10-K 1 v387749_10k.htm 10-K

 

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549 

 

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

 

 

 

x Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014

 

£ 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 001-34409

 

 

RECON TECHNOLOGY, LTD

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Cayman Islands   Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

 

1902 Building C, King Long International Mansion

9 Fulin Road, Beijing 100107

People’s Republic of China

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

+86 (10) 8494 5799

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Ordinary Shares, $0.0185 par value per share   NASDAQ Capital Market

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

 

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: None.

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  £    No  x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  £    No  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  £

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  £

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  Yes x   No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   £   Accelerated filer   £
Non-accelerated filer   £ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company   x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes £ No x

  

The aggregate market value of the ordinary shares, $0.0185 par value per share (“Shares”), of the registrant held by non-affiliates on December 31, 2013 was approximately $10 million, based on the closing sales price of $3.08 per share, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, multiplied by the number of outstanding Shares held by non-affiliates on that date.

 

The Company is authorized to issue 25,000,000 Shares. As of September 23, 2014, the Company has issued and outstanding 4,726,711 Shares.

  

 
 

RECON TECHNOLOGY, LTD

FORM 10-K

INDEX

 

PART I   4
Item 1. Business 4
Item 1A Risk Factors 16
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 16
Item 2. Properties 17
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 17
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 17
PART II   18
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 18
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 19
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation 19
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 32
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 32
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 32
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 32
Item 9B. Other Information 34
PART III   35
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 35
Item 11. Executive Compensation 39
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 41
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 42
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services 43
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 44

 

 

 

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

  

Statements in this annual report with respect to the Company’s current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of The Company. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those statements using words such as “believe,” “expect,” “plans,” “strategy,” “prospects,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “could” or “should,” and words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operations, financial performance, events or conditions. From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements may also be included in other materials released to the public. These statements are based on management’s assumptions, judgments and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. The Company cautions investors that a number of important risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government regulation, and other risks contained in reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Therefore investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ significantly from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. 

 

All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the company, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Business.

 

General

 

We are a provider of hardware, software, and on-site services to companies in the petroleum mining and extraction industry in China (“PRC”). We provide services designed to automate and enhance the extraction of petroleum through Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (“BHD”) and Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (“Nanjing Recon”), which are controlled by our indirect wholly owned subsidiary Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd through certain contractual arrangements. We refer to BHD and Nanjing Recon collectively as the “Domestic Companies” in this report. 

 

Through our contractual arrangements with the Domestic Companies, we provide equipment, tools, other hardware related to oilfield production and management, onsite services, and develop and sell our own specialized industrial automation control and information solutions. However, we do not engage in the production of petroleum or petroleum products.

 

We believe that one of the most important advancements in China’s petroleum industry has been the automation of significant segments of the exploration and extraction process. The Domestic Companies’ and our automation products and services allow petroleum mining and extraction companies to reduce their labor requirements and improve the productivity of oilfields. The Domestic Companies’ and our solutions allow our customers to locate productive oilfields more easily and accurately, improve control over the extraction process, increase oil yield efficiency in tertiary stage oil recovery, and improve the transportation of crude oil.

 

For the most recent few years, our capacity to provide integrated services has been a significant factor for long-term development. We treat simulation measures around fracturing as our entry point for our integrated service model. To date, we have formed new business modules through our own R&D, investment in service-team building and developed an integrated services solution for stimulation.

 

 

Market Background

 

China is the world’s second-largest consumer of petroleum products, third-largest importer of petroleum and sixth-largest producer of petroleum. In the last twenty years, China’s demand for oil has more than tripled, while its production of oil has only modestly increased. China became a net importer of petroleum in 1983, and, as a result, oil production in China has been aimed at meeting domestic requirements. The oil industry in China is dominated by three state-owned holding companies: China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Foreign companies have also recently become involved in China’s petroleum industry; however, according to Chinese law, China’s national oil companies may take a majority (or minority) stake in any commercial discovery. As a result, the number of major foreign companies involved in the industry is relatively limited: Agip, Apache, BP, ChevronTexaco, ConocoPhillips, Eni, ExxonMobil, Husky Energy, Kerr-McGee, Mitsubishi, Royal Dutch Shell, Saudi Aramco, and Total.

 

In the past, China’s petroleum companies mined for petroleum by leveraging its abundance of inexpensive labor, rather than focusing on new technologies. For example, a typical, traditional oilfield with an annual capacity of 1,000,000 tons would require between 10,000 and 20,000 laborers. By contrast, when Baker CAC products were employed to explore and automate Cainan Oil Field, a desert oilfield in Xinjiang, annual capacity for the field reached 1,500,000 tons, with only 400 employees needed to manage the oilfield. After the introduction of Baker CAC’s products into China’s petroleum industry, Chinese companies have also sought to provide automation solutions.

 

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In the primary oil recovery stage, oil pressure in an oil reservoir may be high enough to force oil to the surface. Approximately 20% of oil may be harvested at this stage. The secondary oil recovery stage accounts for another 5% to 15% of oil recovery and involves such efforts as pumps to extract petroleum and the injection of water, natural gas, carbon dioxide or other gasses into the oil reservoir to force oil to the surface. Most oilfields in China have now entered into the tertiary stage of oil recovery, at which oil extraction becomes increasingly difficult and inefficient. Tertiary recovery generally focuses on decreasing oil viscosity to make extraction easier and accounts for between 5% and 15% of oil recovery. Our efforts in tertiary recovery focus on reducing water content in crude oil in order to make extraction more efficient.

 

Our Products

 

We currently provide products and services to oil and gas field companies, which focus on the development and production of oil and natural gas. Our products and services described below correlate to the numbered stages of the oilfield production system graphical expression shown below.

 

 

Our products and services include:

 

Equipment for Oil and Gas Production and Transportation

 

    High-Efficiency Heating Furnaces (as shown above). Crude petroleum contains certain impurities that must be removed before the petroleum can be sold, including water and natural gas. To remove the impurities and to prevent solidification and blockage in transport pipes, companies employ heating furnaces. BHD researched, developed and implemented a new oilfield furnace that is advanced, highly automated, reliable, easily operable, safe and highly heat-efficient (90% efficiency).

 

    Burner (as shown above). We serve as an agent for the Unigas Burner which is designed and manufactured by UNIGAS, a European burning equipment production company. The burner we provide has the following characteristics: high degree of automation; energy conservation; high turn-down ratio; high security and environmental safety.

  

Oil and Gas Production Improvement Techniques

 

    Packers of Fracturing. This utility model is used concertedly with the security joint, hydraulic anchor, and slide bushing of sand spray in the well. It is used for easy seat sealing and sand-uptake prevention. The utility model reduces desilting volume and prevents sand uptake which makes the deblocking processes easier to realize. The back flushing is sand-stick proof.

 

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    Production Packer. According to different withdraw points, the production packer separates different oil layers, and protects the oil pipe from sand and permeability, so as to promote the recovery ratio.

 

 Sand Prevention in Oil and Water Well. This technique processes additives that are resistant to elevated temperatures into “resin sand” which is transported to the bottom of the well via carrying fluid. The “resin sand” goes through the borehole, piling up and compacting at the borehole and oil vacancy layer. An artificial borehole wall is then formed, functioning as a means of sand prevention. This sand prevention technique has been adapted to more than 100 wells, including heavy oil wells, light oil wells, water wells and gas wells, with a 100% success rate and a 98% effective rate.

 

    Water Locating and Plugging Technique. High water cut affects the normal production of oilfields. Previously, there was no sophisticated method for water locating and tubular column plugging in China. The mechanical water locating and tubular column plugging technique we have developed resolves the problem of high water cut wells. This technique conducts a self-sealing-test during multi-stage usage and is reliable to separate different production sets effectively. The water location switch forms a complete set by which the water locating and plugging can be finished in one trip. The tubular column is adaptable to several oil drilling methods and is available for water locating and plugging in second and third class layers.

 

    Fissure Shaper. This is our proprietary product that is used along with a perforating gun to effectively increase perforation depth by between 46% and 80%, shape stratum fissures, improve stratum diversion capability and, as a result, improve our ability to locate oilfields and increase the output of oil wells.

 

    Fracture Acidizing. We inject acid to layers under pressure which can form or expand fissures. The treatment process of the acid is defined as fracture acidizing. The technique is mainly adapted to oil and gas wells that are blocked up relatively deeply, or the ones in the low permeable zones.

 

    Electronic Broken-down Service. This service resolves block-up and freezing problems by generating heat from the electric resistivity of the drive pipe and utilizing a loop tank composed of an oil pipe and a drive pipe. This technique saves energy and is environment friendly. It can increase the production of oilfields that are in the middle and later periods.

 

Automation System and Service

 

    Pumping Unit Controller. Refers to process “1” above. Functions as a monitor to the pumping unit, and also collects data for load, pressure, voltage, startup and shutdown control.

 

    RTU Used to Monitor Natural Gas Wells. Collects gas well pressure data.

 

    Wireless Dynamometer and Wireless Pressure Gauge. Refers to process “1” above. These products replace wired technology with cordless displacement sensor technology. They are easy to install and significantly reduce the working load associated with cable laying.

 

    Electric Multi-Way Valve for Oilfield Metering Station Flow Control. Refers to process “2” above. This multi-way valve is used before the test separator to replace the existing three valve manifolds. It facilitates the electronic control of the connection of the oil lead pipeline with the separator.

 

    Natural Gas Flow Computer System. Flow computer system used in natural gas stations and gas distribution stations to measure flow.

 

    Recon SCADA Oilfield Monitor and Data Acquisition System. Recon SCADA is a system which applies to the oil well, measurement station, and the union station for supervision and data collection.

 

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    EPC Service of Pipeline SCADA System. A service technique for pipeline monitoring and data acquisition after crude oil transmission.

 

    EPC Service of Oil and Gas Wells SCADA System. A service technique for monitoring and data acquisition of oil wells and natural gas wells.

 

    EPC Service of Oilfield Video Surveillance and Control System. A video surveillance technique for controlling the oil and gas wellhead area and the measurement station area.

 

    Technique Service for “Digital Oilfield” Transformation. Includes engineering technique services such as oil and gas SCADA system, video surveillance and control system and communication systems.

  

ISO9000 Certification

  

The International Organization for Standardization consists of a worldwide federation of national standards bodies for approximately 130 countries, and the ISO9000 certification represents an international consensus of these standards bodies, with the aim of creating global standards of product and service quality. We have received ISO9000 certification for the following processes:

 

    Nanjing Recon has received certification for the development and service of RSCADA.

  

    BHD has received certification for high efficiency heating furnaces, import burners, and manometer surrogate rendition and service.

  

Customers

 

We operate our business by cooperating with oil companies and their subsidiaries, petroleum administration bureau and local service companies. Most actual control of our direct and indirect clients can be traced to Sinopec and CNPC, the two major Chinese state-owned companies responsible for on-shore petroleum mining and extraction. We have conducted automation projects for plants in three of China’s four highest producing oilfields, Daqing, Shengli and Xinjiang. We have undertaken the automation projects at the following locations, among others:

 

Sinopec

 

    Jiangsu Oil Field

 

    Shengli Oil Field

 

    The Northwest Division

 

    The Southwest Division

 

    Zhongyuan Oil Field

 

    Sichuan Oil Field

 

    Jianghan Oil Field

 

We provide products and services to Sinopec under a series of agreements, each of which is terminable without notice. We first began to provide services to Sinopec in 1998. Sinopec accounted for approximately 19.63% and 45.99% of our revenues for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and any termination of our business relationships with Sinopec would materially harm our operations.

 

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CNPC

 

    Qinghai Oil Field

 

    Tuha Oil Field

 

    Daqing Oil Field

 

    Jidong Oil Field

 

    Sichuan Oil Field

 

    Xinjiang Oil Field

 

    Huabei Oil Field

 

    Jilin Oil Field

 

We provide products and services to CNPC under a series of agreements, each of which is terminable without notice. We first began to provide services to CNPC in 2000. CNPC accounted for approximately 42.79% and 27.88% of our revenues in the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and any termination of our business relationships with CNPC would materially harm our operations.

 

Business Outlook

 

The oilfield engineering and technical service industry is generally divided into five sections: (1) exploration, (2) drilling and completion, (3) testing and logging, (4) production and (5) oilfield construction. Our businesses have mainly focused on production processes. As of this year, we are also expanding our business to well completion and horizontal well down-hole service process. We still believe that many existing oil wells and oilfields are in need of renewal and improvement on their current equipment to maintain production. We also believe that as many new wells are developed, our gathering and transferring equipment will be in great need. Accordingly, in the next year, we will focus on the following areas.

 

Measuring Equipment and Service. “Digital oil field” and the management of oil companies are highly regarded. We believe our oilfield Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (“SCADA”) and related technical support services will address the needs of the oil well automation system market, for which we forecast strong needs in the short term. Through early cooperation with CNPC on Turkmenistan, we have developed our experience in this market. Although bidding has not yet commenced, we will continue pursuing overseas business projects in the coming second phase construction.

 

Gathering and Transferring Equipment. With more new wells developed, our management anticipates that demand for our furnaces and burners will grow more compared to last year, especially in the Jilin Oilfield and Xinjiang oilfield.

 

Fracturing business. We believe we cooperated well with Zhongyuan Oilfield in 2013 and expect to continue growing revenue from fracturing and related stimulation services in the coming year.

 

New business. Design and development of down-hole tools has always been an important technique for oilfield companies. Recently, this market has developed very rapidly. After a year long test project for our client, we have developed experience with this technology and our products and services have been accepted by our client. We expect revenue from this business in the coming year.

 

Our Strengths

 

We believe our strengths are:

 

    Safety of products. The automation projects we have conducted have demonstrated that our products are reliable, safe and effective at automating the petroleum extraction process.

 

    Efficiency of technology. We believe our technology increases efficiency and profitability for petroleum companies by enabling them to monitor, manage and control petroleum extraction; increase the amount of petroleum extracted and reduce impurities in extracted petroleum.

 

    Ability to leverage our knowledge of Chinese business culture. Many of our competitors are based outside of China. As the Domestic Companies are based in China, we are in a unique position to emphasize Chinese culture and business knowledge to obtain new customers and new agreements with existing customers. We believe that many Chinese businesses, including state-owned companies like Sinopec and CNPC, would prefer to hire a Chinese company to assist in their business operations if a Chinese company exists with the ability to fulfill their needs on a timely and cost-efficient basis. In addition, our knowledge of Chinese culture allows us to anticipate and adapt to Chinese oilfield management methods. We provide our software solutions in Mandarin for the benefit of our Chinese customers, and all of our customer support is available from fluent personnel.

 

    Experienced, successful executive management team. Our executive management team has significant experience and success in the petroleum automation industry. They will be able to draw on their knowledge of the industry and their relationships in the industry.

 

    Ability to leverage China’s cost structure. As a Chinese company, we believe we can operate our business more cost-effectively because all of our employees, operations and assets are located in China, resulting in lower labor, development, manufacturing and rent costs than we believe we would incur if we also maintained operations abroad. We expect these costs savings will be reflected in lower costs to our customers for comparable products.

 

    Ownership of our intellectual property. Because we own our intellectual property, we are able to avoid licensing fees or contravening licensing agreements.

 

Recent Industry Developments

 

Despite uncertainty in the energy industry related to such matters as fluctuating prices and future opportunities for oil companies, our management believes there are still many factors to support our long-term development:

 

(1) The opening of the Chinese oil industry to participation by non-state owned service providers and vendors played an increasingly important role in the high-end oilfield service segment to allow competition based on efficiency and price. As oil and gas fields are depleted, it becomes more challenging to find and convert reserves into usable energy sources. As the industry has permitted competition by private companies and oil companies have formed separate service companies, high-tech service has gradually opened up to private companies.

 

(2) Speeding up the development of unconventional hydrocarbon resources such as shale gas and coal bed methane will bring more requirements of related production-increasing technic and service. China is rich in unconventional hydrocarbon resources, but new exploration and development technology breakthroughs are urgently needed; and

 

(3) Overseas assets of Chinese oilfield companies increased gradually, and they will provide more opportunity for domestic service companies to participate in foreign projects.

 

Management is focused on these factors and will seek to extend our business on the industrial chain, like providing more integrated services and incremental measures and growing our business from a predominantly up-ground business to include some down-hole services as well.

  

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Our Strategies

 

Our goal is to help our customers improve their efficiency and profitability by providing them with software and hardware solutions and services to improve their ability to locate productive oil reservoirs, manage the oil extraction process, reduce extraction costs, and enhance recovery from extraction activities. Key elements of our strategies include:

 

    Increase our market share in China. We believe that as the Chinese economy and oil industry continue to develop, Chinese petroleum extraction automation companies will compete with international businesses at an increasing rate. Consequently, we believe we will have opportunities to take market share from foreign companies by developing positive business relationships in China’s petroleum mining and extraction industry. We will also use strategic advertisements, predominantly in China’s northeast and northwest, where China’s major oilfields are located, to increase our brand awareness and market penetration. We will continue to develop new technologies designed to improve petroleum mining and extraction efficiency and profitability for our customers.

