United States

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

   

Form 8-K

 

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

February 10, 2017

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

iFresh Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   001-38013   n/a
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

2-39 54th Avenue
Long Island City, NY

  11101

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (718) 628 6200

 

7 Times Square, 37 th Floor
New York, New York 10036

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

       Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act

       Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act

☐       Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act

☐       Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The disclosure in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

Effective February 10, 2017, iFresh Inc. (“iFresh”) consummated the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of July 25, 2016, by and among E-compass Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands company then the parent of iFresh (“E-compass”), iFresh Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh (“Merger Sub”), NYM Holding, Inc. (“NYM”), the stockholders of NYM, and Long Deng, as representative of the stockholders of NYM.

 

Upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Closing”), (i) E-compass merged with and into iFresh, with iFresh surviving the merger (the “Redomestication Merger”) and (ii) the Merger Sub merged into NYM (the “Acquisition Merger,” and together with the Redomestication Merger, the “Transactions”).

 

NYM is a fast growing Asian/Chinese grocery supermarket chain in the north-eastern U.S. providing food and other merchandise hard to find in mainstream grocery stores. Since NYM was formed in 1995, NYM has been targeting the Chinese and other Asian population in the U.S. with its in-depth cultural understanding of its target customer’s unique consumption habits. NYM currently has eight retail supermarkets in New York, Massachusetts and Florida, with in excess of 6,940,000 purchases in its stores in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. It also has two in-house wholesale businesses, Strong America Limited (“Strong America”) and New York Mart Group, Inc. (“NYMG”), covering more than 6,000 wholesale products and servicing both NYM retail supermarkets and over 1,000 external clients that range from wholesalers to retailing groceries and restaurants. NYM has a stable supply of food from farms in New Jersey and Florida, ensuring reliable supplies of the most popular vegetables, fruits and seafood. Its wholesale business and long term relationships with farms insulate NYM from supply interruptions and sales declines, allowing it to remain competitive even during difficult markets.

 

At closing on February 10, 2017, iFresh issued NYM’s stockholders an aggregate of: (i) $5 million in cash, plus (ii) 12,000,000 shares of its common stock. In connection with the closing, holders of 1,937,967 of E-compass’s ordinary shares elected to redeem their shares and the Company paid $20,154,857 in connection with such redemptions. Also on February 10, 2017, iFresh repurchased 1,500,000 of such non-redeemable shares promptly at a purchase price of $10.00 per share according to an agreement with Handy Global Limited signed on January 11, 2017. Each non-redeeming shareholder of E-compass received the following at the closing of the Redomestication Merger: (i) one share of iFresh common stock for each share of E-compass common stock; (ii) one share of iFresh common stock for each ten E-compass rights; and (iii) eleven shares of iFresh common stock for every ten E-compass units. Fractional shares were rounded down.

 

As a result of the Transactions, the former members of NYM own approximately 83.9% of the outstanding common stock of iFresh and the former stockholders of E-compass own the remaining 16.1%.

 

The Merger Agreement is described more fully in the sections entitled “ The Business Combination Proposal ” and “ The Acquisition Agreement ” beginning at pages 38 and 60, respectively, of the final prospectus contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on December 16, 2016 by iFresh and E-compass, and such description is incorporated herein by reference.

 

After giving effect to the Transactions, there are currently 14,303,033 shares of iFresh common stock issued and outstanding. Upon the Closing, E-compass’s common stock, rights and units ceased trading and iFresh’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “IFMK”.

 

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In connection with the Acquisition:

 

  iFresh, certain former NYM stockholders and certain stockholders of iFresh entered into a Voting Agreement to set forth their agreements and understandings with respect to how shares of iFresh common stock held by them will be voted following the Transactions. The parties agreed to vote their shares of iFresh common stock as necessary to ensure that the size of the Board of Directors of iFresh after the consummation of the Transactions will be five members until two years after the closing of the Transactions. The parties also agreed to vote their shares of iFresh common stock to ensure the election of one member of the Board of Directors of iFresh designated by the former E-compass shareholders party to the agreement, who must initially be qualified as an independent director pursuant to the rules of any stock exchange on which iFresh may be listed, and four members designated by the NYM stockholders, of which two designees must qualify as an independent director pursuant to the rules of any stock exchange on which iFresh may be listed.

  

In connection with the Acquisition, iFresh and Long Deng entered into an option agreement pursuant to which iFresh has the option, but not the obligation, to purchase four additional supermarkets (the “Option Companies”) from Mr. Deng on or prior to March 31, 2017. iFresh has the ability to exercise the option in installments. The option price for each Option Company is $2.5 million in cash minus any liabilities owed to iFresh or any of its subsidiaries by the applicable Option Company as of the closing date.
In connection with the Acquisition, iFresh and the NYM stockholders entered into a Registration Rights Agreement to provide for the registration of the common stock being issued to the NYM stockholders in connection with the Business Combination. The NYM stockholders will be entitled to “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed following the consummation of the Business Combination. iFresh will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

  

FORM 10 INFORMATION

 

Pursuant to Item 2.01(f) of Form 8-K, if the registrant was a shell company, as iFresh was immediately before the Transactions, then the registrant must disclose the information that would be required if the registrant were filing registration statement on Form 10. Therefore, iFresh is providing below the information that would be included in a Form 10 if it were to file a Form 10. Please note that the information provided below relates to the combined company after iFresh’s acquisition of NYM pursuant to the Transactions, unless otherwise specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires.

 

Business

 

The business of iFresh is described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ NYM Holding, Inc.’s Business ” beginning on page 84 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Risk Factors

 

The risks associated with iFresh’s business are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 17 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Financial Information

 

Reference is made to the disclosure set forth in Section 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning the financial information of iFresh. Reference is further made to the disclosure contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of NYM Holding, Inc. ” beginning on page 104 and set forth below in Item 2.02, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Employees

 

The employees of iFresh are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ NYM Holding, Inc.’s Business–Employees ” on page 101 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Properties

 

The facilities of iFresh are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ NYM Holding, Inc.’s Business – Properties ” beginning on page 100 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following tables sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of iFresh’s common stock as of January 10, 2017:

each person known to iFresh who will be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of its stock immediately after the Business Combination;
     
each of its officers and directors; and
     
all of its officers and directors as a group.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, iFresh believes that all persons named in the table will have, immediately after the consummation of the Business Combination, sole voting and investment power with respect to all iFresh securities beneficially owned by them.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules and includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, iFresh believes, based on the information furnished to it, that the persons and entities named in the table below will have, immediately after the consummation of the Business Combination, sole voting and investment power with respect to all stock that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws. All iFresh stock subject to options or warrants exercisable within 60 days of the consummation of the Acquisition are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the persons holding those options or warrants for the purpose of computing the number of shares beneficially owned and the percentage ownership of that person. They are not, however, deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

Subject to the paragraph above, percentage ownership of outstanding shares is based on 14,303,033 shares of iFresh common stock to be outstanding upon consummation of the Acquisition. The table below assumes that no E-compass ordinary shares have been redeemed.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) 

  Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
    Percent of
Class
 
Long Deng     11,120,000 (4)     77.7 %
Richard Xu     541,000 (2)     3.8 %
Peiling He     0       0  
Mei Deng     20,000 (4)     *  
Lilly Deng     11,120,000 (3)(4)     77.7 %
Jianming You     0 (4)     0  
Xiangke Fang     0 (4)     0  
Henry Chang-Yu Lee     0       0  
All directors and executive officers as a group (seven individuals)     11,681,000       81.7 %
                 
Five Percent Holders:                

 

 

* Less than one percent.
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is c/o iFresh Inc. at 2-39 54th Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101.
(2) Represent shares held by Lodestar Investment Holdings I LLC, which Mr. Xu controls. Mr. Xu therefore has voting and disposition power over such shares.
(3) Consists of shares beneficially owned by Long Deng, Mrs. Deng’s husband.
(4) The address of the beneficial owner is 2-39 54 th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101
(5) Mei Li has the voting and investment control over the shares.

 

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Directors and Executive Officers

 

iFresh’s directors and executive officers upon the Closing are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ Directors, Executive Officers, Executive Compensation And Corporate Governance - Directors and Executive Officers after the Business Combination ” beginning on page 128 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Executive Compensation

 

The executive compensation of E-compass’s, NYM’s and iFresh’s executive officers and directors is described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ Directors, Executive Officers, Executive Compensation And Corporate Governance – Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers ” beginning on page 129 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

The certain relationships and related party transactions of iFresh are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ Certain Transactions ” beginning on page 134 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

Reference is made to the disclosure regarding legal proceedings in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus entitled “ NYM Holding, Inc.’s Business–Legal Proceedings ” beginning on page 102, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

 

iFresh’s ordinary shares began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “IFMK”. iFresh has not paid any cash dividends on its ordinary shares to date. It is the present intention of iFresh’s board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in iFresh’s business operations and, accordingly, iFresh’s board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends is within the discretion of iFresh’s board of directors and will be contingent upon iFresh’s future revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition.

 

Information respecting E-compass’s common stock, rights and units and related stockholder matters are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ Price Range of Securities and Dividends ” on page 16 and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Description of Registrant’s Securities

 

The description of iFresh’s securities is contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “ Description of the Combined Company’s Securities Following the Business Combination ” beginning on page 142 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning the issuance of iFresh’s common stock to the NYM stockholders in the Transactions, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Reference is made to the disclosure regarding legal proceedings in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus entitled “ The Redomestication Proposal – Indemnification of Directors and Officers ” beginning on page 69, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

NYM’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 is set forth below. Additionally, certain annual and quarterly financial information regarding NYM was included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, in the section entitled “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of NYM Holding, Inc. ” beginning on page 104, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

NYM’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

NYM is an Asian Chinese supermarket chain in north-eastern region with eight retail super markets and two wholesale facilities. NYM plans to strategically expand along the I-95 corridor and its goal is to cover all states on the east coast. Although no agreements are in place, with additional capital support, NYM hopes to acquire and/or open four, six and twenty new stores in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

a. NYM provides unique products to meet the demands of the Asian/Chinese American Market;
b. NYM has established a merchandising system backed by an in-house wholesale business and by long-standing relationships with farms;
c. NYM maintains an in-house cooling system with unique hibernation technology that is has developed over 20 years to preserve perishables, especially produce and seafood;
d. NYM capitalizes on economies of scale, allowing strong negotiating power with upstream vendors, downstream customers and sizable competitors; and
e. NYM has a proven and replicable track record of management, operation, acquisition and organic growth.

 

NYM’s net sales were $97.1 million and $98.2 million for nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In terms of sales by category, Perishables constituted approximately 60.6% of the total sales for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. NYM’s net income was $1.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $1.8 million, or 65.2%, from $2.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015. Adjusted EBITDA was $4.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $2.5 million, or 38.6%, from $6.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015. For additional information on Adjusted EBITDA, See the section entitled “NYM’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Adjusted EBITDA,” beginning on page 9.

 

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Factors Affecting NYM’s Operating Results

 

Seasonality

 

NYM’s business shows seasonal fluctuations. Sales in its first and second fiscal quarters (ending June 30 and September 30, respectively) are usually 5% to 10% lower than in third and fourth quarters (ending December 31 and March 31, respectively). In its third fiscal quarter, customers make holiday purchases for Thanksgiving and Christmas. In its fourth quarter, customers make purchases for traditional Chinese holidays, such as the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year, in January or February).

 

Weather Conditions

 

Over 50% of NYM’s sales are perishables, including fruit, vegetables and seafood, of which the supply is easily affected by the weather. In 2016, the spring was colder than usual and subject to significant swings in temperature. Because of that the yield of Asian vegetables and fruits decreased dramatically in the quarters ended June 30 and March 31, 2016, and there were significant delays in supply of vegetables and fruits as compared to the same period of last year. Therefore, sales of vegetables and fruits declined in spring 2016, and NYM had to increase imports from Mexico and other countries. In addition, the red tide in Florida last year adversely affected the supply of shrimp, lobster and other seafood products in the current year.

 

Parking

 

The availability of parking is important to NYM’s sales volume, and changes in the availability of parking would affect NYM’s sales volume. For example, one of the two parking lots serving NYM’s Ming store in Boston was required to be temporarily leased to a farmers market on Sundays by the city of Boston from April to October 2016, which reduced sales at the store by about 10% during this period. The requirement to lease the parking lot to the farmers market expired on October 31, 2016.

 

Competition

 

Competitors opened two new stores in Brooklyn’s Chinatown in early 2016, which negatively impacted the sales of NYM’s two stores located in the area for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. NYM’s management believes that this impact is temporary and expects sales to rebound because the stores are the only ones owned by the operators and therefore lack the sophisticated procurement process that NYM has and do not have the same influence over suppliers as NYM.

 

Payroll

 

Minimum wage rates in some states increased in 2016. For example, the minimum wage went from $10 to $11 per hour in Massachusetts. In addition, NYM hired more personnel to improve business operations and internal controls in anticipation of becoming a reporting company. As a result, payroll and related expenses increased $1.4 million, or 30.2%, for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the same period of last year. NYM plans to implement systems in the future to improve operating efficiency and reduce labor costs.

 

Merger with E-compass

 

In March 2016, NYM signed a letter of intent with E-compass and began to engage third parties in connection therewith, including a financial advisor, legal counsel and auditor, and incurred $634,000 of professional fees related thereto in the nine months ended December 31, 2016.

 

Vendor and Supply Management

 

NYM believes that a centralized and efficient vendor and supply management system are the keys to profitability. NYM operates its own wholesale facilities, which supplied about 23% of its procurement for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. NYM recently centralized the management of its vendors and procurement. It believes that such centralized vendor management enhances NYM’s negotiating power and improves its ability to turnover inventory and vendor payables. Any changes to the vendor and supply management could affect NYM’s purchasing costs and operating expenses.

 

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Store Maintenance and Renovation

 

From time to time, NYM conducts maintenance on the fixtures and equipment for its stores. Any maintenance or renovations could interrupt the operation of our stores and result in a decline of customer volume, and therefore sales volume, but will, in the opinion of management, boost sales after they are completed. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, NYM conducted a renovation for its store located on East Broadway in Manhattan, New York. After completion of the renovation, customer traffic and sales volume increased significantly. Sales in the store increased 13.4% for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, compared to the same period of last year. Significant maintenance or renovation would affect NYM’s operation and operating results.

 

Store Acquisitions and Openings

 

NYM expects the new stores it acquires or opens to be the primary driver of its sales, operating profit and market share gains. NYM’s results will be materially affected by the timing and number of new store additions and the amount of new store opening costs. For example, NYM would incur rental, utilities and employee expenses during any period of renovation, which would be recorded as expenses on the income statement and would decrease NYM’s profit when a store opens. NYM may incur higher than normal employee costs associated with set-up, hiring, training, and other costs related to opening a new store. Operating margins are also affected by promotional discounts and other marketing costs and strategies associated with new store openings, primarily due to overstocking, and costs related to hiring and training new employees. Additionally, promotional activities may result in higher than normal net sales in the first several weeks following a new store opening. A new store builds its sales volume and its customer base over time and, as a result, generally has lower margins and higher operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, than NYM’s more mature stores. A new store could take more than a year to achieve a level of operating performance comparable to NYM’s existing stores.

 

How to Assess NYM’s Performance

 

In assessing performance, NYM considers a variety of performance and financial measures, including principal growth in net sales, gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA. The key measures that we use to evaluate the performance of NYM’s business are set forth below:

 

Net Sales

 

NYM’s net sales comprise gross sales net of coupons and discounts. NYM does not record sales taxes as a component of retail revenues as it considers it a pass-through conduit for collecting and remitting sales taxes.

 

Gross Profit

 

NYM calculates gross profit as net sales less cost of sales and occupancy costs. Gross margin measures gross profit as a percentage of its net sales. Occupancy costs include store rental costs and property taxes. The components of NYM’s cost of sales and occupancy costs may not be identical to those of its competitors. As a result, NYM’s gross profit and gross margin may not be comparable to similar data made available by NYM’s competitors.

 

Cost of sales includes the cost of inventory sold during the period, including the direct costs of purchased merchandise (net of discounts and allowances), distribution and supply chain costs, buying costs and supplies. NYM recognizes vendor allowances and merchandise volume related rebate allowances as a reduction of inventories during the period when earned and reflects the allowances as a component of cost of sales as the inventory is sold. Shipping and handling for inventories purchased are included in cost of goods sold.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of retail operational expenses, administrative salaries and benefits costs, marketing, advertising and corporate overhead.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

NYM believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful performance measure and can be used to facilitate a comparison of NYM’s operating performance on a consistent basis from period-to-period and to provide for a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting NYM’s business than GAAP measures alone can provide. NYM also uses Adjusted EBITDA as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting overall expected performance and for evaluating on a quarterly and annual basis actual results against such expectations, and as a performance evaluation metric in determining achievement of certain compensation programs and plans for employees, including senior executives. Other companies in the industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than NYM does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

 

NYM’s management defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, store opening costs, and non-recurring expenses. All of the omitted items are either (i) non-cash items or (ii) items that NYM does not consider in assessing its on-going operating performance. Because it omits non-cash items, NYM’s management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is less susceptible to variances in actual performance resulting from depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges and more reflective of other factors that affect its operating performance. NYM’s management believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the company’s financial measures with other specialty retailers, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.

