<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
[_] REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
OR
[_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____________ to _______________
Commission file number 0-29946
QIAO XING UNIVERSAL TELEPHONE, INC.
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
QIAO XING UNIVERSAL TELEPHONE, INC.
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(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
British Virgin Islands
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(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Qiao Xing Building
Wu Shi Industrial Zone
Huizhou City, Guangdong,
People's Republic of China
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each Name of each exchange
class on which registered
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None N/A
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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
$.001 Par Value Common Stock ("Common Stock")
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(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d)
of the Act.
None
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(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes
of capital or common stock as of December 31, 1998:
9,600,000 Shares of Common Stock
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No _____
-----
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has
elected to follow.
Item 17 _____ Item 18 X
-----
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST
FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and
reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan
confirmed by a court.
Not Applicable.
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EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION
The Company has prepared its consolidated financial statements in
accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied and publishes such statements in Renminbi, the functional
currency of the Company's subsidiaries and the legal tender currency of China.
All references to "Renminbi" or "RMB" are to Renminbi. All references to "U.S.
Dollars," "dollars," "US$" or "$" are to United States dollars. Conversion of
amounts from Renminbi into United States dollars for the convenience of the
reader has been made at the unified exchange rate quoted by the PBOC on December
31, 1998 of US$1.00 = RMB8.28.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning exchange
rates between Renminbi and U.S. dollars for the periods indicated:
Noon Buying Rate(1)
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Calendar Year Period End Average (2) High Low
- ------------- ---------- ----------- ---- ---
(RMB per US$)
1994 8.4662 8.6303 8.7409 8.4662
1995 8.3374 8.3852 8.5000 8.2916
1996 8.3284 8.3387 8.5000 8.3267
1997 8.3099 8.3193 8.3260 8.3099
1998 8.2789 8.2789 8.2801 8.2740
___________
(1) The noon buying rate in New York for cable transfers payable in foreign
currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York. Since April 1994, the noon buying rate has been based on the PBOC
Rate. As a result, since April 1994, the noon buying rate and the PBOC Rate
have been substantially similar.
(2) Determined by averaging the rates on the last business day of each month
during the relevant period.
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<PAGE>
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this
Annual Report on Form 20-F and other materials filed or to be filed by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as well as information
included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by
the Company) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements
relating to plans for future expansion and other business development activities
as well as other capital spending, financing sources and the effects of
competition. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and
uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future
and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-
looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to dependence upon
key personnel, control by principal shareholder, competition, material factors
relating to the operations of the business, the transfer of Hong Kong's
sovereignty, PRC considerations, dependence on China factories, and general
economic conditions.
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<PAGE>
PART I
ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS.
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Background and Organization
Qiao Xing Universal Telephone, Inc. (the "Company" or "Qiao Xing") is
principally engaged in the manufacturing and sales of telecommunication
terminals and equipment, including corded and cordless telephone sets, in China.
The Company's annual production capacity of telephone sets has increased from
300,000 to an estimated 4.5 million within the last six years. Its actual sales
in 1998 were 2.8 million sets.
The history of the Company dates back to April 1992 when Mr. Rui Lin Wu,
the founder and the President of the Company, established Qiao Xing
Telecommunication Industry Co. Ltd. in Huizhou, People's Republic of China
("PRC" or "China"). The Company initially was engaged in the original design
manufacturing of corded telephones, whereby products are designed and
manufactured to the customer=' requirements and instructions and are marketed
under the customer's designated brand name or without designated brand name.
When the Company commenced its operations in August 1992, it consisted of only
100 employees and two production lines producing telephones.
In October 1992, the Company began to develop its own brand name products
and by the end of 1992, five different models of telephones had been
successfully developed. With only one year's experience of operation, Qiao Xing
had manufactured 300,000 telephones with net sales of RMB6 million. In 1993, the
Company further enhanced its production capacity by expanding the factory area
from 400 square meters to 3,800 square meters and by increasing the number of
employees from 100 to 400. In 1993, Qiao Xing had manufactured 1,000,000
telephones with net sales of RMB50.1 million and generated a profit exceeding
RMB4.4 million. The Company continued to expand its production capacity as its
business grew. In 1994, the Company enlarged its factory area to 15,000 square
meters with 20 production lines and 1,000 employees. Since then, Qiao Xing has
successfully introduced its Model HA8188 series of 20 different styles of
telephones which it developed. In 1994, Qiao Xing produced 1,300,000 telephones
with net sales of RMB122.5 million, and generated a net profit of RMB20.0
million.
In August 1995, Qiao Xing was awarded the ISO9001 certificate, which
reflects the Company's reputation as a high quality telephone manufacturer. In
addition, by the end of 1995, the Company both increased its production to
include over 30 different types of telephones and the number of production lines
to 28, generating an annual output of 3,000,000 telephones with net sales of
RMB277.7 million. The net profit exceeded RMB34.1 million for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995.
In view of an increased market demand, in 1996, the Company successfully
introduced a line of cordless telephone sets (one-channel and ten-channel
products) to the market. By the end of 1996, five cordless products had been
introduced, and 150,000 sets were sold. For the fiscal year ended December 31,
1996, 3,240,000 telephone sets, including cordless phones, were produced, with
net sales of RMB351.9 million. The net profit was RMB34.5 million. For the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Company successfully introduced the
special function corded telephone sets and it produced 2,946,000 telephone sets
with net sales of RMB400.2 million. The net profit was RMB41.2 million.
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<PAGE>
In 1998, the Company's alteration of its sales mix towards the newly
introduced special function corded telephone which carried a higher profit
margin successfully maintained its growth in gross profit and net income. The
special function corded telephones represented 25.9% of net sales revenue in
1998 as compared to 2.7% of net sales revenue in 1997. For the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998, the Company generated an annual output of 2,824,000
telephones with net sales of US$44.3 million (RMB366.8 million). The net income
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 was US$5.7 million (RMB47.3
million).
The Company, formerly known as Pastiche Investments Limited, was
incorporated as an international business company under the International
Business Companies Act of the British Virgin Islands on December 6, 1994. The
Company owns the entire issued share capital in Qiao Xing Holdings Limited
("QXHL"), an international business company incorporated in the British Virgin
Islands on July 23, 1997. QXHL owns 90% of the issued share capital in Qiao Xing
Telecommunication Industry Co. Limited ("QXTI"), a PRC joint venture.
Substantially all of the Company's income is contributed by QXTI. The remaining
10% of QXTI is owned by Qiao Xing International Trading Ltd. ("QXIT"), a PRC
company owned by Rui Lin Wu (40%) and his elder son Zhi Yang Wu (60%). Messrs.
Wu and Wu are executive officers and directors of the Company.
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<PAGE>
Organizational Chart
Sino Foundations
Zhi Jian Holdings Ltd.
Wu Li (a Hong Kong
| Listed Company)
| |
| |
| 100% | 100%
| |
| |
|
Sino
Qiao Xing Trust Communications
| Ltd.
| |
| |
| 71.16% | 28.84%
|
|
Private Private
Investors Placement Wu Holdings Ltd. IPO
Shareholders Shareholders
| | | |
9.7% 2.6% 71.0% 16.7%
|
|
QIAO XING UNIVERSAL Rui Lin Wu and
TELEPHONE, INC. Zhi Yang Wu
| |
| |
100% | 100%
| |
Qiao Xing Holding Qiao Xing
Limited International
| Trading Ltd.
| |
| |
90% | 10%
|
Qiao Xing
Telecommunication
Industry Co. Ltd.
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<PAGE>
Industry Overview
The PRC ranks among the world's emerging telecommunication powers. The
business volume of the post and telecom sector for the year ended December 31,
1997 reached to RMB177.3 billion, representing an increase of 32.1% from
RMB134.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 1996. Backward
telecommunications in the PRC in the early 1980s created a limitation for the
national economy. However, since 1990 the usage of telephones in the PRC has
grown rapidly and new technologies have been replacing old ones in the PRC's
telecom sector. Manual switching has almost been eliminated and by the end of
1995, 98.6 percent of all telephone switching was done by program-controlled
systems. Digital transmission is replacing the old analog transmission. By the
end of 1997, the transmission capacity of the national post and telecom bureau
went up 21.3% to 1.1 billion land-lines.
Recent statistics revealed that the telecommunication sector in the PRC has
grown tremendously. Land-line telephone subscribers numbered 70.3 million in
1997, which was 8.3 times the number of subscribers in 1991. The national
telephone penetration rate grew from 6.33% in 1996 to 8.07% in 1997.
Officials of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Ministry
of Electronics Industry have revised the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000)
telecom industry targets upward due to surging market demand. Officials predict
that land-line phones will grow to 123 million in the year 2000. This growth is
expected to increase the telephone penetration rate to 10% of the population.
In October 1996, the PRC Government formally announced that no selling of
imported cordless telephones would be allowed in the country unless they (i)
carried the Approval Certificate for Accessing PRC Telephone Network issued by
the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication; (ii) were accompanied by proof of
legal imported channel; and (iii) complied with the specifications stated in the
"Regulation of Product Quality." It is anticipated that the cordless phone
market will continue to expand quickly as the people in the PRC are becoming
more affluent and elect to up-grade their living standard. Qiao Xing, with its
experience in telephone manufacturing and its popular brand name recognition,
intends to benefit from this expected growth.
In March 1998, the new Ministry of Information Industry grew out of the
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and Ministry of Electronics Industry to
govern China's telecommunication industry. This merger puts one government body
in control of both manufacturers and operators in the telecommunications,
software, information and broadcast industries. According to an article in Asian
Wall Street Journal, the Ministry wants to focus on local technology and support
locally made products, which is welcome news for Chinese telecommunication
equipment makers. Many Sino-foreign joint ventures could actually get a boost as
local partners try to supply Chinese telecommunication operators with the latest
technology. For importers, the market will likely be tougher to penetrate.
The telecommunications industry is expanding rapidly in the PRC, a country
with a population of 1.2 billion whose economy is undergoing rapid growth.
Peoples' standards of living have been highly improved. Owing to the rise of
affluence, people appear willing to spend more money, to start subscribing for
telephone lines at home and to up-grade their telephone from corded phones to
cordless ones. Regarding the business sector, there is an essential need to
increase telecommunication services in the country. The telephone, being the
most basic telecom equipment, has been and is expected to continue to be in the
highest demand.
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<PAGE>
Business Operations and Product Range
Qiao Xing is principally engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of
telecommunication terminals and equipment in the PRC, including primarily corded
and cordless telephone sets under the trademark of "Qiao Xing". According to the
National Statistic Bureau of the China Technology Progress Information Centre,
Qiao Xing was the second largest telephone manufacturer by sales volume in the
PRC in 1997 and 1998.
Qiao Xing has produced corded telephones since its formation in 1992. In
1996, it successfully developed the manufacture of one-channel and ten-channel
cordless telephones. However, since one-channel cordless phones can be easily
interfered and create a lot of noises, the Company stopped producing it in June
1997 and now concentrates on ten-channel cordless phone manufacturing.
In October 1997, the Company introduced the smart card telephones, which is
the first of many special function corded telephones that the Company expects to
develop and introduce to the market. In the first quarter of 1998, the Company
developed and introduced caller ID display telephones and coin operated
telephones. The Company completed twelve new models of special function corded
telephones in 1998.
Presently, the Company is producing and selling 145, 25 and 20 different
models of corded telephones, cordless telephones and special function corded
telephones, respectively, with the sale ratio of 82.9 to 8.5 to 8.6 on units and
52 to 22 to 26 on dollars in 1998.
Telephone Sales By Units
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
sets sets sets sets sets
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
corded 1,255,949 2,963,007 3,092,687 2,602,003 2,339,999
cordless --- 3,181 148,695 326,993 240,168
smart card --- --- --- 16,995 152,574
caller ID --- --- --- --- 72,691
coin operated --- --- --- --- 18,943
Total 1,255,949 2,966,188 3,241,382 2,945,991 2,824,375
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
Average Wholesales Prices Per Set
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
corded 97.51 93.18 90.94 97.21 82.09
cordless --- 490.85 475.13 417.51 332.03
smart card --- --- --- 633.12 507.53
caller ID --- --- --- --- 154.98
coin operated --- --- --- --- 328.44
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
Telephone Sales By RMB
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
RMB=000 RMB=000 RMB=000 RMB=000 RMB=000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
corded 122,468 276,093 281,249 252,941 192,098
cordless --- 1,561 70,649 136,523 79,742
smart card --- --- --- 10,760 77,437
caller ID --- --- --- --- 11,265
coin operated --- --- --- --- 6,222
Total 122,468 277,654 351,898 400,224 366,764
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
Cordless telephones and the special function corded telephones require more
sophisticated and more hi-tech manufacturing techniques and the Company charges
a higher wholesale price and makes a greater margin for special function corded
telephones than for the ordinary one. The wholesale prices for the Company=s
cordless telephones range from US$30-60 (RMB250-500). For corded telephones, two
categories have been classified, with the simpler version selling for US$6-15
(RMB50-125), and the models with greater features selling for US$15-18 (RMB125-
150) per telephone. The wholesale prices for the special corded telephones range
from US$16-80 (RMB130-660) per telephone.
Cordless telephones on average have a gross profit margin of 12 to 20
percent, corded telephones have an approximately 25 percent gross profit margin,
and special function corded telephones have a gross profit margin of 25 to 70
percent.
The top three popular products that Qiao Xing
is selling are all corded telephones:
HA 8188(5) P/T 491,747 sets sold in 1998
HA 8188(15) P/TSD-LCD 262,732 sets sold in 1998
HA 8188(7) P/T 199,877 sets sold in 1998
In addition to its core products, Qiao Xing has also produced a small
quantity of digital recording telephones and telephone exchanges.
Production Facilities
The Company's production facilities are located in four five-stories
industrial buildings in Wu Shi Industrial Zone, Huizhou City, Guangdong
Province, the PRC, with a total gross floor area of approximately 16,300 square
meters. As at December 31, 1998, there were 38 assembly lines, with
approximately 1,800 workers employed at the factory.
The Company's current maximum production capacity of telephones is
approximately 4,500,000 units per year, consisting of 4,000,000 units of corded
telephones and 500,000 units of cordless telephones. The Company had produced
2,824,375 units in 1998, consisting of 2,339,999 units of corded telephones,
240,168 units of cordless telephones and 244,208 units of special function
corded telephones.
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<PAGE>
Manufacturing Process
The Company's manufacturing process is subject to stringent quality
control. This process begins with its incoming quality control process, whereby
all externally supplied parts are inspected in accordance with the standard
established by the Company. The Company's finished products are delivered to a
holding area where the quality assurance workers randomly select samples of
product from each shipment which are checked in accordance with an accepted
quality level previously drawn up and agreed with the particular customer to
ensure that the samples comply with the required specifications. The finished
products are then ready for delivery.
The following principal steps are involved in the manufacturing
process after the initial inspection process:
. Plastic Injection Molding - Plastic resins are loaded into an
injection machine, where they are melted and injected into a ready-made mold.
When the plastic piece cools down, it becomes a solid piece of inelastic
plastic part.
. Painting and Silk Screen Printing - Some individual pieces or
components need hand-spraying, using a variety of techniques including free-
hand spraying, mask or template spraying, free hand brush painting and silk
screen printing.