  

   

Develop our own branded products and services and shift focus away from trading business. Our management believes in the importance of our own branded products and our services, in light of their higher profit margins and their long-term significance in establishing the status of our Company in the oil and gas industry. Our aim is to become a more fully integrated customized supplier to our oil and gas customers, reducing their costs and improving their production. Moreover, the trading business relies on the major clients’ in procurement policies toward agencies, any significant change of which could jeopardize our operating results. Our management therefore believes that in the long run we will need to focus our growth strategy in developing professional services for the oil and gas industry in China.

  

    Focus on higher-profit subsection of market. While we plan to continue to provide services to all of our clients, we believe that we may improve our profit margins by focusing a higher portion of our advertising and promotions at those sub-divisions of our industry that have traditionally held the highest profit margins.

 

    Offer services to foreign oilfields contracted by Chinese petroleum companies. As Sinopec and CNPC continue to invest in oilfields in other countries, we will focus on offering our services in these new locations based on our success in working with the companies in China.

 

    Seek opportunities with foreign companies in China. Even where oilfields in China are partially operated by foreign companies, a significant number of employees will be Chinese and will benefit from our Chinese-language services. We believe our hardware and software solutions would be beneficial to any petroleum company doing business in China and will continue to market to foreign companies entering the Chinese market.

 

    Provide services that generate high customer satisfaction levels. Chinese companies in our market are strongly influenced by formal and informal referrals. We believe that we have the opportunity to expand market share by providing high levels of customer satisfaction with our current customers, thereby fostering strong customer referrals to support sales activities.

  

    Expand business in the U.S. market. In June 2013, we acquired a 32% interest in a U.S. oil and natural gas company, Avalon Oil and Gas Inc. This strategic investment marks an important step in expanding our business in the U.S. market.

 

Competition

 

We face competition from a variety of foreign and domestic companies involved in the petroleum mining automation industry. While we believe we effectively compete in our market, our competitors hold a substantial market share.

 

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A few of our existing competitors, as well as a number of potential new competitors, have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do, which could provide them with a significant competitive advantage over us. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to compete successfully against our current or future competitors in our industry or that competition will not have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

 

Our primary domestic competitors include the following: 

 

    Beijing Echo Technologies Development Co., Ltd. (“BET”). BET provides a combination of software and hardware products for industrial automatic control systems in the petroleum industry. BET currently engages in research and development of software and hardware applied to industrial automatic control systems, manufacturing and installation of industrial automation instruments and integration of automatic control products.

 

    Anton Oilfield Services Group (HKEx stock code: 3337) is a leading independent oilfield services provider offering one-stop oil and gas field technical development services to oil companies. Its services and solutions span across the drilling technology, well completion, down-hole operation, and oil production phases in the development cycle. Its fast growth benefits from the accelerated development of natural gas in China and the Group’s increased presence in the overseas markets.

 

Research and Development

 

We focus our research and development efforts on improving our development efficiency and the quality of our products and services. As of June 30, 2014, our research and development team consisted of 42 experienced engineers, developers and programmers. In addition, some of our support employees regularly participate in our research and development programs.

  

In the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, we spent approximately ¥8.1 million ($1.3 million) and ¥8.5 million, respectively, on research and development activities to develop new generation of our software and upgrade our own designed furnaces.

  

Intellectual Property

 

Our success and competitive position is dependent in part upon our ability to develop and maintain the proprietary aspect of our technology. The reverse engineering, unauthorized copying, or other misappropriation of our technology could enable third parties to benefit from our technology without paying for it. We rely on a combination of trademark, trade secret, copyright law and contractual restrictions to protect the proprietary aspects of the Domestic Companies’ and our technology. We seek to protect the source code to the Domestic Companies’ and our software, documentation and other written materials under trade secret and copyright laws. While we actively take steps to protect the Domestic Companies’ and our proprietary rights, such steps may not be adequate to prevent the infringement or misappropriation of the Domestic Companies’ and our intellectual property. This is particularly the case in China where intellectual property may not be sufficiently protected.

 

We license the Domestic Companies’ and our software products under signed license agreements that impose restrictions on the licensee’s ability to utilize the software and do not permit the re-sale, sublicense or other transfer of the software. Finally, we seek to avoid disclosure of the Domestic Companies’ and our intellectual property by requiring employees and independent consultants to execute confidentiality agreements.

 

Although the Domestic Companies and we develop our software products, each is based upon middleware developed by third parties. We integrate this technology, licensed by our customers from third parties in our software products. If our customers are unable to continue to license any of this third party software, or if the third party licensors do not adequately maintain or update their products, we would face delays in the releases of our software until equivalent technology can be identified, licensed or developed, and integrated into our software products. These delays, if they occur, could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

 

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There has been a substantial amount of litigation in the software industry regarding intellectual property rights. It is possible that in the future third parties may claim that our current or potential future software solutions infringe their intellectual property. We expect that software product developers will increasingly be subject to infringement claims as the number of products and competitors in our industry segment grows and the functionality of products in different industry segments overlap. In addition, we may find it necessary to initiate claims or litigation against third parties for infringement of our proprietary rights or to protect our trade secrets. Although the Domestic Companies and we may disclaim certain intellectual property representations to our customers, these disclaimers may not be sufficient to fully protect us against such claims. Any claims, with or without merit, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, cause product shipment delays or require the Domestic Companies and us to enter into royalty or license agreements. Royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

 

Our standard software license agreements contain an infringement indemnity clause under which we agree to indemnify and hold harmless our customers and business partners against liability and damages arising from claims of various copyright or other intellectual property infringement by the Domestic Companies’ and our products. We have never lost an infringement claim, and our costs to defend such lawsuits have been insignificant. Although it is possible that in the future third parties may claim that our current or potential future software solutions or we infringe on their intellectual property, we do not currently expect a significant impact on our business, operating results, or financial condition.

 

We market our products under the following trademarks which are registered with the PRC Trademark Bureau under the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. We currently own or have applied for the following trademarks:

 

1.Trademark of “Senior” valid from May 14, 2005 through May 13, 2015;
  
2.Trademark of “BHD” valid from November 7, 2003 through November 6, 2023;
  
3.Trademark of “Recon” of the 7th classification valid from October 21, 2011 through October 20, 2021;
  
4.Trademark of “Recon” of the 9th classification valid from April 21, 2011 through April 20, 2021; and
  
5.Trademark of “Recon” of the 42nd classification valid from September 7, 2011 through September 6, 2021.

 

We currently own or have applied for the following 25 patents registered with the State Intellectual Property Office which are applied on our automated products and heating related equipment for the petroleum industry:

 

1.Patent of heavy oil tubing-casing used for extraction valid until June 17, 2015;
  
2.Patent of fracturing packer valid until August 5, 2018;
  
3.Patent of pressure phase transition furnace valid until August 5, 2018;
  
4.Patent of vacuum furnace phase transition heater valid until August 5, 2018;

 

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5.Patent of high pressure natural gas water heater valid until June 30, 2019;
  
6.Patent of negative pressure heater valid until June 30, 2019;
  
7.Patent of water jacket furnace valid until June 30, 2019;
  
8.Patent of tube heating furnace valid until June 30, 2019;
  
9.Patent of automatically adjusting negative pressure burner valid until August 5, 2019;
  
10.Patent of wireless data instrument diagram valid until December 10, 2018;
  
11.Patent of hot water furnace valid until April 8, 2021;
  
12.Patent of multifunctional heating furnace valid until April 8, 2021;
  
13.Patent of efficient gas-liquid separator valid until August 15, 2021;
  
14.Patent of efficient oil-gas-water separator valid until October 24, 2021;
  
15.Patent of room pressure pipeline heater valid until October 24, 2021;
  
16.Patent of pneumatic control system valid until February 9, 2022;
  
17.Patent of firebox indirect heating furnace valid until December 14, 2022;
  
18.Patent of cylindrical-tubular furnace valid until December 14, 2022;
  
19.Patent of horizontal type furnace valid until December 14, 2022;
  
20.Patent of vertical type furnace valid until December 13, 2022;
  
21.Patent of vacuum furnace valid until December 14, 2022;
  
22.Patent of wireless pressure sensor valid until November 11, 2023;
  
23.Patent of wireless start-end module valid until November 11, 2023; and
  
24.We have submitted two more patent application (separated phase change heating furnace and data-collection for pumping unit indicator diagrams base on acceleration).

 

We have registered the following software products with the State Intellectual Property Office:

 

1.Recon automated monitoring system version 1 was published on July 30, 2011;

 

2.Recon automated maintenance and production-management system version 1 was published on July 10, 2011;

 

3.Recon SCADA field monitoring and data acquisition system software version 4 was published on January 28, 2011;

 

4.Recon flow control computer monitoring system software was registered and published on February 8, 2008;

 

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5.Recon SCADA field monitoring and data acquisition system software version 2 was published on August 18, 2003, and version 3 was registered and published on April 5, 2008;

 

6.Recon wireless field monitoring and data acquisition system software version 2 was published on January 8, 2011, and version 1 was registered and published on September 15, 2010;

 

7.Recon RCNAMT version 1 was published on April 27, 2012; and

 

8.Recon Process Auto version 1 was published on August 25, 2012.

 

Environmental Matters

 

We have not incurred material expenses in connection with compliance with Chinese environmental laws and regulations. We do not anticipate expending any material amounts for such compliance purposes for the remainder of our current or succeeding fiscal year.

 

China’s Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement System

 

In 1998, China established the State Intellectual Property Office (“SIPO”) to coordinate China’s intellectual property enforcement efforts. SIPO is responsible for granting and enforcing patents, as well as coordinating intellectual property rights related to copyrights and trademarks. Protection of intellectual property in China follows a two-track system. The first track is administrative in nature, whereby a holder of intellectual property rights files a complaint at a local administrative office. Determining which intellectual property agency can be confusing, as jurisdiction of intellectual property matters is diffused throughout a number of government agencies and offices, with each typically responsible for the protection afforded by one statute or one specific area of intellectual property-related law. The second track is a judicial track, whereby complaints are filed through the Chinese court system. Since 1993, China has maintained various intellectual property tribunals. The total volume of intellectual property related litigation, however, remains small.

 

Although there are differences in intellectual property rights between the United States and China, of most significance to the Company is the inexperience of China in connection with the development and protection of intellectual property rights. Similar to the United States, China has chosen to protect software under copyright law rather than trade secrets, patent or contract law. As such, we will attempt to protect our most significant intellectual property pursuant to Chinese laws that have only recently been adopted. Unlike the United States, which has lengthy case law related to the interpretation and applicability of intellectual property law, China has not developed a case law system.

 

Regulation on Software Products

 

On March 1, 2009, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China issued the Administrative Measures on Software Products, or the Software Measures, which became effective as of April 10, 2009, to strengthen the regulation of software products and to encourage the development of the Chinese software industry. Under the Software Measures, a software developer must have all software products imported into or sold in China tested by a testing organization supervised by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The software industry authorities in provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and cities with independent planning are in charge of the registration, report and management of software products. Software products can be registered for five years, and the registration is renewable upon expiration. Although some of Nanjing Recon’s current software products were registered in 2008, there can be no guarantee that the registration will be renewed in 2013 or that the Domestic Companies’ and our future products will be registered.

 

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Regulation of Intellectual Property Rights

 

China has adopted legislation governing intellectual property rights, including trademarks and copyrights. China is a signatory to the main international conventions on intellectual property rights and became a member of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights upon its accession to the WTO in December 2001.

 

Copyright. China adopted its first copyright law in 1990. The National People’s Congress amended the Copyright Law in 2001 to widen the scope of works and rights that are eligible for copyright protection. The amended Copyright Law extends copyright protection to software products, among others. In addition, there is a voluntary registration system administered by the China Copyright Protection Center. China's new version of Copyright law is adopted by The National People's Congress in 2010 unlike patent and trademark registration, copyrighted works do not require registration for protection. Protection is granted to individuals from countries belonging to the copyright international conventions or bilateral agreements of which China is a member. Nanjing Recon has ten copyrights for software programs.

 

Trademark. The Chinese Trademark Law, adopted in 1982 and revised in 1993, 2001, and 2013 protects registered trademarks. The Trademark Office under the Chinese State Administration for Industry and Commerce handles trademark registrations and grants a term of ten years to registered trademarks. Trademark license agreements must be filed with the Trademark Office for record. China has a “first-to-register” system that requires no evidence of prior use or ownership. The Domestic Companies and we have registered a number of product names with the Trademark Office.

 

Regulations on Foreign Exchange

 

Foreign Currency Exchange. Under the PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, may be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. By contrast, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of foreign currency-denominated loans or foreign currency is to be remitted into China under the capital account, such as a capital increase or foreign currency loans to our PRC subsidiaries.

 

SAFE issued the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises(2008), or SAFE Circular 142, regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested enterprise of foreign currency-registered capital into RMB by restricting how the converted RMB may be used. In addition, SAFE promulgated Circular 45 on November 9, 2011 in order to clarify the application of SAFE Circular 142. Under SAFE Circular 142 and Circular 45, the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the applicable government authority and may not be used for equity investments within the PRC. In addition, SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of foreign-invested enterprises. The use of such RMB capital may not be changed without SAFE’s approval, and such RMB capital may not in any case be used to repay RMB loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been used.

 

Since SAFE Circular 142 has been in place for more than five years, SAFE decided to further reform the foreign exchange administration system in order to satisfy and facilitate the business and capital operations of foreign invested enterprises, and issued the Circular on the Relevant Issues Concerning the Launch of Reforming Trial of the Administration Model of the Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises in Certain Areas on August 4, 2014. This circular suspends the application of SAFE Circular 142 in certain areas and allows a foreign-invested enterprise registered in such areas with a business scope including “investment” to use the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital for equity investments within the PRC.

 

SAFE promulgated Circular 59 in November 2010, which tightens the regulation over settlement of net proceeds from overseas offerings, such as our initial public offering, and requires, among other things, the authenticity of settlement of net proceeds from offshore offerings to be closely examined and the net proceeds to be settled in the manner described in the offering documents or otherwise approved by our board. Violations of these SAFE regulations may result in severe monetary or other penalties, including confiscation of earnings derived from such violation activities, a fine of up to 30% of the RMB funds converted from the foreign invested funds or in the case of a severe violation, a fine ranging from 30% to 100% of the RMB funds converted from the foreign-invested funds.

 

In November 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on Foreign Direct Investment, which substantially amends and simplifies the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant to this circular, the opening of various special purpose foreign exchange accounts, such as pre-establishment expenses accounts, foreign exchange capital accounts and guarantee accounts, the reinvestment of RMB proceeds by foreign investors in the PRC, and remittance of foreign exchange profits and dividends by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign shareholders no longer require the approval or verification of SAFE, and multiple capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was not possible previously. In addition, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration over Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents in May 2013, which specifies that the administration by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC shall be conducted by way of registration and banks shall process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the registration information provided by SAFE and its branches.

 

Regulation of Dividend Distribution. The principal regulations governing the distribution of dividends by foreign holding companies include the Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (1986), as amended, and the Administrative Rules under the Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (2014).

 

Under these regulations, foreign investment enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their retained profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, foreign investment enterprises in China are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective retained profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds unless these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the enterprises. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.

 

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SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as “SAFE Circular 75” promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle.” SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Furthermore, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls.

 

Regulations on Foreign Investment in Automation Service Industry and Oil Exploration and Extraction Industry in PRC. In accordance with the Catalogue of Industries for Guiding Foreign Investment (Revised 2011), the oil and gas automation service industries are in the catalogue of permitted industries, and thus there are no restrictions on foreign investment in such industry. In addition the following industries are encouraged for foreign investment in China:

 

    Manufacturing of equipment for oil exploration, drilling, collection and transportation: floating drilling systems and floating production systems with an operating water depth of more than 1,500 meters and the supporting subsea oil extraction, collection and transportation equipment

 

    Exploration and exploitation of oil and natural gas with venture capital (limited to equity joint ventures and cooperative joint ventures);

 

    Development and application of new technologies that increase the recovery ratio of crude oil (limited to equity joint ventures and cooperative joint ventures);

 

    Development and application of new oil exploration and exploitation technologies such as geophysical exploration, drilling, well logging, and downhole operation, etc. (limited to equity joint ventures and cooperative joint ventures); and

 

    Exploration and development of unconventional oil resources such as oil shale, oil sands, heavy oil, and excess oil (limited to equity joint ventures and cooperative joint ventures).

 

Employees

 

As of June 30, 2014, we had approximately 89 employees, all of whom were based in China. We believe that our relations with our employees are good. We have never had a work stoppage, and our employees are not subject to a collective bargaining agreement.

