SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 1999
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ______________ to _______________.
Commission File No. 0-22049
S.W. LAM, INC.
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(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada 62-1563911
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
of incorporation or organization)
Unit 25-32, Second Floor, Block B, Focal Industrial Centre,
21 Man Lok Street, Hunghom, Hong Kong
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(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (852) 2766 3688
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
------------------- -----------------------------------------
None None
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.001 par value
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past ninety (90) days. Yes X No
--- ---
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]
As of July 1, 1999, 12,800,000 shares of common stock of the Registrant
were outstanding. As of such date, the aggregate market value of the voting and
non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates, based on the closing price, was
approximately $3,450,000.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.....................................................1
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES..................................................13
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS...........................................14
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.........14
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.............................14
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.....................................15
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS...............16
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK...........................................23
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.................23
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE......................23
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS,
AND CONTROL PERSONS OF THE REGISTRANT.......................24
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION......................................25
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.......................................28
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.............29
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND
REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.........................................30
SIGNATURES..................................................31
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PART I
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The Company's actual results could differ materially from
those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Certain factors that might
cause such a difference are discussed in the section entitled "Factors that May
Affect Future Results" beginning on page 20 of this Form 10-K.
The Company operates through its various subsidiaries, all of which are
located outside of the United States. Unless otherwise indicated or the context
otherwise requires, the term Company refers collectively to S.W. Lam, Inc. and
its subsidiaries. All references to China or the PRC are to the Peoples'
Republic of China.
The Company's functional currency is Hong Kong Dollars ("HK$"). For the
convenience of readers, unless otherwise indicated, all financial information
contained herein is presented in United States Dollars ("US$"). Translation of
amounts from HK$ into US$ has been made at the noon buying rate in New York City
for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on March 31, 1999 of US$1.00 = HK$7.75. No
representation is made that the HK$ amounts could have been, or could be,
converted into US$ at that rate or at any other rate.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
S.W. Lam, Inc. (the "Company"), a Nevada corporation, through its
subsidiaries, is engaged in the design, manufacturing and marketing of a broad
range of gold products, other precious metal products and jewelry products to
customers in Hong Kong, the People's Republic of China (the "PRC" or "China")
and other parts of the world. The Company's operations are located in Hong Kong
and the PRC.
History and Development of the Company
The Company's business began with the formation in the 1980's of an
unincorporated sole proprietorship by Lam Sai Wing ("Mr. Lam") to manufacture
and market jewelry. Subsequently, in 1988, Hang Fung Jewellery Company, a sole
proprietorship formed by Mr. Lam, established a modern manufacturing facility in
Shenzhen, the PRC (the "Shenzhen Facility"). In 1994, Hang Fung Jewellery
Company Limited, a limited company formed by Mr. Lam, entered into a
sino-foreign joint venture to manufacture and market jewelry at facilities in
Beijing, the PRC (the "Beijing Facility").
In April 1994, Mr. Lam incorporated Macadam Profits Limited ("Macadam"),
Priestgill Limited ("Priestgill") and Soycue Limited ("Soycue") in the British
Virgin Islands. Whilst Soycue engaged in the jewelry manufacturing and
distribution business, Macadam and Priestgill remained inactive since the date
of their incorporation. In November 1994, Mr. Lam incorporated Hang Fung
Jewellery Company Limited ("Hang Fung Jewellery") in Hong Kong and transferred
operations of the Shenzhen Facility to Hang Fung Jewellery. Certain other
operations previously conducted by Mr. Lam were also transferred to Hang Fung
Jewellery in September 1995. Effective April 1996, Mr. Lam transferred
operations of Soycue to Hang Fung Jewellery and ceased operations of Soycue,
which has since remained dormant. In December 1996, Mr. Lam and his wife, Chan
Yam Fai, Jane ("Ms. Chan") transferred ownership of Hang Fung Jewellery,
Macadam, Priestgill, Soycue and Kai Hang Jewellery Company Limited ("Kai Hang
Jewellery"), a Hong Kong corporation engaged in jewelry marketing owned by Mr.
Lam and Ms. Chan, to Quality Prince Limited ("Quality Prince"), a holding
company organized in the British Virgin Islands and also owned by Mr. Lam and
Ms. Chan. (Hang Fung Jewellery, Kai Hang Jewellery, Macadam, Priestgill, Quality
Prince and Soycue are collectively referred to herein as the "Hang Fung Group").
1
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In December of 1996, Quality Prince completed a "reverse acquisition" with
S.W. Lam, Inc. pursuant to which the companies comprising the Hang Fung Group,
representing all of the jewelry manufacturing and marketing operations
controlled by Mr. Lam and Ms. Chan, became wholly owned subsidiaries of the
Company. S.W. Lam, Inc. was originally incorporated in the State of Tennessee
under the name New Wine, Inc. ("New Wine"). New Wine was formed in April of 1994
to develop, finance and produce record albums, cassette tapes and compact discs
and videotape and television productions for domestic distribution and foreign
licensing; to operate a music publishing firm; and, to engage generally in the
business of providing personal business management services for professional
entertainers. New Wine completed an offering of common stock in September of
1995 selling 225,000 shares for $45,000 pursuant to Rule 504 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The operations of New Wine
proved unsuccessful and were discontinued and New Wine began efforts to acquire
or combine with an operating business. Pursuant to discussions with the
shareholders of Quality Prince, New Wine reincorporated in the state of Nevada
and changed its name to S.W. Lam, Inc. in October of 1996. In December of 1996,
New Wine entered into an agreement with the shareholders of Quality Prince
pursuant to which New Wine agreed to issue 10,500,000 shares of common stock and
100,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in exchange for 100% of the issued
and outstanding shares of Quality Prince (the "Exchange"). Following the
Exchange, management of the Hang Fung Group assumed control of management of the
Company and the Company, through its subsidiaries, the Hang Fung Group,
continued the operations of the Hang Fung Group. In December of 1997, Quality
Prince incorporated Hang Fung Gold Technology Limited ("Hang Fung Gold") in
Bermuda. Hang Fung Gold remained inactive until February 1999.
In May of 1997, Quality Prince entered into an agreement with Phenomenal
Limited ("Phenomenal"), an unaffiliated third party, pursuant to which
Phenomenal loaned to Quality Prince $10,000,000 and Quality Prince issued to
Phenomenal a convertible promissory note (the "Note"). The Note bore interest at
3% per month, and was repayable in a lump sum payment on March 20, 1998. As one
of the conditions for the lending, the Company issued a non-detachable warrant
(the "Warrant") to Phenomenal to subscribe for 5,263,158 shares of common stock
of the Company at an exercise price of $2.19 per share. The Note was secured by
personal guarantees provided by Mr. Lam and Ms. Chan and the 53.9% equity
interest in the Company owned by Mr. Lam and Ms. Chan. In accordance with the
term of the agreement, the Warrant expired in May 1998.
On June 4, 1998, Phenomenal agreed to extend the maturity date of the Note
from March 20, 1998 to June 4, 1998, and waive its entitlement to interest
accrued under the Note during the period from May 20, 1997 (date of issue of the
Note) to June 4, 1998. Also, the Company and Phenomenal agreed to restructure
and capitalize the Note into redeemable preferred stock of Hang Fung Jewellery.
As a result, on June 30, 1998, Hang Fung Jewellery issued 5,263,788 shares of
redeemable preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock") at approximately $1.90 per
share to Phenomenal in replacement of the Note. Under the revised agreement,
Phenomenal was required to redeem the Preferred Stock and to subscribe for
common stock of Hang Fung Gold upon satisfaction of certain conditions.
Alternatively, Phenomenal had an option to require Hang Fung Jewellery to redeem
the Preferred Stock at a redemption amount as determined in accordance with a
pre-determined formula, or require Mr. Lam and Ms. Chan to purchase the
Preferred Stock held by Phenomenal in case Hang Fung Jewellery defaulted in
redeeming the Preferred Stock.
Pursuant to the revised agreement with Phenomenal, in February of 1999, the
Hang Fung Group effected a corporate reorganization (the "Group Reorganization")
with Hang Fung Gold becoming a holding company, excluding Quality Prince, for
the Hang Fung Group and Phenomenal's investment being converted into common
stock in Hang Fung Gold. Immediately prior to the conversion, dividends on the
Preferred Stock in the amount of $1,849,000 were paid. The dividend paid on the
Preferred Stock was included, in whole, in the minority interest in the
Company's consolidated statement of operations for fiscal 1999. Immediately
following the restructuring of the Hang Fung Group, Hang Fung Gold completed an
offering of shares in Hong Kong raising approximately HK$59,000,000 (the "Hong
Kong Offering") and the shares of Hang Fung Gold were listed on the Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Exchange"). Trading of shares of
Hang Fung Gold on the Hong Kong Exchange commenced on March 16, 1999.
Following the Group Reorganization and Hong Kong Offering, the Company
holds, through Quality Prince, 53.145% of the issued capital stock of Hang Fung
Gold, whereas Phenomenal holds 21.855% of the issued capital stock and the
investing public holds the remaining 25% of the issued capital stock of Hang
Fung Gold.
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Company Structure
The following chart sets forth the organization of the Company and its
principal subsidiaries as of March 31, 1999:
S.W. Lam, Inc.
(incorporated in Nevada, US)
100%
Quality Prince Limited
(incorporated in the British Virgin Islands)
53.145%
Hang Fung Gold Technology Limited
(incorporated in Bermuda)
100%
Macadam Profits Limited
(incorporated in the British Virgin Islands)
(Investment holding)
100% 100%
Hang Fung Jewellery Company Limited Kai Hang Jewellery Company Limited
(incorporated in Hong Kong) (incorporated in Hong Kong)
(Manufacturing and selling (Property holding)
of jewelry products)
100%
Hang Fung Jewllery (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
(established in the PRC)
(Manufacturing of
jewelry products)
3
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Overview
The Company is principally engaged in the design, manufacture and
distribution of a broad range of gold products, other precious metal products
and jewelry products. The Company also receives a contract processing fee based
on the utilization of equipment and technology provided by the Company to
entities in the PRC under processing agreements for processing activities other
than for the benefit of the Company.
Manufacturing operations are carried on in Hong Kong and the PRC. In order
to comply with the PRC regulations relating to the purchasing, manufacturing and
distribution of gold in the PRC, the manufacture of the Company's gold products
in the PRC is conducted at production facilities made available to the Company
under processing agreements entered into with PRC parties who possess the
relevant permits to carry on those activities.
The Company presently markets its products throughout the world including
Hong Kong, the PRC, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United
States. The Company has increased its sales in recent years as a result of
increased marketing.
Products
The Company's products consist of a broad array of gold and silver jewelry
products, gold and silver decorative items, semi-precious stone jewelry and
other decorative products. The Company's products include, but are not limited
to, bracelets, chains, charms, rings, earrings, ornamental plaques, serving sets
and decorative pieces.
The Company classifies its products in the following four distinct
segments:
Gold Products
The principal product line of the Company consists of fine gold jewelry and
decorative ornaments which are manufactured using mainly fine gold and karat
gold. In order to cater to customer demands, gold products manufactured and sold
by the Company cover a wide range of weight, ranging from approximately 0.5
grammes to 3,000 grammes (3 kg) and are priced at a range of approximately HK$50
to HK$300,000 per piece of which the prices for the most popular items range
from approximately HK$50 to HK$3,000 per piece.
Fine gold jewelry items include bracelets, anklets, bangles, necklaces,
brooches, pendants, rings and earrings that are made of fine gold and karat
gold. The fine gold jewelry items manufactured and sold by the Company include
contemporary and innovative designs that are worn as fashion accessories as well
as traditional oriental designs that are commonly presented as wedding and
birthday gifts in the Asian community.
Gold ornaments, including statuettes, memento cards, key chains and other
decorative items, are mainly made of fine gold. Gold ornaments may take various
different forms and shapes such as cartoon characters, animals, signs of the
zodiac as well as religious figures and symbols. The Company also manufactures
customized gold memento cards and key chains for corporations as souvenirs in
their business promotions.
Other Precious Metal Products
Other precious metal products manufactured by the Company include jewelry
and decorative ornaments that are made of precious metals such as silver and
platinum. Depending on the weight and design of such products, these products
are sold in a price range of approximately HK$8 to HK$500,000 per piece of which
the prices for the most popular items range from approximately HK$100 to HK$500
per piece.
Jewelry Products
Jewelry products manufactured by the Company are made up of mainly precious
stones and gems. Depending on the quality and weight of stones and gems jewelry
and design of such products, these products are sold in a price range of
approximately HK$200 to HK$200,000 per piece of which the prices for the most
popular items range from approximately HK$2,000 to HK$8,000 per piece.
4
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Others
"Others" include mainly medals, coins and other miscellaneous items.
Depending on the weight, design and material used in such products, these
products are sold in a price range of approximately HK$50 to HK$4,000 per piece
of which the prices for the most popular items range from approximately HK$50 to
HK$300 per piece.
In US dollars, the Company's products range in wholesale price from
approximately $1 to over $65,000. The mean selling price of the Company's
products is between $200 and $280. The following table illustrates, in US
dollars, the typical range and average wholesale price of the Company's products
by segment:
Wholesale Average
Price Range Wholesale Price
----------- ---------------
Fine gold products................ $10 to $38,000 $200
Other precious metal products..... $1 to $65,000 $40
Jewelry products.................. $25 to $26,000 $650
Others............................ $6 to $100 $20
For the two years ended March 31, 1999, sales by major product category and
as a percentage of sales (excluding subcontracting fees) were as follows:
1998 1999
------------------- -------------------
Amount Amount
$'000 Percent $'000 Percent
------ ------- ------- -------
Fine gold products................... 40,457 69.8 49,927 58.8
Other precious metal products........ 8,593 14.8 21,625 25.4
Jewelry products..................... 7,613 13.1 13,272 15.6
Others............................... 1,331 2.3 181 0.2
-------- ------ ------- ------
57,994 100.0 85,005 100.0
======== ====== ======= ======
Product Design and Development
The Company currently maintains a team of approximately 10 qualified and
experienced staff in its in-house product design and development division in its
Hong Kong office. The Company has been a pioneer in the introduction of
innovative product designs as well as in the development of new production
technology in the gold product industry. The product design and development
division continuously monitors market trends and consumer preferences and
participates in jewelry fairs, exhibitions and competitions to stimulate new
ideas. Employees are also encouraged to attend relevant courses and workshops
paid for the Company to strengthen their knowledge of production technology for
gold products. The product design and development division currently creates
over 2,000 new product designs on an annual basis.
In order to maintain its competitiveness in the gold product market, the
Company constantly introduces new products. Beginning in 1991, the Company
introduced fine gold ornaments such as gold memento cards, key chains and
electroformed products to the market. Some of the products of the Company are
also designed to suit different geographical market needs. For example, the
Chinese twelve signs of the zodiac ornaments and buddha figurines are in high
demand in the PRC and other countries in the Asia Pacific region while cartoon
characters and innovative jewelry items are in high demand in Europe and the US.
Purchasing
The primary raw material in the manufacture and assembly of the Company's
products is gold bullion. For the year ended March 31, 1999, the cost of gold
bullion accounted for approximately 80% of the Company's total purchases.
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The Company sources gold bullion primarily from seven suppliers in
Australia, England, Germany and Hong Kong. The Company mainly sources gold
bullion from gold bullion traders. Generally, the Company is able to maintain a
steady supply of gold bullion from its suppliers, with an average of one day
between the placing of an order and the receipt of the gold bullion. Other
materials, including silver and color stones, are purchased, primarily, from
suppliers in Hong Kong.
For the year ended March 31, 1999, purchases of gold from the Company's
five largest suppliers accounted for approximately 77% of the Company's total
purchases. The Company sources gold bullion regularly from its seven suppliers
and has not experienced any difficulty in obtaining the raw materials required
in the past. The Company has been dealing with its major suppliers for an
average period of approximately ten years and maintains a good business
relationship with each of them.
As the price of precious metals, in particular the price of gold bullion,
has generally been decreasing in recent years and since there are numerous
alternative sources of gold bullion such as banks and gold bullion dealers, the
Company does not maintain any long-term contractual arrangements with its
suppliers. Management believes that the Company is in an advantageous position
to negotiate for better terms when sourcing gold bullion, as compared to gold
bullion suppliers, and that the absence of established contractual relationships
with any principal supplier will not have a material adverse effect on the
operations or the financial position of the Company.
Based on the prevailing market situation with the price of gold bullion
remaining relatively steady and given the liquidity of gold bullion in the
market, the Company does not engage in any hedging activities with respect to
possible fluctuations in gold prices. The Company's management monitors the
fluctuation of gold prices closely and should the need for hedging arise in the
future, the Company may engage in hedging transactions. Moreover, the Company
has been able to fix the purchase price of gold with its largest supplier with
reference to the market gold price at the time the Company's gold products are
sold to customers. By using this arrangement, the price of gold payable to its
largest supplier will be the same as the price of gold charged by the Company to
its customers, thereby minimizing the effect of fluctuation of gold prices on
the Company.
Manufacturing and Assembly
Production Facilities
At March 31, 1999, the Company operated five production facilities which
are located in Hunghom in Hong Kong, and in Beijing, Shanxi, Shenzhen and Sha
Tau Kok in the PRC. The Beijing, Shanxi and Shenzhen facilities are operated
under processing agreements with PRC entities holding requisite permits. The
production facility in Sha Tau Kok (the "Sha Tau Kok Facility") is owned by the
Company and possesses requisite permits.
The following table sets out the annual production capacity of the
Company's production facilities for each of the three years ended March 31,
1999.
Year ended March 31,
-------------------------------------------------
1997 1998 1999
(kg) (kg) (kg)
Hong Kong
- Hunghom 9,000 12,000 12,000
PRC
- Beijing 8,000 8,000 8,000
- Shenzhen 9,000 10,000 10,000
- Shanxi 2,000 5,000 5,000
- Sha Tau Kok - - 8,800
-------- -------- --------
28,000 35,000 43,800
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- -- Production Facilities in Hong Kong
Hunghom Facility
The Hunghom Facility was established in 1988 and is equipped with 8
production lines which are used primarily for the production of molds, gold
memento cards and medals and the electroforming of fine gold and karat gold, as
well as the production of computer-scanned gold statuettes. The Hunghom Facility
is a vertically integrated facility capable of handling all aspects of the
production process, from product design to mold-making and from casting to
polishing as well as marketing to distribution.
The premises at which the Hunghom Facility are located are leased from an
independent third party and have a total gross floor area of approximately
31,500 sq. ft., which are used as the Company's office and showroom as well as
production facilities.
- -- Production Facilities in the PRC
Beijing Facility
The Beijing Facility was established in Shun Yi Sian, Beijing, the PRC, to
engage in the manufacture and assembly of gold, silver and karat gold jewelry.
The facility is operated under a processing agreement dated Novemer 18, 1994
between the Company's subsidiary, Hang Fung Jewellery, and China National
Jewellery Import and Export Corporation ("China Jewellery").
Pursuant to the agreement, China Jewellery is responsible for the provision
of premises, water and electricity, labor and other supporting facilities and
the handling of customs and transportation procedures in relation to import and
export of machinery, materials and products. Hang Fung Jewellery is responsible
for the provision of machinery, equipment, tools and technical and management
expertise for the manufacture and assembly of gold, silver and karat gold
jewelry. All such machinery and equipment belong to Hang Fung Jewellery. Hang
Fung Jewellery is also required to provide raw materials and packaging materials
for processing of gold, silver and karat gold jewelry. All such materials,
semi-finished and finished products belong to Hang Fung Jewellery. China
Jewellery has agreed to undertake and pay for all of the Company's PRC tax
liabilities relating to operations at the Beijing Facility.
Hang Fung Jewellery is required to pay a processing fee to China Jewellery
which is calculated on a per gram basis and varies depending on the nature of
materials assembled. The agreement relating to the Beijing Facility expires in
November 2004.
Shanxi Facility
The Shanxi Facility was established in Tai Yuan Municipality, Shanxi, the
PRC, under a processing agreement dated April 30, 1996 between Hang Fung
Jewellery and Tai Yuan Jewellery and Craft Factory ("Tai Yuan Jewellery") to
engage in the manufacture and assembly of gold and silver jewelry.
Pursuant to the agreement, Tai Yuan Jewellery is responsible for the
provision of premises, water and electricity, labor and other supporting
facilities and the handling of customs and transportation procedures in relation
to the import and export of machinery, materials and products. Hang Fung
Jewellery is responsible for the provision of equipment, tools, and technical
and management expertise to the facility for jewelry assembly. All such
machinery and equipment belong to Hang Fung Jewellery. Hang Fung Jewellery is
also required to provide raw materials and packaging materials for the
processing of gold, silver and karat gold jewelry. All such materials,
semi-finished and finished products belong to Hang Fung Jewellery. Tai Yuan
Jewellery has agreed to undertake and pay for all of the Company's PRC tax
liabilities relating to operations at the Shanxi Facility.
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Shenzhen Facility
The Shenzhen Facility was established in Shenzhen, the PRC, to engage in
the manufacture and assembly of gold and silver jewelry under a processing
agreement dated April 4, 1988 between Hang Fung Jewellery Company and Shenzhen
Handicrafts Import and Export Company ("Shenzhen Craft"), as representative for
Shenzhen Craft Hang Fung Processing Plant ("Shenzhen Processing Plant").
Pursuant to three agreements, the respective rights and obligations of Shenzhen
Craft and Hang Fung Jewellery Company under the processing agreement were
assumed by Shenzhen Jia Yi Jewellery Co., Ltd. ("Shenzhen Jewellery") and Hang
Fung Jewellery respectively.
Under the current terms of the processing agreement, Hang Fung Jewellery is
responsible for (1) rental payable for use of the facility, water and
electricity charges at the facility, (2) provision of and transportation of
machinery, equipment and materials for the manufacture and assembly of jewelry,
and (3) a processing fee which is calculated on a per worker per month basis and
is subject to an annual increase of five percent. Shenzhen Processing Plant is
responsible for (1) the provision of premises and labor, (2) the handling of
customs procedures in relation to import and export of machinery, equipment and
materials, and (3) manufacture and assembly of jewelry.
The processing agreement, as revised, expires in December 1999.
Sha Tau Kok Facility
The Sha Tau Kok Facility is intended to become the largest manufacturing
facility of the Company. This facility is operated by, and the premises at which
its is situated are leased by, Hang Fung Jewellery (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Hang Fung Jewellery. The Sha Tau Kok Facility is
located near the Sha Tau Kok customs office in Shenzhen, the PRC.
The Sha Tau Kok Facility was developed in two phases. Development of the
first phase was completed, and commercial production commenced, in July 1998.
The first phase houses 20 production lines primarily for the production of fine
and karat gold products and other precious metal products.
Development of the second phase is scheduled to be completed in October
1999, and commercial production is expected to commence in December 1999.