. Assembly - When all components have been molded and painted, they
are transferred to an assembly line. Each assembly line is operated by a team
of workers, each having a specific task in the assembly of a product.
The following steps are usually involved in producing electronic
components after the incoming quality control process. Two methods of assembly
are used by the Company, namely automatic wave soldering and surface mount
technique.
. Automatic Wave Soldering - Components are soldered on to the
printed circuit boards by using automatic wave soldering machines which pre-
heat, flux and solder the circuit boards, before cutting off excess lengths
of the legs of components. Finally, the circuit boards are dipped into a
solder bath to ensure that reliable joints are formed in a single automated
process. The automatic wave-soldering machine is subject to hourly checks to
ensure that all soldering machines are at the correct temperature in order to
achieve consistency.
. Surface Mount Technique - Miniaturized components are placed onto
the surface of a circuit board by a pick and place device. The components are
attached to the circuit board using epoxy resin and the circuit board is then
passed through an oven which bakes the resin to hold the components in place.
The circuit board is subsequently placed onto a wave soldering machine where
solder flows around the components to ensure that they achieve a correct
electrical connection.
Thereafter, electronic circuit boards are transferred to sub-assembly
lines where supplementary components like switches, which cannot be processed
through the automatic wave soldering machines or the surface mount placement
machines, are assembled onto the circuit boards. All the circuit boards are then
subject to computerized in-circuit testing to ensure that the "circuit" is
continuous and does not contain damaged components or poorly soldered joints.
The circuit boards are then subject to a full
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<PAGE>
function testing by inserting them into specially designed test fixtures which
simulate the performance of the circuit boards as if they were already installed
into their final plastic cabinet.
The electronic circuit boards are assembled into their cabinets, which are
then once again subject to a full-function testing through a wider variety of
performance-related and specification-related tests. The products are then
packed together with operation manuals and other related accessories into
shipping cartons ready for export to the Company's customers.
Each of the different product categories is subject to different product
design requirements and testing procedures, under their respective industry
standards. The similarities in certain stages of the production procedure of
these different products allow the Company a degree of flexibility in organizing
its production capacity to cope with any changes in product mix effectively.
Management believes that the Company's growth in revenue in recent years
demonstrates its ability to operate profitably with different product mixes,
such as corded telephones, cordless telephones, telephone recorders, and the
newly developed home fax machine. Management also believes that the product mix
of the Company allows it to buffer against any unexpected downturn in general
demand for any single product category better than many of the Company's
competitors who are engaged solely in the production of a single product
category.
Quality Assurance System
The Company places significant emphasis on preventive measures in the
quality control process and employs quality control procedures at every critical
manufacturing stage, with the aim of identifying, analyzing and solving problems
at the earliest possible stage of the production process. The Company is
equipped with the necessary testing facilities to handle the quality control
tests and provides in-house training for its quality control staff.
Quality control tests on the production process include:
. Sampling test method is used to inspect all incoming materials on a
sample basis;
. At each stage of production process, quality control inspectors monitor
the production flow and check the quality of the products; and
. Finished products are checked by quality control staff on a sample
basis.
The Company obtained the ISO 9001 Quality System Certificate in respect of
its quality assurance system in August 1995, reflecting the Company's reputation
as a quality telecommunication equipment manufacturer.
The Company has not received any material claims for defective products
from customers for the three years ended December 31, 1998.
Sales and Marketing
Substantially all of the Company's products are sold in the PRC market and
accounted for approximately 99.8 percent and 99.7 percent of the Company's total
revenues for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The
remaining balance of products is exported to Canada, Korea and Taiwan.
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<PAGE>
The Company currently has 40 independent regional distributors and after-
sales service centers, including six wholesale agencies, serving its major
customers in different provinces in the PRC. There is at least one
representative assigned by Qiao Xing to each regional distributor to make
frequent visits in order to understand the business operation and assist
management. These regional distributors distribute the Company's
telecommunication products to a network of over 1,000 retail outlets, including
280 consignments in big department stores. The purchase orders for telephones
from these retail outlets are collected by the 40 regional distributors, who
would then place consolidated purchase orders with the Company on their own
accounts. The regional distributors are each responsible for the credit risk and
settlement of their own customers. A settlement period of 30 days to 210 days is
given by the Company to the distributors.
The second way that the Company's products are marketed is through direct
mailing. By following the telephone directory, the regional distributors will
send out product catalogues to selected households. If customers are interested,
they can contact the distributor and place an order.
Qiao Xing intends to continue to expand its retail network. It expects to
expand its distributors network at the city and county level; further, the
Company intends to open 300 additional consignments in department stores in the
coming years. Management believes that the engagement of the regional
distributors enables the Company to streamline its sales effort and expand its
geographical coverage in the PRC.
The Company's sales and marketing strategy focuses on satisfying customers
with high quality product, consistent timely delivery, competitive product
pricing and efficient after-sales service. The staff of the Company communicates
regularly with the regional distributors and their customers to obtain market
information and to ascertain their needs. The Company also conducts regular
reviews to analyze customers' potential demands and to plan for new products.
Management believes that the provision of efficient after-sale service
is an important factor in influencing consumers' choices. The Company offers a
one-year warranty on its telephones. During the warranty period, all repair and
maintenance services are provided free of charge. After the warranty period,
customers assume the cost of repair and the components used. After-sale services
for the products manufactured by the Company are provided by the 40 regional
distributors.
The Company advertises through various media, including national and
regional television networks, radio, newspapers, magazines, posters, billboards
and advertising pamphlets. In addition, the "Qiao Xing" brand name is also
promoted through sponsorship of sports events. For instance, in 1996, the
Company had sponsored the China Diving Team and the 1996 Olympic Champion
Diver--Miss FU Ming Xia--in return for Miss Fu's agreement to appear in Qiao
Xing's product brochures.
The Company had spent approximately US$1.0 million in 1998 for advertising
and promotion. It is expected that US$2.5 million will be spent in 1999. In
addition, the Company is planning to donate a total of US$1.2 million to the
Poverty Fund of China over the next 10 years and to offer 50 percent discounts
for 300,000 units of assigned telephones to poverty-stricken households. This
not only helps to promote the Company's brand name among the undeveloped market,
but also has generated significant media coverage of the Company.
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<PAGE>
Materials and Components
More than 3,000 different parts and components are required for the
manufacture of current models of the Company's corded and cordless telephone
sets. The primary components are integrated circuits, printed circuit boards,
liquid crystal displays, resistors, transistors and diodes. Except for some
special integrated circuit items and central processing units, which are sourced
from Hong Kong, the Company obtains its major components and raw materials from
the leading suppliers in the Pearl River Delta in the PRC. In order to secure
the supply of raw materials, the Company will select at least two suppliers for
each component. Management believes that there is no seasonality factor which
might affect the supply of raw materials. For the year ended December 31, 1998,
the top ten suppliers of the Company accounted for approximately 41.1% percent
of the Company's total purchases of materials and components. No single supplier
accounted for over 10 percent of the Company's total purchases of materials and
components for the year ended December 31, 1998.
The Company has formal distributorship agreements with the suppliers of the
parts and components. However, these contracts only confirm the selected
components and the price that Qiao Xing has agreed to pay; there is no firm
agreement on the quantity to be purchased. The Company believes that it has
established a very stable and friendly relationship with its suppliers, since
more than 70 percent of these suppliers have remained major suppliers of Qiao
Xing since 1993. Payment for materials and components are made in RMB with a
credit term ranging from 30 days to 270 days.
Research and Development
The Company's research and development ("R&D") and engineering functions
are performed in the PRC. As at December 31, 1998, the Company employed 38 staff
in the R&D and engineering divisions, who work closely with the Company's sales
and marketing executives to gauge the market demand in developing new products
and new models of existing products. The R&D division is currently monitoring 35
particular models of corded telephone and eight particular models of cordless
telephone.
In 1998, Qiao Xing spent US$109,000 on the R&D division. As the new special
function corded telephones and the new cordless telephones manufacture develops,
the Company anticipates increasing the research and development funding and the
budget to purchase new technologies to US$3.0 million in 1999.
Competition
The market for telecommunication equipment generally and corded and
cordless telephones, as well as facsimile machines, in particular in the PRC is
intensely competitive. The Company believes that the principal competitive
factors are brand name recognition, distribution capability, after-sale service,
short lead time in product development, product quality and capability of mass
production. Only those telecommunication products that have been granted the
permits issued by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications are allowed to be
connected to the telephone network in the PRC.
Management considers that the products manufactured by the Company are not
competing directly with imported products with similar features, which are sold
in the higher price range. The Company currently competes directly with domestic
manufacturers in the PRC, namely TCL in Huizhou, which is currently the leading
seller of telephones in the PRC, according to the statistical report released by
the Trade and Foreign Economy Statistics Division of National Statistic Bureau.
According to the Company's market
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<PAGE>
research, in 1998, TCL owned a market share of approximately 8 percent, and the
Company accounted for approximately 7 percent. However, TCL is now diversifying
into home electric appliance manufacture, including TV sets, which will likely
divert some of its resources from the telephone manufacturing business.
According to the statistical report released by the Trade and Foreign
Economy Statistics Division of National Statistic Bureau, the Company was the
second largest seller of telephones in the PRC in 1997 and 1998. Since the
Company's market share is very close to TCL, management believes that within a
year or two the Company's market share will exceed that of TCL, particularly
since management strongly believes that the selling prices of telephones
currently manufactured by the Company are generally lower than those of similar
products with comparable quality that are available in the PRC market. Further,
according to the Company's market research, its newly introduced special
function corded telephone which carried a higher profit margin owned higher
market share than TCL's similar products. According to TCL's audited annual
report, in the year ended December 31, 1998, TCL generated an annual output of
3,477,000 telephones, which was 23.1% higher than that of Qiao Xing; however,
net sales of TCL was RMB358.6 million, representing 2.2% lower than that of Qiao
Xing, and the gross profit of TCL for the year ended December 31, 1998 was
RMB88.9 million, representing 22.6% lower than that of Qiao Xing.
ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY.
- --------------------------------
The Company's principal executive offices are located at Qiao Xing
Building, Wu Shi Industrial Zone, Huizhou City, Guangdong, PRC. The Company's
production facilities are located in four five-storied industrial buildings in
Wu Shi Industrial Zone, Huizhou City, Guangdong, PRC, with a total gross floor
area of approximately 16,300 square meters.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
- --------------------------
The Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings, nor are there
any material legal proceedings pending with respect to any property of the
Company, and the Company is not aware of any legal proceedings contemplated by
any governmental authorities involving either the Company or its property. No
director, officer or affiliate of the Company, or any associate of a director,
officer or affiliate of the Company, is an adverse party in any legal
proceedings involving the Company or its subsidiaries, or has an interest in any
such proceeding which is adverse to the Company or its subsidiaries.
ITEM 4. CONTROL OF REGISTRANT.
- ------------------------------
(a) As far as is known to management of the Company, the Company is not
directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another corporation or by any
foreign government.
(b) The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock as of June 30, 1999 (i) by
each person who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 10% of the
outstanding Common Stock, (ii) by each executive officer and director of the
Company and (iii) by all directors and executive officers as a group. Except as
set forth below, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company is not directly or
indirectly owned or controlled by any other corporation or by any foreign
government.
-15-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name of Beneficial Holder Number Percent
- ------------------------- ------ -------
Shares Beneficially Owned
-------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Wu Holdings Limited........................................................ 6,819,000(1) 71.0
Rui Lin Wu................................................................. 6,819,000(1) 71.0
Zhi Yang Wu................................................................ 0 0
Shuen Ji Yeh............................................................... 0 0
Zhong Ai Li................................................................ 0 0
Jie Shi.................................................................... 0 0
Heng Xu.................................................................... 0 0
Zi Shu Huang............................................................... 0 0
Mei Lian Li................................................................ 0 0
All directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons)................ 6,819,000 71.0
</TABLE>
___________
(1) Wu Holdings Limited is a British Virgin Islands corporation which is 71.16%
owned by the Qiao Xing Trust and the remaining 28.84% is owned by Sino
Communications Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of a nonaffiliated
corporation listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. The Qiao
Xing Trust is a Cook Islands trust which was formed for the primary benefit
of Zhi Jian Wu Li, the youngest son of Rui Lin Wu, Chairman of the Company.
The 6,819,000 shares of Common Stock owned of record and beneficially by Wu
Holdings Limited may be deemed to also be beneficially owned by Rui Lin Wu
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) since he may be deemed to have and/or share the power to
direct the voting and disposition of such shares.
(c) To the knowledge of the Company, there are no arrangements known to the
Company, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of
control of the Company.
ITEM 5. NATURE OF TRADING MARKET.
- ---------------------------------
The Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market and is quoted on
The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "XING." The following table sets
forth, on a quarterly basis, the high and low sales prices for the Common Stock
since its listing on The Nasdaq National Market on February 16, 1999:
Quarter ended: High Low
------------- ---- ---
March 31, 1999 $6.75 $4.00
June 30, 1999 $5.00 $3.25
The Company does not believe that there is any principal non-United States
trading market for the Common Stock. The Company believes that a substantial
majority of the outstanding Common Stock is held in the United States by Cede &
Co. as record holder.
-16-
<PAGE>
ITEM 6. EXCHANGE CONTROLS AND OTHER LIMITATIONS AFFECTING SECURITY HOLDERS.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are no exchange control restrictions in China on the repatriation of
dividends by the Company's subsidiaries. In addition, there are no material
British Virgin Islands laws that impose foreign exchange controls on the Company
or that affect the payment of dividends, interest or other payments to
nonresident holders of the Company's capital stock. British Virgin Islands law
and the Company's Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association impose
no limitations on the right of nonresident or foreign owners to hold or vote the
Common Stock.
ITEM 7. TAXATION.
- -----------------
The following is a summary of certain anticipated material U.S. federal
income and British Virgin Islands tax consequences of an investment in the
Common Stock. The summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences
relating to an investment in the Common Stock and does not purport to deal with
the tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which
(such as dealers in securities, insurance companies and tax-exempt entities) may
be subject to special rules. In particular, the discussion does not address the
tax consequences under state, local and other national (e.g., non-U.S. and non-
British Virgin Islands) tax laws. Accordingly, each prospective investor should
consult its own tax advisor regarding the particular tax consequences to it of
an investment in the Common Stock. The following discussion is based upon laws
and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this Annual
Report, all of which are subject to change.
United States Federal Income Taxation
The following discussion addresses only the material U.S. federal income
tax consequences to a U.S. person (i.e., a U.S. citizen or resident, a U.S.
corporation, or an estate or trust subject to U.S. federal income tax on all of
its income regardless of source) making an investment in the Common Stock (a
"U.S. Investor"). For taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996, a trust
will be a U.S. person only if (i) a court within the United States is able to
exercise primary supervision over its administration and (ii) one or more United
States persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions.
In addition, the following discussion does not address the tax consequences to a
person who holds (or will hold), directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the
Common Stock (a "10% Shareholder"). Non-U.S. persons and 10% Shareholders are
advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax considerations
incident to an investment in the Common Stock.