  

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Insurance

 

We do not have any business interruption, litigation or natural disaster insurance coverage for our operations in China. Insurance companies in China offer limited business insurance products. While business interruption insurance is available to a limited extent in China, we have determined that the risks of interruption, cost of such insurance and the difficulties associated with acquiring such insurance on commercially reasonable terms make it impractical for us to have such insurance. Therefore, we are subject to business and product liability exposure. Business or product liability claims or potential regulatory actions could materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

We do, however, pay certain required insurance amounts in connection with our employees’ wages. The amount and types of insurance we must provide under Chinese and local requirements vary by the location of each of the Domestic Companies. The following table summarizes the types of insurance paid for each of the Domestic Companies:

 

Nanjing Recon

Housing Fund

Pension

Unemployment Insurance

Medical Insurance

Occupational Injury Insurance

Maternity Insurance

 

BHD

Pension

Unemployment Insurance

Medical Insurance

Occupational Injury Insurance

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

The Company is not required to provide the information required by this Item because the Company is a smaller reporting company.

 

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

The Company is not required to provide the information required by this Item because the Company is a smaller reporting company.

 

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Item 2. Properties.

 

We currently operate in three facilities throughout China. Our headquarters are located in Beijing.

 

Office   Address   Rental Term   Space
Headquarters  

Room 1902, Building C

King Long International Mansion,

Chaoyang District

Beijing, PRC

 

July 1, 2014 to

June 30, 2015

 

220 square

meters

           
       
Nanjing Recon  

Yongfeng Mansion, 14th Floor No. 123 Jiqing Road

Nanjing City, PRC

 

July 10, 2014 to

July 9, 2016

 

440 square

meters

   

Room 119, Software Road, Yuhuatai District,

Nanjing City, PRC

 

May 10, 2013 to

May 9, 2015

 

294 square

Meters

       
BHD  

18th Floor, Building C

King Long International Mansion,

Chaoyang District

Beijing, PRC

 

January 1, 2014 to

December 31, 2014

 

450 square

meters

 

West building, Zhengfu Street, Huo ying,

Changping District, PRC

 

January 1, 2014 to

December 31, 2014

 

900 square

meters

             

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business. We are currently not aware of any such pending or threatened legal proceedings, claims, regulatory inquires or investigations that we believe will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

 

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

This item is inapplicable to the Company.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

(a) Market for Our Ordinary Shares

 

Year Ended June 30, 2014          
Quarter Ended September 30, 2013  $2.43   $1.75 
Quarter Ended December 31, 2013  $5.80   $2.18 
Quarter Ended March 31, 2014  $8.00   $3.07 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2014  $5.62   $3.22 
           
Year Ended June 30, 2013          
Quarter Ended September 30, 2012  $2.14   $1.38 
Quarter Ended December 31, 2012  $3.44   $0.95 
Quarter Ended March 31, 2013  $3.17   $1.40 
Quarter Ended June 30, 2013  $2.65   $1.55 

 

As of June 30, 2014, there were nine holders of record of our ordinary shares. This excludes our ordinary shares owned by shareholders holding ordinary shares under nominee security position listings. On June 30, 2014, the last sales price of our ordinary shares as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $4.14 per ordinary share.

 

Dividend Policy

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares. We anticipate that we will retain any earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. Therefore, we do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on a number of factors, including future earnings, capital requirements, financial conditions and future prospects and other factors the Board of Directors may deem relevant.

 

Because we are a holding company with no operations of our own and all of our operations are conducted through our Chinese subsidiary, our ability to pay dividends and to finance any debt that we may incur is dependent upon dividends and other distributions paid in U.S. In addition, Chinese legal restrictions permit payment of dividends to us by our Chinese subsidiary only out of its accumulated net profit, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. Under Chinese law, our subsidiary is required to set aside a portion (at least 10%) of its after-tax net income (after discharging all cumulated loss), if any, each year for compulsory statutory reserve until the amount of the reserve reaches 50% of our subsidiaries’ registered capital. These funds may be distributed to shareholders at the time of its wind up. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Holding Company Structure.”

 

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Payments of dividends by our subsidiary in China to the Company are also subject to restrictions including primarily the restriction that foreign invested enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign currencies at those banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business after providing valid commercial documents. There are no such similar foreign exchange restrictions in the Cayman Islands.

 

(b) We are not required to provide any disclosure under this item, as we have applied all of the net proceeds from our initial public offering, as disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2011.

 

(c) None.

 

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

The Company is not required to provide the information required by this Item because the Company is a smaller reporting company.

 

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.

 

The following discussion and analysis of our company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.

 

Overview

 

We are a company with limited liability incorporated in 2007 under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Headquartered in Beijing, we provide products and services to oil and gas companies and their affiliates through our Domestic Companies. As the company contractually controlls the Domestic Companies, we are the center of strategic management, financial control and human resources allocation.

 

Our business is mainly focused on the upstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. We derive our revenues from the sales and provision of (1) oilfield dedicated products and accessories, (2) stimulation technology and services. Our products and services involve most of the key procedures of the extraction and production of oil and gas, and include automation systems, equipment, tools and on-site technical services.

 

Our Domestic Companiess provide the oil and gas industry with equipment, production technologies, automation and services to enhance our customers’ efficiency.

  

Nanjing Recon: Nanjing Recon is a high-tech company that specializes in automation services for oilfield companies. It mainly focuses on providing automation solutions to the oil exploration industry, including monitoring wells, automatic metering to the joint station production, process monitor, and a variety of oilfield equipment and control systems.

 

BHD: BHD is a high-tech company that specializes in transportation equipment and stimulation productions and services. Possessing proprietary patents and substantial industry experience, BHD has built up stable and strong working relationships with the major oilfields in China.

 

19
 

   

Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

 

Our operating results in any period are subject to the general conditions typically affecting the Chinese oilfield service industry including:

  
the amount of spending by our customers, primarily those in the oil and gas industry;
  
growing demand from large corporations for improved management and software designed to enhance corporate performance;
  
the procurement processes of our customers, especially those in the oil and gas industry;
  
competition and related pricing pressure from other oilfield service solution providers, especially those targeting the oil and gas industry in China;
  
the ongoing development of the oilfield service market in China;
  

fluctuation in oil price; and

  
inflation and other factors.

 

Unfavorable changes in any of these general conditions could negatively affect the number and size of the projects we undertake, the number of products we sell, the amount of services we provide, the price of our products and services or otherwise affect our results of operations.

 

Our operating results in any period are more directly affected by company-specific factors including:

 

our continued ability to lead and to control all affiliated entities;
  
our revenue growth;
  
the proportion of our business dedicated to large companies;
  
our ability to successfully develop, introduce and market new solutions and services;
  
our ability to increase our revenues from customers both old and new in the oil and gas industry in China;
  
our ability to effectively manage our operating costs and expenses; and
  
our ability to effectively implement any targeted acquisitions and/or strategic alliances so as to provide efficient access to the markets in the oil and gas industry.

 

20
 

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Estimates and Assumptions

 

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which require us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. An accounting policy is considered critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time such estimate is made, and if different accounting estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements. We believe that the following policies involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity in their application and require us to make significant accounting estimates. The following descriptions of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and other disclosures included in this quarterly report. Significant accounting estimates reflected in our Company’s consolidated financial statements include revenue recognition, deferred taxes, allowance for doubtful accounts, the fair value of share-based payments, warrants liability and useful lives of property and equipment.

 

Consolidation of VIEs

  

We recognize an entity as a VIE if it either (i) has insufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or (ii) has equity investors who lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. We consolidate a VIE as its primary beneficiary when we have both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. As such, the Domestic Companies are VIEs. We will continue to make ongoing assessment whether the Domestic Companies still continue to be VIEs and whether we continue to be the primary beneficiary.

 

Assets recognized as a result of consolidating VIEs do not represent additional assets that could be used to satisfy claims against our general assets. Conversely, liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on our general assets; rather, they represent claims against the specific assets of the consolidated VIEs.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue when the following four criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been provided; (3) the sales price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. Delivery does not occur until products have been shipped or services have been provided to the client and the client has signed a completion and acceptance report, risk of loss has transferred to the client, client acceptance provisions have lapsed, or the Company has objective evidence that the criteria specified in client acceptance provisions have been satisfied. The sales price is not considered to be fixed or determinable until all contingencies related to the sale have been resolved.

 

Hardware

 

Revenue from hardware sales is generally recognized when the product is shipped to the customer and when there are no unfulfilled company obligations that affect the customer’s final acceptance of the arrangement.

 

21
 

 

Software

 

The Company sells self-developed software. For software sales, the Company recognizes revenues in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification, Topic 985-605, “Software Revenue Recognition,” and related interpretations. Revenue from software is recognized according to project contracts. Contract costs are accumulated during the periods of installation and testing or commissioning. Usually this is short term. Revenue is not recognized until completion of the contracts and receipt of acceptance statements.

  

Services

 

The Company provides services to improve software functions and system requirements on separated fixed-price contracts. Revenue is recognized when services are completed and acceptance is determined by a completion report signed by the customer.

 

Deferred income represents unearned amounts billed to customers related to sales contracts.

 

Cost of Revenues

 

When the criteria for revenue recognition have been met, costs incurred are recognized as cost of revenue. Cost of revenues includes wages, materials, handling charges, the cost of purchased equipment and pipes, and other expenses associated with manufactured products and services provided to customers. We expect cost of revenues to grow as our revenues grow. It is possible that we could incur development costs with little revenue recognition, but based upon our past history, we expect our revenues to grow.

 

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

 

The US GAAP accounting standards regarding fair value of financial instruments and related fair value measurements define fair value, establish a three-level valuation hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

 

The three levels of inputs are defined as follows:

 

Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

 

Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

 

Level 3 inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable.

 

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for trade accounts receivable, other receivables, advances to suppliers, trade accounts payable, accrued liabilities, advances from customers and notes payable approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Long-term receivables and borrowings approximate fair value because their interest rates charged approximate the market rates for financial instruments with similar terms. The fair value of the warrants liability was determined using the Black-Scholes Model, as Level 2 inputs (See Note 13). Any changes in the assumptions that are used in the Black-Scholes Model may increase or decrease the warrants liability from quarter to quarter and any change in adjustment would be charged to operations. Long-term investment is measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at June 30, 2014, since the Company recorded an impairment loss during 2014. The fair value was determined to be zero using Level 2 inputs.

 

22
 

 

Receivables

 

Trade receivables are carried at original invoiced amount less a provision for any potential uncollectible amounts. Provisions are applied to trade receivables where events or changes in circumstances indicate that the balance may not be collectible. The identification of doubtful accounts requires the use of judgment and estimates of management. Our management must make estimates of the collectability of our accounts receivable. Management specifically analyzes accounts receivable, historical bad debts, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in our customer payment terms when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. We believe based on the current economic condition and our history of collections on accounts and notes receivable, our allowance for doubtful accounts was adequate at June 30, 2013 and 2014.

 

Deferred Tax Estimates

 

As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves using an asset and liability approach whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for differences in the financial reporting bases and tax bases of our assets and liabilities. Deferred tax accounting requires that we evaluate net deferred tax assets by jurisdiction to determine if these assets will more likely than not be realized. This analysis requires considerable judgment and is subject to change to reflect future events and changes in the tax laws.

 

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets

 

We review the carrying values of our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that they may not be recoverable. When such an event occurs, we project undiscounted cash flows to be generated from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition over the remaining life of the asset. If projections indicate that the carrying value of the long-lived asset will not be recovered, we reduce the carrying value of the long-lived asset by the estimated excess of the carrying value over the projected discounted cash flows. In the past, we have not had to make significant adjustments to the carrying values of our long-lived assets, and we do not anticipate a need to do so in the future. However, circumstances could cause us to have to reduce the value of our capitalized software more rapidly than we have in the past if our revenues were to significantly decline. Estimated cash flows from the use of the long-lived assets are highly uncertain and therefore the estimation of the need to impair these assets is reasonably likely to change in the future. Should the economy or the acceptance of our software change in the future, it is likely that our estimate of the future cash flows from the use of these assets will change by a material amount. There were no impairments at June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Share-Based Payment. Under the fair value recognition provisions of this topic, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense with graded vesting on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. The Company has elected to recognize compensation expenses mainly using the Black-Scholes valuation model estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair value.

 

23
 

 

 Recently enacted accounting pronouncements

 

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” (“ASU 2014-08”). Under ASU 2014-08, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations that have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results should be presented as discontinued operations. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. The amendments in ASU 2014-08 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014. However, ASU 2014-08 should not be applied to a component that is classified as held for sale before the effective date even if the component is disposed of after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The effects of ASU 2014-08 will depend on any future disposals by the Company.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“ASU 2014-09”). Previous revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP comprised broad revenue recognition concepts together with numerous revenue requirements for particular industries or transactions, which sometimes resulted in different accounting for economically similar transactions. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this core principal, five steps are required to be applied. In addition, ASU 2014-09 expands and enhances disclosure requirements which require disclosing sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This includes both qualitative and quantitative information. The amendments in ASU 2014-09 are effective retrospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. Management is evaluating the effect, if any, on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following consolidated results of operations include the results of operations of the Company and its variable interest entities (“VIEs”), BHD and Nanjing Recon.

 

Our historical reporting results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period.

 

Revenue

 

   For the Years Ended 
   June 30, 
           Increase /   Percentage 
   2013   2014   (Decrease)   Change 
Hardware - non-related parties  ¥35,873,924   ¥81,161,610   ¥45,287,686    126.2%
Hardware - related parties   5,479,021    4,276,799    (1,202,222)   (21.9)%
Service   25,464,003    477,778    (24,986,225)   (98.1)%
Software - non-related parties   5,534,593    5,067,673    (466,920)   (8.4)%
Software - related parties   4,234,188    2,463,248    (1,770,940)   (41.8)%
Total revenues  ¥76,585,729   ¥93,447,108   ¥16,861,379    22.0%
                

 

24
 

 

Our total revenues for the year ended June 30, 2014 were approximately ¥93.4 million ($15.2 million), an increase of approximately ¥16.8 million or 22.0% from ¥76.6 million for the year ended June 30, 2013. This was mainly caused by:

 

1.Hardware business - non - related parties. During the year ended June 30, 2014, the increase in hardware revenue was mainly due to higher sales of furnaces and automation products to our existing clients and sales to new clients.

 

  2. Hardware – related parties. Sales of hardware to related parties decreased because we used to sell our products to Ji Dong oilfield through our related parties. After we obtained business entrance certification, Recon now can make sales to oilfield customers directly. As a result, sales made to related-parties decreased.

 

  3. Service business. Service revenue for the year ended June 30, 2014 consisted mainly of minor maintenance services, which were provided upon request by customers. The ¥25.5 million service revenue for the year ended June 30, 2013 was mainly due to several fracturing service contracts signed with Sinopec Zhongyuan oil field. The significant decrease in service revenue for the year ended June 30, 2014 was mainly caused by short-term decline due to Sinopec Zhongyuan oil field's adjustment of their producing plan. We expect the service revenue to pick up in the next fiscal year as we successfully achieved access certification of additional oil field which means we will be able to provide our fracturing services to a broader customer base.

 

  4. Software business -  non – related parties. The software sales decreased approximately ¥0.5 million ($0.1 million). We record revenue as software sales if (1) the customer signs a separate software contract with us, or (2) the customer accepts VAT invoices for software. The amount of our revenues categorized as software sales may fluctuate because certain software may be sold with hardware at times as a whole product and not separately priced

 

  5. Software business – related parties. For the year ended June 30, 2014, we recorded software revenue of ¥2.5 million ($0.4 million) to a related party, a decrease of ¥1.8 million ($0.3 million) from the same period of last year. The decrease was mainly due to our decreased indirect sales of automation system through the related parties.

 

Cost and Margin 

 

   For the Years Ended 
   June 30, 
           Increase /   Percentage 
   2013   2014   (Decrease)   Change 
Total revenues  ¥76,585,729   ¥93,447,108   ¥16,861,379    22.0%
Cost of revenues   51,531,759    61,030,247    9,498,488    18.4%
Gross profit  ¥25,053,970   ¥32,416,861   ¥7,362,891    29.4%
Margin %   32.7%   34.7%   2.0%   — 

 

Cost of Revenues. Our cost of revenues includes raw materials and costs related to design, implementation, delivery and maintenance of products and services. All materials and components we need can be purchased or manufactured by subcontracts. Usually the prices of electronic components do not fluctuate dramatically due to market competition and will not significantly affect our cost of revenues. However, specialized equipment and incentive chemical products may be directly influenced by metal and oil price fluctuations. Additionally, the prices of some imported accessories mandated by our customers can also impact our cost.

 

25
 

 

Our cost of revenues increased from approximately ¥51.5 million in the year ended June 30, 2013 to approximately ¥61.0 million ($9.9 million) for the same period of 2014, an increase of approximately ¥9.5 million ($1.5 million), or 18.4%. As a percentage of revenues, our cost of revenues decreased from 67.3% in 2013 to 65.3% in 2014. This decrease was mainly caused by lower service costs.  

 

Gross Profit. Our gross profit increased to approximately ¥32.4 million ($5.3 million) for the year ended June 30, 2014 from approximately ¥25.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2013. Our gross profit as a percentage of revenue increased to 34.7% for the year ended June 30, 2014 from 32.7% for the same period in 2013. This was mainly because fracturing services, which feature lower margins, accounted for a major part of our revenue during the year ended June 30, 2013. As to our automation business and furnaces business, our margins were both improved because our products and services were well received by our clients, especially our newly developed clients.

