which revenue has been recognized, but for which the customer has not yet been billed. Unbilled receivables, substantially all of which are expected to be billed within one year are stated at their estimated realizable value and consist of costs and fees billable on contract completion or the occurrence of contractual payment phase.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the weighted average cost method. Market value is determined by reference to selling prices after the balance sheet date or to management’s estimates based on prevailing market conditions. The management also regularly evaluates the composition of its inventories to identify slow-moving and obsolete inventories to determine if valuation allowance is required.
F-8
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, net, mainly comprise furniture and furniture, vehicles, computer and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment. Property and equipment are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets on a straight-line basis, after considering the estimated residual value.
The estimated useful lives are as follows:
Useful Life | |
Office equipment, fixtures and furniture | 3-5 years |
Computer equipment | 3-5 years |
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs, which do not materially extend the useful lives of the assets, are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments which substantially extend the useful life of assets are capitalized. The cost and the related accumulated depreciation of assets retired or sold are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is charged to the statement of income and comprehensive income.
Impairment for long-lived assets
Long-lived assets, including office equipment, furniture and fixtures and automobiles are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. When these events occur, the Company measures impairment by comparing the carrying values of the long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amounts of the assets, the Company would recognize an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying value over the assessed discounted cash flow amount. For the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized nil impairment for the long-lived assets.
Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognized when the following four criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) product delivery has occurred or the services have been rendered, (iii) the fees are fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
The Company generates its revenue primarily from the sales of health care supplements. Sales of products are generally recognized when title transfers and the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to customers and when the selling price has been fixed and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company does not provide its customers with the right of return (except for quality), after-sale warranty or price protection. There are no customer acceptance provisions associated with the Company’s products.
The Company is subject to value added tax at 17% on the revenues earned for products sold in the PRC. The Company presents its revenue net of value added and other taxes, sales discounts and returns. There were insignificant product returns for the two years ended March 31, 2020 and hence no provision has been made for sales returns as of March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Advertising expenditures
Advertising expenditures are expensed as incurred and such expenses were minimal for the periods presented.
Advertising expenditures have been included as part of selling and marketing expenses.
F-9
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Operating leases
The Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), on April 1, 2019, using a modified retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard to leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the consolidated financial statements.
The Company leases its offices which are classified as operating leases in accordance with Topic 842. Under Topic 842, lessees are required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) on the commencement date: (i) lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (ii) right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.
At the commencement date, the Company recognizes the lease liability at the present value of the lease payments not yet paid, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the Company’s incremental borrowing rate for the same term as the underlying lease. The right-of-use asset is recognized initially at cost, which primarily comprises the initial amount of the lease liability, plus any initial direct costs incurred, consisting mainly of brokerage commissions, less any lease incentives received. All right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment. No impairment for right-of-use lease assets as of March 31, 2020.
Income taxes
The Company accounts for current income taxes in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities. Deferred income taxes are recognized when temporary differences exist between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period including the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
An uncertain tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the period incurred. No significant penalties or interest relating to income taxes have been incurred during the years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. All of the tax returns of the Company’s subsidiary in China remain subject to examination by the tax authorities for five years from the date of filing.
Value added tax
Revenue represents the invoiced value of service, net of VAT. The VAT is based on gross sales price and VAT rates range up to 17%, depending on the type of service provided. Entities that are VAT general taxpayers are allowed to offset qualified input VAT paid to suppliers against their output VAT liabilities. Net VAT balance between input VAT and output VAT is recorded in taxes payable. All of the VAT returns filed by the Company’s subsidiary in China, have been and remain subject to examination by the tax authorities for five years from the date of filing.
Employee defined contribution plan
Full time employees of the Company in the PRC participate in a government mandated multi-employer defined contribution plan pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. Chinese labour regulations require that the Company make contributions to the government for these benefits based on a certain percentage of the employee’s salaries. The Company has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions. The total amount was expensed as incurred.
F-10
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Earnings per share
The Company computes earnings per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings per Share”. ASC 260 requires companies to present basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as net income divided by the weighted average common share outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS presents the dilutive effect on a per share basis of the potential Ordinary Shares (e.g., convertible securities, options and warrants) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential Ordinary Shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS.
