Attached files

file filename
EX-3.1 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e606520_ex3-1.htm
EX-31.2 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e606520_ex31-2.htm
EX-32.1 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e606520_ex32-1.htm
EX-31.1 - GULF RESOURCES, INC.e606520_ex31-1.htm
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009
or

o 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 000-20936

Gulf Resources, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
13-3637458
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
Cheming Industrial Park, Shouguang City, Shandong, China
 
262714
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

+86 (536) 200-6316
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class  
Name of each exchange on which registered
None
 

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $0.0005 par value
(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o  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 o  No x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been  subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o
 
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 herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference  in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K o

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer,” and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

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

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

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. As of June 30, 2009, the aggregate market value of the common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates (excluding shares held by directors, officers and others holding more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the class) was $ 42,365,465 based upon a closing sale price of $0.58 as reported by Bloomberg Finance.

APPLICABLE ONLY TO REGISTRANTS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
Yes o  No o

(APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE REGISTRANTS)
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.   As of February 22, 2010, the registrant had outstanding 34,553,566 shares of common stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
 

 
Table of Contents

Item 1.
  
  
  1
Item 1A.
  
  
  10
Item 1B
      17
Item 2.
  
  
  17
Item 3.
  
  
  24
Item 4.
  
  
  24
PART II
Item 5.
  
  
  24
Item 6.
  
  
  26
Item 7.
  
  
  27
Item 7A.
  
  
  36
Item 8.
  
  
  37
Item 9.
  
  
  38
Item 9A.
  
  
  38
Item 9B.
  
  
  39
PART III
Item 10.
  
  
  39
Item 11.
  
  
  39
Item 12.
  
  
  40
Item 13.
  
  
  40
Item 14.
  
  
  40
PART IV
Item 15.
  
  
  40
     
  
  43


Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This report contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views and expectations with respect to our business, strategies, future results and events, and financial performance. All statements made in this report other than statements of historical fact, including statements that address operating performance, events or developments that management expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements related to future reserves, cash flows, revenues, profitability, adequacy of funds from operations, statements expressing general optimism about future operating results and non-historical information, are forward-looking statements. In particular, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "may," "will," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements and their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which are based on management's current expectations and projections about future events, are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed in this report, particularly under the caption "Risk Factors."  Except as required under the federal securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements in this report.
 
Item 1. Business.

Introduction

We manufacture and trade bromine and crude salt, and manufacture and sell chemical products used in oil and gas field exploration, oil and gas distribution, oil field drilling, wastewater processing, papermaking chemical agents and inorganic chemicals. To date, our products have been sold only within the People’s Republic of China. As used in this report, the terms "we," "our," "Company" and "Gulf Resources" refers to Gulf Resources, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and the terms “ton” and “tons” refers to metric tons, in each case, unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise.  All information in this report gives retroactive effect to a 4-for-1 reverse stock split of our common stock effected on October 12, 2009.

The Company’s functional currency is the Renminbi, which had an average exchange rate of $0.13167, $0.14415, and $0.14661 during fiscal year 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.

Our Corporate History

From November 1993 through August 2006, we were engaged in the business of owning, leasing and operating coin and debit card pay-per copy photocopy machines, fax machines, microfilm reader-printers and accessory equipment. Due to the increased use of internet services, demand for our services declined sharply, and in August 2006, our Board of Directors decided to discontinue our operations.

Upper Class Group Limited, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands in July 2006, acquired all the outstanding stock of Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited ("SCHC"), a company incorporated in Shouguang City, Shandong Province, the People's Republic of China, in May 2005. At the time of the acquisition, members of the family of Mr. Ming Yang, our president and former chief executive officer, owned approximately 63.20% of the outstanding shares of Upper Class Group Limited.  Since the ownership of Upper Class Group Limited and SCHC was then substantially the same, the acquisition was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control, whereby Upper Class Group Limited recognized the assets and liabilities transferred at their carrying amounts.
 
On December 12, 2006, we, then known as Diversifax, Inc., a public "shell" company, acquired Upper Class Group Limited and SCHC. Under the terms of the agreement, the stockholders of Upper Class Group Limited received 13,250,000 (restated for the 2-for-1 stock split in 2007 and the 1-for-4 stock split in 2009) shares of voting common stock of Gulf Resources, Inc. in exchange for all outstanding shares of Upper Class Group Limited. Members of the Yang family received approximately 62% of our common stock as a result of the acquisition.  Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, the share exchange is considered to be a capital transaction rather than a business combination. That is, the share exchange is equivalent to the issuance of stock by Upper Class Group Limited for the net assets of Gulf Resources, Inc., accompanied by a recapitalization, and is accounted for as a change in capital structure. Accordingly, the accounting for the share exchange is identical to that resulting from a reverse acquisition, except no goodwill is recorded. Under reverse takeover accounting, the post reverse acquisition comparative historical financial statements of the legal acquirer, Gulf Resources, Inc., are those of the legal acquiree, Upper Class Group Limited. Share and per share amounts stated have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the share exchange.
 
 
To satisfy certain ministerial requirements necessary to confirm certain government approvals required in connection with the acquisition of SCHC by Upper Class Group Limited, the shares of SCHC were transferred to a newly formed Hong Kong corporation named Hong Kong Jiaxing, all of the outstanding shares of which are now owned by Upper Class Group Limited.
  
On February 5, 2007, we acquired Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Co., Limited ("SYCI"), a company incorporated in the People's Republic of China, in October 2000. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the stockholders of SYCI received a total of 8,094,059 (restated for the 2-for-1 stock split in 2007 and the 1-for-4 stock split in 2009) shares of common stock of Gulf Resources, Inc. in exchange for all outstanding shares of SYCI's common stock.  Simultaneously with the completion of the acquisition, a dividend of $2,550,000 was paid to the former stockholders of SYCI.  At the time of the acquisition, approximately 49.1% of the outstanding shares of SYCI were owned by Ms. Yu, Mr. Yang’s wife, and the remaining 50.9% of the outstanding shares of SYCI were owned by  SCHC, all of whose outstanding shares were owned by Mr. Yang and his wife.   Since the ownership of Gulf Resources, Inc. and SYCI are substantially the same, the acquisition was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control, whereby Gulf Resources, Inc. recognized the assets and liabilities of SYCI at their carrying amounts. Share and per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the acquisition.

As a result of the transactions described above, our corporate structure is linear.  That is Gulf Resources owns 100% of the outstanding shares of Upper Class Group Limited, which owns 100% of the outstanding shares of Hong Kong Jiaxing, which owns 100% of the outstanding shares of SCHC, which owns 100% of the outstanding shares of SYCI.  Further, as a result of our acquisitions of SCHC and SYCI, our historical financial statements, as contained in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis, appearing elsewhere in the report, reflect the accounts of SCHC and SYCI.

Our executive offices are located in China at Chenming Industrial Park, Shouguang City, Shandong, People's Republic of China. Our telephone number is +86 (536) 5670008. Our website address is www.gulfresourcesinc.cn.. The information contained on or accessed through our website is not intended to constitute and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Form 10-K.

In January 2007, stockholders holding approximately 62% of the then outstanding shares of our common stock consented in writing to change our corporate name from Diversifax, Inc. to Gulf Resources, Inc. Accordingly, on February 20, 2007, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation changing our corporate name to Gulf Resources, Inc.

On November 28, 2007, we amended our certificate of incorporation to increase our authorized shares of common stock from 70,000,000 to 400,000,000 and to effect a 2-for-1 forward stock split of our outstanding shares of common stock.

On August 31, 2008, Gulf Resources completed the construction of a new chemical production line. It passed the examination by Shouguang City Administration of Work Safety and local fire department. This new production line focuses on producing environmental friendly additive products, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant, for use in oil and gas exploration. The line has an annual production capacity of 5,000 tons. Formal production of this chemical production line started on September 15, 2008.

On January 24, 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to issue 5.25 million shares of the Company's common stock at a price equal to $4.05 per share to Top King Group Limited ("Top King"), Billion Gold Group Limited ("Billion Gold"), Topgood International Limited ("Topgood"), in lieu of paying off in cash approximately $21.3 million in existing loans payable to Shenzhen Hua Yin Guaranty and Investment Limited Liability Company, a shareholder of the Company.  On March 3, 2009 the Company issued the 5.25 million shares and the aforesaid loans were deemed paid in full and cancelled.
 
On October 12, 2009 we completed a 1-for-4 stock split of our common stock, such that for each four shares outstanding prior to the stock split there was one share outstanding after the reverse stock split.  All shares of common stock referenced in this report have been adjusted to reflect the stock split figures.  On October 27, 2009 our shares began trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “GFRE”.
 
 
On December 21, 2009, Gulf Resources closed a private placement financing. In the transaction the Company issued  2,941,182 shares of the Company's common stock at a price of $8.50 per share for an approximate aggregate purchase price of $25.0 million. Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC acted as the exclusive placement agent for the financing. The Company plans to use the proceeds of the private placement to acquire additional bromine and crude salt production assets, as well as for general corporate purposes such as working capital
 
Acquisitions of  Production Facilities

On April 7, 2007, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Wenbo Yu in the Shouguang City Qinshuibo (the “Yuwenbo property” or “Factory No. 2”). The Yuwenbo property includes a 45 years and 9 months (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and production land lease covering 1,846 acres, of real property, with 575 wells, as well as the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property. The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $5,100,000, consisting of an aggregate of 399,643 shares of our common stock and $3,076,923 in cash.
 
 On June 8, 2007, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Dong Hua Yang in the Dong Ying City Liu Hu Area (the “Yangdonghua property or “Factory No. 3”). The Yangdonghua property includes a 44 years and 11 months (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,318 acres of real property, with 405 wells, as well as the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property. The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $6,667,538, consisting of an aggregate of 204,898 shares of our common stock valued at $941,300 and cash in the amount $4,837,233 and interest-free promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $889,005.  

On October 25, 2007, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets owned by Jiancai Wang in the Shouguang City Renjia Area (the “Wangjiancai property” or “Factory No.4”).  The Wangjiancai property includes a 45 years and 10 months (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,165 acres of real property, with 398 wells, as well as the related production facility, the wells, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property.  The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $6,399,147, of which $2,519,664 was paid at the closing and the remaining $3,879,483 was paid within five days after the closing.
 
On October 26, 2007, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets owned by Xingji Liu in the Shouguang City Houxing Area (the “Liuxingji property” or “Factory No. 5”).  The Liuxingji property includes a 47 years (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,310 acres of real property, with 432 wells, as well as the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property. The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $6,665,778.

On January 8, 2008, the Company  acquired substantially all of the assets owned by Xiaodong Yang in the Shouguang City Hanting  Area (the “Yangxiaodong property” or “Factory No. 6”).  The Yangxiaodong property includes a 47 years and 6 months (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,641 acres of real property, with 294 wells, as well as the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property. The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $9,722,222.

On January 7, 2009, the Company  acquired substantially all of the assets owned by Fenqiu Yuan, Han Wang and Yufen Zhang in the Shouguang City Renjiazhuangzi Village North Area (the “Fenqiu Yuan, Han Wang & Yufen Zhang property” or Factory No. 7”). The Fenqiu Yuan, Han Wang and Yufen Zhang property includes a 50-year (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 1,611 acres of real property as well as the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property. The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $10,615,000, consisting of $10,000,000 in cash and 375,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock valued at $615,000 (fair value).

On September 30, 2009, the company acquired substantially all of the assets owned by FengxiaYuan, Han Wang and Qing Yang in the Shouguang City Yingli Township Beishan Village (the “ Fengxia Yuan, Han Wang& Qing Yang property” or Factory No. 8”). The FengxiaYuan, Han Wang and Qing Yang property includes a 50-year (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,723 acres of real property as well as the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property .The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $ 16,930,548, consisting of $11,516,960 in cash and 1,057,342 shares of the Company’s Common Stock valued at $5,413,588 (fair value).


Each of the asset acquisitions described above was not in operation when the Company acquired the asset.  The owners of each of the assets did not hold the proper license for the exploration and production of bromine, and production at each of the assets acquired had been previously halted by the government.  With respect to the Factory No. 2, the assets had not been operational for nine months; with respect to Factory No. 3, the assets had not been operational for eleven months; with respect to Factory No. 4 and 5 , the assets had not been operational for fifteen months; with respect to Factory No. 6, the assets had not been operational for eighteen months; and with respect to Factory No. 7, the assets had not been operational for twelve months; and with respect to Factory No. 8, the assets had not been operational for thirteen months
 
Our Business Segments
 
Our business operations are conducted in two segments, bromine and crude salt, and chemical products.  We manufacture and trade bromine and crude salt, and manufacture and sell chemical products used in oil and gas field exploration, oil and gas distribution, oil field drilling, wastewater processing, papermaking chemical agents and inorganic chemicals.  We conduct all of our operations in China, in close proximity to China’s petrochemical and oil refinery manufacturing base and its rapidly growing market.

Bromine and Crude Salt

We manufacture and distribute bromine through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited, or SCHC.  Bromine (Br2) is a halogen element and it is a red volatile liquid at standard room temperature which has reactivity between chlorine and iodine.   Elemental bromine is used to manufacture a wide variety of bromine compounds used in industry and agriculture. Bromine is also used to form intermediates in organic synthesis, in which it is somewhat preferable over iodine due to its lower cost.  Our bromine is commonly used in brominated flame retardants, fumigants, water purification compounds, dyes, medicines and disinfectants. According to figures published by the China Crude Salt Association,  we are one of the largest manufacturers of bromine in China, as measured by production output.

The extraction of bromine in the Shandong Province is limited by the Provincial Government to six licensees.  We hold one of such licenses.  The other five license holders produce bromine mainly for their own consumption.  There are only six licensed bromine producers in Shandong Province, and the government has shut down hundreds of small unlicensed producers.  Part of our business strategy is to acquire these producers and to use our bromine to expand our downstream chemical operations.
 
Location of Production Sites

Our production sites are located in the Shandong Province in northeastern China. The productive formation (otherwise referred to as the “working region”), extends from latitude N 36°56’ to N 37°20’ and from longitude E 118°38’ to E 119°14’, in the north region of Shouguang city, from the Xiaoqing River of Shouguang city to the west of the Dan River, bordering on Hanting District in the east, from the main channel of “Leading the Yellow River to Supply Qingdao City Project” in the south to the coastline in the  north. The territory is classified as coastal alluvial – marine plain with an average height two to seven meters above the sea level. The terrain is relatively flat.

Geological background of this region

The Shandong Province working region is located to the east of Lubei Plain and on the south bank of Bohai Laizhou Bay. The geotectonic location bestrides on the North China Platte (I) and north three-level structure units, from west to east including individually the North China Depression, Luxi Plate, and Jiaobei Plate. Meanwhile, 4 V-level structure units including the Dongying Sag of Dongying Depression(IV) of North China Depression, the Buried Lifting Area of Guangrao, Niutou sag and Buried Lifting Area of Shuanghe and are all on two V-level structure units including Xiaying Buried Lifting Area of Weifang Depression (IV) of Luxi Plate and Chuangyi Sag, as well as on a V-level structure units of Jiaobei Buried Lifting Area of Jiaobei Plate.   
 
Processing of Bromine

Natural brine is a complicated salt-water system, containing many ionic compositions in which different ions have close interdependent relationships and which can be reunited to be many dissolved soluble salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium sulfate, potassium sulfate and other similar soluble salts. The goal of natural brine processing is to separate and precipitate the soluble salts or ions away from the water.  Due to the differences in the physical and chemical characteristics of brine samples, the processing methods are varied, and can result in inconsistency of processing and varied technical performance for the different useful components from the natural brine.
 
 
Bromine is the first component extracted during the processing of natural brine. In natural brine, the bromine exists in the form of bromine sodium and bromine magnesium and other soluble salts.

The bromine production process is as follows:

 
1.
natural brine is pumped from underground through extraction wells by subaqueous pumps;
 
2.
the natural brine then passes through transmission pipelines to storage reservoirs;
 
3.
the natural brine is sent to the bromine refining plant where bromine is extracted from the natural brine.  In neutral or acidic water, the bromine ion is easily oxidized by adding the oxidative of chlorine, which generates the single bromine away from the brine.  Thereafter the extracted single bromine is blown out by forced air, then absorbed by sulfur dioxide or soda by adding acid, chlorine and sulfur.
 
4.
the wastewater from this refining process is then transported by pipeline to brine pans;
 
5.
the evaporation of the wastewater produces crude salt.

Our production feeds include (i) natural brine; (ii) vitriol; (iii) chlorine; (iv) sulfur; and (v) coal.
 
Soluble salts

The extraction of natural brine’s soluble salts is accomplished through the method known as distillation crystallization, in which the extracted natural brine is placed into containing pools and then exposed to natural sunshine, which makes the soluble salts reach the saturation point and precipitate after crystallization. This is a relatively simple method to operate with low processing costs.

Chemical Products

We produce chemical products through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Company Limited , or SYCI.  The products we produce and the markets in which they are sold include, among others:

Product name
Application sector
Hydroxyl guar gum
Oil Exploration & Production
Demulsified agent
Oil Exploration & Production
Corrosion inhibitor for acidizing
Oil Exploration & Production
Bactericide
Oil Exploration / Agricultural
Chelant
Paper Making
Iron ion stabilizer
Oil Exploration & Production
Clay stabilizing agent
Oil Exploration & Production
Flocculants agent
Paper Making
Remaining agent
Paper Making
Expanding agent with enhanced gentleness
Paper Making

SYCI concentrates its efforts on the production and sale of chemical products that are in used in oil and gas field explorations, oil and gas distribution, oil field drilling, wastewater processing, papermaking chemical agents, and inorganic chemicals. SYCI also engages in research and development of commonly used chemical products as well as medicine intermediates. Currently, SYCI's annual production of oil and gas field exploration products and related chemicals is over 16,000 tons, and its production of papermaking-related chemical products is over 4,500 tons. These products are mainly distributed to large domestic papermaking manufacturers and major oilfields such as Shengli Oilfield, Daqing Oilfield, Zhongyuan Oilfield, Huabei Oilfield, and Talimu Oilfields.

On August 31, 2008, SYCI completed the construction of a new chemical production line. It passed the examination by Shouguang City Administration of Work Safety and local fire department. This new production line focuses on producing environmental friendly additive products, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant, for use in oil and gas exploration. The line has an expected annual production capacity of 5,000 tons. Formal production of this chemical production line started on September 15, 2008.

On January 4, 2010, we announced that the SYCI commenced the construction of a new production line for waste water treatment chemical additives. The new production line will be located in our Yuxing Chemical Plant. The capital expenditure for the new production line is expected to be approximately $8 to $10 million.  We expect to fund the new production line with cash from operations.
 
 
SYCI’s headquarters are located in Shouguang City at 2nd Living District, Qinghe Oil Factory, Shouguang City, Shandong Province, China. The company has been certified as ISO9001-2000 compliant and received the Quality Products and Services Guarantee Certificate from China Association for Quality. SYCI has been accredited by Shandong as a Provincial Credit Enterprises and is a Class One supplier for both China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (”SINOPEC’) and PetroChina Company Limited. SYCI has been engaged in product innovation and R&D projects with Shandong University, Shandong Institute of Light Industry, Southeast University and other higher education institutions. SYCI has hired three college professors and three professionals who hold PhD degrees to lead its Research and Development Department.
 
Segment disclosure

We have two reportable segments:  bromine and crude salt and chemical products.

The amounts set forth below are based upon on an average Renminbi to US Dollar exchange rates of, $0.14415 and $0.14661 during fiscal year 2008 and 2009 respectively.
 