Production Process
The Company combines traditional craftsmanship with advanced computerized
technology such as the application of the computerized faceting machine and/or
electroforming machine in the manufacturing process of gold products. While
faceting and electroforming are automated procedures, the creation of product
designs, the making of master wax models and master rubber molds, the carving of
individual wax models and the polishing of the finished products are performed
by skilled workers manually under the supervision of a team of experienced
technicians. The production cycle for gold products takes approximately 7 to 30
days to complete, depending on complexity of product design, any specific
requirements of the product, and production volume.
- -- Chain Jewelry
Chain jewelry manufacturing begins with the melting of gold or silver into
bars which are rolled and elongated on a press. The process is repeated a number
of times until the bar is reduced to wire of approximately 20mm in diameter. The
wire is then stretched to produce a finer wire which is then cut and swirled to
form a spiral. The spiral is then cut to rings, which are sized and graded and
soldered together afterwards to form a chain.
- -- Ornaments
Manufacturing of other jewelry items, including gold ornaments which may be
attached to chains, typically involves some, or all, of the following processes:
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Design and Mold Making
The Company's in-house design team begins drawing the design by using
computer-aided design software. The data for the design are then electronically
transmitted to a computerized mold making machine and a master wax model is
produced automatically. The master wax model is of prime importance as its
degree of perfection determines the quality of the master rubber mold. A master
rubber mold is then constructed by pouring liquified rubber over the master wax
model (the "lost wax casting method"). The master rubber mold can be used to
produce numerous replica wax models.
Waxing
Wax is injected into a master rubber mold to obtain the required number of
wax models. After final carving, trimming and filing the surfaces and details of
individual wax models, the wax models are attached to a metal stem to enable
them to be handled without depositing fingerprints and grease on them, which
would hinder metal deposition.
Electroforming
The wax models are then submerged in an electolyte solution where gold ions
are deposited onto the wax models by passing an electric current through the
electrolyte solution. The entire process is controlled by computers and the
processing time can be adjusted to achieve different thickness of gold layers.
Extraction of Wax Models
The wax models cast with a layer of gold are then heated in a furnace at a
pre-set temperature. The wax model underneath the gold layer melts and is
extracted from the gold object.
Filing and Tumbling
The gold ornaments are then individually hand-filed by skilled workers to
ensure smooth contours and surfaces. The base of each gold ornament is also
checked and flattened to ensure that the ornament can stand upright.
Stone Setting
Stones are set using a variety of methods, including the "claw", "channel",
"pave" or "bezel" setting methods, as determined by product design and setting
requirements.
Polishing
Jewelry items are again polished automatically by polishing machines.
Final Design and Assembly
Designs or impressions are affixed to appropriate component parts by
stamping, cutting or grinding. Component parts are shaped and assembled to
specifications in accordance with the product design.
Manufacturing Technology and Development
The Company continuously seeks to improve and modify its production
technology and facilities in order to achieve better product quality and higher
profit margin. Traditionally, the manufacture of gold products has been labor
intensive and, therefore, product quality and production time may vary for each
production. The Company has successfully combined traditional manual
craftsmanship with advanced computerized technology to mass produce quality gold
products in a cost efficient manner.
9
<PAGE>
Since 1993, the Company has invested significant resources in developing
the technology for the electroforming method in the production of fine gold
products such as gold decorative ornaments. As one of the first gold product
manufacturers to have successfully implemented this new technology, the Company
is able to produce gold decorative ornaments of the same size as those produced
using the traditional methods, but using less gold and therefore reducing costs.
By adopting this new technology in the production of gold products, gold is more
evenly spread on the wax model resulting in smoother contours and better
appearance.
In September 1998, the Company was granted a short-term patent of up to 8
years in Hong Kong in relation to the production technology for the
computer-scanned gold statuette, a newly-launched product of the Company. Gold
statuettes are produced by scanning the object to be reproduced, such as human
features, by a computerized scanner. Details of the contours of the object are
scanned and are stored as codes on electronic media. The codes can then be sent
electronically to one of the production facilities of the Company and finally to
the rapid prototyping system for further production of gold statuettes with the
exact features of the scanned object. Besides offering a high degree of
resemblance to the original object, the advantage of this production technology
is that the amount of manual craftsmanship and production time can be
significantly reduced.
The Company has also obtained other patents in Hong Kong for other
production methods.
Contract Processing
In addition to manufacturing products for the Company, the agreements with
respect to manufacturing operations at the Beijing Facility and the Shanxi
Facility provide that the PRC entity, China Jewellery and Tai Yuan Jewellery,
respectively, may perform jewelry manufacturing and assembly operations for
other parties using those facilities provided that such operations do not
interfere with the manufacturing and assembly operations and requirements of the
Company and provided that such products are manufactured exclusively for
domestic consumption within the PRC. The Company is entitled to receive fee from
China Jewellery and Tai Yuan Jewellery with respect to all jewelry manufactured
for third parties at those facilities with the amount of such fees to be
determined on a case-by-case basis ("Subcontracting fees"). Subcontracting fees
totaled $2.2 million, or 2.5% of revenues, during the year ended March 31, 1999.
Quality Control
The Company's quality control team consists of 12 persons (excluding
quality control workers who work at the facilities made available to Hang Fung
Jewellery in the PRC under processing agreements) and is committed to ensure
that the products meet the Company's quality standards.
All incoming raw materials, such as gold bullion, are inspected by the
quality control team for purity before being used in the production process.
Quality control checks are also conducted at various stages of production to
ensure that product specifications are met. In addition, the Company has trained
its production workers to closely inspect products during production. Defective
products are either rejected or subject to refinements before entering the next
stage of the production process. The production process is also closely
monitored by trained technicians. All finished products are subject to final
inspection before they are packed and delivered to customers. The Company's
marketing staff also check the quality of finished products upon receipt of
products before distribution. Moreover, the quality control workers who work at
the facilities made available to the Company in the PRC under processing
agreements are also trained by the Company to adhere to similar stringent
quality control procedures.
The Company intends to apply for ISO 9000 certification for its production
facilities in the near future.
10
<PAGE>
Inventory Policy and Control
For gold bullion, in general, it is the Company's policy to maintain a
stock holding period of approximately 80 days. The Company generally has a stock
level of approximately 1,000 kg of gold reserves for production use. The stock
level is monitored by the senior manager of the gold and jewelry division who
coordinates the transfer of raw materials and finished goods between the
production facilities and the sales and marketing department. Stock movements
from the safe or storeroom of each of the production facilities are recorded in
the respective stock ledgers and stock movement reports are examined on a
regular basis and are submitted to the accounts department of the Hong Kong head
offices for consolidation and reconciliation. All movements of stock must be
justified by the person making the stock withdrawal. Details, such as stock
code, quantity and weight, are completed by the person making the withdrawal on
the withdrawal note which will be passed to the senior manager of the gold and
jewelry division for approval before the stock withdrawal takes place. The
person making the withdrawal, accompanied by another member of staff, must sign
the stock withdrawal note to acknowledge receipt of the stock. The person making
the withdrawal, the senior manager and the accounting division each respectively
keeps one copy of the signed withdrawal note. Goods are stored in safes and
storerooms that are installed with a wide range of anti-theft devices. At the
production line level, the stock retrieved by a production line supervisor from
the storeroom at a production facility is distributed to workers at the
production line. The supervisor keeps a record stating particulars such as type
and weight of stock distributed to each worker. At the end of each working day,
each worker stores his/her stock in a safety box and the locked safety box is
returned to the production line supervisor. The supervisor then stores the
safety boxes collected from the workers in a subsection designated for the
production line in the storeroom master safe. At the end of a production cycle,
the workers return the stock to the production line supervisors who will check
against their records to ensure that the stock returned matches with the
particulars stated in the records. Stock counts are performed on a monthly and
ad hoc basis by the accounting division and the results of the stock counts are
checked against the stock ledger.
Sales and Marketing
The Company's marketing and sales activities are carried out by a team of
approximately 30 staff members. The Company's sales staff carries out sales and
marketing activities under the guidance of senior management which oversees the
sales staff and overall marketing strategy. The Company's sales staff is
responsible for establishing and maintaining relations with independent sales
representatives and customers as well as marketing the Company's products to
potential customers. The marketing and sales executives regularly attend trade
fairs, seminars and exhibitions in Hong Kong and overseas in order to keep
abreast of new product developments and market trends, to maintain regular
contact with existing customers and to meet potential customers. Through
participation in exhibitions, the Company is able to promote its corporate
image, increase public awareness of its products and strengthen its competitive
position in the gold products market.
The Company currently has a showroom at its head office in Hunghom, Hong
Kong where its wide range of products are displayed. Other promotional
activities undertaken by the Company include the placing of advertisements in
trade magazines, journals and other public media as well as direct mailing of
product catalogues to existing and potential customers.
In the PRC, potential customers are often referred to the Company by the
respective PRC parties to the processing agreements or learn about the Company's
products from other sources such as advertisements. Customers may place orders
to the Company's Hong Kong office by fax, telex or telephone. In any event, all
deliveries pursuant to confirmed orders from PRC customers are made in Hong Kong
to the party designed by the PRC customers located in Hong Kong. The Company
does not hold a PRC license to distribute its products in the PRC to customers
in the PRC. The Company's PRC customers (being customers who have invoicing
addresses in the PRC, and which are believed to be either wholesale distributors
or retailers) are responsible for arranging the importation of the products in
the PRC.
The Company has established solid business relationships with its customers
and many of them have in turn introduced new customers to the Company. The
Company also sponsors selected customers to attend major gold jewelry trade
shows so as to further promote market awareness of the Company's products.
11
<PAGE>
The principal markets to which the Company's products are distributed are
the PRC, South East Asia, Hong Kong, the United States, the Middle East and
Europe. Sales by region (excluding Subcontracting fees) for the three years
ended March 31, 1999 have been as follows:
1997 1998 1999
---------------- ---------------- -----------------
Amount Amount Amount
$,000 Percent $,000 Percent $,000 Percent
------ ------- ------ ------- ------- -------
Southeast Asia........ 4,610 12.5 12,232 21.1 16,562 19.5
United States......... 1,305 3.5 10,211 17.6 13,920 16.4
PRC................... 8,043 21.8 10,000 17.2 15,827 18.6
Middle East........... 5,744 15.6 9,317 16.1 13,947 16.4
Europe................ 1,506 4.1 5,886 10.2 17,661 20.8
Hong Kong............. 15,617 42.5 10,348 17.8 7,088 8.3
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Total.............. 36,825 100.0 57,994 100.0 85,005 100.0
====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
The Company generally adopts a tight credit policy and grants credit only
to selected customers depending on their business relationship with the Company.
Sales to customers in Hong Kong and overseas, other than the PRC, are mainly
settled on an open account basis, with credit periods ranging from seven days to
ninety days. All Hong Kong and overseas customers generally settle their
accounts on time and no material default has been encountered by the Company. As
for the PRC customers, owing to the different business practices prevailing in
the PRC, customers normally settle their accounts at a slower pace up to 180
days after sales. Despite the slower payment pattern, the Company has
experienced no significant bad debt problems and management believes there are
no material collectibility problems.
Customers
The products manufactured by the Company are principally sold to wholesale
distributors or retail chain operators of gold, other precious metal and jewelry
products.
At March 31, 1999, the Company had approximately 100 regular customers. The
Company estimates that, through customers and their extensive distribution
networks, the products manufactured by the Company are sold in approximately
1,600 retail outlets worldwide.
For the year ended March 31, 1999, the Company five largest customers
accounted for approximately 18% of sales. During fiscal 1999, the Company had no
customers which accounted for more than 5% of the Company's revenues. The
Company has no long term contracts with any customers. The Company's top five
customers have each had a business relationship with the Company for over five
years.
Competition
The jewelry industry is highly fragmented, with little significant brand
name recognition or consumer loyalty. Selection is generally a function of
design appeal, perceived high value and quality in relation to price.
While many competitors in the wholesale jewelry manufacturing and
distribution business may have a wider selection of products or greater
financial resources, the Company believes its competitive position is enhanced
by the Company's broad customer base, experienced management team, advanced
technology and capital investment in continuous product development and product
design and the Company's close relationship with its customers and vendors.
Therefore, although the competition is intense, management believes that the
Company is well positioned to compete in the jewelry industry.
12
<PAGE>
Staff
As of March 31, 1999, the Company had approximately 1,000 employees,
including 8 executive officers, 22 other management personnel, 25 persons in
administration, 865 persons in manufacturing and production and 80 persons in
sales and marketing. Of the Company's employees, approximately 150 staff members
are located in Hong Kong with the remaining employees being located in the PRC.
None of the Company's employees is governed by collective bargaining agreements
and the Company considers its relations with its employees to be satisfactory.
In addition, approximately 1,000 workers, who are not employees of the Company,
provide services to the Company at the Beijing Facility and the Shanxi Facility
in the PRC.
Certain Foreign Operation Considerations
The Company's operations are conducted in Hong Kong and the PRC. As a
result, the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations
may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environments in Hong Kong
and the PRC, and by the general state of the Hong Kong and the PRC economies.
On July 1, 1997, sovereignty over Hong Kong transferred from the United
Kingdom to the PRC, and Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of the
PRC (a "SAR"). As provided in the Sino-British Joint Declaration relating to
Hong Kong and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, the Hong Kong SAR will have
full economic autonomy and its own legislative, legal and judicial systems for
fifty years. The Company's management does not believe that the transfer of
sovereignty over Hong Kong will have an adverse impact on the Company's
financial and operating environments. There can be no assurance, however, that
changes in political or other conditions will not result in such an adverse
impact.
The Company's operations in the PRC are subject to special considerations
and significant risks not typically associated with companies operating in North
America and Western Europe. These include risks associated with, among other,
the political, economic and legal environments and foreign currency exchange.
The Company's results may be adversely affected by changes in the political and
social conditions in the PRC, and by changes in governmental policies with
respect to laws and regulation on the import and export of gold, inflationary
measures, currency conversion and remittance abroad, and rates and methods of
taxation, among other things. Additionally, due to licensing requirements
relating to the manufacture and marketing of gold products in the PRC, the
Company's ability to continue its current operations in the PRC is substantially
dependent upon the Company's ability to maintain satisfactory contractual
arrangements with PRC entities possessing the requisite licenses such as China
Jewellery, Tai Yuan Jewellery and Shenzhen Jewellery. Further, a portion of the
Company's revenue is denominated in Renminbi ("Rmb") which must be converted
into other currencies before remittance outside the PRC. Both the conversion of
Renminbi into foreign currencies and the remittance of foreign currencies abroad
require approvals of the PRC government.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's executive offices are located at Unit 25-32, Second Floor,
Focal Industrial Centre, 21 Man Lok Street, Hunghom, Hong Kong. This facility
consists of approximately 31,500 square feet of office space, and is leased from
an unaffiliated third party for approximately HK$3,362,000 (US$434,000) per year
pursuant to four leases which range in expiration from November 1999 to March
2001. This office space also houses certain marketing, product design and high
quality gold production operations.
The Company's principal production operations are conducted at facilities
located in Sha Tau Kok, Beijing, Shanxi, and Shenzhen, the PRC. The Company's
principal production facilities are described in Item 1. Business under
Manufacturing and Assembly, Production Facilities.
The Company believes that its existing facilities will be adequate to
support the Company's operations for the foreseeable future.
13
<PAGE>
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is from time to time a party to lawsuits incidental to its
business. The Company and its management are not presently aware of any pending
or threatened proceedings which, individually or in the aggregate, are believed
to be material.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of the Company's shareholders through
the solicitation of proxies, or otherwise, during the fourth quarter of the
Company's fiscal year ended March 31, 1999.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Market Information
While the Company's Common Stock is listed on the OTC Electronic Bulletin
Board under the symbol "CHRM", there is no established trading market in the
Company's Common Stock and trading therein is sporadic. The last reported bid
price of the Company's Common Stock, as of July 1, 1999, was $1.375.
Holders
At July 1, 1999, there were approximately 130 record holders of the
Company's Common Stock.
Dividends
While the Hang Fung Group paid a one-time dividend of approximately $5
million during fiscal 1996, prior to the Exchange, the Company has not paid any
dividends since its inception and presently anticipates that all earnings, if
any, will be retained for development of the Company's business and that no
dividends on the shares of Common Stock will be declared in the foreseeable
future. Any future dividends will be subject to the discretion of the Company's
Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, future earnings,
the operating and financial condition of the Company, its capital requirements,
general business conditions and other pertinent facts. Therefore, there can be
no assurance that any dividends on the Common Stock will be paid in the future.
Sales of Unregistered Securities
None
14
<PAGE>
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following tables present selected historical consolidated financial
data derived from the consolidated financial statements of the Company which
appear elsewhere herein. Quality Prince was acquired by the Company in December
of 1996 in a transaction accounted for as a recapitalization of Quality Prince
with Quality Prince as the acquirer (a "reverse acquisition"). On this basis,
the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company prior to
December 31, 1996 are those of Quality Prince and its subsidiaries and the
historical shareholders' equity of the Company as of March 31,1996 has been
retroactively restated to reflect the equivalent number of shares of the Company
issued for such acquisition. The acquisition of the various members of the Hang
Fung Group by Quality Prince in December of 1996 has been accounted for as a
reorganization of entities under common control, similar to a pooling of
interests. The following data should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements of the Company included elsewhere herein.
<TABLE>
Year Ended March 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(amounts stated in US$,000, except per share data)
Income Statement Data (1):
Net sales........................... $ 18,478 $ 22,903 $ 36,825 $ 57,994 $ 85,005
Subcontracting fees................. 4,902 3,965 4,133 4,308 2,195
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total revenues.................... 23,380 26,868 40,958 62,302 87,200
Gross profit........................ 7,004 8,046 10,971 15,143 22,117
Operating income.................... 4,335 4,402 6,190 8,207 11,341
Other income (expense), net......... ( 274) ( 329) ( 741) (636) (1,570)
Income before taxes................. 4,061 4,073 5,449 7,571 9,771
Minority interests.................. -- -- -- -- (2,013)
Net income.......................... $ 2,589 $ 3,393 $ 4,475 $ 6,285 $ 5,856
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Net income per share (2)............ $ 0.25 $ 0.32 $ 0.40 $ 0.49 $ 0.46
Weighted average shares ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
outstanding (2)....................10,500,000 10,500,000 11,075,000 12,800,000 12,800,000
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Balance Sheet Data (1):
Working capital..................... $ 3,011 $ 613 $ 2,768 $(1,170) $ 17,705
Total assets........................ 17,517 15,676 21,409 45,667 73,698
Long-term debt, less
current portion.................... 299 879 1,834 4,405 3,363
Stockholders' equity (3)............ 4,531 3,038 8,017 14,278 20,134
</TABLE>
- -----------------
(1) The Company's functional currency is Hong Kong Dollars ("HK$"). Translation
of amounts from HK$ into US$ is for the convenience of readers and has been
made at the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in
foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York on March 31, 1999 of US$1.00 = HK$7.75. No representation
is made that the HK$ amounts could have been, or could be, converted into
US$ at that rate or at any other rate.
(2) Net income per share is computed assuming (i) the 10,500,000 shares issued
pursuant to the Exchange were outstanding for all periods presented, (ii)
the 1,275,000 shares issued in connection with initial formation of New
Wine were issued December 31, 1996 and (iii) the 225,000 shares issued by
New Wine pursuant to a Rule 504 offering were issued December 31, 1996.
(3) Stockholders' equity at March 31, 1996 reflects the payment of a dividend
in the amount of $5,000,000 by the Hang Fung Group prior to the acquisition
of the Hang Fung Group by the Company.
15
<PAGE>
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The Company's actual results could differ materially from
those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Certain factors that might
cause such a difference are discussed in the section entitled "Factors that May
Affect Future Results" beginning on page 20.
General
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's
financial statements appearing elsewhere herein.
Prior to December of 1996, the Company was engaged in limited operations
relating to the production and distribution of record albums, cassette tapes and
compact discs and videotape and television productions for domestic distribution
and foreign licensing; operation of a music publishing firm; and, generally, the
business of providing personal business management services for professional
entertainers. On December 19, 1996, the Company acquired the Hang Fung Group,
and entered into the jewelry manufacturing and distribution business.
The acquisition of the Hang Fung Group has been accounted for using the
purchase method of accounting with the transaction being accounted for as a
"reverse acquisition." The Company does not consider the operations prior to the
acquisition of the Hang Fung Group to be material to an understanding of the
Company. Accordingly, this discussion relates to the operations of the Hang Fung
Group, for all periods presented, excluding the former operations of New Wine,
Inc.
In May of 1997, Quality Prince, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company,
entered into an agreement with Phenomenal Limited ("Phenomenal"), an
unaffiliated third party, pursuant to which Phenomenal loaned to Quality Prince
$10,000,000 and Quality Prince issued to Phenomenal a convertible promissory
note (the "Note"). The Note bore interest at 3% per month, and was repayable in
a lump sum payment on March 20, 1998. As one of the conditions for the lending,
the Company issued a non-detachable warrant (the "Warrant") to Phenomenal to
subscribe for 5,263,158 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise
price of $2.19 per share. The Note was secured by personal guarantees provided
by Mr. Lam and Ms. Chan and the 53.9% equity interest in the Company owned by
Mr. Lam and Ms. Chan. In accordance with the term of the agreement, the Warrant
expired in May 1998.
On June 4, 1998, Phenomenal agreed to extend the maturity date of the Note
from March 20, 1998 to June 4, 1998, and waive its entitlement to interest
accrued under the Note during the period from May 20, 1997 (date of issue of the
Note) to June 4, 1998. Also, the Company and Phenomenal agreed to restructure
and capitalize the Note into redeemable preferred stock of Hang Fung Jewellery
Company Limited ("Hang Fung Jewellery"), a wholly owned intermediate subsidiary
of the Company. As a result, on June 30, 1998, Hang Fung Jewellery issued
5,263,788 shares of redeemable preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock") at
approximately $1.90 per share to Phenomenal in replacement of the Note. Under
the revised agreement, Phenomenal was required to redeem its interest in the
Preferred Stock and to subscribe for the common stock of Hang Fung Gold
Technology Limited ("Hang Fung Gold"), upon satisfaction of certain conditions.
Alternatively, Phenomenal had an option to require Hang Fung Jewellery to redeem
the Preferred Stock at a redemption amount as determined in accordance with a
pre-determined formula, or require Mr. Lam and Ms. Chan to purchase the
Preferred Stock held by Phenomenal in case Hang Fung Jewellery defaulted in
redeeming the Preferred Stock.
Pursuant to the revised agreement with Phenomenal, in February of 1999, the
Hang Fung Group effected a corporate reorganization (the "Group Reorganization")
with Hang Fung Gold becoming a holding company for the Hang Fung Group,
excluding Quality Prince, and Phenomenal redeemed its interest in the Preferred
Stock and subscribed for the common stock in Hang Fung Gold. Immediately
following the restructuring of the Hang Fung Group, Hang Fung Gold completed an
offering of securities in Hong Kong raising approximately HK$59,000,000 (the
"Hong Kong Offering") and the shares of Hang Fung Gold were listed on the Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Exchange"). Trading of shares of
Hang Fung Gold on the Hong Kong Exchange commenced on March 16, 1999.