Concentrations of Risks
(a) | Concentration of credit risk |
Assets that potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk primarily consist of cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable and other current assets. The maximum exposure of such assets to credit risk is their carrying amounts as at the balance sheet dates. As of March 31, 2020 and 2019, the aggregate amount of cash of $60,154 and $5,377, respectively, were held at major financial institutions in PRC, where there currently is no rule or regulation requiring the financial institutions to maintain insurance to cover bank deposits in the event of bank failure. To limit exposure to credit risk relating to deposits, the Company primarily place cash deposits with large financial institutions in PRC. The Company conducts credit evaluations of its customers and suppliers, and generally does not require collateral or other security from them. The Company establishes an accounting policy for allowance for doubtful accounts on the individual customer’s and supplier’s financial condition, credit history, and the current economic conditions.
(b) | Foreign currency risk |
A majority of the Company’s expense transactions are denominated in RMB and a significant portion of the Company and its subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB. RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. In the PRC, certain foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”). Remittances in currencies other than RMB by the Company in China must be processed through the PBOC or other China foreign exchange regulatory bodies which require certain supporting documentation in order to affect the remittance.
The Company’s functional currency is the RMB, and the Company’s financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future. The change in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar may affect our financial results reported in the U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying changes in our business or results of operations. Currently, our assets, liabilities, revenues and costs are denominated in RMB.
To the extent that the Company needs to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for capital expenditures and working capital and other business purposes, appreciation of RMB against U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount the Company would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if the Company decides to convert RMB into U.S. dollar for the purpose of making payments for dividends, strategic acquisition or investments or other business purposes, appreciation of U.S. dollar against RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to the Company.
(c) | Significant customers |
Sales revenue from three major customers was $664,349, or approximately 55% of the Company’s total sales for the year ended March 31, 2020. No other single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues during the year ended March 31, 2020. The Company’s accounts receivable from these customers were $7,201 as of March 31, 2020.
(d) | Significant suppliers |
Two major vendors provided approximately 89% of total purchases by the Company during the year ended March 31, 2020. The Company’s accounts payable due to this vendor was nil as of March 31, 2020.
F-11
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) consists of two components, net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenue, expenses, gains and losses that under U.S. GAAP are recorded as an element of shareholders’ equity but are excluded from net income. Other comprehensive income (loss) consists of a foreign currency translation adjustment resulting from the Company not using the U.S. dollar as its functional currencies.
Statement of Cash Flows
In accordance with ASC 230, “Statement of Cash Flows,” cash flows from the Company’s operations are formulated based upon the local currencies. As a result, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets.
Commitments and Contingencies
In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to contingencies, including legal proceedings and claims arising out of the business that relate to a wide range of matters, such as government investigations and tax matters. The Company recognizes a liability for such contingency if it determines it is probable that a loss has occurred and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made. The Company may consider many factors in making these assessments including historical and the specific facts and circumstances of each matter.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework -Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU No. 2018-13”). The primary focus of ASU 2018-13 is to improve the effectiveness of the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. ASU No. 2018-13 removes the requirement to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for the timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. It also adds a requirement to disclose changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and to disclose the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop recurring and nonrecurring Level 3 fair value measurements. For certain unobservable inputs, entities may disclose other quantitative information in lieu of the weighted average if the other quantitative information would be a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used to develop the Level 3 fair value measurement. In addition, public entities are required to provide information about the measurement uncertainty of recurring Level 3 fair value measurements from the use of significant unobservable inputs if those inputs reasonably could have been different at the reporting date. ASU No. 2018-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Entities are permitted to early adopt either the entire standard or only the provisions that eliminate or modify the requirements. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. The Company is still evaluating the impact of adopting ASU No. 2018-13 on its financial statements, but does not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2018-13 to have a material impact on its audited consolidated financial statements.
The Company does not believe other recently issued but not yet effective accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and comprehensive income and statements of cash flows.