   
Net Sales by Segment
 
   
Year Ended
December 31, 2009
   
Year Ended
December 31, 2008
 
 
Segment
 
% of total
 
% of total
Bromine and Crude salt
  $ 74,330,586       67 %   $ 63,664,156       73 %
Chemical Products
  $ 35,946,322       33 %   $ 23,824,178       27 %
Total sales
  $ 110,276,908       100 %   $ 87,488,334       100 %
 
 
    Percentage Increase in Net Sales
from fiscal year 2008 to 2009
               Percentage Increase in Net Sales
from fiscal year 2007 to 2008
 
Segments
     
Bromine and Crude salt
17%
87%
 
Chemical Products
51%
18%
 
 
SCHC
 Product sold in metric tons
Year ended
December 31, 2009
Year ended
December 31, 2008
 
Percentage Change
Bromine
34,930
28,673
 
21.8
         
Crude Salt
356,839
66,500
 
436.6

 
   
Income from Operations by Segment
 
   
Year ended
December 31, 2009
   
Year ended
December 31, 2008
 
 
Segment
       
% of total
     
% of total
Bromine and Crude salt
  $ 32,954,828       72 %   $ 24,663,244       75 %
Chemical Products
  $ 12,530,417       28 %   $ 8,121,203       25 %
Income from operations before corporate costs
  $ 45,485,245       100 %   $ 32,784,447       100 %
Corporate costs
  $ (3,244,411 )           $ (2,209,290 )        
Income from operations
  $ 42,240,834             $ 30,577,157          
 
 
   
Bromine
                         
   
and Crude
   
Chemical
   
Segment
         
Consolidated
 
   
Salt
   
Products
   
Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
Year ended December 31, 2009
                             
                                         
                                         
Net revenue
 
$
74,330,586
   
$
35,946,322
   
$
110,276,908
   
$
-
   
$
110,276,908
 
Income (loss) from operations
   
32,954,828
     
12,530,417
     
45,485,245
     
(3,244,411)
     
42,240,834
 
Income tax
   
8,051,868
     
3,132,530
     
11,184,398
     
-
     
11,184,398
 
Total assets
   
115,621,458
     
28,274,118
     
143,895,576
     
2,527,592
     
146,423,168
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
6,048,995
     
1,150,663
     
7,199,658
     
0
     
7,199,658
 
Capital expenditures
   
36,066,805
     
8,838,440
     
44,905,245
     
0
     
44,905,245
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2008
                             
                               
                               
Net revenue
 
$
63,664,156
   
$
23,824,178
   
$
87,488,334
   
$
-
   
$
87,488,334
 
Income (loss) from operations
   
24,663,244
     
8,121,203
     
32,784,447
     
(2,209,290)
)
   
30,577,157
 
Income tax
   
6,180,353
     
2,031,586
     
8,211,939
             
8,211,939
 
Total assets
   
67,868,644
     
20,899,118
     
88,767,762
     
591,704
     
89,359,466
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
4,123,131
     
604,734
     
4,727,865
     
-
     
4,727,865
 
Capital expenditures
   
10,529,286
     
6,835,909
     
17,365,195
             
17,365,195
 

Sales and Marketing

We have an in-house sales staff.  Our customers send their orders to us, usually with cash paid in advance.  Our in-house sales staff then attempts to satisfy these orders based on our actual production and inventories. Many of our customers have a long term relationship with us, and while we expect this to continue due to continuing high demand for mineral products, this can’t be guaranteed.

Principal Customers

We sell a substantial portion of our products to a limited number of customers.  Our principal customers during 2009 were Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited, Shouguang Rongyuan Chemical Company Limited, Shandong Brother Technology Limited, Shouguang RuiTai Chemical Company Limited, Shouguang Weidong Chemical Company Limited, Kuerle Xingdong Trading Limited, Shouguang Longteng Trading Limited and Sinopec Shengli -field Ltd's Qinghe factory.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, sales to our two largest bromine and crude salt customers, based on net revenue from such customers, aggregated $22,911,853, or approximately 30.8% of total net revenue from the sale of bromine and crude salt, and sales to our largest customer represented approximately 15.4% of total net revenue from the sale of bromine and crude salt. At December 31, 2009, amounts due from these customers were $2,693,116.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, sales to our three largest bromine customers, based on net revenue from such customers, aggregated $21,427,380, or approximately 34% of total net revenue from the sale of bromine and crude salt, and sales to our largest customer represented approximately 14% of total net revenue from the sale of bromine and crude salt. At December 31, 2008, amounts due from these customers totaled $2,750,621.

This concentration of customers makes us vulnerable to an adverse near-term impact, should one or more of these relationships be terminated.

The following table shows our major customers (10% or more) for our bromine and crude salt business for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Number
 
Customer
 
Revenue
 (000’s)
   
Percentage of
Segment’s
Revenue  (%)
 1
 
Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited
   
$11,473
   
15.4%
 2
 
Shouguang City Rongyuan Chemical Company Limited
   
$11,439
   
15.4%
TOTAL
       
$22,912
   
30.8%
 
The following table shows our major customers (10% or more) for our chemicals business for the year ended December 31, 2009:
Number
 
Customer
 
Revenue
 (000’s)
   
Percentage of
Segment’s
Revenue (%)
 
1
 
Kuerle Xingdong Trading Limited
   
$8,515
   
23.7%
2
 
Talimu Oil Exploration Limited
   
$6,058
   
16.9%
3
 
Shouguang Longteng Trading Limited
   
$5,134
   
14.3%
4
 
Sinopec Shengli -field Ltd's Qinghe Factory
   
$4,660
   
13.0%
TOTAL
       
$24,367
   
67.9%
 
 
 Principal Suppliers

Our principal suppliers during 2009 were Shandong Haihua Chlorine & Alkali colophony Chemicals Company Limited, Shouguang Hongye Trading Company Limited., and Shouguang City Rongguang Trading Company, Limited. During 2008 were Shandong Haike Shengli Electric Chemical Company Limited, Shandong Ruitai Chemicals Co., Limited, and Shouguang City Xingyi Fuel Commercial Company Limited.

During the 12 months ended December 31, 2009, we purchased 25.5% of our raw material from two suppliers. As of December 31, 2009, the accounts payable due to these suppliers was approximately $2,146,192.  

During the 12 months ended December 31, 2008, we purchased 48.7% of our products from two suppliers. As of December 31, 2008, the accounts payable due to these suppliers was approximately $558,598.  

This supplier concentration makes us vulnerable to a near-term adverse impact, should the relationships be terminated.
 
Business Strategy

Expansion of Production Capacity to Meet Demand

▼ Bromine and Crude Salt

 
The Company has announced its intent to acquire bromine properties that are unlicensed and thus not legally permitted to produce bromine.  In 2007 and 2008 the Company acquired five such properties and in 2009 the Company acquired another two such properties.  These seven acquisitions expanded our annual production capacity to 43,300 metric tons of bromine and 450,000 metric tons of crude salt.  These properties were purchased with a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at purchase prices totaling $62.5 million. The Company expects that it will continue its acquisition program in 2010 and that these acquisitions will be funded by a combination of cash on hand, and the issuance of debt or equity securities, including securities issued to the sellers.
  
▼Chemical Products

 
To expand its chemical production capacity, the Company intends to acquire chemical product producers.  These acquisitions will be funded by a combination of cash on hand, and the issuance of debt or equity securities
 
Competition

The markets for our products have been experiencing increased levels of demand as China continues its recent pace of accelerated growth.  Nevertheless, the markets for our products are highly competitive.  To date, our sales have been limited to customers within the PRC and we expect that our sales will remain primarily domestic for the immediate future.  Our marketing strategy involves developing long term ongoing working relationships with customers based on large multi-year agreements which foster mutually advantageous relationships.

Many of our competitors, particularly those engaged in the distribution of chemicals, are better established than us, have larger infrastructures, greater resources and the capacity to respond to much larger contracts.

Our principal competitors in the bromine and crude salts business are Shandong Hai Hua Holding Limited, Shouguang Fu Kang Medicines Manufacturing Company Limited, Shouguang Weidong Chemical Company Limited, and Shandong Cai Yangzi Salt Field Company, all of which produce bromine principally for use in their chemicals businesses and sell part of the bromine produced to customers. These companies may switch to selling bromine to the market if they no longer use bromine in their chemical business.
 
 
Our principal competitors in the chemicals business are Shandong Haihua Group Limited, Shouguang Weidong Salt Field Company Limited, Shouguang Fukang Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and Shouguang Caiyangzih Salt Field Company Limited.
 
Government Regulation

The following is a summary of the principal governmental laws and regulations that are or may be applicable to our operations in the PRC. The scope and enforcement of many of the laws and regulations described below are uncertain. We cannot predict the effect of further developments in the Chinese legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement of laws.
 
In the natural resources sector, the PRC and the various Provinces have enacted a series of laws and regulations over the past 20 years, including laws and regulations designed to improve safety and decrease environmental degradation.  The "China Mineral Resources Law" declares state ownership of all mineral resources in the PRC.  However, mineral exploration rights can be purchased, sold and transferred to foreign owned companies. Mineral resource rights are granted by the Central Government permitting recipients to conduct mineral resource activities in a specific area during the license period. These rights entitle the licensee to undertake mineral resource activities and infrastructure and ancillary work, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, within the specific area covered by the license during the license period. The licensee is required to submit a proposal and feasibility studies to the relevant authority and to pay the Central Government a natural resources fee in an amount equal to a percent of annual sales.  Shandong Province has determined that bromine is to be extracted only by licensed entities and we have received one of six licenses granted. Despite the provinces desire to limit extraction to licensed entities hundreds of smaller operations continue to extract bromine without licenses.

The Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) is the principal regulator of mineral rights in China. The Ministry has authority to grant licenses for land-use and exploration rights, issue permits for mineral rights and leases, oversee the fees charged for them and their transfer, and review reserve evaluations.

All of our operating activities in China have been authorized by land and resources departments of local governments.   In addition, all of our operations are subject to and have passed government safety inspections. We also have been granted environmental certification from the PRC Bureau of Environmental Protection.

Employees

As of December 31, 2009, we employed approximately 693 full-time employees, of whom about 83% are with SCHC and 17% are with SYCI.  Approximately 2% of our employees are management personnel, 3% are sales and procurement staff.  40% of our employees have a college degree or higher. None of our employees is represented by a union.

Our employees in China participate in a state pension arrangement organized by Chinese municipal and provincial governments. We are required to contribute to the arrangement at the rate of 20% of the average monthly salary. In addition, we are required by Chinese law to cover employees in China with other types of social insurance. Our total contribution may amount to 31% of the average monthly salary. We have purchased social insurance for all of our employees. Expense related to social insurance was approximately $270,324 for fiscal year 2009.  

Research and Development

On June 11, 2007, the Company entered into a five year agreement with East China University of Science and Technology to establish a Co-Op Research and Development Center. The research center is equipped with state of the art chemical engineering instruments for the purpose of pursuing targeted research and development of new bromine-based chemical compounds and products to be utilized in the pharmaceutical industry. Professor Ji of East China University is the Center’s manager. He will provide his expertise in chemical applications and medicine engineering. SYCI will make an annual payment of $500,000 to the center until the agreement expires on June 14, 2012.  All research findings and patents developed by this Center will belong to Gulf Resources.
 
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors.

You should consider carefully each of the following business and investment risk factors and all of the other information in this report. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develops into actual events, the business, financial condition or results of our operations could be materially adversely affected. If that happens, the trading price of our shares of common stock could decline significantly. The risk factors below contain forward-looking statements regarding our business. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. See "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information."

Risks Relating to Our Business

The unsuccessful integration of a business or business segment we acquire could have a material adverse effect on our results.

As part of our business strategy, we expect to acquire assets and businesses relating to or complementary to our operations. These acquisitions will involve risks commonly encountered in acquisitions. These risks include exposure to unknown liabilities of the acquired companies, additional acquisition costs and unanticipated expenses. Our quarterly and annual operating results could fluctuate due to the costs and expenses of acquiring and integrating new businesses. We may also experience difficulties in assimilating the operations and personnel of acquired businesses. Our ongoing business may be disrupted and our management's time and attention diverted from existing operations. Our acquisition strategy will likely require additional equity or debt financing, resulting in additional leverage or dilution of ownership. We cannot assure you that any future acquisition will be consummated, or that if consummated, that we will be able to integrate such acquisition successfully.

We depend on revenues from a few significant relationships, and any loss, cancellation, reduction, or interruption in these relationships could harm our business.

In general, we have derived a material portion of our revenue from a limited number of customers. If sales to such customers were terminated or significantly reduced, our revenues and net income could significantly decline. Our success will depend on our continued ability to develop and manage relationships with significant customers and suppliers. Any adverse change in our relationship with our customers and suppliers may have a material adverse effect on our business. Although we are attempting to expand our customer base, we expect that our customer concentration will not change significantly in the near future. We cannot be sure that we will be able to retain our largest customers and suppliers or that we will be able to attract additional customers and suppliers, or that our customers and suppliers will continue to buy our products in the same amounts as in prior years. The loss of one or more of our largest customers or suppliers, any reduction or interruption in sales to these customers or suppliers, our inability to successfully develop relationships with additional customers or suppliers or future price concessions that we may have to make could significantly harm our business.
  
Attracting and retaining key personnel is an essential element of our future success.

Our future success depends to a significant extent upon the continued service of our executive officers and other key management and technical personnel and on our ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate executive and other key employees, including those in managerial, technical, marketing and information technology support positions. Experienced management and technical, marketing and support personnel are in demand and competition for their talents is intense. The loss of the services of one or more of our key employees or our failure to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we lose the services of our chairman and chief executive officer, our business may suffer.

We are dependent on Mr. Ming Yang, our chairman and Mr. Liu Xiaobin, our chief executive officer.  The loss of their services could materially harm our business because of the cost and time necessary to retain and train a replacement. Such a loss would also divert management attention away from operational issues.

If we do not pass the review and approval for renewing our bromine and salt production license, our bromine business may suffer.

We are required to hold a bromine and salt production license in order to operate our bromine and salt production business in the PRC. Our bromine and salt production license is subject to a yearly audit. If we do not successfully pass the yearly approval by relevant government authorities, our bromine and salt production operations may be suspended until we are able to comply with the license requirements which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations..
 
 
Our inability to successfully manage the growth of our business may have a material adverse effect on our business, results or operations and financial condition.

We expect to experience growth in the number of employees and the scope of our operations as a result of internal growth and acquisitions. Such activities could result in increased responsibilities for management. Our future success will be highly dependent upon our ability to manage successfully the expansion of operations. Our ability to manage and support our growth effectively will be substantially dependent on our ability to implement adequate improvements to financial, inventory, management controls, reporting, order entry systems and other procedures, and hire sufficient numbers of financial, accounting, administrative, and management personnel.

Our future success depends on our ability to address potential market opportunities and to manage expenses to match our ability to finance operations. The need to control our expenses will place a significant strain on our management and operational resources. If we are unable to control our expenses effectively, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Our management is comprised almost entirely of individuals residing in the PRC with very limited English skills

Our management is comprised almost entirely of individuals born and raised in the PRC.  As a result of differences in culture, educational background and business experiences, our management may analyze, evaluate and present business opportunities and results of operations differently from the way they are analyzed, evaluated and presented by management teams of public companies in Europe and the United States.  In addition, our management has very limited skills in English.  Consequently, it is possible that our management team will emphasize or fail to emphasize aspects of our business that might customarily be emphasized in a different manner by comparable public companies from different geographical and political areas.

We will face many of the difficulties that companies in the early stage may face.

We have a limited operating history as a bromine produce and chemical processing company, which may make it difficult for you to assess our ability to identify merger or acquisition candidates and our growth and earnings potential. Therefore, we may face many of the difficulties that companies in the early stages of their development in new and evolving markets often face. We may continue to face these difficulties in the future, some of which may be beyond our control.  If we are unable to successfully address these problems, our future growth and earnings will be negatively affected.

We cannot accurately forecast our future revenues and operating results, which may fluctuate.

Our short operating history and the rapidly changing nature of the markets in which we compete make it difficult to accurately forecast our revenues and operating results. Furthermore, our revenues and operating results may fluctuate in the future due to a number of factors, including the following:

 
·
the success of identifying and completing mergers and acquisitions;
 
·
the introduction of competitive products by different or new competitors;
 
·
reduced demand for any given product;
 
·
difficulty in keeping current with changing technologies;
 
·
increased or uneven expenses, whether related to sales and marketing, product development or administration;
 
·
deferral of recognition of our revenue in accordance with applicable accounting principles due to the time required to complete projects; and
 
·
costs related to possible acquisitions of technology or businesses. 
     
Due to these factors, forecasts may not be achieved, either because expected revenues do not occur or because they occur at lower prices or on terms that are less favorable to us. In addition, these factors increase the chances that our results could be lower than the expectations of investors and analysts. If so, the market price of our stock would likely decline.
 
 
Conflicts of interest.

Mr. Ming Yang, our chairman, was a substantial owner of SCHC and SCYI before their acquisition by us, and remains a substantial owner of our securities.  There may have been conflicts of interest between Mr. Yang and our Company as a result of such ownership interests. The terms on which we acquired SCHC and SCYI may have been different from those that would have been obtained if SCHC and SCYI were owned by unrelated parties.

Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China

Our business operations take place primarily in the People's Republic of China.  Because Chinese laws, regulations and policies are changing, our Chinese operations will face several risks summarized below.

  - Limitations on Chinese economic market reforms may discourage foreign investment in Chinese businesses.

The value of investments in Chinese businesses could be adversely affected by political, economic and social uncertainties in China. The economic reforms in China in recent years are regarded by China's central government as a way to introduce economic market forces into China. Given the overriding desire of the central government leadership to maintain stability in China amid rapid social and economic changes in the country, the economic market reforms of recent years could be slowed, or even reversed.

Any change in policy by the Chinese government could adversely affect investments in Chinese businesses.

Changes in policy could result in imposition of restrictions on currency conversion, imports or the source of supplies, as well as new laws affecting joint ventures and foreign-owned enterprises doing business in China. Although China has been pursuing economic reforms, events such as a change in leadership or social disruptions that may occur upon the proposed privatization of certain state-owned industries, could significantly affect the government's ability to continue with its reform.

  - We face economic risks in doing business in China.

As a developing nation, China's economy is more volatile than that of developed Western industrial economies. It differs significantly from that of the U.S. or a Western European country in such respects as structure, level of development, capital reinvestment, legal recourse, resource allocation and self-sufficiency. Only in recent years has the Chinese economy moved from what had been a command economy through the 1970s to one that during the 1990s encouraged substantial private economic activity. In 1993, the Constitution of China was amended to reinforce such economic reforms. The trends of the 1990s indicate that future policies of the Chinese government will emphasize greater utilization of market forces. For example, in 1999 the Government announced plans to amend the Chinese Constitution to recognize private property, although private business will officially remain subordinate to state-owned companies, which are the mainstay of the Chinese economy. However, we cannot assure you that, under some circumstances, the government's pursuit of economic reforms will not be restrained or curtailed. Actions by the central government of China could have a significant adverse effect on economic conditions in the country as a whole and on the economic prospects for our Chinese operations.

  - The Chinese legal and judicial system may negatively impact foreign investors.

In 1982, the National Peoples Congress amended the Constitution of China to authorize foreign investment and guarantee the "lawful rights and interests" of foreign investors in China. However, China's system of laws is not yet comprehensive. The legal and judicial systems in China are still under development , and enforcement of existing laws is inconsistent. Many judges in China lack the depth of legal training and experience that would be expected of a judge in a more developed country. Because the Chinese judiciary is relatively inexperienced in enforcing the laws that exist, anticipation of judicial decision-making is more uncertain than would be expected in a more developed country. It may be impossible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of laws that do exist, or to obtain enforcement of the judgment of one court by a court of another jurisdiction. China's legal system is based on written statutes; a decision by one judge does not set a legal precedent that is required to be followed by judges in other cases. In addition, the interpretation of Chinese laws may shift to reflect domestic political changes.

The promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws and the pre-emption of local regulations by national laws may adversely affect foreign investors. However, the trend of legislation over the last 20 years has significantly enhanced the protection of foreign investment and allowed for more control by foreign parties of their investments in Chinese enterprises. We cannot assure you that a change in leadership, social or political disruption, or unforeseen circumstances affecting China's political, economic or social life, will not affect the Chinese government's ability to continue to support and pursue these reforms. Such a shift could have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects.
 
 
The practical effect of the People’s Republic of China’s legal system on our business operations in China can be viewed from two separate but intertwined considerations. First, as a matter of substantive law, the Foreign Invested Enterprise laws provide significant protection from government interference. In addition, these laws guarantee the full enjoyment of the benefits of corporate articles and contracts to Foreign Invested Enterprise participants. These laws, however, do impose standards concerning corporate formation and governance, which are not qualitatively different from the general corporation laws of the several states. Similarly, the accounting laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China mandate accounting practices which are not consistent with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. China's accounting laws require that an annual "statutory audit" be performed in accordance with People’s Republic of China’s accounting standards and that the books of account of Foreign Invested Enterprises are maintained in accordance with Chinese accounting laws. Article 14 of the People’s Republic of China Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law requires a Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise to submit certain periodic fiscal reports and statements to designated financial and tax authorities, at the risk of business license revocation. Second, while the enforcement of substantive rights may appear less clear than United States procedures, Foreign Invested Enterprises and Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises are Chinese registered companies, which enjoy the same status as other Chinese registered companies in business-to-business dispute resolution. Generally, the Articles of Association provide that all business disputes pertaining to Foreign Invested Enterprises are to be resolved by the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce in Stockholm, Sweden, applying Chinese substantive law. Any award rendered by this arbitration tribunal is, by the express terms of the respective Articles of Association, enforceable in accordance with the "United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (1958)." Therefore, as a practical matter, although no assurances can be given, the Chinese legal infrastructure, while different in operation from its United States counterpart, should not present any significant impediment to the operation of Foreign Invested Enterprises.

Because our principal assets are located outside of the United States and some of our directors and all of our executive officers reside outside of the United States, it may be difficult for you to enforce your rights based on the United States Federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors in the United States or to enforce judgments of United States courts against us or them in the People's Republic of China.
  
In addition, our operating subsidiaries and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. You will find it difficult to enforce your legal rights based on the civil liability provisions of the United States Federal securities laws against us in the courts of either the United States or the People's Republic of China and, even if civil judgments are obtained in courts of the United States, to enforce such judgments in the courts of the People's Republic of China. In addition, it is unclear if extradition treaties in effect between the United States and the People's Republic of China would permit effective enforcement against us or our officers and directors of criminal penalties, under the United States Federal securities laws or otherwise.

  - Economic Reform Issues

      Although the Chinese government owns the majority of productive assets in China, during the past several years the government has implemented economic reform measures that emphasize decentralization and encourage private economic activity.  Because these economic reform measures may be inconsistent or ineffectual, we are unable to assure you that:

· We will be able to capitalize on economic reforms;
· The Chinese government will continue its pursuit of economic reform policies;
· The economic policies, even if pursued, will be successful;
· Economic policies will not be significantly altered from time to time; and
· Business operations in China will not become subject to the risk of nationalization.

Since 1979, the Chinese government has reformed its economic systems.  Because many reforms are unprecedented or experimental, they are expected to be refined and improved. Other political, economic and social factors, such as political changes, changes in the rates of economic growth, unemployment or inflation, or in the disparities in per capita wealth between regions within China, could lead to further readjustment of the reform measures. This refining and readjustment process may negatively affect our operations.
 
 
Over the last few years, China's economy has registered a high growth rate. Recently, there have been indications that rates of inflation have increased. In response, the Chinese government recently has taken measures to curb this excessively expansive economy. These measures have included revaluations of the Chinese currency, the Renminbi (RMB), restrictions on the availability of domestic credit, and limited re-centralization of the approval process for purchases of some foreign products. These austerity measures alone may not succeed in slowing down the economy's excessive expansion or control inflation, and may result in severe dislocations in the Chinese economy. The Chinese government may adopt additional measures to further combat inflation, including the establishment of freezes or restraints on certain projects or markets.

To date, reforms to China's economic system have not adversely impacted our operations and are not expected to adversely impact operations in the foreseeable future; however, there can be no assurance that the reforms to China's economic system will continue or that we will not be adversely affected by changes in China's political, economic, and social conditions and by changes in policies of the Chinese government, such as changes in laws and regulations, measures which may be introduced to control inflation, changes in the rate or method of taxation, imposition of additional restrictions on currency conversion and remittance abroad, and reduction in tariff protection and other import restrictions.
Risks Associated with Bromine Extraction

We are subject to risks associated with our operations which may affect our results.

The resource industry in the PRC has drawbacks that the resource industry does not have within the United States. For instance:
 
 
·
In China, insurance coverage is a relatively new concept compared to that of the United  States and for certain aspects of a business operation, insurance  coverage is restricted or expensive.  Workers compensation for employees in the PRC may be unavailable or, if available, insufficient to adequately cover such employees.

 
·
The environmental laws and regulations in the PRC set various standards regulating certain aspects of health and environmental quality, including, in some cases, the obligation to rehabilitate current and former facilities and locations where operations are or were conducted.  Violation of those standards could result in a temporary or permanent restriction by the PRC of our bromine operations.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately address any of these or other limitations.

Our earnings and, therefore our profitability, may be affected by price volatility.

We anticipate that the majority of our future revenues will be derived from the sale of bromine and products derived from bromine and, as a result, our earnings are directly related to the prices of these products. There are many factors influencing the price of these products including expectations for inflation; global and regional demand and production; political and economic conditions; and production costs. These factors are beyond our control and are impossible for us to predict. As a result, price changes may adversely affect our operating results.

We may become subject to numerous risks and hazards associated with our chemical processing business.

Bromine is highly corrosive and must be handled carefully in order to avoid leakage and damage to containers, transportation equipment and other facilities.  The risks associated with bromine include:
 
·
environmental hazards; and
 
·
industrial accidents, including personal injury.
Such risks could result in:
 
·
damage to or destruction of properties or production facilities;
 
·
personal injury or death;
 
·
environmental damage;
 
·
 monetary losses; and
 
·
legal liability.

Our business operations and related activities may be subject to PRC government regulations concerning environmental protection.

We may have to make a significant financial commitment for the construction of environmental protection facilities and the establishment of a sound environmental protection management and monitoring system. Compliance with existing and future environmental protection regulations may increase our operating costs and may adversely affect our operating results.
 
 
Our operations and business activities may involve dangerous materials.

Although we may establish stringent rules relating to the storage, handling and use of dangerous materials, there is no assurance that accidents will not occur. Should we be held liable for any such accident, we may be subject to penalties and possible criminal proceedings may be brought against our employees.
 
Risks Relating to our Common Stock and our status as a Public Company

The price of our common stock may be affected by a limited trading volume and may fluctuate significantly.

There has been a limited public market for our common stock and we cannot assure you that an active trading market for our stock will develop or if developed, will be maintained. The absence of an active trading market may adversely affect our stockholders' ability to sell our common stock in short time periods, or possibly at all. In addition, we cannot assure you that you will be able to sell shares of common stock that you have purchased without incurring a loss. The market price of our common stock may not necessarily bear any relationship to our book value, assets, past operating results, financial condition or any other established criteria of value, and may not be indicative of the market price for the common stock in the future. In addition, the market price for our common stock may be volatile depending on a number of factors, including business performance, industry dynamics, and news announcements or changes in general economic conditions.

We have not and do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock; because of this our securities could face devaluation in the market.

We have paid no dividends on our common stock to date and it is not anticipated that any dividends will be paid to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. While our dividend policy will be based on the operating results and capital needs of the business, it is anticipated that any earnings will be retained to finance our future expansion and for the implementation of our business plan. As an investor, you should take note of the fact that a lack of a dividend can further affect the market value of our stock, and could significantly affect the value of any investment in our Company.

We will continue to incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance requirements.

As a public company we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, together with rules implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable market regulators. These rules impose various requirements on public companies, including requiring certain corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these new compliance requirements. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal controls for financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. In particular, commencing in 2007, we must perform system and process evaluations and testing of our internal controls over financial reporting to allow management and our independent registered public accounting firm to report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Our testing, or the subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses. Compliance with Section 404 may require that we incur substantial accounting expenses and expend significant management efforts. If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if our accountants later identify deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the market price of our stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other applicable regulatory authorities.

Lack of management control by purchasers of our common stock.

As of the date of this report, Mr. Ming Yang, our chairman and former chief executive officer, and his affiliates, beneficially owned approximately 38.8% of our common stock. As a result of this concentration of ownership, our public stockholders, acting alone, do not have the ability to influence the outcome of matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of our directors or significant corporate transactions. In addition, this concentration of ownership, which is not subject to any voting restrictions, may discourage or thwart efforts by third parties to take-over or effect a change in control of our Company that may be desirable for our stockholders, and may limit the price that investors are willing to pay for our common stock.
 
 
Our Board of Directors has the authority, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with terms that may not be beneficial to common stock holders and with the ability to adversely affect stockholder voting power and perpetuate the board's control over the Company.

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our Board of Directors by resolution may authorize the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series with such limitations and restrictions as it may determine, in its sole discretion, with no further authorization by security holders required for the issuance thereof. The Board may determine the specific terms of the preferred stock, including: designations; preferences; conversions rights; cumulative; relative; participating; and optional or other rights, including: voting rights; qualifications; limitations; or restrictions of the preferred stock.

The issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock. Preferred stock may be issued quickly with terms calculated to discourage, make more difficult, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. As a result, the Board of Directors' ability to issue preferred stock  may discourage the potential hostile acquirer, possibly resulting in beneficial negotiations. Negotiating with an unfriendly acquirer may result in terms more favorable to us and our stockholders. Conversely, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect any market price of, and the voting and other rights of the holders of the common stock. We presently have no plans to issue any preferred stock.

We may issue shares of our capital stock or debt securities to complete an acquisition, which would reduce the equity interest of our stockholders or subject our company to risks upon default

We may issue our securities to acquire companies or assets. Most likely, we will issue additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock, or both, to complete acquisitions. If we issue additional shares of our common stock or shares of our preferred stock, the equity interest of our existing stockholders may be reduced significantly, and the market price of our common stock may decrease. The shares of preferred stock we issue are likely to provide holders with dividend, liquidation and voting rights, and may include participation rights, senior to, and more favorable than, the rights and powers of holders of our common stock.

If we issue debt securities as part of an acquisition, and we are unable to generate sufficient operating revenues to pay the principal amount and accrued interest on that debt, we may be forced to sell all or a significant portion of our assets to satisfy our debt service obligations, unless we are able to refinance or negotiate an extension of our payment obligation. Even if we are able to meet our debt service obligations as they become due, the holders of that debt may accelerate payment if we fail to comply with, and/or are unable to obtain waivers of, covenants that require us to maintain certain financial ratios or reserves or satisfy certain other financial restrictions. In addition, financial and other covenants in the agreements we may enter into to secure debt financing may restrict our ability to obtain additional financing and our flexibility in operating our business.

We have significant indebtedness. We are significantly leveraged and our indebtedness is substantial in relation to our stockholders' equity. Our ability to make principal and interest payments will depend on future performance, which is subject to many factors, some of which are outside our control. In the case of a continuing default with respect to this indebtedness, the lender will have the right to foreclose on our assets, which would have a material adverse effect on our business. Payment of principal and interest on this indebtedness may limit our ability to pay cash dividends to stockholders and the documents governing this indebtedness prohibit the payment of cash dividends in certain situations. Our leverage may also adversely affect our ability to finance future operations and capital needs, may limit our ability to pursue business opportunities and may make our results of operations more susceptible to adverse economic conditions.

Future sales of our common stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

We have approximately 34,553,566 shares of our common stock outstanding as of February 22, 2010.  There are a limited number of holders of our common stock.  Future sales of our common stock, pursuant to a registration statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or the perception that such sales could occur, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. The number of our shares available for sale pursuant to registration statements or Rule 144 is very large relative to the trading volume of our shares. Any attempt to sell a substantial number of our shares could severely depress the market price of our common stock. In addition, we may use our capital stock in the future to finance acquisitions and to compensate employees and management, which will further dilute the interests of our existing shareholders and could also depress the trading price of our common stock.
 
 
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2. Properties.


FIGURE 2.1 - REGIONAL MAP OF MINING PROPERTIES
 
 

FIGURE 2.2 - DETAILED MAP OF MINING PROPERTIES

 

We do not own any land, though we do own some of the buildings on land we lease. Our executive offices are located in China at Chenming Industrial Park, Shouguang City, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China, which also is the headquarters of SCHC. These offices are located on approximately 17,342 square meters of land owned by Shouguang City Wo Pu Town Ba Mian He Village. The lease for the land expires on November 1, 2054. The annual rent for the land is RMB 4,000, or approximately US$586. The building on this land has approximately 3,335 square meters of usable space and is owned by SCHC.
 
 
SYCI's headquarters are located in the 2nd Living District, Shouguang City, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. SYCI's headquarters are located on approximately 18,768 square meters of land owned by Shouguang City Houxin village. There are three buildings owned by SYCI located on the property. Two of the buildings are operational plants of steel structure with an aggregate of approximately 1,560 square meters of production space and a total of 4,000 square meters for pump rooms, boiler rooms, finished products and raw materials storage. The third building is primarily for administration and has approximately 795 square meters.   The company has a 50 year lease on the land from April 1, 1998 to March 31, 2048 at an annual rent of RMB4,000 or $586.

The Company operates its bromine and crude salt production facilities through its wholly-owned subsidiary SCHC.  SCHC has land use rights to eight properties totaling nearly 25,832 acre located on the south bank of Laizhou Bay on the Shandong Peninsula of the People’s Republic of China (“China”).  Each of the properties is accessible by road. The Yiyang railway line is within 50 kilometers and the Yangkou port is five kilometers away.
 
Each of the eight properties contains natural brine deposits which are extracted through wells and are used to extract bromine and produce crude salt. Bromine is a simple molecular element which is produced by extracting the bromine ion from natural brine. Crude salt is sodium chloride.  Bromine is an important chemical raw material in flame retardants, fire extinguishing agents, refrigerants, photographic materials, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and oil and other industries.  Crude salt, also known as industrial salt, is used in a wade range of chemical industries, is the main raw material in the soda and chlor-alkali industries and can be widely used in agricultural, animal husbandry, fisheries and food processing industries.  Crude salt is also the main raw material for edible salt.

Nature of Ownership Interest in the Properties

The Company does not own any property but has entered into contracts with the local government to acquire land use rights for a period of 50 years.  The contracts required us to pay a one-time fee plus an annual rent.

Mineral Rights

The Chinese and provincial governments have enacted a series of laws and regulations relating to the natural resources sector over the past 20 years, including laws and regulations designed to improve safety and decrease environmental degradation.  The “China Mineral Resources Law” declares state ownership of all mineral resources in China.  However, mineral exploration rights can be purchased, sold and transferred to both domestic and foreign owned companies. Mineral resource rights are granted by the central government permitting recipients to conduct mineral resource activities in a specific area during the license period.  These rights entitle the licensee to undertake mineral resource activities and infrastructure and ancillary work, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, within the specific area covered by the license during the license period. The licensee is required to submit a proposal and feasibility studies to the relevant authority and to pay the central government a natural resources fee in an amount equal to 2% of annual bromine sales.  The Company was exempt from paying the fee prior to January 1, 2008.  Shandong province has determined that bromine is to be extracted only by licensed entities.

Our mineral rights are issued by the local government and allow for a one year period of mining.  The rights provide us with the exclusive rights to explore and extract natural brine under the leased land and produce bromine and crude salt. The government performs an annual inspection of the company’s previous year’s state of production & operations at beginning of each year.  The annual inspection reviews: whether the production is safe and if any accidents occurred during the previous year, whether the mineral resources compensation fees and other taxes were timely paid, whether employees’ salary and welfare benefits were timely paid, whether the company meets environment protection meet standards. Only those companies who pass the inspection receive mineral rights for another one year term; for those companies who do not pass the inspection, additional mineral rights are not allocated until they can meet the requirements. If there is major safety accident, the government may revoke the mining permit.  All of the relevant documentation to apply for renewal of mining rights must be filed with the Land and Resources Bureau before March 31st each year.

All of our bromine and crude salt production facilities have been authorized by the local land and resources departments and are included under a single permit, which was originally issued in January 2005.   In addition, all of our operations are subject to and have passed government safety inspections. We also have been granted environmental certification from the PRC Bureau of Environmental Protection.

Each of the eight properties is in the production stage and operates bromine extraction and crude salt production facilities.  The facilities each include wells, which are used to extract natural brine from underground, natural brine transmission pipelines, natural brine storage reservoirs, bromine refining equipment, wastewater transport pipes, and drying brine drying pans.
 
 
The equipment and facilities described above were constructed within three months after the acquisition of each of our respective properties using the latest technology and equipment and do not currently require modernization.  Because bromine is a highly corrosive liquid, the equipment undergoes inspection and maintenance each year, especially the subaqueous pumps which need to be regularly inspected and maintained or replaced.

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had invested approximately $63.7 million in its eight production factories, facilities and paid approximately $6.2 million in prepaid land lease payments and mineral rights.  In addition, the company estimates that equipment maintenance will cost approximately $1.0 million each year and that it will invest approximately $2.0 million in new extraction wells.

Each of the seven bromine production facilities is provided with electricity and water by local government utilities.
 
Following is a description of the land use and mineral rights related to each of the eight properties held by SCHC as of December 31, 2009.