16
<PAGE>
Following the Group Reorganization and Hong Kong Offering, the Company
holds, through Quality Prince, 53.145% of the issued capital stock of Hang Fung
Gold, whereas Phenomenal holds 21.855% of the issued capital stock and the
investing public holds the remaining 25% of the issued capital stock of Hang
Fung Gold.
Hang Fung Group's operations consist of designing, manufacturing and
distributing a full line of gold and silver jewelry products and other
ornamental products on a wholesale basis to customers in Hong Kong, China,
Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the United States. Revenues from
such operations are generated through the manufacturing and wholesaling of the
Company's jewelry products, subcontract jewelry manufacturing for selected
customers and through fees payable to the Company by its business partners in
the PRC ("Subcontracting fees").
The primary cost of operating the Company's jewelry business is the raw
material cost of jewelry. The Company assembles or manufactures all of the
jewelry which it sells, other than sales made as agent for certain business
partners. The Company constantly compares costs and quality of jewelry raw
materials to assure that it is obtaining the best purchase price and quality
available. The cost of such raw materials and products varies with currency
fluctuations and other factors beyond the Company's control. While any
fluctuations in cost of acquiring raw materials may adversely affect the
Company's profit margins, the Company has historically been able to pass such
cost fluctuations on to its customers. See "Business - Purchasing."
The Company's other significant operating expenses are marketing costs,
including participation in advertising programs, customer support, inventory and
quality control, jewelry design and general corporate overhead.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain items
from the Consolidated Statements of Operations expressed as a percentage of
total revenues.
Year Ended March 31,
------------------------------
1997 1998 1999
---- ---- ----
Net sales..................................... 89.9% 93.1% 97.5%
Subcontracting fees........................... 10.1 6.9 2.5
------ ------ ------
Total revenues.............................. 100.0 100.0 100.0
Cost of sales................................. 73.2 75.7 74.6
------ ------ ------
Gross profit.................................. 26.8 24.3 25.4
Operating expenses............................ 11.7 11.1 12.4
------ ------ ------
Income from operations........................ 15.1 13.2 13.0
Other income (expense)........................ (1.8) (1.0) (1.8)
------ ------ ------
Income before income taxes.................... 13.3 12.2 11.2
Income taxes.................................. (2.4) (2.1) (2.2)
Minority interest............................. 0.0 0.0 (2.3)
------ ------ ------
Net income.................................... 10.9 10.1 6.7
====== ====== ======
Year Ended March 31, 1999 Compared to Year Ended March 31, 1998
Revenues and Gross Profit. Operating revenues increased by 40.0% to $87.2
million for the year ended March 31, 1999 as compared to $62.3 million for
fiscal 1998. Sales of Company products were up 46.6% to $85.0 million during
fiscal 1999 as compared to $58.0 million during fiscal 1998. Subcontracting fees
decreased by 49.0% to $2.2 million during fiscal 1999 from $4.3 million during
fiscal 1998.
The increase in sales during fiscal 1999 was attributable to increased
product volumes resulting from an increase in production capacity, the
introduction of new products and investments in marketing efforts across
geographical regions. The decrease in Subcontracting fees was attributable to
increased concentration on the manufacturing of products designed by the Company
as opposed to products manufactured on a subcontract basis in order to raise the
Company's brand name recognition.
17
<PAGE>
Geographically, within Southeast Asia (including Hong Kong and the PRC) the
Company's sales increased 21.2% to $39.5 million in fiscal 1999 from $32.6
million in fiscal 1998. Sales within Southeast Asia accounted for 46.4% of total
sales during fiscal 1999 as compared to 56.2% in fiscal 1998. Percentage of
total sales of the region were adversely impacted by continuing economic
weakness in Southeast Asia during the second half of fiscal 1998 and all of
fiscal 1999, which weakness was offset by increased marketing efforts. Sales in
Hong Kong declined 31.4% to $7.1 million during fiscal 1999 from $10.3 million
during fiscal 1998. Sales in the PRC were up during fiscal 1999 due to stable
economic conditions relative to the region, increasing 58.2% to $15.8 million
from $10.0 during fiscal 1998. Sales in Southeast Asia (not including Hong Kong
and the PRC) during fiscal 1999 were up due to strong demand in the Taiwan
market, increasing 35.5% to $16.6 million from $12.2 million during fiscal 1998.
Outside of Asia (in the United States, Europe and the Middle East), the
Company experienced a 79.2% increase in sales with these sales accounting for
53.6% of total sales in fiscal 1999 as compared to 43.8% of total sales in
fiscal 1998. The increase in sales outside of Asia was driven by increased
marketing efforts and strong product demand which accompanied strong economic
conditions in those regions. Sales in Europe increased approximately 200% to
$17.7 million in fiscal 1999 from $5.9 million in fiscal 1998. Sales in the
Middle East were up during fiscal 1999, increasing approximately 49.8% to $13.9
million from $9.3 million in fiscal 1998. Sales in the United States increased
approximately 36.3% to $13.9 million during fiscal 1999 from $10.2 million in
fiscal 1998.
Gross profits increased by 46.1% to $22.1 million in fiscal 1999 from $15.1
million during fiscal 1998. The increase in gross profits was mainly
attributable to increased sales, and expansion into the United States market
which were partially offset by a reduction in gross margins. Gross margins
increased to 25.4% in fiscal 1999 from 24.3% in fiscal 1998. The increase in
gross profit percentage during fiscal 1999 was primarily attributable to cost
control measures implemented by management.
Operating Expenses. Operating expenses totaled $10.8 million during fiscal
1999, an increase of 56% from $6.9 million in fiscal 1998. The increase in
operating expenses during the period was primarily attributable to increased
marketing expenses associated with the expanded selling efforts, increased
corporate overhead and depreciation expense on investment in machinery and
equipment to support the increase in sales volumes.
Other Income (Expense), Net. Other income(expense), net during fiscal 1999
and 1998 consisted of a loss on reduction in equity interest in a subsidiary
associated with the Group Reorganization and Hong Kong Offering of Hang Fung
Gold during fiscal 1999, bank charges, and interest income and interest expense.
Net other expenses increased approximately 146.9% to $1.6 million during fiscal
1999 from $0.6 million during fiscal 1998. The increase was primarily
attributable to (1) an increase in interest expense during the fiscal year of
$784,000 which resulted from an increase in banking facilities to support the
business expansion during fiscal 1999, (2) an adverse swing in other expenses of
$159,000 which resulted from increases in bank charges during fiscal 1999 and
the recognition of the nonrecurring gain from an insurance claim during fiscal
1998, and (3) a $271,000 loss during fiscal 1999 attributable to the dilution of
the Company's ownership interest in Hang Fung Gold from 100% to 53.15% as a
result of the Group Reorganization and Hong Kong Offering; which was partially
offset by a $280,000 increase in interest income during fiscal 1999 attributable
to increased cash generated by operations.
Minority Interest. Minority interest of $2.0 million was reported during
fiscal 1999. No minority interest was reported during fiscal 1998. Minority
interest reflects the Group Reorganization, including the conversion of the Note
of Phenomenal into shares in the Company's previously wholly-owned subsidiary,
Hang Fung Gold (including a dividend of $1,849,000 paid to Phenomenal with
respect to the Preferred Stock), and the Hong Kong Offering pursuant to which
additional shares of Hang Fung Gold were sold. Minority interest reflects the
proportionate interest in the earnings of the Hang Fung Group not owned by the
Company from February 27, 1999, the date of the Group Reorganization, through
March 31, 1999.
Income Taxes. Income taxes increased by 48.0% from approximately $1.3
million in fiscal 1998 to $1.9 million in fiscal 1999. The increase in income
taxes during the period was primarily attributable to the increase in taxable
earnings of the Company.
18
<PAGE>
Year Ended March 31, 1998 Compared to Year Ended March 31, 1997
Revenues and Gross Profit. Operating revenues increased by 52.1% to $62.3
million for the year ended March 31, 1998 as compared to the $40.9 million for
fiscal 1997. Sales of Company products were up 57.3% to $57.9 million during
fiscal 1998 as compared to $36.8 million during fiscal 1997. Subcontracting fees
increased by 4.2% to $4.3 million during fiscal 1998 from $4.1 million during
fiscal 1997.
The increase in sales during fiscal 1998 was attributable to increased
product volumes resulting from an increase in production capacity and
investments in marketing efforts across geographical regions, particularly in
the United States and the Middle East. The increase in Subcontracting fees was
attributable to increased marketing, new technology and an increase in the
number of supply contracts.
Geographically, sales in Hong Kong decreased and sales in the PRC increased
marginally due to increased marketing efforts which were offset by economic
weakness. The Company experienced a shift in sales in Hong Kong and the PRC as a
result of the economic turmoil originating in the Asian region. Sales in Hong
Kong declined approximately 33.7% to $10.3 million in fiscal 1998 from $15.6
million in fiscal 1997. Sales in the PRC were up during fiscal 1998 due to
stable economic conditions relative to the region, increasing approximately
24.3% to $10 million in fiscal 1998 from $8.0 million in fiscal 1997. Sales in
Southeast Asia (not including Hong Kong and the PRC) during fiscal 1998 were
also up due to increases in orders by existing customers, increasing 165.3% to
$12.2 million in fiscal 1998 from $4.6 million in fiscal 1997.
Outside of Asia (in the United States, Europe and the Middle East), the
Company experienced a 197.1% increase in sales with these sales accounting for
43.8% of total sales in fiscal 1998 as compared to 23.2% of total sales in
fiscal 1997. The increase in sales outside of Asia was driven by increased
marketing efforts and strong product demand which accompanied strong economic
conditions in those regions. Sales in Europe increased approximately 290.8% to
$5.9 million in fiscal 1998 from $1.5 million in fiscal 1997. Sales in the
Middle East were up during fiscal 1998, increasing approximately 62.2% to $9.3
million from $5.7 million in fiscal 1997. Sales in the United States, which
began in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997, increased approximately 682.5% to
$10.2 million during fiscal 1998 from $1.3 million in fiscal 1997.
Gross profits increased by 38% to $15.1 million in fiscal 1998 from $11.0
million during fiscal 1997. The increase in gross profits was mainly
attributable to increased sales, and expansion into the United States market
which were partially offset by a reduction in gross margins. Gross margins
decreased to 24.3% in fiscal 1998 from 26.8% in fiscal 1997 as a result of
implementation of a marketing strategy offering lower prices to enhance
competitiveness and increase sales volume.
Operating Expenses. Operating expenses totaled $6.9 million during fiscal
1998, an increase of 45.1% from $4.8 million in fiscal 1997. The increase in
operating expenses during the period was primarily attributable to increased
marketing expenses associated with the expanded selling efforts, increased
corporate overhead and depreciation expense on investment in machinery and
equipment to support the increase in sales volumes.
Other Income(Expense), Net. Other income(expense), net during fiscal 1997
and 1998 consisted of miscellaneous income on disposal of production scrap,
recovery of expenses paid on behalf of customers, expenses on exchange losses
and bank charges, and interest income and interest expense. A one time expense
attributable to the reverse acquisition was also included in fiscal 1997. Net
other expenses decreased approximately 14.2% to $0.6 million during fiscal 1998
from $0.7 million during fiscal 1997. The decrease was primarily attributable to
an increase in interest income of $0.1 million and the one time nature of the
$0.35 million expenses attributable to the reverse acquisition during fiscal
1997 which was partially offset by $0.32 million increase in interest expenses
due to increased borrowing levels.
Income Taxes. Income taxes increased by 32% from approximately $1.0 million
in fiscal 1997 to $1.3 million in fiscal 1998. The increase in income taxes
during the period was primarily attributable to the increase in taxable earnings
of the Company.
19
<PAGE>
Factors that May Affect Future Results
The Company's quarterly and annual operating results have been, and will
continue to be, affected by a wide variety of factors that could have a material
adverse effect on revenues and profitability during any particular period,
including the level of orders which are received and can be shipped in a
quarter, the rescheduling or cancellation of orders by its customers,
competitive pressures on selling prices, changes in product or customer mix,
availability and cost of raw materials, loss of any strategic relationships, the
Company's ability to introduce new products and implement new or expanded
manufacturing technologies on a timely basis, new product introductions by the
Company's competitors, fluctuations in exchange rates, changes in consumer
tastes and spending patterns and general economic conditions, among others.
The Company's future operating results are particularly dependent upon several
specific factors, in addition to the general factors noted above, including (1)
substantial dependence upon manufacturing and, to a certain extent, marketing
arrangements in the PRC, (2) ability to secure adequate financing to support
planned increases in production and marketing of products, (3) the ongoing
impact of the Asian financial crisis, and (4) the impact of the Company's sale
of an interest in Hang Fung Gold.
Management believes that the Company's ability to sustain its current margins
and level of profitability is due, to a significant degree, to its establishment
of favorable contract manufacturing and marketing arrangements in the PRC with
PRC government authorized entities. If, for any reason, the Company were to be
unable to continue its existing contractual relationships in the PRC, or to
replace those relationships with similar arrangements, it is possible that the
Company's operating costs could increase reducing both the Company's margins and
profitability.
Management believes that the Company's recent growth, and anticipated
future growth, is a result of investments, and planned investments, in new and
expanded production capacity and expanded marketing efforts. The Company has
invested substantial amounts in new machinery and the modernization of the
Beijing Facility and the opening of the Sha Tau Kok Facility. The Company has
also invested substantial amounts to expand marketing efforts in the United
States, the Middle East and Europe. In order to continue to grow revenues and
profitability, the Company plans to invest substantial additional funds to
expand production capacity further and to support further increases in marketing
efforts, particularly outside of Asia. The Company previously secured $10
million of funding through the sale of the Note to Phenomenal and subsequent
Group Reorganization and secured an additional $7.6 million of funding through
the Hong Kong Offering. While funding from those sources was adequate to support
planned facility expansions and increased marketing efforts, there can be no
assurance that the Company will not require additional funding to support future
planned expansion. See "-- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
As a result of the Group Reorganization and Hong Kong Offering, the
Company's ownership interest in the Hang Fung Group (where substantially all of
the Company's operations are conducted and revenues generated) has decreased
from 100% to approximately 53%. For periods subsequent to the Group
Reorganization and Hong Kong Offering, the Company's operating results will
reflect minority interest relating to the interest in the Hang Fung Group not
owned by the Company. Thus, while the Company's consolidated revenues may
continue to grow at a rapid rate, the minority interest will effectively remove
approximately 47% of the future earnings of the Hang Fung Group from the
Company's future net income. Accordingly, in order for the Company to maintain
its current level of net earnings, the Hang Fung Group must approximately double
its existing earnings.
Countries in the Asia Pacific region have recently experienced weaknesses
in their currency, banking and equity markets. These weaknesses could adversely
affect, among other things, consumer demand for luxury goods in the region
(perhaps including the Company's products which may be considered luxury
consumer goods), and the U.S. dollar value of the Company's foreign currency
denominated sales (e.g., to the extent sales are denominated in Hong Kong
dollars). In addition, the Company's interest income and expense is sensitive to
fluctuations in the general level of Hong Kong interest rates. However, as
described below, the Company believes that overall, it is well positioned to
minimize such risks.
The Company produces, markets and sells a broad range of jewelry and
ornamental products for different market segments, has already increased its
marketing efforts in North America, Europe and the Middle East, and has taken
steps to stabilize both demand for and supply of its products. See "Business --
Sales and Marketing."
20
<PAGE>
In addition, the Company's policy is to denominate all its sales and assets
in U.S. dollars or Hong Kong dollars. The Hong Kong Government has, throughout
fiscal 1998 and since the beginning of fiscal 1999, repeatedly assured the
public that the "peg" of Hong Kong dollar to the U.S. dollar will not be changed
and the Hong Kong dollar will not be devalued. Similarly, the governor of the
PRC's central bank has reassured the public that the Renminbi will not be
devalued. Therefore, based on information available to management at this time,
management does not anticipate significant fluctuations in the exchange rate
between the U.S. dollar and the Hong Kong dollar in the foreseeable future. As
the Company makes its purchases of raw materials in local currencies, and those
currencies have generally exhibited weakness since mid-1997 when compared to the
U.S. dollar, management does not believe the Company is exposed to undue amount
of risk arising from fluctuations of the exchange rates between those currencies
and the U.S. dollar.
The Company does not enter into foreign exchange forward contracts or
currency options to hedge against foreign exchange fluctuations or interest rate
swaps, interest rate forward contracts and other derivatives to hedge against
interest rate exposures. The Company monitors its exchange and interest rate
risks on a continuous basis, both on a stand-alone basis and in conjunction with
each other, from both an accounting and an economic perspective. Given the
horizons of the Company's risk management activities, there may be adverse
financial impacts resulting from unfavorable movements in either foreign
exchange or interest rates.
Overall, the Company believes it is well positioned to minimize material
adverse impact that the recent economic developments in the Asia Pacific region
may have on the Company.
Year 2000 Issue
The Year 2000 Issue is the result of potential problems with computer
systems or any equipment with computer chips that use dates where the date has
been stored as just two digits (e.g. 98 for 1998). On January 1, 2000, any clock
or date recording mechanism including date sensitive software which uses only
two digits to represent the year, may recognize a date using 00 as the year 1900
rather than the year 2000. This could result in a system failure or
miscalculations causing disruption of operations, including among other things,
a temporary inability to process transactions, send invoices, or engage in
similar activities.
The Company is using both internal and external resources to identify
significant applications that will require modification, and to make such
modifications, to ensure Year 2000 Compliance. The total cost to the Company of
these Year 2000 Compliance activities has not been and is not anticipated to be
material to its financial position or results of operations in any given year.
The Company has completed the modifications of all significant applications and
its systems are 2000 compliant.
The Company has planned to communicate with others with whom it does
significant business to determine their Year 2000 Compliance readiness and the
extent to which the Company is vulnerable to any third party Year 2000 issues.
However, there can be no guarantee that the systems of other companies on which
the Company's systems rely will be timely converted, or that a failure to
convert by another company, or a conversion that is incompatible with the
Company's system, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At March 31, 1999, the Company had cash balances totaling $16.7 million and
working capital of $17.7 million. This compares to a cash balance of $2.1
million and a working capital deficit of $1.2 million at March 31, 1998. The
increase in cash and improvement in working capital were primarily attributable
to (1) the net income for the year and (2) the receipt of funds from the Hong
Kong Offering.
Cash provided by operations increased to $5.9 million during fiscal 1999
from $1.9 million during fiscal 1998. The increase in cash provided by
operations was primarily due to (1) an increase in taxes payable ($1.9 million),
(2) an increase in depreciation expense ($2.1 million), (3) an increase in
non-cash expenses, including minority interest, associated with the Group
Reorganization and Hong Kong Offering ($2.0 million); which was partially offset
by changes in other operating assets and liabilities. The Company's accounts
receivable increased to $15.7 million, or approximately 18.0% of fiscal 1999
revenues, as compared to $10.2 million, or approximately 16.4% of fiscal 1998
revenues. The increase in accounts receivable during fiscal 1999 was
attributable to increased sales levels, particularly in growing non-Asian
markets and the granting of more favorable payment terms to selected customers.
Days sales outstanding in receivables increased to 54 days for fiscal 1999, from
45 days for fiscal 1998. Inventories increased to $16.9 million at March 31,
1999 from $13.1 million at March 31, 1998. The increase in year end inventories
was required to support growing sales.
21
<PAGE>
The Company used $9.0 million, $15.7 million and $4.8 million for investing
activities in fiscal 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. The investment of cash
in each of those periods related primarily to acquisitions of machinery and
equipment to increase the Company's production capacity in order to support
growing sales.
Financing activities provided $17.6 million in fiscal 1999 as compared to
$15.9 million in fiscal 1998. Cash generated from financing activities in fiscal
1999 consisted primarily of the proceeds from the Hong Kong Offering pursuant to
which the Company's subsidiary, Hang Fung Gold, sold common equity in an amount
equal to 25% of the post-offering shares outstanding for net proceeds of $7.6
million. Cash generated from financing activities in fiscal 1998 consisted
primarily of the proceeds of a $10 million loan from Phenomenal to the Company's
wholly owned subsidiary Quality Prince. The Note evidencing the loan accrued
interest at three percent (3%) per month, compounded monthly, and was
convertible into 2914 shares, or such other number of shares as will constitute
not less than 29.14%, of Quality Prince. As additional consideration for the
loan, the Company issued Warrants to Phenomenal which entitled the holder to
purchase 5,263,158 shares of the Company's common stock at a purchase price of
$2.19, exercisable for a period commencing upon the date of the grant of the
Warrants and ending on the earlier of (1) May 31, 1998 or (2) the closing of a
consolidation or merger of the Company (other than with its wholly-owned
subsidiary), or the transfer of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
to, another corporation (unless the owners of the capital stock of the Company,
prior to such transaction, continue to own a majority of the capital stock of
the surviving corporation). The Warrants were only exercisable in the event that
the Note was not converted pursuant to its terms.
On June 4, 1998, the Company (and its subsidiaries) and Phenomenal executed
a Deed Amendment to modify the terms of the Note and the Warrants. Pursuant to
the Deed Amendment, Phenomenal agreed to waive all interest accrued on the Note
and to convert the Note into 5,263,788 Preferred Stock of the Company's wholly
owned subsidiary, Hang Fung Jewellery. The Deed Amendment evidenced the
Company's intent to form a new holding company for the shares of the companies,
excluding Quality Prince, comprising the Hang Fung Group. The Preferred Stock
were subject to mandatory redemption and a minimum $10,000,000 from redemption
was subject to mandatory subscription into shares of common equity of the new
holding company representing 29.14% of such equity if, and only if, the Company
listed the shares of the holding company on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on
or before March 20, 1999. The listing of the holding company, the Group
Restructuring and the Hong Kong Offering were completed in March 1999. As a
result of the Group Restructuring, the Note was converted into a 29.14% equity
interest in Hang Fung Gold and the Warrants expired. Following the Hong Kong
Offering, the shares held by Phenomenal represented a 21.855% equity interest in
Hang Fung Gold.
The Company's primary liquidity needs are to fund accounts receivable and
inventories as well as to fund periodic purchases of machinery, equipment and
expansion of production facilities. Prior to Phenomenal's investment in Hang
Fung Group, the Company had historically funded its operations through a
combination of internally generated cash, short-term borrowings under bank lines
of credit and hire purchase financing.
At March 31, 1999, the Company had no material capital commitments.
However, the Company intends to use available funds as needed to expand its
production capacity and jewelry distribution operations in Europe, the Middle
East and the United States.
At March 31, 1999, the Company's capital resources consisted of various
bank credit facilities and certain capital leases, in addition to funds on hand.