 

In more detail:

 

   For the Years Ended 
   June 30, 
           Increase /   Percentage 
   2013   2014   (Decrease)   Change 
Total revenues-hardware and software- non related parties  ¥41,408,517   ¥86,229,283   ¥44,820,766    108.2%
Cost of revenues -hardware and software- non related parties   26,617,786    57,333,670    30,715,884    115.4%
Gross profit  ¥14,790,731   ¥28,895,613   ¥14,104,882    95.4%
Margin %   35.7%   33.5%   (2.2)%   — 

 

Revenue from hardware and software to non-related parties increased ¥44.8 million was mainly due to the hardware revenue increase from the furnaces sales and automation products in the year ended June 30, 2014. The gross profit from the hardware and software sales to non-related parties increased ¥14.1 million ($2.3 million) compared to the same period of last year.

 

   For the Years Ended 
   June 30, 
           Increase /   Percentage 
   2013   2014   (Decrease)   Change 
Total revenues-hardware and software - related parties  ¥9,713,209   ¥6,740,047   ¥(2,973,162)   (30.6)%
Cost of revenues -hardware and software - related parties   6,346,850    3,619,470    (2,727,380)   (43.0)%
Gross profit  ¥3,366,359   ¥3,120,577   ¥(245,782)   (7.3)%
Margin %   34.7%   46.3%   11.6%   — 

 

Cost of revenue from hardware and software-related parties decreased as revenue decreased. While gross margin increased was mainly because software business with higher margin accounted for a larger percentage this period.

 

26
 

 

   For the Years Ended 
   June 30, 
           Increase /   Percentage 
   2013   2014   (Decrease)   Change 
Total revenues-service  ¥25,464,003   ¥477,778   ¥(24,986,225)   (98.1)%
Cost of revenues -service   18,567,123    77,107    (18,490,016)   (99.6)%
Gross profit  ¥6,896,880   ¥400,671   ¥(6,496,209)   (94.2)%
Margin %   27.1%   83.9%   56.8%   — 

 

The ¥25.5 million service revenue for the year ended June 30, 2013 was mainly due to several fracturing service contracts signed with Sinopec Zhongyuan oilfield. We generated 27.1% gross profit margin from these service contracts.

 

Operating Expenses

 

   For the Years Ended 
   June 30, 
           Increase /   Percentage 
   2013   2014   (Decrease)   Change 
Selling and distribution expenses   6,126,095    5,293,343    (832,752)   (13.6)%
  % of revenue   8.0%   5.7%   (2.3)%   —  
General and administrative expenses   10,978,942    16,198,947    5,220,005    47.6%
  % of revenue   14.3%   17.3%   3.3%   —  
Research and development expenses   8,513,680    8,094,333    (419,347)   (4.9)%
  % of revenue   11.1%   8.7%   (2.5)%   — 
Operating expenses  ¥25,618,717   ¥29,586,623   ¥3,967,906    15.5%

 

Selling and Distribution Expenses. Selling and distribution expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenditures of our sales and marketing organization, sales commissions, costs of our marketing programs including advertising and trade shows, and an allocation of our facilities and depreciation expenses. Selling expenses decreased ¥0.8 million to ¥5.3 million ($0.9 million) for the year ended June 30, 2014 from ¥6.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2013. Selling expenses were 8.0% of total revenues in the year ended June 30, 2013 and 5.7% of total revenues in the same period of 2014. The decrease of selling expense was mainly due to less traveling fees and field work service fees.

 

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of costs in human resources, facilities costs, depreciation expenses, professional advisor fees, audit fees, option expenses and other expenses incurred in connection with general operations. General and administrative expenses increased by 47.6%, or ¥5.2 million ($0.9 million), from approximately ¥11.0 million in the year ended June 30, 2013 to approximately ¥16.2 million ($2.6 million) in the same period of 2014. General and administrative expenses were 14.3% of total revenues in 2013 and 17.3% of total revenues in 2014. The increase in general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the increase in consulting fees related to professional services, salary, the allowance for doubtful accounts, share-based compensation and traveling expenses.

 

Research and development (“R&D”) expenses. Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenditures of our research and development projects. Research and development expenses decreased by 4.9%, from approximately ¥8.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2013 to approximately ¥8.1 million ($1.3 million) for the same period of 2014. This decrease was primarily due to the lower investment of R&D materials and equipment into our furnaces and fracturing services in 2014. 

 

27
 

 

Net Income

 

   For the Years Ended 
   June 30, 
           Increase /   Percentage 
   2013   2014   (Decrease)   Change 
Income (loss) from operations  ¥(564,747)  ¥2,830,238   ¥3,394,985    601.2%
Interest and other income (expense)   1,471,159    (41,282)   (1,512,441)   (102.8)%
Income before income taxes   906,412    2,788,956    1,882,544    207.7%
Provision for income taxes   286,871    961,136    674,265    235.0%
Net income   619,541    1,827,820    1,208,279    195.0%
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest   579,843    1,020,632    440,789    76.0%
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders  ¥39,698   ¥807,188   ¥767,490    1,933.3%

 

Income (loss) from operations. Income from operations was approximately ¥2.8 million ($0.5 million) for the year ended June 30, 2014, compared to loss of ¥0.6 million for the same period of 2013. This increase in income from operations can be attributed primarily to the increased revenue, gross margins and decreases in research and development expenses.

 

Interest and other income (expense). Interest and other expense was approximately ¥41,282 ($6,706) for the year ended June 30, 2014, compared to interest and other income of ¥1.5 million for the same period of 2013. The ¥1.5 million ($0.2 million) decrease was primarily due to a significant loss from investment, a decrease in subsidy income and decreases in interest income and foreign currency exchange gain, offset by an increase in other expense and a decrease in interest expense.

 

Provision for income tax. Provision for income tax for the year ended June 30, 2013 was approximately ¥0.3 million and ¥1.0 million ($0.2 million) for the year ended June 30, 2014. This increase of provision for income tax was mainly due to the increase in income from operations for the year ended June 30, 2014.

 

Net income. As a result of the factors described above, net income was approximately ¥1.8 million ($0.3 million) for the year ended June 30, 2014, an increase of approximately ¥1.2 million ($0.2 million) from net income of ¥0.6 million for the same period of 2013.

 

Net income attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd. As a result of the factors described above, net income attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd was approximately ¥0.8 million ($0.1 million) for the year ended June 30, 2014, an increase of approximately ¥0.8 million ($0.1 million) from net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of approximately ¥40,000 for same period of 2013.

 

Adjusted EBITDA 

 

Adjusted EBITDA. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) adjusted for income tax expense, interest expense, loss from investment, non-cash stock compensation expense, depreciation and amortization. We think it is useful to an equity investor in evaluating our operating performance because: (1) it is widely used by investors in our industry to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items such as interest expense, depreciation and amortization, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods and book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which the assets were acquired; and (2) it helps investors more meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations from period to period by removing the impact of our capital structure and asset base from our operating results.

 

28
 

 

   For the Years Ended 
   June 30, 
   2013   2014   2014   Increase /   Percentage 
   RMB   RMB   USD   (Decrease)   Change 
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA                         
to Net Income                         
     Net income  ¥619,541   ¥1,827,820   $296,956   ¥1,208,279    195.0%
     Provision for income tax   286,871    961,136    156,150    674,265    235.0%
     Interest expense and foreign currency adjustment   1,323,726    1,141,069    185,383    (182,657)   (13.8)%
     Change in fair value of warrants liability   -    (60,647)   (9,853)   (60,647)   100%
     Loss from investment   -    1,535,250    249,423    1,535,250    100%
     Restricted shares issued for consulting services   -    407,593    66,219    407,593    100%
     Share-based compensation expense   1,852,656    2,429,028    394,630    576,372    31.1%
     Depreciation and amortization   618,552    595,647    96,771    (22,905)   (3.7)%
Adjusted EBITDA  ¥4,701,346   ¥8,836,896   $1,435,679   ¥4,135,550    88.0%

 

Adjusted EBITDA improved by approximately ¥4.1 million ($0.6 million) to approximately ¥8.8 million ($1.4 million) for the year ended June 30, 2014 compared to approximately ¥4.7 million income for the same period in 2013. This was due to improved operations.  

 

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share

 

   For the Years Ended 
   June 30, 
   2013   2014   2014 
   RMB   RMB   USD 
Reconciliation of Net Income               
to Adjusted Net Income attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd               
     Net income attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd  ¥39,698   ¥807,188   $131,140 
Special items (A):               
     Change in fair value of warrants liability   -    (60,647)   (9,853)
     Loss from investment   -    1,535,250    249,423 
     Restricted shares issued for consulting services   -    407,593    66,219 
     Share-based compensation expense   1,852,656    2,429,028    394,630 
Adjusted net income attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd  ¥1,892,354   ¥5,118,412   $831,559 
                
Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP Earnings Per Share               
to Non U.S. GAAP Adjusted Earnings Per Share - diluted               
U.S. GAAP earnings per share - diluted  ¥0.01   ¥0.18   $0.03 
  Impact of special items on earnings per share   0.47    0.99    0.16 
Non U.S. GAAP adjusted earnings per share -  diluted  ¥0.48   ¥1.17   $0.19 
Weighted - average shares -diluted   3,951,811    4,368,162    4,368,162 

 

(A) Special items are certain non-cash expenses that are included in our U.S. GAAP reported results. There was no income tax benefit associated with the special items. The non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance investors' overall understanding of Recon's current financial performance.

 

29
 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash on hand, demand deposits and highly liquid short-term debt investments with stated maturities of no more than six months. As of June 30, 2014, we had cash and cash equivalents in the amount of approximately ¥18.1 million ($2.9 million).

 

Indebtedness. As of June 30, 2014, we had approximately ¥5.2 million ($0.8 million) of short-term borrowings from related parties, and ¥10 million ($1.6 million) in commercial loans from two local Chinese banks. Other than these amounts, we did not have any finance leases or purchase commitments, guarantees or other material contingent liabilities.

 

Holding Company Structure. We are a holding company with no operations of our own. All of our operations are conducted through our Domestic Companies. As a result, our ability to pay dividends and to finance any debt that we may incur is dependent upon the receipt of dividends and other distributions from the Domestic Companies. In addition, Chinese legal restrictions permit payment of dividends to us by our Domestic Companies only out of their respective accumulated net profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. Under Chinese law, our Domestic Companies are required to set aside a portion (at least 10%) of their after-tax net income (after discharging all cumulated loss), if any, each year for compulsory statutory reserve until the amount of the reserve reaches 50% of our Domestic Companies’ registered capital. These funds may be distributed to shareholders at the time of each Domestic Company’s wind up.  

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. In addition, we have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our own shares and classified as shareholders’ equity, or that are not reflected in our financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. Moreover, we do not have any variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with us.

 

Capital Resources. To date we have financed our operations primarily through cash flows from operations, bank loans, short-term borrowings and stock offerings. As of June 30, 2014, we had total assets of approximately ¥154.5 million ($25.1 million), which includes cash of approximately ¥18.1 million ($2.9 million), net accounts receivable from third parties of approximately ¥43.6 million ($7.1 million), and net accounts receivable from related parties of approximately ¥7.5 million ($1.2 million). Working capital amounted to approximately ¥83.1 million ($13.5 million), and shareholders’ equity amounted to approximately ¥96.0 million ($15.6 million).

 

Cash from Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities was approximately ¥8.0 million ($1.3 million) for the year ended June 30, 2014. This was a decrease of approximately ¥32.7 million ($5.3 million) compared to net cash provided by operating activities of approximately ¥24.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2013.

 

The decrease in net cash used in operating activities for the year ended June 30, 2014, was primarily attributable to the increase in net income offset by a ¥8.2 million change in accounts receivable, notes receivable and other receivable, a ¥6.9 million change in purchase advance, a ¥1.1 million change in inventory a ¥1.1 million change in other payable, and a ¥1.6 million change in accrued payroll and employees’ welfare. We purchased inventories for projects in the upcoming quarters. In addition, accounts receivable increased due to our operating seasonality. Most of our projects were finished by end of each calendar year, and we believe these receivables will be recovered based on contractual payment schedules.

 

30
 

 

Cash from Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was approximately ¥0.3 million ($55,000) for the year ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of ¥1.8 million ($0.3 million) from ¥2.1 million for the same period of 2013. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities was mainly due to approximately ¥1.5 million paid for a long-term investment of a 32.2% equity investment in a U.S. oil and natural gas company during the year ended June 30, 2013 and a decrease of approximately ¥0.3 million in purchases of property and equipment.

 

Cash from Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities amounted to approximately ¥14.0 million ($2.3 million) for the year ended June 30, 2014, compared to cash flows used in financing activities of approximately ¥13.8 million for the same period in 2013. During the year ended June 30, 2014, we received net proceeds of ¥12.1 million ($2.0 million) from a common stock sale of 546,500 shares with institutional investors in November 2013. In addition, we received and repaid ¥23.5 million ($3.8 million) in short term borrowings from bank. We received ¥5.0 million ($0.8 million) and repaid ¥5.3 million ($1.7 million) short term borrowing from a related party. We also received approximately ¥2.7 million ($0.4 million) of proceeds from stock option exercises.

 

Working Capital. Total working capital as of June 30, 2014 amounted to approximately ¥83.1 million ($13.5 million), compared to approximately ¥82.0 million as of June 30, 2013. Total current assets as of June 30, 2014 amounted to approximately ¥133.4 million ($21.6 million), an increase of approximately ¥4.7 million ($0.7 million) compared to approximately ¥128.7 million at June 30, 2013. The increase in total current assets at June 30, 2014 compared to June 30, 2013 was mainly due to an increase in trade accounts receivable and purchase advances.

 

Current liabilities amounted to approximately ¥50.3 million ($8.2 million) at June 30, 2014, in comparison to approximately ¥46.7 million at June 30, 2013, an increase of approximately ¥3.6 million ($0.6 million). This increase of liabilities was attributable mainly to an increase in warrant liability.

 

Recently Enacted Accounting Standards

 

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” (“ASU 2014-08”). Under ASU 2014-08, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations that have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results should be presented as discontinued operations. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. The amendments in ASU 2014-08 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014. However, ASU 2014-08 should not be applied to a component that is classified as held for sale before the effective date even if the component is disposed of after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The effects of ASU 2014-08 will depend on any future disposals by the Company.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“ASU 2014-09”). Previous revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP comprised broad revenue recognition concepts together with numerous revenue requirements for particular industries or transactions, which sometimes resulted in different accounting for economically similar transactions. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this core principal, five steps are required to be applied. In addition, ASU 2014-09 expands and enhances disclosure requirements which require disclosing sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This includes both qualitative and quantitative information. The amendments in ASU 2014-09 are effective restrospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. Management is evaluating the effect, if any, on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

 

31
 

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

The Company is not required to provide the information required by this Item because the Company is a smaller reporting company.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The Company’s financial statements and the related notes, together with the report of Friedman LLP for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 are set forth following the signature pages of this report.

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of June 30, 2014, our company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision of and with the participation of management, including our Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) were ineffective.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management continues to focus on internal control over financial reporting. As of June 30, 2014, the Company has completed certain documentation of our internal controls and implemented the following remedial initiatives:

 

·      Improved the design and documentation related to multiple levels of review over financial statements included in our SEC filings;

·      Expanded the design and assessment test work over the monitoring function of entity level controls;

·      Enhanced documentation retention policies over test work related to our continuous management assessments of internal control effectiveness; and

·      Expanded documentation practices and policies related to various key controls to provide support and audit trails for both internal management assessment as well as external auditor testing.

 

32
 

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets;

 

(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that the Company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorization of its management and directors; and

 

(3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2014. In making this assessment, management used the 1992 framework set forth in the report entitled Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO. The COSO framework(old) summarizes each of the components of a company’s internal control system, including (i) the control environment, (ii) risk assessment, (iii) control activities, (iv) information and communication, and (v) monitoring. Based on this assessment, the Company’s management believes that, as of June 30, 2014, its internal control over financing reporting is not effective based on those criteria.

 

The specific material weaknesses identified by the Company’s management as of June 30, 2014 are described as follows:

 

We did not have sufficient skilled accounting personnel who are either qualified as Certified Public Accountants in the U.S. or who have received education from U.S. institutions or other educational programs that would provide enough relevant education relating to U.S. GAAP. The Company’s CFO have limited experience with U.S. GAAP and are not U.S. Certified Public Accountants. Further, our operating subsidiaries are based in China, and in accordance with PRC laws and regulations, are required to comply with PRC GAAP, rather than U.S. GAAP. Thus, the accounting skills and understanding necessary to fulfill the requirements of U.S. GAAP-based reporting, including the preparation of consolidated financial statements, are inadequate, and determined to be a material weakness.

 

We completed our designs of our internal controls and assessments for all of our financial reporting cycles during fiscal year 2013, and we are unable to declare effectiveness of our controls due to lack of sufficient time to obtain evidence of operating effectiveness as of June 30, 2014 due to lack of monitoring of our internal controls (lack of self-testing of internal controls). Therefore, we determined that the lack of time to evaluate our design and operating effectiveness is a material weakness. It should be noted, however, that (a) many actions had been undertaken to enhance the control environment during the year; and (b) there are other remedial activities that are scheduled to be take place in fiscal 2015.