 

Results of Operations for the Nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

    For the nine months ended December 31,     Changes  
    2016     2015     $     %  
Net sales-third parties   $ 90,874,879     $ 93,800,416     $ (2,925,317 )     -3.1 %
Net sales-related parties     6,219,027       4,419,850       1,799,177       40.7 %
Total Sales     97,093,906       98,220,266       (1,126,360 )     -1.1 %
Cost of sales     71,562,219       72,564,072       (1,001,853 )     -1.4 %
Occupancy costs     5,396,778       5,286,798       109,980       2.1 %
Gross Profit     20,134,909       20,369,396       (234,487 )     -1.2 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses     18,841,217       15,610,416       3,230,801       20.7 %
Income from operations     1,293,692       4,758,980       (3,465,288 )     -72.8 %
Interest expense     (152,551 )     (166,027 )     13,476       -8.1 %
Other income     758,274       578,897       179,377       31 %
Income before income tax provision     1,899,415       5,171,850       (3,272,435 )     -63.3 %
Income tax provision     (854,743 )     (2,327,333 )     1,472,590       -63.3 %
Net income   $ 1,044,672     $ 2,844,517     $ (1,799,845 )     -63.3 %
Net income attributable to common stockholders   $ 1,044,672     $ 2,844,517     $ (1,799,845 )     -63.3  

 

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Net Sales

 

    For the nine months ended December 31,     Changes  
    2016     2015     $     %  
Net sales of retail-third parties   $ 79,663,230     $ 83,381,418     $ (3,718,188 )     -4.4 %
Net sales of wholesale-third parties     11,211,649       10,418,998       792,651       7.6 %
Net sales of wholesale-related parties     6,219,027       4,419,850       1,799,177       40.7 %
Total Net Sales   $ 97,093,906     $ 98,220,226     $ (1,126,360 )     -1.1 %

  

NYM’s net sales were $97.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 1.1%, from $98.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015.

 

Net retail sales to third parties decreased $3.7 million, or 4.4%, from $83.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015, to $79.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. The decrease resulted from a decrease of $2.1 million in Ming store sales dues to a parking lot not being available on Sundays from April to October 2016, a decrease of $0.9 million in two stores located in Chinatown, Brooklyn NY, due to the impact of weather conditions on the availability of fresh produce and new competitors , a decrease of $1.5 million in stores due to the impact of weather conditions on the availability of fresh produce, partially offset by an increase of $0.8 million in a store after renovation. Total net wholesale sales increased $2.6 million from $14.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015 to $17.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, which was attributable to an increase of $1.8 million in sales to related parties due to NYM focusing on improving its central procurement system through its wholesale facilities and an increase of $0.8 million from its wholesale revenue to third parties due to expansion of the wholesales business.

 

Cost of sales, Occupancy costs and Gross Profit

 

    For the nine months ended December 31,     Changes  
    2016     2015     $     %  
Total Net Sales   $ 97,093,906     $ 98,220,266     $ (1,126,390 )     -1.1 %
Cost of sales     71,562,219       72,564,072       (1,001,853 )     -1.4 %
Occupancy costs     5,396,778       5,286,798       109,980       2.1 %
Gross Profit   $ 20,134,909     $ 20,369,396     $ (234,487 )     -1.2 %
Gross Margin     20.7 %     20.7 %     -          

 

Gross profit was $20.1 million and $20.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Gross margins were 20.7% for the nine month periods ended December 31, 2016 and, 2015.

 

Cost of sales decreased $1.0 million, or 1.4%, from $72.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015 to $71.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was mainly attributable to the decreased sales in the nine months ended December 31, 2016

 

Occupancy costs consist of store-level expenses such as rental expense, property taxes and other store specific costs. Occupancy costs increased approximately $0.1 million, or 2.1%, from $5.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015 to $5.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, which was mainly attributable to the increase of property taxes as a result of the increase of market value of properties that NYM leases.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses was $18.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $3.2 million, or 20.7%, compared to $15.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015, which was mainly attributable to an increase of $2.3 million in payroll and related insurance and taxes, and an increase of $0.6 million of professional fees incurred in connection with the transaction with E-compass, and an increase of $0.3 million of rental and utility expenses.

 

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Interest Expense

 

Interest expense was $152,551 for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $13,476, or 8%, from $166,027 for the nine months ended December 31, 2015, primarily attributable to the decrease of interest on the credit line of $2.8 million that was repaid by NYM in July 2015 and the Bank of American credit line paid off in December 2016.

 

Other income

 

Other income was $758,274 for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $179,377, or 31%, from $578,897 for the nine months ended December 31, 2015, primarily attributable to an increase of management fee income and advertising fee income charged to third-party stores based on sale volume.

 

Income Taxes Provision

 

NYM is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. Income taxes provision was $0.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $1.5 million, or 63.3%, compared to $2.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015, which was mainly attributable the decrease in taxable income. The effective income tax rate was 45.0% for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. The federal tax rate was 34% and state and local income tax rates were 11% for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

Net Income

 

    For the nine months ended December 31,     Changes  
    2016     2015     $     %  
Net income   $ 1,044,672     $ 2,844,517     $ (1,799,845 )     -63.3 %
Profit Margin     1.0 %     2.9 %     -1.9 %        

 

Net Income was $1.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $1.8 million, or 63.3%, from $2.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015, mainly attributable to the increase of selling, general and administrative expenses as described above. Profit margin as percentage of sales was 1.0% and 2.9% for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

The following table reconciles Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA.

 

    For the nine months ended December 31,     Changes  
    2016     2015     $     %  
Net income   $ 1,044,672     $ 2,844,517     $ (1,799,845 )     -63.3 %
Interests expenses     152,551       166,207       (13,656 )     -8.2 %
Income tax provision     854,743       2,327,333       (1,472,590 )     -63.3 %
Depreciation and amortization     1,165,643       1,012,265       153,378       15.2 %
Amortization of intangible assets     99,999       99,999             0.0 %
Merger expenses (1)     634,000             634,000        
Adjusted EBITDA   $ 3,951,608     $ 6,450,321     $ (2,498,713 )     -38.7 %
Percentage of sales     4.1 %     6.6 %     -2.5 %        

 

 

(1) Merger expenses were professional fees paid to a financial advisor, legal counsel and auditors in connection with the transaction with E-compass, which are non-recurring expenses and added back for adjusted EBITDA.

 

Adjusted EBITDA was $4.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $2.5 million, or 38.7%, as compared to $6.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015, mainly attributable to the increase of selling, general and administrative expenses as described above. The percentage of sales for adjusted EBITDA was 4.1% and 6.6% for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of December 31, 2016, NYM had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $9.0 million. NYM has funded working capital and other capital requirements primarily by equity contribution from stockholders, cash flow from operations, and bank loans. Cash is required to pay purchase costs for inventory, rental, salaries, office rental expenses, income taxes, other operating expenses and repay debts. Although NYM’s management believes that the cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet its normal working capital needs for at least the next twelve months, its ability to repay its current obligation will depend on the future realization of its current assets. NYM’s management has considered the historical experience, the economy, trends in the retail industry, the expected collectability of the accounts receivables and the realization of the inventories as of December 31, 2016. NYM’s ability to continue to fund these items may be affected by general economic, competitive and other factors, many of which are outside of NYM’s control. If the future cash flow from operations and other capital resources are insufficient to fund its liquidity needs, NYM may be forced to reduce or delay its expected new store acquisition and openings, sell assets, obtain additional debt or equity capital or refinance all or a portion of its debt. NYM’s working capital position benefits from the fact that it generally collects cash from sales to customers the same day or, in the case of credit or debit card transactions, within a few business days of the related sale and the quick inventory turnover.

 

On December 23, 2016 (the “Effective Date”), NYM entered into a $25 million secured Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with KeyBank National Association (the “Lender”). The Credit Agreement provides for (i) a $5 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), (ii) a $15 million effective date term loan facility (the “Effective Date Term Loan Facility”), which was fully drawn on the Effective Date, and (iii) a $5 million delayed draw term loan facility (the “Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility” and, together with the Revolving Credit Facility and the Effective Date Term Loan Facility, the “Facilities”), which is available to be drawn within one year after the Effective Date. The Facilities are secured by all assets of NYM and its subsidiaries and mature on December 23, 2021. Interest is charged at a rate equal to (a) the Lender’s “prime rate” plus 0.95%, or (b) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 1.95%. NYM will pay a commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the undrawn amount of the Revolving Credit Facility and 0.25% of the unused Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility. Closing fees and expenses were in the amount of $912,500. Except as stated below, the Facilities are subject to customary events of default. It will be an event of default if Mr. Long Deng resigns, is terminated, or is no longer actively involved in the management of NYM and a replacement reasonably satisfactory to the Lender is not made within sixty (60) days after such event takes place. On February 16, 2017, NYM and the Lender entered into a waiver and first amendment to the credit agreement, pursuant to which the Lender agreed to extend the time for NYM to comply with certain post-closing items contained in the Credit Agreement and waived for 60 days a default by Strong America to the Credit Agreement. The default resulted from a guaranty that Strong America provided to a third party that was previously undisclosed to the Lender. NYM paid the Lender $7,500 in connection with credit agreement and waiver. 

 

Based on the above, NYM’s management is of the opinion that NYM has sufficient funds to meet its working capital requirements and debt obligations as they become due. However, there is no assurance that management will be successful in their plan. There are a number of factors that could potentially arise that could result in shortfalls to the Company’s plan, such as the demand for its products, economic conditions, the competitive pricing in the retail industry and its bank and suppliers being able to provide continued supports. If NYM is not able to turn over its inventory and collect on receivables as it has done in the past, Mr. Long Deng, the majority stockholder and Chief Executive Officer of NYM, has indicated that he will fund NYM’s operations.

 

The following table summarizes NYM’s cash flow data for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

    For the nine months ended December 31,  
    2016     2015  
Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 2,909,541     $ 5,381,843  
Net cash used in investing activities     (4,722,186 )     (3,881,777 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     10,290,346       (605,146 )
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents   $ 8,477,701     $ 894,920  

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities consists primarily of net income adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization and changes in deferred income taxes, and the effect of working capital changes. Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $2.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $2.5 million, or 46%, compared to $5.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015. The decrease was a result of a decrease of cash generated from net income of $1.8 million, partially offset by an increase of $0.1 million from change of working capital mainly resulting from an increase in accounts payable.

 

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Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $4.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $0.8 million, compared to $3.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in advances to related parties with the intention of converting these advances into deposits on the purchase price upon acquisitions of these entities Pursuant to the option agreement being entered into at the closing of the transaction between NYM and E-compass.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $10.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, which mainly consisted of net cash flow from borrowing bank loans of $11.4 million. Net cash used in financing activities was $0.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2015, which mainly consisted of $1.1 million of repayment of a loan due to Mr. Long Deng, the majority stockholder and the Chief Executive Officer of NYM, offset by $0.8 million of net cash received from borrowing on loans and notes payable.

 

Commitments and Contractual Obligations

 

The following table presents the Company’s material contractual obligations as of December 31, 2016:

 

Contractual Obligations (unaudited)   Total     Less than
1 year
    1-3 years     3-5 years     More than
5 years
 
Bank Loans   $ 15,000,000     $ 984,172     $ 2,289,895     $ 11,725,933     $  
Estimated interest payments on bank loans     2,687,291       587,088       1,138,308       961,895        
Notes payable     745,014       276,055       354,674       114,285        
Capital lease obligations     51,904       37,004       14,900              
Operating Lease Obligations (1)     88,589,379       6,072,013       12,450,650       13,805,186       56,261,530  
    $ 107,073,588     $ 7,956,332     $ 16,248,427     $ 26,607,299     $ 56,261,530  

 

 

(1) Operating lease obligations do not include common area maintenance, utility and tax payments to which NYM is obligated, which is estimated to be approximately 50% of operating lease obligation.

 

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

 

NYM is not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The discussion and analysis of NYM’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon its financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. These principles require NYM’s management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses, cash flow and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company’s critical accounting estimates included, but are not limited to: allowance for estimated uncollectible receivables, inventory valuations, lease assumptions, impairment of long-lived assets, impairment of intangible assets, and income taxes. NYM bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and the actual results, future financial statements will be affected.

 

NYM’s management believes that among their significant accounting policies, which are described in Note 3 to the audited consolidated financial statements of NYM included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the following accounting policies involve a greater degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, NYM’s management believes these are the most critical to fully understand and evaluate its financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Revenue Recognition

 

For retail sales, revenue is recognized at the point of sale. Discounts provided to customers at the time of sale are recognized as a reduction in sales as the discounted products are sold. Sales taxes are not included in revenue. Proceeds from the sale of coupons are recorded as a liability at the time of sale, and recognized as sales when they are redeemed by customers. For wholesales sales, revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, NYM has no other obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are recorded as customer deposits.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivables consist primarily of uncollected amounts from customer purchases (primarily from the Company’s two distribution operations), credit card receivables, and food stamp vouchers and are presented net of an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts.

 

NYM periodically assesses its accounts receivable for collectability on a specific identification basis. If collectability of an account becomes unlikely, an allowance is recorded for that doubtful account. Once collection efforts have been exhausted, the account receivable is written off against the allowance.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories consist of merchandise purchased for resale, which are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost method is used for wholesale and retail perishable inventories by assigning costs to each of these items based on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis (net of vendor discounts).

 

NYM’s wholesale and retail non-perishable inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market using weighted average method.

 

Operating Leases

 

NYM leases retail stores, warehouse facilities and administrative offices under operating leases. Incentives received from lessors are deferred and recorded as a reduction of rental expense over the lease term using the straight-line method. Store lease agreements generally include rent escalation provisions. The Company recognizes escalations of minimum rents as deferred rent and amortizes these balances on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

 

Income Taxes

 

NYM must make certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. The amount of taxes currently payable or refundable is accrued, and deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for realizable loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the fiscal year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities for a change in income tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

NYM apply the provisions of the authoritative guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes that was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB. Pursuant to this guidance, and may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The authoritative guidance also addresses other items related to uncertainty in income taxes, including derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. 

 

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 3 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of NYM included as Exhibit 99.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the NYM stockholders received, as partial consideration for Acquisition Merger, an aggregate of 12,000,000 shares of iFresh common stock at the closing of the Transactions as described in Item 2.01, above. The securities were issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as the transactions did not involve a public offering.

 

Item 5.01. Changes in Control of Registrant.

 

Reference is made to the disclosure described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the Section entitled “ The Business Combination Proposal ” and “ The Acquisition Agreement ” beginning at pages 38 and 60, respectively, which is incorporated herein by reference. The disclosure contained in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by Reference herein.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

 

Reference is made to the sections entitled “ Directors, Executive Officers, Executive Compensation And Corporate Governance – Current Directors and Executive Officers ” and “ Directors, Executive Officers, Executive Compensation And Corporate Governance - Directors and Executive Officers after the Business Combination ” beginning on pages 123 and 128, respectively, of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

As a result of the Transactions, E-compass merged with and into iFresh with iFresh surviving the merger. Upon closing of the Redomestication Merger, the constitutional documents of iFresh replaced those of E-compass. See the sections of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus entitled “ The Redomestication Proposal ” and Description of the Combined Company’s Securities Following the Business Combination” on pages 63 and 142, respectively.

 

Item 5.06. Change in Shell Company Status.

 

As a result of the Transactions, iFresh ceased being a shell company. Reference is made to the disclosure in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections “ The Business Combination Proposal ” and “ The Acquisition Agreement ” beginning at pages 38 and 60, respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference. Further reference is made to the information contained in Item 2.01 of this Form 8-K.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

On February 13, 2017, iFresh issued a press release announcing the completion of the Transactions, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statement and Exhibits.

 

(a)-(b) Financial Statements.

 

Information responsive to Item 9.01(a) and (b) of Form 8-K is set forth in the financial statements included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-2, and under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements” beginning on page 78, which information is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, iFresh is filing herewith the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of NYM as of December 31, 2016 as Exhibit 99.2 and updated unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as of December 31, 2016 as Exhibits 99.3.

 

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Exhibit No.   Description
2.1   Merger Agreement (1)
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of iFresh Inc. (2)
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of iFresh Inc. (2)
4.1   Specimen Unit Certificate (2)
4.2   Specimen Ordinary Share Certificate (2)
4.3   Specimen Right Certificate (2)
10.2   Escrow Agreement between the Registrant, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the E-compass’s Initial Shareholders. (3)
10.3   Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and certain security holders of E-compass. (2)
10.4   Option Agreement
10.5   Voting Agreement
10.6   Registration Rights Agreement
99.1   Press Release dated February 13, 2017
99.2  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of NYM for the quarter ended December 31, 2016

99.3   Pro-Forma Financial Information for the quarter ended December 31, 2016

 

 

* Previously filed.
(1) Incorporated by reference to E-compass’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 25, 2016.

(2) Incorporated by reference to iFresh’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (333-213061).

(3) Incorporated by reference to E-compass’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 12, 2015.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated February 16, 2017

 

iFRESH, INC.

By: /s/ Long Deng  
Name:  Long Deng  
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer  

 

 

17

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

OPTION AGREEMENT

 

This OPTION AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of February 10, 2017, by and among iFresh Inc. (the “ Purchaser ”), Long Deng (“ Deng ”) and each of the entities listed on the signature page hereto (each an “ Option Company ” and, collectively, the “ Option Companies ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

A. The Purchaser, E-Compass Acquisition Corp., then the parent company of Purchaser, iFresh Merger Sub Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Purchaser (“Merger Sub”), NYM Holding, Inc. (the “ Company ”), the stockholders of the Company (each a “ Stockholder ” and collectively the “ Stockholders”) and Deng as the representative of the Stockholders, entered into a Merger Agreement, dated July 25, 2016 (the “ Merger Agreement ”), providing for, among other things, the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company;

 

B. The Option Companies own and operate each of the stores listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (the “ Business ”); and

 

C. In consideration of Purchaser entering into the Merger Agreement, Deng has agreed to grant Purchaser the option to purchase the Option Companies on the terms and conditions specified herein.

 

For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties accordingly agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

 

1.1 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person.