Property
Factory No. 1 – Haoyuan General  Factory
Area
6,442 acres
Date of Acquisition
February 5, 2007
Land Use Rights Lease Term
Fifty Years
Land Use Rights Expiration Date
2054
The number of remaining years to expiration of the of the land lease as of December 31, 2009
 
44.25 Years
Prior fees paid for land use rights
RMB8.6 million
Annual Rent
RMB186,633
Mining Permit No.:
C3707002009056220022340
Date of Permission:
January 2005, subject to annual renewal
Period of Permission:
One year
   

Property
Factory No. 2 – Yuwenbo
Area
1,846 acres
Date of Acquisition
April 7, 2007
Land Use Rights Lease Term
Fifty Years
Land Use Rights Expiration Date
2052
The number of remaining years to expiration of the of the land lease as of December 31, 2009
 
43 Years
Prior Fees Paid For Land Use Rights
RMB7.5 million
Annual Rent
RMB162,560
Mining Permit No.:
C3707002009056220022340
Date of Permission:
January 2005, subject to annual renewal
Period of Permission:
One year
 
 
Property
Factory No. 3 – Yangdonghua
Area
2,318 acres
Date of Acquisition
June 8, 2007
Land Use Rights Lease Term
Fifty Years
Land Use Rights Expiration Date
2052
The number of remaining years to expiration of the of the land lease as of December 31, 2009
 
42.3 Years
Prior Fees Paid For Land Use Rights
RMB5 million
Annual Rent
RMB111,317
Mining Permit No.:
C3707002009056220022340
Date of Permission:
January 2005, subject to annual renewal
Period of Permission:
One year

Property
Factory No. 4 – Wangjiancai
Area
2,165 acres
Date of Acquisition
October 25, 2007
Land Use Rights Lease Term
Fifty Years
Land Use Rights Expiration Date
2054
The number of remaining years to expiration of the of the land lease as of December 31, 2009
 
45 Years
Annual Rent
RMB176,441
Prior Fees Paid For Land Use Rights
RMB8.3 million
Mining Permit No.:
C3707002009056220022340
Date of Permission:
January 2005, subject to annual renewal
Period of Permission:
One year

Property
Factory No. 5 – Liuxingji
Area
2,310 acres
Date of Acquisition
October 26, 2007
Land Use Rights Lease Term
Fifty Years
Land Use Rights Expiration Date
2054
The number of remaining years to expiration of the of the land lease as of December 31, 2009
 
44.83 Years
Annual Rent
RMB139,255
Prior Fees Paid for Land Use Rights
RMB6.5 million
Mining Permit No.:
C3707002009056220022340
Date of Permission:
January 2005, subject to annual renewal
Period of Permission:
One year
 
Property
Factory No. 6 – Yangxiaodong
Area
2,641 acres
Date of Acquisition
January 8, 2008
Land Use Rights Lease Term
Fifty Years
Land Use Rights Expiration Date
2055
The number of remaining years to expiration of the of the land lease as of December 31, 2009
 
45.5 Years
Prior Fees Paid for Land Use Rights
RMB9.1 million
Annual Rent
RMB191,295
Mining Permit No.:
C3707002009056220022340
Date of Permission:
January 2005, subject to annual renewal
Period of Permission:
One year
 
 
Property
Factory No. 7 –Qiufen Yuan
Area
1,611 acres
Date of Acquisition
January 7, 2009
Land Use Rights Lease Term
Fifty Years
Land Use Rights Expiration Date
2059
The number of remaining years to expiration of the of the land lease as of December 31, 2009
 
49.17 Years
Prior Fees Paid for Land Use Rights
Not applicable
Annual Rent
RMB163,000
Mining Permit No.:
C3707002009056220022340
Date of Permission:
January 2005, subject to annual renewal
Period of Permission:
One year

Property
Factory No. 8 –Fengxia Yuan
Area
2,723 acres
Date of Acquisition
September 7, 2009
Land Use Rights Lease Term
Fifty Years
Land Use Rights Expiration Date
2059
The number of remaining years to expiration of the of the land lease as of December 31, 2009
 
49.66 Years
Prior Fees Paid for Land Use Rights
Not applicable
Annual Rent
RMB330,600
C3707002009056220022340
C3707002009056220022340
Date of Permission:
January 2005, subject to annual renewal
Period of Permission:
One year
 
 
The chart below represents the seven bromine producing properties currently leased by the Company, which are all located in Shouguang City, Shandong Province, China.  There are no proven and probable reserves located on our properties.  Estimates of non-reserve mineralized materials are based on a November 2007 study prepared by the Mineral Resources Chinese Academy of Geologic Science.  Such mineralized material will not qualify as a reserve until a comprehensive evaluation based upon unit cost, grade and other material factors conclude both legal and economic feasibility.

   
Acres
   
Annual Production Capacity
(in tons)
 
2008 Utilization
Ratio
2009
Utilization
Ratio
Factory No. 1
 
6,442
     
12,000
   
95%
97%
Factory No. 2 (1)
 
1,846
     
5,000
   
90%
81%
Factory No. 3 (2)
 
2,318
     
4,800
   
87%
88%
Factory No. 4 (3)
 
2,310
     
4,600
   
94%
96%
Factory No. 5 (4)
 
2,165
     
4,500
   
92%
89%
Factory No. 6 (5)
 
2,641
     
4,800
   
80%
79%
Factory No. 7 (6)
 
1,611
     
3,500
   
-
67%
Factory No. 8 (7)
 
2,723
     
4,100
   
-
10%

  Each of the properties described above was not in operation when the Company acquired the asset.  The owners of each of the properties did not hold the proper license for the exploration and production of bromine, and production at each of the assets acquired had been previously halted by the government.  With respect to Factory No. 2, the property had not been operational for nine months; with respect to Factory No. 3, the property had not been operational for eleven months; with respect to Factory No. 4 and No. 5, the property had not been operational for fifteen months; and with respect to Factory No. 6, the property had not been operational for eighteen months, and with respect to Factory No. 7, the property had not been operational for thirteen months, and with respect to Factory No. 8, the property had not been operational for fourteen months.  This figures represent estimated annual production capacity based upon existing facilities, historical production rates and capital expenditure the Company planned for these assets to fund improvements and make them operational.
(1)  This facility was acquired on April 7, 2007.
(2)  This facility was acquired on June 8, 2007.
(3)  This facility was acquired on October 25, 2007.
(4)  This facility was acquired on October 26, 2007.
(5)  This facility was acquired on January 8, 2008.
(6)  This facility was acquired on January 7, 2009
(7)  This facility was acquired on September 7, 2009
 
The following table shows the annual production sold for each of our eight production facilities and the weighted average price received for all products sold for the last three years.
 
Facility
2007
2008
2009
Production
(in tons)
Price
(RMB/ton)
Production
(in tons)
Price
(RMB/ton)
Production
(in tons)
Price
(RMB/ton)
Factory No. 1
9,264
14,435
9,502.22
14,899
11,659.20
12,583.28
Factory No. 2 (1)
3,520
14,172
4,235.10
14,819
4,054.00
12,637.35
Factory No. 3 (2)
2,747
14,491
3,221.1
14,858
4,237.00
12,459.16
Factory No. 4 (3)
801
14,539
4,396.8
14,843
4,327.00
12, 743.72
Factory No. 5 (4)
816
14,506
3,579.3
14,822
4, 115.00
12, 589.84
Factory No. 6 (5)
3,738
14,891
3,787.80
12,581.03
Factory No. 7 (6)
       
2,355.00
12,852.24
Factory No. 8 (7)
       
395.00
15,356.39
Total
17,148
 
24,934.52
 
34,930.00
 

1.  This property was acquired on April 7, 2007.
2.  This property was acquired on June 8, 2007.
3.  This property was acquired on October 25, 2007.
4.  This property was acquired on October 26, 2007.
5.  This property was acquired on January 8, 2008.
6.  This facility was acquired on January 7, 2009
7.  This facility was acquired on September 7, 2009
 
 
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
 
We are not a party to any legal proceedings.
 
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

We did not submit any matter to a vote of our stockholders during the fourth quarter of 2009.

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

Market for Our Common Stock

Our common stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, or NASDAQ, under the symbol “GFRE”.  Before October 27, 2009 our common stock was traded in the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, or OTCBB under the symbol GRUS. On October 12, 2009 we completed a 1-for-4 reverse stock split of our common stock, such that for each four shares outstanding prior to the stock split there was one share outstanding after the reverse stock split.

The prices set forth below reflect the quarterly high and low bid price information for our common stock  prior to October 27, 2009 as reported by the OTCBB, and the high and low sale prices for our common stock from October 27, 2009.
 
   
High
   
Low
 
2010
           
             
First Quarter (through March 2)
  $ 14.74     $ 9.01  
                 
2009
               
                 
First Quarter
  $ 2.16     $ 1.20  
Second Quarter
  $ 2.68     $ 1.72  
Third Quarter
  $ 7.92     $ 1.96  
Fourth Quarter (through October 26)
  $ 10.30     $ 7.40  
Fourth Quarter (from October 27 to December 31)
  $ 11.94     $ 8.64  
                 
2008
               
                 
First Quarter
  $ 12.76     $ 6.00  
Second Quarter
  $ 9.80     $ 4.28  
Third Quarter
  $ 7.60     $ 1.32  
Fourth Quarter
  $ 1.60     $ 0.60  
 
Holders
      
As of February 24, 2010, our common stock was held of record by approximately 34 stockholders, some of whom may hold shares for beneficial owners and have not been polled to determine the extent of beneficial ownership.


Dividends

We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, declared and paid from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available. We intend to retain any earnings for the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination as to the payment of cash dividends will depend upon future earnings, results of operations, capital requirements, our financial condition and other factors that our Board of Directors may consider.
 
 Our Equity Compensation Plans

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2009 about our equity compensation plans and arrangements.

Equity Compensation Plan Information - December 31, 2009

Plan category
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans(excluding securities reflected in column (a))
  
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
0
0
0
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
300,000
7.65
2,200,000
Total
300,000
$7.65
2,200,000

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company and Affiliated Purchasers

During the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, neither we nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act) purchased any shares of our common stock, the only class of our equity securities registered pursuant to section 12 of the Exchange Act.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

We have reported all sales of our unregistered equity securities that occurred during 2009 in our Reports on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K, as applicable.
 
 
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
 
 The selected financial information for each of the three years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited consolidated financial statements and other financial information presented elsewhere herein.  Capitalized terms are as defined and described in the consolidated financial statements or elsewhere herein.

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
                   
   
(in thousands)
 
                   
Statement of Operations Data:
                 
Revenue
  $ 110,277     $ 87,488     $ 54,249  
Cost of goods sold
    (61,403 )     (52,302 )     (32,108 )
Gross profit
    48,874       35,186       22,140  
Operating expenses:
                       
General and administrative
    (5,953 )     (3,951 )     (1,814 )
Research and development cost
    (500 )     (515 )     (268 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (180 )     (143 )     (33 )
Total operating expenses
    (6,633 )     (4,609 )     (2,115 )
Income from operations
    42,241       30,577       20,025  
Interest income (expense), net
    64       34       (107 )
Other income (expense), net
    (529 )     (4 )     113  
Income before income taxes
    41,776       30,607       20,031  
Income tax
    (11,184 )     (8,212 )     (7,798 )
Net income
  $ 30,592     $ 22,395     $ 12,233  
Net income per share
                       
Basic
  $ 1.00     $ 0.90     $ 0.51  
Diluted
  $ 1.00     $ 0.90     $ 0.51  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic
    30,698,824       24,917,211       24,172,126  
Diluted
    30,701,697       24,917,211       24,172,126  
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                   
Balance Sheet Data:
                 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
  $ 45,537     $ 30,878     $ 10,773  
Working capital
    51,667       24,669       1,150  
Total assets
    146,423       89,359       46,329  
Total debt (including current maturities)
    12,040       36,890       19,861  
Stockholders' equity
    134,383       52,469       26,468  


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

Overview

We are a holding company which conducts operations through our wholly-owned China subsidiaries.  Our business is conducted and reported in two segments.
 
Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, SCHC, we produce and trade bromine and crude salt.  We are one of the largest producers of bromine in China, as measured by production output. Elemental bromine is used to manufacture a wide variety of bromine compounds used in industry and agriculture. Bromine also is used to form intermediary chemical compounds such as T.M.B.  Bromine is commonly used in brominated flame retardants, fumigants, water purification compounds, dyes, medicines, disinfectants.

Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, SYCI, we manufacture and sell chemical products used in oil and gas field exploration, oil and gas distribution, oil field drilling, wastewater processing, papermaking chemical agents and inorganic chemicals.

On December 12, 2006, we acquired, through a share exchange, Upper Class Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands holding corporation which then owned all of the outstanding shares of SCHC. Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, the share exchange is considered to be a capital transaction in substance, rather than a business combination. That is, the share exchange is equivalent to the issuance of stock by Upper Class for the net assets of our company, accompanied by a recapitalization, and is accounted for as a change in capital structure. Accordingly, the accounting for the share exchange was identical to that resulting from a reverse acquisition, except no goodwill was recorded. Under reverse takeover accounting, the post reverse acquisition comparative historical financial statements of the legal acquirer, our company, are those of the legal acquiree, Upper Class Group Limited, which is considered to be the accounting acquirer.  Share and per share amounts reflected in this report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the merger.

On February 5, 2007, we, acting through SCHC, acquired SYCI. Since the ownership of Gulf Resources, Inc. and SYCI was then substantially the same, the transaction was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control, whereby we recognized the assets and liabilities of SYCI at their carrying amounts.  Share and per share amounts stated in this report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the merger.

On August 31, 2008, Gulf Resources completed the construction of a new chemical production line. It passed the examination by Shouguang City Administration of Work Safety and local fire department. This new production line focuses on producing environmental friendly additive products, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant, for use in oil and gas exploration. The line has an annual production capacity of 5,000 tons. Formal production of this chemical production line started on September 15, 2008.
 
On October 12, 2009 we completed a 1-for-4 reverse stock split of our common stock, such that for each four shares outstanding prior to the stock split there was one share outstanding after the reverse stock split.  All shares of common stock referenced in this report have been adjusted to reflect the stock split figures.  On October 27, 2009 our shares began trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “GFRE”.

As a result of our acquisitions of SCHC and SYCI, our historical financial statements and the information presented below reflects the accounts of SCHC and SYCI. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.
 
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to year ended December 31, 2008

   
Years ended
       
   
December 31, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
   
%Change
 
                   
Net Sales
  $ 110,276,908     $ 87,488,334       26 %
                         
Cost of Net Revenue
  $ (61,402,820 )   $ (52,302,085 )     17 %
                         
Gross Profit
  $ 48,874,088     $ 35,186,249       39 %
                         
Research and Development costs
  $ (500,406 )   $ (514,780 )     -3 %
                         
General and Administrative expenses
  $ (6,132,848 )   $ (4,094,312 )     50 %
                         
Income from operations
  $ 42,240,834     $ 30,577,157       38 %
                         
Other Income (expenses), net
  $ (465,021 )   $ 30,254       1637 %
                         
Income before taxes
  $ 41,775,813     $ 30,607,411       36 %
                         
Income Taxes
  $ 11,184,398     $ 8,211,939       36 %
                         
Net Income
  $ 30,591,415     $ 22,395,472       37 %
                         
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share
  $ 1.00     $ 0.90          

Net Revenue   Net revenue was $110,276,908 in fiscal year 2009, an increase of $22,788,574 (or approximately 26%) as compared to fiscal year 2008. This increase was primarily attributable to the growth in our bromine and crude salt segment with revenue increasing from $63,664,156 for fiscal year 2008 to $74,330,586 for fiscal year 2009, an increase of approximately 17%; and in our sales of chemical products, which increased from $ 23,824,178 for fiscal year 2008 to $35,946,322 for fiscal year 2009, an increase of approximately 51%. The increase in the net sales of bromine and crude salt was primarily due to the net effect of i) the increase in sales volume arising from the increase in production capacity after the asset acquisitions made in January of 2009 and in September of 2009, which are now in full operation and ii) the decrease in average selling price of both bromine and crude salt. As the demand for bromine always exceeded the supply available, the increase in production of the Company contributed to the increase in sales in the current year. Among the total increase of net sales, $7,145,507 was due to the asset acquisitions.  The increase in the sales of our chemical products was due to the introduction of new environmental friendly additive products which was in operation since September 2008, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant, for use in oil and gas exploration in fourth quarter of 2009, and improvement of our pesticide intermediate products.

 
   
Net Revenue by Segment
 
   
Year Ended
 
Year Ended
   
December 31, 2009
 
December 31, 2008
 
Segment
       
% of total
       
% of total
Bromine and Crude salt
  $ 74,330,586       67%   $ 63,664,156       73%
Chemical Products
  $ 35,946,322       33%   $ 23,824,178       27%
Total sales
  $ 110,276,908       100%   $ 87,488,334       100%
 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
2009 vs. 2008
Segment
% Increase (decrease) of Net Sales
Bromine and Crude salt
17%
Chemical Products
51%
 
Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited
Years Ended December 31
 
Product sold in metric tons
2009
2008
 
 
% Change
Bromine
34,930
28,673
 
+21.8
         
Crude Salt
356,839
66,500
 
+436.6

The proportion of our total net sales represented by bromine and crude salt in fiscal year 2009 decreased as compared to the same period in 2008 as a result of fast growth in chemical segment.  Although sales in both segments grew, the growth of sales of bromine and crude salt was lower than that of our chemical products operations mainly due the introduction of new environmental friendly additive products, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant, for use in oil and gas exploration in fourth quarter of 2009, and improvement of our pesticide intermediate.
 
 
Cost of Net Revenue Cost of net revenue reflects the raw materials consumed, direct salaries and benefits, electricity and other manufacturing costs. Our cost of net revenue was $61,402,820 in fiscal year 2009, an increase of $9,100,735 (or approximately 17%) from the cost of net revenue in fiscal year 2008.  This increase rate for cost of net revenue was lower than the increase rate of sales due to the cost inflation rate was lower than the increase rate of selling price. 

Gross Profit   
 
   
Years Ended December 31
     
      2009        % of Net revenue      2008        % of Net revenue
Cost of net revenue
  $ 61,402,820       55.68%   $ 52,302,085       59.78%
Gross Profit
  $ 48,874,088       44.32%   $ 35,186,249       40.22%

Our gross profit rate increased from 40.22% in 2008 to 44.32% in 2009 due to an increase in our net revenue by 26% in 2009 compared to 2008, which enabled us to leverage our fixed costs.  The increase was also due to the fact that increases in our selling prices were higher than increases in the rate of inflation in the PRC in 2009, because the demand exceeded the supply of bromine in the China domestic market. We except the trend will continue in the year of 2010

Research and Development Costs Research and development costs were first recorded in the third quarter of 2007. The research and development costs result from a five year agreement entered into by SYCI and East China University of Science and Technology in June 2007 to establish a Co-Op Research and Development Center to develop new bromine-based chemical compounds and products to be utilized in the pharmaceutical industry.  All research findings and patents developed by this Center will belong to Gulf Resources. The research and development costs incurred for the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $500,406 and $514,780, respectively.

General and Administrative Expenses General and administrative expenses were $6,132,848 in fiscal year 2009, an increase of $2,038,536 (or approximately 50%) from the general and administrative expenses of $4,094,312 during fiscal year 2008. This increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an expense in the amount of $1,367,156 related to a warrant issued to the placement agent in our December 2009 private placement and expenses in the amount of $ 227,478 relating to our listing on Nasdaq in October 2009.
 
Income from Operations
 
   
Income from Operations by Segment
 
   
Year Ended
 
Year Ended
 
   
December 31, 2009
 
December 31, 2008
 
 
Segments
       
% of total
     
% of total
Bromine and Crude salt
  $ 32,954,828       72%   $ 24,663,244       75%
Chemical Products
    12,530,417       28%     8,121,203       25%
Income from operations before corporate costs
    45,485,245       100%     32,784,447       100%
Corporate costs
    (3,244,411 )             (2,209,290 )        
Income from operations
  $ 42,240,834             $ 30,577,157          
 
Income from operations was $42,240,834 in fiscal year 2009 (or 38.3% of net revenue), an increase of $11,663,677 (or approximately 38%) over income from operations in fiscal year 2008. This increase resulted primarily from the increase in revenues and relatively lower increase in cost of net sales as shown above. This increase resulted from increases in income from operations in both the bromine and crude salt, and the chemical products segments of the Company. In fiscal year 2009, income from operations in the bromine and crude salt segment was $32,954,828, an increase of 34% from $24,663,244 in fiscal year 2008. In fiscal year 2009, income from operations in the chemical products division was $12,530,417, an increase of 54% from income from operations in this division of $8,121,203 in fiscal year 2008. The increase in the income from operations of bromine and crude salt was primarily as a result of the assets acquisitions as well production capacity expansion. The increase in the income from operations of our chemical products was due to the new product of friendly additive products, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant, for use in oil and gas exploration in fourth quarter of 2009, and improvement of our pesticide intermediate.
 