 

As a result, the Company has developed remedial actions to strengthen its accounting and financial reporting functions as well as the related disclosure controls and procedures. Such plan will require the hiring of additional resources and the deployment of other corporate resources for the accounting department in relation to the financial reporting process. Such additional resources will include the establishment of a work force dedicated to the task of correcting past financial irregularities and maintaining correct financial reporting on an on-going basis. To strengthen the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, the Company engaged outside consultants that are skilled in SEC reporting and Section 404 compliance to assist in the implementation of the following remedial actions, which have been completed as of the date of this report:

 

33
 

 

Enhancement of existing disclosures policies and procedures;
  
Formalization of periodic communication between management and the audit committee; and
  
Implementation of policies and procedures intended to enhance management monitoring and oversight by the Audit Committee.
  

Formalization of a periodic staff training program to enhance their awareness of the key internal control activities.

 

In addition to the foregoing efforts, the Company expects to implement the following remedial actions during fiscal year 2015:

 

Develop a comprehensive training and development plan, for our finance, accounting and internal audit personnel, including our Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and others, in the principles and rules of U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting requirements and the application thereof.
  
Hire a full-time employee who possesses the requisite U.S. GAAP experience and education
  
Monitoring of internal controls by performing self-testing of various key controls.

 

Despite the material weaknesses and deficiencies reported above, our management believes that our consolidated financial statements included in this report fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented and that this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report. 

 

Item 9B. Other Information.

 

None.

 

34
 

 

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

Regulation S-K Item 401:

 

Executive Officers and Directors

 

The following table sets forth our executive officers and directors, their ages and the positions held by them:

 

Name   Age   Position Held
Mr. Yin Shenping   45   Chief Executive Officer and Director
Ms. Liu Jia   31   Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Chen Guangqiang   51   Chief Technology Officer and Director
Mr. Zhao Shudong   68   Independent Director (Nominating Committee Chair)
Mr. Nelson N.S. Wong   52   Independent Director (Audit Committee Chair)
Mr. Hu Jijun   49   Independent Director (Compensation Committee Chair)

 

Yin Shenping. Mr. Yin has been our Chief Executive Officer and director since our inception. In 2003, Mr. Yin founded Nanjing Recon, a Chinese company that provides services to automate and enhance the extraction of petroleum in China, and has been the Chief Executive Officer since that time. Prior to founding Nanjing Recon, Mr. Yin served as a sales manager for Fujian Haitian Network Company from 1992 through 1994. Mr. Yin has founded and operated a number of companies engaged in the IT industry: Xiamen Hengda Haitian Computer Network Co., Ltd. (1994), Baotou Hengda Haitian Computer Network Co., Ltd. (1997) and Beijing Jingke Haitian Electronic Technology Development Co., Ltd. (1999), and Jingsu Huasheng Information Technology Co., Ltd. (2000). Mr. Yin received his bachelor’s degree in 1991 from Nanjing Agricultural University in information systems. Mr. Yin has been chosen as a director because he is one of the founders of the Company and we believe his knowledge of the Company and years of experience in our industry give him the ability to guide the Company as a director.

 

Liu Jia. Ms. Liu has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2008. In 2008 Ms. Liu assisted Heilongjiang Province Jintian Group with financial due diligence, field surveys and data analysis. While in college Ms. Liu served internships in Xinghua Certified Public Accountants, Ltd., Beijing Zhongweihuahao Accountants Affairs Office, Tiantong Securities Co., Ltd. and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which internships focused on auditing, accounting and data analysis. Ms. Liu received her bachelor’s degree in 2006 from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, School of Economics and Management and her master’s degree in industrial economics in 2009 from Beijing Wuzi University.

 

Chen Guangqiang. Mr. Chen has served as our Chief Technology Officer and director since our inception. In 1999, Mr. Chen founded BHD and has been the General Manager since then. From 1999 through 2003, Mr. Chen served as the general manager of Beijing Adar. From 1993 through 1999, Mr. Chen was a chief engineer for Xinda Company, CNPC Development Bureau. Mr. Chen was a geological engineer for the Fourth Oil Extraction Plant of Huabei Oil Field from 1985 through 1993. Mr. Chen received his bachelor’s degree in 1985 from Southwest Petroleum Institute. Mr. Chen has been chosen as a director because he is one of the founders of the Company and we believe we can benefit from his years of engineering experience and management experience in the oil extraction industry.

 

Nelson N.S. Wong. Mr. Wong joined our Board of Directors in 2008. In 1990 Mr. Wong joined the Vigers Group, a real estate company that provides services in valuation, corporate property services, investment advisory services, general practice surveying, building surveying, commercial, retail and industrial agency, and property and facilities management. Mr. Wong became the Vice Chairman and CEO of the Vigers Group in 1993. In 1995 Mr. Wong established the ACN Group, a business consulting firm, where he has worked continuously and continues to serve as the Chairman and Managing Partner. Mr. Wong received a bachelor’s degree in arts from the PLA Institute of International Relations in Nanjing in 1983. Mr. Wong has been chosen as a director because we believe we can benefit from his leadership skills and management experience.

 

35
 

 

Hu Jijun. Mr. Hu joined our Board of Directors in 2008. From 1988 to 2003, Mr. Hu served in a variety of positions at our No. 2 test-drill plant, including technician of installation, assets equipment work, electrical installation, control room production dispatcher, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Technology Battalion, and Deputy Director of Production. From 2003 to 2005 he served as Head of the Integrated Battalion and he is currently the Head of the Transport Battalion, Senior Electric Engineer. Mr. Hu graduated as an automated professional from the China University of Petroleum in 1988. Mr. Hu has been chosen as a director because we believe his years of experience and knowledge gained while working at our No. 2 test-drill plant will prove beneficial to the guidance of the Company.

 

Zhao Shudong. Mr. Zhao joined our Board of Directors in 2013. Before retiring in 2006, Mr. Zhao spent over 30 years working in the oilfield industry. From 1970 to 1976, Mr. Zhao worked as a technician in the Daqing oilfield. From 1976 to 1982, Mr. Zhao served as the vice director of the Hubei Oilfield Generalized Geologic Technical Research Institute. Mr. Zhao then spent 11 years as a director and section chief at the Scientific and Technological Development Department of the Huabei Petroleum Administrative Bureau. He was subsequently appointed Chief Geologist of the bureau, a position he held from 1993 to 1999. From 1999 to 2006, Mr. Zhao served as the General Manager of the Huabei Oilfield Company of CNPC. Mr. Zhao studied at the Northeast Petroleum Institute from 1965 to 1970. Mr. Zhao has been chosen as a director nominee because of his extensive experience in the oilfield industry. 

 

Employment Agreements

 

We have employment agreements with each of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Financial Officer. With the exception of the employment agreement with our Chief Financial Officer, each of these employment agreements provides for an indefinite term. Such employment agreements may be terminated (1) if the employee gives written notice of his or her intention to resign, (2) the employee is absent from three consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors, without special leave of absence from the other members of the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors passes a resolution that such employee has vacated his office, or (3) the death, bankruptcy or mental incapacity of the employee. The employment agreement for our Chief Financial Officer provides for a one-year term, currently expiring on March 12, 2015. Such employment agreement may be terminated if the employee gives thirty days’ written notice of her intention to resign, or if the Board of Directors determines she can no longer perform her duties as Chief Financial Officer and provides her with thirty days’ written notice of termination.

 

Under Chinese law, we may only terminate employment agreements without cause and without penalty by providing notice of non-renewal one month prior to the date on which the employment agreement is scheduled to expire. If we fail to provide this notice or if we wish to terminate an employment agreement in the absence of cause, then we are obligated to pay the employee one month’s salary for each year we have employed the employee. We are, however, permitted to terminate an employee for cause without penalty to the Company, where the employee has committed a crime or the employee’s actions or inactions have resulted in a material adverse effect to us.

 

Share Option Pool

 

In connection with our initial public offering, we established a pool for share options for the Domestic Companies’ and our employees. This pool contains options to purchase up to 790,362 of our ordinary shares. The options will vest at a rate of 20% per year for five years and have an exercise price of the market price of our shares on the date the options are granted. To date, we issued 564,000 options out of our employee share option pool. We initially granted 293,000 options in 2009. We held a shareholder meeting in December 2010 and announced the resignation of three directors, and as a result, 100,000 options were forfeited and went back to the pool. In 2012, we granted an additional 415,000 options and 44,000 options were forfeited and went back to the pool. In the three months ended June 30, 2014, 148,400 vested options for 2012 grants were exercised. As of June 30, 2014, we have 415,600 options outstanding.

 

Executive Stock Grants

 

On December 13, 2013, the Company granted 95,181 restricted shares to Mr. Yin Shenping and 135,181 restricted shares to Mr. Chen Guangqiang at an aggregate value of ¥4,207,496 ($688,782), based on the stock closing price of $2.99 at December 13, 2013. These restricted shares will be vested over three years with one third of the shares vesting every year from the grant date. As of June 30, 2014, we have 230,362 non-vested restricted stocks outstanding.

 

36
 

 

Board of Directors and Board Committees

 

Our board of directors currently consists of five (5) members. There are no family relationships between any of our executive officers and directors.

 

The directors are divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors permits. Class I directors shall face re-election at our annual general meeting of shareholders during fiscal year ending June 30, 2016 and every three years thereafter. Class II directors shall face re-election at our annual general meeting of shareholders during fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 and every three years thereafter. Class III directors shall face re-election at our annual general meeting of shareholders during fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 and every three years thereafter.

 

If the number of directors changes, any increase or decrease will be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly as possible. Any additional directors of a class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class will hold office for a term that coincides with the remaining term of that class. Decreases in the number of directors will not shorten the term of any incumbent director. These board provisions could make it more difficult for third parties to gain control of the Company by making it difficult to replace members of our Board of Directors.

 

A director may vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested, provided, however, that the nature of the interest of any director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote on that matter. A general notice or disclosure to the directors or otherwise contained in the minutes of a meeting or a written resolution of the directors or any committee thereof that a director is a shareholder of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction.

 

There are no membership qualifications for directors. Further, there are no share ownership qualifications for directors unless so fixed by us in a general meeting.

 

The Board of Directors maintains a majority of independent directors who are deemed to be independent under the definition of independence provided by NASDAQ Stock Market Rule 4200(a)(15). Mr. Zhao, Mr. Wong, and Mr. Hu are our independent directors.

 

Mr. Yin Shenping currently holds both the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. These two positions have not been consolidated into one position; Mr. Yin simply holds both positions at this time. We do not have a lead independent director because of the foregoing reason and also because we believe our independent directors are encouraged to freely voice their opinions on a relatively small company board. We believe this leadership structure is appropriate because we are a smaller reporting company that recently became listed on a public exchange; as such we deem it appropriate to be able to benefit from the guidance of Mr. Yin as both our principal executive officer and Chairman of the Board.

 

Our Board of Directors plays a significant role in our risk oversight. The Board of Directors makes all relevant Company decisions. As such, it is important for us to have our Chief Executive Officer serve on the Board as he plays a key role in the risk oversight of the Company. As a smaller reporting company with a small board of directors, we believe it is appropriate to have the involvement and input of all of our directors in risk oversight matters.

 

Currently, three committees have been established under the board: the audit committee, the compensation committee and the nominating committee. All of these committees consist solely of independent directors.

 

The audit committee is responsible for overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of the financial statements of the Company, including the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of our independent auditors. Mr. Wong qualifies as the audit committee financial expert and serves as the chair of the audit committee.

 

37
 

 

The compensation committee of the board of directors reviews and makes recommendations to the board regarding our compensation policies for our officers and all forms of compensation, and also administers our incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans (but our board retains the authority to interpret those plans). Mr. Hu serves as the chair of the compensation committee.

 

The nominating committee of the board of directors is responsible for the assessment of the performance of the board, considering and making recommendations to the board with respect to the nominations or elections of directors and other governance issues. The nominating committee considers diversity of opinion and experience when nominating directors. Mr. Zhao serves as the chair of the nominating committee.

 

There are no other arrangements or understandings pursuant to which our directors are selected or nominated.

 

Duties of Directors

 

Under Cayman Islands law, our directors have a fiduciary duty to the Company to act in good faith in their dealings with or on behalf of the Company and exercise their powers and fulfill the duties of their office honestly. This duty has four essential elements:

 

    a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the Company;

 

    a duty not to personally profit from opportunities that arise from the office of director;

 

    a duty to avoid conflicts of interest; and

 

    a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended.

 

In general, Cayman Islands law imposes various duties on directors of a company with respect to certain matters of management and administration of the Company. In addition to the remedies available under general law, the Companies Law imposes fines on directors who fail to satisfy some of these requirements. However, in many circumstances, an individual is only liable if he is knowingly guilty of the default or knowingly and willfully authorizes or permits the default. In comparison, under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a corporation are managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. In exercising their powers, directors are charged with a fiduciary duty of care to protect the interests of the corporation and a fiduciary duty of loyalty to act in the best interests of its shareholders. In addition, under Delaware law, a party challenging the propriety of a decision of the directors bears the burden of rebutting the applicability of the presumptions afforded to directors by the “business judgment rule.” If the presumption is not rebutted, the business judgment rule protects the directors and their decisions, and their business judgments will not be second guessed. If the presumption is rebutted, the directors bear the burden of demonstrating the entire fairness of the relevant transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Delaware courts subject directors’ conduct to enhanced scrutiny in respect of defensive actions taken in response to a threat to corporate control and approval of a transaction resulting in a sale of control of the corporation.

 

Limitation of Director and Officer Liability

 

Pursuant to our Memorandum and Articles of Association, every director or officer and the personal representatives of the same shall be indemnified and held harmless out of our assets and funds against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by him or her in or about the conduct of our business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of his or her duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by him in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning us or our affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. No such director or officer will be liable for: (a) the acts, receipts, neglects, defaults or omissions of any other such Director or officer or agent; or (b) any loss on account of defect of title to any of our properties; or (c) account of the insufficiency of any security in or upon which any of our money shall be invested; or (d) any loss incurred through any bank, broker or other similar person; or (e) any loss occasioned by any negligence, default, breach of duty, breach of trust, error of judgment or oversight on his or her part; or (f) any loss, damage or misfortune whatsoever which may happen in or arise from the execution or discharge of the duties, powers authorities, or discretions of his or her office or in relation thereto, unless the same shall happen through his or her own dishonesty, gross negligence or willful default.

 

38
 

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

To the best of our knowledge, none of our directors or executive officers has been convicted in a criminal proceeding, excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors, or has been a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding during the past ten years that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining the person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or a finding of any violation of federal or state securities or commodities laws, any laws respecting financial institutions or insurance companies, any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud in connection with any business entity or been subject to any disciplinary sanctions or orders imposed by a stock, commodities or derivatives exchange or other self-regulatory organization, except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement.

  

Pursuant to Rule 3a12-3 of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, directors, officers and beneficial owners of more than ten percent of the Company’s equity services are exempted from Section 16 filings as the Company qualifies as a foreign private issuer.

  

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics and has filed a copy of the Code of Ethics with the Commission.

  

The Board of Directors maintains a majority of independent directors who are deemed to be independent under the definition of independence provided by NASDAQ Stock Market Rule 4200(a)(15). The Company has an audit committee, consisting solely of independent directors of the Company, Mr. Zhao Shudong, Mr. Nelson N.S. Wong, and Mr. Hu Jijun. Mr. Wong qualifies as the audit committee financial expert. The Company’s audit committee charter has been filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009 and is available on the Company’s website (www.recon.cn).

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

 

The following table shows the annual compensation paid by us to Mr. Yin Shenping, our Chief Executive Officer, for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013. No other employee or officer received more than $100,000 in total compensation in 2014 or 2013.

 

39
 

 

Summary Executive Compensation Table 

 

Name and principal position  Year   Salary   Bonus   Option
Awards
   Restricted Stock
Awards
   Total 
Yin Shenping,
Principal Executive Officer
   2014   $125,463   $10,455   $   $47,432(1)  $183,350 
    2013   $85,437   $   $   $   $85,437 
Chen Guangqiang,
Chief Technology Officer
   2014   $113,593   $10,000   $   $67,365(1)  $190,958 
    2013   $71,942   $12,945   $    $   $84,887 

 

(1) On December 13, 2013, the Company granted 95,181 restricted shares to Mr. Yin Shenping and 135,181 restricted shares to Mr. Chen Guangqiang at an aggregate value of ¥4,207,496 ($688,782), based on the stock closing price of $2.99 at December 13, 2013. These restricted shares will be vested over three years with one third of the shares vesting every year from the grant date.

 

Director Compensation

 

All directors hold office until the expiration of their respective terms and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. There are no family relationships among our directors or executive officers. Officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Employee directors and non-voting observers do not receive any compensation for their services. Non-employee directors are entitled to receive $2,000 per Board of Directors meeting attended. In addition, non-employee directors are entitled to receive compensation for their actual travel expenses for each Board of Directors meeting attended.