F-12
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ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 3 — Available-for-sale investment
Available-for-sale investment included the Company’s investment in certain uninsured wealth management products amounting to nil and $342,706 as of March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively, issued by China Construction Bank in the PRC. These wealth management products are funds raised by the bank which mainly invests in a range of money market and debt instruments and offers floating interest rate to the investors. The Company may redeem the wealth management products for cash anytime on a daily basis.
The Company’s investment in the wealth management products were carried at cost less any impairment losses as they do not have a quoted market price in an active market and their fair value cannot be measured reliably.
Subsequent to March 31, 2020, the Company redeemed all the wealth management products at cost for cash.
Note 4 — Accounts receivable, net
Accounts receivable, net, consists of the following:
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Accounts receivable | $ | 329,891 | $ | 363,491 | ||||
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts | — | — | ||||||
Total accounts receivable, net | $ | 326,891 | $ | 363,491 |
Note 5 — Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following:
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Raw materials | $ | 112,960 | $ | 104,976 | ||||
Work in progress | 42,734 | 60,201 | ||||||
Finished goods | 69,185 | 81,704 | ||||||
$ | 224,879 | $ | 246,881 |
Note 6 — Due from related companies
The amount due from related companies was unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand.
Note 7 — Prepayments, deposits and other assets
Prepayments, deposits and other assets consisted of the following:
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Advances to suppliers | $ | 57,875 | $ | 62,151 | ||||
Rental deposits | 7,545 | 8,326 | ||||||
Prepaid expense | 13,642 | 53,409 | ||||||
Other receivables, net of allowance of $15,532 | 61,955 | 63,884 | ||||||
$ | 141,017 | $ | 187,770 |
F-13
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ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 8 — Deposit for acquisition
Deposit for acquisition of $446,192 as of March 31, 2020 represented the amount paid for the proposed acquisition of Dandong Bao Feng Seedling Technology Co. Limited, that is a related party transaction. Details of this acquisition are disclosed in Note 14.
Note 9 — Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, net, consist of the following:
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Computer equipment | $ | 11,863 | $ | 6,931 | ||||
Office equipment, fixtures and furniture | 19,743 | 24,417 | ||||||
Subtotal | 31,606 | 31,348 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation | (21,767 | ) | (22,005 | ) | ||||
Total | $ | 9,839 | $ | 9,343 |
Depreciation expense for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 amounted to $6,278 and $5,923, respectively.
Note 10 — Short-term loans
Short-term loans consisted of the following:
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Loans from China Construction Bank wholly repayable within 1 year | $ | 460,030 | $ | — | ||||
Loan from a third party wholly repayable within 1 year | — | 206,070 | ||||||
Total | $ | 460,030 | $ | 206,070 |
The loans from China Construction Bank of $460,030 outstanding as of March 31, 2020 with annual interest rate from 4.13%-5.0% were unsecured and denominated in RMB for a term of 12 months.
The loan from a third party of $206,070 outstanding as of March 31, 2019 was denominated in RMB, for a term of four months and at a fixed annual interest rate of 4.53%. The loan was unsecured and fully repaid upon maturity on April 9, 2019.
Interest expense for the years end March 31, 2020 and 2019 were $10,208 and $11,268, respectively.
F-14
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 11 – Disposal of a wholly-owned subsidiary
On August 20, 2018, BF Beijing and Mr. Chang Yu, father of Ms. Chang Tingting Tina, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, entered into a sale and purchase agreement pursuant to which, the entire equity interest of Zhong Yuan Neuroscience was transferred to Mr. Chang Yu for a consideration of approximately $1,461,134 (RMB10 million). The consideration was equivalent to the registered capital of Zhong Yuan Neuroscience that had remained payable by BF Beijing and was settled by way of the assignment of the subscription payable by BF Beijing of the same amount to Mr. Chang. The Company recorded a gain on disposal of $3,127 for the year ended March 31, 2019.
The disposal was completed on September 8, 2018.
Whilst Zhong Yuan Neuroscience had not commenced business as of August 20, 2018, it recorded revenue of $nil and net loss of $3,064 for the year ended March 31, 2018; and revenue of $nil and net loss of $63 for the period from April 1, 2018 to August 20, 2018 (date of disposal).