 

1.2 “Authority” means any governmental, regulatory or administrative body, agency or authority, any court or judicial authority, any arbitrator, or any public, private or industry regulatory authority, whether international, national, Federal, state, or local.

 

1.3 “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banking institutions in New York, U.S.A. are authorized to close for business.

 

1.4 “Equity Interests” means all of the outstanding equity interests (including the common stock) in each Option Company.

 

1.5 “Material Adverse Change” and “Material Adverse Effect” mean, with respect to the parties hereto, any change, event or effect that individually or when taken together with all other changes, events and effects (financial or otherwise) that have occurred prior to the date of determination, is or is reasonably likely to be material and adverse to the operations, assets, liabilities, business or financial condition of the parties hereto or any Option Company’s Property owned thereby.

 

 

 

1.6 “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

1.7 “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

ARTICLE II

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PURCHASE AND SALE

 

2.1  Option .

 

(a) Deng hereby grants the Purchaser, or its assignees, the option to require Deng to sell to the Purchaser, or its assignees, the Equity Interests during the Option Period (as defined below) (the “ Option ”), provided that the Purchaser may not purchase fewer than all of the Equity Interests of an Option Company. In order to exercise the Option, the Company shall deliver to Deng a written notice indicating that it wishes to exercise the Option and the Option Company or Option Companies it wishes to acquire. The “Option Period” will begin on the date hereof and terminate on the earlier of the date the Option is exercised and March 31, 2017 (the “ Option Due Date ”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Purchaser may elect to exercise the Option in installments by purchasing one or more of the Option Companies at a time during the Option Period.

 

(b) In consideration for the Equity Interests, the Purchaser shall pay Deng $2.5 million in cash minus any liabilities owed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries by the applicable Option Company as of the Closing Date relating to the Business (the “ Consideration ”). The dollar amount of any such liabilities shall be determined by Purchaser and shall be agreed upon by the parties at least 15 days prior to such Closing (as defined below). In the event that the parties do not agree on the amount of liabilities, the applicable Closing shall take place and the disputed amount shall be placed in escrow with an escrow agent mutually agreeable to Deng and the Company.

 

2.2  Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each closing of the Option (each a “ Closing ” and collectively, the “ Closings ”) shall take place no later than the second Business Day after the last of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article IV have been satisfied or waived (the date and time at which a Closing is actually held being a “ Closing Date ”). At each Closing, as the case may be:

 

(a) Deng shall transfer all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the applicable Option Company to the Purchaser.

 

(b) Deng shall receive the Consideration.

 

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c)  Deng and the applicable Option Company shall issue a certificate to the Purchaser dated as of a date within five Business Days of the Closing Date making representations and warranties about the Business equivalent to the representations and warranties made by the Company and the Stockholders in the Merger Agreement.

 

ARTICLE III

COVENANTS OF ALL PARTIES HERETO

 

The parties hereto covenant and agree that:

 

3.1  Best Efforts; Further Assurances . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each party shall use its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or desirable under applicable laws, to consummate and implement expeditiously each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The parties hereto shall execute and deliver such other documents, certificates, agreements and other writings and take such other actions as may be necessary or desirable in order to consummate or implement expeditiously each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.2  Conduct of the Business .

 

(a) From the date hereof through each Closing Date, the Option Companies shall conduct the Business only in the ordinary course (including the payment of accounts payable and the collection of accounts receivable), consistent with past practices, and shall not enter into any material transactions without the prior written consent of Purchaser, and shall use its best efforts to preserve intact its business relationships with employees, clients, suppliers and other third parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from the date hereof until and including each Closing Date, without Purchaser’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), each Option Company shall not:

 

(i) amend, modify or supplement its certificate of incorporation and bylaws or other organizational or governing documents;

 

(ii) make any capital expenditures in excess of $1,000,000 (individually or in the aggregate);

 

(iii) sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of the Option Company’s assets except (1) pursuant to existing contracts or commitments disclosed herein and (2) sales of inventory in the ordinary course consistent with past practice;

 

(iv) accept returns of products sold from inventory except in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice;

 

(v) pay, declare or promise to pay any dividends or other distributions with respect to its capital stock, or pay, declare or promise to pay any other payments to any stockholder of the Option Company;

 

(vi) suffer or incur any lien on the Option Company’s assets;

 

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(vii)  suffer any damage, destruction or loss of property related to any of the Option Company’s assets, whether or not covered by insurance;

 

(viii) merge or consolidate with or acquire any other Person or be acquired by any other Person;

 

(ix) suffer any insurance policy protecting any of the Option Company’s assets to lapse;

 

(x) make any change in its accounting principles or methods or write down the value of any inventory or assets;

 

(xi) change the place of business or jurisdiction of organization of the Option Company;

 

(xii) extend any loans other than travel or other expense advances to employees in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $1,000 individually or $10,000 in the aggregate;

 

(xiii) issue, redeem or repurchase any capital stock, membership interests or other securities, or issue any securities exchangeable for or convertible into any shares of its capital stock;

 

(xiv) effect or agree to any change in any practices or terms, including payment terms, with respect to customers or suppliers;

 

(xv) make or change any material tax election or change any annual tax accounting periods; or

 

(xvi) agree to do any of the foregoing.

 

(b) No Option Company shall (i) take or agree to take any action that might make any representation or warranty of the Option Company inaccurate or misleading in any respect at, or as of any time prior to, any Closing Date or (ii) omit to take, or agree to omit to take, any action necessary to prevent any such representation or warranty from being inaccurate or misleading in any respect at any such time.

 

3.3  Access to Information .

 

(a)  From the date hereof until and including each Closing Date, each Option Company shall, to the best of its ability, (i) continue to give the Purchaser, its legal counsel and other representatives full access to the offices, properties and, books and records, (ii) furnish to the Purchaser, its legal counsel and other representatives such information relating to the Business as such Persons may request and (iii) cause the employees, legal counsel, accountants and representatives of the Option Company to cooperate with Purchaser in its investigation of the Business; provided that no investigation pursuant to this Section (or any investigation prior to the date hereof) shall affect any representation or warranty given by the Option Company and, provided further, that any investigation pursuant to this Section shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the Business of the Option Company.

 

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ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

4.1  Condition to the Obligations of the Parties . The obligations of all of the parties to consummate each Closing are subject to the satisfaction of all the following conditions: (a) no provision of any applicable law, and no judicial order, shall prohibit or impose any condition on the consummation of any such Closing, and (b) there shall not be any pending action brought by a third-party non-Affiliate to enjoin or otherwise restrict the consummation of any such Closing.

 

4.2  Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser . The obligations of Purchaser to consummate each Closing are subject to the satisfaction, or the waiver at the Purchaser’s discretion, of the following further conditions:

 

(a) Each of Deng and the applicable Option Company shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or prior to such Closing Date.

 

(b) All of the representations and warranties of Deng and the applicable Option Company contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by Deng or the applicable Option Company pursuant hereto, disregarding all qualifications and expectations contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, regardless of whether it involved a known risk, shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date.

 

(c) Purchaser shall have received certificates signed by Deng and an authorized officer of each applicable Option Company to the effect set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 4.2.

 

ARTICLE V

INDEMNIFICATION

 

5.1  Indemnification of Deng . Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Deng, each of his Affiliates and each of his partners, employees, attorneys and agents and permitted assignees (the “ Deng Indemnitees ”), against and in respect of any and all out-of-pocket loss, cost, payments, demand, penalty, forfeiture, expense, liability, judgment, deficiency or damage, and diminution in value or claim (including actual costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses) (all of the foregoing collectively, “ Losses”) incurred or sustained by any Deng Indemnitee as a result of or in connection with any breach, inaccuracy or nonfulfillment or the alleged breach, inaccuracy or nonfulfillment of any of the representations, warranties and covenants of Purchaser contained herein or any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto.

 

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5.2  Indemnification of Purchaser . Deng hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser, each of its Affiliates, and each of their members, managers, partners, directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents and permitted assignees (the “ Purchaser Indemnitees”) against and in respect of any Losses incurred or sustained by any Purchaser Indemnitee as a result of any breach, inaccuracy or nonfulfillment or the alleged breach, of any of the representations, warranties and covenants of Deng or the Option Companies contained herein or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto.

 

5.3  Indemnification Procedures . The following procedures shall apply with respect to all claims by either a Deng Indemnitee or a Purchaser Indemnitee (an “ Indemnified Party”) for indemnification:

 

(a) An Indemnified Party shall give the Purchaser or Deng, as applicable, prompt notice (an “ Indemnification Notice”) of any third-party action with respect to which such Indemnified Party seeks indemnification pursuant to Section 5.1 or 5.2 (a “ Third-Party Claim ”), which shall describe in reasonable detail the Loss that has been or may be suffered by the Indemnified Party. The failure to give the Indemnification Notice shall not impair any of the rights or benefits of such Indemnified Party under Section 5.1 or 5.2, except to the extent such failure materially and adversely affects the ability of Purchaser or Deng, as applicable (any of such parties, “ Indemnifying Parties”) to defend such claim or increases the amount of such liability.

 

(b) In the case of any Third-Party Claims as to which indemnification is sought by any Indemnified Party, such Indemnified Party shall be entitled, at the sole expense and liability of the Indemnifying Parties, to exercise full control of the defense, compromise or settlement of any Third-Party Claim unless the Indemnifying Parties, within a reasonable time after the giving of an Indemnification Notice by the Indemnified Party (but in any event within ten (10) days thereafter), shall (i) deliver a written confirmation to such Indemnified Party that the indemnification provisions of Section 5.1 or 5.2 are applicable to such action and the Indemnifying Parties will indemnify such Indemnified Party in respect of such action pursuant to the terms of Section 5.1 or 5.2 and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, shall do so without asserting any challenge, defense, limitation on the Indemnifying Parties liability for Losses, counterclaim or offset, (ii) notify such Indemnified Party in writing of the intention of the Indemnifying Parties to assume the defense thereof, and (iii) retain legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party to conduct the defense of such Third-Party Claim.

 

(c) If the Indemnifying Parties assume the defense of any such Third-Party Claim pursuant to Section 5.3(b), then the Indemnified Party shall cooperate with the Indemnifying Parties in any manner reasonably requested in connection with the defense, and the Indemnified Party shall have the right to be kept fully informed by the Indemnifying Parties and their legal counsel with respect to the status of any legal proceedings, to the extent not inconsistent with the preservation of attorney-client or work product privilege. If the Indemnifying Parties so assume the defense of any such Third-Party Claim the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise, or settlement thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel employed by the Indemnified Party shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Parties have agreed to pay such fees and expenses, or (ii) the named parties to any such Third-Party Claim (including any impleaded parties) include an Indemnified Party and an Indemnifying Party and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be a conflict of interest between such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Parties in the conduct of the defense thereof, and in any such case the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the Indemnifying Parties.

 

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(d) If the Indemnifying Parties elect to assume the defense of any Third- Party Claim pursuant to Section 5.3(b), the Indemnified Party shall not pay, or permit to be paid, any part of any claim or demand arising from such asserted liability unless the Indemnifying Parties withdraw from or fail to vigorously prosecute the defense of such asserted liability, or unless a judgment is entered against the Indemnified Party for such liability. If the Indemnifying Parties do not elect to defend, or if, after commencing or undertaking any such defense, the Indemnifying Parties fail to adequately prosecute or withdraw such defense, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to undertake the defense or settlement thereof, at the Indemnifying Parties’ expense. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Indemnifying Parties shall not be entitled to control, but may participate in, and the Indemnified Party (at the expense of the Indemnifying Parties) shall be entitled to have sole control over, the defense or settlement of (i) that part of any Third Party Claim (x) that seeks a temporary restraining order, a preliminary or permanent injunction or specific performance against the Indemnified Party, or (y) to the extent such Third Party Claim involves criminal allegations against the Indemnified Party or (ii) the entire Third Party Claim if such Third Party Claim would impose liability on the part of the Indemnified Party in an amount which is greater than the amount as to which the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. In the event the Indemnified Party retains control of the Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party will not settle the subject claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

(e) If the Indemnified Party undertakes the defense of any such Third-Party Claim pursuant to Section 5.1 or 5.2 and proposes to settle the same prior to a final judgment thereon or to forgo appeal with respect thereto, then the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Parties prompt written notice thereof and the Indemnifying Parties shall have the right to participate in the settlement, assume or reassume the defense thereof or prosecute such appeal, in each case at the Indemnifying Parties’ expense. The Indemnifying Parties shall not, without the prior written consent of such Indemnified Party settle or compromise or consent to entry of any judgment with respect to any such Third-Party Claim (i) in which any relief other than the payment of money damages is or may be sought against such Indemnified Party, (ii) in which such Third Party Claim could be reasonably expected to impose or create a monetary liability on the part of the Indemnified Party (such as an increase in the Indemnified Party’s income Tax) other than the monetary claim of the third party in such Third-Party Claim being paid pursuant to such settlement or judgment, or (iii) which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant, person conducting such investigation or initiating such hearing, plaintiff or petitioner to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability with respect to such Third-Party Claim and all other actions (known or unknown) arising or which might arise out of the same facts.

 

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5.4  Periodic Payments . Any indemnification required by Section 5.1 or 5.2 for costs, disbursements or expenses of any Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any action shall be made by periodic payments by the Indemnifying Parties to each Indemnified Party during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or costs, disbursements or expenses are incurred.

 

5.5  Insurance. Any indemnification payments hereunder shall take into account any insurance proceeds or other third party reimbursement actually received.

 

5.6  Survival of Indemnification Rights . The representations and warranties of Purchaser, each Option Company and Deng shall survive until the twelve (12) months following the last Closing.

 

ARTICLE VI

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

6.1  Arbitration .

 

(a)  The parties shall promptly submit any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement (including with respect to the meaning, effect, validity, termination, interpretation, performance, or enforcement of this Agreement) or any alleged breach thereof (including any action in tort, contract, equity, or otherwise), to binding arbitration before one arbitrator (“Arbitrator”), shall be binding, final and non-appealable and not subject to this Section 6.1. The parties agree that binding arbitration shall be the sole means of resolving any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement (including with respect to the meaning, effect, validity, termination, interpretation, performance or enforcement of this Agreement) or any alleged breach thereof (including any claim in tort, contract, equity, or otherwise).

 

(b) If the parties cannot agree upon the Arbitrator, the Arbitrator shall be selected by the New York, New York chapter head of the American Arbitration Association upon the written request of either side. The Arbitrator shall be selected within thirty (30) days of such written request.

 

(c) The laws of the State of New York shall apply to any arbitration hereunder. In any arbitration hereunder, this Agreement and any agreement contemplated hereby shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York applicable to a contract negotiated, signed, and wholly to be performed in the State of New York, which laws the Arbitrator shall apply in rendering his decision. The Arbitrator shall issue a written decision, setting forth findings of fact and conclusions of law, within sixty (60) days after he shall have been selected. The Arbitrator shall have no authority to award punitive or other exemplary damages.

 

(d) The arbitration shall be held in New York, New York in accordance with and under the then current provisions of the rules of the American Arbitration Association, except as otherwise provided herein.

 

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(e)  On application to the Arbitrator, any party shall have rights to discovery to the same extent as would be provided under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Evidence shall apply to any arbitration under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Arbitrator shall limit any discovery or evidence such that his decision shall be rendered within the period referred to in Section 6.1(c).

 

(f) The Arbitrator may, at his discretion and at the expense of the parties who will bear the cost of the arbitration, employ experts to assist him in his determinations.

 

(g) The costs of the arbitration proceeding and any proceeding in court to confirm any arbitration award, as applicable (including actual attorneys’ fees and costs), shall be borne by the unsuccessful party and shall be awarded as part of the Arbitrator’s decision, unless the Arbitrator shall otherwise allocate such costs in such decision. The determination of the Arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties and not subject to appeal.

 

(h) Any judgment upon any award rendered by the Arbitrator may be entered in and enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties expressly consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts (Federal and state) in New York, New York to enforce any award of the Arbitrator or to render any provisional, temporary, or injunctive relief in connection with or in aid of the Arbitration. The parties expressly consent to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction of the Arbitrator to arbitrate any and all matters to be submitted to arbitration hereunder. None of the parties hereto shall challenge any arbitration hereunder on the grounds that any party necessary to such arbitration (including the parties hereto) shall have been absent from such arbitration for any reason, including that such party shall have been the subject of any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency proceeding.

 

(i) The parties shall indemnify the Arbitrator and any experts employed by the Arbitrator and hold them harmless from and against any claim or demand arising out of any arbitration under this Agreement or any agreement contemplated hereby, unless resulting from the willful misconduct of the person indemnified.

 

(j) This arbitration section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and any agreement contemplated hereby.

 

6.2  Waiver of Jury Trial; Exemplary Damages .

 

(a) THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT EACH SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, IN ANY COURT IN WHICH AN ACTION MAY BE COMMENCED, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, OR BY REASON OF ANY OTHER CAUSE OR DISPUTE WHATSOEVER BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT OF ANY KIND OR NATURE. NO PARTY SHALL BE AWARDED PUNITIVE OR OTHER EXEMPLARY DAMAGES RESPECTING ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

 

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(b) Each of the parties to this Agreement acknowledges that each has been represented in connection with the signing of this Agreement by independent legal counsel selected by the respective party and that such party has discussed the legal consequences and import of this waiver with legal counsel. Each of the parties to this Agreement further acknowledge that each has read and understands the meaning of this waiver and grants this waiver knowingly, voluntarily, without duress and only after consideration of the consequences of this waiver with legal counsel.