The Company's bank credit facilities consist of a combination of term loans,
lines of credit, letters of credit, bank guarantees, overdraft, revolving and
similar credit facilities generally utilized in the jewelry industry. The
Company's bank credit facilities are used to fund purchases of raw materials and
inventory and to finance accounts receivable and overdrafts. Such facilities are
consistent with credit facilities generally available to operators in the
jewelry industry in terms of interest rates and fees, collateral, repayment
terms, and renewal. The Company's total available bank credit facilities at
March 31, 1999 were approximately $23.8 million of which approximately $20.2
million had been used at such date.
22
<PAGE>
At March 31, 1999, the Company also had a number of capital leases and
operating leases pursuant to which the Company holds various facilities and
equipment. At March 31, 1999, the Company's capital lease obligations totaled
$2.2 million of which $1.2 million was attributable to current lease
obligations. Obligations under operating leases require minimum annual rental
payments by the Company of approximately $381,000 in fiscal 2000.
The Company believes that the available trade credit, bank credit
facilities, funds on hand and funds generated from operations, will be
sufficient to satisfy the Company's bank credit needs and anticipated working
capital requirements for at least the next 12 months.
Seasonality
The jewelry business is highly seasonal, with the third and fourth calendar
quarters (second and third fiscal quarters), which includes the Christmas
shopping season, historically contributing the highest sales. Seasonality cannot
be predicted or counted upon, and the results of any interim period are not
necessarily indicative of the results that might be expected during a full
fiscal year.
The following table sets forth the Company's unaudited net sales for the
periods indicated:
Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
-------------------------------------------------
1997 1998 1999
--------- ---------- ---------
(US$,000) (US$,000) (US$,000)
Amount % Amount % Amount %
1st Quarter (4/1-6/30) $ 7,788 19.0 $13,926 22.4 $ 16,482 18.9
2nd Quarter (7/1-9/30) 9,980 24.4 15,458 24.8 16,177 18.6
3rd Quarter (10/1-12/31) 12,639 30.8 17,706 28.4 28,331 32.5
4th Quarter (1/1-3/31) 10,551 25.8 15,212 24.4 26,210 30.0
------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------
Total $ 40,958 100.0 $ 62,302 100.0 $ 87,200 100.0
======= ====== ======= ====== ======= ======
Inflation
Inflation has historically not had a material effect on the Company's
operations. When the price of gold or other raw materials has increased, these
costs historically have been passed on to the customer. Furthermore, as the
Company does not have either long-term supply contracts or long-term contracts
with customers, prices are quoted based on the prevailing prices for
semi-precious gemstones or metals. Accordingly, the Company believes inflation
will not have a material effect on its future operations.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The consolidated financial statements of the Company, together with the
independent auditors' report thereon of Arthur Andersen & Co. ("Arthur
Andersen"), Certified Public Accountants, appears on pages F-1 through F-25 of
this report. See Index to Financial Statements on page 32 of this report.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable
23
<PAGE>
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS;
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Identification of Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Significant
Employees
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the directors
and executive officers of the Company.
Name Age Position
- ------ ----- ----------
Lam Sai Wing.......... 44 Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Chan Yam Fai, Jane.... 36 Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
Ng Yee Mei............ 37 Vice President and Director
Cheng Wa On........... 36 Director
Terms of Office
The directors of the Company hold office until the next annual meeting of
stockholders of the Company or until their successors in office are elected and
duly qualified. All officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors
except as set forth in employment agreements.
Family Relationships
Lam Sai Wing and Chan Yam Fai, Jane are husband and wife.
Business Experience
Lam Sai Wing has served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
and President of the Company since the Exchange in December of 1996 and of the
Company's predecessor and operating subsidiaries, the Hang Fung Group, since
founding the Hang Fung Group in 1986.
Chan Yam Fai, Jane has served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and a Director of the Company since the Exchange in December of 1996 and of the
Hang Fung Group since 1990.
Ng Yee Mei has served as Vice President and a Director of the Company since
the Exchange in December of 1996 and of the Hang Fung Group since 1991.
Cheng Wa On has served as a Director of the Company since the Exchange in
December of 1996. Mr. Cheng has been employed by the Hang Fung Group as Export
Manager since 1986.
Compliance With Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Under the securities laws of the United States, the Company's directors,
its executive officers and any persons holding more than ten percent of the
Company's Common Stock are required to report their initial ownership of the
Company's Common Stock and any subsequent changes in that ownership to the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Specific due dates for these reports have
been established and the Company is required to disclose any failure to file by
these dates during fiscal 1999.
All of the filing requirements were satisfied on a timely basis in fiscal
1999. In making these disclosures, the Company has relied solely on written
statements of its directors, executive officers and shareholders and copies of
the reports that they filed with the Commission.
24
<PAGE>
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Executive Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information as to the compensation paid or
accrued to each officer and director receiving compensation of at least $100,000
per year and the Chief Executive Officer for the three years ended March 31,
1999:
<TABLE>
Annual Compensation
-------------------------------------------------
Other Annual All Other
Name and Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation (1) Compensation
- --------------------------- ------ -------- ------- ------------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Lam Sai Wing..................... 1999 $202,694 $400,000 $ 39,237 $ 0
Chief Executive Officer,....... 1998 194,000 0 0 0
Chairman and President......... 1997 145,000 0 0 0
</TABLE>
- -------------------
(1) Mr. Lam's other annual compensation consists of a housing allowance and
education allowance.
Director's Compensation
No compensation has been paid to any directors for service in such capacity
in the past and no such compensation is presently payable to directors. At such
time as the Board of Directors deems appropriate, the Company intends to adopt
an appropriate policy to compensate non-employee directors in order to attract
and retain the services of qualified non-employee directors.
Employment Agreements
The Company previously maintained employment agreements with Mr. Lam and
Ms. Chan. In connection with the Group Reorganization and Hong Kong Offering,
both of those employment agreements were terminated on February 27, 1999 and the
Company's subsidiary, Hang Fung Gold, entered into employment agreements with
Mr. Lam, Ms. Chan and Ms. Ng Yee Mei.
The Employment Agreement with Mr. Lam commenced October 1, 1998 and runs
for a term of three years. The agreement provides for a monthly salary of
HK$100,000 with annual adjustments based on review by the board of directors,
not to exceed 15%. The agreement also provides for a guaranteed annual bonus
equal to one month's salary and discretionary bonuses to be fixed by the board,
with the aggregate bonuses payable to executive directors not to exceed 5% of
consolidated profits of Hang Fung Gold. In addition to the salary and bonus
provisions, Mr. Lam is entitled to (i) participation in insurance schemes
adopted by Hang Fung Gold, (ii) participation in provident funds maintained by
Hang Fung Gold, (iii) use of a company automobile, including maintenance, gas
and parking, (iv) payment of maintenance, gas and parking costs for one
automobile owned by Mr. Lam, (v) use of a company provided residence, including
payment by Hang Fung Gold of all management and utility costs associated with
such residence, with the monthly rental payable by Hang Fung Gold not to exceed
HK$30,000, and (vi) an education allowance of up to HK$300,000 annually to pay
for tuition of dependent children under the age of 18.
The Employment Agreement with Ms. Chan commenced October 1, 1998 and runs
for a term of three years. The agreement provides for a monthly salary of
HK$30,000 with annual adjustments based on review by the board of directors, not
to exceed 15%. The agreement also provides for a guaranteed annual bonus equal
to one month's salary and discretionary bonuses to be fixed by the board, with
the aggregate bonuses payable to executive directors not to exceed 5% of
consolidated profits of Hang Fung Gold. In addition to the salary and bonus
provisions, Ms. Chan is entitled to (i) participation in insurance schemes
adopted by Hang Fung Gold, (ii) participation in provident funds maintained by
Hang Fung Gold, (iii) use of a company automobile, including maintenance, gas
and parking, and (iv) payment of maintenance, gas and parking costs for one
automobile owned by Ms. Chan
25
<PAGE>
The Employment Agreement with Ms. Ng Yee Mei commenced October 1, 1998 and
runs for a term of three years. The agreement provides for a monthly salary of
HK$50,000 with annual adjustments based on review by the board of directors, not
to exceed 15%. The agreement also provides for a guaranteed annual bonus equal
to one month's salary and discretionary bonuses to be fixed by the board, with
the aggregate bonuses payable to executive directors not to exceed 5% of
consolidated profits of Hang Fung Gold. In addition to the salary and bonus
provisions, Ms. Ng Yee Mei is entitled to (i) participation in insurance schemes
adopted by Hang Fung Gold, (ii) participation in provident funds maintained by
Hang Fung Gold, (iii) use of a company automobile, including maintenance, gas
and parking, and (iv) payment of maintenance, gas and parking costs for one
automobile owned by Ms. Ng Yee Mei
Provident Plan
The Company's subsidiaries in Hong Kong have adopted a voluntary defined
contribution provident plan (the "Plan") for its employees in Hong Kong. The
Plan generally covers all employees of the Company's operating subsidiaries
(excluding contract workers in the PRC) who have completed twelve months of
service with the Company. Employees electing to participate in the Plan defer,
in the form of a contribution to the Plan, an amount equal to five percent (5%)
of their monthly salary and the Company makes a matching contribution on behalf
of each participating employee. Participating employees are always fully vested
with respect to contributions made by them to the Plan and earnings or increases
thereon. Employees become vested in contributions made by the Company ratably
over ten years.
Share Option Scheme
The Company's subsidiary, Hang Fung Gold, adopted a Share Option Scheme
pursuant to which the directors of Hang Fung Gold may grant options to Hang Fung
Gold employees to purchase shares of common stock of Hang Fung Gold. Pursuant to
the Share Option Scheme, options may be granted to purchase shares of Hang Fung
Gold at a price determined by the directors, not less than 80% of the average
closing price of the share quoted on the Stock Exchange for the five trading
days immediately preceding the date of the option or the nominal value of the
share of Hang Fung Gold whichever is higher, for a period of not more than 10
years. The total number of shares issuable pursuant to the Share Option Scheme
may not exceed ten percent of the shares of Hang Fung Gold outstanding from time
to time.
Compensation Report
The Company does not presently maintain a Compensation Committee of its
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, acting under the guidance of the
Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lam, has historically fixed
the compensation of executive officers. The salary of Mr. Lam, Ms. Chan and Ms.
Ng Yee Mei was fixed pursuant to the terms of Employment Agreements between Hang
Fung Gold and those officers entered in 1998.
In fixing the compensation of Mr. Lam and other executive officers, the
Board of Directors considered the following factors, among others: (1) from
fiscal 1995 through fiscal 1999, the Company and its predecessor, the Hang Fung
Group, was consistently profitable -- with revenues increasing 272% and net
income increasing 126%, (2) the importance of attracting and retaining the
highly skilled executive officers in the management team that has been
responsible for such financial performance, (3) the efforts, skills and
responsibilities of, and contributions made by, each such executive officer, and
(4) the competitiveness of the Company's compensation packages.
With respect to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the Directors
acknowledged that he has brought to the Company not only his expertise and
personal relationships in the jewelry industry, but also his vision, foresight
and efforts to bring about the Company's financial performance over the past
several years, and to steer the Company toward the more profitable segments of
the business. The Directors also took into account the need to retain such
highly qualified officers by providing competitive compensation packages.
26
<PAGE>
Performance Graph
The following graph summarizes cumulative total shareholder return
(assuming reinvestment of dividends) on the Common Stock of the Company compared
to the returns of the S&P Smallcap 600 Index and of a peer group (the "Peer
Group") consisting of DG Jewellery CDA Ltd. ("DGJ") and IWI Holding Limited
("IWI"). The Company's Common Stock was first registered under Section 12(g) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on March 24, 1997. The
measurement period hereto commenced on March 31, 1997 and ended on March 31,
1999, the Company's 1999 fiscal year end date. The graph assumes that $100 was
invested on March 31, 1997.
As there is no broad equity market index for the OTC Bulletin Board where
the Company's Common Stock is traded and there is no published industry or
line-of-business index for the jewelry business in which the Company is engaged,
the Company has selected DGJ and IWI as peer issuers for comparison. DGJ and IWI
are engaged primarily in the design, assembly, merchandising and wholesale
distribution of jewelry and whose shares are traded in the over-the-counter
market in the United States.
The comparisons in this graph are required by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of future stock
price performance or the financial performance of the Company. Shareholders are
encouraged to review the Financial Statements of the Company mentioned in Item 8
above.
[OBJECT OMITTED]
March 31, 1997 March 31, 1998 March 31, 1999
S.W. Lam, Inc. 100 21.62 55.60
S&P SmallCap 600 Index 100 136.90 111.30
Peer Group 100 16.52 22.89
27
<PAGE>
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Common Stock
The following table is furnished as of March 31, 1999 to indicate
beneficial ownership of shares of the Company's Common Stock by (1) each
shareholder of the Company who is known by the Company to be a beneficial owner
of more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock, (2) each director and named
officer of the Company, individually, and (3) all officers and directors of the
Company as a group. The information set out in the following table was supplied
by such persons.
Name and Address of Number of Shares
Beneficial Owner (1) Beneficially Owned Percent
- -------------------- ------------------ ---------
Good Day Holdings, Ltd (2)(3)..................... 6,600,000 (2) 51.6%
Lam Mo Wan (3).................................... 1,800,000 14.1%
Chan Wai Sum (3).................................. 1,800,000 14.1%
Lam Sai Wing (2).................................. 6,600,000 (2) 51.6%
Carhill Limited (4)............................... 800,000 6.3%
Chan Yam Fai, Jane................................ 300,000 2.3%
Ng Yee Mei........................................ -0- -
Cheng Wa On....................................... -0- -
All officers and directors as a group (4 persons). 6,900,000 (2) 53.9%
- ---------------------
(1) Unless otherwise noted, each person or group identified possesses sole
voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown opposite the
name of such person or group.
(2) Good Day Holdings Ltd. is controlled 100% by Lam Sai Wing, an officer and
director of the Company. Accordingly, Mr. Lam may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of the shares held by Good Day Holdings.
(3) Address is Unit 302-303A, 3rd Floor, Fu Hang Industrial Bldg. No. 1 Hok
Yuen Street East, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
(4) Address is c/o Suite 4703, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong
Kong.
Preferred Stock
Series A Preferred Stock. The following table is furnished as of March 31,
1999 to indicate beneficial ownership of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock
by each shareholder of the Company who is known by the Company to be a
beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock.
Name and Address of Number of Shares
Beneficial Owner (1) Beneficially Owned Percent
- -------------------- -------------------- ---------
Good Day Holdings Ltd. (3).................. 100,000 (2) 100.0%
Lam Sai Wing................................ 100,000 (2) 100.0%
- ---------------------
(1) Unless otherwise noted, each person or group identified possesses sole
voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown opposite the
name of such person or group.
(2) Good Day Holdings Ltd. is controlled 100% by Lam Sai Wing, an officer and
director of the Company. Accordingly, Mr. Lam may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of the shares held by Good Day Holdings, Ltd.
(3) Address is Unit 302-303A, 3rd Floor, Fu Hang Industrial Bldg., No. 1 Hok
Yuen Street East, Kowloon, Hong Kong
28
<PAGE>
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Company's predecessor and subsidiary, Hang Fung Group, has, from time
to time entered into transactions with officers and directors of the Company and
companies controlled by officers and directors of the Company.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, the Hang Fung Group paid
rental payments of $174,000 to Ms. Chan in connection with the lease of the
Company's former principal executive offices in Hong Kong.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, the Hang Fung Group paid
rental payments of $20,916 to Mr. Lam in connection with the lease of a
residential premises for Mr. Lam's residence.
The Company has from time to time both advanced to and borrowed funds from
Mr. Lam. At March 31, 1998, the Company owed Mr. Lam $1.0 million. At March 31,
1999, the Company owed Mr. Lam $0.4 million. All of such loans are unsecured,
non-interest bearing and without pre-determined repayment terms.
Mr. Lam and Ms. Chan personally guaranteed the existing banking facilities
of the Hang Fung Group, pledged certain real estate as collateral to secure such
banking facilities and guaranteed the repayment of the $10 million of Preferred
Stock issued by Hang Fung Jewellery and held by Phenomenal pursuant to the terms
of a Put Option.
All of the above transactions are believed by management to be on terms at
least as favorable to the Company as may have been obtained from unaffiliated
third parties. The Company has no present policy governing related party
transactions but intends to implement a policy such that all future and ongoing
transactions between the Company and its directors, officers, principal
stockholders or affiliates will be on terms no less favorable to the Company
than may be obtained from unaffiliated third parties, and any such transactions
will be approved by a majority of disinterested directors of the Company.
29
<PAGE>
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this Report:
(1) Consolidated Financial Statements: See Index to Financial Statements
on page 32 of this report for financial statements and supplementary
data filed as part of this report.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
None
(3) Exhibits
<TABLE>
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibit
--------- ------------------------
<S> <C>
2.1 Acquisition Agreement between S.W. Lam, Inc. and the shareholders of Hang
Fung Jewellery Company Limited and Kai Hang Jewellery Company Limited (1)
3.1 Articles of Incorporation (1)
3.2 Bylaws (1)
4.1 Certificate of Designation for Series A Preferred Stock (1)
10.1++ Employment Agreement with Lam Sai Wing dated January 1, 1994 (1)
10.2++ Employment Agreement with Chan Yam Fai, Jane dated January 1, 1994 (1)
10.3 Sales Agency Agreement between Hang Fung Jewellery Co., Ltd. and China
Jewellery Import & Export Co. (1)
10.4 Agreement for Jewellery Assembling between Hang Fung Jewellery Co., Ltd.
and China Jewellery Import & Export Co. (1)
10.5 Sales Cooperation Agreement between Hang Fung Jewellery Co., Ltd. and
China Jewellery Import & Export Co. (1)
10.6 Confirmation Agreement between Hang Fung Jewellery Co., Ltd. and
China Jewellery Import & Export Co. (1)
10.7 Lease Agreement between Chan Yam Fai, Jane and Hang Fung Jewellery Co., Ltd.
re: executive offices (1)
10.8++ Supplementary Employment Contract with Lam Sai Wing and Lam Chan Yam Fai (2)
10.9 Warrant Agreement with Phenomenal Limited (3)
10.10 Convertible Note with Phenomenal Limited (3)
10.11 Deed Amendment (3)
10.12++* Employment Agreement between Hang Fung Gold and Lam Sai Wing dated February 27, 1999
10.13++* Employment Agreement between Hang Fung Gold and Chan Yam Fai, Jane dated February 27, 1999
10.14++* Employment Agreement between Hang Fung Gold and Ng Yee Mei dated February 27, 1999
27.1* Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
++ Compensatory plan or management agreement.
* Filed herewith
(1) Incorporated by reference to the respective exhibits filed with
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 10 (Commission File
No. 0-22049)
(2) Incorporated by reference to the respective exhibits filed with the
Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
March 31, 1997
(3) Incorporated by reference to the respective exhibits filed with the
Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
June 30, 1997
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended March 31, 1999.
30
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
S.W. LAM, INC.
By:/s/ Lam Sai Wing
----------------------------------
Lam Sai Wing
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dated: August 12, 1999
----
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by
the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on
the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
----------- ------- ------
/s/ Lam Sai Wing
- ------------------------ President, Chief Executive Officer August 12, 1999
Lam Sai Wing (Principal Executive Officer) and
Chairman of the Board
/s/ Chan Yam Fai, Jane
- ------------------------ Vice President, Chief Financial August 12, 1999
Chan Yam Fai, Jane Officer (Principal Accounting
and Financial Officer) and Director
/s/ Ng Yee Mei
- ------------------------ Vice President and Director August 12, 1999
Ng Yee Mei
/s/ Cheng Wa On
- ------------------------ Director August 12, 1999
Cheng Wa On
31
<PAGE>
S.W. LAM, INC.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
------
Report of Independent Public Accountants................................ F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1998 and 1999............... F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years ended March 31, 1997,
1998 and 1999......................................................... F-3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended March 31, 1997,
1998 and 1999......................................................... F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Years
ended March 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999................................... F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................... F-6
32
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of S. W. Lam, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of S. W. Lam, Inc.
(incorporated in the State of Nevada, United States of America; "the Company")
and Subsidiaries ("the Group") as of March 31, 1998 and 1999, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders'
equity for the years ended March 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of S. W. Lam, Inc. and
Subsidiaries as of March 31, 1998 and 1999, and the results of their operations
and their cash flows for the years ended March 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of
America.
/s/ Arthur Anderson & Co.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO.
Certified Public Accountants
Hong Kong
Hong Kong,
August 12, 1999.
F-1
<PAGE>
S. W. LAM, INC.
------------------
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND 1999
-------------------------------
<TABLE>
Note 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
-------- ------------ ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Current assets:
Cash and bank deposits 16,217 129,444 16,702
Accounts receivable, net 5 79,421 121,328 15,655
Deposits and prepayments 6 3,064 4,644 599
Inventories, net 7 101,345 131,513 16,970
----------- ------------ -------------
Total current assets 200,047 386,929 49,926
Property, machinery and equipment and
capital leases, net 8 153,866 184,227 23,772
------------ ------------ -------------
Total assets 353,913 571,156 73,698
============ ============ =============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term bank borrowings 9 43,540 128,066 16,525
Long-term bank loans, current portion 10 2,273 2,812 363
Capital lease obligations, current 11 8,560 9,487 1,224
portion
Accounts payable 22,321 26,639 3,437
Accrued liabilities 12 2,907 6,671 861
Convertible note 13 77,500 - -
Due to a director 19 8,010 3,101 400
Dividend payable to a redeemable
preferred shareholder of a subsidiary - 14,328 1,849
Taxation payable 14 44,005 58,605 7,562
------------ ------------ -------------
Total current liabilities 209,116 249,709 32,221
Long-term bank loans, non-current 10 9,217 8,390 1,083
portion
Capital lease obligations, non-current 11 14,979 7,727 997
portion
Deferred taxation 14 9,945 9,945 1,283
------------ ------------ -------------
Total liabilities 243,257 275,771 35,584
------------ ------------ -------------
Minority interests - 139,344 17,980
------------ ------------ --------------
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value US$0.001
(equivalent of approximately HK$0.008)
each:
- - authorized - 25,000,000
shares;
- - outstanding and fully paid -
12,800,000 shares 101 101 13
Preferred stock, par value US$0.001
(equivalent of approximately HK$0.008)
each:
- - authorized - 25,000,000
shares;
- - outstanding and fully paid -
Series A preferred stock - 100,000 - - -
shares
Additional paid-in capital 3,960 3,960 511
Retained earnings 106,595 151,980 19,610
------------ ------------ -------------
Total shareholders' equity 110,656 156,041 20,134
------------ ------------ -------------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity 353,913 571,156 73,698
============ ============ =============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Translation of amounts from Hong Kong dollars ("HK$") into United States dollars
("US$") is for the convenience of readers and has been made at the noon buying
rate in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for
customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on March 31, 1999 of
US$1.00 = HK$7.75. No representation is made that the Hong Kong dollars amounts
could have been, or could be, converted into United States dollars at that rate
or at any other rate.