Note 12 — Taxes
(a) | Income tax |
Seychelles
China Bio-Tech was incorporated in Seychelles and is not subject to tax on income or capital gains under the laws of Seychelles. Additionally, Seychelles does not impose a withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.
Hong Kong
ZY HK is established in Hong Kong. Under the Hong Kong tax laws, ZY HK is exempted from income tax on its foreign-derived income and there are no withholding taxes in Hong Kong on remittance of dividends.
PRC
ZY Shenzhen is governed by the Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) laws of the PRC. Under EIT laws of the PRC, domestic enterprises and Foreign Investment Enterprises (the “FIE”) are usually subject to a unified 25% enterprise income tax rate. As ZY Shenzhen is an investment holding company, there was revenue recorded in the books of ZY Shenzhen and as a result, there was no EIT for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.
BF Beijing is governed by the EIT laws of the PRC and is subject to an EIT rate of 20% because BF Beijing is classified as small profit making enterprise under the EIT laws.
F-15
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 12 — Taxes (continued)
Significant components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Current | $ | — | $ | 15,309 | ||||
Deferred | — | — | ||||||
Total provision for income taxes | $ | — | $ | 15,309 |
The following table reconciles China statutory rates to the Company’s effective tax rate:
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
PRC statutory rates | 20.0 | % | 20.0 | % |
The Company has not recognized an income tax benefit for its operating losses generated based on uncertainties concerning its ability to generate taxable income in future periods. The tax benefit for the periods presented is offset by a valuation allowance established against deferred tax assets arising from the net operating losses and other temporary differences, the realization of which could not be considered more likely than not. In future periods, tax benefits and related deferred tax assets will be recognized when management considers realization of such amounts to be more likely than not. For the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company incurred losses, resulting from operating activities, which result in deferred tax assets at the effective statutory rates. The deferred tax asset has been off-set by an equal valuation allowance.
The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the cumulative earnings and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. Recovery of substantially all of the group’s deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future income, exclusive of reversing taxable temporary differences. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are recoverable, management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets as at March 31, 2020 and 2019.
(b) | Value added tax |
Enterprises who sell goods in the PRC are subject to a value added tax in accordance with the PRC laws. VAT standard rates are 6% to 17% of the gross sales price. A credit is available whereby VAT paid on the purchases of semi-finished products or raw materials used in the production of the Company’s finished products can be used to offset the VAT due on sales of the finished products and services.
(c) | Tax payable |
Taxes payable consists of the following:
Years ended March 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Income taxes payable | $ | — | $ | 15,309 | ||||
VAT and other tax payable | 8,901 | 10,414 | ||||||
Total | $ | 8,901 | $ | 25,723 |
F-16
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 13 — Capital transactions
(a) | Share Exchange |
As further described in note 1, pursuant to the closing of the Share Exchange Agreement on August 31, 2019, the Company issued 161,500,000 shares of its common stock in exchange for 100% of the equity interest of China Bio.
(b) | Private Placement |
On December 13, 2019, the Company closed on the sale of 1,450,000 Ordinary Shares, at a purchase price of $0.10 per Share, pursuant to a private securities offering.
Note 14 — Related party transaction
On March 1, 2020, the Company entered into an acquisition agreement to acquire 100% equity interest in Dandong Bao Feng Seedling Technology Co. Ltd. (“Dandong BF”) from Yu Chang, the shareholder of Zhong Yuan Investment and father of Ms. Ting Ting Chang, CEO and director of the Company, for a total consideration of $1,482,600 (or RMB10,500,000), of which $446,192 (or RMB3,160,000) was paid upon signing of the acquisition agreement. The balance of $1,036,408 (or RMB7,340,000) will be payable upon completion of the acquisition agreement on December 31, 2020.
Dangong BF was incorporated in the PRC on March 11, 2019 and is principally engaged in the research, development and growing of Acer Truncatum seeds in Dandong city, Liaoning Province, in the northeastern region of the PRC.