 

Summary Director Compensation Table

 

Name(1)  Fees earned or
paid in cash
   Option
Awards
   Total(2) 
Nelson N.S. Wong  $8,000   $   $10,000 
Hu Jijun  $8,000   $   $4,000 
Zhao Shudong  $8,000   $   $4,000 

 

(1) Compensation for our directors Yin Shenping and Chen Guangqiang, who also serve as executive officers, is fully disclosed in the executive compensation table.
(2) None of the directors received any ordinary share awards, nonqualified deferred compensation earnings or non-equity incentive plan compensation in fiscal year 2014.

 

40
 

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

Plan category  Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise of
outstanding  options,
warrants and rights (a)
   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and  rights (b)
   Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected in
column (a)) (c)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders   415,600   $4.37    374,762 
                

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of the date of this report, for each person known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our ordinary shares, and all of our executive officers and directors individually and as a group. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Except as indicated below, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 4,919,711 Shares, which consists of 4,726,711 Shares outstanding as of September 23, 2014 and 193,000 shares subject to options that were exercisable within 60 days after September 23, 2014. Such shares subject to options are deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the individual holding such shares, but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage of any other person shown in the table. Our major shareholders do not possess voting rights that differ from our other shareholders. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each of the below shareholders is c/o Recon Technology Ltd, Room 1902, Building C, King Long International Mansion, 9 Fulin Road, Beijing 100107 China.

 

   Amount of
Beneficial
Ownership
   Percentage
Ownership
 
Directors and Officers           
Yin Shenping (1)   711,761    14.47 %
Chen Guangqiang (2)   705,761    14.35 %
Liu Jia (3)   50,000    1.02 %
Hu Jijun (4)   15,000    * %
Nelson Wong (5)   18,000    * %
Zhao Shudong(6)   6,000    * %
Directors and Officers as a Group (six persons)   1,506,522    30.62 %
5% Holder           
Liu Hui (7)   833,681    16.95 %
Chen Yiquan (7)   833,681    16.95 %

 

(1)Includes 60,000 options to purchase ordinary shares that are exercisable within 60 days after September 28, 2014. Does not include 48,000 options that were not exercisable within 60 days after September 28, 2014.
(2)Includes 50,000 options to purchase ordinary shares that are exercisable within 60 days after September 28, 2014 and 16,000 options granted to Chen Guangqiang’s wife that are exercisable within 60 days after September 28, 2014. Does not include 30,000 options that are not exercisable within 60 days after September 28, 2014.
(3)Includes 50,000 options to purchase ordinary shares that are exercisable within 60 days after September 28, 2014.
(4)Includes 15,000 options to purchase ordinary shares that were exercisable within 60 days after September 28, 2014.
(5)Includes 18,000 options to purchase ordinary shares that were exercisable within 60 days after September 28, 2014.
(6)[Includes 6,000 options to purchase ordinary shares that were exercisable within 60 days after September 28, 2014.]
(7)Includes 458,525 Shares held by Chen Yiquan and 375,156 Shares held by Liu Hui. According to a jointly filed Schedule 13D dated December 27, 2010 (Accession No. 0001144204-10-068264), Chen Yiquan and Liu Hui share beneficial ownership of and have joint voting and dispositive power over the aggregate 833,681 Shares. The Company has not been able to get in touch with either Chen Yiquan or Liu Hui and therefore the information listed here in is solely based on the Schedule 13D filed on December 27, 2010.

 

* Less than 1%.

 

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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

Transactions with Related Persons

 

Because we do not have access certification to Jidong Oilfield, Nanjing Recon, one of our Domestic Companies, conducted transactions with Jidong Oilfield through Beijing Yabeinuoda Technology Development Co. Ltd. (“Yabeinuoda”), which has access certification to the oilfield and wherein Mr. Yin is the legal representative. Mr. Yin does not have any equity interest in this company currently. In the year ended June 30, 2014, Nanjing Recon sold approximately ¥4.6 million ($0.8 million) of goods and services to Yabeinuoda.  During the same period, Nanjing Recon has accounts receivables from Yabeinuoda in the amount of approximately ¥23.5 million ($3.8 million) as of June 30, 2014, and approximately ¥1.1 million was received as of September 28, 2014. Below is a summary of trade accounts receivable with related parties as of June 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Related Party  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Beijing Yabei Nuoda Science and Technology Co. Ltd.  ¥19,722,574   ¥5,441,498   $884,049 
Beijing Langchen Construction Company   -    726,800    118,080 
Xiamen Huangsheng Hitek Computer Network Co. Ltd.   -    100,000    16,246 
Xiamen Hengda Hitek Computer Network Co. Ltd.   -    1,211,000    196,744 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   (978,210)   -    - 
Total - related-parties, net  ¥18,744,364   ¥7,479,298   $1,215,119 

 

Related Party  June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Non-current portion  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Beijing Yabei Nuoda Science and Technology Co. Ltd.  ¥-   ¥16,062,574   $2,609,595 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   -    (1,606,257)   (260,960)
Total - related-parties, net  ¥-   ¥14,456,317   $2,348,635 

 

Based on the repayment agreement signed on August 27, 2014, the outstanding balance will be collected in four years with each installment of ¥4,015,644.

 

Below is a summary of purchase advances to related parties as of June 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively 

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Related Party  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Xiamen Huasheng Hitek Computer Network Co. Ltd.  ¥394,034   ¥394,034   $64,016 
  Total  ¥394,034   ¥394,034   $64,016 

 

Current ending balance of the purchase advances to Xiamen Huasheng Hitek is expect to be settled within one year,

 

In addition, included in the Company’s other receivables as of June 30, 2014 were amounts “due from ENI” after ENI ceased to be a VIE of the Company on December 16, 2010. In January 2012, ENI agreed to repay the loan on a determined payment schedule, and interest is accrued during the period at an annual rate of 4%. In accordance with the payment schedule, the principal plus accrued interest will be repaid over three years on a quarterly basis. The first four payments are set at RMB 1.2 million each. In March, June, September and December of 2012, the Company received an aggregate of RMB 4.8 million. Starting March 2013, installment for each quarter would be ¥1,777,653. The Company has received the payment on time in March and June 2013. On September 30, 2013, ENI proposed to extend the payment period and resigned an agreement with the Company. According to the new agreement, the remaining balance of this loan would be repaid over four years with installments of ¥699,147 each quarter including interest. The payments required after one year are RMB 5,353,104 ($869,688).

 

42
 

 

Accordingly, the current and non-current portion of the amount due from ENI at June 30, 2014 is determined to be RMB 2,523,145 ($409,921) and RMB 5,353,104 ($869,688), respectively.

 

The Company also had short-term borrowings from related parties. Below is a summary of the Company’s short-term borrowings due to related parties as of June 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively. 

 

    June 30, 2013    June 30, 2014     June 30, 2014 
Short-term borrowings due to related parties:   RMB    RMB     U.S. Dollars 
Due-on-demand borrowings from Founders, no interest   ¥6,377    ¥-     $- 
Short-term borrowing from a Founder, 6.6% annual interest,due on
December 25, 2014
   -     5,007,728      813,577 
Short-term borrowing from a Founder's family member, 6% annual
interest, matures and paid off by December 21, 2013
   3,653,906     -      - 
Short-term borrowing from a Founder's family member, 6% annual
interest, matures and paid off by November 29, 2013
   1,610,000     -      - 
Short-term borrowings from Xiamen Huasheng Haitian Computer
Network Co. Ltd., no interest, due on November 14, 2014
   200,000     200,000      32,493 
Short-term borrowings from management, 6% annual interest,
matures and paid off by December 7, 2013
   32,996     -      - 
Total short-term borrowings due to related parties   ¥5,503,279    ¥5,207,728     $846,070 

 

The Company also paid ¥366,000 and ¥230,000 ($37,367) in advance for rental to Mr. Chen and his family member as of June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

 

Other than as described herein, no transactions required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K have occurred since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year.

 

Director Independence

 

The Board of Directors maintains a majority of independent directors who are deemed to be independent under the definition of independence provided by NASDAQ Stock Market Rule 4200(a)(15). Mr. Wong, Mr. Hu and Mr. Zhao are our independent directors.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Friedman LLP was appointed by the Company to serve as its independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2013 and 2014.

 

43
 

 

Fees Paid To Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Audit Fees

 

During fiscal years 2013 and 2014, Friedman LLP’s audit fees were $180,000and $185,000, respectively.

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

The Company has not paid Friedman LLP for audit-related services in fiscal years 2013 and 2014.

 

Tax Fees

 

The Company has not paid Friedman LLP for tax services in fiscal years 2013 and 2014.

 

All Other Fees

 

The Company has not paid Friedman LLP for any other services in fiscal years 2013 and 2014.

 

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies

 

Before Friedman LLP was engaged by the Company to render audit or non-audit services, the engagement was approved by the Company’s audit committee. All services rendered by Friedman LLP have been so approved.

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

 

The following documents are filed herewith:

 

Number

  Exhibit
   
  3.1   Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Registrant (1)
   
  3.2   Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Registrant (1)
   
  4.1   Specimen Share Certificate (1)
     
10.1   Translation of Exclusive Technical Consulting Service Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd. and Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
   
10.2   Translation of Power of Attorney for rights of Chen Guangqiang in Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
   
10.3   Translation of Power of Attorney for rights of Yin Shenping in Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
   
10.4   Translation of Power of Attorney for rights of Li Hongqi in Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
   
10.5   Translation of Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co. Ltd., Chen Guangqiang and Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
   
10.6   Translation of Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co. Ltd., Yin Shenping and Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
   
10.7   Translation of Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co. Ltd., Li Hongqi and Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)

 

44
 

 

10.8   Translation of Equity Interest Pledge Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd., Chen Guangqiang and Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.9   Translation of Equity Interest Pledge Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd., Yin Shenping and Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.10   Translation of Equity Interest Pledge Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd., Li Hongqi and Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.11   Translation of Exclusive Technical Consulting Service Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd. and Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.12   Translation of Power of Attorney for rights of Chen Guangqiang in Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.13   Translation of Power of Attorney for rights of Yin Shenping in Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.14   Translation of Power of Attorney for rights of Li Hongqi in Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.15   Translation of Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co. Ltd., Chen Guangqiang and Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.16   Translation of Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co. Ltd., Yin Shenping and Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.17   Translation of Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co. Ltd., Li Hongqi and Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.18   Translation of Equity Interest Pledge Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd., Chen Guangqiang and Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.19   Translation of Equity Interest Pledge Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd., Yin Shenping and Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.20   Translation of Equity Interest Pledge Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd., Li Hongqi and Jining ENI Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.21   Translation of Exclusive Technical Consulting Service Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd. and Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.22   Translation of Power of Attorney for rights of Chen Guangqiang in Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.23   Translation of Power of Attorney for rights of Yin Shenping in Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.24   Translation of Power of Attorney for rights of Li Hongqi in Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.25   Translation of Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co. Ltd., Chen Guangqiang and Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.26   Translation of Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co. Ltd., Yin Shenping and Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (1)

 

45
 

 

10.27   Translation of Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co. Ltd., Li Hongqi and Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.28   Translation of Equity Interest Pledge Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd., Chen Guangqiang and Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.29   Translation of Equity Interest Pledge Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd., Yin Shenping and Nanjing Recon Technology
Co., Ltd. (1)
     
10.30   Translation of Equity Interest Pledge Agreement between Recon Technology (Jining) Co., Ltd., Li Hongqi and Nanjing Recon Technology
Co., Ltd. (1)
     
14.1   Code of Ethics of the Company. (2)
     
21.1   List of subsidiaries of the Company. (3)
     
31.1   Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)
     
31.2   Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)
     
32.1   Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)
     
32.2   Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)
     
99.1   Audit Committee Charter (2)

 

101.INS *   XBRL Instance Document
     
101.SCH *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
     
101.CAL *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document XBRL
     
101.PRE *   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

*          XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed herewith, is not a part of a registration statement or report for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

 

(1)  Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-152964. 
(2)  Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, filed with the SEC on September 28, 2009. 
(3) Filed herewith.

  

 

46
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

         
    RECON TECHNOLOGY, LTD
     
September 29, 2014   By:  

/s/ Liu Jia

        Liu Jia
        Chief Financial Officer
        (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, this report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

         
Signature   Title   Date
     

/s/ Yin Shenping

  Chief Executive Officer and Director   September 29, 2014
Yin Shenping   (Principal Executive Officer)    
     

/s/ Chen Guangqiang

  Chief Technology Officer and Director   September 29, 2014
Chen Guangqiang        
     

/s/ Zhao Shudong

  Director   September 29, 2014
Zhao Shudong        
     

 /s/ Nelson N.S. Wong    

  Director   September 29, 2014
Nelson N.S. Wong        
     

/s/ Hu Jijun

  Director   September 29, 2014
Hu Jijun        

 

47
 

 

 

RECON TECHNOLOGY, LTD

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PAGE
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2013 and 2014 F-3

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2014 

F-4
   

Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2014

F-5
   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2014 

F-6
   
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements F-7

 

 

F-1
 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Recon Technology, Ltd.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Recon Technology, Ltd. (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2014. Recon Technology, Ltd.’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, 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 Recon Technology, Ltd. as of June 30, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2014 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

 

 

/s/ Friedman LLP

 

 

New York, New York

September 29, 2014

 

 

 

F-2
 

 

RECON TECHNOLOGY, LTD
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   As of June 30,   As of June 30,   As of June 30, 
   2013   2014   2014 
ASSETS  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Current assets               
Cash and cash equivalents  ¥12,350,392   ¥18,094,586   $2,939,723 
Notes receivable   2,578,855    -    - 
Trade accounts receivable, net   38,648,780    43,553,737    7,075,926 
Trade accounts receivable- related parties, net   18,744,364    7,479,298    1,215,119 
Inventories, net   13,271,070    14,336,602    2,329,185 
Other receivables, net   19,131,503    18,293,043    2,971,966 
Other receivables- related parties   742,528    1,414,433    229,795 
Purchase advances, net   18,412,507    25,759,065    4,184,927 
Purchase advances- related parties   394,034    394,034    64,016 
Tax recoverable   575,650    -    - 
Prepaid expenses   2,487,956    2,634,664    428,039 
Prepaid expenses - related parties   366,000    230,000    37,367 
Deferred tax asset   1,006,721    1,209,961    196,575 
Total current assets   128,710,360    133,399,423    21,672,638 
                
Property and equipment, net   1,709,846    1,321,538    214,703 
Long-term trade accounts receivable - related parties, net   -    14,456,317    2,348,635 
Long-term investment   1,549,450    -    - 
Long-term other receivable   3,502,680    5,353,104    869,688 
Total Assets  ¥135,472,336   ¥154,530,382   $25,105,664 
                
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY               
Current liabilities               
Short-term bank loans  ¥10,000,000   ¥10,000,000   $1,624,643 
Trade accounts payable   7,384,165    11,413,505    1,854,287 
Trade accounts payable- related parties   3,994,718    -    - 
Other payables   1,964,691    1,765,079    286,762 
Other payable- related parties   4,239,675    3,306,024    537,111 
Deferred revenue   3,381,382    4,419,824    718,063 
Advances from customers   470,700    801,385    130,196 
Accrued payroll and employees' welfare   1,992,783    417,624    67,849 
Accrued expenses   488,730    203,051    32,989 
Taxes payable   6,754,428    7,589,846    1,233,079 
Short-term borrowings- related parties   5,503,279    5,207,728    846,070 
Short-term borrowings- other   570,375    -    - 
Deferred tax liability   -    180,186    29,274 
Warrants liability   -    5,021,621    815,834 
Total current liabilities   46,744,926    50,325,873    8,176,157 
                
Commitments and Contingency               
                
Equity               
Common stock, ($ 0.0185 U.S. dollar par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized; 3,951,811 and 4,717,336 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2013
and June 30, 2014, respectively)
   529,979    616,865    100,217 
Additional paid-in capital   69,516,447    83,061,058    13,494,453 
Appropriated retained earnings   3,023,231    4,148,929    674,053 
Unappropriated retained earnings   8,749,963    8,431,453    1,369,810 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (293,201)   (279,275)   (45,374)
Total shareholders’ equity   81,526,419    95,979,030    15,593,159 
Non-controlling interest   7,200,991    8,225,479    1,336,348 
Total equity   88,727,410    104,204,509    16,929,507 
Total Liabilities and Equity  ¥135,472,336   ¥154,530,382   $25,105,664 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3
 

 

RECON TECHNOLOGY, LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

   For the years ended 
   June 30, 
   2013   2014   2014 
   RMB   RMB   USD 
             
Revenues               
Hardware and software  ¥41,408,517   ¥86,229,283   $14,009,176 
Service   25,464,003    477,778    77,622 
Hardware and software - related parties   9,713,209    6,740,047    1,095,017 
Total revenues   76,585,729    93,447,108    15,181,815 
                
Cost of revenues               
Hardware and software  ¥26,617,786   ¥57,333,670   $9,314,672 
Service   18,567,123    77,107    12,527 
Hardware and software - related parties   6,346,850    3,619,470    588,035 
Total cost of revenues   51,531,759    61,030,247    9,915,234 
Gross profit   25,053,970    32,416,861    5,266,581 
                