A U.S. Investor receiving a distribution with respect to the Common Stock
will be required to include such distribution in gross income as a taxable
dividend, to the extent of the Company's current or accumulated earnings and
profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Any
distributions in excess of such earnings and profits of the Company will first
be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a nontaxable return of
capital, to the extent of the U.S. Investor's adjusted tax basis in the Common
Stock, and then as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset, provided
that the Common Stock constitutes a capital asset in the hands of the U.S.
Investor. U.S. corporate shareholders will not be entitled to any deduction for
distributions received as dividends on the Common Stock.
-17-
<PAGE>
Gain or loss on the sale or exchange of the Common Stock will be treated as
capital gain or loss if the Common Stock is held as a capital asset by the U.S.
Investor. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if
the U.S. Investor has held the Common Stock for more than one year at the time
of the sale or exchange, and will be taxed at the lowest rates applicable to
capital gains if the U.S. Investor has held the Common Stock for more than
eighteen months at such time.
A holder of Common Stock may be subject to "backup withholding" at the rate
of 31% with respect to dividends paid on such Common Stock if such dividends are
paid by a paying agent, broker or other intermediary in the United States or by
a U.S. broker or certain United States-related brokers to such holder outside
the United States. In addition, the proceeds of the sale, exchange or redemption
of Common Stock may be subject to backup withholding, if such proceeds are paid
by a paying agent, broker or other intermediary in the United States.
Backup withholding may be avoided by the holder of Common Stock if such
holder (i) is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories or
(ii) provides a correct taxpayer identification number, certifies that such
holder is not subject to backup withholding and otherwise complies with the
backup withholding rules. In addition, holders of Common Stock who are not U.S.
persons ("non-U.S. holders") are generally exempt from backup withholding,
although such holders may be required to comply with certification and
identification procedures in order to prove their exemption.
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a
holder will be refunded (or credited against the holder's U.S. federal income
tax liability, if any) provided that amount withheld is claimed as federal taxes
withheld on the holder's U.S. federal income tax return relating to the year in
which the backup withholding occurred. A holder who is not otherwise required to
file a U.S. income tax return must generally file a claim for refund (or, in the
case of non-U.S. holders, an income tax return) in order to claim refunds of
withheld amounts.
British Virgin Islands Taxation
Under the International Business Companies Act of the British Virgin
Islands as currently in effect, a holder of Common Stock who is not a resident
of the BVI is exempt from BVI income tax on dividends paid with respect to the
Common Stock and all holders of Common Stock are not liable to BVI income tax on
gains realized during that year on sale or disposal of such shares; the BVI does
not impose a withholding tax on dividends paid by a company incorporated under
the International Business Companies Act.
There are no capital gains, gift or inheritance taxes levied by the BVI on
companies incorporated under the International Business Companies Act. In
addition, the Common Stock is not subject to transfer taxes, stamp duties or
similar charges.
There is no income tax treaty or convention currently in effect between the
United States and the BVI.
-18-
<PAGE>
ITEM 8. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
- --------------------------------------------
The Company prepares its Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance
with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("US GAAP"). The following
summary consolidated income statement data for the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31,
1997 and 1998 were derived from the audited financial statements of the Company
included elsewhere in this Annual Report and should be read in conjunction with
such financial statements. The following summary consolidated income statement
data for the year ended December 31, 1994 and 1995 and the consolidated balance
sheet data as of December 31, 1995 and 1996 were derived from the audited
financial statement of the Company not included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
The following consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 1994 was
derived from the unaudited financial statements of the Company not included
elsewhere in this Annual Report. The following summary financial data should be
read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and the Financial Statements and Notes
thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income Statement Data
Net Sales 122,468 277,654 351,898 400,224 366,764 44,295
Cost of goods sold (84,670) (213,807) (279,130) (300,910) (251,935) (30,427)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Gross Profit 37,798 63,847 72,768 99,314 114,829 13,868
Selling, general and
administrative expenses (12,286) (25,886) (32,865) (43,425) (48,301) (5,833)
Interest income (expense), (897) (1,029) (1,688) (3,336) (4,814) (582)
net
Other income (expense), net 176 (4) 180 (115) (961) (116)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before income tax 24,791 36,928 38,395 52,438 60,753 7,337
Provision for income tax -- -- -- (6,565) (7,900) (954)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before minority 24,791 36,928 38,395 45,873 52,853 6,383
interests
Minority interests (1) (5,651) (7,582) (3,931) (4,664) (5,590) (675)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income and
comprehensive income 19,140 29,346 34,464 41,209 47,263 5,708
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Earnings per share (2) Rmb 2.55 Rmb 3.91 Rmb 4.60 Rmb 5.43 Rmb 5.96 US$ 0.72
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding 7,500,000 7,500,000 7,500,000 7,595,000 7,936,000 7,936,000
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As of December 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
---------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -----------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(Unaudited)
Balance Sheet Data
Cash and cash equivalent 4,246 4,332 6,887 6,461 7,955 961
Working capital 12,813 13,375 45,992 101,463 127,162 15,358
Property, machinery and equipment
net 18,571 37,122 39,149 41,345 38,813 4,688
Construction-in-progress -- -- -- -- 34,929 4,218
Total assets 82,765 136,698 188,895 287,478 387,893 46,847
Short-term debts -- 3,623 10,315 27,513 47,886 5,783
Long-term debts 60 8,119 8,119 18,151 25,623 3,095
Total liabilities 51,441 94,320 111,873 162,821 212,612 25,678
Shareholders' equity 24,446 34,063 67,294 110,946 163,980 19,804
</TABLE>
(1) Mr. Rui Lin Wu and Mr. Zhi Yang Wu own minority equity interests in a
subsidiary of the Company.
-19-
<PAGE>
(2) Earnings per share is computed by dividing net income for 1994, 1995 and
1996 by 7,500,000, for 1997 by 7,595,000, for 1998 by 7,936,000, the weighted
average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the year, on the
basis that the share split and the issue of 4,500,000 shares of Common Stock for
the acquisition of a 90% interest in QXIT had been consummated prior to the
years presented.
(3) During the years ended December 31, 1993 and 1994 and for the period from
January 1 to May 22, 1995, the Company owned 78% in Qiao Xing Telecommunication
Industry Company Limited ("QXTI"), a joint venture incorporated in the PRC. The
minority shareholder of QXTI was Huizhou Qiao Lian Economic Development Company
("QLED", a state-owned company established in the PRC). Under the joint venture
agreement, QXTI required a unanimous vote of all joint venture partners on the
following four matters: (i) amendment of QXTI's articles of association; (ii)
dissolution of QXTI; (iii) changes in QXTI's registered share capital; and (iv)
merger of QXTI with other corporation, and there were no other matters that
would have required unanimous vote (See Notes to Financial Statements).
-20-
<PAGE>
ITEM 9. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OF OPERATIONS.
- --------------
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with
the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto. The amounts reflected
in the following discussion are in Renminbi ("RMB"). Translation of amounts
for 1998 from Renminbi 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 December 31, 1998 of US$1.00 =
RMB8.28.
Analysis of Results of Operations
---------------------------------
Fiscal 1998 compared to Fiscal 1997
- -----------------------------------
Net Sales
Net sales revenue decreased by RMB33,460,000 or 8.4% from RMB400,224,000 in
1997 to RMB366,764,000 (US$44,295,000) in 1998. The decrease was primarily
attributable to the following factors: (i) the economic crisis in the Southeast
Asia area weakened the purchase power of the electronics consumable market; (ii)
the serious floods which occurred in July and August 1998 in the Long River
drainage area significantly decreased the consumers' purchase desire in that
area; (iii) the competitive rivalry in the telephone market caused the Company
to reduce the selling price of the ordinary corded and cordless phones in fiscal
1998 with the aim of maintaining its market share; and (iv) the special function
corded telephones newly introduced in 1998 were well accepted by the market
(25.9% of the sales revenue generated in fiscal 1998 was contributed by the
special function corded phones). The increased sales revenue generated from this
market segment offset the reduction of sales revenue of the ordinary phones.
The following table presents the Company's sales revenues by category, and
the approximate percentage of total sales revenues for fiscal 1998 and 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31
1998 1997
RMB'000 % RMB'000 %
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ordinary corded telephones 192,098 52.4 252,941 63.2
ordinary cordless telephones 79,742 21.7 136,523 34.1
smart card telephones 77,437 21.1 10,760 2.7
caller ID displayed telephones 11,265 3.1 -- --
coin operated telephones 6,222 1.7 -- --
Total 366,764 100 400,224 100
=============== ============ ================================
</TABLE>
Gross Profit
The Company's gross profit during the same period increased by
RMB15,515,000 or 15.6% from RMB99,314,000 in 1997 to RMB114,829,000
(US$13,868,000) in 1998. The Company's gross profit margin increased from 24.8%
in 1997 to 31.3% in 1998. The increase is primarily attributable to the
-21-
<PAGE>
following reasons: (i) the increasing proportion of sales revenue generated by
the high profit margin products caused the average gross profit margin to
increase; (ii) as a result of the continuous effort of the research and
development department, the production cost of new models was lower than that of
the old models with similar functionality; and (iii) as the production technique
improved continuously, the material wastage was reduced.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling expenses decreased slightly by RMB1,720,000 or 6.0% from
RMB28,473,000 or 7.1% of net sales in 1997 to RMB26,753,000 (US$3,231,000) or
7.3% of net sales in 1998. The decrease was predominantly attributable to the
change of promoting strategy of the new products. The Company tended to use more
printing media, such as advertising pamphlets, billboards, and posters, instead
of TV advertising for the promotion campaigns of the new models and new
products. As a result, the advertising and promotional expenses decreased by
RMB3,495,000 or 30.6% from 1997 to 1998.
General and administrative expenses increased by RMB6,596,000 or 44.1% from
RMB14,952,000 in 1997 to RMB21,548,000 (US$2,602,000) in 1998 primarily due to
(i) allowance for doubtful accounts increased by RMB3,516,000 from 1997 to 1998,
as provision for doubtful accounts was primarily determined and computed on the
ending balance of trade receivables by using predetermined computation method.
With the expansion of the sales network and the extension of credit terms
applicable to large orders from the related companies of the Ministry of Post
and Telecommunications in the PRC and to customers with good repayment history,
the ending balance of trade receivables increased by RMB93,566,000 from
RMB135,468,000 as of December 31, 1997 to RMB229,034,000 as of December 31,
1998; and (ii) the Company appointed several professional firms to provide
advisory service for corporate strategy formulation and corporate finance
arrangement and the consultant fee increased by RMB1,495,000 from 1997 to 1998.
Other Income/Expenses
Interest expenditure during the same period increased by RMB1,711,000 or
50.5% from RMB3,390,000 in 1997 to RMB5,101,000 (US$616,000) in 1998. The
increase was attributable to the increase of loan to supplement working capital.
Minority interest for the Company, which was RMB5,590,000 (US$675,000) in
fiscal 1998, referred to the 10% interest of a minority shareholder in Qiao Xing
Telecommunication Industry Company Limited.
Income Taxes
Since the Company is subject to a 50% reduction in state income tax and
full reduction in local income tax in 1998, the income taxes provision amounted
to RMB7,900,000 (US$954,000). If the tax holiday did not exist, the Company=s
income tax expenses (net of minority interest) would have been increased by
approximately RMB8,792,000 (US$1,062,000).
-22-
<PAGE>
Fiscal 1997 compared to Fiscal 1996
- -----------------------------------
Net Sales
Net sales revenue increased by RMB48,326,000 or 13.7% from RMB351,898,000
in 1996 to RMB400,224,000 in 1997 primarily attributable to the change of sales
mix of the Company. While the corded telephone sales in 1997 continued to be
the Company's major source of sales revenue as in 1996, the success of the new
10 channel cordless telephones and the smart card telephones further increased
the revenue. The corded telephone sales accounted for 79.9% and 63.2% in 1996
and 1997, respectively, and the cordless telephone sales accounted for 20.1% and
34.1% in 1996 and 1997, respectively. The new 10 channel cordless telephones
and the smart card telephones increased the revenue by approximately
RMB31,062,000.
Gross Profit
The Company's gross profit during the same period increased by
RMB26,546,000 or 36.5% from RMB72,768,000 in 1996 to RMB99,314,000 in 1997. The
Company's gross margin increased from 20.7% in 1996 to 24.8% in 1997. The
increase is attributable primarily to the following reasons: (i) the average
gross profit margin of cordless telephones and the smart card telephone were
higher than that of corded telephone; (ii) as the production technique for
cordless telephones were getting matured, the wastage on materials were lowered;
and (iii) as the production volume of cordless telephones increased, bulk
purchase of some of the key components lowered the purchasing price compared
with the same period of 1996.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling expenses increased by RMB5,096,000 or 21.8% from RMB23,377,000 or
6.6% of net sales in 1996 to RMB28,473,000 or 7.1% of net sales in 1997,
predominantly attributable to the relevant advertising expenses increased in
promoting the hi-tech and sophisticated image of the cordless telephones. The
advertising expenses, which accounted for 35.7% and 40.1% of selling expenses in
1996 and 1997, respectively, increased by RMB3,048,000 or 36.5% from 1996 to
1997.
General and administrative expenses increased by RMB5,464,000 or 57.6% from
RMB9,488,000 in 1996 to RMB14,952,000 in 1997 primarily due to (i) allowance for
doubtful accounts increased by RMB1,488,000 from 1996 to 1997 as allowance for
doubtful accounts was provided generally on 1% of the ending balance of trade
receivables and on 50% to 100% of specific accounts such as overdue trade
outstandings. With the expanding of the sales network and increasing of sales
volume, the ending balance of trade receivables increased by RMB67,679,000 from
RMB67,789,000 as of December 31, 1996 to RMB135,468,000 as of December 31, 1997
and there was write-back of doubtful accounts of RMB420,000 in 1996, (ii) the
increase of the general administrative staffs and the leasing expenses incurred
for the expansion of dormitories which were leased for administrative staffs
newly employed and promoted. The increase of the administrative staffs led to
the relevant expenses, including salaries, staff benefits and dormitory leasing
expenses, increasing by RMB655,000 or 16.6% from 1996 to 1997; (iii) the
increase of the Company's business activities caused the entertainment expenses
and office expenses to increase by RMB367,000 and RMB204,000, respectively; and
(iv) the occurrence of exceptional items including donation to charity of
RMB571,000 and a vehicle disposal loss of RMB454,000.
-23-
<PAGE>
Other Income/Expenses
Interest expenditure increased by RMB1,690,000 or 99.4% from RMB1,700,000
in 1996 to RMB3,390,000 in 1997. The increase was attributable to the increase
of loan to supplement working capital.
Minority interest for the Company, which was RMB4,664,000 in fiscal 1997,
referred to the 10% interest of a minority shareholder in Qiao Xing
Telecommunication Industry Company Limited.
Income Taxes
Since the Company is subject to a 50% reduction in state income tax and
full reduction in local income tax in 1997, the income taxes provision amounted
to RMB6,565,000. If the tax holiday did not exist, the Company's income tax
expenses (net of minority interest) would have been increased by RMB7,386,000.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
-------------------------------
The Company has no direct business operations other than its ownership of
its subsidiaries. Its ability to pay dividends and meet other obligations
depends upon the receipts of dividends or other payments from its operating
subsidiaries. There are currently no known restrictions on the Company=s
subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company; however, the Company does not
currently intend to pay dividends to its shareholders.