 
Other Income (Expense) Other expense was $465,021 for fiscal year 2009, an increase of $495,275 from the other income of $30,254 for fiscal year 2008. This increase was primarily due to the loss from disposal of property, plant and equipment. During the year ended December 31, 2009, a loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment of $528,749 was resulted because the PPE disposed of were specialized equipment used in the bromine producing industry in which there are a few suppliers and second-hand market is not active, resulting in low second-hand price.

Net Income Net income was $30,591,415 in fiscal year 2009, an increase of $8,195,943 (or approximately 37%) as compared to fiscal year 2008. This increase was primarily attributable to the $10,666,430 net revenue increase from Bromine and Crude Salt segment and the $12,122,144 net revenue increase from chemical products segment. Another reason for this result was the leverage of fixed cost due to expansion of sales.

Year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to year ended December 31, 2007

 
Year ended
Year ended
Percentage
 
December 31, 2008
December 31, 2007
Change
       
Net Sales
$87,488,334
$54,248,650
61%
       
Cost of Net Revenue
$(52,302,085)
$(32,108,180)
63%
       
Gross Profit
$35,186,249
$22,140,470
59%
       
Research and Development costs
$(514,780)
$(268,168)
92%
       
General and Administrative expenses
$(4,094,312)
$(1,847,374)
122%
       
Income from operations
$30,577,157
$20,024,928
53%
       
Other Income (expenses), net
$30,254
$6,717
350%
       
Income before taxes
$30,607,411
$20,031,645
53%
       
Income Taxes
$8,211,939
$7,798,682
5%
       
Net Income
$22,395,472
$12,232,963
83%

 
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share
$0.90
$ 0.51
 
 
Net Revenue   Net revenue was $87,488,334 in fiscal year 2008, an increase of $33,239,684 (or approximately 61%) as compared to fiscal year 2007. This increase was primarily attributable to the growth in our bromine and crude salt segment with revenue increasing from $34,015,484 for fiscal year 2007 to $63,664,156 for fiscal year 2008,  an increase of approximately 87%; and in our sales of chemical products, which increased from $ 20,233,166  for fiscal year 2007 to $23,824,178 for fiscal year 2008, an increase of approximately 20%.The increase in the net sales of bromine and crude salt was primarily due to the fact that the asset acquisitions made in 2007 and in January of 2008 are now in full operation. Among the total increase/decrease of net sales, $24,836,255 was due to the asset acquisitions.  The increase/decrease in the sales of our chemical products was due to the introduction of new environmental friendly additive products, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant, for use in oil and gas exploration in fourth quarter of 2008, which generated $2,503,526 net revenue for our chemical products segment

 
Net Revenue by Segment
 
Year Ended
Year Ended
 
December 31, 2008
December 31, 2007
Segment
 
Percent of total
 
Percent of total
Bromine and Crude salt
$
63,664,156
73%
$
 34,015,484
63%
Chemical Products
$
23,824,178
27%
$
 20,233,166
37%
Total sales
$
87,488,334
100%
$
54,248,650
100%

 
 
Year Ended December 31
 
2008 vs. 2007
Segment
% Increase of Net Sales
Bromine and Crude salt
87%
Chemical Products
18%
 
Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited
       Years Ended December 31
Product sold in metric tons
2008
2007
% Change
Bromine
28,673
17,648
62.5%
       
Crude Salt
66,500
51,000
30.4%

The proportion of our total net sales represented by bromine and crude salt in fiscal year 2008 increased as compared to the same period in 2007.  Although sales in both segments grew, the growth of sales of bromine and crude salt was greater than that of our chemical products operations mainly due to the January 2008 bromine asset acquisition.

Cost of Net Revenue Cost of net revenue reflects the raw materials consumed, direct salaries and benefits, electricity and other manufacturing costs. Our cost of net revenue was $52,302,085 in fiscal year 2008, an increase of $20,193,905 (or approximately 63%) from the cost of net revenue in fiscal year 2007.  This increase was in line with the increase in our net revenue which was approximately 61% higher in 2008.
 
Gross Profit
   
Years Ended December 31
     
   
2008
 
% of Net revenue
 
2007
 
% of Net revenue
Cost of net revenue
  $ 52,302,085  
59.78%
  $ 32,108,180   59.70%
                     
Gross Profit
  $ 35,186,249   40.22%   $ 22,140,470   40.30%
 
Our net revenue increased 61% in 2008 compared to 2007, which enabled us to leverage our fixed costs.  However, this was offset by an increase in raw material prices in an inflationary environment during 2008.  Especially in the third quarter of 2008, the prices of raw materials for our bromine and crude salt segment increased significantly.  Both sulfur and sulphuric acid increased by more than 100% and raw coal increased by approximately 200%. The prices of raw materials for our chemical products segment increased approximately 5-10%. As a result, cost of net revenue as a percentage of net revenue stayed at 59% for both the 2008 and 2007.  Gross profit as a percentage of net revenue also stayed at 40% for both 2008 and 2007.
 
Research and Development Costs Research and development costs were first recorded in the third  quarter of 2007. The research and development costs result from a five year agreement entered into by SYCI and East China University of Science and Technology in June 2007 to establish a Co-Op Research and Development Center to develop new bromine-based chemical compounds and products to be utilized in the pharmaceutical industry.  All research findings and patents developed by this Center will belong to Gulf Resources.

General and Administrative Expenses General and administrative expenses were $4,094,312 in fiscal year 2008, an increase of $2,246,938 (or approximately 122%) from the general and administrative expenses of $1,847,374 during fiscal year 2007.    This significant increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to the land tax and mineral resources compensation fees for 2008 are $660,474 and $1,228,834 respectively.

 
Income from Operations
 
 
Income from Operations by Segment
 
Year Ended
Year Ended
 
December 31, 2008
December 31, 2007
Segments
 
% of total
 
% of total
Bromine and Crude salt
$
24,663,244
75%
$
14,181,054
66%
Chemical Products
$
8,121,203
25%
$
7,164,833
34%
Income from operations before corporate costs
$
32,784,447
100%
$
21,345,887
100%
Corporate costs
$
(2,209,290)
 
$
(1,320,959)
 
Income from operations
$
30,577,157
 
$
20,024,928
 
 
Income from operations was $30,577,157 in fiscal year 2008 (or 34.9% of net revenue), an increase of $10,552,229 (or approximately 52.7%) over income from operations in fiscal year 2007. This increase resulted primarily from the increase in revenues and relatively lower increase in cost of net sales as shown above. This increase resulted from increases in income from operations in both the bromine and crude salt, and the chemical products segments of the Company. In fiscal year 2008, income from operations in the bromine and crude salt segment was $24,663,244, an increase of 73% from $14,181,054 in fiscal year 2007. In fiscal year 2008, income from operations in the chemical products division was $8,121,203, an increase of 13% from income from operations in this division of $7,164,833 in fiscal year 2007. The increase in the income from operations of bromine and crude salt was primarily as a result of the assets acquisitions. The increase in the income from operations of our chemical products was due to the new product of friendly additive products, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant, for use in oil and gas exploration in fourth quarter of 2008.

 Other Income (Expense) Other income was $30,254 for fiscal year 2008, an increase of $23,537 from the other income of $6,717 for fiscal year 2007. This increase was primarily due to the $34,018 of interest income and $3,764 of sundry expense.

Net Income Net income was $22,395,472 in fiscal year 2008, an increase of $10,162,509 (or approximately 83%) as compared to fiscal year 2007. This increase was primarily attributable to the $29,648,672 net revenue increase from Bromine and Crude Salt segment. Another reason for this result was the slightly increase of income taxes by $413,257 from $7,798,682 for fiscal year 2007 to $8,211,939 for fiscal year 2008. Our income taxation rate was 25% in 2008 as compared to 33% in 2007, and it become effective on January 1, 2008.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of December 31, 2009, Cash and Cash Equivalents were $45,536,735 as compared to $30,878,044 as of December 31, 2008.  The components of this increase of $14,658,691 are reflected below.
 
Cash Flow
   
Years Ended December 31
   
2009
   
2008
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 39,820,378     $ 24,896,306  
Net cash used in investing activities
  $ (38,244,301 )   $ (17,365,195 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  $ 13,073,463     $ 11,272,480  
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash
  $ 9,151     $ 1,300,578  
Net cash  inflow
  $ 14,658,691     $ 20,104,169  

In 2009 the Company met its working capital and capital investment requirements mainly by using operating cash flows

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2009, we had positive cash flow from operating activities of $39,820,378, primarily attributable to net income of $30,591,415.  Net cash provided by operating activities in 2009 improved by $14,924,072 from that of 2008.  The primary source of this was an increase in 2009 net income, which was $8,195,943 more than in 2008.
 
 
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Investing Activities and Financing Activities

The Company used $38,244,301 to acquire additional mineral rights, property, plant and equipment during fiscal year 2009.  The acquisition was financed by cash flows from operating activities.

We anticipate that our available funds and cash flows generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated on-going operating needs for the next twelve (12) months. However we will likely need to raise additional capital in order to fund the ongoing program of acquiring unlicensed bromine properties and increasing our chemical production capacity.  We expect to raise those funds through the issuance of additional shares of our equity securities in one or more public or private offerings, or through credit facilities obtained with lending institutions or a combination of both.  There can be no guarantee that we will be able to obtain such funding, whether through the issuance of debt or equity, on terms satisfactory to management and our board of directors.

Working capital at December 31, 2009 was approximately $51,667,215 at December 31, 2009 as compared to $24,669,553 at December 31, 2008. The increase was mainly due to the proceeds from the private placement in December 2009.
  
For the immediate future we intend to focus our efforts on the activities of SCHC and SYCI. Our short to mid-term strategic plan is based on expansion in the Chinese market. Our long-term strategic goal is to expand our market to overseas countries.  As a result, we may issue additional shares of our capital stock and incur new debt in order to raise cash for acquisitions and other capital expenditures during the next twelve months. On January 4, 2010, the Company approved the commencement of the construction of a new chemical additives production line for waste water treatment, which is expected to start production in July 2010 and the estimated capital expenditure for the new production line is expected to be in the range of $8 million to $10 million.

We may not be able to identify, successfully integrate or profitably manage any businesses or business segment we may acquire, or any expansion of our business. An expansion may involve a number of risks, including possible adverse effects on our operating results, diversion of management attention, inability to retain key personnel, risks associated with unanticipated events and the financial statement effect of potential impairment of acquired intangible assets, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our condition and results of operations. In addition, if competition for acquisition candidates or operations were to increase, the cost of acquiring businesses could increase materially. Our inability to implement and manage our expansion strategy successfully may have a material adverse effect on our business and future prospects. We may affect a business acquisition with a target business which may be financially unstable, under-managed, or in its early stages of development or growth.

Contractual Commitments

The following table sets forth payments due by period for fixed contractual obligations as of December 31, 2009.

Contractual obligations
        Payments due by period
 
 
   
Total
   
Less than
1 year
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
More than
5 years
 
Operating Lease Obligations
  $ 6,840,427     $ 42,127     $ 150,355     $ 157,804     $ 6,490,141  

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gulf Resources, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Upper Class Group Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, which owns 100% of Hong Kong Jiaxing Industrial Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong (“HKJI”), which owns 100% of SCHC and SYCI, which is 100% owned by SCHC.  All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

The consolidated financial statements have been restated for all periods prior to the mergers to include the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the commonly controlled companies.

Use of Estimates
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and this requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
 
Accounts Receivable and Allowance of Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable is stated at cost, net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on management’s assessment of the collectivity of trade and other receivables. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the amount of allowance and the Company considers the historic level of credit losses and applies certain percentage to accounts receivable balance. The Company makes judgments about the credit worthiness of each customer based on ongoing credit evaluations, and monitors current economic trends that might impact the level of credit losses in the future. If the financial condition of the customer begins to deteriorate, resulting in their inability to make payments, a larger allowance may be required.
 
As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, allowance for doubtful accounts was nil. No allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to the income statement for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Concentration of Credit Risk
Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable exists as the Company sells a substantial portion of its products to a limited number of customers. However, such concentrations of credit risks are limited since the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and due to the generally short payment terms.

Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in first-out cost basis, or market. Costs of work-in-progress and finished goods comprise of direct materials, direct labor and an attributable portion of manufacturing overhead. Net realizable value is based on estimated selling price less costs to complete and selling expenses.

Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for new facilities or equipment and expenditures that extend the useful lives of existing facilities or equipment are capitalized and depreciated using the straight-line method at rates sufficient to depreciate such costs over the estimated productive lives.

Mineral rights are recorded at cost. Mineral rights are amortized ratably over the term of the lease, or the equivalent term under the units of production method, whichever is shorter.

The Company’s depreciation and amortization policies on fixed assets other than mineral rights and construction in progress are as follows:

 
Useful life
(in years)
Buildings
20
Machinery
8
Motor vehicles
5
Equipment
8

Asset Retirement Obligation
The Company follows a uniform methodology for accounting for estimated reclamation and abandonment costs. The fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation to be recognized in the period in which the legal obligation associated with the retirement of the long-lived asset is incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the offset is capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. To settle the liability, the obligation is paid, and to the extent there is a difference between the liability and the amount of cash paid, a gain or loss upon settlement is recorded.

Currently, there are no reclamation or abandonment obligations associated with the land being utilized for exploitation.
 
 
Recoverability of Long Lived Assets
Long-lived and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company is not aware of any events or circumstances which indicate the existence of an impairment which would be material.

Retirement Benefits
Pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, the Company participates in a defined contribution retirement plan for its employees arranged by a governmental organization. The Company makes contributions to the retirement scheme at the applicable rate based on the employees’ salaries.  The required contributions under the retirement plans are charged to the consolidated income statement on an accrual basis when they are due. The  Company’s contributions totaled $270,324, $151,005 and nil for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Mineral Rights
The Company follows FASB ASC 805 that certain mineral rights are considered tangible assets and that mineral rights should be accounted for based on their substance. Mineral rights are included in property, plant and equipment.

Reporting Currency and Translation
The financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency; however, the reporting currency is the United States dollar (“USD”).  Assets and liabilities of the Company have been translated into dollars using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date. The average exchange rate for the period has been used to translate revenues and expenses.  Translation adjustments are reported separately and accumulated in a separate component of equity (cumulative translation adjustment).

Foreign Operations
All of the Company’s operations and assets are located in China.  The Company may be adversely affected by possible political or economic events in this country.  The effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted.

Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue, net of any taxes, when persuasive evidence of a customer or distributor arrangement exists or acceptance occurs, receipt of goods by customer occurs, the price is fixed or determinable, and the sales revenues are considered collectible.  Subject to these criteria, the Company generally recognizes revenue at the time of shipment or delivery to the customer, and when the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss based on shipping terms.

Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes.  Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and tax loss carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs
The Company does not charge its customers for shipping and handling.  The Company classifies shipping and handling costs as part of the cost of net sales, which amounted to $492,582, $424,819 and $384,868 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Stock-based compensation
Common stock, stock options and stock warrants issued to employees or directors are recorded at their fair values estimated at grant date using the Black-Scholes model and the portion that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as compensation cost over the requisite service period.

Common stock, stock options and stock warrants issued to other than employees or directors are recorded on the basis of their fair value using the Black-Scholes model on the basis of the market price of the underlying common stock on the “valuation date,” which for options and warrants related to contracts that have substantial disincentives to non-performance is the date of the contract, and for all other contracts the measurement date is the date that the service is complete. Expense related to the options and warrants is recognized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the period over which services are to be received or the vesting period. Where expense must be recognized prior to a valuation date, the expense is computed under the Black-Scholes model on the basis of the market price of the underlying common stock at the end of the period, and any subsequent changes in the market price of the underlying common stock up through the valuation date is reflected in the expense recorded in the subsequent period in which that change occurs.
 
 
Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share of Common Stock
Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the periods presented.  Diluted earnings per share are computed using weighted average number of common shares plus dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
We are exposed to interest rate risk due primarily to our short-term bank loans. Although the interest rates are fixed for the terms of the loans, the terms are typically twelve months and interest rates are subject to change upon renewal. Since July 20, 2007, the People’s Bank of China has increased the interest rate of Renminbi bank loans with a term of six months or less by 0.2% and loans with a term of six to 12 months by 0.3%. The new interest rates are approximately 6.0% and 6.8% for Renminbi bank loans with a term six months or less and loans with a term of six to 12 months, respectively. The change in interest rates has no impact on our bank loans secured before July 28, 2007. We monitor interest rates in conjunction with our cash requirements to determine the appropriate level of debt balances relative to other sources of funds. We have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to interest rate risk.
 
Credit Risk
 
The Company is exposed to credit risk from its cash in bank and fixed deposits and accounts receivable. The credit risk on cash in bank and fixed deposits is limited because the counterparties are recognized financial institutions. Accounts receivable are subjected to credit evaluations. An allowance has been made for estimated irrecoverable amounts which have been determined by reference to past default experience and the current economic environment.
 
Foreign Exchange Risk
 
The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions. Since July 2005, the Renminbi has no longer been pegged to the U.S. Dollar at a constant exchange rate. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the Renminbi may appreciate or depreciate within a flexible peg range against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future, PRC authorities may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the Renminbi exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.
 
Because substantially all of our earnings and cash assets are denominated in Renminbi, but our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Renminbi will affect our balance sheet and our earnings per share in U.S. dollars. In addition, appreciation or depreciation in the value of the Renminbi relative to the U.S. dollar would affect our financial results reported in U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations. Fluctuations in the exchange rate will also affect the relative value of any dividend we issue in the future that will be exchanged into U.S. dollars and earnings from, and the value of, any U.S. dollar-denominated investments we make in the future.
 
Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these transactions may be limited, and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure at all. In addition, our foreign currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert Renminbi into foreign currencies.
 
Most of the transactions of the Company are settled in Renminbi and U.S. dollars. In the opinion of the directors, the Company is not exposed to significant foreign currency risk.
 
 
Inflation
 
Inflationary factors, such as increases in the cost of our products and overhead costs, could impair our operating results. Although we do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our financial position or results of operations to date, a high rate of inflation in the future may have an adverse effect on our ability to maintain current levels of gross margin and selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales revenue if the selling prices of our products do not increase with these increased costs.
 
Company’s Operations are Substantially in Foreign Countries
 
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China and are subject to various political, economic, and other risks and uncertainties inherent in conducting business in China. Among other risks, the Company and its subsidiaries’ operations are subject to the risks of restrictions on transfer of funds; export duties, quotas, and embargoes; domestic and international customs and tariffs; changing taxation policies; foreign exchange restrictions; and political conditions and governmental regulations. Additional information regarding such risks can be found under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K.
 
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data (in thousand).

 
March 31
 
June 30
 
September 30
 
December 31
 
Total
 
 
 
                                     
Fiscal Year 2009
                                       
Operating revenue
    $ 23,634       $ 29,591       $ 27,667       $ 29,385       $ 110,277  
Operating income
 
    8,868  
 
    12,024  
 
    11,138  
 
    10,211  
 
    42,241  
Net income (loss)
 
    6,533  
 
    8,972  
 
    8,328  
 
    6,759  
 
    30,592  
Basic earnings (loss) per share
    $ 0.23       $ 0.29       $ 0.27       $ 0.21       $ 1.00  
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
    $ 0.23       $ 0.29       $ 0.27       $ 0.21       $ 1.00  
Operating income as a percentage of  operating revenues
 
    37.5%  
 
    40.6%  
 
    40.3%  
 
    34.7%  
 
    38.3%  
                                                   
Fiscal Year 2008
                                                 
Operating revenue
    $ 22,034       $ 23,766       $ 17,555       $ 24,133       $ 87,488  
Operating income
 
    8,447  
 
    8,559  
 
    5,083  
 
    8,488  
 
    30,577  
Net income (loss)
 
    6,147  
 
    6,286  
 
    3,737  
 
    6,225  
 
    22,395  
Basic earnings (loss) per share
    $ 0.25       $ 0.25       $ 0.15       $ 0.25       $ 0.90  
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
    $ 0.25       $ 0.25       $ 0.15       $ 0.25       $ 0.90  
Operating income as a percentage of  operating revenues
 
    38.34%  
 
    36.01%  
 
    28.95%  
 
    35.17%  
 
    34.95%  


GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007
 
C O N T E N T S
 
           
PAGE
             
REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS
F-2 – F-3
             
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
F-4
             
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
F-5
             
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
F-6
             
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
F-7 – F-8
             
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
F-9 – F-10
             
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-11 – F-28

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Gulf Resources, Inc.

 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Gulf Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2009 and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2009.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit 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 audit 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 also 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 audit provides 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 Gulf Resources, Inc. at December 31, 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 

/s/  BDO Limited

Hong Kong, March 2, 2010
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 
The Board of Directors and
Stockholders of Gulf Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Gulf Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements  based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company at December 31, 2008, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with  accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
 
  
/s/  Morison Cogen LLP
 
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
March 12, 2009
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
 
 AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
 
 
    As of December 31,  
Current Assets
 
2009
   
2008
 
Cash
  $ 45,536,735     $ 30,878,044  
Accounts receivable
    14,960,002       11,674,645  
Inventories
    650,332       418,259  
Prepayment and deposit
    233,330       229,408  
Prepaid land lease
    46,133       15,849  
Deferred tax asset
    85,672       3,453  
Other receivable
    2,195,208       2,641  
Total Current Assets
    63,707,412       43,222,299  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    81,993,894       45,399,456  
Prepaid land lease, net of current portion
    721,862       737,711  
Total Assets
  $ 146,423,168     $ 89,359,466  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
         
 
 
Current Liabilities
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $
  5,823,745
    $ 4,746,994  
Loan payable
 
 -
      4,034,250  
Retention payable
    660,150       -  
Notes and loan payable – related parties
 
- 
      4,650,000  
Due to related parties
    1,190       852,067  
Taxes payable
    5,555,113       4,269,442  
Total Current Liabilities
    12,040,198       18,552,753  
Non Current Liabilities
    -       -  
Note payable, net of current portion
    -       18,337,493  
Total Liabilities
  $ 12,040,198     $ 36,890,246  
 
         
 
 
Stockholders’ Equity
               
PREFERRED STOCK ; $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized none outstanding
    -       -  
COMMON STOCK; $0.0005 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 34,541,066 and 24,917,211 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively
  $ 17,271     $ 12,459  
Additional paid in capital
    64,718,026       13,072,668  
Retained earnings unappropriated
    59,808,289       31,817,465  
Retained earnings appropriated
 
 5,679,769
      3,223,418  
Cumulative translation adjustment
    4,159,615       4,343,210  
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    134,382,970       52,469,220  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 146,423,168     $ 89,359,466  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
 AND SUBSIDIARIES
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
 
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
REVENUE
                 
Net sales
  $ 110,276,908     $ 87,488,334     $ 53,780,313  
Maintenance service income
    -       -       468,337  
 
    110,276,908       87,488,334       54,248,650  
OPERATING EXPENSES
                       
Cost of net revenue
    (61,402,820 )     (52,302,085 )     (32,108,180 )
Research and development cost
    (500,406 )     (514,780 )     (268,168 )
General and administrative expenses
    (6,132,848 )     (4,094,312 )     (1,847,374 )
 
    (68,036,074 )     (56,911,177 )     (34,223,722 )
                         
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
    42,240,834       30,577,157       20,024,928  
                         
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Interest expense and bank charges
    (17,078 )     (60,111 )     (161,577 )
Rental income
 
- 
   
- 
      15,801  
Sundry income
    (528,748 )     (3,764 )     97,524  
Interest income
    80,805       94,129       54,969  
      (465,021 )     30,254       6,717  
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    41,775,813       30,607,411       20,031,645  
                         
INCOME TAXES
    (11,184,398 )     (8,211,939 )     (7,798,682 )
                         
NET INCOME
  $ 30,591,415     $ 22,395,472     $ 12,232,963  
                         
EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
BASIC
  $ 1.00     $ 0.90     $ 0.51  
DILUTED
  $ 1.00     $ 0.90     $ 0.51  
                         
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
BASIC
    30,698,824       24,917,211       24,172,126  
DILUTED
    30,701,697       24,917,211       24,172,126  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
 
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
NET INCOME
  $ 30,591,415     $ 22,395,472     $ 12,232,963  
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (183,595 )     2,494,763       1,480,056  
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
  $ 30,407,820     $ 24,890,235     $ 13,713,019  
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 ,2008 AND 2007
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)

       
Statutory
Statutory
     
     
Additional
common
public
 
Cumulative
 
 
Number
Common
paid-in
reserve
welfare
Retained
translation
 
 
of shares
stock
Capital
fund
fund
earnings
adjustment
Total
 
 
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2006
 
21,602,720
 
10,801
 
2,701,221
 
1,077,864
 
538,932
 
3,535,252
 
368,391
 
8,232,461
Common stock issues as payment for accrued expenses
 
2,494,950
 
1,248
 
5,343,147
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
5,344,395
Common stock issuance for prepaid expenses
 
225,000
 
113
 
892,387
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
892,500
Common stock issuance for acquiring assets
 
389,643
 
195
 
1,986,984
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
1,987,179
Common stock issuance for acquiring assets
 
204,898
 
102
 
941,198
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
941,300
Issuance of stock options
 
-
 
-
 
97,054
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
97,054
Transfer from statutory public welfare fund
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
538,932
 
(538,932)
 
-
 
-
 
-
Transfer from statutory common reserve fund
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
(294,903)
 
-
 
294,903
 
-
 
-
Translation adjustment
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
1,480,056
 
1,480,056
Dividend distribution
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
(4,739,600)
 
-
 
(4,739,600)
Net income for year ended December 31, 2007
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
 12,232,963
 
-
 
12,232,963
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2007
 
24,917,211
 
12,459
 
11,961,991
 
1,321,893
 
-
 
11,323,518
 
1,848,447
 
26,468,308
Translation
adjustment
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
2,494,763
 
2,494,763
Waiver of accrued interest
 
-
 
-
 
131,533
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
131,533
Issuances of warrants for consulting expenses
 
-
 
-
 
979,144
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
979,144
Transfer to statutory common reserve fund
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
1,901,525
 
-
 
(1,901,525)
 
-
 
-
Net income for year ended December 31,2008
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
22,395,472
 
-
 
22,395,472
 
 
  GULF RESOURCES, INC.
  AND SUBSIDIARIES
  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 ,2008 AND 2007
  (Expressed in U.S. dollars)
 
       
Statutory
Statutory
     
     
Additional
common
public
 
Cumulative
 
 
Number
Common
paid-in
reserve
welfare
Retained
translation
 
 
of shares
stock
capital
fund
fund
earnings
adjustment
Total
 
 
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31,2008
 
24,917,211
 
    12,459
 
13,072,668
 
 3,223,418
 
-
 
 31,817,465
 
 4,343,210
 
   52,469,220
                                 
Translation adjustment
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
    133,789
 
133,789
Common stock issued for settlement of stockholder’s notes payable
 
   5,250,000
 
      2,625
 
  21,284,868
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
21,287,493
Common stock issuance for acquiring assets
 
   1,432,341
 
716
 
    6,027,872
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
6,028,588
Issuance of warrants to non-employees
 
-
 
-
 
         1,415,772
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
1,415,772
Issuance of stock options to employees
 
-
 
-
 
606,468
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
606,468
Net income for year ended December 31, 2009
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
 30,591,415
 
- 
 
30,591,415
Private placement
 
2,941,182
 
      1,471
 
23,498,569
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
23,500,040
Fractional shares upon reverse stock split
 
332
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
- 
 
-
Transfer to statutory common reserve fund
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
2,456,351
 
-
 
 (2,456,351)
 
-
 
-
Reclassification adjustment
 
-
 
-
 
 
(1,188,191)
 
-
 
-
 
(144,240)
 
 
(317,384)
 
(1,649,815)
BALANCE AT December 31,2009
 
 34,541,066
 
    17,271
 
  64,718,026
 
 5,679,769
 
-
 
59,808,289
 
 4,159,615
 
134,382,970

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
     
Years Ended December 31,
     
2009
 
2008
 
2007
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
30,591,415
 
$
22,395,472
 
$
12,232,963
Adjustments to reconcile net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of warrants
   
-
   
979,144
   
-
Amortization of prepaid expenses
   
57,985
   
145,484
   
747,016
Depreciation and amortization
   
7,199,658
   
4,727,865
   
1,298,451
Allowance for obsolete and slow-moving inventories
 
 
(9,182)
 
 
-
 
 
-
Loss from disposal of property, plant and equipment
   
528,749
   
-
   
-
Stock-based compensation expense
   
2,022,240
   
-
   
97,054
Changes in assets and liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- 
Accounts receivable
   
(3,283,341)
   
(7,203,377)
   
(2,347,199)
Inventories
 
 
(222,749)
 
 
49,955
 
 
86,336
Prepayment and deposit
 
 
(3,920)
 
 
(588,542)
 
 
(226,911)
Deferred tax
   
(82,166)
   
(3,448)
   
-
Other receivable
 
 
353 
 
 
- 
 
 
- 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
1,075,519
   
1,788,969
   
2,014,738
Retention payable
   
659,745
   
-
   
-
Due to related parties
 
 
1,190
 
 
2,604,784
 
 
2,065,580
Taxes payable
   
1,284,882
   
-
   
-
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
39,820,378
 
 
24,896,306
 
 
15,968,028
                   
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additions of prepaid land lease
   
(72,411)
   
-
   
-
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
   
704,767
   
-
   
-
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
 
 
(38,876,657)
 
 
(17,365,195)
 
 
(22,679,319)
Net cash used in investing activities
 
 
(38,244,301)
 
 
(17,365,195)
 
 
(22,679,319)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                 
Repayment of notes payable
   
(1,650,000)
   
-
   
-
Repayment of stockholder’s notes payable
   
(50,000)
   
-
   
-
Proceeds from private placement
 
 
21,307,142 
 
 
- 
 
 
50,000
Proceeds from bank loan
   
-
   
-
   
3,620,925
Repayment of loan payable
   
(4,031,775)
   
4,023,250
   
-
Advances (to)/from related parties
   
(852,067)
   
852,105
   
1,213,049
Proceeds from notes and loan payable – related parties
 
 
-
 
 
10,240,800
 
 
11,191,950
Repayment to related party
   
(1,649,837)
   
(3,843,675)
   
-
Dividends paid
 
 
- 
 
 
- 
 
 
(4,739,600)
Net cash provided by financing activities
 
 
13,073,463
 
 
11,272,480
 
 
11,336,324
                   
EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGE ON CASH
 
 
9,151
 
 
1,300,578
 
 
456,234
NET INCREASE IN CASH & CASH EQUIVALENT
 
 
14,658,691
 
 
20,104,169
 
 
5,081,267
CASH & CASH EQUIVALENT - BEGINNING OF YEAR
 
 
30,878,044
 
 
10,773,875
 
 
5,692,608
CASH & CASH EQUIVALENT - END OF YEAR
 
$
45,536,735
 
$
30,878,044
 
$
10,773,875
 
 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
 
    Years Ended December 31,
    2009  
2008
 
2007
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash paid during the year for:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income taxes
 
$
10,514,697
 
$
6,813,943
 
$
6,123,070
Interest paid
 
 
- 
 
 
59,976 
 
 
- 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Waiver of accrued interest
 
$ 
- 
 
$
131,533 
 
$
- 
Issuance of common stock as payment for accrued expenses
 
$
- 
 
$
- 
 
$
5,344,395
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuance of common stock for prepaid expenses
 
$
- 
 
$
- 
 
$
892,500
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuance of common stock for settlement of stockholder’s notes payable
 
$
21,287,493
 
$
- 
 
$
- 
                   
Issuance of stock options to employees
 
$
606,468
 
$
- 
 
$
- 
                   
Issuance of warrants to non-employees
 
$
1,415,772
 
$
- 
 
$
- 
                   
Issuance of common stock for acquiring property, plant and equipment
 
$
6,028,588 
 
$
- 
 
$
2,928,479

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

 
GULF RESOURCES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2009
(Expressed in U.S. dollars)
 
NOTE 1 – NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation
The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Gulf Resources, Inc. a Delaware corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”).

Upper Class Group Limited was incorporated with limited liability in the British Virgin Islands on July 28, 2006 and was inactive until October 9, 2006 when Upper Class Group Limited acquired all the issued and outstanding stock of Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited (“SCHC”).  SCHC is an operating company incorporated in Shouguang City, Shangdong Province, the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) on May 18, 2005.  SCHC is engaged in manufacturing and trading bromine and crude salt in China.  Since the ownership of Upper Class Group Limited and SCHC were the same, the merger was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control, whereby Upper Class Group Limited recognized the assets and liabilities transferred at their carrying amounts.

On December 12, 2006, Gulf Resources, Inc. (formerly Diversifax, Inc.), a public “shell” company, acquired Upper Class Group Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, SCHC (together “Upper Class”).  Under the terms of the agreement, all stockholders of Upper Class received a total amount of 13,250,000 (restated for the 2-for-1 stock split in 2007 and the 1-for-4 stock split in 2009) shares of voting common stock of Gulf Resources, Inc. in exchange for all shares of Upper Class’ common stock held by all stockholders.  Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, the share exchange is considered to be a capital transaction in substance, rather than a business combination.  That is, the share exchange is equivalent to the issuance of stock by Upper Class for the net monetary assets of Gulf Resources, Inc., accompanied by a recapitalization, and is accounted for as a change in capital structure. Accordingly, the accounting for the share exchange will be identical to that resulting from a reverse acquisition, except no goodwill will be recorded.  Under reverse takeover accounting, the post reverse acquisition comparative historical financial statements of the legal acquirer, Gulf Resources, Inc., are those of the legal acquiree, Upper Class, which is considered to be the accounting acquirer.  Share and per share amounts stated have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the merger.

On February 5, 2007, SCHC acquired Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Co., Limited (“SYCI”), a company incorporated in PRC on October 30, 2000.  SYCI manufactures chemical products utilized in oil and gas field explorations and as papermaking chemical agents. Under the terms of the merger agreement, all stockholders of SYCI received a total amount of 8,094,059 (restated for the 2-for-1 stock split in 2007 and the 1-for-4 stock split in 2009) shares of voting common stock of Gulf Resources, Inc. in exchange for all shares of SYCI’s common stock held by all stockholders.   Also, upon the completion of the merger, Gulf Resources, Inc. paid a $2,550,000 dividend to the original stockholders of SYCI.  Since the ownership of Gulf Resources, Inc. and SYCI are substantially the same, the merger was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control, whereby Gulf Resources, Inc. recognized the assets and liabilities of the Company transferred at their carrying amounts.  Share and per share amounts stated have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the merger.

On November 11, 2007, Upper Class formed Hong Kong Jiaxing Industrial Limited (formerly known as Jiaxing Technology Limited) (“HKJI”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Upper Class, in Hong Kong. Upper Class transferred its equity interest in SCHC to HKJI.

The adoption of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) did not result in significant effect in the accounting policies adopted by the Company.

All relevant share data have been adjusted retrospectively to reflect a 1-for-4 stock split effective on October 12, 2009.

Nature of the Business
The Company manufactures and trades bromine and crude salt through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SCHC, and manufactures chemical products for use in the oil industry and paper manufacturing industry through SYCI.
 
 
NOTE 1 – NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gulf Resources, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Upper Class Group Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, which owns 100% of Hong Kong Jiaxing Industrial Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong (“HKJI”), which owns 100% of SCHC and SYCI, which is 100% owned by SCHC.  All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

The consolidated financial statements have been restated for all periods prior to the mergers to include the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the commonly controlled companies.

Use of Estimates
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and this requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of all cash balances and highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less. Because of short maturity of these investments, the carrying amounts approximate their fair values.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance of Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable is stated at cost, net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on management’s assessment of the collectivity of trade and other receivables. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the amount of allowance and the Company considers the historic level of credit losses and applies certain percentage to accounts receivable balance. The Company makes judgments about the credit worthiness of each customer based on ongoing credit evaluations, and monitors current economic trends that might impact the level of credit losses in the future. If the financial condition of the customer begins to deteriorate, resulting in their inability to make payments, a larger allowance may be required.
 
As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, allowance for doubtful accounts was nil. No allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to the income statement for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Concentration of Credit Risk
Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable exists as the Company sells a substantial portion of its products to a limited number of customers. However, such concentrations of credit risks are limited since the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and due to the generally short payment terms.

Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in first-out cost basis, or market. Costs of work-in-progress and finished goods comprise direct materials, direct labor and an attributable portion of manufacturing overhead. Net realizable value is based on estimated selling price less costs to complete and selling expenses.

Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Expenditures for new facilities or equipment and expenditures that extend the useful lives of existing facilities or equipment are capitalized and depreciated using the straight-line method at rates sufficient to depreciate such costs over the estimated productive lives.

Mineral rights are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Mineral rights are amortized ratably over the term of the lease, or the equivalent term under the units of production method, whichever is shorter.
 
 
NOTE 1 – NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Property, Plant and Equipment (continued)
Construction in progress primarily represents the renovation costs of plant, machinery and equipment. Costs incurred are capitalized and transferred to property and equipment upon completion, at which time depreciation commences. Cost of repairs and maintenance is expensed as incurred.

The Company’s depreciation and amortization policies on fixed assets other than mineral rights and construction in progress are as follows:
 
 
Useful life
(in years)
Buildings
20
Machinery
8
Motor vehicles
5
Equipment
8

Asset Retirement Obligation
The Company follows FASB ASC 410, which established a uniform methodology for accounting for estimated reclamation and abandonment costs. FASB ASC 410 requires the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation to be recognized in the period in which the legal obligation associated with the retirement of the long-lived asset is incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the offset is capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. To settle the liability, the obligation is paid, and to the extent there is a difference between the liability and the amount of cash paid, a gain or loss upon settlement is recorded.

Currently, there are no reclamation or abandonment obligations associated with the land being utilized for exploitation.

Recoverability of Long Lived Assets
Long-lived and certain identifiable intangibles are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company is not aware of any events or circumstances which indicate the existence of an impairment which would be material.

Retirement Benefits
Pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, the Company participates in a defined contribution retirement plan for its employees arranged by a governmental organization. The Company makes contributions to the retirement scheme at the applicable rate based on the employees’ salaries.  The required contributions under the retirement plans are charged to the consolidated income statement on an accrual basis when they are due.  The Company’s contributions totaled $270,324, $151,005 and nil for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Mineral Rights
The Company follows FASB ASC 805 that certain mineral rights are considered tangible assets and that mineral rights should be accounted for based on their substance. Mineral rights are included in property, plant and equipment.

Reporting Currency and Translation
The financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency; however, the reporting currency is the United States dollar (“USD”).  Assets and liabilities of the Company have been translated into dollars using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date. The average exchange rate for the period has been used to translate revenues and expenses.  Translation adjustments are reported separately and accumulated in a separate component of equity (cumulative translation adjustment).

Foreign Operations
All of the Company’s operations and assets are located in China.  The Company may be adversely affected by possible political or economic events in this country.  The effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted.
 
 
NOTE 1 – NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue, net of any taxes, when persuasive evidence of a customer or distributor arrangement exists or acceptance occurs, receipt of goods by customer occurs, the price is fixed or determinable, and the sales revenues are considered collectible.  Subject to these criteria, the Company generally recognizes revenue at the time of shipment or delivery to the customer, and when the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss based on shipping terms.

Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes.  Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and tax loss carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs
The Company does not charge its customers for shipping and handling.  The Company classifies shipping and handling costs as part of the cost of net sales, which amounted to $492,582, $424,819 and $384,868 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Stock-based compensation
Common stock, stock options and stock warrants issued to employees or directors are recorded at their fair values estimated at grant date using the Black-Scholes model and the portion that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as compensation cost over the requisite service period.

Common stock, stock options and stock warrants issued to other than employees or directors are recorded on the basis of their fair value using the Black-Scholes model on the basis of the market price of the underlying common stock on the “valuation date,” which for options and warrants related to contracts that have substantial disincentives to non-performance is the date of the contract, and for all other contracts the measurement date is the date that the service is complete. Expense related to the options and warrants is recognized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the period over which services are to be received or the vesting period. Where expense must be recognized prior to a valuation date, the expense is computed under the Black-Scholes model on the basis of the market price of the underlying common stock at the end of the period, and any subsequent changes in the market price of the underlying common stock up through the valuation date is reflected in the expense recorded in the subsequent period in which that change occurs.

Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share of Common Stock
Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the periods presented.  Diluted earnings per share are computed using weighted average number of common shares plus dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period.
 
 
NOTE 1 – NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

   
Years ended
December 31,
 
    2009     2008     2007  
Numerator
                 
Net income
 
$ 30,591,415  
 
$ 22,395,472     $ 12,232,963  
                         
Denominator
                       
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding during the year
    30,698,824       24,917,211       24,172,126  
Add: Dilutive effect of stock options
    2,873       -       -  
Diluted
    30,701,697       24,917,211       24,172,126  
                         
Net income per share
                       
Basic
  $ 1.00     $ 0.90     $ 0.51  
Diluted
 
  1.00  
 
  0.90       0.51  
 
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets.” (“FSP 142-3”) The final FSP amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” (“SFAS 142”). The FSP is intended to improve the consistency between the useful life of an intangible asset determined under SFAS 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under SFAS 141R, “Business Combinations,” and other principles under GAAP. No significant impact on the consolidated financial statements is expected since the Group had already considered the period of expected cash flows in determining the economic useful life of the intangible assets.

In May 2009, the FASB issued “Subsequent Events” (“FASB ASC 855”). This standard incorporates into authoritative accounting literature certain guidance that already existed within generally accepted auditing standards, but the rules concerning recognition and disclosure of subsequent events will remain essentially unchanged. FASB ASC 855 provides general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This statement is effective for interim or annual financial periods ending after June 15, 2009 (fiscal 2009 for us). On February 24, 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-09, Subsequent Events (Topic 855): Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements. The amendments in the ASU remove the requirement for a Securities and Exchange Commission filer to disclose a date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in both issued and revised financial statements. This amendment was effective upon issuance. No significant impact on the consolidated financial statements is expected as the Group had taken into consideration of subsequent events in preparing the financial statements.
 
 
NOTE 1 – NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

In June 2009, the FASB issued “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” (“FASB ASC 105”), which becomes the source of authoritative U.S. GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws remain sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. On the effective date of FASB ASC 105, the Codification will supersede all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. All other non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification will become non-authoritative. All guidance contained in the Codification carries an equal level of authority. Certain accounting treatments that entities have followed, and continue to follow, which are not part of the Codification are grandfathered because they were adopted before a certain date or certain accounting standards have allowed for the continued application of superseded accounting standards. FASB ASC 105 is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Group’s adoption of FASB ASC 105 is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements except that accounting standard reference made by the Group in the financial statements will be based on the new codification.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted
In August 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-05, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value” (“ASU 2009-05”). ASU 2009-05 provides amendments to FASB ASC 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures – Overall” (“FASB ASC 820-10”), for the fair value measurement of liabilities. This update provides clarification that in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, an entity is required to measure fair value using a valuation technique that uses a quoted price of the identical liability when traded as an asset, a quoted price for similar liabilities or similar liabilities when traded as an asset, or another valuation technique that is consistent with the principles of ASC 820. This ASU is effective for the first period (including interim periods) beginning after issuance. No significant impact on the financials statements of the Group is expected since most of the financial liabilities of the Group are trade payables for which the fair value is not materially different from the carrying amount.

NOTE 2 – ASSETS ACQUISITIONS

On April 7, 2007, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, SCHC, acquired assets from Mr. Wenbo Yu (the “Yuwenbo property” or “Factory No. 2”) in exchange for 389,643 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $ 1,987,179 and $ 3,076,923 in cash.  Factory No. 2 includes a 45 years and 9 months (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 1,846 acres of real property through December 2052, with approximately 575 wells, as well as the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property.

On June 8, 2007, SCHC acquired assets from Mr. Donghua Yang (the “Yangdonghua property” or “Factory No. 3”) in exchange for 204,898 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $941,300 and $4,837,233 in cash and an interest-free promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $889,005, with a maturity date of July 8, 2007.  The Company issued the promissory note, and the promissory note was fully paid in June 2007.  Factory No. 3 include a 44 years and 11 months (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,318 acres of real property through April 2052, with 405 wells, and the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property.

On October 25, 2007, SCHC acquired substantially all of the assets of Shouguang City Renjia Area (the “Wangjiancai property” or Factory No. 4”), a bromine producer located in close proximity to SCHC for $6,399,147 in total cash consideration.  Factory No. 4 includes a  45 years and 10 months (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,165 acres through April, 2052, which has been paid in full. Additional assets to be conveyed with the purchase include the related production facility, wells, pipelines and other production equipment, in addition to the current buildings and other assets on the property.

On October 26, 2007, SCHC acquired substantially all of the assets of Shouguang City Houxing Area (the “Liuxingji Assets” or “Factory No. 5”), a bromine producer located in close proximity to SCHC for $6,665,778 in total cash consideration. Factory No. 5 includes a 47 years (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,310 acres through April 2052, which has been paid in full. Additional assets to be conveyed with the purchase include the related production facility, wells, pipelines and other production equipment, in addition to the current buildings and other assets on the property.
 
 
NOTE 2 – ASSETS ACQUISITIONS (continued)

On January 8, 2008, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets owned by Xiaodong Yang in the Shouguang City Hanting  Area (the “Yangxiaodong property” or Factory No. 6”).  The Yangxiaodong property includes a 47 years and 6 months (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,641 acres of real property, with 294 wells, as well as the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property. The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $9,722,222.

On January 7, 2009, the Company  acquired substantially all of the assets owned by Fenqiu Yuan, Han Wang and Yufen Zhang in the Shouguang City Renjiazhuangzi Village North Area (the “Fenqiu Yuan, Han Wang & Yufen Zhang property” or Factory No. 7”). The Fenqiu Yuan, Han Wang and Yufen Zhang property includes a 50-year (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 1,611 acres of real property, with the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property. The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $10,615,000, consisting of $10,000,000 in cash and 375,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock valued at $615,000 (fair value).

On September 7, 2009, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets owned by FengxiaYuan, Han Wang and Qing Yang in the Shouguang City Yingli Township Beishan Village (the “ Fengxia Yuan, Han Wang& Qing Yang property” or Factory No. 8”). The FengxiaYuan, Han Wang and Qing Yang property includes a 50-year (as of date acquisition) mineral rights and land lease covering 2,723 acres of real property, with the related production facility, the pipelines, other production equipment, and the buildings located on the property .The total purchase price for the acquired assets was $16,930,548, consisting of $11,516,960 in cash and 1,057,342 shares of the Company’s Common Stock valued at $5,413,588 (fair value).

Each of the asset acquisitions described above was not in operation when the Company acquired the assets.  The owners of each of the assets did not hold the proper license for the exploration and production of bromine, and production at each of the assets acquired had previously been halted by the government.  With respect to Factory No. 2, the assets had not been operational for nine months; with respect to Factory No. 3, the assets had not been operational for eleven months; with respect to Factory No. 4 and No. 5, the assets had not been operational for fifteen months; with respect to Factory No. 6, the assets had not been operational for eighteen months; with respect to Factory No. 7, the assets had not been operational for twelve months, and with respect to Factory No. 8, the assets had not been operational for thirteen months. The Company recorded the above transactions as purchase of assets.
 
NOTE 3 – INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of:
 
   
As of December 31,
   
2009
   
2008
           
Raw materials
 
$
298,359
 
 
$
202,435
Work in process
 
 
- 
 
 
 
- 
Finished goods
 
 
356,605
 
 
 
229,638
Allowance for obsolete and slow-moving inventories
 
 
(4,632)
     
(13,814)
 
 
$
650,332
 
 
$
              418,259
 
 
NOTE 4 – PREPAID LAND LEASE

The Company prepaid for land leases for a period of fifty years to use the land on which the office premises, production facilities and warehouse of the Company are situated. The prepaid land lease is amortized on a straight line basis. During the year ended December 31, 2009, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $57,985, of which $57,398 and $587 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses respectively.  During the year ended December 31, 2008, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $15,574, of which $14,997 and $577 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2007, amortization of prepaid land lease totaled $12,986, of which $12,467 and $519 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses respectively.

NOTE 5 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property, plant and equipment, net consist of the following :
 
   
As of December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
At cost:
           
Mineral rights
 
$
5,840,594
   
$
5,840,594
 
Buildings
   
21,651,379
     
6,410,813
 
Plant and machinery
   
63,270,428
     
37,619,002
 
Motor vehicles
   
-
     
57,946
 
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment
   
3,602,676
     
2,353,789
 
                  Construction in progress
   
1,467,000
     
-
 
Total
   
95,832,077
     
52,282,144
 
                 
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
13,838,183
     
6,882,688
 
Net book value
 
$
81,993,894
   
$
45,399,456
 

There were no impairment provisions made at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company completed a sewage treatment project at a total cost of $6,601,500.  A retention amount of  $660,150, representing 10% of the total cost will be paid upon one year after the completion date and within one year from the balance sheet date.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $7,199,658, of which $7,019,608 and $180,050 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $4,727,865 of which $4,584,072 and $143,793 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses, respectively.

NOTE 6- OTHER RECEIVABLES

Other receivable includes $2,192,920 receivable from an institutional investor for the private placement in December 2009. The amount was settled and the cash was received in January 2010.

NOTE 7 – ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSE

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following:

   
As of December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Accounts payable
 
$
5,348,638
   
$
3,341,016
 
Salary payable
   
177,194
     
91,032
 
Social security insurance contribution payable
   
19,132
     
33,717
 
Other payable
   
278,781
     
1,281,229
 
Total
 
$
5,823,745
   
$
4,746,994
 
 
 
NOTE 8 –LOAN PAYABLE

This amount was interest free with no fixed term of repayment, and not secured against the Company’s assets. This amount was owed to a non-related party. The amount is settled by cash during the year ended December 31, 2009.

NOTE 9 – NOTES AND LOAN PAYABLE – RELATED PARTIES

   
As of December 31,
   
2009
   
2008
               
Note payable to a stockholder, Shenzhen Huayin Guaranty and Investment Company Limited is unsecured, non-interest bearing, pursuant to an agreement which, as is Chinese custom, states that the loan need not be paid in the immediate future. As at December 31, 2008, the Company believed the earliest the loan would be required to be repaid is January 2011. This loan was denominated in RMB (Note i)
 
$
-
 
   
$18,337,493
             
Notes payable to a stockholder, Shenzhen Huayin Guaranty and Investment Company Limited was unsecured, non-interest bearing and was due in May 2009. The loan is denominated in US dollars. (Note i)
 
 
-
 
 
 
3,000,000
 
               
Loan from a stockholder First Capital Limited was unsecured, non-interest bearing with no fixed term of repayment. (Note ii)
 
 
-
 
 
1,650,000 
 
     
 
   
 
 
Total loans
 
 
 -
 
 
  22,987,493
 
Less: current portion
         
 (4,650,000)
 
Long-term loans, less current portion
 
$
 -
 
$
  $18,337,493
 
               
Future maturities of note payable-related parties are as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
               
2010
   
-
   
                -
 
2011    
 
-
 
 
18,337,493
 
2012
   
-
   
-
 
Total
 
$
-
 
$
18,337,493
 

Note i:
$21,287,493 and $50,000 were settled by the issuance of common stock and cash, respectively during the year ended December 31, 2009.

Note ii:
The balance was settled by cash during the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
 
NOTE 10– DUE TO RELATED PARTIES

Amounts represent payables due to a company whose stockholder and director is also a stockholder and director of the Company.
 
The amount consists of the following:
 
   
As of December 31, 
   
2009
     
2008
             
Due to a key management
 
$
1,190
   
                  -
Due to related company – Hong Kong Jiaxing Lighting Limited
   
-
     
852,067
   
$
1,190
   
      852,067
 
The amount of $1,190 represents advance from a key management of the Company. The amount of $852,067 due to related company represents funds received from Hong Kong Jiaxing Lighting Limited for investment purpose in SCHC. Mr. Ming Yang, the Chairman of the Company, is the director and shareholder of Hong Kong Jiaxing Lighting Limited. and the above balances are unsecured, non-interest bearing and have no fixed repayment terms.

NOTE 11– TAXES PAYABLE

Taxes payable consists of the following:
   
As of December 31,
   
2009
 
2008
         
Income tax payable
 
$
3,079,233
 
$
2,329,227
Mineral resource compensation fee payable
   
333,928
   
291,861
Value added tax payable and others
 
 
2,141,952
 
 
1,648,354
Total
 
$
5,555,113
 
$
4,269,442

NOTE 12– RETAINED EARNINGS – APPROPRIATED

In accordance with the relevant PRC regulations and the Company’s Articles of Association, the Company is required to allocate its profit after tax to the following reserves:

Statutory Common Reserve Funds

SCHC and SYCI are required each year to transfer 10% of the profit after tax as reported under the PRC statutory financial statements to the statutory Common Reserve Funds until the balance reaches 50% of the registered share capital.  This reserve can be used to make up any loss incurred or to increase share capital.  Except for the reduction of losses incurred, any other application should not result in this reserve balance falling below 25% of the registered capital. The statutory Common Reserve Fund as of December 31, 2009 for SCHC and SYCI is 16% and 50% of its registered capital respectively.

Statutory Public Welfare Funds
Prior to January 1, 2007, SCHC and SYCI were required each year to transfer 5% of the profit after tax as reported under the PRC statutory financial statements to the statutory Public Welfare Funds.  This reserve was restricted to capital expenditure for employees’ collective welfare facilities that are owned by the Company.  The statutory Public Welfare Funds are not available for distribution to the stockholders (except on liquidation).  Once capital expenditure for staff welfare facilities has been made, an equivalent amount must be transferred from the statutory Public Welfare Funds to the discretionary Common Reserve Funds.  Due to a change in the PRC Company Law, appropriation of profit to the statutory Public Welfare Funds is no longer required.  Therefore, the balance in the statutory Public Welfare Funds was transferred to the statutory Common Reserve Funds on January 1, 2007.
 
 
NOTE 13 – COMMON STOCK

Effective October 12, 2009 the Company effected a 1-for-4 stock split.  All shares and per share amount for all periods presented have been adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.

In March 2009, the Company issued 5,250,000 shares of its common stock as payment for $21,287,493 of Notes and Loan Payable-Related Party.

In March 2009, the Company issued 375,000 shares of its common stock, valued at $615,000, to acquire assets owned by Mr. Fenqiu Yuan, Han Wang and Yufen Zhang.

In September 2009, the Company issued 1,057,342 shares of its common stock, valued at $5,413,588, to acquire assets owned by Mr. Fenqiu Yuan, Han Wang and Yufen Zhang.

In December 2009, the Company issued 2,941,182 shares of its common stock at a price of $8.50 per share in a private placement.

NOTE 14 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Pursuant to the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of stock options available for grant and issuance is 5,000,000 shares.

The Company issued 25,000 warrants on August 1, 2008 at a price of $4.80 per share as part of a consulting agreement with its investor relations firm. These options fully vested on August 1, 2009. The warrants were valued at $65,000, fair value, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing  model with assumed 162% volatility, a four-year expiration term, a risk free rate of 3% and no dividend yield. The value of the warrants will be expensed over one year, which is the term of the consulting agreement. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, $48,616 and $26,890 was recognized as consulting expense, respectively.

In March 2009, the Company granted to 9 management staff  (including 4 directors of the Company) options to purchase a total of 150,000 shares (25,000 for each of the executive directors, and 12,500 each for one non executive independent director and 5 other management staff) of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.80 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $143,820 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 174% volatility, a three-year expiration term, a risk free rate of 1.43% and no dividend yield. For the year ended December 31, 2009, $143,820 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

In May 2009, the Company granted to a director options to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.80 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $20,486 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 170% volatility, a three-year expiration term, a risk free rate of 1.43% and no dividend yield. For the year ended December 31, 2009, $20,486 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

In June 2009, the Company granted to a director options to purchase 25,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.80 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $39,534 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 167% volatility, a three-year expiration term, a risk free rate of 1.43% and no dividend yield. For the year ended December 31, 2009, $39,534 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

In October 2009, the Company granted to 2 management staff options to purchase 37,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $6.44 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $219,656 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 161% volatility, a three-year expiration term, a risk free rate of 1.43% and no dividend yield. For the year ended December 31, 2009, $219,656 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.
 
 
NOTE 14 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (conitnued)

In October 2009, the Company granted to an independent director options to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $9.65 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $90,648 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 160% volatility, a three-year expiration term, a risk free rate of 1.43% and no dividend yield. For the year ended December 31, 2009, $90,648 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

In November 2009, the Company granted to an independent director options to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $10.14 per share and the options vested immediately. The options were valued at $92,315 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 152% volatility, a three-year expiration term, a risk free rate of 1.43% and no dividend yield. For the year ended December 31, 2009, $92,315 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

In December 2009, the Company granted to an investment bank warrants to purchase 176,471 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $10.2 per share and the warrants vested immediately. The warrants were valued at $1,367,156 fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumed 156% volatility, a three-year expiration term, a risk free rate of 1.43% and no dividend yield. For the year ended December 31, 2009, $1,367,156 was recognized as general and administrative expenses.

The following table summarizes all Company stock option transactions between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009.

   
Number of Option
&Warrants
Outstanding
   
Number of Option
&Warrants
Vested
   
Range of
Exercise Price per Common Share
 
Balance, December 31, 2008
   
325,000
     
112,500
     
$0.84 - $10.04
 
Gra Granted or vested during the year ended December 31, 2009
   
426,471
     
513,970
     
$4.80-10.2
 
Exp Forfeited during the year ended December 31, 2009
   
(250,000)
     
(124,999)
     
$10.04
 
Balance, December 31, 2009
   
501,471
     
501,471
     
$0.84 - $10.20
 

Stock and Warrants Options Outstanding
             
   
Outstanding and
 
Weighted Average
 
Weighted Average
Range of
 
Currently Exercisable
 
Remaining
 
Exercise Price of Options
Exercise Prices
 
at December 31, 2009
 
Contractual Life (Years)
 
Currently Exercisable
             
$0.84-$10.20
 
501,471
 
3.83
 
$   7.65

The weighted average grant-date fair values as at December 31, 2009 and 2008 were $6.84 and $6.85, respectively.

At December 31, 2009, the aggregate intrinsic value of the stock options and warrants was nil.
 
NOTE 15 – DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION

On January 31, 2007, SYCI distributed a dividend to two stockholders in the amount of $2,189,600. On February 5, 2007, in conjunction with the merger of SYCI, Gulf Resources, Inc. paid a $2,550,000 dividend to the original stockholders of SYCI.
 
 
NOTE 16– INCOME TAXES

The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10.

United States
Gulf Resources, Inc. is subject to the United States of America Tax law at tax rate of 34%. No provision for the US federal income taxes has been made as the Company had no US taxable income for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, and management believes that its earnings are permanently invested in the PRC.

BVI
Upper Class Group Limited was incorporated in the BVI and, under the current laws of the BVI, it is not subject to tax on income or capital gain in the BVI. Upper Class Group Limited did not generate assessable profit during the year.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong Jiaxing Industrial Limited  was incorporated in Hong Kong and is subject to Hong Kong profits tax. The Company is subject to Hong Kong taxation on its activities conducted in Hong Kong and income arising in or derived from Hong Kong.  No provision for profits tax has been made as the Company has no assessable income for the year.  The applicable statutory tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are 16.5%,16.5% and 17.5%, respectively.

PRC
 
Enterprise income tax (“EIT”) for SCHC and SYCI in the PRC is charged at 25% of the assessable profits.
  
The components of the provision for income taxes from continuing operations are:
 
   
Years ended
December 31,
 
    2009      2008      2007   
                   
Current taxes – PRC
 
$ 11,184,398  
 
$ 8,202,477  
 
$ 7,043,641  
Non-deductible items disallowed for prior year
 
  -  
 
  -  
 
  706,869  
Others
 
  -  
 
  9,462  
 
  48,172  
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$ 11,184,398  
 
$ 8,211,939  
 
$ 7,798,682  
 
The effective income tax expenses differs from the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25% from continuing operations in the PRC as follows:-
 
   
Years ended
December 31,
    2009      2008      2007   
                   
Statutory income tax rate
 
25
%
  25
%
  33
%
Non-deductible items disallowed for prior year
 
-
%
  -
%
  4
%
Non-deductible items
 
2
%
  2
%
  2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effective tax rate
 
27
%
  27
%
  39
%
 
 
NOTE 16– INCOME TAXES (continued)

The operating subsidiaries SCHC and SYCI are wholly foreign-owned enterprises (“FIE”) incorporated in the PRC and are subject to PRC Foreign Enterprise Income Tax Law.

On February 22, 2008, the Ministry of Finance (“MOF”) and the State Administration of Taxation (“SAT”) jointly issued Cai Shui [2008] Circular 1 (“Circular 1”). According to Article 4 of Circular 1, distributions of accumulated profits earned by a FIE prior to January 1, 2008 to foreign investor(s) in 2008 will be exempt from withholding tax (“WHT”) while distribution of the profit earned by an FIE after January 1, 2008 to its foreign investor(s) shall be subject to WHT.

Since the Company intends to reinvest its earnings to further expand its businesses in mainland China, its foreign invested enterprises do not intend to declare dividends to their immediate foreign holding companies in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2009, the Company has not recorded any WHT on the cumulative amount of undistributed retained earnings of approximately $69.4 million of its foreign invested enterprises in China.

Differences between the application of accounting principles and tax laws cause differences between the bases of certain assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and tax purposes. The tax effects of these differences, to the extent they are temporary, are recorded as deferred tax assets and liabilities. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had federal net operating loss (“NOL”) of approximately $20 million available to offset against future federal income tax liabilities. The NOL will expire beginning 2014.

As of December 31, 2008, the Company had federal NOL of approximately $16 million available to offset against future federal income tax liabilities.  The NOL will expire beginning 2013.
 
   
As of December 31,
   
2009
   
2008
Deferred tax liabilities
$
 -
   
 -
           
Deferred tax assets:
           
Allowance for obsolete and slow-moving inventories
$
1,158
   
$
3,453
Property, plant and equipment
 
81,437
     
-
Net Operating loss
 
6,692,426
     
5,590,626
Other assets
 
3,077
     
-
           
Total deferred tax assets
 
6,778,098
     
5,594,079
           
Valuation allowance
 
(6,692,426)
     
(5,590,626)
           
Current deferred tax asset
$
85,672
   
$
3,453
Long-term deferred tax asset
$
-
   
$
-

There was no unrecognized tax benefits and accrual for uncertainty tax positions as of December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Tax returns filed regarding tax years from 2005 through 2009 are subject to review by the respective tax authorities.
 

NOTE 17– BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company has two reportable segments:  bromine and crude salt and chemical products.

   
Bromine
                         
 
 
and Crude
   
Chemical
   
Segment
             
   
Salt
   
Products
   
Total
   
Corporate
   
Total
 
                                         
December 31, 2009
                                       
Revenue from external customers
  $ 74,330,586     $ 35,946,322     $ 110,276,908     $ -     $ 110,276,908  
Income (loss) from operations
    32,954,828       12,530,417       45,485,245       (3,244,411 )     42,240,834  
Income taxes
    8,051,868       3,132,530       11,184,398       -       11,184,398  
Total assets
    115,621,458       28,274,118       143,895,576       2,527,592       146,423,168  
Depreciation and amortization
    6,048,995       1,150,663       7,199,658       -       7,199,658  
Capital expenditures
    36,066,805       8,838,440       44,905,245       -       44,905,245  
                                         
December 31, 2008
                                       
Revenue from external customers       63,664,156       23,824,178       87,488,334       -       87,488,334  
Income (loss) from operations
    24,663,244       8,121,203       32,784,447       (2,207,290 )     30,577,157  
Income taxes
    6,180,353       2,031,586       8,211,939       -       8,211,939  
Total assets       67,868,644       20,899,118       88,767,762       591,704       89,359,466  
Depreciation and amortization
    4,123,131       604,734       4,727,865               4,727,865  
Capital expenditures       10,529,286       6,835,909       17,365,195    
 
      17,365,195  
                                         
December 31, 2007
                                       
Revenue from external customers       34,015,484       19,764,829       53,780,313               53,780,313  
Maintenance service income
    -       468,337       468,337       -       468,337  
Income (loss) from operations
    14,181,054       7,164,833       21,345,887       (1,320,959 )     20,024,928  
Income taxes
    5,414,688       2,383,994       7,798,682       -       7,798,682  
Total assets
    36,614,939       9,516,930       46,131,869       197,963       46,329,832  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,111,580       186,871       1,298,451    
- 
      1,298,451  
Capital expenditures
    16,555,903       6,123,416       22,679,319       -       22,679,319  
 
 
   
Years ended December 31,
 
Reconciliations
 
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
                   
Total segment operating income
 
$
45,485,245
 
 
$
32,784,447
 
 
$
21,345,887
 
Corporate overhead expenses
 
 
(3,244,411)
 
 
 
(2,207,290)
 
 
 
(1,320,959)
 
Other income (expense), net
 
 
(465,021)
 
 
 
30,254
 
 
 
6,717
 
Income tax expense
 
 
(11,184,398)
 
 
 
(8,211,939)
 
 
 
(7,798,682)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total consolidated net income
 
$
30,591,415
 
 
$
22,395,472
 
 
$
12,232,963
 


NOTE 17– BUSINESS SEGMENTS - (Continued)

The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine and Crude Salt
 (000’s)
 
Chemical Products
 (000’s)
  Total
Revenue
 (000’s)
 
 Percentage of
Total Revenue (%)
 1
 
Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited
 
 
$11,473
 
 
$-
 
$11,473
 
10.4%
 2
 
Shouguang City Rongyuan Chemical Company Limited
 
 
$11,439
 
 
$-
 
$11,439
 
10.4%
                     
TOTAL
     
$22,912
 
$-
 
$22,912
 
20.8%

The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine and Crude Salt
 (000’s)
 
Chemical Products
 (000’s)
  Total
Revenue
 (000’s)
 
Percentage of
Total
Revenue (%)
 1
 
Shandong Morui Chemical Company Limited
 
 
$8,912
 
 
$-
 
$8,912
 
10.2%
                     
TOTAL
     
$8,912
 
$-
 
$8,912
 
10.2%

The following table shows the major customer(s) (10% or more) for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Number
 
Customer
 
Bromine and Crude Salt
 (000’s)
 
Chemical Products
 (000’s)
  Total
Revenue
 (000’s)
 
Percentage of
Total
Revenue (%)
1
 
Talimu Oil Exploration Limited
 
$-
 
$10,244
 
$10,244
 
19.0%
2
 
Shouguang City Weidong Chemical Company Limited
 
 
$7,139
 
 
$-
 
$7,139
 
13.3%
 3
 
Shandong Ruitai Chemicals Company Limited
 
 
$6,761
 
 
$-
 
$6,761
 
12.6%
                     
TOTAL
     
$13,900
 
$10,244
 
$24,144
 
44.9%

NOTE 18 – MAJOR SUPPLIERS

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company purchased 49.5% of its raw materials from its top five suppliers.  At December 31, 2009, amounts due to those suppliers included in accounts payable were $4,016,890. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company purchased 64.4% of its raw materials from its top five suppliers.  At December 31, 2008, amounts due to those suppliers included in accounts payable were $1,591,252. This concentration makes the Company vulnerable to a near-term severe impact, should the relationships be terminated.

NOTE 19 – CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION

The Company sells a substantial portion of its products to a limited number of customers. During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company sold 40.1% of its products to its top five customers. At December 31, 2009, amount due from these customers were $5,449,638. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company sold 42.7% of its products to its top five customers.  At December 31, 2008, amount due from these customers was $4,221,415. This concentration makes the Company vulnerable to a near-term severe impact, should the relationships be terminated.
 
NOTE 20 – ESTABLISHMENT OF CO-OP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER

On September 6, 2007, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SYCI, and East China University of Science and Technology formally opened a Co-Op Research and Development Center. The research center is equipped with state of the art chemical engineering instruments for the purpose of pursuing targeted research and development of refined bromide compounds and end products. According to the Co-Op Research Agreement, any research achievement or patents will become assets of the Company. The Company will provide $500,000 annually during the next five years to East China University of Science and Technology for research. The research and development expense recognized during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $500,406, $514,780, and $268,168, respectively.

NOTE 21 – REVERSE STOCK SPLIT

A reverse stock split of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company's common stock was effected on the basis of one share for every four shares of common stock and was approved by the Board of Directors and shareholders owning a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock and became effective on October 12, 2009. All shares and per share data (except par value) have been adjusted to reflect the effect of the stock split for all periods presented.

NOTE 22 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

   
 Years ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Waiver of interest expenses during first quarter 2008 by a related party:
           
Shenzhen Huayin Guaranty and Investment Company Limited (Note i)
 
$
-
   
$
131,533
 
Note and loan payable – First Capital Limited (Note i)
   
     
1,650,000 
 
Shenzhen Huayin Guaranty and Investment Company Limited (Note i)
 
$
-
   
$
21,337,493
 
Due to related party:
               
Hong Kong Jiaxing Lighting Limited (Note ii)
 
$
-
   
$
852,067
 
Due to key management
   
1,190
     
-
 
   
$
1,190
   
$
852,067
 

Note i:
The above related parties were stockholders of the Company.

Note ii:
The above party is related to the Company by way of director and shareholder in common.
 
NOTE 23 – CAPITAL COMMITMENT AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

The Company has committed approximately $5,868,000 for construction of new production line as of December 31, 2009.

The Company has leased two pieces of land under non-cancelable operating leases, which are fixed in rentals and expire through February and August 2059, respectively. The Company accounts for the leases as operating leases. Future minimum lease payments consist of the following at December 31, 2009:

Less than 1 year
$
42,127
1- 3 years
 
150,355
3-5 years
 
         157,804
More than 5 years
 
  6,490,141
Total
$
6,840,427

 
NOTE 23 – CAPITAL COMMITMENT AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS (continued)

Rental expense amounted to $42,102, nil and nil were charged to the income statements for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

NOTE 24 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In November 2009, the Company signed a contract with a third party for construction of a new production line for waste water treatment chemical additives for a total construction cost of approximately $7,335,000.  The construction commenced in November 2009.  As of December 31, 2009, $1,467,000 was included in construction in progress under property plan and equipment.  On January 3, 2010, the Company revised the construction contract and the total construction cost was changed to $8,802,000.

Except for the above, management has evaluated subsequent events from December 31, 2009 to the date which our financial statements have been issued and were available to be issued, and has concluded that no material subsequent events have occurred since December 31, 2009 that required recognition or disclosure in our current year financial statements. Subsequent events that may occur after the date of issue of financial statements have not been evaluated.
 
 
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
 
Previous Independent Accountants
 
On February 10, 2010, we dismissed Morison Cogen LLP (“M&C”), as our independent accountant. The reports of M&C, on our financial statements for each of the past two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. The decision to change independent accountants was approved by our Audit Committee on February 9, 2010.
 
During our two most recent fiscal years and through February 10, 2010, we have had no disagreements with M&C on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of M&C, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of such disagreements in its report on our financial statements for such periods.
 
We provided M&C with a copy of this disclosure before its filing with the SEC. We requested that M&C provide us with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements, and we received a letter from M&C, stating that it does agree with the above statements  except for the following: as described in M&C’s annual report dated March 12, 2009 on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, that in M&C’s opinion the Company had not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  A copy of such letter, dated as of February 10, 2010 has been filed as an Exhibit to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 10, 2010.
 
New Independent Accountants
 
On February 10, 2010, we appointed BDO Limited (“BDO”) as our new independent registered accounting firm. The appointment of BDO was approved by our Audit Committee on February 9, 2010. During the two fiscal years of the Company ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, and through the date of the BDO’s engagement, the Company did not consult BDO regarding either: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” or “reportable event” within the meaning set forth in Regulation S-K, Item 304 (a)(1)(iv) or (a)(1)(v).
 
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
 
Disclosure Controls
 
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, revaluated the effectiveness as of December 31, 2009 of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Although we were late in filing two current reports on Form 8-K in February and July of 2009, management believes that since July, management and staff have significantly improved disclosure controls and procedures.  In August 2009 we and hired David Wang as Vice-President of Finance.  Mr. Wang has over nine years of experience in working for companies listed on U.S stock exchanges.  Based on this evaluation our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2009.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting refers to the process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and 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 our assets;
 
 
(2) Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorization of our management and directors; and
 
(3) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisitions, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the company.
 
Management has used the framework set forth in the report entitled Internal Control—Integrated Framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, known as COSO, to evaluate the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Based on this assessment, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.
 
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Our management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only our management’s report in this annual report.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information.

Not applicable.
 

We are incorporating by reference the information required by Part III of this report on Form 10-K from our proxy statement relating to our 2010 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2010 Proxy Statement”), which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

The information required by this item is included under the captions “Election of Directors — Nominees,” “Information Concerning Executive Officers” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the 2010 Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 11. Executive Compensation.

The information required by this item is included under the captions “Election of Directors — Compensation of Non-Employee Directors,” “Election of Directors — Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” and “Compensation Committee Report” in the 2010 Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
 
The information required by this item is included under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the 2010 Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

The information required by this item is included under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” and “Election of Directors — Board Meetings and Committees” in the 2010 Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The information required by this item is included under the caption “Audit Committee Report” in the 2010 Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.
 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
 
Exhibit Index

2.1
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 10, 2006, among the Registrant, DFAX Acquisition vehicle, Inc., Upper Class Group Limited and the shareholders of UCG, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2007.
     
2.2
 
Share Exchange Agreement among the Registrant, Upper Class Limited, Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Company Limited and shareholders of Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Company Limited, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2007.
     
3.1
 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-46580) declared effective on November 18, 1992.
     
3.2
 
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation., increasing the authorized capital stock, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant's definitive Schedule 14A filed on October_, 1995.
     
3.3
 
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation., increasing the authorized capital stock, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit B to the Registrant's definitive Schedule 14A filed on August 12, 1997.
     
3.4
 
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation., increasing the authorized capital stock, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant's definitive Schedule 14A filed on October 16, 1998.
     
3.5
 
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware on October 16, 2006, effecting a reverse stock split.
     
3.6
 
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation, changing the name of the Registrant to Gulf Resources, Inc., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2007.
     
3.7
 
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation, increasing the authorized capital stock of the Registrant and effecting a 2-for-1 forward stock split, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2007.
     
 
 
3.8
 
By-laws, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-46580) declared effective on November 18, 1992.
     
3.9
 
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware on October 6, 2009, effecting a reverse stock split. *
     
4.1
 
Certificate of Designation, Powers, Preferences and Rights of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 (c) to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-30021) filed on June 25, 1997.
     
4.2
 
Non-interest bearing promissory note dated April 7, 2007 in the aggregate principal amount of $3,051,282 issued to Wenbo Yu incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 10, 2007.
     
10.1
 
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2006, by and between Juxiang Yu and Irwin Horowitz, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 31, 2006.
     
10.2
 
Fixed Price Standby Equity Distribution Agreement dated May 7, 2006, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2007.
     
10.3
 
Asset Purchase Agreement between Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited and Dong Hua Yang dated June 8, 2007, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 11, 2007.
     
10.4
 
Escrow Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2007, by and among the Registrant, the selling shareholders named in the registration statement and Eaton & Van Winkle LLP, as escrow agent.*
     
10.5
 
Asset Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited and Wenbo Yu dated April 4, 2007, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 10, 2007.
     
10.6
 
Asset Purchase Agreement between Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited and Jianci Wang dated as of October 25, 2007, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2007.
     
10.7
 
Asset Purchase Agreement between Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited and Xingji Liu dated October 26 2007, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2007.
     
10.8
 
Asset Purchase Agreement between Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited and Qiufen Yuan, Han Wang and Yufen Zhang dated January 7, 2009, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2009.
     
10.9
 
Amendment Agreement between the Registrant, Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited, China Finance, Inc., Shenzhen Hua Yin Guaranty and Investment Company, Top King Group Limited, Billion Gold Group Limited, Topgood International Limited dated January 24, 2009, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 6, 2009.
     
10.10
 
Gulf Resources, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement between the Registrant and Biagio Vignolo, dated November 6, 2008.
     
10.11
 
Gulf Resources, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement between the Registrant and Richard Khaleel, dated October 24, 2008.
     
10.12
 
Lock-up Agreement by and among the Registrant, Top King Group Limited, Billion Gold Group Limited, Topgood International Limited, Ming Yang, Wenxiang Yu, Zhi Yang and Shandong Haoyuan Industry Group Ltd., dated  May 10, 2009, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 14, 2009.
     
 
 
10.13
 
Asset Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant, Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited, Fengxia Yuan, Han Wang and Qing Yang, dated September 7, 2009, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 10, 2009.
     
10.14
 
 Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant and institutional investors dated December 11, 2009, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2009.
     
10.15
 
Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Registrant and institutional investors dated December 11, 2009, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2009.
     
14
 
Code of Ethics, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14 to the Registrant’ annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2009.
     
21.1
 
List of Subsidiaries, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2008.
     
31.1
 
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
     
31.2
 
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
     
32.1
 
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

* Filed herewith.
 
 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act, the Company has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 3, 2010
By:   
  /s/ Xiabin Liu
   
By:         Xiaobin Liu
   
Title:      President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
 

 
By:   
 /s/ Min Li
   
By:         Min Li
   
Title:      Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting officer)
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following person on behalf of the Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

SIGNATURE
 
TITLE
 
DATE
         
/s/ Xiaobin liu
     
March 3, 2010
Xiaobin Liu
 
Chief Executive Officer and Director
   
         
/s/ Min Li
     
March 3, 2010
Min Li
 
Chief Financial Officer and Director
   
         
/s/ Ya Fei Ji
     
March 3, 2010
Ya Fei Ji
 
Director
   
         
/s/ Richard Khaleel
     
March 3, 2010
Richard Khaleel
 
Director
   
         
/s/ Biagio Vignolo
     
March 3, 2010
Biagio Vignolo
 
Director
   
         
/s/ Shi Tong Jiang
     
March 3, 2010
Shi Tong Jiang
 
Director
   
 
 
43