 

6. 3  Attorneys’ Fees . The unsuccessful party to any action arising out of this Agreement that is not resolved by arbitration under Section 6.1 shall pay to the prevailing party all attorneys’ fees and costs actually incurred by the prevailing party, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled. As used in this Section 6.3 and elsewhere in this Agreement, “actual attorneys’ fees” or “attorneys’ fees actually incurred” means the full and actual cost of any legal services actually performed in connection with the matter for which such fees are sought, calculated on the basis of the usual fees charged by the attorneys performing such services, and shall not be limited to “reasonable attorneys’ fees” as that term may be defined in statutory or decisional authority.

 

ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION

 

7.1  Termination Upon Default .

 

(a) Deng may terminate this Agreement by giving notice to the Purchaser on or prior to any Closing Date, without prejudice to any rights or obligations Deng may have, if Purchaser shall have materially breached any representation or warranty or breached any agreement or covenant contained herein on or prior to such Closing Date, and in either case, such breach is not cured within ten (10) days following receipt by the Purchaser of a notice describing in reasonable detail the nature of such breach.

 

(b) The Purchaser may terminate this Agreement by giving notice to Deng, without prejudice to any rights or obligations Purchaser or Company may have, if Deng shall have materially breached any of its covenants, agreements, representations, and warranties contained herein to be performed on or prior to any Closing Date and such breach shall not be cured by ten (10) days following receipt by Deng of a notice describing in reasonable detail the nature of such breach.

 

(c) In the event this Agreement is terminated by Deng pursuant to Section 7.1(a), Purchaser shall be responsible for paying all of its own expenses and those of Deng and each Option Company incurred in connection with this Agreement.

 

(d) In the event this Agreement is terminated by the Purchaser pursuant to Section 7.1(b), Deng shall be responsible for paying all of its own expenses and the expenses of Purchaser incurred in connection with this Agreement.

 

7.2  Survival. The provisions of Section 6.3, as well as this Article VII, shall survive any termination hereof.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1  Notices. Any notice hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or recognized courier service, by 4:00PM on a business day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and otherwise on the first business day after such delivery; (b) if by fax or email, on the date that transmission is confirmed electronically, if by 4:00PM on a business day, addressee’s day and time, and otherwise on the first business day after the date of such confirmation; or (c) five days after mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:

 

if to Purchaser, to:

 

iFresh Inc.

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Richard Xu

Telecopy: 646-912-8918

 

if to Deng, to:

 

2-39 54 th Avenue

Long Island City, NY 11101

Attn: Long Deng

Fax: 718-628-3822

 

if to Option Companies, to:

 

2-39 54 th Avenue

Long Island City, NY 11101

Attn: Long Deng

Fax: 718-628-3822

 

8.2  Amendments; No Waivers; Remedies .

 

(a) This Agreement cannot be amended, except by a writing signed by each party, or terminated orally or by course of conduct. No provision hereof can be waived, except by a writing signed by the party against whom such waiver is to be enforced, and any such waiver shall apply only in the particular instance in which such waiver shall have been given.

 

(b) Neither any failure or delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or in requiring satisfaction of any condition herein nor any course of dealing shall constitute a waiver of or prevent any party from enforcing any right or remedy or from requiring satisfaction of any condition. No notice to or demand on a party waives or otherwise affects any obligation of that party or impairs any right of the party giving such notice or making such demand, including any right to take any action without notice or demand not otherwise required by this Agreement. No exercise of any right or remedy with respect to a breach of this Agreement shall preclude exercise of any other right or remedy, as appropriate to make the aggrieved party whole with respect to such breach, or subsequent exercise of any right or remedy with respect to any other breach.

 

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(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no statement herein of any right or remedy shall impair any other right or remedy stated herein or that otherwise may be available.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, neither shall any party seek, nor shall any party be liable for, punitive or exemplary damages, under any tort, contract, equity, or other legal theory, with respect to any breach (or alleged breach) of this Agreement or any provision hereof or any matter otherwise relating hereto or arising in connection herewith.

 

8.3  Arms’ Length Bargaining; no Presumption Against Drafter . This Agreement has been negotiated at arms-length by parties of equal bargaining strength, each represented by counsel or having had but declined the opportunity to be represented by counsel and having participated in the drafting of this Agreement. This Agreement creates no fiduciary or other special relationship between the parties, and no such relationship otherwise exists. No presumption in favor of or against any party in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be made based upon which Person might have drafted this Agreement or such provision.

 

8.4  Publicity. Except as required by law, the parties agree that neither they nor their agents shall issue any press release or make any other public disclosure concerning the transactions contemplated hereunder without the prior approval of the other party hereto.

 

8.5  Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.

 

8.6  No Assignment or Delegation . No party may assign any right or delegate any obligation hereunder, including by merger, consolidation, operation of law, or otherwise, without the written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment or delegation without such consent shall be void, in addition to constituting a material breach of this Agreement.

 

8.7  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the state of New York, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

8.8  Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which shall constitute one agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon delivery to each party of an executed counterpart or the earlier delivery to each party of original, photocopied, or electronically transmitted signature pages that together (but need not individually) bear the signatures of all other parties.

 

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8.9  Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements related thereto (whether written or oral), all of which are merged herein. No provision of this Agreement may be explained or qualified by any agreement, negotiations, understanding, discussion, conduct or course of conduct or by any trade usage. Except as otherwise expressly stated herein, there is no condition precedent to the effectiveness of any provision hereof or thereof. No party has relied on any representation from, warranty or agreement of any person in entering into this Agreement, prior or contemporaneous, except those expressly stated herein.

 

8.10 Severability . A determination by a court or other legal authority that any provision that is not of the essence of this Agreement is legally invalid shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof. The parties shall cooperate in good faith to substitute (or cause such court or other legal authority to substitute) for any provision so held to be invalid a valid provision, as alike in substance to such invalid provision as is lawful.

 

8.11 Construction of Certain Terms and References; Captions . In this Agreement:

 

(a) References to particular sections and subsections, schedules, and exhibits not otherwise specified are cross-references to sections and subsections, schedules, and exhibits of this Agreement.

 

(b) The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and, unless the context requires otherwise, “party” means a party signatory hereto.

 

(c) Any use of the singular or plural, or the masculine, feminine, or neuter gender, includes the others, unless the context otherwise requires; “including” means “including without limitation;“ “or” means “and/or;” “any” means “any one, more than one, or all;” and, unless otherwise specified, any financial or accounting term has the meaning of the term under United States generally accepted accounting principles as consistently applied heretofore by party.

 

(d) Unless otherwise specified, any reference to any agreement (including this Agreement), instrument, or other document includes all schedules, exhibits, or other attachments referred to therein, and any reference to a statute or other law includes any rule, regulation, ordinance, or the like promulgated thereunder, in each case, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time. Any reference to a numbered schedule means the same-numbered section of the disclosure schedule.

 

(e) If any action is required to be taken or notice is required to be given within a specified number of days following a specific date or event, the day of such date or event is not counted in determining the last day for such action or notice. If any action is required to be taken or notice is required to be given on or before a particular day which is not a Business Day, such action or notice shall be considered timely if it is taken or given on or before the next Business Day.

   

(f) Captions are not a part of this Agreement, but are included for convenience, only.

 

8.12 Further Assurances . Each party shall execute and deliver such documents and take such action, as may reasonably be considered within the scope of such party’s obligations hereunder, necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

8.13 Third Party Beneficiaries . Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof confers any benefit or right upon or may be enforced by any Person not a signatory hereto.

 

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank; signature pages to follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Deng, Purchaser and the Option Companies have each caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  DENG:  
  /s/ Long Deng
    Long Deng
     
  PURCHASER:    
    iFresh Inc.
       
    By:
      Name:
      Title:
  OPTION COMPANIES:    
       
    New York Mart, Inc., Pacific Supermarket, Inc.,
    New York Mart MD, Inc., New York
    Mart N. Miami, Inc.
       
    NEW YORK MART, INC.
       
    By: /s/ Long Deng
    Name: Long Deng
    Title:   President
       
    PACIFIC SUPERMARKET, INC.
       
    By: /s/ Long Deng
      Name: Long Deng
      Title:   President

   

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Deng, Purchaser and the Option Companies have each caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  DENG:  
 
    Long Deng
     
  PURCHASER:    
    iFresh Inc.
       
    By: /s/ Richard Xu
      Name: Richard Xu
      Title:  CEO
  OPTION COMPANIES:    
       
    New York Mart, Inc., Pacific Supermarket, Inc.,
    New York Mart MD, Inc., New York
    Mart N. Miami, Inc.
       
    NEW YORK MART, INC.
       
    By:
    Name: 
    Title:   
       
    PACIFIC SUPERMARKET, INC.
       
    By:
      Name:
      Title:   

 

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  NEW YORK MART MD, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Long Deng
    Name: Long Deng
    Title:   President
     
  NEW YORK MART N. MIAMI, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Long Deng
    Name: Long Deng
    Title:  President

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

EXHIBIT A

 

New York Mart, Inc., (Little Neck, New York)

 

Pacific Supermarket, Inc. (Queens, New York)

 

New York Mart MD, Inc. (Rockville, Maryland)

 

New York Mart N. Miami, Inc. (N Miami Beach, Florida)

 

 

1

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

IFRESH INC.

 

VOTING AGREEMENT

 

This Voting Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of February 10, 2017, by and among iFresh Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and each of the individuals set forth on the signature page hereto (each a “ Voting Party ” and collectively, the “ Voting Parties ”). For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , the Company, NYM Holding Inc. (“ NYM Holding ”), E-compass Acquisition Corp., iFresh Merger Sub Inc., the stockholders of NYM Holding, and Long Deng, as the representative of the stockholders, entered into a Merger Agreement, dated July 25, 2016 (the “ Merger Agreement ”); and

 

WHEREAS , each of the Voting Parties currently own, or on closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, will own, shares of the Company’s capital stock, and wishes to provide for orderly elections of the Company’s board of directors as described herein.

 

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and of the promises and covenants contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1. Agreement to Vote. During the term of this Agreement and to the extent they are entitled under the Company’s constituent or organizational documents or agreements to vote on such matter, each Voting Party agrees to vote all securities of the Company that may vote in the election of the Company’s directors that such Voting Party owns from time to time, including any shares that are escrowed pursuant to that certain Escrow Agreement by and among Loeb & Loeb LLP, as escrow agent, the Company and Long Deng, dated as of the date of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the “ Voting Shares ”) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, whether at a regular or special meeting of stockholders or any class or series of stockholders or by written consent.

 

2. Election of Boards of Directors.

 

2.1 Voting. During the term of this Agreement, and subject to the Company’s constituent or organizational documents or agreements, each Voting Party agrees to vote all Voting Shares in such manner as may be necessary to elect (and maintain in office) as members of the Company’s Board of Directors the following persons:

   

(a) Four (4) persons (each a “ NYM Designee ,” and collectively, the “ NYM Designees ”) designated by the Voting Parties who owned shares of NYM Holding prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, holding a majority of shares of capital stock owned by such Voting Parties (as applicable, the “ NYM Selector ”). At least two (2) NYM Designees shall qualify as independent directors under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, if applicable; and

 

 

 

 

(b) One (1) person (the “ E-Compass Designee ”) designated by the Voting Parties other than those who were stockholders or employees of or consultants to NYM Holding or its affiliates prior to the date hereof, holding a majority of shares of capital stock owned by such Voting Parties (as applicable, the “ E-Compass Selector ”). The E-Compass Designee shall qualify as an independent director under the Exchange Act, and the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, if applicable.

 

2.2 Initial Designees. The initial NYM Designees are Long Deng, Lilly Deng, Jianming You, and Xiangke Fang. The initial E-Compass Designee is Henry Chang-Yu Lee.

 

2.3 Size of the Board . The parties hereto agree that they shall, and that they shall cause their respective designees to, maintain the size of the Company’s Board of Directors at five (5) persons for the 24-month period following the Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

 

2.4 Obligations; Removal of Directors; Vacancies . The obligations of the Voting Parties pursuant to this Section 2 shall include any stockholder vote to amend the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws as required to effect the intent of this Agreement. Each of the Voting Parties and the Company agree not to take any actions that would materially and adversely affect the provisions of this Agreement and the intention of the parties with respect to the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors as herein stated. The parties acknowledge that the fiduciary duties of each member of the Company’s Board of Directors are to the Company’s stockholders as a whole. In the event any director elected pursuant to the terms hereof ceases to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company and the Voting Parties agree to take all such action as is reasonable and necessary, including the voting of shares of capital stock of the Company by the Voting Parties as to which they have beneficial ownership, to cause the election or appointment of such other substitute person to the Board of Directors as may be designated on the terms provided herein.

 

3. Successors in Interest of the Voting Parties and the Company. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the successors in interest of any Voting Party with respect to any of such Voting Party’s Voting Shares or any voting rights therein, unless such shares are sold into the public markets. Each Voting Party shall not, and the Company shall not, permit the transfer of any Voting Party’s Voting Shares (except for sales of Voting Shares into the public markets), unless and until the person to whom such securities are to be transferred shall have executed a written agreement pursuant to which such person becomes a party to this Agreement and agrees to be bound by all the provisions hereof as if such person was a Voting Party hereunder.

   

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4. Covenants. The Company and each Voting Party agrees to take all actions required to ensure that the rights given to each Voting Party hereunder are effective and that each Voting Party enjoys the benefits thereof. Such actions include, without limitation, the use of best efforts to cause the nomination of the designees, as provided herein, for election as directors of the Company. Neither the Company nor any Voting Party will, by any voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be performed hereunder by the Company or any such Voting Party, as applicable, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all of the provisions of this Agreement and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of each Voting Party hereunder against impairment.

 

5. Grant of Proxy. The parties agree that this Agreement does not constitute the granting of a proxy to any party or any other person; provided, however, that should the provisions of this Agreement be construed to constitute the granting of proxies, such proxies shall be deemed coupled with an interest and are irrevocable for the term of this Agreement.

 

6. Restrictive Legend. Until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the sale of the Applicable Voting Shares into the public markets, each certificate representing any of the Voting Shares shall be marked by the Company with a legend reading as follows:

 

“THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO A VOTING AGREEMENT (A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUER) AND BY ACCEPTING ANY INTEREST IN SUCH SHARES THE PERSON HOLDING SUCH INTEREST SHALL BE DEEMED TO AGREE TO AND SHALL BECOME BOUND BY ALL THE PROVISIONS OF SAID VOTING AGREEMENT.”

 

7. Specific Enforcement. It is agreed and understood that monetary damages would not adequately compensate an injured party for the breach of this Agreement by any party hereto, that this Agreement shall be specifically enforceable, and that any breach of this Agreement shall be the proper subject of a temporary or permanent injunction or restraining order. Further, each party hereto waives any claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law for such breach or threatened breach and agrees that a party’s rights would be materially and adversely affected if the obligations of the other parties under this Agreement were not carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof.

 

8. Manner of Voting. The voting of shares pursuant to this Agreement may be effected in person, by proxy, by written consent or in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

 

9. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the first to occur of the following:

 

9.1  The date that is twenty-four (24) months from the Closing Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement); or

 

9.2  Immediately prior to a transaction pursuant to which a person or group other than current shareholders of the Company or the Voting Parties, or their respective affiliates, will control greater than 50% of the Company’s voting power with respect to the election of directors of the Company.

 

  - 3 -  

 

 

10.  Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, additional parties may be added to this Agreement, and any provision of this Agreement may be amended or the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of (a) the Company, and (b) the holders of a majority of Voting Shares then held by the Voting Parties; provided, however , that the right of the NYM Selector to nominate the NYM Designees shall not be amended without the written consent of a majority in interest of the NYM Selector; and provided further , that the right of the E-Compass Selector to nominate the E-Compass Designees shall not be amended without the written consent of a majority in interest of E-Compass Selector.

 

11. Stock Splits, Stock Dividends, etc. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization or the like, any securities issued with respect to Voting Shares held by Voting Parties shall become Voting Shares for purposes of this Agreement.

 

12.  Severability. In the event that any provision of the Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

13. Governing Law. This Agreement and the legal relations between the parties arising hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to its conflicts of laws provisions.

 

14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

15. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among the parties, with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof, and no party shall be liable or bound to any other party in any manner by any warranties, representations or covenants except as specifically set forth herein or therein.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows ]

 

  - 4 -  

 

 

This Voting Agreement is hereby executed effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

“COMPANY”

 

IFRESH INC.  
a Delaware corporation  
     
By: /s/ Richard Xu  
Name:    
Title:    

 

 

 

 

“VOTING PARTIES”  
   
/s/ Richard Xu  
Richard Xu  
   
/s/ Chen Liu  
Chen Liu  
   
/s/ Peiling (Amy) He  
Peiling (Amy) He  
   
   
Long Deng  
   
   
Faming Lin  
   
   
Haiquan Chen  
   
   
Shengbao Zhang  
   
   
Shunwah Gee  
   
   
Yongguang Li  
   
   
Tongrui Huang  
   
   
Mei Deng  

 

 

 

 

“VOTING PARTIES”  
   
   
Richard Xu  
   
   
Chen Liu  
   
   
Peiling (Amy) He  
   
/s/ Long Deng  
Long Deng  
   
/s/ Faming Lin  
Faming Lin  
   
   
Haiquan Chen  
   
/s/ Shengbao Zhang  
Shengbao Zhang  
   
   
Shunwah Gee  
   
/s/ Yongguang Li  
Yongguang Li  
   
/s/ Tongrui Huang  
Tongrui Huang  
   
/s/ Mei Deng  
Mei Deng  

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (the “ Agreemen t”) is made as of February 10, 2017 by and among iFresh Inc., Delaware corporation (including any successor in interest of the Company or other entity that issues Registrable Securities (as defined herein) the “ Company ”), and the persons listed on Schedule A attached hereto (each an “ Investor ,” and collectively, the “ Investors ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement dated July 25, 2016 by and among E-compass Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company, the Company, iFresh Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, NYM Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NYM”), the stockholders of NYM, and Long Deng, an individual, as the representative of the stockholders (the “ Purchase Agreement”), the Company will be issuing certain of the Company’s common stock (the “ Common Stock ”) to certain persons.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Company and the Investors hereby agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.  Registration Rights .

 

1.1  Definitions. For purposes of this Section 1:

 

(a)  Holder . For purposes of this Section 1 and Section 2 hereof, the term “ Holder ” or “ Holders ” means any person or persons owning of record Registrable Securities and any affiliate or any permitted transferee or assignee of record of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, a record holder of any securities convertible or exercisable into such Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be the Holder of such Registrable Securities.

 

(b)  Registration . The terms “ register, ” “ registered, ” and “ registration ” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement.

 

(c)  Registrable Securities . The term “ Registrable Securities ” means: (i) any and all shares of Common Stock (including shares of Common Stock underlying securities exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock) beneficially owned by the person signatory hereto on the date hereof as specified on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Securities ”), (ii) any securities issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for or in replacement of, the Securities, provided, that any of the foregoing securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following: (A) a sale pursuant to an effective Registration Statement; (B) a sale pursuant to Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act (in which case, only such security sold shall cease to be a Registrable Security); (C) eligibility for sale without current public information requirements and volume or manner of sale restrictions; or (D) when such securities shall cease to be outstanding.

 

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(d)  Registration Statement . The term “ Registration Statement ” shall mean any registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

 

(e)  Securities Act . The term “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(f)  SEC . The term “ SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

1.2  Piggyback Registrations . The Company shall notify all Holders of Registrable Securities in writing at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to filing any registration statement under the Securities Act for purposes of effecting an offering of securities of the Company (including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of the Company, but excluding registration statements relating to (i) any employee benefit plan or (ii) a corporate reorganization, merger or acquisition) and will afford each such Holder an opportunity to include in such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder shall, within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of the above-described notice from the Company, so notify the Company in writing, and in such notice shall inform the Company of the number of Registrable Securities such Holder wishes to include in such registration statement. If a Holder decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Holder shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

(a)  Underwriting. If a registration statement under which the Company gives notice under this Section 1.2 is for an underwritten offering, then the Company shall so advise the Holders of Registrable Securities. In such event, the right of any such Holder’s Registrable Securities to be included in a registration pursuant to this Section 1.2 shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriter(s) selected by the Company for such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the managing underwriter(s) determine(s) in good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the managing underwriter(s) may exclude shares (including Registrable Securities) from the registration and the underwriting, and the number of shares that may be included in the registration and the underwriting shall be allocated, first, to any person that exercised demand registration rights in connection with such registration, second, the Company, and third, to all holders of Company securities having piggyback registration rights (including Holders of Registrable Securities) requesting inclusion of their securities in such registration statement on a pro rata basis based on the total number of securities for which registration was requested. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriter, delivered at least ten (10) business days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwritten offering shall be excluded and withdrawn from such registration.

 

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(b)  Company Termination of Registration . The Company reserves the right to terminate any registration under this Section 1.2 at any time and for any reason without liability to any Holder.

 

1.3  Expenses. All expenses incurred in connection with each registration, including without limitation all registration and qualification fees, printers’ and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities laws and listing fees (but excluding underwriters’ discounts and commissions and fees and expenses for counsel to the Holders), shall be borne by the Company.

 

1.4  Obligations of the Company . Whenever required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under this Agreement, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

 

(a) provide copies to and permit counsel designated by the Holders to review each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto no fewer than five (5) calendar days prior to their filing with the SEC;

 

(b) furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by them that are included in such registration;

 

(c) use its best efforts to register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement under such other securities laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdictions;

 

(d) in the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter(s) of such offering (it being understood and agreed that, as a condition to the Company’s obligations under this clause (d), each Holder participating in such underwriting public offering shall also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement);

 

(e) as soon as reasonably practicable (but within at least one business day) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing; and

 

  3  

 

 

(f) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed.

 

1.5  Furnish Information . the Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as is required by law or the SEC to be disclosed in such Registration Statement, prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

 

1.6  Indemnification . In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under Section 1.22 hereof:

 

(a)  By the Company . the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and its partners, officers and directors, employees and agents, successors and assigns and each other person, if any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act of, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act”), against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a “ Violation ”):

 

(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto;

 

(ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or

 

(iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any federal or state securities law in connection with the offering covered by such registration statement;

 

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and the Company will reimburse each such Holder, partner, officer or director, underwriter or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided , however , that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 1.6(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by such Holder, partner, officer, director, underwriter or controlling person of such Holder specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 1.4(e), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective prospectus in such Registration Statement after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of an advice or an amended or supplemented prospectus, but only if and to the extent that following the receipt of the advice or the amended or supplemented prospectus the misstatement or omission giving rise to such loss would have been corrected. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)  By Selling Holders . Each selling Holder, severally but not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, underwriter may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder in writing specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto; and each such Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, underwriter or other Holder, partner, officer, director or controlling person of such other Holder in connection with defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided , however , that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 1.6(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided   further, that the total amounts payable in indemnity by a Holder under this subsection 1.6(b) in respect of any Violation shall not exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement of which such Violation arises.

 

(c)  Notice . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 1.66 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 1.66, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided , however , that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if (1) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; and (2) the indemnifying party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party in any such proceeding; or (3) representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflict of interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 1.66.

 

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(d)  Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 1.66 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall to the extent permitted by applicable law contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in connection with the Violation(s) that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, that in no event shall any contribution by a Holder hereunder exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement relating to which such Violation arises.

 

(e)  Survival . The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 1.66 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement, and otherwise.

 

1.7  Rule 144 Reporting . With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may at any time permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, after such time as a public market exists for the Common Stock, the Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration under the Securities Act filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public; and

 

(b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements).

 

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2.  General Provisions .

 

2.1  Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered, deposited in the international air mail postage prepaid, or sent by facsimile or e-mail when receipt is electronically confirmed

 

(i) if to an Investor, as set forth below Investor’s name on the signature page of this Agreement; and

 

(ii)  if to the Company, to the address set forth below:

 

iFresh Inc.

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Richard Xu

Telecopy: 646-912-8918

 

Any party hereto (and such party’s permitted assigns) may by notice so given change its address for future notices hereunder. Notice shall be deemed conclusively given when personally delivered or sent in the manner set forth above.

 

2.2  Amendments and Waivers . This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the Company and each of the Investors beneficially owning Registrable Securities.

 

2.3  Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with all the exhibits hereto, constitutes and contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, understandings, duties or obligations between the parties respecting the subject matter hereof.

 

2.4  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, excluding that body of law relating to conflict of laws and choice of law that would result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

 

2.5  JURISDICTION; SERVICE; WAIVERS . ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN A COURT OF RECORD OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY CONSENT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT BY MAILING A COPY OF THE SUMMONS AND ANY COMPLAINT TO SUCH PERSON, BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, AT ITS ADDRESS TO BE USED FOR THE GIVING OF NOTICES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, THE PARTIES HERETO EACH HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS , WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OR MAINTAINING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION.

 

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2.6  Severability . If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, then such provision(s) shall be excluded from this Agreement and the balance of this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision(s) were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

2.7  Third Parties . Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

2.8  Successors and Assigns . The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.

 

2.9  Captions. The captions to sections of this Agreement have been inserted for identification and reference purposes only and shall not be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.

 

2.10 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

2.11 Costs and Attorneys’ Fees . In the event that any action, suit or other proceeding is instituted concerning or arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereunder, the prevailing party shall recover all of such party’s costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in each such action, suit or other proceeding, including any and all appeals or petitions therefrom.

 

2.12 Adjustments for Stock Splits and Certain Other Changes . Wherever in this Agreement there is a reference to a specific number of shares of Common Stock, then, upon the occurrence of any subdivision, combination or stock dividend of such class or series of stock, the specific number of shares so referenced in this Agreement shall automatically be proportionally adjusted to reflect the effect on the outstanding shares of such class or series of stock by such subdivision, combination or stock dividend.

 

2.13 Aggregation of Stock . All shares deemed to be “beneficially owned” (as such term is defined under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) by any entity or person, shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

  IFRESH INC.
     
  By: /s/ Richard Xu
  Name: Richard Xu
  Title: CEO

 

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OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

  

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
   

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     
 

Facsimile No:                                                    

     
 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

  

Counterpart Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

  10  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

  

Faming Lin

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Faming Lin    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     

20214 45TH ROAD

 

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

BAYSIDE, NY 11361

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

 

  11  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Shengbao Zhang

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Shengbao Zhang    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     

5020 210 STREET

 

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

BAYSIDE, NY 11364

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  12  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Yongguang Li

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Yongguang Li    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     

104-44 41ST AVE 2FLR

 

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

CORONA NY 11368

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  13  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Tongrui Huang

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Tongrui Huang    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     

41-70 MAIN ST B3209

 

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

FLUSHING, NY 11355

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

  

  14  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Xin Wu

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Xin Wu    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     

231 MCCLOUD DRIVE

 

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

FORT LEE. NJ 07024

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  15  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Mei Deng

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Mei Deng    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     

3 HATHAWAY LN

 

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

MANHASSET NY 11303

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  16  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Mingzhe Zhang

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Mingzhe Zhang    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     

5733 226TH STREET

 

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

OAKLAND GARDEN, NY 11364

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  17  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Yi Fei Ling

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Yi Fei Ling    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     
15050 21ST AVE  

Facsimile No:                                                    

     
WHITESTONE, NY 11357

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  18  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Xiaodan Wu    
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Xiaodan Wu    
[Signature]   [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     
Mailing Address:   Telephone No.:                                                  
     
4332 ELBERTSON ST   Facsimile No:                                                    
     
ELMHURST, NY 11373   Email Address:                                                  
     
    Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  19  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Sheng Feng Song

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Sheng Feng Song    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     

6112 168TH ST #2F

 

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

FRESH MEADOWS, NY 11365

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  20  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Shizhen Wu

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Shizhen Wu    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:                                                  

     
9441 55TH AVE  

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

ELMHURST, NY 11373

 

Email Address:                                                  

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  21  

 

 

OMNIBUS INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO

IFRESH INC.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Shunyu She

   
[Print Name of Investor]   [Name of Co-Investor, if applicable]
     
Shunyu She    

[Signature]

  [Signature]
     
Name:                                                                     Name:                                                                  
     
Title:                                                                     Title:                                                                     
     
     

Mailing Address:

 

Telephone No.:  917-821-8869                         

     
80-35 Springfield Blvd, Apt 6H  

Facsimile No:                                                    

     

Queens Village, NY 11427

 

Email Address:  Simon8869@gmail.com        

     
  Taxpayer ID Number:                                       
(City, State and Zip)    

 

  22  

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Investor List 1

 

Name of Investor   Shares of Common Stock  
       
Long Deng     11,120,000  
         
Faming Lin     215,000  
         
Shengbao Zhang     140,000  
         
Yongguang Li     75,000  
         
Tongrui Huang     70,000  
         
Xin Wu     20,000  
         
Mei Deng     20,000  
         
Mingzhe Zhang     20,000  
         
Yi Fei Ling     10,000  
         
Xiaodan Wu     10,000  
         
Sheng Feng Song     8,000  
         
Shizhen Wu     8,000  
         
Shunyu She     4,000  

 

 

1 Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of these individuals is 2-39 54 th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101.

 

 

23

Exhibit 99.1

 

iFRESH, INC. (F/K/A E-COMPASS ACQUISITION CORP.) ANNOUNCES ITS COMPLETION OF BUSINESS COMBINATION WITH NYM HOLDING, INC.

 

New York, February 13, 2017 – iFresh, Inc. (NASDAQ: IFMK), formerly known as E-Compass Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: ECAC, ECACU, ECACR), today announced that it consummated its business combination with NYM Holding, Inc. (“NYM”), a fast-growing Asian/Chinese grocery supermarket chain in the north-eastern U.S. providing food and other merchandise hard to find in mainstream grocery stores. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and was approved by a vote of ECAC's shareholders at a special meeting on January 17, 2017. With the closing of the transaction, ECAC reincorporated to Delaware and has been renamed iFresh, Inc. (“iFresh”), and its common shares will trade on NASDAQ under the new symbol “ IFMK ” beginning on February 13, 2017.

 

Long Deng, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NYM Holding, Inc., said “We are excited to introduce NYM as a public company, the first publicly-listed Chinese/Asian supermarket chain in the U.S. Our specialty is to bring the freshest foods from farm to table and to make sure our customers enjoy the freshness as much as we do. I am truly proud of our team’s dedicated job in cultivating and growing NYM to a vertically-integrated supermarket chain in the Chinese and Asian community during the past two decades. NYM’s partnership with E-Compass is a key milestone. Becoming a public company via the business combination revitalizes NYM to the next stage, further fulfilling our dedication in delivering freshness. The additional funds raised through this transaction will be devoted to further accelerate our growth and expand our footprint nationwide, especially in the East Coast. With a wide-recognized brand, a rapidly increasing customer base, and a strategic expansion and integration plan, NYM has many exciting growth opportunities going forward and will create value to our investors.”

 

Richard Xu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of E-Compass Acquisition Corp., said, "NYM has a track record of efficient daily-operation and strategic development. Mr. Long Deng and his team are dedicated in this unique and blooming sector. With their experience and insights, we believe NYM has the potential to revolutionize and upgrade the Chinese/Asian supermarket sector which can generate long-term value to shareholders. NYM is well positioned to capitalize from the growing Chinese/Asian American population, their increasing purchasing capacity, and the integration momentum in its unique market sector. We are thrilled to be part of the next stage in this Company’s life cycle and look forward to helping create value for our shareholders.”

 

B Riley & Co. LLC acted as investment banking advisor to ECAC and assisted NYM in obtaining debt financing from KeyBank National Association (“Key Bank”). Cantor Fitzgerald acted as capital market advisor to ECAC.

 

About NYM Holding, Inc.

 

NYM is a fast growing Asian/Chinese grocery supermarket chain in the north-eastern U.S. providing fresh food and other merchandise that is hard to find in mainstream grocery stores. Since its start in 1995, NYM has been targeting the Chinese and Asian population in the U.S. with its in-depth cultural knowledge of its target customer’s unique consumption habits and high demands in fresh foods. NYM currently has two wholesale facilities and eight retail supermarkets across New York, Massachusetts and Florida, with annual revenue of $131.2 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016.

 

 

 

About E-Compass Acquisition Corp.

 

E-compass Acquisition Corp. was a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated on September 23, 2014 as a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, or entering into contractual arrangements that give us control over such a target business.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This communication includes certain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the federal securities laws.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions.  The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.  Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about the benefits of the transaction described in this communication; the future financial performance of iFresh following the transaction; changes in iFresh’s reserves and future operating results; and expansion plans and opportunities.  These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this communication, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties.  Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing iFresh’s views as of any subsequent date, and iFresh does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.  You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, iFresh’s actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.  Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include iFresh’s ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the transaction, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of iFresh to grow and manage growth profitably following the transaction; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that iFresh may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties indicated in Silver Run's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Company Contacts:

 

Richard Xu

7 Times Square, 37th FL

New York, NY 10036

Tel: 646-912-8918

Email: rxu@ecompass-acquisition.com

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

NYM HOLDING, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

INDEX TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

  Page
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:  
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016 (unaudited) 2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited) 3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015(unaudited)

4

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 5 – 20

 

 

 

NYM HOLDING, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

    December 31,     March 31,  
    2016     2016  
ASSETS            
Current assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 9,029,483     $ 551,782  
Restricted cash     1,030,000       -  
Accounts receivable, net     2,556,173       1,814,533  
Inventories, net     9,522,378       8,200,557  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     615,800       473,608  
Total current assets     22,753,834       11,040,480  
Property and equipment, net     9,337,070       9,770,382  
Intangible assets, net     1,333,334       1,433,333  
Security deposits     766,237       925,477  
Advances and receivables - related parties     11,188,892       5,368,002  
Total assets   $ 45,379,367     $ 28,537,674  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 14,739,991     $ 10,545,342  
Deferred revenue     200,537       145,497  
Borrowings against term loan and lines of credit, current, net     801,671       30,185  
Notes payable, current     276,055       208,059  
Capital lease obligations, current     35,963       48,303  
Accrued expenses     1,748,608       1,026,871  
Taxes payable     1,232,482       1,693,872  
Other payables, current     657,810       654,175  
Total current liabilities     19,693,117       14,352,304  
Borrowings against term loan and lines of credit, non-current, net     13,285,829       3,561,609  
Notes payable, non-current     468,959       424,291  
Capital lease obligations, non-current     14,784       40,468  
Deferred rent     5,333,797       4,930,154  
Other payables, non-current     34,800       37,800  
Deferred income taxes, net     391,783       79,422  
Total liabilities     39,223,069       23,426,048  
Commitments and contingencies                
Shareholders’ equity                
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000 shares authorized, 1,000 shares issued and outstanding     1       1  
Additional paid-in capital     9,446,545       9,446,545  
Accumulated deficit     (3,290,248 )     (4,334,920 )
Total shareholders’ equity     6,156,298       5,111,626  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 45,379,367     $ 28,537,674  

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

2

 

 

NYM HOLDING, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,     December 31,     December 31,  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
Net sales   $ 32,327,248     $ 33,031,640     $ 90,874,879     $ 93,800,416  
Net sales-related parties     2,589,866       1,699,216       6,219,027       4,419,850  
Total net sales     34,917,114       34,730,856       97,093,906       98,220,266  
Cost of sales     25,721,677       25,336,963       71,562,219       72,564,072  
Occupancy costs     1,791,325       1,746,055       5,396,778       5,286,798  
Gross profit     7,404,112       7,647,838       20,134,909       20,369,396  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     6,485,191       5,554,849       18,841,217       15,610,416  
Income from operations     818,921       2,092,989       1,293,692       4,758,980  
Interest expense, net     (62,260 )     (57,576 )     (152,551 )     (166,027 )
Other income     249,834       150,795       758,274       578,897  
Income before income taxes     1,106,495       2,186,208       1,899,415       5,171,850  
Income tax provision     497,929       983,794       854,743       2,327,333  
Net income   $ 608,566     $ 1,202,414     $ 1,044,672     $ 2,844,517  
Net income per share:                                
Basic   $ 609     $ 1,202     $ 1,045     $ 2,845  
Diluted   $ 609     $ 1,202     $ 1,045     $ 2,845  
Weighted average shares outstanding:                                
Basic     1,000       1,000       1,000       1,000  
Diluted     1,000       1,000       1,000       1,000  

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

3

 

 

NYM HOLDING, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  

(UNAUDITED)

 

    Nine Months Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2016     2015  
Cash flows from operating activities            
Net income   $ 1,044,672     $ 2,844,517  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization expense     1,165,643       1,012,263  
Amortization expense of intangible assets     99,999       100,001  
Deferred income taxes     312,360       840,883  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     (741,643 )     (216,526 )
Receivables – related parties     (1,831,033 )     (1,412,837 )
Inventories     (1,321,821 )     12,842  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     (142,192 )     (351,096 )
Security deposits     159,240       (11,911 )
Accounts payable     4,194,650       1,334,656  
Deferred revenue     55,040       54,922  
Accrued expenses     (28,263 )     114,766  
Taxes payable     (461,390 )     1,401,741  
Deferred rent     403,644       414,089  
Other payables     635       (756,467 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     2,909,541       5,381,843  
Cash flows from investing activities                
Advances to related parties     (3,989,857 )     (2,963,532 )
Acquisition of property and equipment     (732,329 )     (918,245 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (4,722,186 )     (3,881,777 )
Cash flows from financing activities                
Payments on amount due to a shareholder     -       (1,124,407 )
Borrowings against term loan     15,000,000       -  
Borrowings against lines of credit     200,000       847,117  
Payments on lines of credit borrowings     (3,791,794 )     (12,119 )
Borrowings on notes payable     288,129       18,516  
Payments on notes payable     (175,465 )     (278,203 )
Payments on capital lease obligations     (38,024 )     (56,050 )
Deferred financing costs     (162,500 )     -  
Change in restricted cash     (1,030,000 )     -  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     10,290,346       (605,146 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents     8,477,701       894,920  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period     551,782       494,738  
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period   $ 9,029,483     $ 1,389,658  
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information                
Cash paid for interest   $ 150,314     $ 155,299  
Cash paid for income taxes   $ 1,316,133     $ 79,764  
                 
Supplemental schedule of noncash financing activities                
Accrual of deferred financing costs   $ 750,000     $ -  

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

4

 

 


NYM HOLDING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Organization and Description of Business

 

NYM Holding, Inc. (“Holding”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on December 30, 2014. Effective December 31, 2014, Holding entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Agreement”) whereby the common stockholders of the eleven entities contributed their stocks to Holding in exchange for all of Holding’s outstanding shares. Upon completion of the share exchanges, these entities became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Holding (hereafter collectively referred to as “New York Mart Group”, or the “Company”).

 

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805-50-25, the transaction consummated through the Agreement has been accounted for as a transaction among entities under common control since the same shareholder owns all these eleven entities prior to the execution of the Agreement. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared to report results of operations for the period in which the transfer occurred as though the transfer of net assets or exchange of equity interests had occurred at the beginning of the period presented, in this case April 1, 2014. Results of operations for that period comprise those of the previously separate entities combined from the beginning of the period to the end of the period. By eliminating the effects of intra-entity transactions in determining the results of operations for the period before the combination, those results will be on substantially the same basis as the results of operations for the period after the date of combination. The effects of intra-entity transactions on current assets, current liabilities, revenue, and cost of sales for periods presented and on retained earnings (accumulated deficit) at the beginning of the periods presented are eliminated to the extent possible. Furthermore, 805-50-45-5 indicates that the financial statements and financial information presented for prior years also shall be retrospectively adjusted to furnish comparative information.

 

The Company is an Asian/Chinese supermarket chain with multiple retail locations and its own distribution operations, all located along the East Coast of the United States, including New York, Massachusetts and Florida. The Company offers seafood, vegetables, meat, fruit, frozen goods, groceries, and bakery products through its retail stores.

 

On July 25, 2016, the Company entered into the Merger Agreement with E-Compass Acquisition Corporation (“E-Compass”), iFresh Inc. (“iFresh”) and iFresh Merger Sub Inc. (“Merger Sub”). iFresh is a whole-owned subsidiary of E-Compass and was formed for the sole purpose of the merger of the E-Compass, in which iFresh will be the surviving corporation (the “Redomestication Merger”). E-Compass will be merged with and into iFresh. Immediately after the Redomestication Merger, Merger Sub would be merged with and into the Company, resulting in the Company being a wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh (the “Merger”). The transaction would constitute a business combination.

 

On February 10, 2017, after the Redomestication, Merger Sub merged with and into NYM, resulting in NYM being a wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh. NYM’s stockholders received an aggregate of: (i) $5 million in cash, plus, (ii) 12,000,000 shares of the iFresh’s common stock (the deemed value of the shares in the Merger Agreement) as consideration. At closing, iFresh executed an option agreement to acquire up to an additional four supermarkets prior to March 31, 2017 for aggregate consideration of $10 million in cash (see Note 6).

 

2. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Holding and its wholly owned subsidiaries in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures, which are normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, have been omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016.

 

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of December 31,2016, its results of operations and its cash flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, as applicable, have been made. The unaudited interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

 

The Company has two reportable and operating segments. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”). The CODM bears ultimate responsibility for, and is actively engaged in, the allocation of resources and the evaluation of the Company’s operating and financial results.

 

5

 

 

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Significant Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. Such estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s critical accounting estimates included, but are not limited to: allowance for estimated uncollectible receivables, inventory valuations, lease assumptions, impairment of long-lived assets, impairment of intangible assets, and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Reclassification

 

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to confirm the current period presentation.

 

Restricted Cash

 

Restricted cash represents cash held by depository banks in order to comply with the provisions of certain debt agreements.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivables consist primarily of uncollected amounts from customer purchases (primarily from the Company’s two distribution operations), credit card receivables, and food stamp vouchers and are presented net of an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts.

 

The Company periodically assesses its accounts receivable for collectability on a specific identification basis. If collectability of an account becomes unlikely, an allowance is recorded for that doubtful account. Once collection efforts have been exhausted, the account receivable is written off against the allowance.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories consist of merchandise purchased for resale, which are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost method is used for wholesale and retail perishable inventories by assigning costs to each of these items based on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis (net of vendor discounts).

 

The Company’s wholesale and retail non-perishable inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market using weighted average method.

 

Operating Leases

 

The Company leases retail stores, warehouse facilities and administrative offices under operating leases. Incentives received from lessors are deferred and recorded as a reduction of rental expense over the lease term using the straight-line method. Store lease agreements generally include rent escalation provisions. The Company recognizes escalations of minimum rents as deferred rent and amortizes these balances on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

 

Capital Lease Obligations

 

The Company has recorded capital lease obligations for equipment leases at both December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016. In each case, the Company was deemed to be the owner under lease accounting guidance. Further, each lease contains provisions indicating continuing involvement with the equipment at the end of the lease period. As a result, in accordance with applicable accounting guidance, related assets subject to the leases are reflected on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and amortized over the lesser of the lease term or their remaining useful lives. The present value of the lease payments associated with the equipment is recorded as capital lease obligations.

 

Deferred financing costs

 

The Company presents deferred financing costs as a reduction of the carrying amount of the debt rather than as an asset. Deferred financing costs are amortized over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method and reported as interest expense in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6

 

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company records its financial assets and liabilities in accordance with the framework for measuring fair value in accordance with U.S GAAP. This framework establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

Level 2: Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

 

Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

 

Fair value measurements of nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities are primarily used in the impairment analysis of intangible assets and long-lived assets.

 

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, advances to related parties, accounts payable, deferred revenue and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. Based on comparable open market transactions, the fair value of the lines of credit and other liabilities, including current maturities, approximated their carrying value as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company’s estimates of the fair value of line of credit and other liabilities (including current maturities) were classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

For retail sales, revenue is recognized at the point of sale. Discounts provided to customers at the time of sale are recognized as a reduction in sales as the discounted products are sold. Sales taxes are not included in revenue. Proceeds from the sale of coupons are recorded as a liability at the time of sale, and recognized as sales when they are redeemed by customers. For wholesales sales, revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, the Company has no other obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are recorded as customer deposits.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an update ("ASU 2014-09") establishing Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”).  ASU 2014-09 establishes a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most of the existing revenue recognition guidance.  ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services and also requires certain additional disclosures.  In August 2015, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2015-14”) to ASC 606, Deferral of the Effective Date, which defers the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2017.  In March 2016, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2016-08”) to ASC 606, Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in the new revenue recognition standard pursuant to ASU 2014-09.  In April 2016, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2016-10”) to ASC 606, Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which clarifies guidance related to identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance contained in ASU 2014-09.  In May 2016, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2016-12”) to ASC 606, Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which amends certain aspects of the new revenue recognition standard pursuant to ASU 2014-09. The Company is permitted to use either the retrospective or the modified retrospective method when adopting these standards. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact of the adoption of these standards on its consolidated financial statements, and have not yet concluded on the method of adoption.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-04, “Liabilities-Extinguishments of Liabilities (Subtopic 405-20): Recognition of breakage for certain prepaid stored-value products.” ASU No. 2016-04 provides a narrow scope exception to the guidance in Subtopic 405-20 to require that stored-value breakage be accounted for consistently with the breakage guidance in Topic 606. The amendments in this update contain specific guidance for derecognition of prepaid stored-value product liabilities, thereby eliminating the current and potential future diversity. This guidance will be effective for the Company for its fiscal year 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company expects that the adoption of this ASU would not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

7

 

 

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-11, “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Rescission of SEC Guidance Because of Accounting Standards Updates 2014-09 and 2014-16 Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 EITF Meeting”, The amendments rescinds SEC paragraphs pursuant to two SEC Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) meeting. Specifically, registrants should not rely on the following SEC Staff Observer comments upon adoption of Topic 606: 1) Revenue and Expense Recognition for Freight Services in Process, which is codified in paragraph 605-20-S99-2; 2) Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs, which is codified in paragraph 605-45-S99-1; 3) Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (including Reseller of the Vendor’s Products), which is codified in paragraph 605-50-S99-1; 4) Accounting for Gas-Balancing Arrangements (i.e., use of the “entitlements method”), which is codified in paragraph 932-10-S99-5, which is effective upon adoption of ASU 2014-09. The Company expects that the adoption of this ASU would not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments" ("ASU 2016-15"), which reduces the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company expects that the adoption of this ASU would not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash". The amendments address diversity in practice that exists in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. The amendment is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted, including an adoption in an interim period. The amendments in this update should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The adoption of this ASU on the statement of cash flows will increase cash and cash equivalents by the amount of the restricted cash on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

No other new accounting pronouncements issued or effective had, or are expected to have, a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

8

 

 

4. Accounts Receivable

 

A summary of accounts receivable, net is as follows:

 

    December 31,     March 31,  
    2016     2016  
Customer purchases   $ 2,181,777     $ 1,748,562  
Credit card receivables     341,964       127,314  
Food stamps     173,392       88,576  
Others     35,580       26,621  
Total accounts receivable     2,732,713       1,991,073  
Allowance for bad debt     (176,540 )     (176,540 )
Accounts receivable, net   $ 2,556,173     $ 1,814,533  

 

5. Inventories

 

A summary of inventories, net is as follows:

 

    December 31,     March 31,  
    2016     2016  
Non-perishables   $ 7,925,087     $ 7,067,538  
Perishables     1,677,702       1,193,725  
Inventories     9,602,789       8,261,263  
Allowance for slow moving or defective inventories     (80,411 )     (60,706 )
Inventories, net   $ 9,522,378     $ 8,200,557  

 

6. Advances and receivables - related parties

 

A summary of advances and receivables - related parties is as follows:

 

    December 31,     March 31,  
Entities   2016     2016  
New York Mart, Inc.   $ 775,014     $ 124,264  
New York Mart N. Miami Inc.     2,878,905       935,669  
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.     796,076       993,294  
NY Mart MD Inc.     3,330,356       2,293,992  
New York Mart CT Inc.     556,725       -  
Advances - related parties   $ 8,337,076     $ 4,347,219  
                 
New York Mart, Inc.     539,866       241,919  
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.     458,958       259,604  
NY Mart MD Inc.     1,646,937       519,260  
New York Mart CT Inc.     206,055       -  
Receivables – related parties     2,851,816       1,020,783  
Total advances and receivables – related parties   $ 11,188,982     $ 5,368,002  

 

Except for advanced funds to and receivables due from New York Mart CT Inc., the Company has advanced funds to related parties and long-term accounts receivable due from the related parties with the intention of converting these advances and receivables into deposits towards the purchase price upon acquisitions of the other four entities, which are directly or indirectly owned by Mr. Long Deng, the majority shareholder and the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The long-term accounts receivable due from the related parties relate to the sales to these related parties (see Note 14). The advances and receivables are interest free, repayable on demand, and guaranteed by Mr. Long Deng. The Company expects to complete acquisitions of these entities, except for New York Mart CT Inc., in 2017.

 

9

 

 

7. Property and Equipment

 

    December 31,     March 31,  
    2016     2016  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment   $ 12,074,104     $ 11,810,274  
Automobiles     2,185,147       1,872,679  
Leasehold improvements     1,809,776       1,653,743  
Software     6,735       6,735  
Total property and equipment     16,075,762       15,343,431  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization     (6,738,692 )     (5,573,049 )
Property and equipment, net   $ 9,337,070     $ 9,770,382  

 

Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $387,135 and $337,108, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $1,165,643 and $1,012,263, respectively.

 

8. Intangible Assets

 

A summary of the activities and balances of intangible assets are as follows:  

 

    Balance at           Balance at  
    March 31,           December 31,  
    2016     Additions     2016  
Gross Intangible Assets                  
Acquired leasehold rights   $ 2,500,000     $ -     $ 2,500,000  
Total intangible assets   $ 2,500,000     $ -     $ 2,500,000  
Accumulated Amortization                        
Total accumulated amortization   $ (1,066,667 )   $ (99,999 )   $ (1,166,666 )
Intangible assets, net   $ 1,433,333     $ (99,999 )   $ 1,333,334  

 

    Balance at           Balance at  
    March 31,           December 31,  
    2015     Additions     2015  
Gross Intangible Assets                  
Acquired leasehold rights   $ 2,500,000     $ -     $ 2,500,000  
Total intangible assets   $ 2,500,000     $ -     $ 2,500,000  
Accumulated Amortization                        
Total accumulated amortization   $ (933,333 )   $ (100,001 )   $ (1,033,334 )
Intangible assets, net   $ 1,566,667     $ (100,001 )   $ 1,466,666  

 

10

 

 

Amortization expense was $99,999 and $100,001 for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively and $33,333 and $33,335 for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Future amortization associated with the net carrying amount of definite-lived intangible assets is as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31      
2017   $ 133,333  
2018     133,333  
2019     133,333  
2020     133,333  
2021     133,333  
Thereafter     666,669  
Total amortization   $ 1,333,334  

 

9. Debt

 

A summary of the Company’s debt is as follows:

 

    December 31,     March 31,  
    2016     2016  
Lines of credit            
Bank of America     -       3,492,695  
Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (“HSBC”)     -       99,099  
Total borrowings against lines of credit     -       3,591,794  
Less: current portion             (30,185 )
Borrowings against lines of credit, non-current   $ -     $ 3,561,609  
                 
Term Loan-KeyBank National Association     15,000,000       -  
Less: Deferred financing cost     (912,500 )     -  
Less: current portion     (801,671 )     -  
Borrowings against lines of credit, non-current   $ 13,285,829     $ -  

 

KeyBank National Association (“KeyBank”) – Senior Secured Credit Facilities

 

On December 23, 2016, Holding, as borrower, entered into a senior secured credit facility agreement with Key Bank National Association (“KeyBank” or “Lender”). The credit agreement provides for (1) a revolving credit of $5,000,000 for making advance and issuance of letter of credit, (2) $15,000,000 of effective date term loan and (3) $5,000,000 of delayed draw term loan. The interest rate is equal to (1) the Lender’s “prime rate” plus 0.95%, or (b) the Adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1.95%. Both the termination date of the revolving credit and the maturity date of the term loans are December 23, 2021. The Company will pay a commitment fee equal to 0.25% of the undrawn amount of the Revolving Credit Facility and 0.25% of the unused Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility. No withdrawal against the credit line has been made as of December 31, 2016

 

As of December 31, 2016, $15,000,000 of the term loan has been funded by the lender. The Company is required to make fifty-nine consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest in the amount of $142,842 starting from February 1, 2017 and a final payment of the then entire unpaid principal balance of the term loan, plus accrued interest on the maturity date. On December 23, 2016, the Company used the proceeds from the loan term to pay off the outstanding balance under the Bank of America credit line agreement and HSBC line of credit discussed below.

 

The Delayed Draw Term Loan shall be advanced on the Delayed Draw Funding date, which is no later than December 23, 2021. No advances under the Delayed Draw Term Loan have been made as of the filing date of this report.

 

The senior secured credit facility is secured by all assets of the Company and is jointly guaranteed by the Company and its subsidiaries and contains financial and restrictive covenants. The financial covenants require Holding to deliver audited consolidated financial statements within one hundred twenty days after the fiscal year end and to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio not less than 1.1 to 1.0 and senior funded debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) ratio less than 3.0 to 1.0 at the last day of each fiscal quarter, beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2017. Except as stated below, the senior secured credit facility is subject to customary events of default. It will be an event of default if Mr. Long Deng resigns, is terminated, or is no longer actively involved in the management of NYM and a replacement reasonably satisfactory to the Lender is not made within sixty (60) days after such event takes place.

 

On February 16, 2017, the Company and the Lender entered into a waiver and first amendment to the credit agreement, pursuant to which the Lender agreed to extend the time for the Company to comply with certain post-closing items contained in the Credit Agreement and waived for 60 days a default by Strong America to the Credit Agreement. The default resulted from a guaranty that Strong America provided to a third party that was previously undisclosed to the Lender. The Company paid the Lender $7,500 in connection with credit agreement and waiver.

 

Maturities of borrowings against the term loan under this credit facility for each of the next five years are as follows:

 

11

 

 

Year Ending December 31,      
       
2017   $ 984,171  
2018     1,119,809  
2019     1,170,086  
2020     1,222,621  
2021     10,503,313  
Total   $ 15,000,000  

 

Simultaneously, the Company entered into an escrow agreement with Carnelian Bay Capital Inc. (“CBC”), a stockholder of E-compass, and Loeb & Loeb LLP, acting as the escrow agent, pursuant to which, the Company agreed to set aside $1,030,000 (the “Escrow Fund”) from the proceeds received from the effective date term loan to pay for certain expenses associated with the Merger. The Escrow Fund will be released upon the joint written instruction of the Company and CBC after the earlier to occur of (1) the closing of the Merger, and (2) February 18, 2017.

 

Bank of America - line of credit

 

On July 2, 2015, the Company’s subsidiary, Strong America Limited, as borrower, entered into a separate credit agreement with Bank of America. The credit agreement provided for a revolving credit of $3,500,000 (“BOA Facility No.1 Commitment”). The line of credit was to mature on July 2, 2017. The interest rate was equal to the LIBOR daily floating rate plus 3.5%. Under the same credit agreement on July 2, 2015, BOA agreed to provide a term loan to the Company in the amount of $160,000 (“BOA Facility No. 2 Commitment”). The term loan was to mature on July 20, 2020. The annual interest rate was 4.4%. Equipment and fixtures, inventory and receivables, with an aggregated carrying value of approximately $6 million as of December 31, 2016, owned by borrower were collateral for this line of credit. BOA Facility No.1 Commitment and BOA Facility No. 2 Commitment were unconditionally guaranteed by related parties of the Company.

 

The BOA Facility No.1 Commitment and BOA Facility No. 2 Commitment contain financial and restrictive covenants. The proceeds of BOA Facility No.1 Commitment were used for business purposes only and proceeds of BOA Facility No. 2 Commitment were used to pay off a loan from Volvo Financial Services to the borrower (See Note 11). The financial covenants require Strong America Limited to maintain a tangible net worth equal to at least $3,500,000 on a quarterly basis, and a basic fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.15:1.

 

In December 2016, the Company paid off the outstanding balance of the line of credit and term loan using the term loan proceeds from KeyBank discussed above.

 

Interest expense related to this credit facility was $112,800 and $108,676 for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Interest expense related to this credit facility was $44,610 and $43,642 for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation - line of credit

 

On July 9, 2004 the Company’s subsidiary, New York Supermarket East Broadway Inc., as borrower, entered into a business line of credit agreement with Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (“HSBC”). The business line of credit agreement provided for a revolving credit of $100,000. The interest rate was floating at the Wall Street Journal Prime rate plus 2%. Obligations under the line of credit with HSBC were personally guaranteed by Mr. Long Deng, the Company’s majority shareholder. The agreement did not specify a maturity date. In December 2016, the Company paid off the outstanding balance of this line of credit using the term loan proceeds from KeyBank discussed above.

 

Interest expense related to this line of credit with HSBC was $4,482 and $4,041 for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and $2,635 and $1,338 for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

12

 

 

10. Notes Payable

 

Notes payables consist of the following:

 

    December 31,     March 31,  
    2016     2016  
Expressway Motors Inc.            
Secured by vehicle, 0%, principal of $490 due monthly through April 9, 2019   $ 13,716     $ 18,124  
Secured by vehicle, 2.99%, principal and interest of $593 due monthly through February 1, 2021     27,812       32,455  
Secured by vehicle, 0%, principal of $515 due monthly through April 24, 2019     11,780       11,780  
Southeast Toyota Finance                
Secured by vehicle, 6.84%, principal and interest of $777 due monthly through July 26, 2016     -       3,817  
Hitachi Capital America Corp.                
Secured by vehicle, 6.95%, principal and interest of $2,109 due monthly through September 18, 2019     63,187       80,076  
Secured by vehicle, 7.35%, principal and interest of $2,219 due monthly through November 7, 2017     23,531       41,641  
Secured by vehicle, 7.10%, principal and interest of $2,094 due monthly through March 28, 2018     29,970       48,526  
Secured by vehicle, 6.99%, principal and interest of $2,170 due monthly through March 10,2019     54,076       -  
Triangle Auto Center, Inc.                
Secured by vehicle, 4.02%, principal and interest of $890 due monthly through January 28, 2021     40,077       47,466  
Colonial Buick GMC                
Secured by vehicle, 8.64%, principal and interest of $736 due monthly through February 1, 2020     24,348       29,191  
Milea Truck Sales of Queens Inc.                
Secured by vehicle, 8.42%, principal and interest of $4,076 due monthly through July 1, 2019     113,188       141,709  
Secured by vehicle, 4.36%, principal and interest of $1,558 due monthly through February 20, 2018     25,634       34,311  
Isuzu Finance of America, Inc.                
Secured by vehicle, 6.99%, principal and interest of $2,200 due monthly through October 1, 2018     45,296       62,222  
Koeppel Nissan, Inc.                
Secured by vehicle, 3.99%, principal and interest of $612 due monthly through January 18, 2021     27,584       32,160  
Secured by vehicle, 0.9%, principal and interest of $739due monthly through March 14, 2020     28,396       34,826  
Secured by vehicle, 7.86%, principal and interest of $758 due monthly through June 1, 2022     40,512       -  
Lee's Autors, Inc.                
Secured by vehicle, 0.9%, principal and interest of $832 due monthly through July 22, 2017     5,806       14,046  
Silver Star Motors                
Secured by vehicle, 4.22%, principal and interest of $916 due monthly through June 1, 2021     45,736       -  
Wells Fargo                
Secured by vehicle, 4.83%, principal and interest of $666 due monthly through June 1, 2021     32,265       -  
BMO                
Secured by vehicle, 5.99%, principal and interest of $1,924 due monthly through July 1, 2020     92,100       -  
                 
Total Notes Payable   $ 745,014     $ 632,350  
Current maturities     (276,055 )     (208,059 )
Long-term debt, net of current maturities   $ 468,959     $ 424,291  

 

All notes payables are secured by the underlying financed automobiles.

 

13

 

 

Maturities of the notes payables for each of the next five years are as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31,      
       
2017   $ 276,055  
2018     212,781  
2019     141,895  
2020     75,664  
2021     38,621  
total   $ 745,016  

 

11. Capital lease obligations

 

The following capital lease obligations are included in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets:

 

    December 31,     March 31,  
    2016     2016  
Capital lease obligations:            
Current   $ 35,963     $ 48,303  
Long-term     14,784       40,468  
Total obligations   $ 50,747     $ 88,771  

 

Interest expense on capital lease obligations for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $1,942 and $4,151, respectively, and $538 and $1,297 for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Future minimum lease payments under the capital leases are as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31,      
       
2017   $ 37,004  
2018     14,348  
2019     552  
Total minimum lease payments     51,904  
Less: Amount representing interest     (1,157 )
Total   $ 50,747  

 

12. Segment Reporting

 

ASC 280, “Segment Reporting”, establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments on a basis consistent with the Company's internal organizational structure as well as information about geographical areas, business segments and major customers in financial statements for details on the Company's business segments. The Company uses the “management approach” in determining reportable operating segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by the Company’s chief operating decision maker for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source for determining the Company’s reportable segments. Management, including the chief operating decision maker, reviews operation results by the revenue of different products or services. Based on management's assessment, the Company has determined that it has two operating segments as defined by ASC 280, consisting of wholesale and retail operations.

 

14

 

 

The primary financial measures used by the Company to evaluate performance of individual operating segments are sales and income before income tax provision.

 

The following table presents summary information by segment for the nine and three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively:

    Nine months ended December 31, 2016  
    Wholesale     Retail     Total  
                   
Net sales   $ 17,430,676     $ 79,663,230     $ 97,093,906  
Cost of sales     13,743,782       57,818,437       71,562,219  
Occupancy costs     -       5,396,778       5,396,778  
Gross profit   $ 3,686,894     $ 16,448,015     $ 20,134,909  
                         
Interest expense, net   $ 145,051     $ 7,500     $ 152,551  
Depreciation and amortization   $ 173,657     $ 1,091,985     $ 1,265,642  
Capital expenditure   $ 327,096     $ 405,233     $ 732,329  
Segment income before income tax provision   $ 306,231     $ 1,593,184     $ 1,899,415  
Income tax provision   $ 29,853     $ 824,890     $ 854,743  
Segment assets   $ 6,764,786     $ 38,614,581     $ 45,379,367  

 

    Nine months ended December 31, 2015  
    Wholesale     Retail     Total  
                   
Net sales   $ 14,838,848     $ 83,381,418     $ 98,220,266  
Cost of sales     11,859,774       60,704,298       72,564,072  
Occupancy costs     -       5,286,798       5,286,798  
Gross profit   $ 2,979,074     $ 17,390,322     $ 20,369,396  
                         
Interest expense, net   $ 149,601     $ 16,426     $ 166,027  
Depreciation and amortization   $ 144,950     $ 967,314     $ 1,112,264  
Capital expenditure   $ 24,582     $ 893,663     $ 918,245  
Segment income before income tax provision   $ 156,671     $ 5,015,179     $ 5,171,850  
Income tax provision   $ 70,502     $ 2,256,831     $ 2,327,333  
Segment assets   $ 7,328,461     $ 22,854,317     $ 30,182,778  

 

15

 

 

    Three months ended December 31, 2016  
    Wholesale     Retail     Total  
                   
Net sales   $ 7,019,624     $ 27,897,490     $ 34,917,114  
Cost of sales     5,893,051       19,828,626       25,721,677  
Occupancy costs     -       1,791,325       1,791,325  
Gross profit   $ 1,126,573     $ 6,277,539     $ 7,404,112  
                         
Interest expense, net   $ 58,495     $ 3,765     $ 62,260  
Depreciation and amortization   $ 62,438     $ 358,030     $ 420,468  
Capital expenditure   $ -     $ 124,796     $ 124,796  
Segment income (loss) before income tax provision   $ (31,878 )   $ 1,138,373     $ 1,106,495  
Income tax provision   $ 17,391     $ 480,538     $ 497,929  
Segment assets   $ 6,764,786     $ 38,614,581     $ 45,379,367  

 

    Three months ended December 31, 2015  
    Wholesale     Retail     Total  
                   
Net sales   $ 5,643,678     $ 29,087,178     $ 34,730,856  
Cost of sales     4,275,057       21,061,906       25,336,963  
Occupancy costs     -       1,746,055       1,746,055  
Gross profit   $ 1,368,621     $ 6,279,217     $ 7,647,838  
                         
Interest expense, net   $ 54,929     $ 2,647     $ 57,576  
Depreciation and amortization   $ 43,258     $ 327,184     $ 370,442  
Capital expenditure   $ 10,793     $ 293,409     $ 304,202  
Segment income before income tax provision   $ 129,506     $ 2,056,702     $ 2,186,208  
Income tax provision   $ 58,278     $ 925,516     $ 983,794  
Segment assets   $ 7,328,461     $ 22,854,317     $ 30,182,778  

 

13. Income Taxes

 

The Company is taxed as a corporation for income tax purposes and as a result of the “Contribution Agreement” entered into in December 31, 2014 the Company has elected to file a consolidated federal income tax return with its eleven subsidiaries. The Company and the shareholders of the eleven entities, as parties to the Contribution Agreement, entered into a tax-free transaction under Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 whereby the eleven entities became wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. As a result of the tax-free transaction and the creation of a consolidated group, the subsidiaries are required to adopt the tax year-end of its parent, Holding. Holding was incorporated on December 30, 2014 and has adopted a tax-year end of March 31.

 

Certain of the subsidiaries have incurred net operating losses (“NOL”) in tax years ending prior to the Contribution Agreement. The net operating losses are subject to the Separate Return Limitation Year (“SRLY”) rules which limit the utilization of the losses to the subsidiaries who generated the losses. The SRLY losses are not available to offset taxable income generated by members of the consolidated group.

 

The Company has a number of open tax years which include the tax years ended March 31, 2014, April 30, 2014, December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 that have not been filed by some of its subsidiaries for years prior to the effective date of the Contribution Agreement. The Company believes that the accruals for the income taxes reflect the most likely outcome for the unfiled tax years. The Company had approximately $44,000 and $30,000 of interest and penalties accrued at December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, respectively.

 

Based upon management’s assessment of all available evidence, the Company believes that it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets, primarily for certain of the subsidiaries SRLY NOL carry-forwards will not be realizable; and therefore, a full valuation allowance is established for SRLY NOL carry-forwards. The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was approximately $904,000 as of December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016.

 

There was no change in valuation allowance for deferred tax assets for each of the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

The Company has approximately $2,231,000 and $2,486,000 of US NOL carry forward of which approximately $2,231,000 and $2,231,000 are SRLY NOL as of December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016, respectively. For income tax purpose, those NOLs will expire in the year 2023 through 2034.

 

16

 

 

Income Tax Provision

 

The provision for income taxes consists of the following components:

 

    Nine months ended  
    December 31,  
    2016     2015  
Current:            
Federal   $ 304,983     $ 840,060  
State     237,394       646,390  
      542,377       1,486,450  
                 
Deferred:                
Federal     277,575       746,164  
State     34,791       94,719  
      312,366       840,883  
                 
Total   $ 854,743     $ 2,327,333  

 

    Three months ended  
    December 31,  
    2016     2015  
Current:            
Federal   $ 177,667     $ 351,031  
State     138,292       273,237  
      315,959       624,268  
                 
Deferred:                
Federal     161,700       319,486  
State     20,270       40,040  
      181,970       359,526  
                 
Total   $ 497,929     $ 983,794  

 

Tax Rate Reconciliation

 

Following is a reconciliation of the Company’s effective income tax rate to the United State federal statutory tax rate:

 

    December 31  
    2016     2015  
Expected tax at U.S. statutory income tax rate     34 %     34 %
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax effect     11 %     11 %
Effective tax rate     45 %     45 %

 

Deferred Taxes

 

The effect of temporary differences included in the deferred tax accounts as follows:

 

    December 31,     March 31,  
    2016     2016  
Deferred Tax Asset/ (Liability):            
Prepaid expenses   $ (18,255 )   $ (5,061 )
Deferred expenses     29,314       47,055  
Sec 263A Inventory Cap     (3,849 )     (3,315 )
Deferred rent     2,397,236       2,215,822  
Intangible assets     7,948       8,747  
Depreciation and amortization     (2,845,336 )     (2,383,829 )
Net operating losses     945,420       945,420  
Valuation allowance     (904,261 )     (904,261 )
Net Deferred Tax (Liability)   $ (391,783 )   $ (79,422 )

 

17

 

 

14. Related-Party Transactions

 

Management Fees, Advertising Fees and Sale of Non-Perishable and Perishable Products to Related Parties

 

The following is a detailed breakdown of significant management fees, advertising fees and sale of products for the nine and three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 to related parties which are directly or indirectly owned by Mr. Long Deng, a majority shareholder, and not eliminated in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. In addition, the outstanding receivables due from these related parties as of December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016 were included in advances and receivables – related parties (see Note 6).

 

Nine months ended December 31, 2016
Related Parties   Management Fees     Advertising Fees     Non-Perishable & Perishable Sales  
New York Mart, Inc.   $ 36,503     $ 20,852     $ 1,419,441  
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.     44,026       23,014       2,629,879  
NY Mart MD Inc.     36,182       -       1,966,086  
Spring Farm Inc.     -       -       6,806  
Spicy Bubbles, Inc.     -       -       77,203  
Pine Court Chinese Bistro     -       -       119,612  
      116,711     $ 43,866     $ 6,219,027  

 

18

 

 

Nine months ended December 31, 2015
Related Parties   Management Fees     Advertising Fees     Non-Perishable & Perishable Sales  
New York Mart, Inc.   $ 32,506     $ 18,613     $ 1,134,438  
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.     41,965       21,721       2,449,117  
NY Mart MD Inc.     10,123       -       648,259  
Spring Farm Inc.     -       -       2,721  
Spicy Bubbles, Inc.     -       -       77,071  
Pine Court Chinese Bistro     -       -       108,244  
    $ 84,594     $ 40,334     $ 4,419,850  

 

Three months ended December 31, 2016
Related Parties   Management Fees     Advertising Fees     Non-Perishable & Perishable Sales  
New York Mart, Inc.   $ 12,356     $ 12,206     $ 592,939  
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.     14,824       12,687       1,007,051  
NY Mart MD Inc.     12,467       -       928,667  
Spring Farm Inc.     -       -       1,392  
Spicy Bubbles, Inc.     -       -       25,383  
Pine Court Chinese Bistro     -       -       34,434  
    $ 39,647     $ 24,893     $ 2,589,866  

 

Three months ended December 31, 2015
Related Parties   Management Fees     Advertising Fees     Non-Perishable & Perishable Sales  
New York Mart, Inc.   $ 10,561     $ 5,513     $ 403,806  
Pacific Supermarkets Inc.     13,308       6,293       821,228  
NY Mart MD Inc.     10,123       -       418,028  
Spring Farm Inc.     -       -       235  
Spicy Bubbles, Inc.     -       -       24,900  
Pine Court Chinese Bistro     -       -       31,019  
    $ 33,992     $ 11,806     $ 1,699,216  

 

Long-Term Operating Lease Agreement with a Related Party

 

The Company leases a warehouse from a related party that is owned by Mr. Long Deng, the majority shareholder of the Company, and will expire on April 30, 2026. Rent incurred to the related party was $521,000 and $441,000 for the nine months ended on December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $177,000 and 147,000 for the three months ended on December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

15. Operating Lease Commitments

 

The Company’s leases include stores, office and warehouse buildings. These leases had an average remaining lease term of approximately 10.3 years as of December 31, 2016.

 

19

 

 

Rent expense charged to operations under operating leases in the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 totaled $4,662,132 and $4,896,663, respectively. Rent expense charged to operations under operating leases in the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 totaled $1,543,223 and $1,776,792, respectively.

 

Future minimum lease obligations for operating leases with initial terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2016 are as follows:

 

    Non-related
parties
    Related
party
    Total  
2017   $ 5,364,013     $ 708,000     $ 6,072,013  
2018     5,447,025       708,000       6,155,025  
2019     5,587,625       708,000       6,295,625  
2020     6,969,058       708,000       7,677,058  
2021     5,420,128       708,000       6,128,128  
Thereafter     53,193,530       3,068,000       56,261,530  
Total payments   $ 81,981,379     $ 6,608,000     $ 88,589,379  

 

16. Contingent Liability

 

The Company is exposed to claims and litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business and uses various methods to resolve these matters in a manner that we believe best serves the interests of its stakeholders. These matters have not resulted in any material losses to date.

 

Ming's Supermarket, Inc. ("Ming"), the subsidiary of the Company, is a tenant at a building located at 140-148 East Berkeley Street, Boston, MA (the "Property"), pursuant to a lease dated September 24, 1999 (the "Lease"). The Lease had a 10-year initial term, followed by an option for two additional 10 year terms. Ming has exercised that first option and the Lease has approximately 15 years remaining to run if the second option is also exercised. The Lease also gives Ming a right of first refusal on any sale of the building.

 

On February 22, 2015, a sprinkler pipe burst in the Property. This caused the Inspectional Services Department of the City of Boston ("ISD") to inspect the Property. The ISD found a number of problems which have prevented further use of the Property. The ISD notified both landlord and tenant that the Property was only permitted for use as an elevator garage and that its use as a warehouse was never permitted and that a conditional use permit must be obtained from the City of Boston to make such use lawful. Moreover, the Property was found to have major structural issues requiring repair, as well as issues with the elevator and outside glass. The result of the ISD's findings are that Ming was ordered not to use the Property for any purpose unless and until the structural and other repairs are completed and its use as a warehouse is permitted by the Boston Zoning Board.

 

While the Lease provides that the elevator (approximate cost $400,000) and glass repairs (approximate cost $30,000) are the responsibility of the tenant, the structural repairs (approximate cost $500,000) are the landlord's responsibility under the Lease, unless the structural damage was caused by the tenant's misuse of the Property. In this regard Ming has retained an expert who will testify the structural damage to the building was caused by long term water infiltration and is not the result of anything Ming did. Ming initially sought for the landlord to perform the structural repairs and agreed that upon completion of those repairs, Ming would repair the elevator and the broken glass. In addition, Ming asked the landlord to cooperate in permitting use of the Property as a warehouse.

 

The landlord refused to either perform structural repairs or to cooperate on the permitting. As a result, as of April 2015, Ming stopped paying the landlord rent, since it was barred from using the Property by order of the ISD. The landlord then sued Ming for breach of the Lease and unpaid rent and Ming counterclaimed for constructive eviction and for damages resulting from the landlord's breach of its duty to perform structural repairs under the Lease.

 

Given the complicated fact pattern and myriad of claims and counterclaims, a reasonable and probable estimate as to the potential exposure, if any, cannot be made at this time. Ming is vigorously contesting any liability on its part for unpaid rent and believes it will recover affirmative damages against the landlord due to Ming's constructive eviction from the Property. The unpaid rent is approximately $469,000 as of December 31, 2016.

 

While discovery is ongoing and no guaranties or predications can be made at this time as to ultimate outcome, the Company believes that the facts and the law are favorable for Ming's as to both its continuing liability for rent and its affirmative claim to recover damages.

 

The Company evaluates contingencies on an ongoing basis and has established loss provisions for matters in which losses are probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated, and is not currently a party to any legal proceeding that management believes could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or balance sheet. Insurance and legal settlement liabilities are included in the “Other current liabilities” line item on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company believes the recorded accruals in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are adequate in light of the probable and estimable liabilities.

 

17. Subsequent Event

 

For purpose of preparing these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company considered events through February 16, 2017, which is the date the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were available for issuance. Except the closing of merger with iFresh as disclosed in Note 1 and waiver and first amendment to the credit agreement as disclosed in Note 9, there were no material subsequent events that required recognition or additional disclosure in these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

20

 

 

Exhibit 99.3

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

On July 25, 2016, E-compass Acquisition Corp. entered into a merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) with iFresh Inc. (“iFresh”), a Delaware corporation, iFresh Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh, or “Merger Sub,” NYM Holding, Inc. (“NYM”), the stockholders of NYM, and Long Deng, as representative of the stockholders of NYM. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, E-Compass merged with and into iFresh in order to redomesticate the Company into Delaware (the “Redomestication”). On February 10, 2017, after the Redomestication, Merger Sub merged with and into NYM, resulting in NYM being a wholly owned subsidiary of iFresh. The transaction constituted a Business Combination. The Company closed the business combination by paying NYM’s stockholders an aggregate of: (i) $5 million in cash, plus, (ii) 12,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the deemed value of the shares in the Merger Agreement). In connection with the closing, holders of 1,937,967 of the Company’s ordinary shares elected to redeem their shares and the Company paid $20,154,857 in connection with such redemption.

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 combines the unaudited historical balance sheet of E-compass as of December 31, 2016 with the unaudited historical consolidated balance sheet of NYM as of December 31, 2016, giving effect to the transactions as if they had been consummated as of that date.

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 combines the unaudited historical statement of operations of iFresh for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 with the unaudited historical consolidated statement of operations of NYM for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, giving effect to the transactions as if they had been consummated as of April 1, 2015.

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement for the year ended March 31, 2016 combines the audited historical statement of operations of E-compass for the year ended March 31, 2016 with the audited historical consolidated statement of operations of NYM for the year ended March 31, 2016, giving effect to the transactions as if they had been consummated as of April 1, 2015.

 

The historical financial information has been adjusted to give effect to pro forma events that are related and/or directly attributable to the transactions, are factually supportable and are expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results. The adjustments presented on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been identified and presented to provide relevant information necessary for an accurate understanding of the combined company upon consummation of the transactions.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is for illustrative purposes only. The financial results may have been different had the companies always been combined. You should not rely on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as being indicative of the historical results that would have been achieved had the companies always been combined or the future results that the combined company will experience. E-compass and NYM have not had any historical relationship prior to the transactions. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.

 

The transactions will be accounted for as a “reverse merger” and recapitalization at the date of the consummation of the transaction since the shareholders of NYM will own 89.3% of the outstanding ordinary shares of iFresh immediately following the completion of the transactions and NYM’s operations will be the operations of iFresh following the transactions. Accordingly, NYM will be deemed to be the accounting acquirer in the transaction and, consequently, the transaction is treated as a recapitalization of NYM. As a result, the assets and liabilities and the historical operations that will be reflected in the iFresh financial statements after consummation of the transactions will be those of NYM and will be recorded at the historical cost basis of NYM.

 

 

iFresh Inc.
(formerly E-compass Acquisition Corp.)
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2016
(Unaudited) 

 

    iFresh Inc.     NYM Holding, Inc.     Adjustments for     Pro Forma Unaudited,  
    Historical     Historical     Merger     Combined  
ASSET                        
Current assets:                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 51,052     $ 9,029,483     $ 40,802,659 (a)   $ 8,858,337  
                      (20,154,857 )(b)        
                      (5,000,000 )(e)        
                      (550,000 )(g)        
                      (600,000 )(h)        
                      (15,000,000 )(i)        
                      1,030,000 (j)        
                      (750,000 )(m)        
Restricted cash             1,030,000       (1,030,000 )(j)     -  
Accounts receivable, net     -       2,556,173       -       2,556,173  
Inventories, net     -       9,522,378       -       9,522,378  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     50,250       615,800       -       666,050  
Cash and investments held in trust account     40,802,659       -       (40,802,659 )(a)     -  
Total current assets     40,903,961       22,753,834       (42,054,857 )     21,602,938  
Property and equipment, net     -       9,337,070       -       9,337,070  
Intangible assets, net     -       1,333,334       -       1,333,334  
Security deposits     -       766,237       -       766,237  
Advances and receivables – related parties     -       11,188,892       -       11,188,892  
Total assets   $ 40,903,961     $ 45,379,367     $ (42,054,857 )   $ 44,228,471  
                                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY                                
Current liabilities:                                
Accounts payable   $ -     $ 14,739,991     $ -     $ 14,739,991  
Deferred Revenue     -       200,537       -       200,537  
Borrowings against term loan and lines of credit, current, net     -       801,671       -       801,671  
Notes payable, current     -       276,055       -       276,055  
Capital Lease obligations, current     -       35,963       -       35,963  
Accrued expenses     22,490       1,748,608       (750,000 )(m)     1,021,098  
Tax payable     -       1,232,482       -       1,232,482  
Other payables, current     -       657,810       -       657,810  
Deferred underwriting compensation     600,000       -       (600,000 )(g)     -  
Total current liabilities     622,490       19,693,117       (1,350,000 )     18,965,607  
Borrowing against term loan and lines of credit, non-current, net     -       13,285,829       -       13,285,829  
Note payable, non-current     -       468,959       -       468,959  
Capital Lease obligations, non-current     -       14,784       -       14,784  
Deferred rent     -       5,333,797       -       5,333,797  
Other payables, non-current     -       34,800       -       34,800  
Deferred income taxes     -       391,783       -       391,783  
Total liabilities     622,490       39,223,069       (1,350,000 )     38,495,559  
                                 
Commitments and contingencies                                
Convertible redeemable common stock     30,800,000       -       (30,800,000 )(b)     -  
                                 
Stockholder's equity                                
Preferred Stock     -       -       -       -  
Common stock     231       -       1,200 (d)     1,430  
                      43 (f)        
                      (150 )(i)        
                      106 (b)        
Additional paid-in capital     12,277,007       9,446,546       10,645,037 (b)     9,021,730  
                      (2,795,767 )(c)        
                      (1,200 )(d)        
                      (5,000,000 )(e)        
                      (43 )(f)        
                      50,000 (g)        
                      (600,000 )(h)        
                      (14,999,850 )(i)        
Accumulated deficits     (2,795,767 )     (3,290,248 )     2,795,767 (c)     (3,290,248 )
Total stockholders' equity     9,481,471       6,156,298       (9,904,857 )     5,732,912  
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity   $ 40,903,961     $ 45,379,367     $ (42,054,857 )   $ 44,228,471  
                                 
Shares Outstanding as of December 31, 2016     5,310,000                       14,303,033  
Book Value Per Share or Pro Forma Book Value Per Share as of December 31, 2016   $ 1.79                     $ 0.40  

 

See notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements

 

 

iFresh Inc.
(formerly E-compass Acquisition Corp.)
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statement
For the Nine Months ended December 31, 2016
(Unaudited)

   

iFresh Inc.

    NYM Holding, Inc.     Adjustments for     Pro Forma Unaudited,  
    Historical     Historical     Merger     Combined  
                         
                         
Net sales-third parties   $ -     $ 90,874,879     $ -     $ 90,874,879  
Net sales-related parties     -       6,219,027       -       6,219,027  
Total Sales     -       97,093,906       -       97,093,906  
Cost of sales     -       71,562,219       -       71,562,219  
Occupancy costs     -       5,396,778       -       5,396,778  
Gross Profit     -       20,134,909       -       20,134,909  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     466,410       18,841,217       375,000 (k)     19,682,627  
Income from operations     (466,410 )     1,293,692       (375,000 )     452,282  
Interest expense     -       (152,551 )     -       (152,551 )
Other income     109,555       758,274       -       867,829  
Income before income tax provision     (356,855 )     1,899,415       (375,000 )     1,167,560  
Income tax provision     -       (854,743 )     168,750 (l)     (685,993 )
Net income   $ (356,855 )   $ 1,044,672     $ (206,250 )   $ 481,567  
Net income attributable to common stockholders   $ (356,855 )   $ 1,044,672     $ (206,250 )   $ 481,567  
                                 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding — Basic and Diluted     5,310,000                       14,303,033  
(Loss) Income or Pro Forma Earnings Per Share – Basic and Diluted   $ (0.07 )                   $ 0.03  

 

See notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements

 

 

 

  iFresh Inc.
(formerly E-compass Acquisition Corp.)
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statement
For the Year ended March 31, 2016
(Unaudited)

   

iFresh Inc.

    NYM Holding, Inc.     Adjustments     Pro Forma  
    Historical     Historical     for     Unaudited,  
    Audited     Audited     Merger     Combined  
                         
Net sales-third parties   $ -     $ 125,021,947     $ -     $ 125,021,947  
Net sales-related parties     -       6,203,277       -       6,203,277  
Total Sales     -       131,225,224       -       131,225,224  
Cost of sales     -       97,259,250       -       97,259,250  
Occupancy costs     -       7,367,155       -       7,367,155  
Gross Profit     -       26,598,819       -       26,598,819  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     2,485,008       20,718,062       500,000 (k)     23,703,070  
Income from operations     (2,485,008 )     5,880,757       (500,000 )     2,895,749  
Interest expense     -       (215,494 )     -       (215,494 )
Other income     51,104       992,620       -       1,043,724  
Income before income tax provision     (2,433,904 )     6,657,883       (500,000 )     3,723,979  
Income tax provision     -       (3,016,874 )     225,000 (l)     (2,791,874 )
Net income   $ (2,433,904 )   $ 3,641,009     $ (275,000 )   $ 932,105  
Net income attributable to common stockholders   $ (2,433,904 )   $ 3,641,009     $ (275,000 )   $ 932,105  
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding — Basic and Diluted     3,673,142                       14,303,033  
(Loss) Income or Pro Forma Earnings Per Share – Basic and Diluted   $ (0.66 )                   $ 0.07  

See notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements

 

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA
CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet Adjustments

(a) Release of $40,802,659 of the proceeds held in the trust account to pay for the acquisition or the share conversion into cash.

  (b) Redemption of 1,937,967 shares for cash of $20,154,857.

(c) Reclassification of E-compass’ accumulated deficit to additional paid-in capital.
(d) Issuance of the stock consideration of 12,000,000 shares.
(e) Payment of cash consideration of $5,000,000.
(f) Conversion of outstanding 4,310,100 rights to 431,000 shares.

  (g) Payment of deferred underwriting fees of $550,000 upon agreement with underwriter before closing.
(h) The effects of $0.6 million of incremental transaction costs associated with the merger.
(i) The repurchase of 1,500,000 shares at a price of $10.00 immediately after business combination.
(j) Release of $1,030,000 of NYM’s restricted cash to transaction costs associated with the merger.
(k) The effects of incremental of salaries paid to new directors and management.
(l) The tax impact of incremental expenses.
(m) Payment of commission fess of $750,000 for debt financing raised by NYM on December 23, 2016.
(n) Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation is set forth as below:

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA

 

    iFresh Inc.     NYM Holding, Inc.     Pro Forma Unaudited,  
    Historical     Historical     Combined  
Nine Months ended December 31, 2016                  
Net income   $ (356,855 )   $ 1,044,672     $ 481,567  
Interests expenses     -       152,551       152,551  
Income tax provision     -       854,743       685,993  
Depreciation and amortization     -       1,165,643       1,165,643  
Amortization of intangible assets     -       99,999       99,999  
Merger expenses     -       634,000       634,000  
Adjusted EBITDA   $ (356,855 )   $ 3,951,608     $ 3,219,753  
                         
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding — Basic and Diluted     5,310,000               14,303,033  
Adjusted EBITDA or Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA Per Share – Basic and Diluted   $ (0.07 )           $ 0.23  
                         
Year ended March 31, 2016                        
Net income   $ (2,433,904 )   $ 3,641,009     $ 932,105  
Interests expenses     -       215,494       215,494  
Income tax provision     -       3,016,874       2,791,874  
Depreciation and amortization     -       1,397,031       1,397,031  
Amortization of intangible assets     -       133,334       133,334  
Merger expenses     2,277,777       -       2,277,777  
Adjusted EBITDA   $ (156,127 )   $ 8,403,742     $ 7,747,615  
                         
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding — Basic and Diluted     3,673,142               14,303,033  
Adjusted EBITDA or Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA Per Share – Basic and Diluted   $ (0.04 )           $ 0.54  

 

iFresh’s management defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, store opening costs, and non-recurring expenses. All of the omitted items are either (i) non-cash items or (ii) items that NYM does not consider in assessing its on-going operating performance. Because it omits non-cash items, NYM’s management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is less susceptible to variances in actual performance resulting from depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges and more reflective of other factors that affect its operating performance. NYM’s management believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the company’s financial measures with other specialty retailers, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.