The Company's primary sources of financing have been cash from operating
activities and borrowings under credit agreements with various banks. For the
year ended December 31, 1998, RMB14,711,000 (US$1,777,000) and RMB14,349,000
(US$1,733,000) cash flow from operating and financing activities, respectively,
and RMB27,576,000 (US$3,330,000) was used by investing activities. Consequently,
cash and cash equivalents increased by RMB1,494,000 (US$181,000) during the year
ended December 31, 1998.
Net increase in cash and bank deposit was RMB1,494,000 (US$181,000) for the
year ended December 31, 1998, as compared with a net decrease in cash and bank
deposit of RMB426,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997. The Company's
increase in cash flow during the year ended December 31, 1998 was primarily due
to (i) the increase in net income; (ii) the decrease in the Company's inventory;
(iii) the increase in new short-term borrowings; and (iv) the net proceeds
raised from issue of common stock through a private placement.
Inventory decreased by RMB17,885,000 (US$2,160,000) from RMB81,005,000 as
of December 31, 1997 to RMB63,120,000 (US$7,623,000) as of December 31, 1998.
The decrease in inventory was predominantly due to the Company having adopted a
better inventory managing system in 1998.
However, the accounts receivable balance increased by RMB87,366,000
(US$10,551,000) from RMB135,453,000 as of December 31, 1997 to RMB222,819,000
(US$26,911,000) as of December 31, 1998. The increase in accounts receivable was
attributable to (i) the expansion of the Company's distribution network; (ii)
the extension of credit terms applicable to large orders from the related
companies of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications in the PRC; and (iii) a
longer credit term available to customers with good repayment history. The days
sales outstanding increased from 91 days
-24-
<PAGE>
in 1997 to 176 days in 1998. Approximately 94% of accounts receivable were less
than nine months (270 days), of which over 70% were less than six months (180
days) as of December 31, 1998. The primary reasons why customers needed credit
extensions are: (i) all these customers are wholesale sellers and the
competitive rivalry in the telephone market caused them to offer longer credit
terms to retain their sales volumes; and (ii) the Company launched a business
relationship with the related companies of the Ministry of Post and
Telecommunications in the PRC in late 1997 and nearly all of these companies'
suppliers offered a credit term of more than three months (90 days). For large
orders, the common credit term is from six months (180 days) to ten months (300
days). The Company does not expect this trend to continue and has made effort to
shorten the days sales outstanding as it may significantly impact the Company's
liquidity if the days sales outstanding keep increasing.
As of December 31, 1998, the Company's consolidated working capital was
RMB127,162,000 (US$15,358,000) compared to RMB101,463,000 as of December 31,
1997. The Company's aggregate capital expenditures during fiscal 1998 were
RMB32,056,000 (US$3,871,000) compared to RMB12,537,000 in fiscal 1997. This
increase primarily reflects expenditures for the acquisition of property,
machinery and equipment and additions of construction-in-progress of its new
factory in Huizhou, China. Construction-in-progress comprised cost of land used
for construction of factory and office buildings. The land is located in the PRC
held under land use rights for terms of 44 to 50 years. Construction will be
carried out in phases, and the first stage is to expand the factory area to
24,545 square meters to provide room for larger production facilities.
Subsequent construction plans are being considered. During 2000 to 2001, the
construction cost of approximately US$0.8 million will be applied from the net
proceed of the Initial Public Offering completed in February 1999, approximately
US$0.6 million will be financed by bank loan, and approximately US$0.8 million
will be provided by the saving on rental expenses and cash from its operations.
As of December 31, 1998, the Company had a long-term payable of
RMB19,388,000 (US$2,221,000) (before unamortized discount based on imputed
interest rate of 10.35% p.a.) in respect of accrual for the balance of the
acquisition cost of land under construction of factories and office buildings,
and are repayable within 19 years starting from 1999 by RMB1,000,000 per year.
This long-term payable is unsecured and after unamortized discount based on
imputed interest rate of 10.35% p.a., the long term payable is RMB8,657,000
(US$1,046,000). The Company intends to settle this long-term payable by cash
generated from its operations.
Historically, the Company has financed its operations and capital
expenditures principally through cash generated from operating activities and
bank borrowings. Outstanding bank borrowings accounted for 13.0% and 14.9% of
the Company=s total assets as of December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1998,
respectively. Seasonal working capital needs have been met through short-term
borrowing under a revolving line of credit.
As of December 31, 1998, the Company had banking facilities of
approximately RMB64,965,000 (US$7,846,000) for loans and trade financing. Unused
facilities as of December 31, 1998 amounted to approximately RMB11,609,000
(US$1,402,000). Short-term bank loans of RMB42,700,000 (US$5,157,000) is
repayable before December 31, 1999 and bears interest at fixed rates ranging
from 7.03% to 11.09% per annum. Bills payable of RMB856,000 (US$103,000) is a
form of bank borrowings with payment term due within 90 days, and bore interest
at floating rate at LIBOR plus 2% as of December 31, 1998. Other short-term
loans of RMB4,330,000 (US$523,000) is repayable before December 31, 1999 and
bears interest at fixed rates ranging from Nil to 23.52% as of December 31,
1998. The amount of borrowings subject to 23.52% interest was RMB2,500,000
(US$302,000) as of December
-25-
<PAGE>
31, 1998. The Company seldom obtains credit at such a rate; however, QXTI needed
RMB4,500,000 within a few days in September 1997 and it could not obtain credit
through usual ways in such a short time, other than borrowing from Rui Xing
Electronic Development Company Limited, a related party, at such a rate.
Moreover, this related party borrowing is unsecured and without pre-determined
repayment terms. The Company has not obtained any additional credit at such a
rate (or a higher rate) after then. QXTI repaid this borrowing in early 1999.
Long-term bank loan of RMB9,800,000 (US$1,179,000) is repayable in December 2000
and bears interest at a fixed rate of 9.36% per annum.
In April and May 1998, the Company sold an aggregate of 250,000 shares of
Common Stock for $3.00 per share to 13 accredited investors in a limited private
placement offering, whereby it raised US$750,000 for legal and accounting fees
and other related expenses associated with the Company=s Initial Public
Offering.
The Company anticipates that it will be able to meet its ongoing cash
requirement with cash generated from its operations, proceeds from the Offering
and borrowings, as needed, from existing banking relationships. In the event the
Company should consummate an acquisition, its capital requirement could
increase; however, there are no current or pending arrangements, understandings,
negotiations or agreements with respect to any potential acquisitions.
Others
------
Economy of China
The economy of China differs from the economies of most countries; however,
although the majority of productive assets in China are still owned by the
government, economic reform policies since 1978 have emphasized decentralization
and the utilization of market mechanisms in the development of the Chinese
economy. The Company has significantly benefitted from such reforms, as the
Ministry of Post and Telecommunications since 1994 has opened the
telecommunications equipment market of China to all kinds of manufacturers.
Management believes that the basic principles underlying the reforms will
continue to provide an acceptable framework of the PRC's political and economic
systems. In addition, it currently sees no evidence that this refinement and
readjustment process may adversely affect, directly or indirectly, the Company's
operation in the future.
Inflation
The average rate of inflation in China was 21.7% in 1994. As the result of
government control of macro economics, the inflation rate decreased to 14.8% in
1995, 6.1% in 1996 and 2.8% in 1997. As the market price of the major raw
materials kept stable or even decreased in the past several years and there is
no evidence to show that the price of raw materials will increase significantly
in the near future, inflation does not have a material effect on the Company's
production cost.
Legal System of China
The legal system of China is based on written statutes and, in 1979, China
began the process of developing its legal system by undertaking to promulgate a
comprehensive system of law. Since its inception, the Company has not been
adversely affected by the legal system of China, and management does not believe
that the legal system of China will have a material adverse impact on the
Company's future operations.
-26-
<PAGE>
Currency and Exchange Rate
The Company's products are currently manufactured at factories located in
China. The functional currency of the Company is Renminbi. The majorities of the
Company's revenue accrue in the areas of China and are denominated in Renminbi.
Nearly all of the Company's raw materials are purchased using Renminbi. The
Company's expenses, including wages and other production and administrative
costs, are denominated in Renminbi. Therefore, the fluctuations in exchange rate
have not had a significant effect on the Company's operations.
Government Control of Currency Conversion
Renminbi currently is not a freely convertible currency. The State
Administration for Exchange Control ("SAEC") under the authority of the
People's Bank of China (the PBOC"), controls the conversion of Renminbi into
foreign currency. The value of the Renminbi is subject to changes in central
government policies and to international economic and political developments
affecting supply and demand in the China Foreign Exchange Trading System
("CFETS") market. Since substantially all of the Company's raw materials are
provided by local suppliers using Renminbi and the majority of the Company's
expenses are denominated in Renminbi, restrictions on currency conversions did
not materially affect the Company's operations. Also, since the Company does not
expect to require any raw material that are not permitted or are limited to
purchase using foreign currencies, management believes that such restriction
will not materially affect the Company's operations in the future. However, the
Company's ability to pay dividends and meet other obligations depends upon the
receipt of dividends or other payments from its operating subsidiaries and its
other holdings and investments, and its operating subsidiaries located in China
may be subject to restrictions on the conversion of Renminbi to U.S. dollars
and, as a result, may be restricted to make distributions to the Company.
Dependence on China Factories
The Company has no direct business operation, other than its ownership of
its subsidiaries located in China and the results of operations and financial
condition of the Company are currently solely dependent on its China factories.
The Company currently maintains fire, casualty and theft insurance aggregating
approximately $9.6 million covering various of its stock in trade, goods and
merchandise, furniture and equipment, and factory buildings in China. The
proceeds of this insurance may not sufficiently cover material damage to, or the
loss of, any of the Company's factories due to fire, severe weather, flooding or
other cause, and such damage or loss would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition, business and prospects. However, the Company has
not materially suffered from such damage or loss to date.
Government Expectation of Telecommunications Industry
Officials of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Ministry
of Electronics Industry have revised the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000)
telecom industry targets upward due to surging market demand. The officials
predicted that land-line telephone installation will grow to 123 million sets in
2000. In other words, there will be over 50 million telephone sets in demand
between 1998 and 2000, not including the requirements of old telephone molds.
Such industrial trend may benefit the growth of the Company's revenue in the
coming years.
-27-
<PAGE>
Taxation
The Company and QXHL 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. QXTI, a joint venture
enterprise established in PRC, is subject to PRC income taxes at a rate of 27%
(24% state income tax and 3% local income tax). From 1994 through 1996, QXTI was
exempted from PRC income tax pursuant to a tax holiday that reduced to partial
exemptions in 1997 and terminated as of December 31, 1998. The termination of
the tax holiday will increase the Company's income tax rate from 12% in 1998 to
27% in 1999 and forward. In addition, the Company is applying for a full
exemption in local income tax since 1999. If the local government approves the
tax exemption, the income tax rate in 1999 shall be 24%. According to the
current practice of local tax exemption given to the joint venture enterprise in
Huizhou, management believes that QXTI may obtain the full exemption in local
income tax.
Management's Expectation of Revenue and Expenses
Management intends to increase the production and sales volume of new model
telephones and special function telephones such as the smart card telephones,
coin operated telephones and caller ID displayed telephones, since the average
gross profit margin of these telephones are higher than that of the other
telephones. In addition, the sales and production volume of the lower profit
margin products is expected to decrease in the coming years.
General and administrative expenses are forecasted to increase in next
year, since (i) management intends to employ more high-level administrative
staffs; and (ii) research and development expense is expected to increase.
Interest expenditure is also forecasted to increase in next year, as the
scale of operation will be extended continuously and the need for working
capital will increase accordingly.
Year 2000 Disclosure
Management is fully aware of the Year 2000 issue and has been addressing
this issue since early 1998. The Company's current Year 2000 action plan
includes seven phases: (i) by September 1998, to complete a comprehension
analysis on all kinds of Year 2000 problems including both IT and Non-IT
systems, both internal and external systems; (ii) during October 1998, to
develop Year 2000 strategy and test plan for Year 2000 compliance systems; (iii)
during November and December 1998, to execute test plan and develop contingency
plan; (iv) during January to June 1999, to monitor the existing hardware and
software and modify or replace them when further problems found; (v) during July
to September 1999, to test and monitor the modified (or replaced) systems
completed on or before June 1999; (vi) during October to December 1999, review
and refine the contingency plan; and (vii) during January to June 2000, closely
monitor the systems and execute the contingency plan if exceptional error
occurs.
Phases (i) to (iii) have been completed and the other four phases are in
progress. As the Company's material Non-IT systems such as industrial process
controllers and testing equipment are not date-related, the Company sees no
evidence that any essential process function will be impacted by Year 2000
threats. As for IT systems such as database, communications, logistics and
financial systems, internal computer specialists are upgrading the historical
database and the related applications to ensure that they are compliant with
Year 2000 features. The computer specialists are confident that they can finish
the upgrade before September 1999. Generally, Year 2000 has no significant
potential impact on the
-28-
<PAGE>
Company's internal IT systems. However, Year 2000 can have a material adverse
effect on businesses that are not prepared internally, such as telecommunication
system and banking transactions. Amount of lost revenue due to Year 2000 issues
that related to third parties is uncertain. The Company intends to handle this
problem by keeping paper records and reconciliation of transactions and balance
with third parties and establishing contingency plan for unexpected cases. All
Year 2000 related projects have been staffed exclusively with internal resources
and the aggregate costs are expected to be approximate RMB300,000 (US$36,000)
and approximate RMB100,000 (US$12,000) has been used up to December 31, 1998.
ITEM 9A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF REGISTRANT.
- -----------------------------------------------
The executive officers and directors of the Company are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Position
- ---- --- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Rui Lin Wu 47 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Zhi Yang Wu 25 Vice Chairman and Secretary
Shuen Ji Yeh 58 Executive Director
Zhong Ai Li 28 Executive Director
Jie Shi 31 Chief Financial Officer
Heng Xu 36 Non-Executive Director
Zi Shu Huang 45 Non-Executive Director
Mei Lian Li 27 Non-Executive Director
</TABLE>
None of the directors and officers was selected pursuant to any agreement
or understanding with any other person. There is no family relationship between
any director or executive officer and any other director or executive officer,
except Rui Lin Wu and his son Zhi Yang Wu and Mei Lian Li, the wife of Zhi Yang
Wu.
Mr. Rui Lin Wu, aged 47, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. He is the founder of the Company and has over 11 years of experience in
the telecommunication industry. He is responsible for the Company's overall
strategic planning, policy making and finance. Prior to his career in the
telecommunications industry, he was a general manager of a fashion and garment
factory from 1980 to 1986. Currently, Mr. Wu is a member of the China National
Association of Industry and Commerce, senior analyst of the China National
Condition and Development Research Center, and a member of the Poverty Fund of
China.
Mr. Zhi Yang Wu, aged 25, is the Vice Chairman of the Company and the elder
son of Mr. Rui Lin Wu. Mr. Wu also serves as the Secretary of the Company. Mr.
Wu received a Diploma in Business Management from Huizhou University of the PRC.
He joined the Company in 1992 and is responsible for the Company's overall
strategic planning, policy making and the overseas market development.