F-2
<PAGE>
S. W. LAM, INC.
------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997, 1998 AND 1999
--------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
Note 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------ ---------- ------------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Revenues
Net sales 20.a 285,144 449,236 658,790 85,005
Contract processing fees 31,996 33,360 17,012 2,195
---------- ------------- ------------ ------------
Total revenues 317,140 482,596 675,802 87,200
Cost of sales and services (232,249) (365,249) (504,391) (65,083)
---------- ------------- ------------ ------------
Gross profit 84,891 117,347 171,411 22,117
Selling, general and
administrative expenses (27,232) (53,540) (83,508) (10,776)
Interest expense (3,007) (5,513) (11,588) (1,495)
Interest income 1 1,065 3,234 417
Other income (expenses), net (15) (480) (1,716) (221)
Loss on reduction in equity
interest in a subsidiary 15 - - (2,100) (271)
Expenses related to reverse
acquisition (2,711) - - -
---------- ------------- ------------ ------------
Income before income taxes
51,927 58,879 75,733 9,771
Provision for income taxes 14 (16,475) (9,963) (14,747) (1,902)
---------- ------------- ------------ ------------
Income before minority interests
35,452 48,916 60,986 7,869
Minority interests - - (15,601) (2,013)
---------- ------------- ------------ ------------
Net income and comprehensive
income
35,452 48,916 45,385 5,856
========== ============= ============ ============
Earnings per common stock HK$ 3.20 HK$ 3.82 HK$ 3.55 US$ 0.46
========== ============= ============ ============
Weighted average number of
common stocks 11,075,000 12,800,000 12,800,000 12,800,000
========== ============= ============== ===========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Translation of amounts from Hong Kong dollars ("HK$") into United States dollars
("US$") is for the convenience of readers and has been made at the noon buying
rate in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for
customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on March 31, 1999 of
US$1.00 = HK$7.75. No representation is made that the Hong Kong dollars amounts
could have been, or could be, converted into United States dollars at that rate
or at any other rate.
F-3
<PAGE>
S. W. LAM, INC.
-----------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997, 1998 AND 1999
---------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------ ------------ ------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income 35,452 48,916 45,385 5,856
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating
activities -
Depreciation of property, machinery
and equipment 8,035 23,147 39,109 5,046
Effect on exchange difference - - (200) (25)
Loss on reduction in equity interest
in a subsidiary - - 2,100 271
Minority interests - - 15,601 2,013
(Increase) Decrease in operating
assets -
Accounts receivable, net (16,407) (39,851) (41,907) (5,407)
Deposits and prepayments (992) (1,961) (1,580) (203)
Inventories, net (3,410) (35,402) (30,168) (3,893)
Due from a director 4,503 3,681 - -
Increase (Decrease) in operating
liabilities -
Accounts payable 2,062 9,773 4,318 557
Deposits from customers (23,361) (9,107) - -
Accrued liabilities 8,285 977 3,764 485
Due to a director - 8,014 (4,909) (634)
Taxation payable 5,433 (1,442) 14,600 1,884
Deferred taxation 2,201 7,742 - -
-------------- -------------- ------------ --------------
Net cash provided by operating 21,801 14,487 46,113 5,950
activities
-------------- -------------- ------------ --------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, machinery and
equipment (37,315) (122,109) (69,470) (8,965)
-------------- -------------- ------------ --------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of common 4,061 - - -
stock
Net proceeds from issuance of - 77,500 - -
convertible note
Cash proceeds received from minority - - 58,671 7,570
interests
Increase (Decrease) in bank overdrafts (597) (434) 1,538 198
Increase in short-term bank loan - - 2,000 258
Increase in trust receipts bank loans 5,704 26,342 80,988 10,450
New long-term bank loans 5,983 2,155 2,000 258
Repayment of long-term bank loans (4,007) (2,193) (2,288) (295)
New capital lease obligations 6,750 29,644 2,234 288
Repayment of capital element of
capital lease obligations (3,565) (9,881) (8,559) (1,104)
-------------- -------------- ------------- ---------------
Net cash provided by financing 14,329 123,133 136,584 17,623
activities
-------------- -------------- ------------- ---------------
Net (decrease) increase in cash and
bank deposits (1,185) 15,511 113,227 14,608
Cash and bank deposits, as of 1,891 706 16,217 2,094
beginning of year
-------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------
Cash and bank deposits, as of end of 706 16,217 129,444 16,702
year
============== ============= ============= ===============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Translation of amounts from Hong Kong dollars ("HK$") into United States dollars
("US$") is for the convenience of readers and has been made at the noon buying
rate in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for
customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on March 31, 1999 of
US$1.00 = HK$7.75. No representation is made that the Hong Kong dollars amounts
could have been, or could be, converted into United States dollars at that rate
or at any other rate.
F-4
<PAGE>
S. W. LAM, INC.
-----------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997, 1998 AND 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
Common stock Series A preferred stock
---------------------------- ----------------------------
Number of Number of Additional Retained
shares Amount shares Amount paid-in earnings
capital
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
'000 HK$'000 '000 HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance as of
March 31, 1996 10,500 85 100 - - 22,227
Effect of the
exchange 1,500 8 - - (93) -
reorganization
Issuance of common
stock 800 8 - - 7,742 -
Common stock
issuance
expenditure - - - - (3,689) -
Net income - - - - - 35,452
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------ -----------
Balance as of
March 31, 1997 12,800 101 100 - 3,960 57,679
Net income - - - - - 48,916
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------ -----------
Balance as of
March 31, 1998 12,800 101 100 - 3,960 106,595
Net income - - - - - 45,385
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------ -----------
Balance as of
March 31, 1999 12,800 101 100 - 3,960 151,980
=========== ============ ============ ============= ============ ===========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
<PAGE>
S. W. LAM, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise stated)
1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS
---------------------------
S. W. Lam, Inc. ("the Company"), formerly known as New Wine, Inc., was
incorporated on April 12, 1994 in the State of Tennessee, United States of
America. On October 10, 1996, the Company effected a change of domicile by
reincorporating in the State of Nevada, United States of America, and changed
its name from New Wine, Inc. to S. W. Lam, Inc.. On the same date, the Company
effected a change in par value of each share of its common stock from US$0.01
per share to US$0.001 per share.
On December 31, 1996, the Company acquired 100% interest in Quality Prince
Limited ("QPL"; a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands) by issuing
10,500,000 shares of its common stock of par value US$0.001 each, and 100,000
shares of its Series A preferred stock of par value US$0.001 each, to the
previous shareholders of QPL. QPL is an investment holding company which had
acquired on December 19, 1996, 100% interest in the following companies:
<TABLE>
Place of
Name of company incorporation Principal activities
- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------- --------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Hang Fung Jewellery Company Limited ("HFJCL") Hong Kong Production and selling of jewellery
products
Kai Hang Jewellery Company Limited ("KHJCL") Hong Kong Property holding
Macadam Profits Limited ("MPL") British Virgin Investment holding
Islands
Priestgill Limited ("PL") British Virgin Inactive
Islands
Soycue Limited ("SL") British Virgin Inactive
Islands
</TABLE>
Notes -
a. HFJCL took over the businesses previously undertaken by Hang Fung Jewellery
Company ("HFJC") effective September 1995. HFJCL took over the business
previously undertaken by SL effective April 1996.
b. Prior to December 19, 1996, HFJCL and KHJCL were jointly owned by Mr. Lam
Sai Wing and Ms. Chan Yam Fai, Jane. SL, MPL and PL were solely owned by
Mr. Lam Sai Wing. HFJC was an unincorporated sole-proprietorship entity
owned by Mr. Lam Sai Wing.
F-6
<PAGE>
1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS (Cont'd)
---------------------------
The Company and its subsidiaries ("the Group") are principally engaged in the
production and selling of jewellery products to customers in Hong Kong, the
People's Republic of China ("the PRC") and other parts of the world. The Group
maintains its head office in Hong Kong where it coordinates the Group's
marketing and selling functions. Its production facilities are located in Hong
Kong and the PRC.
The Group's production activities in the PRC are mainly operated through a
series of contract processing agreements with China National Pearl, Diamond, Gem
and Jewellery Import and Export Corporation ("CNPIEC"), Tai Yuan Jewellery
Crafts Factory ("TYJCF") and Shenzhen Jia Yi Jewellery Co., Ltd. ("SJYJC"),
which are among the few entities authorized to engage in the production and
trading of gold and silver products in the PRC. The key transactions with
CNPIEC, TYJCF and SJYJC were as follows:
a. Under a contract processing agreement dated November 18, 1994 and
subsequent supplemental agreement entered into between HFJCL and CNPIEC, HFJCL
has operated a plant in Beijing, the PRC ("the Beijing Plant") to produce
jewellery products. The Beijing Plant also provides contract processing services
to PRC customers at the instruction and on behalf of CNPIEC, and shares a
portion of the contract processing fees received by CNPIEC. The initial term of
the agreements is ten years expiring on November 17, 2004, and is renewable upon
expiration.
b. On April 30, 1996, HFJCL entered into a contract processing agreement
with TYJCF, pursuant to which HFJCL operates a plant in Tai Yuan Province, the
PRC, ("the Tai Yuan Plant") to produce jewellery products. The Tai Yuan Plant
also provides contract processing services to PRC customers at the instruction
and on behalf of TYJCF. The agreement expires on April 29, 2006.
c. Pursuant to the aforesaid agreements, CNPIEC and TYJCF have agreed to
undertake and pay for all of HFJCL's PRC tax liabilities, including value-added
tax and other related charges, if any, relating to HFJCL's operations under the
above-mentioned activities.
d. HFJCL also entered into a contract processing agreement with SJYJC for
the production of gold and silver products in Shenzhen, the PRC. The agreement
with SJYJC expires on December 31, 1999.
e. On July 22, 1999, HFJCL entered into an agreement with Shenzhen Jin Shen
Jewellery Company Limited ("SJSJCL"). Pursuant to the agreement, SJSJCL is
responsible to handle all the customs and transportation procedures in relation
to import and export of machinery, materials and products of HFJCL.
f. Other transactions with the above-named parties include:
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------ ----------- ------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Management fees paid to
- CNPIEC 419 217 1,084 140
======= ======= ======= =======
F-7
<PAGE>
1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS (Cont'd)
---------------------------
On December 4, 1997, Hang Fung Gold Technology Limited ("HFGTL") was
incorporated and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. On February
27, 1999, HFGTL became the holding company of the subsidiaries of the Company,
except for QPL, pursuant to a group reorganization scheme which included
exchanges of shares. Since HFGTL and the subsidiaries of the Company were owned
by the same shareholders immediately before and after the reorganization, it has
been accounted as a reorganization of entities under common control similar to a
pooling of interest.
On March 16, 1999, HFGTL was listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
Under the relevant US rules, public announcements by HFGTL in Hong Kong, which
may include information on the HFGTL's earnings and other financial information,
may give rise to an obligation on the part of the Company to make simultaneous
announcements in the US.
2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
---------------------
The acquisition of QPL by the Company on December 31, 1996 was treated as a
reverse acquisition since QPL is the continuing entity as a result of the
exchange reorganization. On this basis, the historical financial statements
prior to December 31, 1996 represent the consolidated financial statements of
QPL and its subsidiaries. The historical shareholders' equity accounts of the
Company represented 10,500,000 shares of common stock of par value of US$0.001
each (equivalent to approximately HK$0.008 each) and 100,000 shares of Series A
preferred stock of par value US$0.001 each (equivalent to approximately HK$0.008
each) which were issued in connection with the acquisition. The original
1,500,000 shares of common stock of par value US$0.001 each (equivalent to
approximately HK$0.008 each) outstanding prior to the exchange reorganization
have been reflected as an addition in the historical shareholders' equity
accounts of the Company on December 31, 1996.
The acquisitions of HFJCL, KHJCL, MPL, PL and SL by QPL on December 19, 1996
have been accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control,
similar to a pooling of interests, as the shareholders and management control of
HFJCL, KHJCL, MPL, PL, SL and QPL are the same before and after the acquisition.
On December 4, 1997, HFGTL was incorporated and became a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company. On February 27, 1999, HFGTL became the holding company of the
subsidiaries of the Company, except for QPL, pursuant to a group reorganization
scheme. The reorganization has been accounted as a reorganization of entities
under common control similar to a pooling of interest.
F-8
<PAGE>
3. SUBSIDIARIES
------------
Details of the Company's subsidiaries (which together with the Company are
collectively referred to as "the Group") as of March 31, 1999 were as follows:
<TABLE>
Place of Percentage of
incorporation/ equity interest Principal
Name operations held activities
- -------------------------------------- -------------------- ------------------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Quality Prince Limited British Virgin 100% Investment holding
Islands
Hang Fung Gold Technology Limited Bermuda 53.145% Investment
holding
Hang Fung Jewellery Company Limited Hong Kong 53.145% Production and
selling of
jewellery
products;
provision of
contract process
services
Hang Fung Jewellery (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. The PRC 53.145% Processing of
jewellery products
Kai Hang Jewellery Company Limited Hong Kong 53.145% Property holding
Macadam Profits Limited British Virgin 53.145% Investment holding
Islands
Soycue Limited British Virgin 53.145% Inactive
Islands
</TABLE>
There is no restriction on the distribution of the subsidiaries' retained
earnings.
On September 29, 1998, Quality Prince Limited transferred to Mr. Lam Chi Ming,
an independent third party not connected with the directors, chief executives or
substantial shareholders of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any of
their respective associates its interest in one share of US$1 (equivalent to
approximately HK$8) in Priestgill Limited at a cash consideration of US$1
(equivalent to approximately HK$8).
4. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
-------------------------------------------
a. Basis of consolidation
----------------------
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and
its subsidiaries. All material intra-group transactions and balances have been
eliminated on consolidation.
F-9
<PAGE>
4. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont'd)
------------------------------------------
b. Inventories
-----------
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, on a first-in, first-out basis, and
market value. Costs of work-in-progress and finished goods include direct
materials, direct labour and an attributable portion of production overheads.
c. Property, machinery and equipment and capital leases
----------------------------------------------------
Property, machinery and equipment and capital leases are recorded at cost. Gains
or losses on disposals are reflected in current operations. Depreciation for
financial reporting purposes is provided using the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of the assets as follows: leasehold land - 50 years,
building - 20 years, machinery and equipment - 5 to 10 years, motor vehicles - 5
years, and furniture, fixtures and office equipment - 5 years. Major
expenditures for betterments and renewals are capitalized. All ordinary repair
and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
Impairment loss on property, machinery and equipment is recognized when
evidence, such as the sum of expected future cash flows (undiscounted and
without interest charges) indicates that future operations will not produce
sufficient revenue to cover the related future costs, including depreciation,
and when the carrying amount of the asset cannot be realized through sale.
Measurement of the impairment loss is based on fair value of the assets.
d. Sales
-----
Sales comprise (i) the invoiced value of merchandise supplied to customers, net
of sales returns and allowances, which are recognized when merchandise is
shipped and title is passed to customers, and (ii) contract processing fees,
which are recognized when the contract processing service is rendered.
Deposits or advanced payments from customers prior to passage of title of goods
and the expiration of right of return are recorded as deposits from customers.
e. Income taxes
------------
The Group accounts for income tax under the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets
and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have
been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred income taxes
are provided using the liability method. Under the liability method, deferred
income taxes are recognized for all significant temporary differences between
the tax and financial statement bases of assets and liabilities.
F-10
<PAGE>
4. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont'd)
-------------------------------------------
f. Leases
------
Capital leases represent those leases under which substantially all the risks
and rewards of ownership of the leased assets are transferred to the Group.
Fixed assets held under capital leases are initially recorded at the present
value of the minimum payments at the inception of the leases, with equivalent
liabilities categorized as appropriate under current or non-current liabilities.
Interest expenses, which represent the difference between the minimum payments
at the inception of the finance leases and the corresponding fair value of the
assets acquired, are allocated to accounting periods over the period of the
leases to produce a constant rate of charge on the outstanding balances.
Operating leases represent those leases under which substantially all the risks
and rewards of ownership of the leased assets remain with the lessors. Rental
payments under operating leases are charged to expense on the straight-line
basis over the period of the relevant leases.
g. Comprehensive income
--------------------
The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 130,
which establishes guidance for the reporting and display of comprehensive income
and its components. The purpose of reporting comprehensive income is to report a
measure of all changes in equity that resulted from recognized transactions and
other economic events of the period other than transactions with shareholders.
Adoption of the standard had no impact on the Company's consolidated financial
position, results of operations or cash flows, although the presentation of
certain items has changed. The Company does not have any other comprehensive
income.
h. Foreign currency translation
----------------------------
The Company considers Hong Kong dollars as its functional currency as a
substantial portion of the Group's business activities is based in Hong Kong
dollars.
The gains or losses, if any, resulting from translation are included in
shareholders' equity separately as cumulative translation adjustments. Aggregate
gains (losses) from foreign currency transactions included in the results of
operations for the years ended March 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999 were approximately
HK$192,000, HK$(12,000) and HK$149,000, respectively.
F-11
<PAGE>
4. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont'd)
------------------------------------------
i. Earnings per common stock
-------------------------
Basic earnings per common stock is computed in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 by dividing net income for each year by
the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the
years, as if the Company had acquired the 100% interest in QPL as of the
beginning of years as a recapitalization of QPL with QPL as the acquirer; and
with HFGTL as the holding company of the subsidiaries as of the beginning of
years (see Note 2). The weighted average number of shares used to compute basic
earnings per common stock was 11,075,000 12,800,000 and 12,800,000 for the years
ended March 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively.
No diluted earnings per common stock is computed as the exercise price of the
warrant was higher than the average market price of common stock during the
year.
j. Use of estimates
----------------
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and
disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.
k. Fair value of financial instruments
-----------------------------------
All financial instruments of the Group are carried at cost, which approximate
their fair values.
5. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
--------------------
Accounts receivable comprised:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------ ----------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Trade receivables 82,947 127,354 16,433
Less: Allowance for bad and doubtful
accounts (3,526) (6,026) (778)
------------ ----------- ---------
Accounts receivable, net 79,421 121,328 15,655
============ =========== =========
F-12
<PAGE>
6. DEPOSITS AND PREPAYMENTS
------------------------
Deposits and prepayments comprised:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
-------------- --------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Rental and utility deposits 620 513 66
Prepayments 1,079 219 28
Temporary payment - 3,709 479
Others 1,365 203 26
------------- ----------- -----------
3,064 4,644 599
============= =========== ===========
7. INVENTORIES
-----------
Inventories comprised:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------- -----------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Raw materials 33,875 58,734 7,579
Finished goods 67,470 74,779 9,649
------------ ----------- --------
101,345 133,513 17,228
Less: Allowance for obsolete and
slow-moving inventories - (2,000) (258)
------------ ----------- --------
Inventories, net 101,345 131,513 16,970
============ =========== ========
As of March 31, 1998 and 1999, inventories of approximately HK$40,554,000 and
HK$121,542,000, respectively, were held under trust receipts bank loans.
F-13
<PAGE>
8. PROPERTY, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT AND CAPITAL LEASES
Property, machinery and equipment and capital leases comprised:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------ ----------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Property, machinery and equipment:
Leasehold land and building 1,973 1,973 255
Machinery and equipment 133,596 186,081 24,010
Motor vehicles 920 920 119
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment
23,170 39,540 5,102
Capital leases:
Machinery and equipment 37,563 38,178 4,926
------------ ----------- -----------
Cost 197,222 266,692 34,412
Less: Accumulated depreciation
Property, machinery and equipment
(34,027) (65,501) (8,451)
Capital leases (9,329) (16,964) (2,189)
------------ ----------- -----------
Property, machinery and equipment and
capital leases, net
153,866 184,227 23,772
============ =========== ===========
As of March 31, 1998 and 1999, all of the Group's leasehold land and building
was situated in Hong Kong and were held under a long-term lease.
As of March 31, 1998 and 1999, leasehold land and building with a net book value
of approximately HK$1,973,000 and HK$1,973,000, respectively, were mortgaged and
machinery and equipment with a net book value of approximately HK$1,923,000 and
HK$1,395,000, respectively, were pledged as collateral of certain of the Group's
banking facilities.
9. SHORT-TERM BANK BORROWINGS
--------------------------
Short-term bank borrowings comprised :
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------------ -----------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Bank overdraft 2,986 4,524 584
Short-term bank loan - 2,000 258
Trust receipts bank loans 40,554 121,542 15,683
------------ ------------ ----------
43,540 128,066 16,525
============ ============ ==========
F-14
<PAGE>
9. SHORT-TERM BANK BORROWINGS (Cont'd)
Short-term bank borrowings were denominated in Hong Kong dollars, and bore
interest at the Hong Kong prime lending rate to prime lending rate plus 3.50%,
which ranged from 9.25% to 12.25% per annum as of March 31, 1998 and 8.75% to
12.25% per annum as of March 31, 1999. Short-term bank borrowings are
collaterized by mortgages over the Group's leasehold land and building and
pledges of certain of the Group's machinery and equipment (see Note 8),
mortgages over leasehold land and buildings owned by Mr. Lam Sai Wing, Ms. Chan
Yam Fai, Jane and Ms. Ng Yee Mei, directors of the Company, and personal
guarantees provided by Mr. Lam Sai Wing and Ms. Chan Yam Fai, Jane.
Supplemental information with respect to short-term bank borrowings for the
years ended March 31, 1998 and 1999 is as follows:
<TABLE>
Maximum amount Average amount Weighted Weighted
outstanding outstanding average average
during the year during the year interest rate interest rate
at during the year
the end of year
------------------ ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
HK$'000 HK$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year ended March 31,
1998
Bank overdrafts 4,007 3,216 9.73% 11.87%
================== ================= ================= =================
Short-term bank loan - - - -
================== ================= ================= =================
Trust receipts bank loans 41,959 32,504 10.87% 10.08%
================== ================= ================= =================
Year ended March 31,
1999
Bank overdrafts 9,800 8,713 10.93% 11.73%
================== ================= ================= =================
Short-term bank loan 2,000 667 8.75% 8.81%
================== ================= ================= =================
Trust receipts bank loans 123,500 80,914 9.33% 10.12%
================== ================= ================= =================
</TABLE>
10. LONG-TERM BANK LOANS
Long-term bank loans were denominated in Hong Kong dollars, and bore interest at
the Hong Kong prime lending rate plus 0.25% to 3.50%, which ranged from 10.5% to
11.75% per annum as of March 31, 1998 and 9% to 11.5% per annum as of March 31,
1999. Long-term bank loans are collaterized by mortgages over the Group's
leasehold land and building and pledges of certain of the Group's machinery and
equipment (see Note 8), mortgages over certain leasehold land and buildings
owned by Mr. Lam Sai Wing, Ms. Chan Yam Fai, Jane and Ms. Ng Yee Mei, directors
of the Company and personal guarantees provided by Mr. Lam Sai Wing and Ms. Chan
Yam Fai, Jane.
F-15
<PAGE>
10. LONG-TERM BANK LOANS (Cont'd)
--------------------
Aggregate maturities of long-term bank loans are as follows:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------- --------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Payable during the following periods:
- - Within one year 2,273 2,812 363
- - Over one year but not
exceeding two years 1,952 2,137 276
- - Over two years but not
exceeding three years 898 1,043 135
- - Over three years but not
exceeding four years 1,022 1,153 149
- - Over four years but not
exceeding five years 1,146 1,274 164
- - Over five years 4,199 2,783 359
------------- ------------- ------------
Total bank loans 11,490 11,202 1,446
Less: Current portion (2,273) (2,812) (363)
------------- ------------- ------------
Non-current portion 9,217 8,390 1,083
============= ============= ============
11. CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
-------------------------
Future minimum lease payments under the capital leases, together with the
present value of the minimum lease payments, were:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------- -----------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Payable during the following periods:
- - Within one year 10,716 10,780 1,391
- - Over one year but not
exceeding two years 9,941 7,477 965
- - Over two years but not
exceeding three years 6,432 693 89
------------ ----------- ----------
Total minimum lease payments 27,089 18,950 2,445
Less: Amount representing future
interest (3,550) (1,736) (224)
------------ ----------- ----------
Present value of minimum lease payments
23,539 17,214 2,221
Less: Current portion (8,560) (9,487) (1,224)
------------ ----------- ----------
Non-current portion 14,979 7,727 997
============ =========== ==========
F-16
<PAGE>
12. ACCRUED LIABILITIES
-------------------
Accrued liabilities comprised:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
-------------- -----------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Accruals for operating expenses:
- - Audit fee 660 680 88
- - Workers' wages and bonus 2,092 2,716 350
- - Management bonus - 3,100 400
- - Rental expenses 155 150 19
- - Others - 25 4
----------- ----------- ------------
2,907 6,671 861
=========== =========== ============
13. CONVERTIBLE NOTE
----------------
On May 20, 1997, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, QPL, entered into
an agreement with Phenomenal Limited, an independent third party, under which
QPL issued a convertible note ("the Note") of US$10,000,000 (equivalent to
approximately HK$77,500,000) to Phenomenal Limited at face value. The Note bore
interest at 3% per month, and was repayable in a lump sum payment on March 20,
1998. As one of the conditions for the lending, the Company issued a
non-detachable warrant ("the Warrant") to Phenomenal Limited to subscribe for
5,263,158 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of US$2.19
(equivalent to approximately HK$16.97) per share. The Note was secured by
personal guarantees provided by Mr. Lam Sai Wing and Ms. Chan Yam Fai, Jane and
the 53.9% equity interest in the Company owned by Mr. Lam Sai Wing and Ms. Chan
Yam Fai, Jane. In accordance with the term of the agreement, the Warrant expired
on May 31, 1998.
On June 4, 1998, Phenomenal Limited agreed to extend the maturity date of the
Note from March 20, 1998 to June 4, 1998, and waive its entitlement to interest
accrued under the Note during the period from May 20, 1997 (date of issue of the
Note) to June 4, 1998. Also, the Group and Phenomenal Limited agreed to
restructure and capitalize the Note into redeemable preferred stocks of HFJCL,
another wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. As a result, on June 30, 1998,
HFJCL issued 5,263,788 shares of redeemable preferred stock of US$0.01
(equivalent to approximately HK$0.08) each ("the Preferred Stock") at
approximately US$1.90 (equivalent to approximately HK$14.73) per share to
Phenomenal Limited in replacement of the Note. Under the revised agreement,
Phenomenal Limited is required to convert its interest in the Preferred Stock to
common stocks of Hang Fung Gold Technology Limited, a subsidiary of the Company,
upon satisfaction of certain conditions. Alternatively, Phenomenal Limited has
an option to require HFJCL to redeem the Preferred Stock at a redemption amount
as determined in accordance with a pre-determined formula, or requires Mr. Lam
Sai Wing and Ms. Chan Yam Fai, Jane, directors of the Company to purchase the
Preferred Stock held by Phenomenal Limited in case HFJCL defaults in redeeming
the Preferred Stock.
On February 27, 1999, the Preferred Stock were redeemed by HFJCL and the
redeemed amount of US$10,000,000 (equivalent to approximately HK$77,500,000) was
applied by Phenomenal Limited towards the subscription of 582,800 shares of
common stock of Hang Fung Gold Technology Limited, according to the revised
agreement. Redeemable Preferred Stock dividend of HK$14,328,000 is payable to
Phenomenal Limited.
F-17
<PAGE>
14. PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes consisted of the following:
<TABLE>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
-------------- -------------- --------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Current tax
- - Hong Kong profits tax 5,388 2,212 13,000 1,677
- - PRC business tax and
enterprise income tax 8,893 6,477 4,253 548
Less: overprovision of PRC
business tax and enterprise income
tax in prior years
- (6,477) (2,506) (323)
Deferred tax 2,194 7,751 - -
------------ ------------- ----------- ----------
16,475 9,963 14,747 1,902
============ ============= =========== ==========
</TABLE>
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income taxes on an entity basis
on income arising in or derived from the tax jurisdiction in which they operate.
Subsidiaries with business operations in Hong Kong are subject to Hong Kong
profits tax at a rate of 16.5% and 16% for the year ended March 31, 1998 and
1999, respectively. The British Virgin Islands subsidiaries are incorporated
under the International Business Companies Act of the British Virgin Islands
and, accordingly, are exempted from payment of the British Virgin Islands income
taxes. The Bermuda subsidiary is incorporated under the Companies Act 1981 of
Bermuda (as amended) as an exempted company and, accordingly, is exempted from
payment of Bermuda income taxes until 2016.
The reconciliation of the Hong Kong statutory tax rate to the effective income
tax rate based on the income before income taxes as stated in the consolidated
statements of operations is as follows:
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
----------- ---------- ------------
Hong Kong statutory income tax rate 16.5% 16.5% 16.0%
General provision on tax charged in
foreign jurisdiction 15.2% 0.4% 3.5%
----------- ---------- ------------
Effective income tax rate 31.7% 16.9% 19.5%
=========== ========== ============
Components of deferred tax balances as of March 31, 1998 and 1999 are as
follows:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------- ------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Tax effect of accumulated difference
between taxation allowance and
depreciation expenses
9,945 9,945 1,283
============ ============ ============
F-18
<PAGE>
14. PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (Cont'd)
--------------------------
The retained earnings of the foreign subsidiaries would be subject to additional
taxation if distributed. In the opinion of the Directors these retained earnings
are, at the present time, required to finance the continuing operation of the
subsidiaries and, accordingly, no provision for additional taxation has been
made.
15. LOSS ON REDUCTION IN EQUITY INTEREST IN A SUBSIDIARY
----------------------------------------------------
On February 27, 1999, HFJCL, a subsidiary of the company, redeemed its
redeemable preferred stocks and Phenomenal Limited, the redeemable preferred
stock holder applied the redeemed proceeds, US$10,000,000 to subscribe for
582,800 shares of common stock of HFGTL, a then wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company, at US$17.16 each. On March 9, 1999, HFGTL, sold 78,750,000 common stock
at HK$0.9 in a public offering, receiving a net cash proceeds of HK$58,671,000,
after deducting the common stock issuance expenditure. Immediately after the
public offering, HFGTL capitalised share premium of approximately HK$23,425,000
for the issuance of 234,250,000 shares on a pro rata basis of the shareholders
of HFGTL before the public offering. Thus, after the share subscription and the
capitalization, Phenomenal Limited holds 68,843,250 shares of HFGTL. These
equity transactions resulting in a dilution of the Company's effective
percentage of shareholding of HFGTL from 100% to 53.145%. The loss resulting
from reduction of the Company's equity interest in HFGTL of approximately
HK$2,100,000 was charged to the consolidated statements of operations for the
year ended March 31,1999.
16. COMMITMENTS
-----------
a. Capital commitments
-------------------
As of March 31, 1998 and 1999, the Group had capital commitments for acquisition
of machinery and equipment amounting to approximately HK$602,000 and
HK$1,535,000, respectively.
b. Operating lease commitments
---------------------------
The Group has various operating lease agreements for staff quarters, factory
premises, warehouses and motor vehicles under non-cancellable operating leases
which extend to February 2003. Rental expenses for the years ended March 31,
1997, 1998 and 1999 were approximately HK$2,207,000, HK$4,745,000 and
HK$4,523,000, respectively. As of March 31, 1998 and 1999, future rental
payments under agreements classified as operating leases with non-cancellable
terms are as follows:
F-19
<PAGE>
16. COMMITMENTS (Cont'd)
-----------
b. Operating lease commitments (Cont'd)
---------------------------
<TABLE>
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------- ---------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Payable during the following periods:
- Within one year 2,720 2,951 381
- Over one year but not exceeding
two years 54 2,229 288
- Over two years but not exceeding
three years 54 504 65
- Over three years but not
exceeding four years 54 495 64
- Over four years but not exceeding
five years 31 448 57
- More than five years - 1,163 150
------------ ------------ ------------
2,913 7,790 1,005
============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
17. RETIREMENT PLAN
---------------
The Group's employees in the PRC are all employed on a contractual basis and
consequently the Group has no obligation for pension liabilities of these
employees.
The employees of the Group's operation in Hong Kong after completing twelve
month's service may join the Group's defined contribution pension fund managed
by an independent trustee. Both the Group and the employees make monthly
contributions to the scheme of 5% of the employees' basic salaries. The
employees are entitled to receive their entire contribution together with
accrued interest thereon at any time upon leaving the Group, and 100% of the
Group's employer contribution and the accrued interest thereon upon retirement
or leaving the Group after completing ten years of service or at a reduced scale
of between 30% to 90% after completing three to nine years of service. Any
forfeited contributions made by the Group and the accrued interest thereon are
used to reduce future employer's contributions. The aggregate amount of the
Group's employer contributions (net of forfeited contributions) for the years
ended March 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999 was approximately HK$76,000, HK$145,000 and
HK$93,000, respectively.
As at March 31, 1999, certain employees of the Group have completed the required
number of years of service under the Hong Kong Employment Ordinance ("the
Ordinance") to be eligible for long service payments on termination of their
employment. The Group is only liable to make such payments when the termination
meets the required circumstances specified in the Ordinance. If the termination
of employment of all these employees meets the circumstances required by the
Ordinance, the Group's liability, after deduction of the pension fund
liabilities, as at March 31, 1999 would be as follows:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------- -------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Amount provided for in the financial
statements 145 184 24
Amount not provided for in the
financial statements 159 231 30
------------- ------------ -----------
304 415 54
============= ============ ===========
F-20
<PAGE>
18. BANKING FACILITIES
As of March 31, 1998 and 1999, the Group had aggregate banking facilities of
approximately HK$96,471,000 and HK$184,807,000, respectively, from several banks
for bank overdrafts, loans and trade financing. Unused facilities as of the same
date amounted to approximately HK$19,964,000 and HK$27,926,000, respectively.
These facilities were secured by:
i. pledge of machinery and equipment with a net book value of approximately
HK$1,923,000 and HK$1,395,000 as of March 31, 1998 and 1999, respectively;
ii. mortgage over the Group's leasehold land and building with a net book value
of approximately HK$1,973,000 and HK$1,973,000 as of March 31, 1998 and
1999, respectively;
iii. the Group's stocks held under trust receipts bank loans;
iv. pledges of the Group's bank deposits of HK$10,000,000 and HK$60,150,000 as
of March 31, 1998 and 1999, respectively;
v. mortgages over certain leasehold land and buildings owned by Mr. Lam Sai
Wing, Ms. Chan Yam Fai, Jane and Ms. Ng Yee Mei, directors of the Company;
vi. personal guarantees provided by Mr. Lam Sai Wing and Ms. Chan Yam Fai,
Jane; and
vii. corporate guarantee provided by the Company.
19. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
--------------------------
a. The Group entered into the following transactions with related parties:
<TABLE>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
----------- ----------- -----------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Rental paid to Ms. Chan Yam
Fai, Jane 1,350 1,350 - -
Rental paid to Mr. Lam Sai Wing
- - 162 21
=========== =========== =========== ==========
</TABLE>
b. The Group had the following outstanding balances with a director:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------- -----------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Due to a director
- Mr. Lam Sai Wing (8,010) (3,101) (400)
============== ========== =========
The balances due to a director were unsecured, non-interest bearing and without
pre-determined repayment terms.
F-21
<PAGE>
19. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Cont'd)
--------------------------
c. The Group's banking facilities were secured by, among others, mortgages
over leasehold land and buildings owned by Mr. Lam Sai Wing, Ms. Chan Yam
Fai, Jane and Ms. Ng Yee Mei and personal guarantees provided by Mr. Lam
Sai Wing and Ms. Chan Yam Fai, Jane.
20. SEGMENT INFORMATION
-------------------
a. Revenue
<TABLE>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------- ------------- ---------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales of jewellery products to
customers in
- Hong Kong 120,989 80,058 54,929 7,088
- PRC 62,252 77,527 122,659 15,827
- Middle East (export
sales) 44,461 72,161 108,086 13,947
- South East Asia
(export sales) 35,684 94,739 128,352 16,562
- Europe (export sales) 11,657 45,614 136,880 17,661
- United States of
America (export sales)
10,101 79,137 107,884 13,920
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------
285,144 449,236 658,790 85,005
============ ============= ============= ============
Contract processing fees
- PRC 31,996 33,360 17,012 2,195
============ ============= ============= ============
</TABLE>
b. Operating profit *
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
---------- ----------- ----------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Hong Kong operation 18,667 27,103 69,943 9,024
The PRC operation 38,992 36,704 17,960 2,317
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Total 57,659 63,807 87,903 11,341
========== ========== ========== =========
* Operating profit represents gross profit less selling, general and
administrative expenses.
F-22
<PAGE>
20. SEGMENT INFORMATION (Cont'd)
-------------------
c. Identifiable assets
-------------------
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------ -------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Hong Kong operation 272,783 417,179 53,830
The PRC operation 81,130 153,977 19,868
------------ ---------- -----------
Total 353,913 571,156 73,698
============ ========== ===========
d. Major customers
---------------
Details of individual customers accounting for more than 5% of the Group's sales
are as follows:
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
------------ ----------- ----------
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co.,
Ltd. 12.3% 5.9% 2.0%
World Commercial Sales Co.
Ltd. 6.4% 2.3% 0.9%
Sam Ming Tong Jewellery Co.,
Ltd. 3.0% 5.5% 4.9%
============== =========== ==========
21. OPERATING RISKS
---------------
a. Country risk
------------
The Group's operations are conducted in Hong Kong and the PRC. Accordingly, the
Group's business, financial position and results of operations may be influenced
by the political, economic and legal environments in Hong Kong and the PRC, and
by the general state of the Hong Kong and the PRC economies.
Effective from July 1, 1997, sovereignty over Hong Kong was transferred from the
United Kingdom to the PRC, and Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region
of the PRC. As provided in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong, Hong Kong will have
full economic autonomy and its own legislative, legal and judicial systems for
fifty years. The Group's management does not believe that the transfer of
sovereignty over Hong Kong had an adverse impact on the Group's financial and
operating environment. There can be no assurance, however, that changes in
political or other conditions will not result in such an adverse impact.
The Group's operations in the PRC are subject to special considerations and
significant risks not typically associated with companies in North America and
Western Europe. These include risks associated with, among others, the
political, economic and legal environments and foreign currency exchange. The
Group's results may be adversely affected by changes in the political and social
conditions in the PRC, and by changes in governmental policies with respect to
laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion and
remittance abroad, and rates and methods of taxation, among other things.
F-23
<PAGE>
21. OPERATING RISKS (Cont'd)
---------------
b. Dependence on strategic relationship
------------------------------------
Gold and silver products are restricted commodities in the PRC and special
authorization is required for production and trading of gold and silver products
in the PRC. The PRC government has only granted a few licences to PRC
enterprises to produce and trade gold and silver products in the PRC. The
Group's present operations in the PRC are conducted through various contract
processing agreements with those PRC enterprises as described in Note 1. Any
changes in any of these strategic relationships could have a material adverse
effect on the revenue and profitability of the Group and could potentially limit
the Group's ability to continue to conduct business in the PRC.
c. Concentration of credit risk
----------------------------
Concentration of accounts receivable as of March 31, 1998 and 1999 is as
follows:
1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
--------- ----------
Five largest accounts receivable 30.1% 18.5%
========= ==========
The Group performs ongoing credit evaluation of each customer's financial
condition. It maintains reserves for potential credit losses and such losses in
the aggregate have not exceeded management's projections.
d. Dependence on a limited number of suppliers
-------------------------------------------
The Group purchases raw materials from a limited number of suppliers.
Concentration on the Group's suppliers for the years ended March 31, 1997, 1998
and 1999 is as follows:
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
---------- ----------- ---------
Purchases from five largest suppliers
81.7% 66.2% 77.0%
========== =========== =========
22. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
-------------------------------------------------
a. Cash paid for interest and income taxes are as follows:
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
----------- ------------ ------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Interest paid 3,007 5,513 11,588 1,495
=========== ============ ========== =========
Income taxes - 3,664 147 19
=========== ============ ========== =========
b. Cash received for interest income are as follows:
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
----------- ----------- ---------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
Interest received 1 1,065 3,234 417
=========== =========== ========== ==========
F-24
<PAGE>
22. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Cont'd)
------------------------------------------------
c. Non-cash investing activities
i. During the years ended March 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, capital lease
obligations of approximately HK$6,750,000, HK$29,644,000 and
HK$2,234,000, respectively, were incurred to finance the Group's
additions of new machinery and equipment.
ii. As described in Note 13, on May 20, 1997, the Company and its wholly
owned subsidiary, QPL, entered into an agreement with Phenomenal
Limited, an independent third party, under which QPL issued a
convertible note ("the Note") of US$10,000,000 to Phenomenal Limited
at face value. On June 4, 1998, the Company and Phenomenal Limited
agreed to restructure and capitalize the Note into redeemable
preferred stocks of HFJCL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
As a result, on June 30, 1998, HFJCL issued to Phenomenal Limited
5,263,788 shares of redeemable preferred stocks of US$0.01 each at a
consideration of US$10,000,000, by using the cash proceeds of the
convertible note. On February 27, 1999, pursuant to the group
reorganization for the listing on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong
Limited of HFGTL, the redeemable preferred stocks were redeemed at
US$10,000,000 and Phenomenal Limited used the redemption proceeds to
subscribe for 582,800 common stock of HFGTL.
23. OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
------------------------------
<TABLE>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9
---------------- ---------------- -------------------------------
HK$'000 HK$'000 HK$'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Depreciation of property, machinery
and equipment
- - owned assets 6,451 15,634 31,474 4,061
- - assets held under capital 1,584 7,513 7,635 985
leases
Allowance for doubtful accounts - - 2,500 323
Allowance for obsolete and slow-moving
inventories - - 2,000 258
Interest expenses for
- - bank overdrafts and loans 2,727 4,475 9,585 1,237
- - capital lease obligations 280 1,038 2,003 258
Operating lease rentals for
- - premises 2,207 4,745 4,443 573
- - machinery & equipment - - 80 10
Repairs and maintenance expenses 357 667 721 93
Rental income 105 55 101 13
Net foreign exchange gain (loss) 192 (12) 149 19
Interest income from bank deposits 1 1,065 3,234 417
============= ============= ============ ==============
</TABLE>
F-25
THIS AGREEMENT is made on the 1st day of March 1999
BETWEEN:
(1) HANG FUNG GOLD TECHNOLOGY LIMITED whose principal place of business is at
Unit 25-32, 2nd Floor, Block B, Focal Industrial Centre, 21 Man Lok Street,
Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong (the "Company"); and
(2) LAM SAI WING of Flat D, 10th Floor, Block B, Mountain Court, No.5 Ho Man
Tin Hill Road, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong (the "Executive").
WHEREAS the Company has agreed to employ the Executive and the Executive has
agreed to serve the Company as an executive director on the following terms and
conditions.
WHEREBY IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. INTERPRETATION
(A) In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:-
"Board" means the board of directors of the Company from time to time;
"Business" means all the business and affairs carried out by the Group from
time to time and with which the Executive was concerned during the 12 month
period prior to the termination of the Employment;
"Companies Ordinance" means the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of
Hong Kong) from time to time amended or re-enacted;
"Group" means the Company and its subsidiaries from time to time (and the
expression "member of the Group" shall be construed accordingly);
"Group Employee" means any person who was employed by the Group for at
least three months prior to and on the Termination Date, and
(i) with whom the Executive has had personal contact or dealings in
performing his duties of employment; or
(ii) who has or has had material contact with customers or suppliers of the
Group in performing his or her duties of employment with the Group; or
(iii)who was a member of the management team of any company within the
Group.
"Hong Kong" means the Hong Kong Special Administrative region of the PRC;
"HK$" means Hong Kong dollars;
<PAGE>
"Listing Rules" means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
"PRC" means the People's Republic of China;
"Stock Exchange" means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
"subsidiary" means a company:
(a) of which the Company controls the composition of the board of
directors; or
(b) of which the Company controls more than half of the voting power; or
(c) of which the Company holds more than half of the issued share capital
(excluding any part of it which carries no right to participate beyond
a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital); or
(d) which is a subsidiary of any company which is a subsidiary of the
Company; and
"Termination Date" means the date when the Executive's employment with the
Company terminates.
(B) References herein to Clauses and Schedules are references to the clauses
and schedules of this Agreement which shall be deemed to form part of this
Agreement. The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of
reference only and do not affect the interpretation hereof.
(C) References herein to one gender include references to all other genders.
References herein to persons include references to individuals, firms,
companies, corporations and unincorporated bodies of persons and vice
versa. References herein to the singular number include references to the
plural and vice versa.
(D) Terms defined in Section 2 of the Companies Ordinance shall in this
Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in that section.
2. EMPLOYMENT
The Company will employ the Executive and the Executive hereby agrees to
serve the Company as an executive director upon the terms and subject to
the conditions hereinafter appearing.
2
<PAGE>
3. DURATION
The employment of the Executive by the Company commenced on 1 October 1998
for an initial term of three years. Subject to Clause 10, either party may
terminate this Agreement by giving not less than three months' written
notice or payment of salary in lieu thereof to the other party, such notice
to expire no earlier than on 30 September 2001.
4. EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES
The Executive shall, during the continuance of his employment hereunder:
(a) serve the Company as an executive director and, in such capacity,
perform such duties and exercise the powers from time to time assigned
to or vested in him by the Board;
(b) comply with and conform to any lawful instructions or directions from
time to time given or made by the Board, or with the authority of the
Board, and shall comply with the Company's rules, regulations,
policies and procedures from time to time in force;
(c) faithfully and diligently serve the Group and use his best endeavours
to promote the business and interests thereof;
(d) devote himself exclusively and diligently to the business and
interests of the Group and personally attend thereto at all times
during usual business hours and during such other times as the Company
may reasonably require except in case of incapacity through illness or
accident in which case he shall forthwith notify the Secretary of the
Company of such incapacity and shall furnish to the Board such
evidence thereof as it may require;
(e) keep the Board promptly and fully informed (in writing if so
requested) of his conduct of the business or affairs of the Group and
provide such explanations as the Board may require in connection
therewith;
(f) comply to the best of his ability with the Listing Rules from time to
time in force for so long as the Company is listed on the Stock
Exchange; and
(g) not demand or accept or permit any member of his family to demand or
accept from third parties any gifts, benefits or advantages offered or
given to the Executive or a member of his family by reason of his
employment with the Company.
3
<PAGE>
5. REMUNERATION
5.1 The remuneration of the Executive shall be:
(a) a monthly salary of HK$100,000 payable in arrears payable no later
than the last day of the month to which such salary relates, such
salary to include any sum receivable as director's fees or other
remuneration from any other member of the Group. This salary will be
reviewed by the Board on or around 1 April each year. Any annual
increment of the Executive's monthly salary under this Clause shall
not exceed 15% of the Executive's then existing monthly salary;
(b) a guaranteed annual double pay equivalent to one month's salary, which
will be paid on or around the Chinese New Year period. If the
Executive joins or leaves (other than as a result of voluntary
resignation or summary dismissal) during the calendar year, this
double pay will be calculated on a pro rata basis provided the
Executive was employed for at least three months during the relevant
calendar year; and
(c) a discretionary bonus of such amounts (if any) at such times and
subject to such conditions as the Board may in its absolute discretion
decide. Such bonus, if payable, shall be calculated as a percentage of
the consolidated net profit after taxation and extraordinary items of
the Group of each financial year (as disclosed by the audited
consolidated accounts of the Group) (the "Consolidated Profit")
provided that the aggregate amount of bonus payable to all the
executive directors shall not exceed five per cent (5%) of the
Consolidated Profit for the relevant year during the term of this
Agreement. The Executive will not be eligible to be considered for
such a bonus if he has left the employment of the Company or is
serving out any notice given to him by the Company to terminate his
employment at the date when the Company's annual bonuses are declared.
5.2 The discretionary bonus referred to in Clause 5.1(c) shall be payable in
respect of each financial year within thirty (30) days after the issue of
the audited consolidated accounts of the Group for such financial year.
5.3 The Executive shall not vote or be counted in the quorum in respect of any
resolution regarding the amount of monthly salary, guaranteed double pay or
discretionary bonus payable to him.
5.4 The Company may arrange for the whole or any part of the Executive's
remuneration payable hereunder to be paid by one or more members of the
Group to which the Executive has provided or may provide services pursuant
to this Agreement.
4
<PAGE>
6. OTHER BENEFITS
In addition to the foregoing remuneration and benefits, the Executive shall
also be entitled to the following, subject to determination by the Board as
to the appropriate level of cost of each item:
(a) the provision of medical, dental and optical insurance under such
insurance scheme as the Board may decide from time to time at the
expense of the Company for the benefit of the Executive, his spouse
and dependant children under the age of 18;
(b) membership of the Group's provident fund subject to the terms and
conditions of such scheme from time to time in force;
(c) the shared use of a Company owned car, together with the other
executive directors of the Company, in respect of which the Company
shall pay all maintenance, petrol and parking costs;
(d) the Company shall pay for all the maintenance, petrol and parking
costs in respect of one car owned by the Executive;
(e) the provision of rent-free housing accommodation in respect of which
the Company shall pay for all rates, management fees and other
outgoings including water, electricity, gas and telephone charges. The
monthly rental payable by the Company for such accommodation shall not
exceed HK$30,000 or such higher amount to be decided by the Company;
and
(f) the provision of an education allowance up to a maximum amount of
HK$300,000 per year, or such higher amount to be decided by the
Company, to reimburse the Executive against the tuition fees incurred
in respect of his dependant children under the age of 18.
7. EXPENSES
The Company shall reimburse the Executive (against receipts or such other
reasonable evidence of expenditure as the Board may require) for all
reasonable expenses properly incurred in the course of his employment
hereunder or in promoting or otherwise in connection with the business of
the Group.
5
<PAGE>
8. DEDUCTIONS
The Company shall to the extent permitted by s.32 of the Employment
Ordinance of the Laws of Hong Kong, be entitled to deduct from the
Executive's remuneration hereunder any monies due from him to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries including, but not limited to, any outstanding
loans, advances, the cost of repairing any damage to or loss of the Group's
property caused by him (and of recovering the same) and any other monies
owed by him to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
9. LEAVE
9.1 The Executive shall be entitled after completion of each year of service
with the Company to twenty-one working days' annual leave (in addition to
public holidays) with full pay, which leave shall be taken at such time or
times as may be approved by the Board.
9.2 Unused annual leave may be carried forward from time to time.
10. TERMINATION
10.1 If at any time during the term of his employment hereunder the Executive
shall:
(a) be guilty of or commit any serious misconduct which in the absolute
opinion of the Board is in any way detrimental to the interests of any
member of the Group;
(b) be in breach of any material term of this Agreement;
(c) commit any act of bankruptcy or become insolvent or make any
arrangements or composition with his creditors generally;
(d) fail to pay his personal debts;
(e) be convicted of any criminal offence involving his integrity or
honesty; or
(f) refuse to carry out any reasonable lawful order given to him by the
Board in the course of his employment or fail diligently to attend to
his duties hereunder;
the Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder forthwith
without any notice or payment in lieu of notice and upon such termination
the Executive shall not be entitled to any payment or other benefits
whatsoever (other than in respect of unpaid salary and unused annual leave
actually accrued) for or in respect of the then current year of service or
to claim any compensation or damages for or in respect of or by reason of
such termination.
6
<PAGE>
10.2 In the event of termination of the Executive's employment for whatever
reason, the Executive shall (if not already vacated from such office(s))
forthwith resign as a director of the Company and from all offices held by
him in any member of the Group.
10.3 Any delay or forbearance by the Company in exercising any right to
terminate this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right.
11. NO RIGHT TO WORK
The Company shall be under no obligation to provide any work for the
Executive during any period of notice either given by the Company or the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment under this Agreement. The
Company may at any time during the said period suspend the Executive from
his employment or exclude him from any premises of the Company. Provided
that during such period the Executive shall continue to receive salary and
all other contractual benefits provided by this Agreement.
12. EXECUTIVE'S UNDERTAKINGS
12.1 The Executive shall not either during the continuance of his employment
hereunder or at any time thereafter:
(a) divulge to any person whomsoever or to any body corporate or
unincorporate (except to those officers of the Group whose province it
is to know the same); or
(b) use for his own purposes or for any purposes other than those of the
Group and shall use his best endeavours to prevent the unauthorised
publication or disclosure of any trade secret or any confidential
information concerning the business or finances of any member of the
Group or any of its dealings, transactions or affairs or those of its
customers, suppliers, management and shareholders which may come to
his knowledge during or in the course of his employment including but
not limited to any such information relating to customers, customer
lists or requirements or ways of dealing with customers, pricing
structures, marketing and sales information, business plans or
dealings, employees or officers, financial information, accounts and
plans, designs, formulae, product lines, prototypes, services,
research activities, source codes and computer systems, software,
technical information, any document marked "Confidential" (or with a
similar expression), or any information which he has been told is
confidential or which he might reasonably expect the Group would
regard as confidential, or any information which has been given to the
Group in confidence by customers and other persons.
7
<PAGE>
12.2 Forthwith upon the termination of the employment of the Executive
hereunder, and/or at any other time if the Company shall so request, the
Executive shall deliver to the Company all documents (including
correspondence, lists of customers, notes, memoranda, plans, drawings and
other documents of whatsoever nature), models or samples made or compiled
by or delivered to the Executive during his employment hereunder and
concerning the business, finances or affairs of any member of the Group.
For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the property in all
such documents as aforesaid shall at all times be vested in the relevant
member of the Group.
12.3 The Executive shall not at any time during the continuance of his
employment hereunder or for a period of twelve months immediately following
the Termination Date whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other
person or body corporate or unincorporate directly or indirectly:
(a) at any place within Hong Kong carry on or be concerned as a
shareholder, director, employee, partner, manager, consultant, adviser
or otherwise to or in any person, firm or company engaged in any
business in competition with the business(es) of the Company in the
faithful performance of which it could be reasonably anticipated that
the Executive would or would be required or expected to use or
disclose any confidential information or trade secrets of the Company
or any member of the Group provided that the provisions of this clause
shall only apply in respect of products or services with which the
Executive was personally concerned or for which the Executive was
responsible during the Executive's employment hereunder;
(b) solicit or entice away from any member of the Group or deal with any
person or body corporate or unincorporate who now is or at the
Termination Date may have become a customer or supplier of any member
of the Group and with whom the Executive had personal contact or
dealings during the twelve months immediately preceding the
Termination Date;
(c) encourage or procure any person who is a Group Employee or director of
any member of the Group to leave the Group's employment, where that
person is a Group Employee or director of any member of the Group on
the Termination Date; or
(d) accept into employment or otherwise engage or use the services of any
person who is a Group Employee or director or consultant to any member
of the Group on the Termination Date, and who by reason thereof is or
may be likely to be in possession of any confidential information
relating to the Group's business or otherwise.
12.4 Each of the above restrictions constitutes an entirely separate and
independent restriction on the Executive.
8
<PAGE>
12.5 While at the date of this Agreement the duration, extent and application of
each of the above restrictions are considered by the parties no greater
than is necessary for the protection of the interests of the Company and
any member of the Group and reasonable in all the circumstances, if
unforeseen changes occur or court judgements are delivered which would
render any of the provisions invalid or void, the parties declare that each
of the restrictions or any parts thereof being separate and severable shall
where appropriate be deleted or amended to the extent necessary to make
such restrictions effective and enforceable.
12.6 The Executive shall comply, where relevant, with every rule of law, every
rule and regulation of the Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange on
which he deals and every regulation, code of practice and the bye-laws of
the Company in force in relation to dealings in shares, debentures or other
securities of the companies in the Group and in relation to unpublished
price-sensitive information affecting the shares, debentures or other
securities of any company in the Group, including (without limitation) the
Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Companies set
out in Appendix 10 to the Listing Rules and the provisions of the
Securities (Insider Dealing) Ordinance, Provided always that in relation to
overseas dealings the Executive shall also comply with all laws of the
state and all rules and regulations of the stock exchange, market or
dealing system in which such dealings take place.
13. PLACE OF WORK/SECONDMENT
13.1 The Executive's normal place of work shall be Unit 25-32, 2nd Floor, Block
B, Focal Industrial Centre, 21 Man Lok Street, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
but the Company reserves the right to change this to any place within or
outside Hong Kong. The Executive will be given at least one month's notice
of any such change. The Executive will be provided with such financial or
other relocation assistance as may be payable under any relevant policy
which the Group may operate at the relevant time.
13.2 The executive acknowledges and agrees the Company may from time to time
transfer or second his services to any other member of the Group as part of
any reorganisation or otherwise and either permanently or temporarily.
14. MISCELLANEOUS
14.1 This Agreement shall be in substitution for any subsisting agreement or
arrangement (oral or otherwise) made between the Company and the Executive
which shall be deemed to have been terminated by mutual consent as from the
date on which the Executive's employment under this Agreement commences.
14.2 The expiration or termination of this Agreement howsoever arising shall not
operate to affect such of the provisions hereof as in accordance with their
terms are expressed to operate or have effect thereafter.
9
<PAGE>
14.3 In the event of any variation of the remuneration payable to the Executive
hereunder being made by consent of the parties hereto such variation shall
not constitute a new agreement but (subject to any express agreement to the
contrary) the employment of the Executive hereunder shall continue subject
in all respects to the terms and conditions of this Agreement with such
variation as aforesaid.
14.4 Each notice, demand or other communication given or made under this
Agreement shall be in writing and delivered or sent to the relevant party
at its address or fax number set out below (or such other address or fax
number as the addressee has by five days prior written notice specified to
the other party):
To the Company: Hang Fung Gold Technology Limited
Unit 25-32, 2nd Floor
Block B, Focal Industrial Centre
21 Man Lok Street
Hunghom, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Fax Number: 2362 3034
Attention: Board of Directors
To the Executive: Lam Sai Wing
Flat D, 10th Floor, Block B
Mountain Court
No.5 Ho Man Tin Hill Road
Ho Man Tin
Kowloon
Hong Kong
Fax Number:2362 3034
Any notice, demand or other communication so addressed to the relevant
party shall be deemed to have been delivered (a) if given or made by
letter, when actually delivered to the relevant address; and (b) if given
or made by fax, when despatched subject to receipt of machine-printed
confirmation of error-free despatch.
14.5 If at any time any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal,
invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the legality, validity and
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or impaired thereby.
14.6 No failure or delay by the Company in exercising any right, power or remedy
under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of the same preclude any further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. Without
limiting the foregoing, no waiver by the Company of any breach by the
Executive of any provision in this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver
of any subsequent breach of that or any other provision in this Agreement.
10
<PAGE>
14.7 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of Hong Kong and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Hong Kong courts.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have signed this document on the date
appearing at the head hereof.
SIGNED by )
for and on behalf of )
HANG FUNG GOLD )
TECHNOLOGY LIMITED )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
LAM SAI WING )
in the presence of: )
DATED March 1, 1999
11
<PAGE>
THIS AGREEMENT is made on the 1st day of March 1999
BETWEEN:
(1) HANG FUNG GOLD TECHNOLOGY LIMITED whose principal place of business is at
Unit 25-32, 2nd Floor, Block B, Focal Industrial Centre, 21 Man Lok Street,
Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong (the "Company"); and
(2) CHAN YAM FAI, JANE of Flat D, 10th Floor, Block B, Mountain Court, No.5 Ho
Man Tin Hill Road, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong (the "Executive").
WHEREAS the Company has agreed to employ the Executive and the Executive has
agreed to serve the Company as an executive director on the following terms and
conditions.
WHEREBY IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:-
1. INTERPRETATION
(A) In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:-
"Board" means the board of directors of the Company from time to time;
"Business" means all the business and affairs carried out by the Group from
time to time and with which the Executive was concerned during the 12 month
period prior to the termination of the Employment;
"Companies Ordinance" means the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of
Hong Kong) from time to time amended or re-enacted;
"Group" means the Company and its subsidiaries from time to time (and the
expression "member of the Group" shall be construed accordingly);
"Group Employee" means any person who was employed by the Group for at
least three months prior to and on the Termination Date, and
(i) with whom the Executive has had personal contact or dealings in
performing his duties of employment; or
(ii) who has or has had material contact with customers or suppliers of the
Group in performing his or her duties of employment with the Group; or
(iii)who was a member of the management team of any company within the
Group.
"Hong Kong" means the Hong Kong Special Administrative region of the PRC;
1
<PAGE>
"HK$" means Hong Kong dollars;
"Listing Rules" means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
"PRC" means the People's Republic of China;
"Stock Exchange" means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
"subsidiary" means a company:
(a) of which the Company controls the composition of the board of
directors; or
(b) of which the Company controls more than half of the voting power;
or
(c) of which the Company holds more than half of the issued share
capital (excluding any part of it which carries no right to
participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either
profits or capital); or
(d) which is a subsidiary of any company which is a subsidiary of the
Company; and
"Termination Date" means the date when the Executive's employment with the
Company terminates.
(B) References herein to Clauses and Schedules are references to the clauses
and schedules of this Agreement which shall be deemed to form part of this
Agreement. The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of
reference only and do not affect the interpretation hereof.
(C) References herein to one gender include references to all other genders.
References herein to persons include references to individuals, firms,
companies, corporations and unincorporated bodies of persons and vice
versa. References herein to the singular number include references to the
plural and vice versa.
(D) Terms defined in Section 2 of the Companies Ordinance shall in this
Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in that section.
2. EMPLOYMENT
----------
The Company will employ the Executive and the Executive hereby agrees to
serve the Company as an executive director upon the terms and subject to
the conditions hereinafter appearing.
2
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3. DURATION
--------
The employment of the Executive by the Company commenced on 1 October 1998
for an initial term of three years. Subject to Clause 10, either party may
terminate this Agreement at any time by giving not less than three months'
written notice or payment of salary in lieu thereof to the other party.
3
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4. EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES
------------------
The Executive shall, during the continuance of his employment hereunder:
(a) serve the Company as an executive director and, in such capacity,
perform such duties and exercise the powers from time to time assigned
to or vested in him by the Board;
(b) comply with and conform to any lawful instructions or directions from
time to time given or made by the Board, or with the authority of the
Board, and shall comply with the Company's rules, regulations,
policies and procedures from time to time in force;
(c) faithfully and diligently serve the Group and use his best endeavours
to promote the business and interests thereof;
(d) devote himself exclusively and diligently to the business and
interests of the Group and personally attend thereto at all times
during usual business hours and during such other times as the Company
may reasonably require except in case of incapacity through illness or
accident in which case he shall forthwith notify the Secretary of the
Company of such incapacity and shall furnish to the Board such
evidence thereof as it may require;
(e) keep the Board promptly and fully informed (in writing if so
requested) of his conduct of the business or affairs of the Group and
provide such explanations as the Board may require in connection
therewith;
(f) comply to the best of his ability with the Listing Rules from time to
time in force for so long as the Company is listed on the Stock
Exchange; and
(g) not demand or accept or permit any member of his family to demand or
accept from third parties any gifts, benefits or advantages offered or
given to the Executive or a member of his family by reason of his
employment with the Company.
5. REMUNERATION
------------
5.1 The remuneration of the Executive shall be:
(a) a monthly salary of HK$30,000 payable in arrears payable no later than
the last day of the month to which such salary relates, such salary to
include any sum receivable as director's fees or other remuneration
from any other member of the Group. This salary will be reviewed by
the Board on or around 1 April each year. Any annual increment of the
Executive's monthly salary under this Clause shall not exceed 15% of
the Executive's then existing monthly salary;
4
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(b) a guaranteed annual double pay equivalent to one month's salary, which
will be paid on or around the Chinese New Year period. If the
Executive joins or leaves (other than as a result of voluntary
resignation or summary dismissal) during the calendar year, this
double pay will be calculated on a pro rata basis provided the
Executive was employed for at least three months during the relevant
calendar year; and
(c) a discretionary bonus of such amounts (if any) at such times and
subject to such conditions as the Board may in its absolute discretion
decide. Such bonus, if payable, shall be calculated as a percentage of
the consolidated net profit after taxation and extraordinary items of
the Group of each financial year (as disclosed by the audited
consolidated accounts of the Group) (the "Consolidated Profit")
provided that the aggregate amount of bonus payable to all the
executive directors shall not exceed five per cent (5%) of the
Consolidated Profit for the relevant year during the term of this
Agreement. The Executive will not be eligible to be considered for
such a bonus if he has left the employment of the Company or is
serving out any notice given to him by the Company to terminate his
employment at the date when the Company's annual bonuses are declared.
5.2 The discretionary bonus referred to in Clause 5.1(c) shall be payable in
respect of each financial year within thirty (30) days after the issue of
the audited consolidated accounts of the Group for such financial year.
5.3 The Executive shall not vote or be counted in the quorum in respect of any
resolution regarding the amount of monthly salary, guaranteed double pay or
discretionary bonus payable to him.
5.4 The Company may arrange for the whole or any part of the Executive's
remuneration payable hereunder to be paid by one or more members of the
Group to which the Executive has provided or may provide services pursuant
to this Agreement.
6. OTHER BENEFITS
--------------
In addition to the foregoing remuneration and benefits, the Executive shall
also be entitled to the following, subject to determination by the Board as
to the appropriate level of cost of each item:
(a) the provision of medical, dental and optical insurance under such
insurance scheme as the Board may decide from time to time at the
expense of the Company for the benefit of the Executive, his spouse
and dependant children under the age of 18;
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(b) membership of the Group's provident fund subject to the terms and
conditions of such scheme from time to time in force;
(c) the shared use of a Company owned car, together with the other
executive directors of the Company, in respect of which the Company
shall pay all maintenance, petrol and parking costs; and
(d) the Company shall pay for all the maintenance, petrol and parking
costs in respect of one car owned by the Executive.
7. EXPENSES
--------
The Company shall reimburse the Executive (against receipts or such other
reasonable evidence of expenditure as the Board may require) for all
reasonable expenses properly incurred in the course of his employment
hereunder or in promoting or otherwise in connection with the business of
the Group.
8. DEDUCTIONS
----------
The Company shall to the extent permitted by s.32 of the Employment
Ordinance of the Laws of Hong Kong, be entitled to deduct from the
Executive's remuneration hereunder any monies due from him to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries including, but not limited to, any outstanding
loans, advances, the cost of repairing any damage to or loss of the Group's
property caused by him (and of recovering the same) and any other monies
owed by him to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
9. LEAVE
------
9.1 The Executive shall be entitled after completion of each year of service
with the Company to twenty-one working days' annual leave (in addition to
public holidays) with full pay, which leave shall be taken at such time or
times as may be approved by the Board.
9.2 Unused annual leave may be carried forward from time to time.
10. TERMINATION
-----------
10.1 If at any time during the term of his employment hereunder the Executive
shall:
(a) be guilty of or commit any serious misconduct which in the absolute
opinion of the Board is in any way detrimental to the interests of any
member of the Group;
(b) be in breach of any material term of this Agreement;
(c) commit any act of bankruptcy or become insolvent or make any
arrangements or composition with his creditors generally;
(d) fail to pay his personal debts;
(e) be convicted of any criminal offence involving his integrity or
honesty; or
(f) refuse to carry out any reasonable lawful order given to him by the
Board in the course of his employment or fail diligently to attend to
his duties hereunder;
the Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder
forthwith without any notice or payment in lieu of notice and upon
such termination the Executive shall not be entitled to any payment or
other benefits whatsoever (other than in respect of unpaid salary and
unused annual leave actually accrued) for or in respect of the then
current year of service or to claim any compensation or damages for or
in respect of or by reason of such termination.
10.2 In the event of termination of the Executive's employment for whatever
reason, the Executive shall (if not already vacated from such office(s))
forthwith resign as a director of the Company and from all offices held by
him in any member of the Group.
10.3 Any delay or forbearance by the Company in exercising any right to
terminate this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right.
11. NO RIGHT TO WORK
----------------
The Company shall be under no obligation to provide any work for the
Executive during any period of notice either given by the Company or the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment under this Agreement. The
Company may at any time during the said period suspend the Executive from
his employment or exclude him from any premises of the Company. Provided
that during such period the Executive shall continue to receive salary and
all other contractual benefits provided by this Agreement.
12. EXECUTIVE'S UNDERTAKINGS
------------------------
12.1 The Executive shall not either during the continuance of his employment
hereunder or at any time thereafter:
6
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(a) divulge to any person whomsoever or to any body corporate or
unincorporate (except to those officers of the Group whose province it
is to know the same); or
(b) use for his own purposes or for any purposes other than those of the
Group and shall use his best endeavours to prevent the unauthorised
publication or disclosure of any trade secret or any confidential
information concerning the business or finances of any member of the
Group or any of its dealings, transactions or affairs or those of its
customers, suppliers, management and shareholders which may come to
his knowledge during or in the course of his employment including but
not limited to any such information relating to customers, customer
lists or requirements or ways of dealing with customers, pricing
structures, marketing and sales information, business plans or
dealings, employees or officers, financial information, accounts and
plans, designs, formulae, product lines, prototypes, services,
research activities, source codes and computer systems, software,
technical information, any document marked "Confidential" (or with a
similar expression), or any information which he has been told is
confidential or which he might reasonably expect the Group would
regard as confidential, or any information which has been given to the
Group in confidence by customers and other persons.
12.2 Forthwith upon the termination of the employment of the Executive
hereunder, and/or at any other time if the Company shall so request, the
Executive shall deliver to the Company all documents (including
correspondence, lists of customers, notes, memoranda, plans, drawings and
other documents of whatsoever nature), models or samples made or compiled
by or delivered to the Executive during his employment hereunder and
concerning the business, finances or affairs of any member of the Group.
For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the property in all
such documents as aforesaid shall at all times be vested in the relevant
member of the Group.
12.3 The Executive shall not at any time during the continuance of his
employment hereunder or for a period of twelve months immediately following
the Termination Date whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other
person or body corporate or unincorporate directly or indirectly:
(a) at any place within Hong Kong carry on or be concerned as a
shareholder, director, employee, partner, manager, consultant, adviser
or otherwise to or in any person, firm or company engaged in any
business in competition with the business(es) of the Company in the
faithful performance of which it could be reasonably anticipated that
the Executive would or would be required or expected to use or
disclose any confidential information or trade secrets of the Company
or any member of the Group provided that the provisions of this clause
shall only apply in respect of products or services with which the
Executive was personally concerned or for which the Executive was
responsible during the Executive's employment hereunder;
7
<PAGE>
(b) solicit or entice away from any member of the Group or deal with any
person or body corporate or unincorporate who now is or at the
Termination Date may have become a customer or supplier of any member
of the Group and with whom the Executive had personal contact or
dealings during the twelve months immediately preceding the
Termination Date;
(c) encourage or procure any person who is a Group Employee or director of
any member of the Group to leave the Group's employment, where that
person is a Group Employee or director of any member of the Group on
the Termination Date; or
(d) accept into employment or otherwise engage or use the services of any
person who is a Group Employee or director or consultant to any member
of the Group on the Termination Date, and who by reason thereof is or
may be likely to be in possession of any confidential information
relating to the Group's business or otherwise.
12.4 Each of the above restrictions constitutes an entirely separate and
independent restriction on the Executive.
12.5 While at the date of this Agreement the duration, extent and application of
each of the above restrictions are considered by the parties no greater
than is necessary for the protection of the interests of the Company and
any member of the Group and reasonable in all the circumstances, if
unforeseen changes occur or court judgements are delivered which would
render any of the provisions invalid or void, the parties declare that each
of the restrictions or any parts thereof being separate and severable shall
where appropriate be deleted or amended to the extent necessary to make
such restrictions effective and enforceable.
12.6 The Executive shall comply, where relevant, with every rule of law, every
rule and regulation of the Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange on
which he deals and every regulation, code of practice and the bye-laws of
the Company in force in relation to dealings in shares, debentures or other
securities of the companies in the Group and in relation to unpublished
price-sensitive information affecting the shares, debentures or other
securities of any company in the Group, including (without limitation) the
Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Companies set
out in Appendix 10 to the Listing Rules and the provisions of the
Securities (Insider Dealing) Ordinance, Provided always that in relation to
overseas dealings the Executive shall also comply with all laws of the
state and all rules and regulations of the stock exchange, market or
dealing system in which such dealings take place.
13. PLACE OF WORK/SECONDMENT
------------------------
13.1 The Executive's normal place of work shall be Unit 25-32, 2nd Floor, Block
B, Focal Industrial Centre, 21 Man Lok Street, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
but the Company reserves the right to change this to any place within or
outside Hong Kong. The Executive will be given at least one month's notice
of any such change. The Executive will be provided with such financial or
other relocation assistance as may be payable under any relevant policy
which the Group may operate at the relevant time.
8
<PAGE>
13.2 The executive acknowledges and agrees the Company may from time to time
transfer or second his services to any other member of the Group as part of
any reorganisation or otherwise and either permanently or temporarily.
14. MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
14.1 This Agreement shall be in substitution for any subsisting agreement or
arrangement (oral or otherwise) made between the Company and the Executive
which shall be deemed to have been terminated by mutual consent as from the
date on which the Executive's employment under this Agreement commences.
14.2 The expiration or termination of this Agreement howsoever arising shall not
operate to affect such of the provisions hereof as in accordance with their
terms are expressed to operate or have effect thereafter.
14.3 In the event of any variation of the remuneration payable to the Executive
hereunder being made by consent of the parties hereto such variation shall
not constitute a new agreement but (subject to any express agreement to the
contrary) the employment of the Executive hereunder shall continue subject
in all respects to the terms and conditions of this Agreement with such
variation as aforesaid.
14.4 Each notice, demand or other communication given or made under this
Agreement shall be in writing and delivered or sent to the relevant party
at its address or fax number set out below (or such other address or fax
number as the addressee has by five days' prior written notice specified to
the other party):
To the Company: Hang Fung Gold Technology Limited
Unit 25-32, 2nd Floor
Block B, Focal Industrial Centre
21 Man Lok Street
Hunghom, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Fax Number: 2362 3034
Attention: Board of Directors
9
<PAGE>
To the Executive: Chan Yam Fai, Jane
Flat D, 10th Floor, Block B
Mountain Court
No.5 Ho Man Tin Hill Road
Ho Man Tin
Kowloon
Hong Kong
Fax Number: 2362 3034
Any notice, demand or other communication so addressed to the relevant
party shall be deemed to have been delivered (a) if given or made by
letter, when actually delivered to the relevant address; and (b) if given
or made by fax, when despatched subject to receipt of machine-printed
confirmation of error-free despatch.
14.5 If at any time any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal,
invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the legality, validity and
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or impaired thereby.
14.6 No failure or delay by the Company in exercising any right, power or remedy
under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of the same preclude any further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. Without
limiting the foregoing, no waiver by the Company of any breach by the
Executive of any provision in this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver
of any subsequent breach of that or any other provision in this Agreement.
14.7 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of Hong Kong and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Hong Kong courts.
10
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have signed this document on the date
appearing at the head hereof.
SIGNED by )
for and on behalf of )
HANG FUNG GOLD )
TECHNOLOGY LIMITED )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
CHAN YAM FAI, JANE )
in the presence of: )
11
<PAGE>
THIS AGREEMENT is made on the 1st day of March 1999
BETWEEN:
(1) HANG FUNG GOLD TECHNOLOGY LIMITED whose principal place of business is at
Unit 25-32, 2nd Floor, Block B, Focal Industrial Centre, 21 Man Lok Street,
Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong (the "Company"); and
(2) NG YEE MEI of No.43, North York, Siu Lek Yuen, Shatin, New Territories,
Hong Kong (the "Executive").
WHEREAS the Company has agreed to employ the Executive and the Executive has
agreed to serve the Company as an executive director on the following terms and
conditions.
WHEREBY IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:-
1. INTERPRETATION
(A) In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:-
"Board" means the board of directors of the Company from time to time;
"Business" means all the business and affairs carried out by the Group from
time to time and with which the Executive was concerned during the 12 month
period prior to the termination of the Employment;
"Companies Ordinance" means the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of
Hong Kong) from time to time amended or re-enacted;
"Group" means the Company and its subsidiaries from time to time (and the
expression "member of the Group" shall be construed accordingly);
"Group Employee" means any person who was employed by the Group for at
least three months prior to and on the Termination Date, and
(i) with whom the Executive has had personal contact or dealings in
performing his duties of employment; or
(ii) who has or has had material contact with customers or suppliers of the
Group in performing his or her duties of employment with the Group; or
(iii)who was a member of the management team of any company within the
Group.
"Hong Kong" means the Hong Kong Special Administrative region of the PRC;
1
<PAGE>
"HK$" means Hong Kong dollars;
"Listing Rules" means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited; "PRC" means the People's Republic of
China;
"Stock Exchange" means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
"subsidiary" means a company:
(a) of which the Company controls the composition of the board of
directors; or
(b) of which the Company controls more than half of the voting power; or
(c) of which the Company holds more than half of the issued share capital
(excluding any part of it which carries no right to participate beyond
a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital); or
(d) which is a subsidiary of any company which is a subsidiary of the
Company; and
"Termination Date" means the date when the Executive's employment with the
Company terminates.
(B) References herein to Clauses and Schedules are references to the clauses
and schedules of this Agreement which shall be deemed to form part of this
Agreement. The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of
reference only and do not affect the interpretation hereof.
(C) References herein to one gender include references to all other genders.
References herein to persons include references to individuals, firms,
companies, corporations and unincorporated bodies of persons and vice
versa. References herein to the singular number include references to the
plural and vice versa.
(D) Terms defined in Section 2 of the Companies Ordinance shall in this
Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in that section.
2. EMPLOYMENT
----------
The Company will employ the Executive and the Executive hereby agrees to
serve the Company as an executive director upon the terms and subject to
the conditions hereinafter appearing.
2
<PAGE>
3. DURATION
--------
The employment of the Executive by the Company commenced on 1 October 1998
for an initial term of three years. Subject to Clause 10, either party may
terminate this Agreement at any time by giving not less than three months'
written notice or payment of salary in lieu thereof to the other party.
3
<PAGE>
4. EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES
------------------
The Executive shall, during the continuance of his employment hereunder:
(a) serve the Company as an executive director and, in such capacity,
perform such duties and exercise the powers from time to time assigned
to or vested in him by the Board;
(b) comply with and conform to any lawful instructions or directions from
time to time given or made by the Board, or with the authority of the
Board, and shall comply with the Company's rules, regulations,
policies and procedures from time to time in force;
(c) faithfully and diligently serve the Group and use his best endeavours
to promote the business and interests thereof;
(d) devote himself exclusively and diligently to the business and
interests of the Group and personally attend thereto at all times
during usual business hours and during such other times as the Company
may reasonably require except in case of incapacity through illness or
accident in which case he shall forthwith notify the Secretary of the
Company of such incapacity and shall furnish to the Board such
evidence thereof as it may require;
(e) keep the Board promptly and fully informed (in writing if so
requested) of his conduct of the business or affairs of the Group and
provide such explanations as the Board may require in connection
therewith;
(f) comply to the best of his ability with the Listing Rules from time to
time in force for so long as the Company is listed on the Stock
Exchange; and
(g) not demand or accept or permit any member of his family to demand or
accept from third parties any gifts, benefits or advantages offered or
given to the Executive or a member of his family by reason of his
employment with the Company.
5. REMUNERATION
------------
5.1 The remuneration of the Executive shall be:
(a) a monthly salary of HK$50,000 payable in arrears payable no later than
the last day of the month to which such salary relates, such salary to
include any sum receivable as director's fees or other remuneration
from any other member of the Group. This salary will be reviewed by
the Board on or around 1 April each year. Any annual increment of the
Executive's monthly salary under this Clause shall not exceed 15% of
the Executive's then existing monthly salary;
4
<PAGE>
(b) a guaranteed annual double pay equivalent to one month's salary, which
will be paid on or around the Chinese New Year period. If the
Executive joins or leaves (other than as a result of voluntary
resignation or summary dismissal) during the calendar year, this
double pay will be calculated on a pro rata basis provided the
Executive was employed for at least three months during the relevant
calendar year; and
(c) a discretionary bonus of such amounts (if any) at such times and
subject to such conditions as the Board may in its absolute discretion
decide. Such bonus, if payable, shall be calculated as a percentage of
the consolidated net profit after taxation and extraordinary items of
the Group of each financial year (as disclosed by the audited
consolidated accounts of the Group) (the "Consolidated Profit")
provided that the aggregate amount of bonus payable to all the
executive directors shall not exceed five per cent (5%) of the
Consolidated Profit for the relevant year during the term of this
Agreement. The Executive will not be eligible to be considered for
such a bonus if he has left the employment of the Company or is
serving out any notice given to him by the Company to terminate his
employment at the date when the Company's annual bonuses are declared.
5.2 The discretionary bonus referred to in Clause 5.1(c) shall be payable in
respect of each financial year within thirty (30) days after the issue of
the audited consolidated accounts of the Group for such financial year.
5.3 The Executive shall not vote or be counted in the quorum in respect of any
resolution regarding the amount of monthly salary, guaranteed double pay or
discretionary bonus payable to him.
5.4 The Company may arrange for the whole or any part of the Executive's
remuneration payable hereunder to be paid by one or more members of the
Group to which the Executive has provided or may provide services pursuant
to this Agreement.
6. OTHER BENEFITS
--------------
In addition to the foregoing remuneration and benefits, the Executive shall
also be entitled to the following, subject to determination by the Board as
to the appropriate level of cost of each item:
(a) the provision of medical, dental and optical insurance under such
insurance scheme as the Board may decide from time to time at the
expense of the Company for the benefit of the Executive, his spouse
and dependant children under the age of 18;
5
<PAGE>
(b) membership of the Group's provident fund subject to the terms and
conditions of such scheme from time to time in force;
(c) the shared use of a Company owned car, together with the other
executive directors of the Company, in respect of which the Company
shall pay all maintenance, petrol and parking costs; and
(d) the Company shall pay for all the maintenance, petrol and parking
costs in respect of one car owned by the Executive.
7. EXPENSES
---------
The Company shall reimburse the Executive (against receipts or such other
reasonable evidence of expenditure as the Board may require) for all
reasonable expenses properly incurred in the course of his employment
hereunder or in promoting or otherwise in connection with the business of
the Group.
8. DEDUCTIONS
----------
The Company shall to the extent permitted by s.32 of the Employment
Ordinance of the Laws of Hong Kong, be entitled to deduct from the
Executive's remuneration hereunder any monies due from him to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries including, but not limited to, any outstanding
loans, advances, the cost of repairing any damage to or loss of the Group's
property caused by him (and of recovering the same) and any other monies
owed by him to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
9. LEAVE
-----
9.1 The Executive shall be entitled after completion of each year of service
with the Company to twenty-one working days' annual leave (in addition to
public holidays) with full pay, which leave shall be taken at such time or
times as may be approved by the Board.
9.2 Unused annual leave may be carried forward from time to time.
10. TERMINATION
-----------
10.1 If at any time during the term of his employment hereunder the Executive
shall:
6
<PAGE>
(a) be guilty of or commit any serious misconduct which in the absolute
opinion of the Board is in any way detrimental to the interests of any
member of the Group;
(b) be in breach of any material term of this Agreement;
(c) commit any act of bankruptcy or become insolvent or make any
arrangements or composition with his creditors generally;
(d) fail to pay his personal debts;
(e) be convicted of any criminal offence involving his integrity or
honesty; or
(f) refuse to carry out any reasonable lawful order given to him by the
Board in the course of his employment or fail diligently to attend to
his duties hereunder;
the Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder forthwith
without any notice or payment in lieu of notice and upon such termination
the Executive shall not be entitled to any payment or other benefits
whatsoever (other than in respect of unpaid salary and unused annual leave
actually accrued) for or in respect of the then current year of service or
to claim any compensation or damages for or in respect of or by reason of
such termination.
10.2 In the event of termination of the Executive's employment for whatever
reason, the Executive shall (if not already vacated from such office(s))
forthwith resign as a director of the Company and from all offices held by
him in any member of the Group.
10.3 Any delay or forbearance by the Company in exercising any right to
terminate this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right.
11. NO RIGHT TO WORK
----------------
The Company shall be under no obligation to provide any work for the
Executive during any period of notice either given by the Company or the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment under this Agreement. The
Company may at any time during the said period suspend the Executive from
his employment or exclude him from any premises of the Company. Provided
that during such period the Executive shall continue to receive salary and
all other contractual benefits provided by this Agreement.
12. EXECUTIVE'S UNDERTAKINGS
------------------------
12.1 The Executive shall not either during the continuance of his employment
hereunder or at any time thereafter:
7
<PAGE>
(a) divulge to any person whomsoever or to any body corporate or
unincorporate (except to those officers of the Group whose province it
is to know the same); or
(b) use for his own purposes or for any purposes other than those of the
Group and shall use his best endeavours to prevent the unauthorised
publication or disclosure of any trade secret or any confidential
information concerning the business or finances of any member of the
Group or any of its dealings, transactions or affairs or those of its
customers, suppliers, management and shareholders which may come to
his knowledge during or in the course of his employment including but
not limited to any such information relating to customers, customer
lists or requirements or ways of dealing with customers, pricing
structures, marketing and sales information, business plans or
dealings, employees or officers, financial information, accounts and
plans, designs, formulae, product lines, prototypes, services,
research activities, source codes and computer systems, software,
technical information, any document marked "Confidential" (or with a
similar expression), or any information which he has been told is
confidential or which he might reasonably expect the Group would
regard as confidential, or any information which has been given to the
Group in confidence by customers and other persons.
12.2 Forthwith upon the termination of the employment of the Executive
hereunder, and/or at any other time if the Company shall so request, the
Executive shall deliver to the Company all documents (including
correspondence, lists of customers, notes, memoranda, plans, drawings and
other documents of whatsoever nature), models or samples made or compiled
by or delivered to the Executive during his employment hereunder and
concerning the business, finances or affairs of any member of the Group.
For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the property in all
such documents as aforesaid shall at all times be vested in the relevant
member of the Group.
12.3 The Executive shall not at any time during the continuance of his
employment hereunder or for a period of twelve months immediately following
the Termination Date whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other
person or body corporate or unincorporate directly or indirectly:
(a) at any place within Hong Kong carry on or be concerned as a
shareholder, director, employee, partner, manager, consultant, adviser
or otherwise to or in any person, firm or company engaged in any
business in competition with the business(es) of the Company in the
faithful performance of which it could be reasonably anticipated that
the Executive would or would be required or expected to use or
disclose any confidential information or trade secrets of the Company
or any member of the Group provided that the provisions of this clause
shall only apply in respect of products or services with which the
Executive was personally concerned or for which the Executive was
responsible during the Executive's employment hereunder;
8
<PAGE>
(b) solicit or entice away from any member of the Group or deal with any
person or body corporate or unincorporate who now is or at the
Termination Date may have become a customer or supplier of any member
of the Group and with whom the Executive had personal contact or
dealings during the twelve months immediately preceding the
Termination Date;
(c) encourage or procure any person who is a Group Employee or director of
any member of the Group to leave the Group's employment, where that
person is a Group Employee or director of any member of the Group on
the Termination Date; or
(d) accept into employment or otherwise engage or use the services of any
person who is a Group Employee or director or consultant to any member
of the Group on the Termination Date, and who by reason thereof is or
may be likely to be in possession of any confidential information
relating to the Group's business or otherwise.
12.4 Each of the above restrictions constitutes an entirely separate and
independent restriction on the Executive.
12.5 While at the date of this Agreement the duration, extent and application of
each of the above restrictions are considered by the parties no greater
than is necessary for the protection of the interests of the Company and
any member of the Group and reasonable in all the circumstances, if
unforeseen changes occur or court judgements are delivered which would
render any of the provisions invalid or void, the parties declare that each
of the restrictions or any parts thereof being separate and severable shall
where appropriate be deleted or amended to the extent necessary to make
such restrictions effective and enforceable.
12.6 The Executive shall comply, where relevant, with every rule of law, every
rule and regulation of the Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange on
which he deals and every regulation, code of practice and the bye-laws of
the Company in force in relation to dealings in shares, debentures or other
securities of the companies in the Group and in relation to unpublished
price-sensitive information affecting the shares, debentures or other
securities of any company in the Group, including (without limitation) the
Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Companies set
out in Appendix 10 to the Listing Rules and the provisions of the
Securities (Insider Dealing) Ordinance, Provided always that in relation to
overseas dealings the Executive shall also comply with all laws of the
state and all rules and regulations of the stock exchange, market or
dealing system in which such dealings take place.
13. PLACE OF WORK/SECONDMENT
------------------------
13.1 The Executive's normal place of work shall be Unit 25-32, 2nd Floor, Block
B, Focal Industrial Centre, 21 Man Lok Street, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
but the Company reserves the right to change this to any place within or
outside Hong Kong. The Executive will be given at least one month's notice
of any such change. The Executive will be provided with such financial or
other relocation assistance as may be payable under any relevant policy
which the Group may operate at the relevant time.
9
<PAGE>
13.2 The executive acknowledges and agrees the Company may from time to time
transfer or second his services to any other member of the Group as part of
any reorganisation or otherwise and either permanently or temporarily.
14. MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
14.1 This Agreement shall be in substitution for any subsisting agreement or
arrangement (oral or otherwise) made between the Company and the Executive
which shall be deemed to have been terminated by mutual consent as from the
date on which the Executive's employment under this Agreement commences.
14.2 The expiration or termination of this Agreement howsoever arising shall not
operate to affect such of the provisions hereof as in accordance with their
terms are expressed to operate or have effect thereafter.
14.3 In the event of any variation of the remuneration payable to the Executive
hereunder being made by consent of the parties hereto such variation shall
not constitute a new agreement but (subject to any express agreement to the
contrary) the employment of the Executive hereunder shall continue subject
in all respects to the terms and conditions of this Agreement with such
variation as aforesaid.
14.4 Each notice, demand or other communication given or made under this
Agreement shall be in writing and delivered or sent to the relevant party
at its address or fax number set out below (or such other address or fax
number as the addressee has by five days' prior written notice specified to
the other party):
To the Company: Hang Fung Gold Technology Limited
Unit 25-32, 2nd Floor
Block B, Focal Industrial Centre
21 Man Lok Street
Hunghom, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Fax Number:2362 3034
Attention: Board of Directors
10
<PAGE>
To the Executive: Ng Yee Mei
No.43 North York
Siu Lek Yuen
Shatin, New Territories
Hong Kong
Fax Number: 2362 3034
Any notice, demand or other communication so addressed to the relevant
party shall be deemed to have been delivered (a) if given or made by
letter, when actually delivered to the relevant address; and (b) if given
or made by fax, when despatched subject to receipt of machine-printed
confirmation of error-free despatch.
14.5 If at any time any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal,
invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the legality, validity and
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or impaired thereby.
14.6 No failure or delay by the Company in exercising any right, power or remedy
under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of the same preclude any further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. Without
limiting the foregoing, no waiver by the Company of any breach by the
Executive of any provision in this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver
of any subsequent breach of that or any other provision in this Agreement.
14.7 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of Hong Kong and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Hong Kong courts.
11
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have signed this document on the date
appearing at the head hereof.
SIGNED by )
for and on behalf of )
HANG FUNG GOLD )
TECHNOLOGY LIMITED )
in the presence of: )
SIGNED by )
NG YEE MEI )
in the presence of: )
12
<PAGE>
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