                
Selling and distribution expenses   6,126,095    5,293,343    859,979 
General and administrative expenses   10,978,942    16,198,947    2,631,750 
Research and development expenses   8,513,680    8,094,333    1,315,040 
Operating expenses   25,618,717    29,586,623    4,806,769 
                
                
Income (loss) from operations   (564,747)   2,830,238    459,812 
                
Other income (expenses)               
Subsidy income   2,257,344    1,250,509    203,163 
Interest income   570,442    384,182    62,416 
Interest expense   (1,557,204)   (952,574)   (154,759)
Loss from investment   -    (1,535,250)   (249,423)
Change in fair value of warrants liability   -    60,647    9,853 
Gain (loss) from foreign currency exchange   233,478    (188,495)   (30,624)
Other expense   (32,901)   939,699    152,668 
    1,471,159    (41,282)   (6,706)
                
Income before income tax   906,412    2,788,956    453,106 
Provision for income tax   286,871    961,136    156,150 
Net Income   619,541    1,827,820    296,956 
                
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest   579,843    1,020,632    165,816 
                
Net Income attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd  ¥39,698   ¥807,188   $131,140 
                
Comprehensive income               
Net income   619,541    1,827,820    296,956 
Foreign currency translation adjustment   (3,004)   17,783    2,889 
Comprehensive income   616,537    1,845,603    299,845 
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest   579,543    1,022,410    166,105 
Comprehensive income attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd  ¥36,994   ¥823,193   $133,740 
                
Earnings per common share - basic  ¥0.01   ¥0.19   $0.03 
Earnings per common share - diluted  ¥0.01   ¥0.18   $0.03 
Weighted - average shares -basic   3,951,811    4,303,955    4,303,955 
Weighted - average shares -diluted   3,951,811    4,368,162    4,368,162 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4
 

 

RECON TECHNOLOGY, LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

 

   Recon Technology, LTD             
   Ordinary Shares   Additional Paid-in Capital   Statutory Reserves   Retained Earnings   Accumulated Other Comprehensive loss   Shareholders'
 Equity
   Non-controlling Interest   Total
 Equity
   Total
 Equity
 
   Number of Shares   Amount
(RMB)
   (RMB)   (RMB)   (RMB)   (RMB)   (RMB)   (RMB)   (RMB)   (USD) 
                                         
Balance, July 1, 2012   3,951,811   ¥529,979   ¥67,643,791   ¥2,378,961   ¥9,354,535   ¥(290,496)  ¥79,616,770   ¥6,621,447   ¥86,238,217   $14,010,628 
                                                   
Capital contribution in VIE             20,000                   20,000         20,000    3,249 
Stock based payment             1,852,656                   1,852,656         1,852,656    300,990 
Net income for the year                       39,698         39,698    579,843    619,541    100,653 
Appropriation of statutory reserves                  644,270    (644,270)        -         -    - 
Foreign currency translation adjustment                            (2,705)   (2,705)   (299)   (3,004)   (490)
Balance, June 30, 2013   3,951,811   ¥529,979   ¥69,516,447   ¥3,023,231   ¥8,749,963   ¥(293,201)  ¥81,526,419   ¥7,200,991   ¥88,727,410   $14,415,030 
                                                   
Stock issuance   546,500    61,937    7,025,668                   7,087,605         7,087,605    1,151,482 
Restricted shares issued for services   70,625    8,044    1,401,911                   1,409,955         1,409,955    229,067 
Stock options exercised   148,400    16,905    2,688,004                   2,704,909         2,704,909    439,451 
Stock based payment             2,429,028                   2,429,028         2,429,028    394,630 
Net income for the year                       807,188         807,188    1,020,632    1,827,820    296,955 
Appropriation of statutory reserves                  1,125,698    (1,125,698)        -         -    - 
Foreign currency translation adjustment                            13,926    13,926    3,856    17,782    2,892 
Balance, June 30, 2014   4,717,336   ¥616,865   ¥83,061,058   ¥4,148,929   ¥8,431,453   ¥(279,275)  ¥95,979,030   ¥8,225,479   ¥104,204,509   $16,929,507 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5
 

 

RECON TECHNOLOGY, LTD 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

   For the years ended June 30, 
   2013   2014   2014 
   RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:               
Net income  ¥619,541   ¥1,827,820   $296,956 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
(used in) operating activities:
               
Depreciation   618,552    595,647    96,771 
Loss from disposal of  equipment   38,006    128,902    20,942 
Provision/(recovery of) for doubtful accounts   (749,121)   1,518,778    246,747 
Share based compensation   1,852,656    2,429,028    394,630 
Loss from investment   -    1,535,250    249,423 
Deferred tax provision/(benefit)   100,080    (23,054)   (3,745)
Change in fair value of warrants liability   -    (60,647)   (9,853)
Restricked shares issued for services   -    407,593    66,219 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:               
Notes receivable   (2,578,855)   2,578,855    418,972 
Trade accounts receivable   25,107,519    (5,291,233)   (859,636)
Inventories   11,010,230    (1,065,532)   (173,111)
Trade accounts receivable-related parties   672,175    (3,819,299)   (620,500)
Other receivable, net   (4,263,858)   (981,099)   (159,395)
Other receivables related parties, net   (724,799)   (671,905)   (109,161)
Purchase advance, net   (2,190,796)   (6,879,156)   (1,117,617)
Purchase advance-related party, net   699,500    -    - 
Tax recoverable   2,215,072    575,650    93,523 
Prepaid expense   (1,952,620)   (146,708)   (23,835)
Prepaid expense - related party, net   (366,000)   136,000    22,095 
Trade accounts payable   (4,521,395)   4,029,340    654,624 
Trade accounts payable-related parties   (1,344,513)   (3,994,718)   (648,999)
Other payables   (377,135)   (199,612)   (32,430)
Other payables-related parties   3,140,416    (933,651)   (151,685)
Deferred income   90,309    1,038,442    168,710 
Advances from customers   (465,424)   330,685    53,724 
Accrued payroll and employees' welfare   1,043,204    (1,575,159)   (255,907)
Accrued expenses   12,314    (285,679)   (46,413)
Taxes payable   (2,927,192)   835,418    135,726 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   24,757,866    (7,960,044)   (1,293,225)
                
Cash flows from investing activities:               
Purchase of property and equipment   (753,583)   (477,957)   (77,651)
Long-term investment   (1,549,450)   -    - 
Proceeds from disposal of equipment   162,000    141,716    23,024 
Net cash used in investing activities   (2,141,033)   (336,241)   (54,627)
                
Cash flows from financing activities:               
Proceeds from short-term bank loans   10,000,000    23,500,000    3,817,910 
Repayments of short-term bank loans   (23,000,000)   (23,500,000)   (3,817,910)
Proceeds from short-term borrowing   579,073    -    - 
Proceeds from borrowings-related parties   1,962,450    5,007,728    813,577 
Repayment of  short-term borrowings   (2,775,764)   (570,375)   (92,666)
Repayment of short-term borrowings-related parties   (582,477)   (5,303,279)   (861,594)
Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of issuance costs   -    12,132,882    1,971,160 
Proceeds from stock options exercised   -    2,704,909    439,451 
Capital contribution in VIE   20,000    -    - 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (13,796,718)   13,971,865    2,269,928 
                
Effect of exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents   (3,006)   68,614    11,150 
                
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   8,817,109    5,744,194    933,226 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   3,533,283    12,350,392    2,006,497 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year  ¥12,350,392   ¥18,094,586   $2,939,723 
                
                
Supplemental cash flow information               
Interest paid  ¥1,356,581   ¥939,416   $152,622 
Income taxes paid  ¥832,028   ¥704,982   $114,534 
                
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Issurance of common stock to prepay professional services
   -    1,002,721    165,142 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6
 

 

RECON TECHNOLOGY, LTD

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS

 

Organization – Recon Technology, Ltd (the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on August 21, 2007 by Mr. Yin Shenping, Mr. Chen Guangqiang and Mr. Li Hongqi (the “Founders”) as a company with limited liability. The Company provides oilfield specialized equipment, automation systems, tools, chemicals and field services to petroleum companies mainly in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”). Its wholly owned subsidiary, Recon Technology Co., Limited (“Recon-HK”) was incorporated on September 6, 2007 in Hong Kong. Other than the equity interest in Recon-HK, the Company does not own any assets or conduct any operations. On November 15, 2007, Recon-HK established a wholly owned subsidiary, Jining Recon Technology Ltd. (“Recon-JN”) under the laws of the PRC. Other than the equity interest in Recon-JN, Recon-HK does not own any assets or conduct any operations. On November 19, 2011, the Company established one wholly owned subsidiary, Recon Investment Ltd. (“Recon-IN”) under the laws of HK. Other than the equity interest in Recon-IN, The Company does not own any assets or conduct any operations.

 

The Company conducts its business through the following PRC legal entities that are consolidated as variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and operate in the Chinese oilfield equipment & service industry:

 

1.Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (“BHD”), and
2.Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (“Nanjing Recon”).

  

Chinese laws and regulations currently do not prohibit or restrict foreign ownership in petroleum businesses. However, Chinese laws and regulations do prevent direct foreign investment in certain industries. On January 1, 2008, to protect the Company’s shareholders from possible future foreign ownership restrictions, the Founders, who also held the controlling interest of BHD and Nanjing Recon, reorganized the corporate and shareholding structure of these entities by entering into certain exclusive agreements with Recon-JN, which entitles Recon-JN to receive a majority of the residual returns. On May 29, 2009 Recon-JN and BHD and Nanjing Recon entered into an operating agreement to provide full guarantee for the performance of such contracts, agreements or transactions entered into by BHD and Nanjing Recon. As a result of the new agreement, Recon-JN absorbs 100% of the expected losses and receives 90% of the expected gains of BHD and Nanjing Recon, which resulted in Recon-JN being the primary beneficiary of these Companies.

 

Recon-JN also entered into Share Pledge Agreements with the Founders, who pledged all their equity interest in these entities to Recon-JN. The Share Pledge Agreements, which were entered into by each Founder, pledged each of the Founders’ equity interest in BHD and Nanjing Recon as a guarantee for the service payment under the Exclusive Technical consulting Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”).

 

The Service Agreement, entered into on January 1, 2008, between Recon-JN and BHD and Nanjing Recon, states that Recon-JN will provide technical consulting services to BHD and Nanjing Recon in exchange for 90% of their annual net profits as a service fee, which is to be paid quarterly.

 

In addition, Recon-HK entered into Option Agreements to allow Recon-HK to acquire the Founders’ interest in these entities if or when permitted by the PRC laws.

 

Based on these exclusive agreements, the Company consolidated BHD and Nanjing Recon as VIEs as required by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation because the Company was the primary beneficiary of the VIEs. Management makes ongoing reassessment of whether Recon-JN is the primary beneficiary of BHD and Nanjing Recon.

 

On August 28, 2000, a Founder of the Company purchased a controlling interest in BHD which was organized under the laws of the PRC on June 29, 1999. Through December 15, 2010, the Founders held a 67.5% ownership interest in BHD. From December 16, 2010 to June 30, 2012, Messers. Yin Shenping and Chen Guangqiang held an 86.24% ownership interest of BHD. BHD is combined with the Company through the date of the exclusive agreements, and has been consolidated following January 1, 2008, the date of the agreements based on ASC Topic 810. The Company allocates profits and losses 90% and 100%, respectively, based upon the control agreements. Profits allocated to the minority interest are the remaining amount (10%).

 

F-7
 

 

On July 4, 2003, Nanjing Recon was organized under the laws of the PRC. On August 27, 2007, the Founders of the Company purchased a majority ownership of Nanjing Recon from a related party who was a majority owner of Nanjing Recon. Through December 15, 2010, the Founders held 80% ownership interest in Nanjing Recon. From December 16, 2010 to June 30, 2012, Messers. Yin Shenping and Chen Guangqiang held 80% ownership interest of Nanjing Recon. Nanjing Recon is combined with the Company through the date of the exclusive agreements, and is consolidated following January 1, 2008, the date of the agreements based on ASC Topic 810. The Company allocates profits and losses 90% and 100%, respectively, based upon the control agreements. Profits allocated to the non-controlling interest are the remaining amount (10%).

 

Nature of Operations – The Company engaged in (1) providing equipment, tools and other hardware related to oilfield production and management, including simple installations in connection with some projects; (2) service to improve production and efficiency of exploited oil wells, and (3) developing and selling its own specialized industrial automation control and information solutions. The products and services provided by the Company include:

 

High-Efficiency Heating Furnaces - High-Efficiency Heating Furnaces are designed to remove the impurities and to prevent solidification blockage in transport pipes carrying crude petroleum. Crude petroleum contains certain impurities including water and natural gas, which must be removed before the petroleum can be sold.

 

Multi-Purpose Fissure Shaper - Multipurpose fissure shapers improve the extractors’ ability to test for and extract petroleum which requires perforation into the earth before any petroleum extractor can test for the presence of oil.

 

Horizontal Multistage Fracturing related Service - The Company mainly uses Baker Hughes FracPoint™ system and provides related service to oilfield companies. The Baker Hughes FracPoint™ system provided a completion method using packers to isolate sections of the wellbore (stages) and frac sleeves to direct the frac treatment to the desired stage. The use of this type of completion eliminated the need for cementing the liner, coiled tubing operations, and wireline operations, while significantly reducing overall pumping time.

 

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (“SCADA”) - SCADA is an industrial computerized process control system for monitoring, managing and controlling petroleum extraction. SCADA integrates underground and aboveground activities of the petroleum extraction industry. This system can help to manage the oil extraction process in real-time to reduce the costs associated with extraction.

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of presentation - The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and have been consistently applied.

 

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, all the subsidiaries and VIEs of the Company. All transactions and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries and VIEs have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

Variable Interest Entities - A VIE is an entity that either (i) has insufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or (ii) has equity investors who lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. A VIE is consolidated by its primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company performs ongoing assessments to determine whether an entity should be considered a VIE and whether an entity previously identified as a VIE continues to be a VIE and whether the Company continues to be the primary beneficiary.

 

Assets recognized as a result of consolidating VIEs do not represent additional assets that could be used to satisfy claims against the Company’s general assets. Conversely, liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on the Company’s general assets; rather, they represent claims against the specific assets of the consolidated VIEs.

 

F-8
 

 

Currency Translation - The Company’s functional currency is the Chinese Yuan (“RMB”) and the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been expressed in Chinese Yuan. The consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended June 30, 2014 have been translated into United States dollars (“U.S. dollars”) solely for the convenience of the readers. The translation has been made at the rate of ¥6.1552 = US$1.00, the approximate exchange rate prevailing on June 30, 2014. These translated U.S. dollar amounts should not be construed as representing Chinese Yuan amounts or that the Chinese Yuan amounts have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars.

 

Estimates and assumptions - The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Estimates are adjusted to reflect actual experience when necessary. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, deferred taxes, warrants liability, the useful lives of property and equipment and the fair value of share- based payments. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Fair Values of Financial Instruments - The US GAAP accounting standards regarding fair value of financial instruments and related fair value measurements define fair value, establish a three-level valuation hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

 

The three levels of inputs are defined as follows:

 

Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. 

Level 3 inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable.

 

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for trade accounts receivable, other receivables, purchase advances, trade accounts payable, accrued liabilities, advances from customers, short-term bank loan and short-term borrowings approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Long-term borrowings approximate fair value because the interest rate charged approximates the market rate. Long-term other receivables approximate fair value because interest rate approximates the market rate. Long-term investment is measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at June 30, 2014, since the Company recorded an impairment loss during 2014; the fair value was determined to be zero using Level 2 inputs. (See Note 8.)

 

The fair value of the warrants liability was determined using the Black-Scholes Model, as Level 2 inputs (See Note 13).

 

F-9
 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash on hand, demand deposits and highly liquid short-term debt investments with stated original maturities of no more than three months. Since a majority of the bank accounts are located in the PRC, those bank balances are uninsured.

 

Trade Accounts and Other Receivables - Accounts receivable are carried at original invoiced amount less a provision for any potential uncollectible amounts. Accounts are considered past due when the related receivables are more than a year old. Provision is made against trade accounts and other receivables to the extent they are considered to be doubtful. Accounts are written off after extensive efforts at collection. Other receivables arise from transactions with non-trade customers.

 

Purchase Advances - Purchase advances are the amounts prepaid to suppliers for purchases of inventory and are recognized as inventory when the final amount is paid to the suppliers and the inventory is delivered.

 

Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value, on a weighted average basis for BHD. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value, on a first-in-first-out basis for Nanjing Recon and ENI. The methods of determining inventory costs are used consistently from year to year. Allowance for inventory obsolescence is provided when the market value of certain inventory items are lower than the cost.

 

Tax Recoverable – Tax recoverable represented amounts paid for value added tax (“VAT”) on purchases in the PRC amounting to ¥575,650 at June 30, 2013. The amount can be used to offset VAT payable on sales made by the Company.