-29-
<PAGE>
Mr. Shuen Ji Yeh, aged 58, joined the Company and has served as a director
of the Company since July 1998. He is responsible for the overall corporate
strategy of the Company. Mr. Yeh has more than 19 years' experience in finance
and corporate development. He is presently the chairman of Guo Ye Holdings and
Guo Ye Enterprise Limited, whose principal activities are investment consultancy
in electronic communications and properties in the PRC, and PRC investment
consulting, respectively. He is also the chairman of Beijing Jin Peng Electronic
Amusement Machine Company Limited in which Guo Ye Holdings holds a 50% interest.
Mr. Yeh was a managing director of China International Trust & Investment
Corporation Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited.
Mr. Zhong Ai Li, aged 28, is Deputy General Manager of Qiao Xing
Telecommunication Industry Co., Ltd. ("QXTI") and has served as a director of
the Company since September 1997. From August 1992 to July 1994, he served as
deputy manager of QXTI's marketing department. From August 1994 to February
1997, Mr. Li served as manager of Shenzhen Baoan Chang He Electronic Co., Ltd.
From February 1997 to September 1997, he served as manager of QXTI's marketing
department. Mr. Li has served as Deputy General Manager of QXTI since September
1997.
Mr. Jie Shi, aged 31, has served as the Chief Financial Officer and
Controller of Finance of the Company since September 1997. He also serves as
Deputy General Manager of QXTI since September 1997. From July 1994 to September
1997, Mr. Shi served as department head of the finance department of QXTI. From
July 1993 to July 1994, he served as deputy section chief of the finance
department of Guizhou Province Bijie Region Power Supply Bureau. From September
1992 to July 1993, Mr. Shi served as section chief of the finance department of
Guizhou Province Bijie City Seasoning Factory.
Mr. Heng Xu, aged 36, served as a non-executive director of the Company.
Presently, he serves as the manager of Jia Xing Electronic Supplies Co., Ltd.
since November 1995. From 1992 to February 1995, Mr. Xu served as the manager of
Hong Kong Li Jia Telecommunication (Huizhou) Limited. From September 1986 to
1992, he served as assistant engineer for Chongqi City Radio Factory II,
Electronic Department.
Mr. Zi Shu Huang, aged 45, serves as a non-executive director of the
Company. He has served as the general manager of Huizhou City Xiaojinkou
Economic Development Company since September 1997. This company specializes in
the manufacturing of electronic parts and business trading.
Ms. Mei Lian Li, aged 27, is the wife of Mr. Zhi Yang Wu and serves as a
non-executive director of the Company. Ms. Li had worked for Huizhou
Intercontinental Electric Company as financial manager from 1989 to 1994. From
1994 to 1995, she was the Deputy General Manager of the Company.
Audit Committee
The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, which consists
of Rui Lin Wu, Heng Xu and Zi Shu Huang. The functions of the Audit Committee
are to recommend annually to the Board of Directors the appointment of the
independent public accountants of the Company, discuss and review the scope and
the fees of the prospective annual audit and review the results thereof with the
independent public accountants, review and approve non-audit services of the
independent public accountants, review compliance with existing accounting and
financial policies of the Company, review the adequacy of the financial
organization of the Company and review management's procedures and policies
relative to the adequacy of the Company's internal accounting controls and
compliance with federal and state laws relating to financial reporting.
-30-
<PAGE>
ITEM 11. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
- ----------------------------------------------------------
The aggregate compensation paid by the Company to all directors and
executive officers of the Company as a group with respect to its fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 on an accrual basis, for services in all capacities, was
RMB 2,776,000 (US$335,000). During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, the
Company contributed an aggregate amount of RMB 49,000 (US$6,000) toward the
pension plans of the directors and executive officers.
The Company has not entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Rui Lin
Wu. Currently, Mr. Wu serves as President of the Company at an annual salary of
RMB 1,267,000 (US$153,000). Mr. Wu's remuneration package includes benefits with
respect to a motor car.
ITEM 12. OPTIONS TO PURCHASE SECURITIES FROM REGISTRANT OR SUBSIDIARIES.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective June 16, 1999, the Board of Directors adopted and approved the
1999 Stock Compensation Plan (the "1999 Plan"). The purpose of the 1999 Plan is
to encourage ownership of the Common Stock of the Company by officers,
directors, employees and advisors of the Company in order to provide additional
incentive for such persons to promote the success and the business of the
Company and to encourage them to remain in the employ of the Company by
providing such persons an opportunity to benefit from any appreciation of the
Common Stock of the Company through the issuance of stock options to such
persons in accordance with the terms of the 1999 Plan. Options granted pursuant
to the 1999 Plan constitute either incentive stock options within the meaning of
Section 422 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), or options which constitute nonqualified options at the time of
issuance of such options. The 1999 Plan provides that incentive stock options
and/or nonqualified stock options may be granted to certain officers, directors,
employees and advisors of the Company or its subsidiaries, if any, selected by
the Compensation Committee. Approval of the 1999 Plan is subject to shareholder
approval. If approved, a total of 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock will be
authorized and reserved for issuance under the 1999 Plan, subject to adjustment
to reflect changes in the Company's capitalization in the case of a stock split,
stock dividend or similar event. The 1999 Plan is administered by the
Compensation Committee which has the sole authority to interpret the 1999 Plan
and make all determinations necessary or advisable for administering the 1999
Plan. The exercise price for any incentive option must be at least equal to the
fair market value of the shares covered thereby as of the date of grant of such
option. Upon the exercise of the option, the exercise price thereof must be paid
in full either in cash, shares of stock of the Company or a combination thereof.
If and to the extent that any option to purchase reserved shares shall not be
exercised by an optionee for any reason or if such option to purchase shall
terminate as provided by the 1999 Plan, such shares which have not been so
purchased thereunder shall again become available for the purposes of the 1999
Plan unless the 1999 Plan shall have been terminated.
As of this date, the Company has not granted any options under the 1999
Plan.
ITEM 13. INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.
- ---------------------------------------------------------
The following table is provided to facilitate the investor's understanding
of the relationships between the Company and each of the following related
parties and their transactions with the Company.
-31-
<PAGE>
For further information regarding related party transactions, please see Note 24
to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Name of related parties Existing relationship with the Company
Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li The major shareholder
Mr. Rui Lin Wu Director and father of Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li
Mr. Zhi Yang Wu Director and brother of Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li
Ms. Mei Lian Li Director and wife of Mr. Zhi Yang Wu
Mr. Zhi Zhong Wu Brother of Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li
Ms. Qing Li Wife of Mr. Rui Lin Wu
Wu Holdings Limited ("WHL") Intermediate holding company
Qiao Xing Group Limited Common directors
Qiao Xing Properties Limited ("QXPL" ) Common directors
Qiao Xing International Company ("QXIC") Common director
Qiao Xing Commercial Limited ("QXCL") Common director
Rui Xing Electronic Development Company
Limited ("RXED" ) Common director
Ben Xing Telecommunication Component
Limited ("BXTC" ) Common director
Qiao Xing Investment Limited Common director
</TABLE>
Since the beginning of 1996, QXTI subleased a portion of factory building
to Qiao Xing Properties Limited ("QXPL"), Qiao Xing International Company
("QXIC"), Rui Xing Electronic Development Company Limited ("RXED") and Ben
Xing Telecommunication Component Limited ("BXTC"). The balance due from these
related parties represented rental charges, electrical charges and water fees
that were paid to the Wu Shi Industrial Administrative Bureau by QXTI on behalf
of the above four related parties, respectively. In 1997, QXIC and BXTC moved
out from QXTI's factory building, and QXPL and RXED stayed there. At the end of
1997, QXPL and RXED settled all these withholding charges.
QXTI borrowed RMB4,500,000 from RXED in 1997. The balance of this loan was
RMB959,000 as of December 31, 1998. The loan bears interest of 26% per annum and
was used for working capital purposes. This related party borrowing is unsecured
and without pre-determined repayment terms.
Regarding purchases from related parties, (i) QXTI purchases plastic covers
and molding from QXPL with an on going basis since October 1995. QXPL has common
directors (i.e., Rui Lin Wu and Zhi Yang Wu) with QXUT. QXPL is equipped with
the latest computer software and automatic machineries to provide on time and
quality services to QXTI. Since QXPL is located next to the Company, it provides
an additional convenience for QXTI to closely monitor the progress of their
work. The purchase price is determined on the open bid basis (i.e., only when
the price offered by QXPL is not higher than third-party's quotation, QXPL's
product can be accepted by QXTI); (ii) QXIC purchases the Integrated Circuit
("IC") from overseas suppliers for QXTI since 1997. QXIC has a common director
(i.e., Zhi Yang Wu) with QXUT. QXIC specializes in overseas sourcing of IC and
electronic components and provides a direct access channel to the world
electronics market for the Company with minimal searching cost incurred. If the
quality of the IC produced by local manufacturers can meet QXTI's requirement,
QXTI will purchase the IC from local suppliers and stop requiring QXIC to
purchase for them. The purchase price is also determined on the open bid basis;
(iii) QXCL started a pilot run on telephone research and assembling, and the
caller ID displayed telephones newly developed by QXCL
-32-
<PAGE>
were well accepted by the market. However, QXCL did not have complete assembling
line capability nor its own distribution network. QXCL has a common director
(i.e., Zhi Yang Wu) with QXUT. Since the wholesale price of QXCL's products is
very close to the manufacturing cost of the similar products of QXTI, QXTI
purchased all of the semi-finished products from QXCL and successfully promoted
them to the market with average gross profit margin of approximately 30%. In
1999, since QXTI was able to produce such telephones by itself, it stopped
purchasing telephones from QXCL, and QXCL also terminated its pilot run of
telephone assembling in the beginning of 1999; (iv) QXTI purchases printed
circuit boards ("PCB") from RXED with an on-going basis since October 1995.
RXED has a common director (i.e., Rui Lin Wu) with QXUT and it provides
flexibility on supplying different type of PCB when QXTI demands. The purchase
price is also determined on the open bid basis; and (v) QXTI purchases the
custom-made components such as electronic locks and mini speakers from BXTC with
an on going basis since January 1995. BXTC has a common director (i.e., Rui Lin
Wu) with QXUT. The purchase price is also determined on the open bid basis.
Regarding amounts due from/to affiliates, the amount due from Rui Lin Wu,
Zhi Yang Wu, Zhi Jian Wu Li and Mei Lian Li represented the balance of cash
advanced, the amount due from Qiao Xing Group Limited and Qiao Xing Investment
Limited represented amount borrowed from QXTI by these companies for working
capital uses, and the amount due from Wu Holdings Limited ("WHL") mainly
represented amount borrowed from QXTI for settlement of WHL's audit fees. The
balances due from the related parties were unsecured, non-interest bearing and
repayable on demand. The amount due to Zhi Yang Wu represented the unpaid
compensations owed to him. The amount due to Qing Li and RXED represented amount
borrowed from these related parties for working capital uses. The amount due to
RXED was unsecured, bore interest at 26% per annum and was without pre-
determined repayment terms. The other balances due to the related parties were
unsecured, non-interest bearing and without pre-determined repayment terms.
As of December 31, 1998, QXTI had provided corporate guarantee to an
unrelated party who is a friend of Mr. Rui Lin Wu for bank borrowings of
approximately HK$1,200,000 (equivalent to approximately RMB1,282,000 and US
$155,000).
The Company believes that the terms of the agreements and transactions
referenced above which involve the Company's officers, directors, principal
shareholders or affiliates were fair, reasonable and consistent with terms that
the Company could have obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
-33-
<PAGE>
PART II
ITEM 14. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.
- -----------------------------------------------------
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 15. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
- ------------------------------------------
None.
ITEM 16. CHANGES IN SECURITIES, CHANGES IN SECURITY FOR REGISTERED SECURITIES
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
- --------------------
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Use of Proceeds
---------------
(1) The effective date of the Securities Act registration statement
for which the use of proceeds is being disclosed is February 16,
1999, Commission file number 333-9274.
(2) The date of commencement of the offering was February 17,
1999.
(3) The offering did not terminate before any securities were sold.
(4) (i) The offering has terminated and did not terminate before
the sale of all securities registered.
(ii) The managing underwriter was Barron Chase Securities, Inc.
(iii) The title of each class of securities registered is $.001
par value common stock ("Common Stock").
(iv) The Company registered 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock for
its account and the aggregate offering price of the Common
Stock was $8,800,000 ($5.50 per share). All of the
foregoing shares of Common Stock were sold as of the date
hereof.
-34-
<PAGE>
(v) From the effective date of the Securities Act registration
statement (February 16, 1999) through June 30, 1999, the
actual amount of expenses incurred for the Company's account
in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
securities registered for underwriting discounts and
commissions, finder's fees, expenses paid to or for
underwriters, and other expenses were:
$792,000 - Underwriting discount (9%)
0 - Finders' fees
264,000 - Expenses paid to underwriters (3%)
1,225,000 - Other expenses - legal, accounting,
printing,travel, promotion, underwriter
financial advisory fee, DTC report fee,
etc.
------------------------------------------------------
$2,281,000 - Total expenses
None of the above payments was a direct or indirect payment
to directors, officers, general partners or their
associates, persons owning 10% or more of any class of
equity securities of the Company and affiliates of the
Company. All of the above payments were direct or indirect
payments to others.
(vi) The net offering proceeds to the Company after deducting the
total expenses of $2,281,000 described in (v) above were
$6,519,000.
(vii) From the effective date of the Securities Act registration
statement (February 16, 1999) through June 30, 1999, the
actual amount of net offering proceeds to the Company for
which at least $100,000 has been used are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Direct/Indirect Payment Direct/Indirect Payment
To Affiliates To Others
----------------------- -----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Construction of plant, building
and facilities $0 $ 300,000
Purchase and installation of
machinery and equipment $0 $ 200,000
Purchases of real estate $0 $ 0
Acquisition of other business(es) $0 $ 0
Repayment of indebtedness $0 $ 0
Working capital $0 $ 700,000
Development of new products $0 $ 270,000
</TABLE>
-35-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Expansion of distribution network $0 $1,900,000
and payment of advertising and
promotion fees
Temporary investments $0 $3,149,000
</TABLE>
(viii) The Company does not believe that the use of proceeds set
forth in (vii) above represents a material change in the use
of proceeds described in the February 16, 1999 Prospectus.
PART IV
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
- -------------------------------
Not applicable.
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
- -------------------------------
See the Consolidated Financial Statements listed in Item 19 hereof and
filed as a part of this Annual Report.
ITEM 19. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
- --------------------------------------------
(a) The following financial statements are being filed as part of this
Annual Report on Form 20-F:
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants
Consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998
Consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 1997 and 1998
Consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity for the years
ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998
Notes to and forming part of the financial statements
(b) The following exhibits are being filed as part of this Annual Report on
Form 20-F:
none.
-36-
<PAGE>
[LOGO OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN APPEARS HERE]
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Qiao Xing Universal Telephone,
Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Qiao Xing
Universal Telephone, Inc. (a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands;
"the Company") and Subsidiaries ("the Group") as of December 31, 1997 and 1998,
and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in
shareholders' equity for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
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 Qiao Xing Universal
Telephone, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1998, and the
results of their operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America.
/s/ Arthur Andersen & Co.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO.
Certified Public Accountants
Hong Kong
Hong Kong,
April 1, 1999.
-1-
<PAGE>
QIAO XING UNIVERSAL TELEPHONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
----------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
---------------------------
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
--------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Note 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8
------------ ----------------------- --------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
- ------
Current assets:
Cash and bank deposits 22 6,461 7,955 961
Accounts receivable, net 4 135,453 222,819 26,911
Prepayments and deposits 5 7,010 9,884 1,193
Other receivables 6 2,954 1,058 128
Inventories, net 7 81,005 63,120 7,623
Due from related parties 24 13,250 9,315 1,125
------------ ----------- ------------
Total current assets 246,133 314,151 37,941
Property, machinery and equipment, net 8 41,345 38,813 4,688
Construction-in-progress 9 - 34,929 4,218
------------ ----------- ------------
Total assets 287,478 387,893 46,847
============ =========== ============
LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTERESTS
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
- -------------------------------
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings 10 27,513 47,886 5,783
Accounts payable 45,988 47,691 5,760
Accrued liabilities 11 8,680 10,016 1,210
Due to related parties 24 5,566 2,614 316
Taxation payable 16 56,923 78,782 9,514
------------ ----------- ------------
Total current liabilities 144,670 186,989 22,583
Long-term bank loan 12 9,800 9,800 1,184
Long-term payable 13 - 7,657 925
Shareholders' loans 14 8,351 8,166 986
------------ ----------- ------------
Total liabilities 162,821 212,612 25,678
------------ ----------- ------------
Minority interests 13,711 11,301 1,365
------------ ----------- ------------
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value Rmb0.008
(equivalent of US$0.001); authorized -
50,000,000 shares; outstanding and fully
paid - 7,750,000 shares as of December
31, 1997 and 8,000,000 shares as of
December 31, 1998
15 62 64 8
Additional paid-in capital 6,800 12,559 1,517
Dedicated reserves 18 4,263 6,295 760
Retained earnings 18 99,821 145,052 17,518
Cumulative translation adjustments - 10 1
------------ ----------- ------------
Total shareholders' equity 110,946 163,980 19,804
------------ ----------- ------------
Total liabilities, minority interests
and shareholders' equity
287,478 387,893 46,847
============ =========== ============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
_____________________
Translation of amounts from Renminbi ("Rmb") into United States dollars ("US$")
is for the convenience of readers and has been made at the noon buying rate in
dNew York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for
customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on December 31, 1998 of
US$1.00 = Rmb8.28. No representation is made that the Renminbi amounts could
have been, or could be, converted into United States dollars at that rate or at
any other rate.
-2-
<PAGE>
QIAO XING UNIVERSAL TELEPHONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
----------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
-------------------------------------
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1997 AND 1998
----------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Note 1996 1997 1998
------------ ----------- ----------- ------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales 351,898 400,224 366,764 44,295
Cost of goods sold (279,130) (300,910) (251,935) (30,427)
----------- ----------- ------------ ---------
Gross profit 72,768 99,314 114,829 13,868
Selling expenses (23,377) (28,473) (26,753) (3,231)
General and administrative
expenses (9,488) (14,952) (21,548) (2,602)
Interest expenses (1,700) (3,390) (5,101) (616)
Interest income 12 54 287 34
Other income (expenses), net 180 (115) (961) (116)
----------- ----------- ------------ ---------
Income before income tax 38,395 52,438 60,753 7,337
Provision for income tax 16 - (6,565) (7,900) (954)
----------- ----------- ------------ ---------
Income before minority interests 38,395 45,873 52,853 6,383
Minority interests (3,931) (4,664) (5,590) (675)
----------- ----------- ------------ ---------
Net income 17 34,464 41,209 47,263 5,708
=========== =========== ============ =========
Earnings per common share Rmb 4.60 Rmb 5.43 Rmb 5.96 US$ 0.72
=========== =========== ============ =========
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding 7,500,000 7,595,000 7,936,000 7,936,000
=========== =========== ============ =========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Translation of amounts from Renminbi ("Rmb") 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 December 31, 1998 of US$1.00
= Rmb8.28. No representation is made that the Renminbi amounts could have been,
or could be, converted into United States dollars at that rate or at any other
rate.
-3-
<PAGE>
QIAO XING UNIVERSAL TELEPHONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
----------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
-------------------------------------
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1997 AND 1998
----------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1997 1998
----------- --------- ---------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
- -------------------------------------
Net income 34,464 41,209 47,263 5,708
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities -
Depreciation of property, machinery and equipment 6,237 7,940 8,836 1,067
Net (gain) loss on disposals of property,
machinery and equipment 141 453 (65) (7)
Interest expense on shareholders' loans 922 765 648 78
Minority interests 3,931 4,664 5,590 675
(Increase) Decrease in operating assets -
Accounts receivable (22,944) (68,034) (87,366) (10,551)
Prepayments and deposits (3,261) (860) (2,874) (347)
Other receivables 509 (2,854) 1,896 229
Inventories (22,111) (11,974) 17,885 2,160
Increase (Decrease) in operating liabilities -
Accounts payable 5,187 (1,229) (297) (36)
Accrued liabilities 1,415 2,939 1,336 161
Taxation payable 15,734 22,508 21,859 2,640
----------- --------- --------- ----------
20,224 (4,473) 14,711 1,777
----------- --------- ---------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
- -------------------------------------
Acquisitions of property, machinery and equipment (10,752) (12,537) (6,784) (819)
Additions of construction-in-progress - - (25,272) (3,052)
Proceeds from disposals of property, machinery
and equipment 192 1,948 545 66
(Increase) Decrease in due from related parties 192 (13,091) 3,935 475
----------- --------- --------- ----------
(10,368) (23,680) (27,576) (3,330)
----------- --------- --------- ----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
- -------------------------------------
New short-term borrowings 17,199 24,713 35,000 4,227
New advance from related parties 12,603 6,962 5,349 646
New long-term bank loan - 9,800 - -
New loans from shareholders - 232 - -
Repayment of short-term borrowings (10,507) (7,515) (14,627) (1,767)
Repayment of advance from related parties (10,389) (7,462) (8,301) (1,003)
Repayment of shareholders' loans - - (185) (22)
Net proceeds from issue of common stock - 1,678 5,113 618
Dividends paid to shareholders (13,689) - - -
Dividends paid to minority shareholders of a
subsidiary (2,518) (681) (8,000) (966)
----------- --------- --------- ----------
(7,301) 27,727 14,349 1,733
----------- --------- --------- ----------
Effect of translation adjustments - - 10 1
----------- --------- --------- ----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and bank deposits 2,555 (426) 1,494 181
Cash and bank deposits, as of beginning of year 4,332 6,887 6,461 780
----------- --------- --------- ----------
Cash and bank deposits, as of end of year 6,887 6,461 7,955 961
=========== ========= ========= ==========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
- -----------------
Translation of amounts from Renminbi ("Rmb") 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 December 31, 1998 of US$1.00
= Rmb8.28. No representation is made that the Renminbi amounts could have been,
or could be, converted into United States dollars at that rate or at any other
rate.
-4-
<PAGE>
QIAO XING UNIVERSAL TELEPHONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
----------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
----------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1997 AND 1998
----------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Common stock Additional
------------------------------------
Number of paid-in capital Dedicated Retained
Note shares Amount reserves earnings
-------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
`000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance as of December
31, 1995 7,500 60 3,437 2,681 25,730
Net income - - - - 34,464
Shareholders'
contribution 14 - - 922 - -
Transfer to dedicated
reserves - - - 715 (715)
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Balance as of December
31, 1996 7,500 60 4,359 3,396 59,479
Issue of common stock
for cash 250 2 2,070 - -
Stock issuance costs - - (394) - -
Net income - - - - 41,209
Shareholders'
contribution 14 - - 765 - -
Transfer to dedicated
reserves - - - 867 (867)
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Balance as of December
31, 1997 7,750 62 6,800 4,263 99,821
Issue of common stock
for cash 250 2 6,208 - -
Stock issuance costs - - (1,097) - -
Net income - - - - 47,263
Shareholders'
contribution 14 - - 648 - -
Transfer to dedicated
reserves - - - 2,032 (2,032)
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Translation adjustments - - - - -
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Balance as of December
31, 1998 8,000 64 12,559 6,295 145,052
================= ================= ================= ================= =================
<CAPTION>
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income -
cumulative
translation
adjustments
--------------
Rmb'000
<S> <C>
Balance as of December
31, 1995 -
Net income -
Shareholders'
contribution -
Transfer to dedicated
reserves -
--------------
Balance as of December
31, 1996 -
Issue of common stock
for cash -
Stock issuance costs -
Net income -
Shareholders'
contribution -
Transfer to dedicated
reserves -
--------------
Balance as of December
31, 1997 -
Issue of common stock
for cash -
Stock issuance costs -
Net income -
Shareholders'
contribution -
Transfer to dedicated
reserves -
Translation adjustments 10
--------------
Balance as of December
31, 1998 10
==============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
-5-
<PAGE>
QIAO XING UNIVERSAL TELEPHONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
----------------------------------------------------
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
------------------------------------------
1. ORGANIZATION
- -----------------
Qiao Xing Universal Telephone, Inc. ("the Company") was incorporated in the
British Virgin Islands on December 6, 1994. On July 28, 1997, the Company
changed its name from Pastiche Investments Limited to Qiao Xing Universal
Telephone, Inc., the present one. In addition, on July 28, 1997, the Company
consummated a 1,000 for 1 share split ("the Share Split") and as a result the
then outstanding 3,000 shares of common stock with a par value of US$1 each
became 3,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of US$0.001 each. The
effect of the Share Split has been reflected retroactively in the accompanying
balance sheets and in all per share computations.
Prior to July 23, 1997, the Company was dormant and on July 23, 1997 the Company
became an investment holding company by establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary,
Qiao Xing Holdings Limited ("QXHL"), in the British Virgin Islands by the
subscription of 1 share of QXHL at par value of US$1. On July 28, 1997, the
Company acquired from Strong World International Limited ("SWIL"; a company
incorporated in Hong Kong) 90% interest in Qiao Xing Telecommunication Industry
Company Limited ("QXTI"), by using QXHL as the immediate holding company,
through the issue of 4,500,000 shares of common stock (after the Share Split) of
the Company to the then shareholders of SWIL ("the Share Exchange"). Since the
Company and SWIL were owned by the same shareholders immediately before and
after the acquisition, the acquisition of QXTI by the Company through QXHL has
been accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control on a
historical cost basis in a manner similar to a pooling of interests. On this
basis, the 4,500,000 shares of common stock of the Company issued for this
acquisition have been treated as issued for all years presented.
-6-
<PAGE>
1. ORGANIZATION (Cont'd)
- -----------------
QXTI is an equity joint venture established in the People's Republic of China
("the PRC") on April 28, 1992 to be operated for an initial term of 15 years
until April 27, 2007. Upon establishment, QXTI was 78% owned by Hong Kong Shui
Hing Electrical Appliance Factory ("SHEAF"; an unincorporated entity established
in Hong Kong) and 22% owned by Huizhou Qiao Lian Economic Development Company
("QLED"; a state-owned company established in the PRC). According to the joint
venture agreement and the articles of association, the board of directors of
QXTI consisted of 5 members, with 3 designated by SHEAF and 2 designated by
QLED. The joint venture required a unanimous vote of all joint venture
partners, i.e. SHEAF and QLED, on the following four matters: (i) amendment of
QXTI's articles of association; (ii) dissolution of QXTI; (iii) changes in
QXTI's registered share capital; and (iv) merger of QXTI with other corporation,
and there were no other matters that would have required unanimous vote. The
registered capital of QXTI was HK$15,000,000 (equivalent to Rmb10,500,000), of
which HK$11,700,000 (equivalent to Rmb 8,190,000) was to be contributed by SHEAF
and HK$3,300,000 (equivalent to Rmb2,310,000) was to be contributed by QLED, in
the form of cash and/or machinery and equipment, before March 2, 1995. Neither
joint venture partner contributed its share of the capital, and QXTI was
financed by loans totalling HK$15,000,000 (equivalent to Rmb10,500,000) advanced
by Mr. Rui Lin Wu (held in trust for Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li), Exquisite Jewel
Limited, Metrolink Holdings Limited and Specialist Consultants Limited, the
shareholders of SWIL and it was agreed that SWIL should have beneficial interest
in QXTI via this loan financing. On March 2, 1995, as a consequence of the
aforementioned loan financing, SWIL replaced SHEAF as registered holder in
respect of the 78% interest in QXTI. The transfer of interest in QXTI from
SHEAF to SWIL was accounted for as a reorganization of companies under common
control, similar to a pooling of interests, since Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li controlled
both SHEAF and SWIL. On May 22, 1995, Qiao Xing International Trade Limited
("QXINT"; a privately owned company established in the PRC), which is owned by
Mr. Rui Lin Wu (40%) and Mr. Zhi Yang Wu (60%), a son of Mr. Rui Lin Wu,
replaced QLED as registered holder in respect of the 22% interest in QXTI and a
new joint venture agreement and articles of association were executed.
According to the new joint venture agreement and articles of association, the
board of directors of QXTI consists of 3 members, with 2 designated by SWIL and
1 designated by QXINT. Mr. Rui Lin Wu and Mr. Zhi Yang Wu, as the shareholders
of QXINT, have agreed to vote their minority position in QXTI in a manner
consistent with SWIL. Subsequent to the transfers of interests in QXTI, the
loans of HK$15,000,000 (equivalent to Rmb10,500,000) were capitalized as a
capital contribution.
-7-
<PAGE>
1. ORGANIZATION (Cont'd)
- -----------------
On November 3, 1995, the contribution and profit sharing ratio was changed from
78%:22% to 80%:20%. The registered capital of QXTI was increased from
HK$15,000,000 (equivalent to Rmb10,500,000) to HK$35,000,000 (equivalent to
Rmb32,012,000), of which 80% of the total enlarged capital or HK$28,000,000
(equivalent to Rmb25,610,000) was to be contributed by SWIL and 20% of the total
enlarged capital or HK$7,000,000 (equivalent to Rmb6,402,000) was to be
contributed by QXINT. Subsequently, pursuant to a supplementary agreement
between SWIL and QXINT executed on December 6, 1995, the contribution and profit
sharing ratio between SWIL and QXINT was further changed from 80%:20% to 90%:10%
and, accordingly, SWIL's obligation to the total enlarged capital of QXTI was
increased to HK$31,500,000 (equivalent to Rmb28,811,000) and QXINT's obligation
to the total enlarged capital of QXTI was reduced to HK$3,500,000 (equivalent to
Rmb3,201,000). On December 31, 1995, QXTI transferred its retained earnings of
HK$20,000,000 (equivalent to Rmb21,512,000) to capital as contributions made by
SWIL and QXINT.
Following the transfer of the 90% interest in QXTI from SWIL to QXHL (see
above), on July 28, 1997, a revised joint venture agreement and articles of
association relating to QXTI was entered into between QXHL and QXINT, under
which QXTI was changed from a contractual joint venture to an equity joint
venture and the joint venture period was extended to 30 years until April 27,
2022. The revised joint venture agreement and articles of association together
with the changes in equity interest in QXTI have been approved by the relevant
PRC authorities. According to the revised joint venture agreement and articles
of association, the board of directors of QXTI consists of 3 members, with 2
designated by QXHL and 1 designated by QXINT. Mr. Rui Lin Wu and Mr. Zhi Yang
Wu, as the shareholders of QXINT, have agreed to vote their minority position in
QXTI in a manner consistent with QXHL.
2. SUBSIDIARIES
- ----------------
Details of the Company's subsidiaries (which together with the Company are
collectively referred to as "the Group") as of December 31, 1998 were as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage of
equity interest
Place of attributable to
Name incorporation the Group Principal activities
- ------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Qiao Xing Holdings Limited ("QXHL") The British 100% Investment holding
Virgin Islands
Qiao Xing Telecommunication The PRC 90% Manufacturing and sales
Industry Company Limited ("QXTI") of telecommunication
equipment
</TABLE>
-8-
<PAGE>
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
- -----------------------------------------------
a. Basis of consolidation
----------------------
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company,
its subsidiaries and its equity joint venture which is considered as a de
facto subsidiary. All material intra-group balances and transactions have
been eliminated on consolidation.
b. Subsidiaries
------------
A subsidiary is a company in which the Company holds, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of its issued voting share capital for the long
term.
c. Inventories
-----------
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, on a weighted average basis,
and market value. Costs of work-in-process and finished goods are composed
of direct materials, direct labor and an attributable portion of
manufacturing overheads.
d. Property, machinery and equipment
---------------------------------
Property, machinery and equipment are stated 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 after taking into account the
estimated residual value. The estimated useful lives are as follows: land
- 50 years, buildings - 8 to 30 years, machinery and equipment - 8 to 12
years, furniture and office equipment - 5 to 10 years, and motor vehicles -
8 years. All ordinary repair and maintenance costs are expensed as
incurred.
The Group recognizes an impairment loss on a fixed asset 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 the fair
value of the assets.
e. Construction-in-progress
------------------------
Construction-in-progress represents land costs as well as factories and
office buildings under construction. It is the Company's policy to
capitalize interest during the construction phase of qualifying assets in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 34. During
the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, Nil, Nil and
approximately Rmb766,000 of interest were capitalized.
-9-
<PAGE>
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont'd)
------------------------------------------
f. Sales
-----
Sales represent (i) the invoiced value of goods, net of value-added tax
("VAT"), supplied to customers, and (ii) machinery rental. Sales are
recognized upon delivery of goods and passage of title to customers and
machinery rental is recognised as it accrues.
All of the Group's sales made in the PRC by QXIT are subject to PRC value-
added tax at a rate of 17% ("output VAT"). Such output VAT is payable
after offsetting VAT paid by the Group on purchases ("input VAT").
However, since QXIT is a sino-foreign joint venture established in the PRC
prior to December 31, 1993, it is subject to a maximum net VAT liability of
5.05% of its sales amount for five years ended December 31, 1998.
g. Advertising costs
-----------------
Costs incurred for producing and communicating advertising are generally
expensed when incurred.
h. Research and development expenditures
-------------------------------------
Research and development expenses are charged to expenses as incurred.
i. 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 tax is provided using the liability
method. Under the liability method, deferred income tax is recognized for
all significant temporary differences between the tax and financial
statement bases of assets and liabilities.
j. Operating leases
----------------
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 expenses on
the straight-line basis over the period of the relevant leases.
-10-
<PAGE>
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont'd)
------------------------------------------
k. Earnings per common share
-------------------------
Earnings per common share 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, on the basis that the Share Split and the Share Exchange by the
issue of 4,500,000 shares of common stock for the acquisition of 90%
interest in QXTI (see Note 1) had been consummated prior to the years
presented. The weighted average number of shares used to compute earnings
per common share for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 are
7,500,000, 7,595,000 and 7,936,000, respectively.
l. Foreign currency translation
----------------------------
The Group considers Renminbi ("Rmb") to be its functional currency as most
of the Group's business activities are based in Renminbi.
The investment holding companies in the Group maintain their accounts in
United States dollars ("US$") and the translation of their financial
statements into Renminbi is performed for balance sheet accounts using the
closing exchange rate in effect at each of the balance sheet dates and for
revenue and expense accounts using the average exchange rate during each
reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from translation are included
in shareholders' equity separately as cumulative translation adjustments.
No gain or loss from foreign currency transactions was incurred for the
years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
m. Comprehensive income
--------------------
The Group has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130
("SFAS No. 130") which requires the Group to report all changes in equity
during a period, except for those resulting from investment by owners and
distribution to owners, in financial statements for the period in which
they are recognized. The Group has disclosed comprehensive income, which
encompasses net income and currency translation adjustments, in Note 17.
Prior years' financial statements have been restated to conform to the SFAS
No. 130 requirements.
-11-
<PAGE>
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont'd)
- ----------------------------------------------
n. Fair value of financial instruments
-----------------------------------
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value
of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to
estimate that value:
Cash and bank deposits and short-term borrowings
The carrying amounts approximate fair values because of the short maturity
of those instruments.
Long-term payable and long-term bank loan
The fair value of the Group's long-term payable and long-term bank loan is
estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues.
o. 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.
4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
- -----------------------
Accounts receivable comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8
---------------- -------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Trade receivables
- Sales 135,468 229,034 27,661
- Machinery rental 1,731 115 14
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
137,199 229,149 27,675
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts (1,746) (6,330) (764)
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Accounts receivable, net 135,453 222,819 26,911
================ ================ ================
</TABLE>
-12-
<PAGE>
5. PREPAYMENTS AND DEPOSITS
- ----------------------------
Prepayments and deposits comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8
---------------- ------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Deferred stock issuance costs 2,174 7,869 950
Prepaid advertising expenses 909 445 54
Prepayments for research and development
projects 709 473 57
Deposits for advertisements 3,055 - -
Deposits for purchase of raw materials 13 493 59
Deposits for purchase of fixed assets - 398 48
Utilities deposits 150 76 9
Others - 130 16
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
7,010 9,884 1,193
================ ================ ================
</TABLE>
6. OTHER RECEIVABLES
- ---------------------
Other receivables comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8
---------------- ------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Advances to sales agents 563 608 74
Other advances 318 450 54
Insurance compensation receivable 2,073 - -
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
2,954 1,058 128
================ ================ ================
</TABLE>
-13-
<PAGE>
7. INVENTORIES
- ---------------
Inventories comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8
---------------- -------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Raw materials 16,105 16,573 2,001
Work-in-process 13,485 11,199 1,353
Finished goods 54,322 39,322 4,749
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
83,912 67,094 8,103
Less: Allowance for obsolete and
slow-moving inventories (2,907) (3,974) (480)
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Inventories, net 81,005 63,120 7,623
================ ================ ================
</TABLE>
8. PROPERTY, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
- -------------------------------------
Property, machinery and equipment comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8
---------------- -------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Land 5,164 5,364 648
Buildings 2,775 2,775 335
Machinery and equipment 41,837 45,357 5,478
Furniture and office equipment 7,954 9,775 1,181
Motor vehicles 3,412 4,020 486
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
61,142 67,291 8,128
Less: Accumulated depreciation (19,797) (28,478) (3,440)
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Property, machinery and equipment, net 41,345 38,813 4,688
================ ================ ================
</TABLE>
Private ownership of land is not allowed in the PRC; rather, entities acquire
the right to use land for a designated term. The Group's buildings are located
on land in the PRC granted with formal land use rights yet to obtain.
Land and buildings with net book value of approximately Rmb776,000 and Nil as of
December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, and certain of the machinery and
equipment with net book value of approximately Rmb10,226,000 and Rmb8,481,000 as
of December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, were pledged to secure certain of
the Group's short-term borrowings (see Note 10).
-14-
<PAGE>
9. CONSTRUCTION-IN-PROGRESS
- -----------------------------
Construction-in-progress comprised costs of land for construction of factories
and office buildings. The land is located in the PRC, held under land use
rights for terms of 44 to 50 years expiring in June 2042 and July 2048.
Construction will be carried out in phases over a ten-year period from 1999 to
2008, with total construction costs (excluding land costs) estimated to be
approximately Rmb125,000,000. As of December 31, 1998, land with net book value
of approximately Rmb27,944,000 was pledged to secure certain of the Group's
short-term borrowings (see Note 10).
10. SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
- --------------------------
Short-term borrowings comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1998
---------------- ------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Bills payable 7,113 856 103
Bank loans 15,500 42,700 5,157
Other loans 4,900 4,330 523
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
27,513 47,886 5,783
================ ================ ================
</TABLE>
All of the short-term borrowings were denominated in Renminbi. Bills payable is
a form of bank borrowings with payment term of 90 days and bore interest at
LIBOR plus 2% as of December 31, 1997 and 1998. The bank loans bore interest at
fixed rates ranging from 9.50% to 11.09% and 7.03% to 11.09% as of December 31,
1997 and 1998, respectively, and the other loans bore interest at fixed rates
ranging from Nil to 17.41% and Nil to 23.52% as of December 31, 1997 and 1998,
respectively. The bills payables are secured by a corporate guarantee provided
by a related company and a personal guarantee provided by Mr. Rui Lin Wu, a
director of the Company, whereas the bank loans are collateralized by the
Group's land recorded under construction-in-progress, certain of the Group's
machinery and equipment, certain of the Group's bank deposits, and certain
machinery and equipment owned by a related company (see Note 22).
Supplemental information with respect to short-term borrowings for the years
ended December 31, 1997 and 1998 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Maximum amount Average amount Weighted average Weighted average
outstanding during outstanding during interest rate at end interest rate during
the year the year of the year the year
-------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year ended December 31, 1997:
Bills payable 7,113 3,557 7.81% 7.80%
Bank loans 19,000 8,500 9.94% 9.77%
Other loans 9,415 6,858 6.31% 6.72%
==================== ==================== ======================= =======================
Year ended December 31, 1998:
Bills payable 8,283 4,873 7.07% 7.52%
Bank loans 52,500 23,299 8.18% 8.72%
Other loans 4,900 4,463 9.73% 9.44%
==================== ==================== ======================= =======================
</TABLE>
-15-
<PAGE>
11. ACCRUED LIABILITIES
-----------------------
Accrued liabilities comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1998
----------------- --------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Accrual for operating expenses
- Salaries 2,791 2,832 341
- Staff education and training 1,106 1,512 183
- Advertising expenses 1,491 1,439 174
- Others 247 83 10
Provision for salary fund* 1,145 1,667 202
Provision for staff welfare fund* 1,900 2,483 300
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
8,680 10,016 1,210
================= ================= =================
</TABLE>
* Salary fund is provided at 14% of total salary expenses of QXTI and staff
welfare fund is provided at 1% of the statutory after-tax profit of QXTI.
The salary fund is for the payment of non-recurring bonus, while the staff
welfare fund is for employees' welfare (see Note 18).
12. LONG-TERM BANK LOAN
- ------------------------
Long-term bank loan of Rmb9,800,000 is repayable in December 2000, bears
interest at a fixed rate of 9.36% per annum and is secured by real estate
properties of an unrelated company. No guarantee fee was paid to the unrelated
party and no guarantee fee was imputed as additional borrowing cost as the Group
did not receive preferential treatment on cost of borrowing of the loan as a
result of the guarantee.
-16-
<PAGE>
13. LONG-TERM PAYABLE
- ----------------------
Long-term payable represents the liabilities for the balance of the acquisition
costs of the land for construction of factories and office buildings, and is
repayable by nineteen annual installments of Rmb1,000,000 each, except for the
last installment payable due in December 2017 amounting to approximately
Rmb1,388,000. The repayment installments can be summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1998
----------------- ---------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Payable during the following period:
- 1999 - 1,000 121
- 2000 - 1,000 121
- 2001 - 1,000 121
- 2002 - 1,000 121
- 2003 - 1,000 121
- Years subsequent to 2003 - 14,388 1,737
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Total minimum lease payments - 19,388 2,342
Less: amount representing imputed
interest, at 10.35% per annum - (10,731) (1,296)
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Present value of minimum lease payments
- 8,657 1,046
Current portion - (1,000) (121)
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Long-term payable - 7,657 925
================= ================= =================
</TABLE>
14. SHAREHOLDERS' LOANS
- ------------------------
These represent unsecured loans from Mr. Rui Lin Wu (held in trust for Mr. Zhi
Jian Wu Li), Exquisite Jewel Limited, Metrolink Holdings Limited and Specialist
Consultants Limited, the Company's shareholders, which are non-interest bearing.
The shareholders have agreed not to demand the Group for repayment before
December 31, 2000. For financial reporting, interest expenses of approximately
Rmb922,000, Rmb765,000 and Rmb648,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996,
1997 and 1998, respectively, were imputed according to cost of borrowings in the
PRC, and were recorded as interest expense and shareholders' contribution.
-17-
<PAGE>
15. COMMON STOCK
- -----------------
As of January 1, 1996 (the earliest date covered by this report), the Company
had 3,000 shares of common stock, par value US$1.00 each, outstanding. On July
28, 1997, the Company consummated a 1,000 for 1 share split ("the Share Split")
and as a result the then outstanding 3,000 shares of common stock, par value
US$1.00 each, became 3,000,000 shares of common stock, par value US$0.001 each.
Also on July 28, 1997, the Company issued 4,500,000 shares of common stock
(after the Share Split), par value US$0.001 each, for the acquisition of 90%
interest in QXTI (see Note 1). The effect of the Share Split and the issue of
4,500,000 shares of common stock for the acquisition of QXTI have been reflected
retrospectively in the accompanying balance sheets and in all per share
computations.
In August 1997, the Company issued 250,000 shares of common stock, par value
US$0.001 each, for cash consideration of US$1.00 per share, and raised
US$250,000 (equivalent to Rmb2,072,000). In April and May 1998, the Company
issued 250,000 shares of common stock, par value US$0.001 each, for cash
consideration of US$3.00 per share, and raised US$750,000 (equivalent to
Rmb6,210,000).
In February 1999, the Company issued 1,600,000 shares of common stock, par value
US$0.001 each, for cash consideration of US$5.50 per share through a public
offering, and raised US$8,800,000 (equivalent to Rmb72,864,000) - see also Note
28.
16. INCOME TAXES
- -----------------
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.
The Company and QXHL were 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. At present, substantially
all of the Group's income was generated in the PRC by QXTI, a joint venture
enterprise established in the Coastal Economic Open Zone in the PRC and subject
to PRC income taxes at a rate of 27% (24% state income tax and 3% local income
tax). However, it is exempted from state income tax and local income tax for
three years starting from January 1, 1994, and then is subject to a 50%
reduction in state income tax and full exemption in local income tax for the
following two years. If the tax holiday of QXTI had not existed, the Group's
income tax expenses (net of minority interests) would have been increased by
approximately Rmb9,554,000, Rmb7,386,000 and Rmb8,792,000 for the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Earnings per common share would
have been approximately Rmb3.32, Rmb4.45 and Rmb4.85 for the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
Provision for income tax for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
represented provision for current income tax.
-18-
<PAGE>
16. INCOME TAXES (Cont'd)
- -----------------
The reconciliation of the PRC statutory income tax rate to the effective income
tax rate based on income before income taxes stated in the consolidated
statements of operations is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1997 1998
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PRC statutory income tax rate 27.00% 27.00% 27.00%
Effect of tax holiday (27.00%) (15.42%) (16.02%)
Non-deductible activities - 0.42% 1.81%
Deferred tax assets for which no
benefits have been recognized due to
establishment of valuation allowance
- 0.52% 0.21%
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Effective income tax rate - 12.52% 13.00%
================= ================= =================
</TABLE>
Taxation payable comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8
----------------- --------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PRC value-added tax 50,358 64,317 7,768
PRC income tax 6,565 14,465 1,746
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
56,923 78,782 9,514
================= ================= =================
<CAPTION>
Deferred taxation comprised:
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8
----------------- ---------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Temporary difference arising from
provision for obsolete and slow-moving
inventories 277 288 35
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Deferred tax assets, gross 277 288 35
Valuation allowance (277) (288) (35)
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Deferred tax assets, net - - -
================= ================= =================
</TABLE>
-19-
<PAGE>
17. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
- -------------------------
Comprehensive income and its components, net of tax, comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1997 1998
----------------- ----------------- --------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net income 34,464 41,209 47,263 5,708
Other comprehensive
income - translation
adjustments - - 10 1
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Comprehensive income 34,464 41,209 47,273 5,709
================= ================= ================= =================
</TABLE>
18. DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME
- ---------------------------
At present, substantially all of the Group's income is contributed by QXTI, an
equity joint venture enterprise established in the PRC. Income of QXTI as
determined under generally accepted accounting principles in the PRC ("PRC
GAAP") is distributable to its joint venture partners after transfer to
dedicated reserves and staff welfare fund as required under PRC Company Law and
QXTI's articles of association, at rates determined by QXTI's board of
directors.
Dedicated reserves include statutory surplus reserve and discretionary surplus
reserve. Pursuant to the Notice [1995] 31 issued by Ministry of Finance on
August 24, 1995 ("the Notice") and QXTI's articles of association, provision of
these reserves are recommended by QXTI's board of directors. During the years
ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, QXTI appropriated 1% of its statutory after-
tax profit to each of the statutory surplus reserve and the discretionary
surplus reserve. For the year ended December 31, 1998, QXTI appropriated 2% of
its statutory after-tax profit to each of the statutory surplus reserve and the
discretionary surplus reserve. The statutory surplus reserve can only be
utilized to offset prior years' losses or for capitalization as paid-in capital,
whereas the discretionary surplus reserve can be utilized for QXTI's future
development or capitalization as paid-in capital.
Pursuant to the Notice and QXTI's articles of association, QXTI appropriated 1%
of its statutory after-tax profit for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997
and 1998 to the staff welfare fund which shall be utilized for collective staff
benefits such as building of staff quarters or housing. No distribution shall
be made other than on liquidation of QXTI. In the financial statements prepared
under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America
("US GAAP"), amounts appropriated to staff welfare fund were charged against
income and the related provisions are reflected as accrued liabilities in the
consolidated balance sheets.
-20-
<PAGE>
18. DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME (Cont'd)
- ---------------------------
Unappropriated profit is to be carried forward as retained earnings for future
distribution. The amount of profit available for distribution to the
shareholders will be determined based on the lower of the unappropriated profit
as reported under the PRC GAAP and under the US GAAP.
Analysis of the appropriations of profit in the financial statements prepared
under PRC GAAP and under US GAAP is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1998
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
PRC GAAP US GAAP PRC GAAP US GAAP
------------------- ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income after tax but before
minority interests 48,146 45,873 54,317 52,853
Minority interests (4,815) (4,664) (5,737) (5,590)
------------------- ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
Income after minority
interests 43,331 41,209 48,580 47,263
Transfer to statutory surplus
reserve (433) (433) (1,098) (1,098)
Transfer to discretionary
surplus reserve (434) (434) (1,098) (1,098)
Transfer to staff welfare
fund, under the PRC GAAP
(433) - (549) -
------------------- ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
Unappropriated profit for the
year 42,031 40,342 45,835 45,231
Retained earnings, beginning
of year 94,224 59,479 136,255 99,821
Recognition of prior years'
provisions - - (33,526) -
------------------- ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
Retained earnings,
end of year 136,255 99,821 148,564 145,052
=================== =================== =================== ===================
</TABLE>
-21-
<PAGE>
18. DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME (Cont'd)
- ---------------------------
The reconciliation of the Group's consolidated retained earnings (representing
unappropriated profit) as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 as reported under the
PRC GAAP and under US GAAP is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1998
------------------- -------------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Retained earnings, under PRC GAAP 136,255 148,564 17,942
Provision for bad and doubtful accounts not
recorded in the statutory accounts prepared
under PRC GAAP (678) - -
Provision for obsolete and slow-moving
inventories not recorded in the statutory
accounts prepared under PRC GAAP (3,162) (3,974) (480)
Additional provision of VAT not recorded in
the statutory accounts prepared under PRC
GAAP (31,746) - -
Share by minority interests of the
reconciling items 4,202 397 48
Interest expense imputed on non-interest
bearing shareholders' loans (5,124) - -
Others 74 65 8
------------------- ------------------- -------------------
Retained earnings, under US GAAP 99,821 145,052 17,518
=================== =================== ===================
</TABLE>
19. RETIREMENT PLAN
- --------------------
The Group's employees in the PRC are all employed by QXTI. As stipulated by PRC
regulations, QXTI maintains a defined contribution retirement plan for all of
its employees who are permanent residents of the Guangdong Province, the PRC.
All retired employees of QXTI are entitled to an annual pension equal to their
basic annual salary upon retirement. QXTI contributed to a state sponsored
retirement plan approximately 15% of the basic salary of its employees up to
June 30, 1998 and approximately 24% of the basic salary of its employees
thereafter, and has no further obligations for the actual pension payments or
post-retirement benefits beyond the annual contributions. The state sponsored
retirement plan is responsible for the entire pension obligations payable to all
employees. QXTI's contributions for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and
1998 were approximately Rmb183,000, Rmb11,000 and Rmb49,000 respectively.
-22-
<PAGE>
20. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS
- --------------------------------
The Group has various operating lease agreements for factory premises, which
extend through December 2001. Rental expenses for the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998 were approximately Rmb3,052,000, Rmb2,966,000 and
Rmb3,139,000, respectively. Future minimum rental payments as of December 31,
1998, under agreements classified as operating leases with non-cancelable terms
in excess of one year, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Rmb'000 US$'000
------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Payable during the following period
- Within one year 2,311 279
- Over one year but not exceeding two years 2,307 278
- Over two years but not exceeding three years 2,239 271
------------------- -------------------
6,857 828
=================== ===================
</TABLE>
21. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------
Cash paid for interest is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1997 1998
----------------- ----------------- ---------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest expenses (778) (2,625) (4,453) (538)
Interest income 12 54 287 34
================= ================= ================= =================
</TABLE>
-23-
<PAGE>
22. BANKING FACILITIES
- -----------------------
As of December 31, 1998, the Group had banking facilities of approximately
Rmb64,965,000 for loans and trade financing. Unused facilities as of December
31, 1998 amounted to approximately Rmb11,609,000. These banking facilities were
secured by:
a. pledges over the Group's bank deposits of approximately Rmb1,389,000;
b. pledges over the Group's land with net book value of approximately
Rmb27,944,000 and the Group's machinery and equipment with net book value of
approximately Rmb8,481,000;
c. pledges over certain real estate properties owned by an unrelated company;
d. pledges over certain machinery and equipment owned by a related company;
e. a corporate guarantee provided by a related company; and
f. a personal guarantee provided by Mr. Rui Lin Wu.
23. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
- ---------------------------
As of December 31, 1998, QXTI had provided a corporate guarantee to an unrelated
company for bank borrowings of approximately HK$1,200,000 (equivalent to
approximately Rmb1,282,000). No guarantee fee was received by QXTI on such a
guarantee and the unrelated company did not receive preferential treatment on
cost of borrowing of such loan.
24. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
- -------------------------------
Name and relationship of related parties:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name of related parties Existing relationship with the Company
- ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li The major shareholder
Mr. Rui Lin Wu Director and father of Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li
Mr. Zhi Yang Wu Director and brother of Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li
Ms. Mei Lian Li Director and wife of Mr. Zhi Yang Wu
Mr. Zhi Zhong Wu Brother of Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li
Ms. Qing Li Wife of Mr. Rui Lin Wu
Wu's Holdings Limited Intermediate holding company
Qiao Xing Group Limited Common directors
Qiao Xing Properties Limited Common directors
Qiao Xing International Company Common director
Qiao Xing Commerial Limited Common director
Rui Xing Electronic Development Company Limited Common director
Ben Xing Telecommunication Component Limited Common director
Qiao Xing Investment Limited Common director
</TABLE>
-24-
<PAGE>
24. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Cont'd)
- -------------------------------
Summary of related party balances and transactions is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1997 1998
------------------ ------------------ ---------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Recovery of general and administrative
expenses from
- Qiao Xing Properties Limited 1,207 1,787 1,317 159
- Qiao Xing International Company 32 - - -
- Rui Xing Electronic Development Company
Limited 345 100 178 21
- Ben Xing Telecommunication Component
Limited 70 12 - -
Interest paid to
- Rui Xing Electronic Development Company
Limited - 803 1,002 121
- Ms. Mei Lian Li - - 43 5
Purchases from
- Qiao Xing Properties Limited 15,404 26,419 24,145 2,916
- Qiao Xing International Company - 12,481 987 119
- Qiao Xing Commercial Limited - - 7,162 865
- Rui Xing Electronic Development Company
Limited 13,115 12,325 6,352 767
- Ben Xing Telecommunication Component
Limited 4,427 5,232 4,761 575
================== ================== ================== ==================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1998
-------------------- --------------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Due from
- Mr. Rui Lin Wu 4,857 9 1
- Mr. Zhi Yang Wu 523 877 106
- Mr. Zhi Jian Wu Li 283 2 -
- Ms. Mei Lian Li - 391 47
- Qiao Xing Group Limited 2,901 6,648 803
- Qiao Xing Investment Limited 4,686 1,195 144
- Wu's Holdings Limited - 193 24
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
13,250 9,315 1,125
==================== ==================== ====================
Due to
- Mr. Zhi Zhong Wu 743 950 115
- Ms. Qing Li 263 705 85
- Ms. Mei Lian Li 1,102 - -
- Rui Xing Electronic Development
Company Limited 3,458 959 116
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
5,566 2,614 316
==================== ==================== ====================
</TABLE>
The amount due to Rui Xing Electronic Development Company Limited was unsecured,
bore interest at approximately 25% per annum and 26% per annum during the years
ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, and was without pre-determined
repayment terms. The other balances with related parties were unsecured, non-
interest bearing and without pre-determined repayment terms.
-25-
<PAGE>
25. SEGMENT ANALYSIS
- -----------------------
a. Net sales
---------
Sales comprised:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1997 1998
-------------- -------------- -------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales of telecommunication products 351,590 398,801 365,344 44,124
Machinery rental 308 1,423 1,420 171
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
351,898 400,224 366,764 44,295
============== ============== ============== ==============
</TABLE>
All of the Group's sales were made to customers in the PRC.
b. Operating profit *
------------------
<TABLE>
1996 1997 1998
-------------- -------------- -------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales of telecommunication products 39,595 54,466 65,108 7,864
Machinery rental 308 1,423 1,420 171
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
39,903 55,889 66,528 8,035
============== ============== ============== ==============
</TABLE>
* Operating profit represents gross profit less selling, general and
administrative expenses.
c. Assets
------
Substantially all of the Group's assets are located in the PRC.
d. Major customers
---------------
Details of individual customers accounting for more than 5% of the
Group's sales are as follows:
<TABLE>
1996 1997 1998
-------------- -------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Zuo Hui Jin 10% 17% 16%
Si Lu Wu - 7% 9%
Tian Liang Wu 4% 9% 8%
Chaozhou Yong Jie Electric Appliance
Trading Company 8% 9% 4%
Fujian Jinjiang An Hai Hong Fa
Department Store Company 6% 9% 4%
Guangzhou Dongshan District Hui Yuan
Department Store 6% - -
============= ============== =============
</TABLE>
-26-
<PAGE>
25. SEGMENT ANALYSIS (Cont'd)
- -----------------------
e. Major suppliers
---------------
Details of individual suppliers accounting for more than 5% of the
Group's purchases are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1997 1998
-------------- -------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Jia Xing Electronic Supplies Company
Limited 10% 11% 10%
Qiao Xing Properties Limited 5% 9% 8%
Shenzhen Hong Da Technology Enterprises
Limited 12% - -
============== ============== ==============
</TABLE>
26. OPERATING RISKS
- ----------------------
a. Country risk
------------
As substantially all of the Group's operations are conducted in the PRC,
the Group is 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 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.
In addition, substantially all 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.
b. Dependence on strategic relationship
------------------------------------
The Group conducts its manufacturing and trading operations through its
joint venture established between the Group and a PRC party. Any
deterioration of this strategic relationship may have an adverse effect
on the operations of the Group.
-27-
<PAGE>
25. OPERATING RISKS (Cont'd)
- ----------------------
c. Concentration of credit risk
----------------------------
Concentration of accounts receivable as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 is
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1998
---------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Five largest accounts receivable 45% 37%
================ ================
</TABLE>
The Group performs ongoing credit evaluations 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.
27. OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------
The following items were included in the consolidated statements of operations:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1997 1998
----------------- ----------------- --------------------------------------
Rmb'000 Rmb'000 Rmb'000 US$'000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Depreciation of property, machinery
and equipment 6,237 7,940 8,836 1,067
Allowance for (Write-back of)
doubtful accounts (420) 1,068 4,584 554
Allowance for obsolete and
slow-moving inventories - 772 1,067 129
Interest expense for
- bank loans 184 1,355 2,987 361
- loan from a related party - 803 1,045 126
- other loans 594 467 421 51
- shareholders' loan (imputed
interest) 922 765 648 78
Operating lease rental for factory
premises 3,052 2,966 3,139 379
Advertising expenses 8,357 11,405 7,910 955
Research and development expenditures 761 657 902 109
Repairs and maintenance expenses 195 320 184 22
Salary and staff benefits (including
executive directors' emoluments) 15,772 18,861 19,384 2,341
Interest income from bank deposits (12) (54) (287) (34)
================= ================= ================= =================
</TABLE>
-28-
<PAGE>
28. BSEQUENT EVENTS
- ----------------------
Subsequent to December 31, 1998, the following significant transactions
occurred:
a. In January 1999, the Group's land with net book value of approximately
Rmb6,985,000 as of December 31, 1998 was pledged to obtain additional
short-term bank loans.
b. In February 1999, the Company issued 1,600,000 shares of common stock,
par value US$0.001 each, for a cash consideration of US$5.50 per share
through a public offering, and raised US$8,800,000 (equivalent to
Rmb72,864,000). After deducting underwriters' commission and stock
issuance costs, the net proceeds was approximately US$6,794,000
(equivalent to Rmb56,251,000).
-29-
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
QIAO XING UNIVERSAL TELEPHONE, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: June 30, 1999 By: /s/ RUI LIN WU
------------------ ---------------------------------------
Rui Lin Wu
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