Note 15 — Commitments and contingencies
(a) | Contingencies |
From time to time, the Company may be subject to certain legal proceedings, claims and disputes that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the outcomes of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted, the Company does not believe these actions, in the aggregate, will have a material adverse impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
(b) | Lease commitment |
As of March 31, 2020, the Company leases offices space and warehouse for its inventories under certain non-cancelable operating leases, with terms ranging between one and five years. The Company considers those renewal or termination options that are reasonably certain to be exercised in the determination of the lease term and initial measurement of right of use assets and lease liabilities. Lease expense for lease payment is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company determines whether a contract is or contains a lease at inception of the contract and whether that lease meets the classification criteria of a finance or operating lease. When available, the Company uses the rate implicit in the lease to discount lease payments to present value; however, most of the Company’s leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. Therefore, the Company discount lease payments based on an estimate of its incremental borrowing rate.
The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
F-17
|
ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 15 — Commitments and contingencies (Continued)
The table below presents the operating lease related assets and liabilities recorded on the consolidated balance sheets:
March 31, 2020 | ||||
Rights of use lease assets | $ | 294,188 | ||
Lease liabilities, current | $ | 93,077 | ||
Lease liabilities, noncurrent | 170,966 | |||
Total operating lease liabilities | $ | 264,043 |
The weighted average remaining lease terms and discount rates for all of operating leases were as follows as of March 31, 2020:
Weighted average remaining lease term (years) | 3.42 | |
Weighted average discount rate | 4.75% |
The following is a schedule, by years, of maturities of lease liabilities as of March 31, 2020:
March 31, 2020 | ||||||
2021 | $ | 104,094 | ||||
2022 | 104,094 | |||||
2023 | 58,824 | |||||
2024 | 13,555 | |||||
2025 and thereafter | 3,389 | |||||
Total undiscounted cash flows | 283,956 | |||||
Less: imputed interest | (19,913 | ) | ||||
Present value of lease liabilities | $ | 264,043 |
Operating lease expenses for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were $107,812 and $99,629, respectively.
(c) | Capital commitment |
Contracted but not provided for as of March 31, 2020 | ||||
Investment in Dandong BF as disclosed in Note 14 | $ | 1,036,408 | ||
$ | 1,036,408 |
F-18
|
Exhibit 10.19
Equity Transfer Agreement
This Equity Transfer Contract is signed by the following parties in [Chaoyang] District, Beijing on 1st March 2020. On an equal and voluntary basis in accordance with the Company Law of the People's Republic of China, Contract Law of the People's Republic of China and other relevant provisions.
Target company: Dandong Baofeng Seedling Technology Co., LTD
Industrial and commercial registration number: 91210624MA0YGFHG56
Address: Group 11, ChangDian Village, Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, Dandong city, Liaoning Province.
Transferor: Chang Yu
Id number: 230102195504011074
Transferee: Baofeng Biotechnology (Beijing) Co., LTD
Industrial and commercial registration number: 9111011705362938X8
Address: Room 103, 1 / F, TongHang Building, Mafang Industrial Park, Pinggu District, Beijing.
In view of the fact that:
1. Objective: In order to control and lock the origin of raw materials, the upstream product source of raw materials, the purity of raw material content, and also to obtain good technology for seedling breeding and cultivation.
2. [Dandong Baofeng Seedling Technology Co., LTD.] is duly incorporated and effectively existing in Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, Dandong City, Liaoning Province on 11, March, 2019 (hereinafter referred to as the " Target company ") with the registration number of [91210624MA0YGFHG56]; Address: Group 11, Chang Dian Village, Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, Dandong city, Liaoning Province. Chang Yu is the actual controller of the target company.
3. The assigning party is the legal shareholder of the
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target enterprise on the date of signing the contract.
4. Now both parties, through friendly consultation, agree that the transferor shall transfer [100] % of the equity of the target enterprise owned by the transferor to the transferee, and sign this equity transfer contract.
l | Transfer of equity |
1. Target Company: the transferor transfers [100] % of the equity of the target enterprise held by it to the transferee.
2. Assets of the Target Company: 1. Acer Truncatum planting, demonstration and cultivation base with a total of [3 million] Acer Truncatum tree, and a geographical indication of the planting base in China; 2. The target company has signed a [10] year’s lease with the peasant household, with a total land area of [300 mu]; 3. The subject matter company has established [Acer Truncatum Research Center in Dandong Baofeng Seedling Technology Co., LTD. Technology] to carry out continuous research and development for the breeding, variety improvement of Acer Truncatum. At present, it has mastered the planting technology to improve the survival rate of Acer Truncatum, the mechanization of harvesting and regional management of planting.
3. Date of Transfer: The completion date of this equity transfer is in 31st
December, 2020.
4. Transfer Price: The total transfer price of the target company shall be RMB 10,500,000.
5. Payment Term: Within [30] days from the effective date of this Contract, the transferee shall pay the transferor the first transfer price with [30] % of the total transfer price, RMB 3,150,000); the transaction fee of RMB 10,000 will be paid and balance payment will be settled before December 31, 2020.
6. The Asset Appraisal: After this transaction, a third-party appraisal institution will conduct due diligence and asset appraisal on Dandong Baofeng Seedling Technology Co., Ltd. to confirm the assets of the target company.
(1) If the asset appraisal amount is equal to or higher than RMB 10,500,000, the transferee will settle balance payment before December 31, 2020 in accordance with the agreement of RMB 10,500,000.
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(2) If the amount assessed in the appraisal report is less than RMB 10,500,000, the transferee will settle balance payment according to the amount of assets assessed in the appraisal report.
Upon the transferee's settlement of balance payment, the transferor shall deliver all nursery assets and technical R&D materials and handle relevant transfer procedures.
l | Representations and Warranties |
2.1 The Transferor represents and warrants to the transferee:
2.1.1 The assigning party is the sole legal owner of the target company of the contract and is entitled to perform the pairing after full payment has been made, full right to dispose of the same target company.
2.1.2 Before signing the contract, shall be signed with any third party does not exist any form of legal documents, or take any other forms in the subject matter of the contract law allows for any form of treatment, it set including but not limited to, transfer, pledge, entrusted management, contract of assignment is attached to mark all or part of rights.
2.1.3 After signing the contract, licensor will not sign with any third party any form of legal documents, will not take any legal way in the subject matter of the contract in any way dispose of, it set including but not limited to, transfer, pledge, entrusted management, contract of assignment is attached to mark all or part of rights.
2.1.4 Before signing the contract and sign any time in the future, shall ensure that the target of this contract in accordance with the law of negotiable conditions, not by licensor or any other third party reasons in accordance with the law is restricted, so that affect equity transfer procedures, and the situation in accordance with the law, including but not limited to court this contract bid freezing measures, etc.
2.1.5 The Transferor warrants that all the materials of the target enterprise provided by it to the transferee, including but not limited to the financial situation, operation situation, industrial and commercial registration situation, assets situation and other information disclosed by the transferor are true and legal.
2.1.6 The Transferor warrants that, prior to the formal transfer of the equity of the target enterprise between the transferor and the transferee, the continued validity of the government licenses, approvals and authorizations that the target enterprise has that are essential to the normal operation of the target enterprise, and that there is no potential situation that may cause the invalidation of such government licenses, approvals and authorizations.
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2.2 Representations and warranties of the Transferee to the Transferor:
2.2.1 The transferee shall comply with the conditions of the subject matter of the transfer contract as stipulated by law before the registration of the change of equity, and the normal progress of the legal procedure of equity transfer will not be affected due to the limitation of the transferee's own conditions.
2.2.2 The transferee shall guarantee that it can pay the transfer price according to the time agreed herein if it has sufficient financial capacity to purchase the contract object.
l | Rights and Obligations of the Parties |
3. As of the effective date of this Contract, the assigning party loses its equity in the target company of the Contract after paying the full amount of the assignment fee, and the assigning Party no longer enjoys any rights or assumes any obligations in respect of such equity; The transferee shall, in accordance with the relevant laws and the provisions of the articles of association of the target enterprise, enjoy rights in proportion to the proportion of equity transferred to it
and assume corresponding obligations.
l | Confidentiality |
4.1 for the equity transfer contract, the licensor and the licensee to know all information, including but not limited to licensor and licensee, the target enterprise management situation, financial situation and commercial secrets and technical secrets all situation, licensor and licensee shall have an obligation to confidentiality, the judicial organs shall be specified unless the law or mandatory, either party shall not be made public or use.
4.2 When making public or publicizing the equity transfer, the transferor and the transferee shall adopt a unified standard after consultation to ensure that the goodwill of the parties and the target enterprise is not harmed. Without the consent of the other party, neither party shall make any speech or words about the equity transfer.
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l | Validity Clause |
5.1 After the Contract signed by both parties, this Contract shall be formed on the date of signing by the last party of both parties. If either party fails to specify the date of signature, the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Contract shall be the date of formation of this Contract.
5.2 If some provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid by a court or arbitration institution having jurisdiction, and the validity of other provisions shall not be affected, the other provisions shall remain valid.
l | Liability for Breach of Contract |
6.1 If the Transferor breaches any of the obligations, representations and warranties hereunder, it shall pay the transferee a penalty equal to 10% of the total transfer price. In the event that the Assignee is unable to acquire the subject matter of the Contract, the Assignee shall refund the assignee all monies paid and indemnify the assignee for all direct and indirect losses (including but not limited to all litigation costs and attorney's fees paid by the assignee) incurred thereby.
6.2 If the transferee breaches any obligation, representation and warranty hereof, it shall pay the transferor a penalty equal to 10% of the total transfer price. In case of any loss caused to the transferor, the transferee shall indemnify the transferor for all direct and indirect losses incurred thereby (including but not limited to all litigation costs and attorney's fees paid by the transferor).
6.3 If either party does not unilaterally terminate the Contract in accordance with the law after the effective date of the Contract, it shall apply to the contract.
Party A shall pay a penalty equal to 10% of the total transfer price.
l | Dispute Resolution |
7.1 Any dispute with this Contract shall be settled by the parties through negotiation firstly.
7.2 If the parties fail to settle the dispute by negotiation, the parties agree to submit the dispute to The People's Court of Chaoyang District, Beijing for settlement.
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l | Miscellaneous |
8.1 Any modification to this Contract must be made in writing and signed by both parties. The amended part and the added content shall form an integral part of this Contract.
8.2 The notice stipulated in this Contract shall be made in written form and served by special person, express mail, E-mail or other electronic means of communication. A notice shall not be served until it reaches the addressee's contact address. If it is served by the addressee, the date on which the addressee signed the receipt shall be regarded as the date of service; If it is sent by express mail, the date of receipt indicated on the receipt of express mail shall be the date of delivery; Send by E-mail or other means of electronic communication, and the date on which the sender successfully sends the E-mail shall be the date of delivery.
8.3 This contract is made in triplicate with each party holding one copy, all of which have the same legal effect.
Signature of the three parties to the contract:
EXHIBIT 12.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, CHANG Ting Ting, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited. (the "Company");
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;
4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:
a. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c. evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluations; and
d. disclosed in this report any change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
5. I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting, to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of the Company's Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.
Date: August 17, 2020 | /s/ CHANG Ting Ting | ||
CHANG Ting Ting, Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT 12.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, PANG Fung Ming, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited. (the "Company");
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;
4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:
a. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c. evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluations; and
d. disclosed in this report any change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
5. I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting, to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of the Company's Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.
Date: August 17, 2020 | /s/ PANG Fung Ming | ||
PANG Fung Ming, Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT 13.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (the "Corporation"), does hereby certify, to such officer's knowledge, that:
(1) The Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 (the "Form 20-F") of the Corporation fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
(2) The information contained in the Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.
By: | /s/ CHANG Ting Ting | |
CHANG Ting Ting President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Director |
Date: August 17, 2020
EXHIBIT 13.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (the "Corporation"), does hereby certify, to such officer's knowledge, that:
(1) The Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 (the "Form 20-F") of the Corporation fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
(2) The information contained in the Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.
By: | /s/ PANG Fung Ming | |
PANG Fung Ming Chief Financial Officer and Director |
Date: August 17, 2020