 

Property and Equipment - Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation on motor vehicles and office equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from two to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the assets

 

Items Useful life
Motor vehicles 5-10 years
Office equipment 2-5 years
Leasehold improvement 5 years

 

Long-term investment – Long-term investment in equity over which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence but not control, and that, in general, are 20-50 percent owned, are stated at cost plus equity in undistributed net income (loss) of the investee. These investments are evaluated for impairment, in which an impairment loss would be recorded whenever a decline in the value of an equity investment below its carrying amount is determined to be “other than temporary.” In judging “other than temporary,” the Company would consider the length of time and extent to which the fair value of the investment has been less than the carrying amount of the investment, the near-term and longer-term operating and financial prospects of the investee, and the Company’s longer-term intent of retaining the investment in the investee.

 

Long-Lived Assets - The Company applies the ASC Topic 360 “Property, plant and equipment.” ASC Topic 360 requires that long-lived assets, such as property and equipment be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is determined based on the estimated discounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. There were no impairments at June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

 

Revenue Recognition - The Company recognizes revenue when the following four criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement, (2) delivery has occurred or services have been provided, (3) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. Delivery does not occur until products have been shipped or services have been provided to the customers and the customers have signed a completion and acceptance report, risk of loss has transferred to the customers, customers’ acceptance provisions have lapsed, or the Company has objective evidence that the criteria specified in customers’ acceptance provisions have been satisfied. The sales price is not considered to be fixed or determinable until all contingencies related to the sale have been resolved.

 

F-10
 

 

Hardware:

Revenue from hardware sales is generally recognized when the product is shipped to the customer and when there are no unfulfilled company obligations that affect the customer’s final acceptance of the arrangement.

 

Software:

The Company sells self-developed software. For software sales, the Company recognizes revenues in accordance with ASC Topic 985 - 605 “Software Revenue Recognition”. Revenue from software is recognized according to project contracts. Contract costs are accumulated during the periods of installation and testing or commissioning. Usually this is short term. Revenue is not recognized until completion of the contracts and receipt of acceptance statements.

 

Service:

The Company provides services to improve software function and system operation on separated fixed-price contracts. Revenue is recognized on the completed contract method when acceptance is determined by a completion report signed by the customer.

 

Deferred revenue represents unearned amounts billed to customers related to sales contracts.

 

Subsidy Income - Grants are given by the government to support local software companies’ operation and research and development. Grants related to research and development projects are recognized as subsidy income in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations when received. Grants in the form of value-added-tax refund for software products are recognized when received.

 

Share-Based Compensation - The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Share-Based Payment. Under the fair value recognition provisions of this topic, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense with graded vesting on a straight–line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. The Company has elected to recognize compensation expenses using the Binomial Lattice valuation model estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair value.

 

Income Taxes - Income taxes are provided based upon the liability method of accounting pursuant to ASC Topic 740, Accounting for Income Taxes. Provisions for income taxes are based on taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred taxes. Deferred taxes are provided on differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, and tax carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are included in the financial statements at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes. The Company has not been subject to any income taxes in the United States or the Cayman Islands.

 

Under ASC Topic 740, the Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position would be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Income tax returns for the year prior to 2010 are no longer subject to examination by tax authorities.

 

Earnings (loss) per Share (“EPS”) - Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding. Diluted EPS are computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares and dilutive potential ordinary share equivalents outstanding.

 

Potentially dilutive ordinary shares consist of ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of ordinary stock options, restricted shares and warrants (using the treasury stock method).  For the year ended June 30, 2014, there were 64,207 restricted shares included in the weighted average dilutive shares calculation. However, the effect from options and warrants would have been anti-dilutive due to the fact that the weighted average exercise price per share of options and warrants is higher than the weighted average market price per ordinary share during the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2014.

 

F-11
 

 

Reclassification –  Certain accounts from prior period have been reclassified to confirm to the current period presentation.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements - In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” (“ASU 2014-08”). Under ASU 2014-08, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations that have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results should be presented as discontinued operations. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. The amendments in ASU 2014-08 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014. However, ASU 2014-08 should not be applied to a component that is classified as held for sale before the effective date even if the component is disposed of after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The effects of ASU 2014-08 will depend on any future disposals by the Company.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“ASU 2014-09”). Previous revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP comprised broad revenue recognition concepts together with numerous revenue requirements for particular industries or transactions, which sometimes resulted in different accounting for economically similar transactions. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this core principal, five steps are required to be applied. In addition, ASU 2014-09 expands and enhances disclosure requirements which require disclosing sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This includes both qualitative and quantitative information. The amendments in ASU 2014-09 are retrospectively effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. Management is evaluating the effect, if any, the Company’s financial positions and results of operations.

 

NOTE 3. TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET

 

Accounts receivable consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Third Party  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Trade accounts receivable  ¥42,993,298   ¥48,284,531   $7,844,510 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   (4,344,518)   (4,730,794)   (768,584)
Total - third- party, net  ¥38,648,780   ¥43,553,737   $7,075,926 

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Related Party  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Beijing Yabei Nuoda Science and Technology Co. Ltd.  ¥19,722,574   ¥5,441,498   $884,049 
Beijing Langchen Construction Company   -    726,800    118,080 
Xiamen Huangsheng Hitek Computer Network Co. Ltd.   -    100,000    16,246 
Xiamen Hengda Hitek Computer Network Co. Ltd.   -    1,211,000    196,744 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   (978,210)   -    - 
Total - related-parties, net  ¥18,744,364   ¥7,479,298   $1,215,119 

 

F-12
 

 

Related Party  June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Non-current portion  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Beijing Yabei Nuoda Science and Technology Co. Ltd.  ¥-   ¥16,062,574   $2,609,595 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   -    (1,606,257)   (260,960)
Total - related-parties, net  ¥-   ¥14,456,317   $2,348,635 

 

One of the Founders, Mr. Yin Shen ping, was the legal representative of Beijing Yabei Nuoda Science and Technology Co. Ltd (“Yabei Nuoda”) before December 2013. The founder does not have any equity interest in this company currently. The receivable from Yabei Nuoda was generated primarily from the sale of automation system and services based on written contracts. Based on the repayment agreement signed on August 27, 2014, the outstanding balance will be collected in four years with each installment of ¥4,015,644.

 

NOTE 4. OTHER RECEIVABLES, NET

 

Other receivables consisted of the following:

 

Third Party  June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Current Portion  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Due from ENI (A)  ¥6,799,669   ¥2,523,145   $409,921 
Loans to third parties (B)   8,440,639    8,979,408    1,458,833 
Business advance to staff (C)   2,977,176    6,371,923    1,035,210 
Deposits for projects   185,669    495,961    80,576 
Others   1,210,230    373,622    60,700 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   (481,880)   (451,016)   (73,274)
  Total  ¥19,131,503   ¥18,293,043   $2,971,966 

 

Third Party  June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Non-Current Portion  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Due from ENI (A)  ¥3,502,680   ¥5,353,104   $869,688 
  Total  ¥3,502,680   ¥5,353,104   $869,688 

 

(A)After ENI ceased to be a VIE of the Company, ENI in January 2012 agreed to repay the loan on a payment schedule, with interest accrued during the period at an annual rate of 4%. In accordance with the payment schedule, the principal plus accrued interest is required to be repaid over approximately three years on a quarterly basis beginning March 2012. The first four payments are RMB 1.2 million each. In March, June, September and December of 2012, the Company received RMB 4.8 million. Starting March 2013, the installment for each quarter would be ¥1,777,653. The Company received the payments on time quarterly since March, 2013.The payments after one year are RMB5,353,104 ($ 869,688).

 

F-13
 

 

(B)Loans to third-parties are mainly used for short-term funding to support cooperative companies. These loans are due on demand bearing no interest.
  
(C)Business advance to staff represents advances for business travel and sundry expenses related to oilfield or on-site installation and inspection of products through customer approval and acceptance.

 

Other receivables - related parties represent loans to related parties for working capital advances to related entities. Such advances are due-on-demand and non-interest bearing.

 

Below is a summary of other receivables - related parties which consisted of the following:

 

Related Party  June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Name of Related Party  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Beijing Yabei Nuoda Science and Technology Co. Ltd.   500,000    500,000    81,232 
Beijing Langchen Construction Company   -    913,780    148,457 
Other-travel advances   242,528    653    106 
  Total  ¥742,528   ¥1,414,433   $229,795 

  

NOTE 5. PURCHASE ADVANCES

 

The Company purchased products and services from a third-party and a related party during the normal course of business. Purchase advances consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Third Party  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Prepayment for inventory purchase  ¥19,237,449   ¥27,119,326   $4,405,921 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   (824,942)   (1,360,261)   (220,994)
  Total  ¥18,412,507   ¥25,759,065   $4,184,927 

 

Below is a summary of purchase advances to related party.

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Related Party  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Xiamen Huangsheng Hitek Computer Network Co. Ltd.  ¥394,034   ¥394,034   $64,016 
  Total  ¥394,034   ¥394,034   $64,016 

 

One of the Founders of the Company and his family member collectively own 57% of Xiamen Huasheng Haitian Computer Network Co. Ltd. Current ending balance of the purchase advances to Xiamen Huasheng Hitek is expect to be settled within one year.

 

NOTE 6. INVENTORIES

 

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
   RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Small component parts  ¥45,314   ¥55,262   $8,978 
Raw materials   -    272,416    44,258 
Work in process   1,356,755    1,665,447    270,576 
Finished goods   11,869,001    12,343,477    2,005,373 
Total inventories  ¥13,271,070   ¥14,336,602   $2,329,185 

 

There was no inventory obsolescence reserve at June 30, 2013 and 2014.

 

F-14
 

 

NOTE 7. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

Property and equipment consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
   RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Motor vehicles  ¥2,683,250   ¥2,314,296   $375,990 
Office equipment and fixtures   593,654    709,165    115,215 
Total property and equipment   3,276,904    3,023,461    491,205 
Less: Accumulated depreciation   (1,567,058)   (1,701,923)   (276,502)
Property and equipment, net  ¥1,709,846   ¥1,321,538   $214,703 

 

Depreciation expense was ¥618,552 and ¥595,647 ($96,771) for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

 

NOTE 8. Long-term investment

 

On June 28, 2013, the Company purchased 2,800,000 restricted shares of Avalon Oil and Gas, Inc. ("Avalon") for $0.089 per share, or approximately ¥1.5 million ($250,000). Since the restriction for the shares is for two years, the Company was able to acquire the shares at 50% of the market value. The investment was accounted for using the equity method and no gain or loss from equity investment was recorded for the year ended June 30, 2013 due to immateriality. As of June 30, 2013 and 2014, Recon owned 32.22% and 24.02% of Avalon’s outstanding shares, respectively. Avalon is an independent US domestic oil and natural gas producer listed on the OTCBB under the ticker symbol AOGN. Avalon is building a portfolio of oil and gas producing properties to generate asset growth. However, based on the available information and discussion with the management team of Avalon, we believe Avalon’s operating loss would not be recovered in the foreseeable future, therefore, the Company believes the investment is impaired and recorded an investment loss of ¥1,535,250 ( $250,000) for the year ended June 30, 2014.

 

NOTE 9. OTHER PAYABLES

 

Other payables consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Third Party  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Consulting services  ¥1,199,716   ¥777,863   $126,375 
Due to ENI (A)   148,000    -    - 
Distributors and employees   580,648    973,707    158,193 
Others   36,327    13,509    2,194 
  Total  ¥1,964,691   ¥1,765,079   $286,762 

 

(A)A former VIE of the Company, which ceased to be a VIE on December 16, 2010.

 

F-15
 

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Related Party  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Due to related parties (1)  ¥2,860,824   ¥2,560,648   $416,015 
Expenses paid by the major shareholders   467,499    439,071    71,333 
Due to family member of an owner of Recon   716,000    50,000    8,123 
Due to management staff on behalf of Recon   195,352    256,305    41,640 
  Total  ¥4,239,675   ¥3,306,024   $537,111 

 

(1)Primarily includes an advance from Yabei Nuoda for RMB 61,301 and an advance from Xiamen Hengda Haitek for RMB 2,499,347 to supplement the Company’s working capital. The advance is payable on demand and non-interest bearing.

 

NOTE 10. TAXES PAYABLE

 

Taxes payable consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
   RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
VAT payable  ¥2,802,890   ¥3,412,759   $554,451 
Business tax payable   75,865    -    - 
Enterprise income tax payable   3,850,288    4,134,210    671,661 
Other taxes payable   25,385    42,877    6,967 
  Total taxes payable  ¥6,754,428   ¥7,589,846   $1,233,079 

 

NOTE 11. SHORT-TERM BANK LOAN

 

Short-term bank loans consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
   RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Communication Bank, 6.6% annual interest, due on October 25, 2013  ¥3,090,000   ¥-   ¥- 
Communication Bank, 6.6% annual interest, due on November 15, 2013   1,910,000    -    - 
Beijing Bank,5.75% annual interest, matured and paid off by February 25, 2014  ¥1,200,000   ¥-   $- 
Beijing Bank, 5.75 % annual interest, matured and paid off by February 27, 2014   600,000    -    - 
Beijing Bank, 5.75 % annual interest, paid off on April 9, 2014   1,200,000    -    - 
Beijing Bank, 5.75 % annual interest, paid off on April 16, 2014   900,000    -    - 
Beijing Bank,5.75 % annual interest, matured and paid off by March 11, 2014   1,100,000    -    - 
Industrial and commercial bank, floating interest rate at 5.6%, due on December 24, 2014   -    2,000,000    324,929 
Industrial and commercial bank, floating interest rate at 6.0%,  due on June 24, 2015   -    8,000,000    1,299,714 
  Total short-term bank loans  ¥10,000,000   ¥10,000,000   $1,624,643 

 

Interest expense for the short-term bank loan was ¥1,243,914 and ¥624,096 ($101,393) for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2014.

 

F-16
 

 

NOTE 12. SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS

 

Short-term borrowings are generally extended upon maturity and consisted of the following:

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Short-term borrowings due to non-related parties:  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Short-term borrowing, 6% annual interest, matured and paid off by November 9, 2013  ¥70,375   ¥-   $- 
Short-term borrowings with no interest, beginning April 22, 2013, paid
off on January 31, 2014
   500,000    -    - 
  Total short-term borrowings due to non-related parties  ¥570,375   ¥-   $- 

 

Interest expense for short-term borrowings due to non-related parties was ¥47,360 and ¥1,525 ($248) for the year ended June 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

 

   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
Short-term borrowings due to related parties:  RMB   RMB   U.S. Dollars 
Due-on-demand borrowings from Founders, no interest  ¥6,377   ¥-   $- 
Short-term borrowing from a Founder's family member, 6% annual interest, matured and paid off by December 21, 2013   3,653,906    -    - 
Short-term borrowing from a Founder, 6.6% annual interest, due on
November 25, 2014.
        5,007,728    813,577 
Short-term borrowing from a Founder's family member, 6% annual interest, matured and paid off by November 29, 2013   1,610,000    -    - 
Short-term borrowings from Xiamen Huasheng Haitian Computer
Network Co. Ltd., no interest, due on November 14, 2014
   200,000    200,000    32,493 
Short-term borrowings from management, 6% annual interest, matured and
paid off by December 7, 2013
   32,996    -    - 
  Total short-term borrowings due to related parties  ¥5,503,279   ¥5,207,728   $846,070 

  

Interest expense for short-term borrowings due to related parties was ¥217,884 and ¥326,953 ($53,118) for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

 

Note 13 –WARRANTS LIABILITY

 

In connection with the stock offering in November 2013, the Company issued warrants to certain institutional investors and placement agent to purchase 218,600 ordinary shares (see details in Note 14).

 

According to ASC 815-40, if the strike price of the warrants is denominated in a currency other than the Company’s functional currency, the warrants are not considered indexed to the entity’s own stock. The Company’s functional currency is RMB and the strike price of the warrants is denominated in USD, as a result, the warrants are classified as liabilities with all future changes in the fair value of these warrants recognized in earnings until such time as the warrants are exercised or expired.

 

F-17
 

 

These common stock purchase warrants do not trade in an active securities market, and as such, their fair value is estimated by using the Cox-Ross-Rubinstein (CRR) Binomial Model using the following assumptions:

 

   June 30,   November 29, 
  2014   2013 
Annual dividend yield   -    - 
Exercised price   5.38    5.38 
Underlying price at grant date   3.86    3.86 
Expected life (years)   2.42    3.00 
Risk-free interest rate   0.88%   0.56%
Expected volatility   220%   272%

 

Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The Company has no reason to believe future volatility over the expected remaining life of these warrants is likely to differ materially from historical volatility. The expected life is based on the remaining term of the warrants. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury securities according to the remaining term of the warrants. The expected dividend yield was based on the Company’s current and expected dividend policy.

 

The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the warrants liability that was accounted at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

    Fair Value Measurement at   Carrying Value at   Carrying Value at 
   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2014 
    Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    RMB    USD 
Warrants liability  ¥-   ¥5,021,621   ¥-   ¥5,021,621   $815,834 

 

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the warrants liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended June 30, 2014: