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EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - Yongye International, Inc.v239249_ex31-1.htm
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
 
x
Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011
or
 
¨
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the transition period from ________ to ________
 
Commission File Number 001-34444
 
Yongye International, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada
20-8051010
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
6th Floor, Suite 608, Xue Yuan International Tower,
No. 1 Zhichun Road, Haidian District Beijing, PRC
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
+86 10 8232 8866
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x     No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Date File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x     No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨     No x
 
As of November 4, 2011, there were 50,537,044 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, issued and outstanding.
 
 
 

 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
     
Page
       
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
2
 
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2
 
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS.
22
 
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
  36
 
ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
  37
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION   38
 
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
  38
 
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
  38
 
ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
  60
 
ITEM 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
60
 
ITEM 4.
(REMOVED AND RESERVED)
  60
 
ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
60
 
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
  60
 
 
i

 
 
PART I.
 
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YONGYE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
Note
   
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Current assets
                 
Cash
        $ 80,384,153     $ 41,913,469  
Restricted cash
          40,000       40,000  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
    3       203,737,536       26,110,813  
Inventories
    4       48,634,045       65,878,047  
Deposits to suppliers
    5       5,265,686       10,906,295  
Prepaid expenses
            1,475,844       733,429  
Other receivables
            495,742       760,377  
Deferred tax assets, net
            -       158,675  
Total Current Assets
            340,033,006       146,501,105  
                         
Property, plant and equipment, net
    6       22,219,224       21,547,152  
Intangible asset, net
    7       22,243,738       23,598,739  
Land use right, net
    8       5,895,649       4,218,006  
Prepayment for mining project
    9       35,307,731       34,151,063  
Other assets
    10       17,408,099       7,325,049  
Goodwill
            10,633,263       10,284,922  
Total Assets
          $ 453,740,710     $ 247,626,036  
                         
Current liabilities
                       
Long-term loans and payables - current portion
    11     $ 2,153,241     $ 457,880  
Short-term bank loan
    13       15,636,728       -  
Accounts payable
            10,601,468       6,127,606  
Income tax payable
            15,696,964       6,137,119  
Advance from customers
            181,681       60,841  
Accrued expenses
    14       21,348,144       3,024,235  
Other payables
    12       3,337,617       5,310,517  
Derivative liabilities - fair value of warrants
    15       503,018       1,036,268  
Total Current Liabilities
            69,458,861       22,154,466  
                         
Long-term loans and payables
    11       3,699,863       383,285  
Total Liabilities
            73,158,724       22,537,751  
                         
Redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares: par value $.001; 7,969,044 shares authorized; 5,681,818 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2011
    15       49,399,990       -  
Equity
                       
Common stock: par value $.001; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 49,370,711 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and 48,187,044 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010
            49,371       48,187  
Additional paid-in capital
            149,549,255       144,599,839  
Retained earnings
            150,970,751       63,943,371  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
            15,224,143       6,623,806  
Total equity attributable to Yongye International, Inc.
            315,793,520       215,215,203  
Noncontrolling interest
            15,388,476       9,873,082  
Total Equity
            331,181,996       225,088,285  
                         
Commitments and Contingencies
    19       -       -  
                         
Total Liabilities, Redeemable Series A Convertible Preferred Shares and Equity
          $ 453,740,710     $ 247,626,036  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
 
 
2

 
 
 YONGYE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
         
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
Note
   
September 30,
2011
   
September 30,
2010
   
September 30,
2011
   
September 30, 
2010
 
                               
Sales
        $ 140,593,777     $ 71,752,069     $ 345,519,853     $ 186,101,173  
                                       
Cost of sales
          55,013,997       29,639,662       140,874,455       80,095,965  
                                       
Gross profit
          85,579,780       42,112,407       204,645,398       106,005,208  
                                       
Selling expenses
          25,557,635       15,574,981       62,391,878       38,206,314  
                                       
Research and development expenses
          4,541,392       2,170,951       11,150,006       4,509,847  
                                       
General and administrative expenses
          4,854,225       3,530,638       17,718,549       6,996,584  
                                       
Income from operations
          50,626,528       20,835,837       113,384,965       56,292,463  
                                       
Other (expenses)/income
                                     
Interest expense
          (496,509 )     (19,164 )     (806,371 )     (56,718 )
Interest income
          40,702       12,552       67,866       35,377  
Subsidy income
          -       1,427,259       655,071       1,751,732  
Other (expenses)/income, net
          76,321       2,067       177,940       (84,294 )
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities
    15       119,663       (12,077 )     533,250       157,393  
                                         
Total other (expenses)/income, net
            (259,823 )     1,410,637       627,756       1,803,490  
                                         
Earnings before income tax expense
            50,366,705       22,246,474       114,012,721       58,095,953  
                                         
Income tax expense
    17       9,116,471       3,705,985       21,876,518       9,389,307  
                                         
Net income
            41,250,234       18,540,489       92,136,203       48,706,646  
                                         
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest
            2,126,046       962,222       5,108,823       2,511,385  
                                         
Net income attributable to Yongye International, Inc.
          $ 39,124,188     $ 17,578,267     $ 87,027,380     $ 46,195,261  
                                         
Earnings per share:
                                       
Basic earnings per common stock
    21     $ 0.69     $ 0.37     $ 1.66     $ 1.02  
Diluted earnings per common stock
    21     $ 0.69     $ 0.37     $ 1.65     $ 1.01  
                                         
Weighted average shares used in computation:
                                       
Basic earnings per common stock
    21       49,370,711       47,130,522       48,948,944       45,423,109  
Diluted earnings per common stock
    21       49,472,773       47,248,570       49,057,131       45,541,985  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.  
 
 
3

 
 
YONGYE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
 
          
Redeemable Series A Convertible
Preferred Shares
   
Common Stock
                     
Equity
             
                                             
Accumulated
   
attributable to
             
                                 
Additional
         
Other
   
Yongye
             
                                 
Paid-in
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
International,
   
Noncontrolling
   
Total
 
   
Note
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Income
   
Inc.
   
Interest
   
Equity
 
Balance as of January 1, 2011
              $ -       48,187,044     $ 48,187     $ 144,599,839       63,943,371       6,623,806       215,215,203       9,873,082       225,088,285  
Net income
                        -       -       -       87,027,380       -       87,027,380       5,108,823       92,136,203  
Foreign currency exchange translation adjustment, net of nil income taxes
          -       -       -       -       -       -       8,600,337       8,600,337       406,571       9,006,908  
Comprehensive income
                                                                  95,627,717       5,515,394       101,143,111  
Stock compensation to management and independent directors
    15               -       1,183,667       1,184       4,949,416       -       -       4,950,600       -       4,950,600  
Issuance of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares
    15       5,681,818       49,399,990       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Balance as of September 30, 2011
            5,681,818     $ 49,399,990       49,370,711     $ 49,371     $ 149,549,255       150,970,751       15,224,143       315,793,520       15,388,476       331,181,996  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
 
 
4

 
 
YONGYE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
2011
   
September 30,
2010
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
           
Net income
  $ 92,136,203     $ 48,706,646  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    5,320,798       2,249,302  
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities
    (533,250 )     (157,393 )
Stock compensation expense
    4,950,600       -  
Deferred tax expense
    162,234       -  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    (174,681,910 )     (68,136,061 )
Inventories
    19,215,136       2,932,733  
Deposits to suppliers
    6,490,269       (3,102,063 )
Prepaid expenses
    (701,236 )     (719,328 )
Other receivables
    280,068       156,678  
Other assets
    (5,937,069 )     (5,954,038 )
Accounts payable-third parties
    4,067,065       352,970  
Accounts payable-related parties
    -       (880,505 )
Income tax payable
    9,233,827       3,626,988  
Advance from customers
    102,835       1,391,839  
Accrued expenses
    17,837,436       10,250,425  
Other payables
    1,546,503       (59,319 )
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
    (20,510,491 )     (9,341,126 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Change in restricted cash
    -       (40,000 )
Payment for intangible asset
    (3,000,000 )     -  
Payment for mining project
    -       (28,866,259 )
Payment for land use right
    (1,600,867 )     -  
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    -       92,629  
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (1,753,420 )     (6,464,728 )
Purchase of property, plant and equipment from a related party
    -       (1,663,769 )
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
    (6,354,287 )     (36,942,127 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Proceeds from short-term bank loans
    15,384,852       -  
Repayment of long-term loans and payables
    (820,207 )     (447,800 )
Repayment of short term loans
    -       (2,925,675 )
Proceeds from preferred shares, net of issuance cost of $600,010
    49,399,990       -  
Proceeds from common stock issued and warrants exercised
    -       8,634,397  
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
    63,964,635       5,260,922  
                 
EFFECT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH
    1,370,827       472,113  
NET INCREASE /(DECREASE) IN CASH
    38,470,684       (40,550,218 )
Cash at beginning of period
    41,913,469       65,518,181  
Cash at end of period
  $ 80,384,153     $ 24,967,963  
                 
Supplemental cash flow information:
               
Cash paid for income taxes
    12,480,456       5,765,758  
Cash paid for interest expense
    633,874       70,960  

Noncash investing and financing activities:
During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company acquired certain other assets of $5,504,199 and $452,432, respectively, by assuming long-term loans and payables.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
 
 
5

 
 
 YONGYE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 AND 2010

NOTE 1 -ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Yongye International, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Nevada on December 12, 2006. On April 17, 2008, the Company and the Company’s then principal shareholder entered into a share exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with Fullmax Pacific Limited (“Fullmax”), a privately held investment holding company organized on May 23, 2007 under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and all the shareholders of Fullmax (the “Fullmax Shareholders”). Pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement, the Fullmax Shareholders transferred to the Company all of their shares in exchange for 11,444,755 shares of the Company’s common shares (the “Share Exchange”). As a result of the Share Exchange, Fullmax became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the Fullmax Shareholders received approximately 84.7% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares. Immediately prior to the date of the Share Exchange, the Company was a publicly listed shell entity with no operations and a nominal amount of cash and, Fullmax, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Asia Standard Oil Limited (“ASO”) and indirect subsidiary, Yongye Nongfeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Yongye Nongfeng”), was engaged in the sale of fulvic acid based liquid and powder nutrient compounds. The Share Exchange was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, equivalent to the issuance of stock by Fullmax for the net monetary assets of the Company accompanied by a recapitalization.

In November 2007, ASO entered into a Sino-Foreign cooperative joint venture contract with Inner Mongolia Yongye Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Inner Mongolia Yongye”) to form Yongye Nongfeng, pursuant to which, Inner Mongolia Yongye and ASO were to own 10% and 90% of the equity interests in Yongye Nongfeng, respectively. Inner Mongolia Yongye was formed on September 16, 2003 in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”). Mr. Zishen Wu, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Company, owns a controlling equity interest in Inner Mongolia Yongye.

On January 4, 2008, the incorporation and establishment of Yongye Nongfeng was approved by the Inner Mongolia Department of Commerce and the Inner Mongolia Administration for Industry and Commerce. The scope of business of Yongye Nongfeng is the research and development, manufacturing, distribution and sale of fulvic acid based liquid and powder nutrient compounds used in the agriculture industry. The period of the cooperative joint venture is ten years and may be extended by a written application submitted to the relevant government authority for approval no less than six months prior to the expiration of the cooperative joint venture. Prior to the legal establishment of Yongye Nongfeng, both Fullmax and ASO were non-substantive holding companies with no assets and operations and were primarily designed and used as legal vehicles to facilitate foreign participation in the business conducted by Inner Mongolia Yongye.

In connection with the September Offering (See Note 15), the Company entered into agreements to acquire the productive assets of Shengmingsu manufacturing business from Inner Mongolia Yongye (the “Acquisition”). In October, 2009, the Company completed the Acquisition. The consideration paid for the Acquisition consisted of cash of $4.7 million and 4.5% equity interests in Yongye Nongfeng. After the Acquisition, Inner Mongolia Yongye and ASO became 5% and 95% equity interest owner of Yongye Nongfeng, respectively.

On July 20, 2010, Yongye Nongfeng set up a wholly-owned subsidiary, Inner Mongolia Yongye Fumin Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Yongye Fumin”), with registered capital of $14,731,880 (equivalent to RMB 100 million). Yongye Fumin is engaged in the manufacturing and sale of fulvic acid based liquid and powder nutrient compounds. Yongye Fumin was established to expand the production capacity for fulvic acid based liquid and powder nutrient compounds, and to produce humic acid using lignite coal (See Note 9). The construction of the production plant of Yongye Fumin, which is located in Wuchuan County, was completed in the fourth quarter of 2010.
 
 
6

 
 
In May 2011, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with MSPEA Agriculture Holding Limited (“MSPEA”), an affiliate of Morgan Stanley, and Full Alliance International Limited (“Full Alliance”), the Company’s largest shareholder. According to the agreement, the Company issued 5,681,818 shares of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares to MSPEA on June 9, 2011 (“Issuance Date”) for total gross proceeds of $50 million. The redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares can be converted into common stock of the Company at an initial conversion price of $8.80 subject to certain adjustments as specified in the agreement (See Note 15).
  
NOTE 2 -SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted as permitted by rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The December 31, 2010 consolidated balance sheet was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2010 audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. 

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present a fair statement of the financial position as of September 30, 2011, the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and cash flows for nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, have been made. 

The Company’s business is subject to seasonal variations; thus, the results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2011. Generally, the second and third quarters are peak sales periods, and first and fourth quarters are low sales periods for the Company.

All significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2011-05, Comprehensive income (Topic 220), Presentation of Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 increases the prominence of other comprehensive income in financial statements. Under this ASU, an entity will have the option to present the components of net income and comprehensive income in either one or two consecutive financial statements. The ASU eliminates the option in U.S. GAAP to present other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity. An entity should apply the ASU retrospectively. For a public entity, the ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted.
 
NOTE 3 – ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Accounts receivable at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 consisted of the following:

   
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
             
Accounts receivable
 
$
203,737,536
   
$
26,110,813
 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts
   
-
     
-
 
Total
 
$
203,737,536
   
$
26,110,813
 

No provision for allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 as management believes no accounts are uncollectible as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. There were no write-off of accounts receivable for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010.

 
7

 

The Company provides credit terms of up to six months to customers with well-established trading records.
 
NOTE 4 – INVENTORIES

Inventories at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 consisted of the following:

   
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
             
Finished goods
  $ 31,094,924     $ 50,435,480  
Work in progress
    14,669,571       14,683,295  
Raw materials
    2,622,943       641,051  
Consumables and packing supplies
    246,607       118,221  
Total
  $ 48,634,045     $ 65,878,047  

NOTE 5 – DEPOSITS TO SUPPLIERS

The Company is required to pay deposits to the suppliers for the full amount of certain raw materials ordered. These raw materials primarily consist of lignite coal, chemical component materials and packing materials, and are expected to be delivered to the Company before the end of December 2011. The lignite coal and most chemical component materials will be consumed in the production process at Yongye Fumin. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the deposits to suppliers for raw materials amounted to $5,228,892 and $10,845,221, respectively, and deposits to other service providers amounted to $36,794 and $61,074, respectively.

The Company’s decision to make advanced orders of raw materials is mainly based upon (1) the current and projected future market price of raw materials, (2) the demand and supply situation in the raw materials market, and (3) the forecasted demand of products.

NOTE 6 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
Property, plant and equipment at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 consisted of the following:

   
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
             
Buildings
  $ 14,246,804     $ 13,168,830  
Machinery and equipment
    6,978,464       6,567,721  
Office equipment and furniture
    508,776       484,468  
Vehicles
    2,392,469       2,110,077  
Software
    19,795       19,146  
Leasehold improvements
    897,781       754,085  
      25,044,089       23,104,327  
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    2,824,865       1,557,175  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 22,219,224     $ 21,547,152  

Depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $434,217 and $189,548, respectively. Depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $1,267,690 and $539,793, respectively. 

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, twenty-five vehicles with initial carrying amount of $1,427,771 were pledged as security for the long-term banks loans of $232,066 and $315,426, respectively, provided by the banks for the purchase of the vehicles (See Note 11).

 
8

 

NOTE 7 – INTANGIBLE ASSET

Intangible asset at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 consisted of the following:
 
   
September 30, 2011
 
   
Weighted
                   
   
average
   
Gross
         
Net
 
   
amortization
   
carrying
   
Accumulated
   
carrying
 
   
period
   
amount
   
amortization
   
amount
 
Amortizing intangible assets:
                       
Customer List
 
9 years
   
$
25,748,935
     
(3,576,241)
     
22,172,694
 
Patent
 
10 years
     
113,671
     
(42,627)
     
71,044
 
Total
       
$
25,862,606
     
(3,618,868)
     
22,243,738
 

   
December 31, 2010
 
   
Weighted
                   
   
average
   
Gross
         
Net
 
   
amortization
   
carrying
   
Accumulated
   
carrying
 
   
period
   
amount
   
amortization
   
amount
 
Amortizing intangible assets:
                       
Customer List
 
9 years
   
$
24,905,410
     
(1,383,634)
     
23,521,776
 
Patent
 
10 years
     
109,947
     
(32,984)
     
76,963
 
Total
       
$
25,015,357
     
(1,416,618)
     
23,598,739
 
 
Amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $748,742 and $677,302, respectively. Amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $2,202,250 and $682,630, respectively. The estimated annual amortization expense for intangible asset in each of the next five years is $2,864,298.

On July 1, 2010, Yongye Nongfeng entered into an agreement with its provincial level distributor in Hebei Province, the PRC (“Seller”) to purchase the customer list, including the customer relationships, from Seller (“Customer List”). The acquisition of the Customer List allows Yongye Nongfeng to sell its products to sub-provincial level or regional distributors in Hebei Province directly. The consideration of the Customer List was 3,600,000 shares of common stock of the Company which was issued in July 2010 and $3 million cash. The $3 million cash consideration was paid in March 2011.

We determined that a nine-year period to amortize the customer list was appropriate, following the pattern in which the expected benefits of the acquired asset will be consumed or otherwise used up. The Company’s contract period with the provincial distributors (including sub-provincial level distributors after the acquisition) generally is for a period of three-years. The Company believes that it has historical experience in renewing or extending similar distributor contracts, which is consistent with the intended use of the Customer List. There are no legal or regulatory provisions that limit the useful life of the Customer List or that cause the cash flows and useful life of the Customer List to be constrained. In addition, the Company expects the effect of obsolescence, demand, competition, and other economic factors to be minimal.

The Company engaged an independent third party valuation firm in determining the fair value of the Customer List. The fair value of the Customer List was determined using an income approach and considered assumptions (including turnover rate) that a market participant would make consistent with the highest and best use of the asset by market participants. The period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the Customer List was nine years. Without evidence to the contrary, the Company expects that the Customer List will be renewed or extended at the same rate as a market participant would expect, and no other factors would indicate a different useful life is more appropriate. Accordingly, in light of the absence any other of the entity-specific factors, the useful life of the Customer List was determined to be nine years.

 
9

 

A straight-line method of amortization has been adopted as the pattern in which the economic benefits of the Customer List are used up cannot be reliably determined.
 
NOTE 8 – LAND USE RIGHT

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, land use right represented:

 
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
           
Land use right
$ 6,083,888     $ 4,331,801  
Less: Accumulated amortization
  188,239       113,795  
Total
$ 5,895,649     $ 4,218,006  

NOTE 9 - PREPAYMENT FOR MINING PROJECT

On March 1, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with its major humic acid supplier, Wuchuan Shuntong Humic Acid Company Ltd. (“Vendor”), to acquire the permit for the rights to explore, develop and produce lignite coal resources (the “Mineral Right”) in a certain area (the “Project Site”) of Wuchuan County. The cash consideration of the permit is approximately RMB 240 million or USD $35 million. The permit allows the Company to complete all necessary administrative procedures and obtaining government approvals to acquire the Mineral Right. Pursuant to the agreement, Vendor is to assist the Company in completing all necessary administrative procedures and obtaining government approvals.

In August 2011, Inner Mongolia’s Ministry of Land and Resources granted the Company a Mineral Resource Exploration Permit which gives it exclusive exploration rights for the 29.74 square kilometer Project Site for an initial period of three years effective August 2, 2011. As of September 30, 2011, the Company has not obtained certain government approvals, including Geologic Report and Geologic Exploration Report, for it to acquire the Mineral Right. The Company believes the cost to be incurred in completing the remaining administrative procedures and obtaining government approvals are not significant. The Project Site in Wuchuan is located near Yongye Fumin’s product plant which manufactures the majority of the Company’s products. The Company believes the acquisition of the Mineral Right will allow it to secure a long term supply of humic acid, which is a major raw material used in the manufacture of fulvic acid based liquid and powder nutrient compounds, and which is sourced from lignite coals.
 
NOTE 10 – OTHER ASSETS

The Company entered into agreements with certain distributors, including sub-distributors pursuant to which the Company provided the distributor a free vehicle in exchange for the distributor agreeing to comply with certain sale conditions during the term of the agreement of five years.  The sales conditions included (1) meeting the annual sales target set by the Company; (2) not selling the products at a price lower than the price stipulated by the Company; and (3) selling the products only in Company’s approved territories.  To the extent the distributor fails any one of these conditions during the term of the agreement, the Company has the right to have the vehicles return back to the Company.

The cost of these vehicles has been recorded as “Other asset” which is expensed over a five-year period in “Cost of Sales”.

NOTE 11 – LONG-TERM LOANS AND PAYABLES

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the long-term loans and payables consisted of the following:

 
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
           
Vehicle loans-employees
$ 232,066     $ 315,426  
Vehicle loans-distributors
  5,621,038       525,739  
Total
$ 5,853,104     $ 841,165  

 
10

 

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, vehicle-employees loans of $232,066 and $315,426, respectively, were secured by twenty-five vehicles with initial carrying amount of $1,427,771. The vehicle loans are payable in monthly installments over three to five years. Interest rates on the loans range from 5.40% to 14.54% annually, and are subject to the change of the base interest rate prescribed by People’s Bank of China. The vehicle loans were obtained by individual employees of the Company after the Company made the initial down payment of the purchase price of the vehicles. The Company and the individual employees entered into trust agreements that stipulate that (i) the vehicles are legally registered under the individuals’ name, (ii) the Company has the rights of official use, (iii) the Company has the rights to the legal title of the vehicles at all times and entitles it to change the registered owner to the Company or designated third party at any time, (iv) the Company assumes the risk of loss, damage, penalty and other obligations related to the operation and ownership of the vehicle to the extent that the loss or damages were not caused by the individuals’ improper use of the vehicle, (v) the individuals have no right to sell, lease, lend or pledge the vehicles to any other person or entity, and (vi) the Company is obligated to repay the loans in full, and to bear the costs of the related repairs, maintenance, insurance and taxes. Consequently, the Company has recognized the cost of the vehicles as other assets and the loans as liabilities in its consolidated balance sheet.
 
Vehicle loans-distributors represented loans that were initially obtained by the distributors from banks and financial institutions. The Company and the distributors entered into agreements, pursuant to which the Company would assume the full repayment of the loans on behalf of these distributors in exchange for the distributors agreeing to comply with certain sales conditions (See Note 10). The loans have two or three years terms and are payable in monthly installments. Interest rates on the loans range from 5.40% to 17.24% annually, subject to the change of the base interest rate prescribed by People’s Bank of China.

The aggregate maturities of the long-term loans and payables for each of the five years subsequent to September 30, 2011 are: $2,153,241, $2,111,862, $1,583,896, $4,105, and $0, respectively.

NOTE 12 – OTHER PAYABLES

Other payable as of September 30, 2011 mainly represented payable of $1,209,207 for the construction of the production plant in Yongye Fumin and non-income tax payable of $1,852,719. Other payable as of December 31, 2010 mainly represented consideration payable of approximately $3 million for the acquisition of Customer List (See Note 7), and payable of $1,852,473 for the construction of the production plant in Yongye Fumin.
 
NOTE 13 – SHORT TERM BANK LOAN
 
In April 2011, Yongye Nongfeng obtained two short-term bank loans of RMB 52,500,000 (equivalent to $8,209,282) and RMB 47,500,000 (equivalent to $7,427,446), with fixed annual interest rate of 7.878% and 8.203%, respectively, from China Everbright Bank. These two short-term bank loans are guaranteed by the Company’s Chairman and are due on April 1, 2012 and April 18, 2012, respectively.

NOTE 14 – ACCRUED EXPENSES

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the accrued expenses primarily consisted of accrued advertising and promotion expenses of $14,279,874 and $524,668, respectively, accrued R&D expenses of $3,911,547 and $6,914, respectively, and accrued freight charges of $479,358 and $1,161,333, respectively.
 
NOTE 15 – EQUITY FINANCING

Capital stock

Concurrent with the Share Exchange, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement on April 17, 2008 with certain investors (the “April Investors”) for the sale in a private placement of an aggregate of 6,495,619 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “April Investor Shares”) and 1,623,905 warrants (See below) for aggregate gross proceeds equal to $10,000,651 (the “April Offering”). 

 
11

 

On September 5, 2008, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain investors (the “September Investors”), for the sale in a private placement of an aggregate of 6,073,006 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “September Investor Shares”) and 1,518,253 warrants (See below) for aggregate gross proceeds equal to approximately $9,350,000 (the “September Offering”).

On May 8, 2009, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain investors (the “May Investors”), for the sale in a private placement of an aggregate of 5,834,083 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “May Shares”) for aggregate gross proceeds equal to $8,984,595 (the “May Offering”).

On December 17, 2009, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Roth Capital Partners, LLC (“Roth”) and Oppenheimer and Company Inc. (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell 8,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Firm Stock”), par value $0.001 per share, to the Underwriters at a price per share of $7.50 (the ”December Offering”). The sale of the Firm Stock was priced on December 17, 2009 and closed on December 22, 2009. The aggregate proceeds from the offering were $60,000,000. Underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses were $3,692,000 and were recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

The Company also granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 shares to cover over-allotments, if any, at the same price as the Firm Stock. On December 31, 2009 the Underwriters agreed to purchase the over-allotment for gross proceeds of $9,000,000, which, after net of commissions and discounts of $450,000, was received on January 4, 2010.

In connection with the acquisition of Customer List (See Note 7) in July 2010, the Company issued 3,600,000 shares of its common stock to the Seller as part of the consideration.

In October 2010, the Company granted 1,183,667 restricted shares to management and independent directors of the Company in accordance with Yongye International, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan, as an incentive to such individuals to promote the success of the Company’s business. Management was granted 1,137,000 shares on October 8, 2010, and the independent directors were granted 46,667 shares on October 15, 2010 (See below). As of June 30, 2011, all shares have been vested.
 
Redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares

In May 2011, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with MSPEA, an affiliate of Morgan Stanley, and Full Alliance, the Company’s largest shareholder. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, on June 9, 2011 the Company issued 5,681,818 shares of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares to MSPEA for gross proceeds of $50 million. The redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares are convertible into common stock of the Company at an initial conversion price of $8.80, subject to further adjustments as discussed below.
 
The significant terms of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares are as follows:

Liquidation Preference

In the event of liquidation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares then outstanding shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders before any payment shall be made to the holders of the common stock, with respect to each outstanding share of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares, an amount equal to the greater of (i) the original issue price, representing $8.80 per share of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares, plus (a) all accrued but unpaid preferred dividends and (b) other declared but unpaid dividends on redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares, and (ii) such amount per share as would have been payable had all shares of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares been converted into common stock immediately prior to such liquidation.

 
12

 

If upon liquidation, the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares the full liquidation preference to which they shall be entitled in accordance with the above, the holders of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full.

Dividends

The holders of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares shall be entitled to receive paid-in-kind dividends in additional shares of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares, on each anniversary of the Issuance Date. The paid-in kind dividends is based on the number of shares of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares held by such holders on such anniversary multiplied by an annual dividend rate determined on such anniversary in accordance with the formula set forth below (the "Preferred Dividend Rate"), compounded annually:

Preferred Dividend Rate is defined as 7% - [(VWAP – 8.8) x 2 / 310], where VWAP means one-year volume weighted average share price of the Company during the 365-day period immediately prior to the applicable anniversary of Issuance Date, provided that the preferred dividend rate should not exceed 7% per annum and shall not fall below 3% per annum.

In addition, the holders of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares should also receive, on an as-converted basis, any dividends or distributions that the Company declares to the holders of common stock.

Conversion
 
At any time after issuance, each holder of any shares of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares then outstanding may, at such holder’s option, elect to convert all or any portion of the shares of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares held by such holder into a number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock. The initial conversion price is $8.80 per share and is subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments for issuances of shares of common stock as a dividend or distribution on shares of the common stock, or mergers or reorganizations or future issuances of other Company’s securities at a price lower than the then applicable conversion price. Additionally, the conversion price is subject to upward or downward adjustments, depending upon the Actual Net Income (as defined below) being greater than or lower than the Cumulative Net Income Guarantee (as defined below) of the corresponding period, provided that (i) the conversion price, as adjusted, shall not exceed $15.00 per share, and (ii) the sum of all shares of common stock issuable to the holders of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares as a result of conversions, dividends, or distributions, or common stock acquired shall not exceed 9,869,205, or 19.99% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on May 29, 2011, which is the date the Company entered into the securities purchase agreement for the issuance of redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares.
 
 The Actual Net Income means, in respect of any fiscal year or quarter, the consolidated net income of the Company for such fiscal year or quarter (as applicable), after all charges and provisions for taxes and minority interests and adjusted to exclude certain items, as audited (for fiscal years) or reviewed (for fiscal quarters) in accordance with US GAAP.

The Cumulative Net Income Guarantee is defined as: $84 million for fiscal 2011, $210 million for the cumulative period of fiscal 2011 through fiscal 2012, $399 million for the cumulative period of fiscal 2011 through fiscal 2013, and $682.5 million for the cumulative period of fiscal 2011 through fiscal 2014.

Automatic Conversion

On the fifth anniversary of the Issuance Date of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares, all redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares will automatically convert into common stock at the then applicable conversion price.

Voting Rights

The holders of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares are entitled to vote upon all matters upon which the holders of common stocks have the right to vote, such votes to be counted together with all other shares of stock having general voting powers and not separately as a class. Each holder of the outstanding redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares shall be entitled to cast the number of votes, which is equal to the number of votes that would be attributable to the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares.

 
13

 

Redemption

The holders of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares have the right to require the Company to redeem all or a portion of the outstanding redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares upon the occurrence of any of the following conditions: (i) a material breach by any of the Company and Full Alliance of any of the key obligations under the securities purchase agreement and related transaction documents, (ii) the failure to remain current in the Company’s securities filings, (iii) the failure to obtain the exploration rights and recover amounts paid for such rights, on or prior to June 30, 2012, and (iv) the discontinuation of Mr. Zishen Wu as CEO of the Company prior to December 31, 2014, unless his cessation of duties results from his death, disability or incapacity. In such cases, the redemption price for the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares would be equal to an amount that would yield a total internal rate of return of 30% on the purchase price of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares.

The holders of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares also have the right to redeem all or a portion of their redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares if (i) the quotient of the Company’s aggregate earnings per share in any six rolling consecutive quarters from the first quarter of 2010 onwards divided by the aggregate amount of the earnings per share of the corresponding periods in the prior year is less than 120%, and (ii) net income of any fiscal year between 2011 and 2014 is less than the relevant Income Threshold for such year. In such cases, the redemption price for the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares would be equal to an amount that would yield a total internal rate of return of 20% on the purchase price of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares. The “Income Threshold” is defined as: US$75 million for the fiscal year 2011, US$101 million for the fiscal year 2012, US$121 million for the fiscal year 2013 and US$145 million for the fiscal year 2014, subject to certain adjustments caused by future issuances of the Company’s securities that have a dilutive effect on the holders of the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares.
 
Based on the historical income level, year to date income and projected net income and earnings per share for the next four years, management believes it is not probable that the Series A convertible preferred shares are redeemable as at September 30, 2011. The Company will further assess the probability of whether the redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares will become redeemable at each reporting period end.
 
Warrants

Concurrent with the April Investor Shares, the Company issued 1,623,905 warrants to purchase 1,623,905 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “April Warrants”) to the April Investors as an inducement to the April Offering. The warrants issued have a five-year exercise period with an initial exercise price of $1.848. In addition, 649,562 warrants were issued to Roth as the placement agent with terms and exercise price identical to the warrants issued to the April Investors.

Concurrent with the September Investor Shares, the Company issued 1,518,253 warrants to purchase 1,518,253 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “September Warrants”) to the September Investors as an inducement to the September Offering. The warrants issued have a five-year exercise period with an initial exercise price of $1.848. In addition, 607,301 warrants were issued to Roth as the placement agent with terms and exercise price identical to the warrants issued to the September Investors.

On September 12, 2008, Roth executed an irrevocable cashless exercise of its warrants and was issued 686,878 shares of common stock of the Company. In exchange for the issuance of 354,987 shares, Roth surrendered 649,562 warrants received in the April Offering; and in exchange for the issuance of 331,891 shares, Roth surrendered 607,301 warrants received in the September Offering.

Concurrent with the offering of the “May Shares”, the Company issued to Roth as the placement agent, 246,224 warrants (“May Warrants”).  The warrants have a five-year exercise period and an initial exercise price of $1.848. On November 9, 2009, Roth executed an irrevocable cashless exercise of all the “May Warrants”. The Company issued 198,247 shares of common stock of the Company in exchange for the surrender of all the May Warrants.

 
14

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, no “April Warrants” and “September Warrants” were exercised by April Investors and September Investors.

According to the terms of these warrants, the Company could be required to pay cash to the warrant holders under certain events that are not within the control of the Company.  Specifically, upon the occurrence of certain “fundamental transactions” as defined, the warrant holders (but not the shareholders of the Company’s common stock) are entitled to receive cash equal to the value of the warrants to be determined based on an option pricing model and certain specified assumptions set forth in the warrant agreement.  In addition, the terms of the warrants include a “down-round” provision under which the exercise price could be affected by future equity offerings undertaken by the Company.  If the Company issues any common stock or common stock equivalents, as defined, at any time the warrants are outstanding, at an effective price less than the then warrant exercise price, the exercise price of warrants will be reduced to the effective price of newly issued common stock or common stock equivalents.  In the “May Offering”, the Company issued new common stock at a price of $1.54 per share and accordingly, the exercise price of the April Warrants and the September Warrants was reduced to $1.54 per share.  The exercise price of the May Warrants ($1.848) was not affected but is also subject to potential down-round adjustments in future periods. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, there were 148,172 warrants outstanding, of which 48,714 and 99,458 warrants will expire if unexercised by April 2013 and September 2013, respectively.
 
The potential cash payments and the down-round provision preclude the classification of these warrants as equity. Accordingly, the warrants are accounted for as a liability and adjusted to fair value through earnings at each reporting date. The gain resulting from the decrease in fair value of warrants was $119,663 and $533,250 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. The loss resulting from the increase in fair value of warrants was $12,077 for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The gain resulting from the decrease in fair value of warrants was $157,393 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

The estimated fair values of the warrants issued to April Investor and September Investor were determined at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 using Binominal Option Pricing Model with Level 2 inputs. The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s financial liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using:
 
       
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Financial
Assets and Liabilities
   
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
   
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
 
September 30, 2011
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
                       
Liabilities at fair value:
                     
Derivative liabilities—warrants
  $ 503,018       -     $ 503,018       -  
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using:
 
       
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Financial
Assets and Liabilities
   
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
   
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
 
December 31, 2010
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
                       
Liabilities at fair value:
                     
Derivative liabilities—warrants
  $ 1,036,268       -     $ 1,036,268       -  

 
15

 

The fair values of the warrants are summarized as follows:

   
April Warrants
   
September Warrants
 
Fair value of warrant per share (US$) at:
           
Date of issuance
  $ 1.07     $ 2.08  
December 31, 2010
  $ 6.97     $ 7.00  
September 30, 2011
  $ 3.33     $ 3.43  
 
 The fair values of the warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 were determined based on the Binominal option pricing model, using the following key assumptions:

   
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
   
April
Warrants
   
September
Warrants
   
April
Warrants
   
September
Warrants
 
                         
Expected volatility
    105.1 %     105.4 %     67.5 %     67.0 %
                                 
Expected dividends yield
    0 %     0 %     0 %     0 %
                                 
Time to maturity
 
1.6 years
   
1.9 years
   
2.3 years
   
2.7 years
 
                                 
Risk-free interest rate per annum
    1.230 %     1.230 %     1.483 %     1.483 %
                                 
Fair value of underlying common shares (per share)
  $ 4.50     $ 4.50     $ 8.40     $ 8.40  

Stock-based compensation

Pursuant to the 2010 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which was approved by the stockholders of the Company in the annual meeting held on June 11, 2010, the Company was authorized to issue up to 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in any calendar to selected executives, key employees and directors. The purpose of the Plan is to provide incentives to such individuals to promote the success of the Company’s business.

In October 2010, the Company granted 1,183,667 restricted shares to management and independent directors of the Company in accordance with the Plan. Management was granted 1,137,000 shares on October 8, 2010, and the independent directors were granted 46,667 shares on October 15, 2010. All of the restricted shares vested in April 2011.
 
A summary of the status of the Company’s shares as of September 30, 2011, and changes during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, is presented below: 
 
         
Weighted average
 
         
grant-date
 
Restricted shares
 
Shares
   
fair value
 
Balance at January 1, 2011
    1,183,667     $ 9,261,239  
Granted
    0       0  
Vested
    0       0  
Forfeited
    0       0  
Balance at March 31, 2011
    1,183,667     $ 9,261,239  
Granted
    0       0  
Vested
    (1,183,667 )     (9,261,239 )
Forfeited
    0       0  
Balance at June 30, 2011
    0     $ 0  
Granted
    0       0  
Vested
    0       0  
Forfeited
    0       0  
Balance at September 30, 2011
    0     $ 0  

 
16

 

At September 30, 2011, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested shares granted under the Plan. The total stock-based compensation cost recognized in the statement of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was nil and $4,950,600.

NOTE 16 – STATUTORY RESERVE

Yongye Nongfeng and Yongye Fumin are required to allocate at least 10% of its after tax profits as determined under generally accepted accounting principal in the PRC to a statutory surplus reserve until the reserve balance reaches 50% of its registered capital. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, Yongye Nongfeng and Yongye Fumin made appropriations to this statutory reserve of $10,185,918, and $5,051,225, respectively. The accumulated balance of the statutory reserve of Yongye Nongfeng and Yongye Fumin as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $20,100,992 and $9,915,074, respectively.

In accordance with the PRC laws and regulations, Yongye Nongfeng and Yongye Fumin is restricted in its ability to transfer a portion of its net assets to the Company in the form of dividends, which amounted to $19,095,942, representing the amount of accumulated balance of statutory reserve of Yongye Nongfeng and Yongye Fumin attributable to the Company as of September 30, 2011.

NOTE 17 – INCOME TAXES

Yongye Nongfeng is a foreign investment enterprise located in the Western Region of the PRC and was entitled to a preferential income tax rate of 15% for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, Yongye Nongfeng received a High-Tech Enterprise Certificate which entitles it to a preferential tax rate of 15% for three years starting from January 1, 2010.

The Company’s effective income tax rates were 18.10% and 16.66% for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and were 19.19% and 16.16% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The effective income tax rate for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 differs from the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25% primarily due to the effect of the abovementioned Yongye Nongfeng’s preferential tax treatment, and partly offset by the effect of non-deductible expenses.

There has been no change in unrecognized tax benefits during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. In addition, the Company does not expect that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly within the next 12 months. No interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were recorded for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.
 
NOTE 18 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The fair values of the financial instruments as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 represent the estimated amounts that would be received to sell those assets or that would be paid to transfer those liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at that date. Those fair value measurements maximize the use of observable inputs. However, in situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date, the fair value measurement reflects the Company’s own judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Those judgments are developed by the Company based on the best information available in the circumstances, including expected cash flows and appropriately risk-adjusted discount rates, available observable and unobservable inputs.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

Cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other receivables, long-term loans and payables – current portion, short-term bank loans, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other payables: The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

Derivative liabilities: The method and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of derivative liabilities are set out in Note 15.

 
17

 

Long-term loans and payables: The fair value of the Company’s long-term loans and payables is estimated by discounting future cash flows using current market interest rates offered to the Company and its subsidiaries for debts with substantially the same characteristics and maturities, and approximates to its carrying amount.

NOTE 19 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company has an operating lease for an office space in Beijing, PRC for the period from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013. The lease expense for this office space was $65,040 and $58,428 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $192,599 and $174,354 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. As of September 30, 2011, minimum lease payments for each of twelve months period ended September 30, 2012, 2013 and 2014 under non-cancellable operating lease agreement is $260,891, $260,891 and $65,223, respectively or an aggregated amount of $587,005. There is no minimum lease payment in the next fourth and fifth twelve months period.
 
On May 26, 2011 and June 3, 2011, the Company and certain of its officers and directors were named in putative class action lawsuits filed in the United States Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging, among other things, that the Company and three of its  officers and directors issued false and misleading information to investors about the Company’s financial and business condition. These securities class action complaints generally allege that Yongye’s business was not growing at the rate represented by the defendants and that Yongye’s financial results as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission were inconsistent with its production capabilities.

On July 19, 2011, the Company and certain of its officers and directors were named in a derivative suit filed in the First Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada (Carson City) alleging, among other things, that the Company’s directors and officers breached their fiduciary duties to the Company, misrepresented the Company’s earnings, wasted corporate assets and unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of the Company. The derivative complaint also alleges that Yongye, at the direction of or with the approval of its directors, failed to implement an adequate system of internal and financial controls.

The litigations are in their early stages. The Company believes the claims contained in the lawsuits to be without merit and intends to defend the Company vigorously.
 
NOTE 20 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES
 
On January 4, 2011, the Company entered into an operating lease with Inner Mongolia Yongye for a research and development activity facility in Beijing, PRC for the period from January 4, 2011 to December 31, 2011. The lease expense for the research and development facility paid to Inner Mongolia Yongye was $40,437 and $119,745 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company sold three vehicles with net book value of $135,191 and an apartment with net book value of $102,263 to Inner Mongolia Yongye. In addition, the long-term loans and payables of $144,513 that were secured by these assets were assumed by Inner Mongolia Yongye. Upon disposal, no gain or loss was recorded and the Company received cash of $92,941.

In April 2011, Yongye Nongfeng obtained two short-term bank loans of RMB 52,500,000 (equivalent to $8,209,282) and RMB 47,500,000 (equivalent to $7,427,446) from China Everbright Bank. The loans are due on April 1, 2012 and April 18, 2012, respectively, and were guaranteed by the Company’s Chairman.

 
18

 

NOTE 21 – EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic earnings per share for the periods indicated: 

   
For the three months ended
 
   
September
 30, 2011
   
September
 30, 2010
 
Numerator:
           
Net income attributable to Yongye International, Inc.
 
$
39,124,188
   
$
17,578,267
 
Dividends on redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares
   
(882,192
)
   
-
 
Earnings allocated to participating nonvested shares
     
-
   
-
 
Earnings allocated to participating redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares
   
(3,946,850
)
   
-
 
Net income allocated to common stockholders
 
$
34,295,146
   
$
17,578,267
 
Denominator:
               
Weighted average shares of common stock
   
49,370,711
     
47,130,522
 
Basic earnings per common stock
 
$
0.69
   
$
0.37
 

   
For the nine months ended
 
   
September
 30, 2011
   
September
 30, 2010
 
Numerator:
               
Net income attributable to Yongye International, Inc.
 
$
87,027,380
   
$
46,195,261
 
Dividends on redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares
   
(1,083,562
)
   
-
 
Earnings allocated to participating nonvested shares
   
(700,822
)
   
-
 
Earnings allocated to participating redeemable Series A convertible preferred shares
   
(3,907,852
)
   
-
 
Net income allocated to common stockholders
 
$
81,335,144
   
$
46,195,261
 
Denominator:
               
Weighted average shares of common stock
   
48,948,944
     
45,423,109
 
Basic earnings per common stock
 
$
1.66
   
$
1.02
 
 
The following table sets forth the computation of diluted earnings per share for the periods indicated:
 
   
For the three months ended
 
   
September
 30, 2011
   
September
 30, 2010
 
Numerator:
           
Net income allocated to common stockholders as reported in Basic EPS
 
$
34,295,146
   
$
17,578,267
 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities
   
(119,663
)
   
12,077
 
Net income allocated to common stockholders
 
$
34,175,483
   
$
17,590,344
 
Denominator:
               
Weighted average shares of common stock as reported in Basic EPS
 
$
49,370,711
   
$
47,130,522
 
Dilutive effect of warrants
   
102,062
     
118,048
 
     
49,472,773
     
47,248,570
 
Diluted earnings per common stock
 
$
0.69
   
$
0.37
 

   
For the nine months ended
 
   
September
30, 2011
   
September
30, 2010
 
Numerator:
               
Net income allocated to common stockholders as reported in Basic EPS
 
$
81,335,144
   
$
46,195,261
 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities
   
(533,250
)
   
(157,393
)
Net income allocated to common stockholders
 
$
80,801,894
   
$
46,037,868
 
Denominator:
               
Weighted average shares of common stock as reported in Basic EPS
   
48,948,944
     
45,423,109
 
Dilutive effect of warrants
   
108,187
     
118,876
 
     
49,057,131
     
45,541,985
 
Diluted earnings per common stock
 
$
1.65
   
$
1.01
 

 
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NOTE 22 – CONCENTRATIONS AND CREDIT RISKS
 
At September 30, 2011, the Company held cash in banks of approximately $80,298,373 that is uninsured by the government authority. To limit exposure to credit risk relating to deposits, the Company primarily places cash deposits only with large financial institution in the PRC with acceptable credit rating.

Five major customers accounted for 36% and 55% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Five major customers accounted for 33% and 59% of the Company’s total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company’s total revenue from five major customers was $50,892,264 and $112,942,050 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. The Company’s total revenue from five major customers was $39,197,220 and $112,111,148 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. All of these major customers are distributors in the PRC agriculture industry.
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2011
   
For the nine months ended September 30, 2011
 
Largest
 
Primary
 
Amount of
   
% Total
   
Largest
Primary
 
Amount of
   
% Total
 
Customers
 
Provinces
 
Sales
   
Sales
   
Customers
Provinces
 
Sales
   
Sales
 
Customer A
 
Inner Mongolia
  $ 13,568,265       10 %  
Customer B
Liaoning;
Heilongjiang;
Jilin
  $ 25,953,352       8 %
Customer B
 
Liaoning;
Heilongjiang;
Jilin
    10,841,522       8 %  
Customer F
Shandong
    23,392,184       7 %
Customer C
 
Jiangxi;
Fujian
    8,937,640       6 %  
Customer E
Guangdong;
Hainan
    22,314,319       6 %
Customer D
 
Jiangsu
    8,781,354       6 %  
Customer D
Jiangsu
    20,797,528       6 %
Customer E
 
Guangdong;        Hainan
    8,763,483       6 %  
Customer G
Henan
    20,484,667       6 %
Total
      $ 50,892,264       36 %  
Total
    $ 112,942,050       33 %
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2010
   
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010
 
Largest
 
Primary
 
Amount of
   
% Total
   
Largest
Primary
 
Amount of
   
% Total
 
Customers
 
Provinces
 
Sales
   
Sales
   
Customers
Provinces
 
Sales
   
Sales
 
Customer H
 
Hebei;
Beijing;
Tianjin
  $ 15,313,847       21 %  
Customer J
Hebei;
Beijing;
Tianjin
  $ 32,370,197       17 %
Customer G
 
Henan
    7,214,600       10 %  
Customer E
Guangdong;
Jiangsu;
Henan;
Shanxi
    28,093,886       15 %
Customer F
 
Shandong
    6,888,311       10 %  
Customer F
Shandong
    19,139,975       10 %
Customer I
 
Anhui
    5,060,233       7 %  
Customer K
Inner Mongolia
    17,193,243       9 %
Customer B
 
Liaoning;
Heilongjiang;
Jilin
    4,720,229       7 %  
Customer H
Hebei;
Beijing;
Tianjin
    15,313,847       8 %
Total
      $ 39,197,220       55 %  
Total
    $ 112,111,148       59 %

Three major suppliers accounted for 91% ($52,233,724), of which one major supplier accounted for 46% ($26,327,303), of the Company’s total inventory purchases for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Three major suppliers accounted for 89% ($102,796,350), of which one major supplier accounted for 41% ($47,121,712), of the Company’s total inventory purchases for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Three major suppliers accounted for 86% ($26,529,521), of which one major supplier accounted for 64% ($19,771,633), of the Company’s total inventory purchases for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Three major suppliers accounted for 87% ($73,219,730), of which one major supplier accounted for 69% ($57,856,688), of the Company’s total inventory purchases for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. If these suppliers terminate their supply relationship with the Company, the Company may be unable to purchase sufficient raw materials on acceptable terms which may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.

 
20

 

The Company’s operations are carried out in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environments in the PRC as well as by the general state of the PRC’s economy. In addition, the Company’s business may be influenced by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion and remittance abroad, rates and methods of taxation, and the extraction of mining resources, among other factors.

NOTE 23 – SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On October 10, 2011, the Company granted 1,166,333 restricted shares to management and independent directors of the Company in accordance with Yongye International, Inc.’s 2010 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan which was approved by the stockholders of the Company in the annual meeting held on June 11, 2010, as an incentive to such individuals to promote the success of the Company’s business. Shares vest on the twelve month anniversary of the date of grant.

 
21

 
 
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS.

The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto. Except as otherwise indicated or as the context may otherwise require, all references to “we”, “the Company”, “us” and “our” refer to Yongye International, Inc. (formerly known as Yongye Biotechnology International, Inc.) and its consolidated subsidiaries. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements. The words or phrases “would be,” “will allow,” “expect to”, “intends to,” “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include those concerning our expected financial performance, our corporate strategy and operational plans. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, including: (a) those risks and uncertainties related to general economic conditions in China, including regulatory factors that may affect such economic conditions; (b) whether we are able to manage our planned growth efficiently and operate profitable operations, including whether our management will be able to identify, hire, train, retain, motivate and manage required personnel or that management will be able to successfully manage and exploit existing and potential market opportunities; (c) whether we are able to generate sufficient revenues or obtain financing to sustain and grow our operations; and (d) whether we are able to successfully fulfill our primary requirements for cash which are explained below under “Liquidity and Capital Resources”. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, we do not undertake, and we specifically disclaim any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement.

Company Overview

We are a leading crop nutrient company in China in term of total sales in 2010. We are primarily engaged in research, development, manufacturing and sales of fulvic acid based crop and animal nutrient products for the agriculture and stock farming industry.  We are headquartered in Beijing with production facilities in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China (“Inner Mongolia”).  Our products are sold nationwide in 30 provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-administered municipalities across China.

Products

Currently, our principal product is liquid crop nutrient, from which we derived substantially all of our sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. We also produce powder animal nutrient product which is mainly used for dairy cows. We market both products under the trade name “Shengmingsu” (“生命素” in Chinese which means “Life Essential”). We produce our liquid crop nutrient product based on a patented formula utilizing fulvic acid as the primary compound base which is combined with various micro nutrients such as zinc and boron as well as macro nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium ("NPK”) that are essential for the health of crops.  Our product’s core fulvic acid compound improves crop yield by enhancing the absorption of fertilizers and micro nutrients.  In addition, the micro nutrients and NPK included in our product formulation serves as a supplement during key growth stages of crops. We believe that our product is particularly well-suited for use in China, which generally has highly degraded farming soil as a result of over-farming, decades of over-use of chemical fertilizers and less advanced farming practices compared with more developed nations.  After water dilution, our liquid crop nutrient product is most commonly applied through directly spraying onto leaves of crops and typically used at certain critical growth stages of crops in addition to normal fertilizer application.

The efficacy of fulvic acid for enhancing crop yield is well-documented by over 20 global research reports published by universities and institutions in the United States, China, Europe and other countries.  The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Scientific and Technology Bureau (“IMARSTB”) conducted an official assessment of our liquid crop nutrient product in 2008 and concluded that our product increases agricultural output, improves the utilization rate of fertilizer, enhances crop resistance to diseases and droughts, and has a lighter weight and higher bio-activity than other products it tested.  In addition, the IMARSTB concluded that large scale experimentation in China has proven that our product can increase overall yields of staple crops, such as wheat and rice by 10-20%, and vegetables and fruits by 15-30%, while also improving product quality. Many other third parties also conducted tests on our product’s efficacy on different crops and geographical locations in China, and they have drawn similar conclusions as documented in the IMARSTB assessment.

 
22

 

Our powder animal product is principally used in the dairy industry as a feed additive for dairy cows and helps decrease inflammation and alleviate pain due to mastitis which occurs as a result of milking.

Sales and Distribution

We employ a multi-tiered distribution model whereby we sell our products to provincial-level distributors who sell to our end-users either directly or indirectly through county-level and village-level distributors. We currently have 25 provincial-level distributors, most of which each covers a single province, while the rest of them cover either multiple provinces or a portion of one province (in the case of Hebei, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang). We select our provincial-level distributors based on criteria including experience, reputation, network coverage and financial strength, and we usually enter into multi-year distribution contracts with them.  All of our contracts with provincial-level distributors include mutual exclusivity provisions whereby the provincial-level distributors are not allowed to distribute competing products, and we grant the distributor exclusive sales rights in the designated territory. We are careful to ensure that the sales territories of our provincial-level distributors do not overlap.

Our provincial-level distributors sell our products directly to county-level distributors, to key accounts, such as large farms, and farmers through promotional events. County-level distributors sell our products to independently owned Yongye-branded stores, which serve as village-level retailers of our products (“Branded Retailers”), large farms, and farmers through promotional events. Branded Retailers distribute our products directly to farmers in rural villages and towns. Most of them are privately owned individual agriculture stores while some have common ownership or belong to store chains. None of these “Branded Retailers” is owned or controlled by us. They are typically small in size and distribute a variety of agriculture-related products, including fertilizer, seeds and pesticides to farmers in the surrounding areas.

The following chart illustrates our multi-tiered distribution model:


 
23

 

To ensure consistent pricing and channel margins nationwide, Branded Retailers are typically granted exclusive sales rights for our products in their authorized territory at the village/town level. We also provide the Branded Retailers with our distinct signage with the “Yongye Shengmingsu” logo which typically comprises the entire exterior storefront of Branded Retailers. Branded Retailers normally display our products in prominent shelf spaces and they are responsible for providing technical support to farmers and setting up demonstration sites for our products.

As of September 30, 2011, our products were sold in 30 provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-administered municipalities across China through 25 provincial-level distributors, 810 county-level distributors and 29,307 Branded Retailers.  Our multi-tiered distribution model allows us to penetrate the vast and highly fragmented rural area of China by utilizing our internal sales team to manage and leverage thousands of sales personnel at our provincial-level distributors, county-level distributors and Branded Retailers. Our internal sales team actively manages our multi-tier distribution network by participating in major distributor sales activities and providing training presentations and seminars.

Production

Our product’s core compound fulvic acid is extracted from humic acid, which is in turn derived from lignite coal.  Our production process primarily involves the extraction of fulvic acid and then blending it with macro and micro nutrients based on our patented formula. Compared to humic acid, the smaller fulvic acid molecular structure enables it to be more easily absorbed by crop leaves.

We have two production facilities in Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia, with one located in Jinshan Industrial Park (the “Jinshan Facility”) and one in Wuchuan County (the “Wuchuan Facility”).  Prior to the fourth quarter of 2010, the Jinshan Facility was our sole manufacturing facility and it used purchased humic acid as the key raw material to produce our products.  Our Wuchuan Facility was completed in the fourth quarter of 2010 and directly utilizes lignite coal as the key raw material, enabling us to bypass intermediaries from whom we used to purchase humic acid. Our Wuchuan Facility produces our final products and supplies intermediate products for our Jinshan Facility’s production needs.
 
Currently, we procure lignite coal from independent third party suppliers in Inner Mongolia.  In March 2010, we entered into an agreement to acquire a lignite coal resource project in Wuchuan County, Inner Mongolia.  In August 2011, Yongye Fumin, our wholly-owned subsidiary, obtained a Mineral Resource Exploration Permit for this project site in Wuchuan County, Inner Mongolia, which was issued by the Inner Mongolia Ministry of Land and Resources. Such approval granted us exclusive exploration rights for this project site for an initial period of three years beginning August 2, 2011.  We are in the process of applying for the governmental approval for the Mineral Right and are preparing for the relevant reports including but not limited to Geologic Report and Geologic Exploration Report. Upon the granting of the Mineral Right, we will be able to further vertically integrate our operations by using lignite coal extracted from our own mine.

Currently we have 30,000 and 16,000 tons of annual design production capacity at the Wuchuan Facility and the Jinshan Facility, respectively.  The major production processes for liquid crop nutrient product and powder animal nutrient product are identical, and therefore production capacities for the two products are inter-changeable.

Because of the proprietary nature of our products and manufacturing process, we customized the core production components of our manufacturing facilities to enable capacity flexibility.  Our design capacity is calculated by us based on key assumptions, including 300 days of operation in a year and normal manufacturing conditions.  Under actual manufacturing conditions and based on the seasonality in our business, our production facilities have the flexibility to adjust actual production to levels higher than our stated, theoretical design capacities.  For instance, during the past several years, our production outputs during the peak second and third quarters have consistently exceeded the design capacity.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, our actual production output for liquid crop nutrient product was 24,689 tons and the actual output for powder animal nutrient was 522 tons.  We may continue to invest in production capacity expansion as required to respond to increasing demand for our products in the future.

 
24

 

R&D and Manufacturing Technologies

Our products are based on a patented formula that combines a fulvic acid base with other macro and micro nutrients.  Our formulations were designed to enhance crop yield by increasing absorption of fertilizer and micro nutrients and providing key micro nutrients and NPK in key growth stages of crops.  In addition, our engineers designed our manufacturing process to overcome technical barriers associated with the extraction of fulvic acid and the blending of our products on an industrial scale so that micro and macro nutrients in our products are water soluble and can be easily absorbed by crops after being sprayed on the leaves.  We were granted two 20 year invention patents by the State Intellectual Property Office in the PRC, effective from October 12, 2006 and October 21, 2005, that cover formulations for both liquid crop nutrient product and powder animal nutrient product, as well as the manufacturing process for extraction and blending of our products.  In addition to seeking patent protection, we maintain proprietary know-how related to extraction and blending as trade secrets.

Marketing and Branding

Our end-customers make their purchase decisions primarily based on actual demonstrations of the efficacy of our product, typically over an entire growing season.  Accordingly, our sales and marketing strategy primarily focuses on local demonstration sites at which locally-grown crops are planted side-by-side with and without our liquid crop nutrient applied.  In executing our marketing strategy, Branded Retailers play a key role in setting up these demonstration sites, marketing our products and providing technical support to farmers.  Branded Retailers are typically trained by our distributors who receive regular and ongoing guidance from our sales and marketing and research and development teams.  In addition, we hold large-scale training programs in various locations annually where we invite Branded Retailers from around China to directly receive product, sales and marketing training.

In addition, our internal sales team frequently organizes presentations and seminars targeted at provincial-level and county-level distributors in order to convey our sales strategy effectively to them.  We also designed a series of incentive programs to motivate our distributors to drive performance and enhance loyalty, including sending selected distributors to a Yongye-sponsored executive training program at Tsinghua University, one of China’s most prestigious academic institutions.

At the national level, we have been conducting a variety of marketing and branding campaigns to enhance our brand recognition among not only end-users but also existing and potential distributors and Branded Retailers. We are amongst the very few players in our industry that actively sponsor CCTV (national TV channel) agricultural programs. We also use local TV stations, agricultural publications and newspapers to carry our advertisements. In addition, we are currently working with a national celebrity, Wang Baoqiang, as our spokesperson, to enhance our product image.

Recent Developments

On May 29, 2011, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with MSPEA Agriculture Holding Limited (“MSPEA”), an affiliate of Morgan Stanley, and Full Alliance International Limited (“Full Alliance”), our largest shareholder, pursuant to which we sold to MSPEA 5,681,818 shares of our redeemable convertible preferred stock for an aggregate purchase price of US$50 million.

On May 26, 2011 and June 3, 2011, we and three of our officers and directors were named in putative class action lawsuits filed in the US Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging, among other things, that we and such officers and directors issued false and misleading information to investors about our financial and business condition. These securities class action complaints generally allege that Yongye’s business was not growing at the rate represented by the defendants and that Yongye’s financial results as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission were inconsistent with its production capabilities. On July 19, 2011 we and certain of our officers and directors were named in a derivative suit filed in the First Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada and Carson City alleging, among other things, that our directors and officers breached their fiduciary duties to us, misrepresented our earnings, wasted corporate assets and unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of us. The derivative complaint also alleges that Yongye, at the direction of or with the approval of its directors, failed to implement and adequate system of internal and financial controls. The lawsuits are in their early stages. We believe the claims contained in the lawsuits to be without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.

 
25

 
 
Factors Affecting Our Operating Results

Market Potential for Crop Nutrient Products in China

The long-term market growth of crop nutrient products in China is primarily driven by the need to improve crop yield to ensure sufficient food supply in view of limited and shrinking per capita arable land in China. Currently, with only approximately 10% of the world’s arable land, China needs to feed 1.3 billion people, or approximately 20% of the world’s population. According to the National Population and Family Planning Commission of China, China’s population will reach 1.5 billion by 2030. Therefore, the country faces the challenge of producing additional food to feed the additional 200 million people within the next 20 years. This puts great pressure on China’s agricultural system to increase production output.


Over-farming, decades of overuse of chemical fertilizers and less advanced farming practices have led to degraded soil quality in China. Although China already led the world in fertilizer consumption, applying more fertilizers than the world average on a per hectare basis, the crop yield lags behind most other countries. This creates a huge demand for crop nutrient products that can help improve fertilizer utilization and increase yield. Fulvic acid based crop nutrients are particularly well suited for the market, as it can allow crops to more effectively absorb fertilizers and minerals from the degraded soils.
 
 
The market for our crop nutrient product is large and has attractive long-term growth prospects. China has 1.8 billion mu (each mu is equivalent to approximately 667 square meters) of arable land in total. Typically, each mu of arable land requires at least 300 ml of our liquid crop nutrient product for one growing season. For the year of 2010, our crop nutrient product is estimated to have been used in only less than 5% of the arable land in China, assuming there is only one growing season per annum for all the arable land across China.

Favorable Government Policies on Agriculture

The agriculture industry in China enjoys favorable government policies. In 2010, there was RMB818 billion (US$126 billion) budgeted government spending on agriculture, rural areas and farmers, 14.3% higher than in 2009. According to the 12th Five-Year National Economic and Social Plan (2011-2015) of China, the Chinese government will continue to support the agriculture industry. Increasing the agriculture production capacity and developing high-yield, high-quality and high-efficiency agriculture are the focus of the Chinese government. Given our product’s ability to improve fertilizer utilization, increase crop yield, improve product quality, and enhance crop’s drought-resistance, we expect that we will further benefit from the Chinese government’s agricultural policy.

 
26

 
 
Distribution Network

The agricultural goods market is very fragmented and spans over 600,000 villages in over 2,000 counties in over 30 provincial regions in China. As farmers in China tend to be less mobile, it is vital to distribute at the village-level in order to address this market. However, due to the scattered nature of China’s villages, it is necessary to work through county-level distributors in order to overcome barriers related to geography, local cultures and business networks. To sell to farmers through village retail stores, crop nutrient manufacturers typically work with provincial-level distributors to manage county-level distributors or work directly with county-level distributors.

In order to more rapidly achieve nationwide coverage, we have adopted a strategy to work with provincial-level distributors rather than directly with county-level distributors. We invest significantly in branding, training and technical support to motivate and maintain the long-term loyalty of our distributors and Branded Retailers, which is critical to successfully selling product through a multi-tier distribution network. Since we enter and expand into provincial regions at different times, our sales in different provincial markets vary due to different market penetration rates.

Our end-customers are comprised of large farms which purchase directly from distributors, and individual farmers who purchase through Branded Retailers or through promotional events held by local distributors. Our Branded Retailer network has been a key driver of our sales. The number of Branded Retailers increased from 24,036 as of December 31, 2010 to 29,307 as of September 30, 2011.  Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, Yunnan and Henan provinces accounted for the majority of newly recruited Branded Retailers.

 Below is a table setting forth the expansion of our Branded Retailer network.
 
Branded Retailer by Region
 
Year end
2009
   
Q2 End
2010
   
Q3 End
2010
   
Year end
2010
   
Q2 End
2011
   
Q3 End
2011
 
                                     
Hebei/Beijing/Tianjin
    1,894       2,841       3,419       3,532       3,795       3,824  
Inner Mongolia
    660       620       620       501       567       612  
Shandong
    1,216       2,470       2,983       3,198       3,325       3,355  
Guangdong/Hainan
    75       385       499       641       845       879  
Henan
    844       1,573       1,793       1,920       2,208       2,278  
Heilongjiang/Jilin/Liaoning
    315       1,013       1,167       1,231       2,066       2,147  
Xinjiang
    356       816       966       1,395       1,946       1,967  
Hubei/Hunan
    2,082       2,709       2,913       3,040       2,949       2,978  
Gansu/Qinghai
    119       628       821       887       915       920  
Jiangsu
    439       809       1,051       1,186       1,748       1,896  
Shanxi
    167       711       889       1,106       1,288       1,297  
Anhui
    417       1,087       1,122       1,222       1,390       1,420  
Shaanxi
    25       1,096       1,324       1,443       1,480       1,491  
Sichuan/Chongqing
    201       586       624       691       958       1,034  
Jiangxi/Fujian
    100       480       576       666       937       994  
Yunnan/Guizhou
    66       350       495       620       896       1,059  
Zhejiang
    -       85       95       138       191       238  
Guangxi
    -       96       156       184       428       469  
Ningxia
    134       345       404       427       433       441  
Shanghai
    -       -       8       8       8       8  
Total
    9,110       18,700       21,925       24,036       28,373       29,307  
 
 
27

 

The decrease in the number of Branded Retailers in a few provincial regions is primarily the result of our ongoing active management of our retail network. With support from us, our provincial-level and county-level distributors only trade with new retailers that meet certain standards and discontinue working relationships with those that underperform.

Seasonality

Our liquid crop nutrient product is most commonly applied by directly spraying onto leaves of crops in the second and third quarters, which corresponds to the growing seasons for most crops in most parts of China. Accordingly, the sales during the second and third quarters typically represent 70-80% of our annual sales. Our accounts receivable days typically increase in-line with our peak sales seasons and decrease during non-peak seasons. In addition, we typically accumulate higher volumes of finished goods during the non-peak season in preparation for the subsequent peak sales seasons which will result in higher inventory turnover days during non-peak seasons.

Pricing

We principally sell to our provincial-level distributors at an ex-factory price, and they in turn sell to lower level distributors at distributor prices. Branded Retailers sell to farmers at our suggested retail prices. Our pricing policy is consistent across the country, and we require our provincial-level distributors to ensure this policy is followed by county-level distributors and Branded Retailers. Our pricing policy for ex-factory price, different level of distributor prices and suggested retail prices have generally remained stable for the past several years. In 2011, we allowed Branded Retailers to charge a higher retail price for an updated version of our crop nutrient product that is replacing the prior version.

In July 2010, we acquired a list of eight direct customers from our former provincial-level distributor in Hebei.  As a result, we have been able to directly sell products in Hebei province at a county-level distributor price after bypassing the former provincial-level distributor. We expect to maintain the higher selling price to those eight distributors in Hebei in the foreseeable future.

We may adjust our selling prices from time to time in the future based on then market conditions, and any such adjustments may affect our margins, market demand and financial results.

Raw Materials

Our key raw material is lignite coal, and its price is affected by factors such as market demand, lignite coal quality and transportation cost. Prior to 2011, the key raw material for our products was humic acid which was procured from third party suppliers. Upon the completion of our Wuchuan Facility at the end of 2010, we have been able to extract humic acid and fulvic acid in-house from lignite coal and no longer rely on humic acid from intermediaries. Other raw materials used in our products include macro and micro nutrients as well as chemicals used in our extraction and blending processes.

Fluctuations in raw material costs will affect our cost of sales and gross profit margin, and we may not be able to pass such increased costs on to our distributors and then to our end customers.

Competition

While we compete with both nationwide and local manufacturers of humic/fulvic acid crop nutrients, we believe we are a clear market leader. The Chinese agriculture industry and the retail market for agricultural goods are highly fragmented. As of July 2011, there were 3,931 fertilizer products registered in the PRC Ministry of Agriculture’s registry. We mainly compete directly with producers of humic/fulvic acid based products, of which there were 863 registered as of July 2011.

In addition to humic/fulvic acid based crop nutrient products, our nutrient products also compete with other liquid fertilizers applied on plant leaves, such as amino acid-based nutrients and other liquid fertilizers containing NPK or minerals as many farmers view such liquid fertilizers as a single product category.

We believe that with our proven product efficacy, our premium brand and our nation-wide distribution network, we are well positioned to maintain our leadership position in this market.

 
28

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Summary Statement of Income Data

 in US$, except for
percentages
 
For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
   
For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
   
For the Three Months 
Ended September 30,
   
For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
Variance
   
%
   
Variance
   
%
 
                                                 
Sales
    140,593,777       71,752,069       345,519,853       186,101,173       68,841,708       95.9 %     159,418,680       85.7 %
                                                                 
Cost of sales
    55,013,997       29,639,662       140,874,455       80,095,965       25,374,335       85.6 %     60,778,490       75.9 %
                                                                 
Gross profit
    85,579,780       42,112,407       204,645,398       106,005,208       43,467,373       103.2 %     98,640,190       93.1 %
                                                                 
Selling expenses
    25,557,635       15,574,981       62,391,878       38,206,314       9,982,654       64.1 %     24,185,564       63.3 %
                                                                 
Research and development expenses
    4,541,392       2,170,951       11,150,006       4,509,847       2,370,441       109.2 %     6,640,159       147.2 %
                                                                 
General and administrative expenses
    4,854,225       3,530,638       17,718,549       6,996,584       1,323,587       37.5 %     10,721,965       153.2 %
                                                                 
Income from operations
    50,626,528       20,835,837       113,384,965       56,292,463       29,790,691       143.0 %     57,092,502       101.4 %
                                                                 
Other (expenses)/income
                                                               
Interest expense
    (496,509 )     (19,164 )     (806,371 )     (56,718 )     (477,345 )     2490.8 %     (749,653 )     1321.7 %
Interest income
    40,702       12,552       67,866       35,377       28,150       224.3 %     32,489       91.8 %
Subsidy income
    -       1,427,259       655,071       1,751,732       (1,427,259 )     (100 )%     (1,096,661 )     (62.6 )%
Other (expenses)/income, net
    76,321       2,067       177,940       (84,294 )     74,254       3592.4 %     262,234       (311.1 )%
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities
    119,663       (12,077 )     533,250       157,393       131,740       (1090.8 )%     375,857       238.8 %
 
 
29

 
 
   
 
For the Three Months
   
For the Nine Months
   
For the Three Months
   
For the Nine Months
 
(Continued)
 
Ended September 30,
   
Ended September 30,
   
Ended September 30,
   
Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
Variance
   
%
   
Variance
   
%
 
in US$, except for percentages
                                               
Total other (expenses)/income, net
    (259,823 )     1,410,637       627,756       1,803,490       (1,670,460 )     (118.4 )%     (1,175,734 )     (65.2 )%
                                                                 
Earnings before income tax expense
    50,366,705       22,246,474       114,012,721       58,095,953       28,120,231       126.4 %     55,916,768       96.2 %
                                                                 
Income tax expense
    9,116,471       3,705,985       21,876,518       9,389,307       5,410,486       146.0 %     12,487,211       133.0 %
                                                                 
Net income
    41,250,234       18,540,489       92,136,203       48,706,646       22,709,745       122.5 %     43,429,557       89.2 %
                                                                 
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest
    2,126,046       962,222       5,108,823       2,511,385       1,163,824       121.0 %     2,597,438       103.4 %
                                                                 
Net income attributable to Yongye International, Inc.
    39,124,188       17,578,267       87,027,380       46,195,261       21,545,921       122.6 %     40,832,119       88.4 %
                                                                 
Earnings per share:
                                                               
Basic earnings per common stock
    0.69       0.37       1.66       1.02                                  
Diluted earnings per common stock
    0.69       0.37       1.65       1.01                                  
                                                                 
Weighted average shares used in computation:
                                                               
Basic earnings per common stock
    49,370,711       47,130,522       48,948,944       45,423,109                                  
Diluted earnings per common stock
    49,472,773       47,248,570       49,057,131       45,541,985                                  

Review of Results of Operation for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

Our sales increased by 95.9% to US$140.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from US$71.8 million for the same period of 2010.  Our sales increased by 85.7% to US$345.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from US$186.1 million for the same period of 2010.

Our gross profit increased by 103.2% to US$85.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from US$42.1 million for the same period of 2010. Gross profit margin was 60.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to 58.7% for the same period of 2010.  Gross profit increased by 93.1% to US$204.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from US$106.0 million for the same period of 2010. Gross profit margin was 59.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to 57.0% for the same period of 2010.

 
30

 

Our net income attributable to Yongye International, Inc. increased by 122.6% to US$39.1 million, or US$0.69 diluted earnings per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from US$17.6 million, or US$0.37 diluted earnings per share, for the same period of 2010.  Our net income attributable to Yongye International, Inc. increased by 88.4% to US$87.0 million, or US$1.65 diluted earnings per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from US$46.2 million, or US$1.01 diluted earnings per share, for the same period of 2010.

Sales

Below is an analysis of our sales for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, as well as the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

Our sales increased by US$68.8 million, or 95.9%, to US$140.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from US$71.8 million for the same period of 2010. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, we derived US$110.5 million, or 78.6% of our total sales, from existing provincial markets, and we derived US$30.1 million, or 21.4% of our total sales, from the newly developed provincial markets, which we started to actively manage after the second fiscal quarter of 2010. The newly developed provincial markets primarily included Jiangxi, Yunnan, Anhui, Sichuan and Shaanxi.

Of the US$68.8 million increase of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2011, US$50.0 million, or 72.6%, were derived from existing provincial markets, primarily due to more effective channel management and continued retail network development in provinces such as Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang/Jilin/Liaoning and Guangdong. In Hebei and Jiangsu, our sales continued to grow as our distributors effectively executed our marketing programs. In Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang/Jilin/Liaoning, demand from large farms increased significantly. We also achieved significant growth in newly developed provincial markets including Jiangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan and Shaanxi. For example, farmers in Yunnan province increased usage of our liquid nutrient product for tobacco and flowers.

For the three months ended September 30, 2011, the average selling price (“ASP”) of our liquid crop nutrient product was US$11,802 per ton, as compared to US$11,280 per ton for the same period of 2010. The small increase in our ASP is the result of the effect of currency rate fluctuations.

Our sales increased by US$159.4 million, or 85.7%, to US$345.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from US$186.1 million for the same period of 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, sales from those newly developed provincial markets were US$88.4 million, or 25.6%, while existing markets contributed US$257.1 million, or 74.4% of the sales.

Of the US$159.4 million increase in our total sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, US$82.3 million, or 51.6%, were derived from existing provincial markets, and US$77.1 million, or 48.4%, were derived from the newly developed markets.  The increase of sales in existing markets was primarily due to higher penetration rate in provinces such as Hebei, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang/Jilin/Liaoning, Guangdong and Inner Mongolia. We also achieved significant growth in newly developed provincial markets including Jiangxi, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Anhui.

 
31

 

The following table set forth the sales breakdown by region for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

   
2011
   
2010
   
YoY
   
YoY
   
2011
   
2010
   
YoY
   
YoY
 
Sales By Region (US$
mm)
    Q3       Q3    
Change
in US$
   
Change
in %
   
Nine
Months
   
Nine
Months
   
Change
in US$
   
Change
in %
 
Hebei/Beijing/Tianjin
    33.0       21.3       11.7       54.9 %     71.0       53.7       17.3       32.2 %
Inner Mongolia
    16.0       7.2       8.8       122.2 %     28.2       20.8       7.4       35.6 %
Shandong
    7.9       6.9       1.0       14.5 %     23.6       19.2       4.4       22.9 %
Guangdong/Hainan
    8.8       3.0       5.8       193.3 %     22.5       13.5       9.0       66.7 %
Henan
    8.6       7.2       1.4       19.4 %     20.5       12.6       7.9       62.7 %
Heilongjiang/Jilin/Liaoning
    10.8       4.7       6.1       129.8 %     25.9       14.3       11.6       81.1 %
Xinjiang
    3.9       3.7       0.2       5.4 %     9.9       9.6       0.3       3.1 %
Hubei/Hunan
    3.6       2.0       1.6       80.0 %     13.1       8.5       4.6       54.1 %
Gansu/Qinghai
    5.2       1.9       3.3       173.7 %     11.5       7.9       3.6       45.6 %
Jiangsu
    8.8       0.7       8.1       11.6 x     20.8       5.3       15.5       292.5 %
Shanxi
    4.0       1.7       2.3       135.3 %     10.3       4.9       5.4       110.2 %
Anhui
    5.4       5.1       0.3       5.9 %     17.2       6.2       11.0       177.4 %
Shaanxi
    4.2       2.4       1.8       75.0 %     17.3       2.9       14.4       496.6 %
Sichuan/Chongqing
    5.1       2.0       3.1       155.0 %     15.8       2.7       13.1       485.2 %
Jiangxi/Fujian
    8.9       0.8       8.1       10.1 x     19.1       1.2       17.9       14.9 x
Yunnan/Guizhou
    6.4       1.2       5.2       433.3 %     18.3       1.8       16.5       916.7 %
Zhejiang
    *       *       -       -       *       0.3       (0.3 )     (100.0 )%
Guangxi
    *       *       -       -       0.3       0.3       -       -  
Ningxia
    *       *       -       -       0.1       0.2       (0.1 )     (50.0 )%
Shanghai
    *       *       -       -       *       *       -       -  
Others
    *       *       -       -       0.1       0.2       (0.1 )     (50.0 )%
Total
    140.6       71.8       68.8       95.9 %     345.5       186.1       159.4       85.7 %
 
* Less than $50,000
 
Production Output

Our production output for our liquid crop nutrient product was 12,759 tons for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 24,689 tons for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. After our Wuchuan Facility became operational, we have significantly increased production capacity. Our manufacturing facilities in Wuchuan operated at full capacity in the third quarter of 2011.  In addition, we improved inventory management and reduced inventory turnover days to 76 days for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to 124 days for the same period of 2010.

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we sold 11,913 tons of liquid crop nutrient product. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we sold 29,544 tons of liquid crop nutrient product.

Cost of Sales

Our cost of sales increased by US$25.4 million, or 85.6%, to US$55.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from US$29.6 million for the same period of 2010. Cost of sales increased by US$60.8 million, or 75.9%, to US$140.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from US$80.1 million for the same period of 2010.

For the three months ended September 30, 2011, our cost of sales accounted for 39.1% of our total sales, as compared to 41.3% for the same period of 2010. The cost of sales as percentage of revenue decreased by 2.2% mainly due to the fact that after our Wuchuan Facility became operational, we started to use lignite coal as key raw material, enabling us to bypass intermediaries from whom we used to purchase humic acid.
 
Gross Margin
 
Our gross margin was 60.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to 58.7% for the same period of 2010.  Our gross margin was 59.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to 57.0% for the same period of 2010.  The increase in gross margin was mainly due to our Wuchuan Facility becoming operational, which enabled us to start using lignite coal as the key raw material and to bypass intermediaries from whom we used to purchase humic acid.
 
Selling Expenses

Our selling expenses increased by US$10.0 million, or 64.1%, to US$25.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from US$15.6 million for the same period of 2010. As a percentage of sales, selling expenses decreased from 21.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 to 18.2% for the same period of 2011. The increase of selling expenses was primarily due to (i) an increase in advertising and promotion expense, and distributors’ seminar expenditures of US$9.8 million relating to marketing and promotional activities in our existing and new geographic markets, and (ii) an increase in the transportation expenses of US$0.9 million due to increase in sales.

 
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Our selling expenses increased by US$24.2 million, or 63.3%, to US$62.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from US$38.2 million for the same period of 2010. As a percentage of sales, selling expenses decreased from 20.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 to 18.1% for the same period of 2011. The increase in selling expenses was primarily due to (i) an increase of US$23.5 million in advertising and promotion expense, and distributors’ seminar expenditures, and (ii) an increase of US$2.3 million in transportation expenses due to increased sales.

General and Administrative Expenses

Our general and administrative expenses increased by US$1.3 million, or 37.5%, to US$4.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from US$3.5 million for the same period of 2010.  As a percentage of sales, general and administrative expenses decreased from 4.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 to 3.5% for the same period of 2011. The increase of general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the increases of meeting expenses, general maintenance expenses and staff training expenses.

Our general and administrative expenses increased by US$10.7 million, or 153.2%, to US$17.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from US$7.0 million for the same period of 2010.  As a percentage of sales, general and administrative expenses increased from 3.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 to 5.1% for the same period of 2011, mainly due to the impact of the implementation of the management equity compensation plan, as well as an increase in meeting expenditure, employee salaries, staff training expenses and general maintenance expenses.

Research and Development Expenses

We incurred US$4.5 million of research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to US$2.2 million for the same period of 2010. Research and development expenses were US$11.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to US$4.5 million for the same period of 2010.

Our research and development expenses mainly consist of field test expenses for new crops and newly developed provincial markets as well as new product development expenses.

Income Tax Rate

Because Yongye Nongfeng, our main operating entity in China, is a foreign investment enterprise located in the Western Region of the PRC, it was entitled to a preferential income tax rate of 15% for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010. According to the High-tech Enterprise Certificate granted to Yongye Nongfeng, it is entitled to a preferential tax rate of 15% for three years starting from January 1, 2010. Yongye Fumin, a new operating entity and a subsidiary of Yongye Nongfeng that was established in the third quarter of 2010, is subject to income tax at 25%.

Our effective income tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were 18.10% and 16.66%, respectively, and were 19.19% and 16.16% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Our effective income tax rate increased by 1.44% and 3.03% for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively as compared with the same periods in the prior year.  The increase was primarily due to the higher tax rate for Yongye Fumin.
 
Our company’s PRC subsidiaries have cash balance of US$72.9 million as of September 30, 2011 which is planned to be permanently reinvested in the PRC. The distributions from our PRC subsidiaries are subject to the U.S. federal income tax at 34%, less any applicable foreign tax credits. Due to our policy of indefinitely reinvesting our earnings in our PRC business, we have not provided for deferred tax liabilities on undistributed earnings of our PRC subsidiaries.

 
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Net Income
 
Our net income attributable to Yongye International, Inc. was US$39.1 million (representing a net profit margin of 27.8%) for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to US$17.6 million (representing a net profit margin of 24.5%) for the same period of 2010.  Our net income attributable to Yongye International, Inc. was US$87.0 million (representing a net profit margin of 25.2%) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to US$46.2 million (representing a net profit margin of 24.8%) for the same period of 2010.  The increase in our net profit margin is primarily due to the increase in our gross margin and percentage decrease in selling expenses which were partially offset by the increase in effective tax rate.
 
Liquidity and capital resources

Selected consolidated balance sheet data:

                Changes in        
 in US$, except for percentages
 
As of
September 30, 2011
   
As of
December 31, 2010
   
Variance
   
%
   
Note
 
                               
Cash and restricted cash
    80,424,153       41,953,469       38,470,684       92 %      
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
    203,737,536       26,110,813       177,626,723       680 %     1)  
Inventories
    48,634,045       65,878,047       (17,244,002 )     (26 )%     2)  
Deposits to suppliers
    5,265,686       10,906,295       (5,640,609 )    
(52
)%        
Property, plant and equipment, net
    22,219,224       21,547,152       672,072       3 %        
Prepayment for mining project
    35,307,731       34,151,063       1,156,668       3     3)  
Total assets
    453,740,710       247,626,036       206,114,674       83 %        
Long-term loans and payables – current portion
    2,153,241       457,880       1,695,361       370 %        
Short term bank loan
    15,636,728       -       15,636,728    
NA
      4)  
Accounts payable
    10,601,468       6,127,606       4,473,862       73 %        
Income tax payable
    15,696,964       6,137,119       9,559,845       156 %        
Accrued expenses
    21,348,144       3,024,235       18,323,909       606 %     5)  
Other payables
    3,337,617       5,310,517       (1,972,900 )     (37 )%        
Total current liabilities
    69,458,861       22,154,466       47,304,395       214 %        
Long-term loans and payables
    3,699,863       383,285       3,316,578       865 %        
Total equity attributable to Yongye International, Inc.
    315,793,520       215,215,203       100,578,317       47 %        
Total equity
    331,181,996       225,088,285       106,093,711       47 %     6)  
 
1)
The increase in accounts receivables of US$177.6 million was consistent with our strong sales growth in the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase was also partly due to stronger sales momentum towards the end of the third quarter as compared to the same period of 2010.

Days sales outstanding (“DSO”) is defined as average accounts receivable for the period divided by net sales for the period times 90. DSO increased by 29 days from 82 days for the three months ended September 30, 2010 to 111 days for the same period of 2011, partly due to the fact that a later growing season in some areas in China caused our sales to extend further into third quarter 2011 compared to third quarter 2010. We currently have no accounts receivable outstanding over 6 months, which is our normal credit term, and we do not anticipate any uncollectable accounts receivable.

2)
The decrease in inventory of US$17.2 million was mainly due to the significant reduction of inventory stocking in the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  Since our Wuchuan Facility commenced operations, our production capacity has increased significantly. We also improved our inventory management in this period to reduce inventory stocking.
 
 
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Inventory turn-over days (“Inventory days”) is defined as average inventory for the period divided by cost of sales for the period times 90. Inventory days decreased by 48 days from 124 days for the three months ended September 30, 2010 to 76 days for the same period in 2011.
 
3) 
The cash consideration for the lignite coal resource project is RMB 240 million or approximately $35 million, of which RMB 14.2 million or approximately US$2.2 million remains to be paid. According to preliminary third party analysis, the mineral resource of the project we are acquiring is at surface level and the “open pit” mining method is recommended. Also, our Wuchuan Facility was built near the mineral resource project, minimizing future shipping expense.
 
4)
In April 2011, Yongye Nongfeng entered into two short-term bank loans with China Everbright Bank for an aggregate amount of RMB100 million (US$15.6 million). These two short-term bank loans are guaranteed by the Companys Chairman.

5)
The increase in accrued expenses of US$18.3 million was mainly due to advertising and promotion activities, and research expenses for field tests that were conducted in the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

6)
Total equity increased by US$106.1 million from US$225.1 million as of December 31, 2010 to US$331.2 million as of September 30, 2011. The increase in our total equity was mainly due to an increase in retained earnings of US$87.0 million for the net income attributable to Yongye International, Inc. during the period and an increase in common stock and additional paid in capital of US$4,950,600, as a result of the 1,183,667 restricted shares granted to management and independent directors.

 Summary consolidated cash flow data:

in US$, except for percentages
 
For the Nine Months Ended 
September 30,
       
  
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
 
Net cash used in operating activities
    (20,510,491 )     (9,341,126 )     (11,169,365 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (6,354,287 )     (36,942,127 )     30,587,840  
Net cash provided by financing activities
    63,964,635       5,260,922       58,703,713  
Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents
    1,370,827       472,113       898,714  
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    38,470,684       (40,550,218 )     79,020,902  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    41,913,469       65,518,181       (23,604,712 )
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
    80,384,153       24,967,963       55,416,190  

The sources and uses of cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 are summarized below:

Cash used in operating activities were US$20.5 million and US$9.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. These changes were primarily due to the increase of US$62.4 million in working capital employed, which was primarily driven by higher accounts receivables, but was partially offset by a lower inventory balance and settled deposits to suppliers. Other factors include an increase of US$43.4 million in earnings and a non-cash expense of US$5.0 million for management stock compensation.

Net cash used in investing activities were US$6.4 million and US$36.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The decrease was due to the prepayment of US$28.9 million for the acquisition of the lignite coal project in Wuchuan area during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Total consideration of this acquisition is approximately US$35 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities were US$64.0 million and US$5.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. These changes were mainly due to the fact that we sold to MSPEA, an affiliate of Morgan Stanley, 5,681,818 shares of our redeemable convertible preferred stock. Net proceeds we received from this sale of shares were in the amount of US$49.4 million. In addition, in April 2011, we entered into two short-term bank loan agreements with China Everbright Bank for an aggregate loan amount of US$15.6 million. These two short-term bank loans are guaranteed by the Companys Chairman.

 
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Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

The financial position and results of operations of the Company’s subsidiaries in the PRC are measured using the Renminbi as the functional currency, while the Company’s reporting currency is the US dollar. Assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are translated at the prevailing exchange rate in effect at each period end. The income statement is translated at the average rate of exchange during the period. Translation adjustments are included in the cumulative translation adjustment account in the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income.

Impact of inflation

We are subject to commodity price risks arising from price fluctuations in the market prices of the raw materials. We have generally been able to pass on cost increases through price adjustments. However, the ability to pass on these increases depends on market conditions influenced by the overall economic conditions in China. We manage our price risks through productivity improvements and cost-containment measures. We do not believe that inflation risk is material to our business or our financial position, results of operations or cash flows at this time.

Off balance sheet arrangement

We do not have any significant off-balance sheet arrangements and accordingly, no such arrangements are likely to have a current or future effect on our financial position, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Foreign Exchange Risk

All of our revenue and a majority of costs and expenses are denominated in RMB. Although the conversion of the RMB is highly regulated in China, the value of the RMB against the value of the U.S. dollar or any other currency nonetheless may fluctuate and be affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions. Under current policy, the value of the RMB is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. China is currently under significant international pressures to liberalize this government currency policy, and if such liberalization were to occur, the value of the RMB could appreciate or depreciate against the U.S. dollar.

Because substantially all of our earnings and cash assets are denominated in RMB, other than certain cash deposits we keep in a bank in Hong Kong and U.S., appreciation or depreciation in the value of the RMB 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 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 decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedging transactions may be limited and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currency.

Interest Rate Risk

We have not been, nor does it anticipate being, exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates. Our risk exposure to changes in interest rates relates primarily to the interest expense of bank loans and the interest income generated by cash deposited in interest bearing savings accounts. We have not used, and does not expect to use in the future, any derivative financial instruments to hedge its interest risk exposure. However, our future interest expense and income may fluctuate due to changes in interest rates in the market.

 
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Credit Risk
 
We are exposed to credit risk from its cash in bank, accounts receivable and deposits to suppliers. The credit risk on cash in bank and fixed deposits is limited because the counterparties are recognized financial institutions. Accounts receivable and deposits to suppliers are subjected to credit evaluations. An allowance would be made, if necessary, for estimated unrecoverable amounts by reference to past default experience, if any, and by reference to the current economic environment.

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.
 
Our 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, we and our 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.

ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed by us under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and regulations and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer evaluated, with the participation of other members of management, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 15d-15(e)), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
  
Although our management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, believes that our disclosure controls and internal controls currently provide reasonable assurance that our desired control objectives have been met, our management does not expect that our disclosure controls or internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

 
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Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

During the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
PART II.
 
OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
On May 26, 2011 and June 3, 2011, we and three of our officers and directors were named in putative class action lawsuits filed in the US Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging, among other things, that we and such officers and directors issued false and misleading information to investors about our financial and business condition. These securities class action complaints generally allege that Yongye’s business was not growing at the rate represented by the defendants and that Yongye’s financial results as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission were inconsistent with its production capabilities. On July 19, 2011 we and certain of our officers and directors were named in a derivative suit filed in the First Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada and Carson City alleging, among other things, that such directors and officers breached their fiduciary duties to us, misrepresented our earnings, wasted corporate assets and unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of us. The derivative complaint also alleges that Yongye, at the direction of or with the approval of its directors, failed to implement and adequate system of internal and financial controls. The lawsuits are in their early stages. We believe the claims contained in the lawsuits to be without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.
 
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
 
Investing in our securities involves risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the following riskfactors as well as the risks described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, or any updates to our riskfactors in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10- Q, together with all of the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report, in light ofyour particular investment objectives andfinancial circumstances. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part ofyour investment.
 
Risks Related to Our Business
 
We rely on a single product for a substantial portion of our sales and any changes in the market for this product could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
In 2010, 2009 and 2008, sales of our liquid crop nutrient product represented 97%, 93% and 93% of our total sales, respectively. If there is any disruption in the demand for our liquid crop nutrient product, whether as a result of alternative nutrient or fertilizer products being developed, the entry of significant competitors to the marketplace or otherwise, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
 
The limited operating history and early stage development of Yongye Nongfeng, our cooperative joint venture, may make it difficult to evaluate our business and future prospects.
 
We established our cooperative joint venture, Yongye Nongfeng, on January 4, 2008, with the intention of carrying out the business of marketing and distributing, and ultimate goal of manufacturing of our fulvic acid based crop and animal nutrient products. As of October, 2009, we completed the transfer of manufacturing business of our products from Inner Mongolia Yongye (which is under the control of Mr. Zishen Wu), to Yongye Nongfeng (Mr. Wu is also the CEO of Yongye Nongfeng), including all assets related to the manufacturing, distribution and sales as well as all applicable licenses and titles (the “Restructuring”). On October 10, 2009 the cooperative joint venture contract and Yongye Nongfeng’s articles of association were revised to reflect that both the profit distribution percentage and the post-dissolution remaining asset distribution percentage of Inner Mongolia Yongye in Yongye Nongfeng increased to 5% from the previous 0.5%.

 
38

 
 
The limited operating history and the early stage of development of Yongye Nongfeng may make it difficult to evaluate our business and future prospects. We cannot assure you that Yongye Nongfeng will continue to maintain such profitability or that it will not incur net losses in the future. We expect that our operating expenses will increase as we pursue our growth strategies.
 
Failure to manage our recent dramatic growth could strain our management, operational and other resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business and prospects.
 
We have been expanding our operations dramatically and believe we will continue to do so. To meet the demand of our customers, we expect to expand our distribution network in terms of numbers and locations. The rapid growth of our business has resulted in, and if we continue to grow at this rate, will continue to result in, substantial demands on our management, operational and other resources. In particular, the management of our growth will require, among other things:
 
 
·
increased sales and sales support activities;
 
 
·
improved administrative and operational systems;
 
 
·
stringent cost controls and sufficient working capital;
 
 
·
continued responsibility for disclosure of material facts relating to our business;
 
 
·
strengthening of financial and management controls; and
 
 
·
hiring and training of new personnel.
 
As we continue this effort, we may incur substantial costs and expend substantial resources. We may not be able to manage our current or future operations effectively and efficiently or compete effectively in new markets we enter. If we are not able to manage our growth successfully, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
 
We do not own 100% of the equity interests in Yongye Nongfeng, which may not be as stable and effective in providing operational control as 100% ownership, and potential exists for conflict of interests.
 
We operate our business through Yongye Nongfeng. If there are disagreements between us and our cooperative joint venture partner, Inner Mongolia Yongye, regarding the business and operations of Yongye Nongfeng, we cannot assure you that we will be able to resolve them in a manner that will be in our best interests. In addition, our joint venture partner may (i) have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with ours; (ii) take actions contrary to our instructions, requests, policies or objectives; (iii) be unable or unwilling to fulfill their obligations; (iv) have financial difficulties; or (v) have disputes with us as to the scope of their responsibilities and obligations. Any of these and other factors may materially and adversely affect the performance of Yongye Nongfeng, which may in turn materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
We rely on the cooperative joint venture contract with Inner Mongolia Yongye to operate our business. If Inner Mongolia Yongye fails to perform its obligations under the cooperative joint venture contract, we may have to incur substantial costs and resources to enforce such arrangements and rely on legal remedies under PRC laws, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief and damages, which we cannot assure you would be effective. Accordingly, it may be difficult for us to change our corporate structure or to bring claims against Inner Mongolia Yongye if it does not perform its obligations under the cooperative joint venture contract with us.

 
39

 
 
The cooperative joint venture contract is governed under PRC law. Accordingly, this agreement would be interpreted in accordance with PRC laws and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce the cooperative joint venture contract. In the event we are unable to enforce the cooperative joint venture contract, we may not be able to exert effective control over our operating entities, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected.
 
Mr Zishen Wu, our president and CEO, owns a controlling interest in Inner Mongolia Yongye. The potential exists for conflicts of interests between his duties to us and his ownership interests in Inner Mongolia Yongye. We can provide no assurance that if potential conflicts of interests arise, these conflicts will not result in a significant loss in corporate opportunities for us or a diversion of our resources to Inner Mongolia Yongye, which may not be in our best interest.
 
One or more of our distributors and retailers could engage in activities that are harmful to our brand and to our business.
 
Due to our reliance on a distribution network that is comprised of provincial distributors, country-level distributors and Branded Retailers to sell our products, we are susceptible to our distributors and Branded Retailers engaging in activities that are harmful to our brand and to our business. If our distributors or Branded Retailers do not implement our branding strategy properly, including failure to use appropriate signage at Branded Retailers, our brand name may be damaged. In addition, if our distributors or Branded Retailers sell our products under another brand, purchasers will not be aware of our brand name. Moreover, our ability to provide appropriate customer service to these purchasers will be negatively affected, and we may be unable to develop our local knowledge of the needs of these purchasers and their environment. Furthermore, if any of our distributors or Branded Retailers sell inferior products produced by other companies under our brand name, our brand and reputation could be harmed, which could make marketing of our products more difficult.
 
If we are not able to obtain the government approvals to complete the coal resources project, our vertical integration strategy could fail.
 
In 2010, we entered into an agreement with Wuchuan Shuntong to acquire the permit for the rights to explore, develop and produce lignite coal resources in a certain area of Wuchuan County. The cash consideration of the permit was approximately RMB 240 million or USD $35 million. The permit allows us to complete all necessary administrative procedures and obtain government approvals to acquire the permit for the rights to explore, develop and produce lignite coal resources (“Mineral Rights”). We believe that the Mineral Right will allow us to secure a long term supply of humic acid, which is a major raw material used in the manufacture of fulvic acid liquid products, and which is sourced from lignite coals. We are still in the process of securing necessary government approvals. If we are not able to obtain the government approvals on the Mineral Rights, our vertical integration strategy could fail. Moreover, the supply of lignite coal to us will be dependent upon lignite coal availability in the market. If we are unable to obtain adequate quantities of lignite coal at economically viable prices which meet our specifications, our financial condition and results of operation could be adversely affected.
 
If we cannot renew our fertilizer registration certificate, we will be unable to sell some of our products which will cause our sales revenues to significantly decrease.
 
All fertilizers produced in the PRC must be registered with the PRC Ministry of Agriculture or its local branches at a provincial level. No fertilizer can be manufactured without such registration. As part of the Restructuring process, Yongye Nongfeng applied for its initial fertilizer registration certificate in May 2009 and it was received on June 1, 2009. On November 4, 2009 the long-term certificate with a five-year term was issued to Yongye Nongfeng.

 
40

 
 
However, there is no guarantee that the PRC Ministry of Agriculture will further renew our fertilizer registration certificate. If we cannot obtain the necessary renewal, we will not be able to manufacture and sell our fertilizer products in China, which will cause the termination of our commercial operations.
 
Our patent protected formulation, fulvic acid extration and blending processes may become obsolete which could materially and adversely affect the competitiveness of our crop and animal nutrient products.
 
The production of our crop and animal nutrient products is based on our patented crop and animal product mixture processes and nutrient formula. Our future success will depend upon our ability to address the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers by supporting existing and emerging fulvic acid products and by developing and introducing enhancements to our existing products and new products on a timely basis that keep pace with evolving industry standards and changing customer requirements. If our patented crop and animal product mixture processes and formula become obsolete as our competitors develop better products than ours, our future business and financial results could be adversely affected. In addition, although we entered into confidentiality agreements with our key employees, we cannot assure you if there would be any breach of such agreement in which case our rights over such patented fertilizer formula would be adversely affected.
 
We may not possess all the licenses required to operate our business, or may fail to maintain the licenses we currently hold. This could subject us to fines and other penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
In addition to a fertilizer registration certificate, we are required to hold a variety of other permits, licenses and certificates to conduct our business in China including relevant construction and environmental permits and certificates in connection with the commencement of operations at Inner Mongolia Yongye Fumin Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Yongye Fumin”). We may not possess or receive all the permits, licenses and certificates required for our business or for which application has been made. In addition, there may be circumstances under which the approvals, permits, licenses or certificates granted by the governmental agencies are subject to change without substantial advance notice, and it is possible that we could fail to obtain the approvals, permits, licenses or certificates that are required to expand our business as we intend. If we fail to obtain or to maintain such permits, licenses or certificates or renewals are granted with onerous conditions, we could be subject to fines and other penalties and be limited in the number or the quality of the products that we would be able to offer. As a result, our business, result of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
 
Zishen Wu, our chairman, chief executive officer and president, has played an important role in the growth and development of our business since its inception, and a loss of his services in the future could severely disrupt our business and negatively affect investor confidence in us, which may also cause the market price of our common stock to go down.
 
To date, we have relied heavily on Mr. Wu’s expertise in, and familiarity with, our business operations, his relationships within the industries in which we operate, including with our suppliers, and his reputation and experience. In addition, Mr. Wu continues to be primarily responsible for formulating our overall business strategies and spearheading the growth of our operations. If Mr. Wu were unable or unwilling to continue in his present positions, we may not be able to easily replace him and may incur additional expenses to identify and train his successor. In addition, if Mr. Wu were to join a competitor or form a competing business, it could severely disrupt our business and negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations. Although Mr. Wu is subject to certain noncompetition restrictions during and after termination of his employment with us, we cannot assure you that such non-competition restrictions will be effective or enforceable under PRC law. Moreover, even if the departure of Mr. Wu from our Company would not have any actual impact on our operations and the growth of our business, it could create the perception among investors or the marketplace that his departure could severely damage our business and operations and could negatively affect investor confidence in us, which may cause the market price of our common stock to go down. In the event Mr. Wu ceases to be our chief executive officer or ceases to be engaged or to perform his duties on a full-time basis prior to December 31, 2014 (unless as a result of his death, disability or incapacity or events beyond our control or is approved by the holders of a majority of the shares of the convertible preferred stock then outstanding), the holders the convertible preferred stock will be able to redeem all or a portion of the outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock at a redemption price equal to the original purchase price thereof, plus a premium designed to generate a 30% internal rate of return to such holders. We do not maintain key man insurance for Mr. Wu.

 
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We depend heavily on skilled personnel, and any loss of such personnel, or the failure to continue to attract such personnel in the future, could harm our business.
 
Our business is specialized and requires the employment of personnel with significant scientific and operational experience in the industry. Accordingly, we must attract, recruit and retain a workforce of technically and scientifically competent employees. Due to the intense market competition for highly skilled workers and experienced senior management and our geographical location, we have faced difficulties locating personnel that have the necessary scientific, technical and operational skills and experience with the fertilizer industry. Our ability to effectively implement our business strategy will depend upon, among other factors, the successful recruitment and retention of additional management and such other key personnel. These individuals are difficult to find in the PRC and we may not be able to retain such skilled employees and replace them within a reasonable period of time, or at all. Our business may be severely disrupted, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we may incur additional expenses in recruiting and training additional personnel. Although our employees and senior management members are subject to certain non-competition restrictions during and after termination of their employment, we cannot assure you that such non-competition restrictions will be effective or enforceable under PRC law. If any of our key personnel joins a competitor or forms a competing business, our business may be severely disrupted. We have no key man insurance with respect to our key personnel that would provide insurance coverage payable to us for loss of their employment due to death or otherwise.
 
The markets in which we operate are highly competitive and fragmented and we may not be able to maintain market share.
 
We operate in highly competitive markets and compete with numerous local PRC humic/fulvic acid crop nutrient manufacturers, as well as other foliar-applied liquid fertilizer manufacturers and we expect competition to persist and intensify in the future. Our competitors are mainly local fertilizer companies who may have better access in certain local markets to customers and prospects, an enhanced ability to customize products to a particular region or locality and more established local distribution channels within a small region. In future, we may also compete with large PRC state-owned enterprise national competitors who may have competitive advantages over us in certain areas such as access to capital, technology, product quality, economies of scale and brand recognition and may also be better positioned than us to develop superior product features and technological innovations and to exploit and adapt to market trends. Additionally, we may not be able to conduct in-depth research and analysis on our current or new markets due to the lack of public or third-party sources of competitive information available on our industry and competitors in the PRC, exept for those published by certain government agencies. Therefore, we may not have a clear estimate of the current number of our direct competitors or such competitors’ revenues or market share.
 
In addition, China’s entry into the World Trade Organization may lead to increased foreign competition for us. International producers and traders import products into China that generally are of higher quality than those produced in the local Chinese market. If they are localized and become recognized as the type of nutrients we produce, we may face additional competition. If we are not successful in our marketing and advertising efforts to increase awareness of our brands, our revenues could decline, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and share price. We cannot assure you that additional competitors will not enter our existing markets, or that we will be able to compete successfully against existing or new competition.
 
MSPEA has significant influence over our affairs.
 
MSPEA currently owns 100% of the outstanding convertible preferred stock and approximately 10.3% of our common stock on an as converted basis. In addition, pursuant to certain rights granted to it under the Certificate of Designation, so long as MSPEA and its affiliates continue to own 25% of the convertible preferred stock initially issued to it, the holders of at least a majority of the shares of the convertible preferred stock have the right to designate one of the directors on our board of directors and have the ability to veto our taking certain corporate actions or entering into certain material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business. As a result, MSPEA has significant influence over our affairs.

 
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If we do not meet performance targets specified in the securities purchase agreement with MSPEA or if we issue equity securities at a price per share less than the then-applicable conversion price, the conversion price of the convertible preferred stock would decrease.
 
Pursuant to the terms of the convertible preferred stock, if our net income for the period from fiscal year 2011 (inclusive) to the latest fiscal year with respect to which audited consolidated financial statements are available is below the net income targets of $84 million for fiscal year 2011, $210 million for the cumulative period of fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2012, US$399 million for the cumulative period of fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2013 and $682.5 million for the cumulative period of fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2014 (the “Income Targets,” which Income Targets may be adjusted upwards in the event we issue any equity securities in the future without the prior written approval of the holders of the convertible preferred stock), the conversion price for the convertible preferred stock will decrease and the holders of our common stock could suffer significant dilution in the event of a conversion of any shares of convertible preferred stock. In addition, if we have not achieved any such Income Target and have engaged in certain additional issuances of our equity securities that are not approved in writing by holders of a majority of the convertible preferred stock then outstanding (subject to certain exceptions) but for which no adjustment was made to the Income Targets, Full Alliance has agreed to transfer to MSPEA or its affiliates for total consideration of $1.00 an amount of shares of our common stock held by Full Alliance that MSPEA would otherwise receive upon conversion of the purchased shares, had the Income Target been so increased. As a result, MSPEA could acquire up to an additional 5,600,000 shares of our common stock currently held by Full Alliance, which shares have been pledged by Full Alliance to support the foregoing obligation. Additionally, as a result of a “full ratchet” antidilution provision in favor of holders of our convertible preferred stock, any future issuances of equity securities at a price per share less than the then-applicable conversion price that are not approved by a majority of such holders (subject to certain exceptions) will result in the conversion price being adjusted to the price at which such equity securities are issued.
 
Upon the occurrence of certain events, we may be required to redeem all or a portion of the convertible preferred stock.
 
Upon the occurrence of certain events, including, but not limited to, (i) a breach by us or Full Alliance of certain provisions of the financing documents, which breach gives rise to a material adverse effect on us or which materially diminishes the value of the convertible preferred stock, (ii) our failure to timely file our annual and quarterly reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, (iii) our failure to obtain certain mineral exploration rights without any additional material consideration, following which we fail to recover all of the proceeds for the original purchase of such mining rights on or prior to June 30, 2012 and (iv) Mr. Zishen Wu ceasing to be our chief executive officer or ceasing to be engaged or to perform his duties on a full time basis in that capacity prior to December 31, 2014 (unless as a result of his death, disability or incapacity or events beyond our control or is approved by the holders of a majority of the shares of the convertible preferred stock then outstanding), the holders of the convertible preferred stock have the right to require us to redeem all or a portion of their convertible preferred stock at a redemption price equal to the original purchase price, plus a premium designed to generate a 30% internal rate of return to the holders thereof.
 
In addition, the holders of the convertible preferred stock have the right to require us to redeem all or a portion of their convertible preferred stock if (i) the quotient of the aggregate amount of the earnings per share of any six (6) rolling consecutive quarters commencing from the first quarter of the fiscal year 2010 onwards divided by the aggregate amount of the earnings per share of the corresponding six (6) quarter period one year preceding thereto is less than one hundred and twenty percent (120%), and (ii) the actual net income of any fiscal year from 2011 to 2014 (both inclusive) is lower than $75 million in fiscal year 2011, $101 million in fiscal year 2012, $121 million in fiscal year 2013 and $145 million in fiscal year 2014, in each case at a redemption price equal to the original purchase price, plus a premium designed to generate a 20% internal rate of return to the holders thereof. The foregoing earnings targets are subject to adjustment in certain circumstances including if we have engaged in certain additional issuances of our equity securities that are not approved in writing by holders of a majority of the convertible preferred stock then outstanding (subject to certain exceptions).
 
If we are required to redeem the convertible preferred stock, we would need cash available, and to the extent that we do not have sufficient cash available and do not have access to bank debt, might have to liquidate assets to fund such redemptions. Any such liquidation may yield proceeds lower than might otherwise be the case.

 
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If we need additional financing, we may not be able to find such financing on satisfactory terms or at all.
 
Our capital requirements may be accelerated as a result of many factors, including the growth and timing of our business development activities, budget shortfalls, unanticipated expenses or capital expenditures, future product opportunities, future licensing opportunities and future business combinations. Consequently, we may need to seek additional debt or equity financing, which may not be available on favorable terms, if at all, and which may be dilutive to our stockholders.
 
We may seek to raise additional capital through public or private equity offerings, debt financings or additional corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution and, so long as MSPEA and its affiliates hold at least 1,420,455 shares of convertible preferred stock, we would need to obtain the approval of a majority of the shares of convertible preferred stock then outstanding (subject to certain exceptions). To the extent that we raise additional capital by issuing debt securities, we may incur substantial interest obligations, may be required to pledge assets as security for the debt and may be constrained by restrictive financial and/or operational covenants. Any provider of debt financing would also be superior to our stockholders’ interest in bankruptcy or liquidation. To the extent we raise additional funds through collaboration and licensing arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish some rights to our technologies or product candidates, or grant licenses on unfavorable terms.
 
If we fail to adequately protect or enforce our intellectual property rights, the value of our intellectual property rights could diminish.
 
Our success, competitive position and future revenues will depend in part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection for our products, methods, processes and other technologies, to preserve our trade secrets, to prevent third parties from infringing on our proprietary rights and to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties.
 
To date, we have received two patents for our crop and animal products with the State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC. We have obtained a registered trademark for “Yongye” from the Trademark Office of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce of the PRC (“CTMO”). Our PRC partner, Inner Mongolia Yongye has filed a trademark application for the brand name of “Shengmingsu” with the CTMO, and Inner Mongolia Yongye will transfer this mark to Yongye Nongfeng upon procurement of trademark registration with the CTMO. In addition, we rely on trade secret protection for our proprietary process of extracting fulvic acid from humic acid and creating the base fulvic acid compound used in both our crop (liquid form) and animal nutrient (powder form) products. However, we cannot predict the degree and range of protection patents, trademarks and trade secrets will afford us against competitors. Third parties may find ways to invalidate or otherwise circumvent our patents, proprietary technology and trademark. Third parties may attempt to obtain patents claiming aspects similar to our patent and trademark applications. If we need to initiate litigation or administrative proceedings, such actions may be costly and may divert management attention as well as expend other resources which could otherwise have been devoted to our business. An adverse determination in any such litigation will impair our intellectual property rights and may harm our business, prospects and reputation. In addition, historically, implementation of PRC intellectual property-related laws has been lacking, primarily because of ambiguities in the PRC laws and difficulties in enforcement. Accordingly, intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other countries, which increases the risk that we may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property. Moreover, litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights. Future litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of our management’s attention and resources, and could disrupt our business, as well as have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Given the relative unpredictability of China’s legal system and potential difficulties enforcing a court judgment in China, there is no guarantee that we would be able to halt the unauthorized use of our intellectual property through litigation.
 
 
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If we infringe the rights of third parties, we could be prevented from selling products, forced to pay damages and compelled to defend against litigation.
 
If our products, formula, methods, processes and other technologies infringe proprietary rights of other parties, we could incur substantial costs, and may have to obtain licenses (which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all), redesign our products or processes, stop using the subject matter claimed in the asserted patents, pay damages, or defend litigation or administrative proceedings, which may be costly whether we win or lose. All of the above could result in a substantial diversion of valuable management resources.
 
We believe we have taken reasonable steps, including comprehensive internal and external prior patent searches, to ensure we have freedom to operate and that our development and commercialization efforts can be carried out as planned without infringing others’ proprietary rights. However, we cannot guarantee that no third-party patent has been filed or will be filed that may contain subject matter of relevance to our development, causing a third-party patent holder to claim infringement. Resolving such issues has traditionally resulted, and could in our case result, in lengthy and costly legal proceedings, the outcome of which cannot be predicted accurately.
 
A severe or prolonged downturn in the global economy could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
 
The global market and economic conditions during the years 2008 through 2010 were unprecedented and challenging, with recessions occurring in most major economies. Continued concerns about the systemic impact of potential long-term and wide-spread recession, energy costs, geopolitical issues, and the availability and cost of credit have contributed to increased market volatility and diminished expectations for economic growth around the world. The difficult economic outlook has negatively affected businesses and consumer confidence and contributed to volatility of unprecedented levels.
 
The PRC economy also faces challenges. The PRC government has implemented various measures recently to curb inflation. If economic growth slows or an economic downturn occurs, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
 
We currently rely upon third-party suppliers for raw materials.
 
We currently are dependent upon third parties for our supply of lignite coal, chemical components and other raw materials. Should any of our suppliers terminate their supply relationships with us, or if our suppliers have inadequate amounts of lignite coal or any such other raw materials to meet our needs, we may be unable to procure sufficient amounts of lignite coal or any such other raw materials on acceptable terms, in a timely manner, that meet our specifications or that meet the demands of our customers and our profitability may be limited. In addition, these suppliers may not perform their obligations as they have to date, and it may not be possible to specifically enforce the relationships we have formed with such suppliers. If we are unable to obtain adequate quantities of lignite coal or any such other raw materials at economically viable prices which meet our specifications, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
 
Any significant fluctuation in our production costs may have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
 
The prices for the raw materials and other inputs to manufacture our crop and animal nutrient products are subject to market forces largely beyond our control, including the price of lignite coal, chemical components, our energy costs and freight costs. The costs for these inputs may fluctuate significantly based upon changes in the economy and markets. Although we may pass any increase of such costs through to our customers, in the event we are unable to do so, we could incur significant losses and a diminution of our share price.
 
Disruptions in the supply of raw materials used in our products could cause us to be unable to meet customer demand, which could result in the loss of customers and net sales.
 
Lignite coal is the primary raw material that we use to manufacture our products. If there are any business interruptions at our key supplier and we are unable to locate an alternative supply in a timely manner, we may not be able to meet customer demand, which could result in the loss of customers and net sales.

 
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We may be subject to more stringent governmental regulation on our products.
 
The manufacture and sale of our fertilizer and feed products in the PRC is regulated by the PRC and the provincial government. The legal and regulatory regime governing our industry is evolving, and we may become subject to different, including more stringent, requirements than those currently applicable to us. While we believe a more stringent standard will have a bigger impact on those manufacturers with poor quality products, we cannot assure you any regulatory change will not adversely affect our business.
 
We have limited insurance coverage and may incur losses due to business interruptions resulting from natural and man-made disasters, and our insurance may not be adequate to cover liabilities resulting from accidents or injuries that may occur.
 
The insurance industry in China is still at an early stage of development. Insurance companies in China offer limited commercial insurance products. While we carry property insurance on our office building, production facility, raw materials and inventories in Hohhot facilities, and carry auto insurance on our vehicles and maintain workers compensation insurance for our full-time workers, we do not carry any product liability insurance. We believe that current facilities are adequate for our current and immediately foreseeable operating needs. We have determined that balancing the risks of disruption or liability from our business, the cost of insuring for these risks on the one hand, and the difficulties associated with acquiring such insurance on commercially reasonable terms on the other hand, makes it impractical for us to have such insurance.
 
Should any natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods, or any acts of terrorism occur in Inner Mongolia, where our primary operations are located and most of our employees are based, or elsewhere, we might suffer not only significant property damage, but also loss of revenues due to interruptions in our business operations.
 
The occurrence of a significant event for which we are not fully insured or indemnified, and/or the failure of a party to meet its underwriting or indemnification obligations, could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial condition. Moreover, no assurance can be given that we will be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider reasonable.
 
Any disruption of the operations in our production facility would damage our business.
 
All of our fertilizer products are currently manufactured in our production facility in Inner Mongolia, China. Our operations could be interrupted by fire, drought, flood, earthquake and other events beyond our control. In addition, in recent months there has been increasing social unrest in Inner Mongolia. This social unrest has led to protests, demonstrations and violence. Any disruption of the operations in our production facility, due to either environmental causes, social unrest or other events beyond our control, would have a significant negative impact on our ability to manufacture and deliver products as we would likely be unable to outsource our production on terms favorable to us, if at all. Failure to replace any lost production capability would cause a potential diminution in sales, the cancellation of orders, loss of valuable employees, damage to our reputation and potential lawsuits.
 
The fertilizer and feed products that we manufacture pose safety risks and could expose us to product liability claims.
 
Defects in, or unknown harmful effects caused by, organic and inorganic chemicals and elements in our products could subject us to potential product liability claims that our products cause some harm to the human body or the plants and animals which use our products. Although we have adopted safety measures, which we believe meet industry standards, in our research, development and manufacturing processes, accidents may still occur. We do not carry any product liability insurance and any accident, either at the manufacturing phase or during the use of our products, may subject us to significant liabilities to persons and farmers harmed by these products. Public perception that our products are not safe, whether justified or not, could damage our reputation, involve us in litigation, and damage our brand names and our business. As of the date of this report, no product liability claim has ever been brought against us. However, if we are involved in litigation in the future, the potential judgment or settlement along with the litigation costs could harm our financial performance.

 
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An outbreak of food scares in China would materially and adversely affect our business.
 
Any major outbreak of food scares, such as the milk contamination scandal in the PRC in 2008, may result in significant disruptions to our business operations. A major food scare could result in considerable decreases in the demand for the products in which our products are used, which would materially and adversely affect our business and our profitability. Adverse publicity and concerns resulting from such a food scare may discourage consumers from purchasing products in which our products are used. Such a reduction in demand would adversely impact our financial performance and results of operations.
 
Because we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our current and future Chinese subsidiaries for our cash requirements, restrictions under Chinese law on their ability to make such payments could materially and adversely affect our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could benefit our business, pay dividends to you, and otherwise fund and conduct our businesses.
 
We have adopted a holding company structure, and our holding companies may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our current and future PRC subsidiaries for their cash requirements, including the funds necessary to service any debt we may incur or financing we may need for operations other than through our PRC subsidiaries. PRC legal restrictions permit payments of dividends by our PRC subsidiaries only out of their accumulated after-tax profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC GAAP. Our PRC subsidiaries are also required under PRC laws and regulations to allocate at least 10% of their after-tax profits determined in accordance with PRC GAAP to statutory reserves until such reserves reach 50% of the company’s registered capital. Allocations to these statutory reserves and funds can only be used for specific purposes and are not transferable to us in the form of loans, advances or cash dividends. Any limitation on the ability of our current or future PRC subsidiaries to transfer funds to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends and otherwise fund and conduct our business.
 
If we are unable to establish appropriate internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in the restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanction, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and have a negative effect on the market price for shares of our common stock.
 
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. We maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting, which is defined as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, 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.
 
As a public company, we have significant additional requirements for enhanced financial reporting and internal controls. We are required to document and test our internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. The process of designing and implementing effective internal controls is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments and to expend significant resources to maintain a system of internal controls that is adequate to satisfy our reporting obligations as a public company. We cannot assure you that we will not, in the future, identify areas requiring improvement in our internal control over financial reporting. We cannot assure you that the measures we will take to remediate any areas in need of improvement will be successful or that we will implement and maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future as we continue our growth. If we are unable to establish appropriate internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in the restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanction, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and have a negative effect on the market price for shares of our common stock.

 
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Lack of experience as officers of publicly traded companies of our management team may hinder our ability to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
 
It may be time consuming, difficult and costly for us to develop and implement the appropriate internal controls and reporting procedures required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We may need to hire additional financial reporting, internal controls and other finance staff in order to develop and implement appropriate internal controls and reporting procedures. If we are unable to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act’s internal controls requirements, our auditor could not issue an unqualified opinion of our internal control over financial reporting.
 
We have incurred increased costs as a result of being a public company.
 
As a public company, we have incurred significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the related rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC, has required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. These rules and regulations have increased our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs and made certain corporate activities more time-consuming and costly.
 
Risks Associated With Doing Business in China
 
Adverse changes in PRC economic and political policies could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China, which could reduce the demand for our products and materially and adversely affect our business.
 
Substantially all of our assets are located in China. Substantially all of our revenue is derived from our operations in China and we anticipate that sales of our products in the PRC will continue to represent a substantial proportion of our total sales in the near future. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects are subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal developments in China. The PRC economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many aspects, including:
 
 
·
the level of government involvement;
 
 
·
the level of development;
 
 
·
the growth rate;
 
 
·
the level and control of capital investment;
 
 
·
the control of foreign exchange; and
 
 
·
the allocation of resources.
 
While the Chinese economy has grown significantly in the past two decades, the growth has been uneven geographically, among various sectors of the economy and during different periods. We cannot assure you that the Chinese economy will continue to grow or to do so at the pace that has prevailed in recent years, or that if there is growth, such growth will be steady and uniform. In addition, if there is a slowdown, such slowdown could have a negative effect on our business. Any measures taken by the PRC Government, even if they benefit the overall Chinese economy in the long-term, may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected by government control over capital investments. Although the Chinese economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy, a substantial portion of the productive assets in China is still owned by the PRC Government. The continued control of these assets and other aspects of the national economy by the PRC Government could materially and adversely affect our business. The PRC Government also exercises significant control over Chinese economic growth through allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Any adverse change in the economic conditions or government policies in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth and the level of investments and expenditures in China, which in turn could lead to a reduction in consumer demand for our products and consequently have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

 
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We derive a substantial portion of our sales from the PRC.
 
Substantially all of our sales are generated from the PRC. We anticipate that sales of our products in the PRC will continue to represent a substantial proportion of our total sales in the near future. Any significant decline in the condition of the PRC economy could adversely affect consumer demand for our products, among other things, which in turn would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
 
The PRC legal system embodies uncertainties that could limit the legal protections available to you and us.
 
Unlike common law systems, the PRC legal system is based on written statutes and decided legal cases have little precedential value. In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation since then has been to significantly enhance the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investment in China. Our PRC operating subsidiary is subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China. Yongye Nongfeng is subject to laws and regulations governing the formation and conduct of domestic PRC companies. Relevant PRC laws, regulations and legal requirements may change frequently, and their interpretation and enforcement involve uncertainties. For example, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce the legal protection that we enjoy either by law or contract. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than under more developed legal systems. Such uncertainties, including the inability to enforce our contracts and intellectual property rights, could materially and adversely affect our business and operations. Accordingly, we cannot predict the effect of future developments in the PRC legal system, particularly with respect to the fertilizer and feed sector, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of local regulations by national laws. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us and other foreign investors.
 
Currency fluctuations may adversely affect our business.
 
Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar and our operating subsidiary in China uses the local currency as its functional currency. Substantially all of our revenue and expenses are in Renminbi. We are subject to the effects of exchange rate fluctuations with respect to any of these currencies. For example, the value of the Renminbi depends to a large extent on Chinese government policies and China’s domestic and international economic and political developments, as well as supply and demand in the local market. From 1994 to 2005, the official exchange rate for the conversion of Renminbi to the U.S. dollar had generally been stable and the Renminbi had appreciated slightly against the U.S. dollar. However, on July 21, 2005, the PRC Government changed its policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, the Renminbi may fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. This change in policy has resulted in an approximately 25% appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar between July 21, 2005 and December 31, 2010.
 
It is possible that the PRC Government could adopt a more flexible currency policy, which could result in more significant fluctuations of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar. We can offer no assurance that the Renminbi will be stable against the U.S. dollar or any other foreign currency.
 
To the extent the U.S. dollar strengthens against foreign currencies, the translation of foreign currency denominated transactions will result in reduced revenue, operating expenses and net income for our international operations. Similarly, to the extent the U.S. dollar weakens against foreign currencies, the translation of the foreign currency denominated transactions will result in increased revenue, operating expenses and net income for our international operations. We are also exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations as we convert the financial statements of Yongye Nongfeng and Yongye Fumin into U.S. dollars in consolidation. If there is a change in foreign currency exchange rates, the conversion of our foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars will lead to a translation gain or loss which is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. In addition, we may have certain monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the relevant entity’s functional currency. Changes in the functional currency value of these assets and liabilities result in foreign exchange gain or loss. We have not entered into agreements or purchased instruments to hedge our exchange rate risks, although we may do so in the future. The availability and effectiveness of any hedging transaction may be limited and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exchange rate risks.

 
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We must comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
 
We are required to comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits U.S. companies from engaging in bribery or other prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Foreign companies, including some of our competitors, are not subject to these prohibitions. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs, theft and other fraudulent practices occur from timeto-time in mainland China. If our competitors engage in these practices, they may receive preferential treatment from personnel of some companies, giving our competitors an advantage in securing business or from government officials who might give them priority in obtaining new licenses, which would put us at a disadvantage. Although we inform our personnel and other agents that such practices are illegal, we cannot assure you that our employees or other agents will not engage in such conduct for which we might be held responsible. If our employees or other agents are found to have engaged in such practices, we could suffer severe penalties and other consequences that may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Changes in foreign exchange regulations in the PRC may affect our ability to pay dividends in foreign currency or conduct other foreign exchange business.
 
The Renminbi is not currently a freely convertible currency, and the restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use revenues generated in Renminbi to fund our business activities outside the PRC or to make dividends or other payments in United States dollars. The PRC government strictly regulates conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies. Over the years, foreign exchange regulations in the PRC have significantly reduced the government’s control over routine foreign exchange transactions under current accounts. In the PRC, the State Administration for Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, regulates the conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies. Pursuant to applicable PRC laws and regulations, foreign invested enterprises incorporated in the PRC are required to apply for “Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates”. Currently, conversion within the scope of the “current account” (e.g. remittance of foreign currencies for payment of dividends, etc.) can be effected without requiring the approval of SAFE. However, conversion of currency in the “capital account” (e.g. for capital items such as direct investments, loans, securities, etc.) still requires the approval of SAFE.
 
In addition, on October 21, 2005, SAFE issued the Notice on Issues Relating to the Administration of Foreign Exchange in Fundraising and Reverse Investment Activities of Domestic Residents Conducted via Offshore Special Purpose Companies (“Notice 75”), which became effective as of November 1, 2005. Notice 75 replaced the two rules issued by SAFE in January and April 2005. According to Notice 75:
 
 
·
prior to establishing or assuming control of an offshore company for the purpose of obtaining overseas equity financing with assets or equity interests in an onshore enterprise in the PRC, each PRC resident, whether a natural or legal person, must complete the overseas investment foreign exchange registration procedures with the relevant local SAFE branch;
 
 
·
an amendment to the registration with the local SAFE branch is required to be filed by any PRC resident that directly or indirectly holds interests in that offshore company upon either (1) the injection of equity interests or assets of an onshore enterprise to the offshore company, or (2) the completion of any overseas fund raising by such offshore company; and
 
 
·
an amendment to the registration with the local SAFE branch is also required to be filed by such PRC resident when there is any material change in the capital of the offshore company that does not involve any return investment, such as (1) an increase or decrease in its capital, (2) a transfer or swap of shares, (3) a merger or division, (4) a long term equity or debt investment, or (5) the creation of any security interests.

 
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Moreover, Notice 75 applies retroactively. As a result, PRC residents who have established or acquired control of offshore companies that have made onshore investments in the PRC in the past are required to complete the relevant overseas investment foreign exchange registration procedures by March 31, 2006. Under the relevant rules, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in Notice 75 may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate and the capital inflow from the offshore entity, and may also subject relevant PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.
 
In addition, SAFE has, from time to time, issued updated internal implementing rules, or Implementing Rules, in relation to Notice 75. New Implementing Rules will become effective on July I, 2011. Such Implementing Rules provide more detailed provisions and requirements regarding the overseas investment foreign exchange registration procedures. However, even with the promulgation of the new Implementing Rules there still exist uncertainties regarding the SAFE registration for PRC residents’ interests in overseas companies.
 
On December 25, 2006, the People’s Bank of China issued the Administration Measures on Individual Foreign Exchange Control, and the corresponding Implementing Rules were issued by SAFE on January 5, 2007, Both of these regulations became effective on February 1, 2007. According to these regulations, all foreign exchange matters relating to employee stock holding plans, share option plans or similar plans in which PRC citizens will participate require approval from SAFE or its authorized branch. On March 28, 2007, SAFE issued the Application Procedure of Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Holding Plan or Stock Option Plan of Overseas-Listed Company, or the Stock Option Rule. Under the Stock Option Rule, Chinese citizens who are granted share options or shares by an offshore listed company are required, through a Chinese agent or Chinese subsidiary of the offshore listed company, to register with SAFE and complete certain other procedures. We are an offshore listed company and, as a result, we and our Chinese employees who have been granted share options or shares under our 2010 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan are subject to the Stock Option Rule. If we or our Chinese employees fail to comply with these regulations, we or our Chinese employees may be subject to fines or other legal sanctions imposed by SAFE or other Chinese government authorities.
 
PRC regulations relating to mergers and acquisitions of domestic enterprises by foreign investors may increase the administrative burden we face and create regulatory uncertainties.
 
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, namely, the PRC Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, or SASAC, the State Administration for Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, and SAFE, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or New M&A Rule, which became effective on September 8, 2006 and was amended on June 22, 2009. The New M&A Rule purports, among other things, to require offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, formed for overseas listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange.
 
On September 21, 2006, pursuant to the New M&A Rule and other PRC laws and regulations, the CSRC, in its official website, promulgated relevant guidance with respect to the issues of listing and trading of domestic enterprises’ securities on overseas stock exchanges (the “Related Clarifications”), including a list of application materials with respect to the listing on overseas stock exchanges by SPVs.
 
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of the above rules, and CSRC has yet to promulgate any written provisions or formally to declare or state whether the overseas listing of PRC related company similar to the case of us shall be subject to the approval of CSRC. If CSRC approval is required in connection with our listing, our failure to obtain or delay in obtaining such approval could result in penalties imposed by CSRC and other PRC regulatory agencies. These penalties could include fines and penalties on our operations in China, restriction or limitation on remitting dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that may cause a material and adverse effect to our business, operations and financial conditions.
 
Notwithstanding those provisions, we are advised by our PRC counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, that CSRC approval is not required in the context of our listing because (i) we are not a special purpose vehicle formed or controlled by PRC companies or PRC individuals, (ii) we are owned or substantively controlled by foreigners, and (iii) establishment of Yongye Nongfeng is not subject to the New M&A rules. However, we cannot assure that the relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion, and we still cannot rule out the possibility that CSRC may deem our listing structure circumvents the New M&A rules, Related Clarifications and PRC Securities Law.

 
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Though the New M&A rules do not have express provisions in terms of penalties against non-procurement of CSRC approval, there are some other penalty provisions in other PRC laws and regulations regulating offshore listing, which can be cited as a reference:
 
i)            Pursuant to Article 188 of the PRC Securities Law, any entity that issues securities or issues securities in disguised form without verification or examination and approval by the statutory authority shall be ordered to cease issuance and refund the funds thus raised, together with bank deposit interest for the same period, and shall also be fined not less than one percent but not more than five percent of the amount of the proceeds illegally raised. The persons directly in charge and the other persons directly responsible shall be given a disciplinary warning and also be fined not less than RMB30,000 but not more than RMB300,000. However, we believe that this penalty is mainly designed for and targeted at domestic listing because the PRC Securities Law mainly regulate domestic listings, and listing or de-listing of a company’s stock in the US stock market should be subject to the SEC’s regulation, which is beyond the CSRC’s jurisdiction.
 
ii)          Pursuant to the Circular of the State Council Concerning Further Strengthening the Administration of Overseas Issuance and Listing of Securities, the overseas listing of securities of a PRC related company which violates this Circular shall be deemed an issuance of shares without authorization or approval. Persons in charge of the competent departments responsible for approval of such an overseas issuance could be subject to administrative sanctions if such person in charge is liable for such violation. People heading the issuing entity and other people directly responsible for issuance shall be penalized, including degraded to a lower lever position and termination of employment by the upper level department. If the violation constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be claimed against relevant responsible persons according to applicable laws. The issuing entity, relevant agencies involved and the responsible people thereof shall be penalized by the CSRC in accordance with the provisions of the Interim Regulations on the Administration of Issuance and Trading of Securities and other relevant provisions.
 
Government regulations on environmental matters in China may adversely impact on our business.
 
Our manufacturing operations are subject to numerous laws, regulations, rules and specifications relating to human health and safety and the environment. These laws and regulations address and regulate, among other matters, wastewater discharge, air quality and the generation, handling, storage, treatment, disposal and transportation of solid and hazardous wastes and releases of hazardous substances into the environment. In addition, third parties and governmental agencies in some cases have the power under such laws and regulations to require remediation of environmental conditions and, in the case of governmental agencies, to impose fines and penalties. We make capital expenditures from time to time to stay in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
 
We believe we have obtained all permits and approvals and filed all registrations required for the conduct of our business, except where the failure to obtain any permit or approval or file any registration would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We believe we are in compliance in all material respects with the numerous laws, regulations, rules, specifications and permits, approvals and registrations relating to human health and safety and the environment except where noncompliance would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
The PRC governmental authorities have not revealed any material environmental liability that would have a material adverse effect on us. We have not been notified by any governmental authority of any continuing noncompliance, liability or other claim in connection with any of our properties or business operations, nor are we aware of any other material environmental condition with respect to any of our properties or arising out of our business operations at any other location. However, in connection with the ownership and operation of our properties (including locations to which we may have sent waste in the past) and the conduct of our business, we potentially may be liable for damages or cleanup, investigation or remediation costs. In addition, in connection with environmental certification applications we have filed regarding our existing operations, the PRC governmental authorities could impose significant additional obligations prior to approving such applications, or could determine not to approve such applications. Any such additional obligations, or the denial of such applications could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

 
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No assurance can be given that all potential environmental liabilities have been identified or properly quantified or that any prior owner, operator, or tenant has not created an environmental condition unknown to us. Moreover, no assurance can be given that (i) future laws, ordinances or regulations will not impose any material environmental liability or (ii) the current environmental condition of the properties will not be affected by the condition of land or operations in the vicinity of the properties (such as the presence of underground storage tanks), or by third parties unrelated to us. State and local environmental regulatory requirements change often.
 
It is possible that compliance with a new regulatory requirement could impose significant compliance costs on us. Such costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We may have difficulty managing the risk associated with doing business in the Chinese fertilizer and feed sector.
 
In general, the fertilizer and feed sector in China is affected by a series of factors, including, but not limited to, natural, economic and social such as climate, market, technology, regulation, and globalization, which makes risk management difficult. Fertilizer and feed operations in China face similar risks as present in other countries, however, these can either be mitigated or exacerbated due to governmental intervention through policy promulgation and implementation either in the fertilizer and feed sector itself or sectors which provide critical inputs to fertilizer and feed such as energy or outputs such as transportation. While not an exhaustive list, the following factors could significantly affect our ability to do business:
 
 
·
food, feed, and energy demand including liquid fuels and crude oil;
 
 
·
agricultural, financial, energy and renewable energy and trade policies;
 
 
·
input and output pricing due to market factors and regulatory policies;
 
 
·
production and crop progress due to adverse weather conditions, equipment deliveries, and water and irrigation conditions; and
 
 
·
infrastructure conditions and policies.
 
Currently, we do not hold and do not intend to purchase insurance policies to protect revenue in the case that the above conditions cause losses of revenue.
 
We may have difficulty establishing adequate management, legal and financial controls in the PRC.
 
The PRC historically has been unaccustomed to and lacking in Western style management and financial reporting concepts and practices, as well as in modern banking, computer and other control systems. We may have difficulty in hiring and retaining a sufficient number of qualified employees to work in the PRC. As a result of these factors, we may experience difficulty in establishing management, legal and financial controls, collecting financial data and preparing financial statements, books of account and corporate records and instituting business practices that used Western standards. We may have difficulty establishing adequate management, legal and financial controls in the PRC.
 
We face risks related to health epidemics and other outbreaks.
 
Our business could be adversely affected by the effects of swine flu, avian flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, or another epidemic or outbreak. From 2005 to 2009, there have been reports on the occurrences of avian flu and swine flu in various parts of China and elsewhere in Asia, including a few confirmed human cases and deaths. Any prolonged recurrence of swine flu, avian flu, SARS or other adverse public health developments in China may have a material adverse effect on our business operations. Our operations may be impacted by a number of health-related factors, including, among other things, quarantines or closures of our factories and the facilities of our supplier and customers which could severely disrupt our operations. Any of the foregoing events or other unforeseen consequences of public health problems could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We have not adopted any written preventive measures or contingency plans to combat any future outbreak of swine flu, avian flu, SARS or any other epidemics.

 
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Inflation in the PRC could negatively affect our profitability and growth.
 
While the PRC economy has experienced rapid growth, it has been uneven among various sectors of the economy and in different geographical areas of the country. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising inflation. If prices for our products do not rise at a rate that is sufficient to fully absorb inflation-driven increases in our costs of supplies, our profitability can be adversely affected.
 
During the past ten years, the rate of inflation in China has been fluctuating quite significantly. The Chinese government, from time to time, has adopted various corrective measures designed to restrict the availability of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. In order to control inflation in the past, the PRC government has imposed controls on bank credits, limits on loans for fixed assets and restrictions on state bank lending. The implementation of these and other similar policies can impede economic growth and thereby harm the market for our products.
 
Because our assets and operations are located in PRC, you may have difficulty enforcing any civil liabilities against us under the securities and other laws of the United States or any state.
 
We are a holding company, and most of our assets are located in the PRC. In addition, substantially all of our directors and officers are nonresidents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located outside the United States, As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon these non-residents, or to enforce against them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.
 
There is uncertainty as to whether courts of the PRC would enforce:
 
 
·
judgments of United States courts obtained against us or these non-residents based on the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state; or
 
 
·
in original actions brought in the PRC, liabilities against us or non-residents predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state.
 
Enforcement of a foreign judgment in the PRC also may be limited or otherwise affected by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, arrangement, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and will be subject to a statutory limitation of time within which proceedings may be brought.
 
We may not receive the preferential tax treatment we previously enjoyed under PRC law, and our global income and dividends paid to us from our operations in China may become subject to income tax under PRC law.
 
The rate of income tax on companies in China may vary depending on the availability of preferential tax treatment or subsidies based on their industry or location. The PRC government promulgated on March 16, 2007 the new Enterprise Income Tax Law, (“EIT Law”), and its implementing rules, which became effective January 1, 2008. Pursuant to the new law, the enterprise income tax of 25% shall be applied to any enterprise. However, Yongye Nongfeng received a High-Tech Enterprise Certificate which entitles it to a preferential tax rate of 15% for three years starting from January 1, 2010. There is no assurance we can renew our High-Tech Enterprise Certificate after it expires or if any new law may change the preferential treatment granted to us. Any loss or substantial reduction of the tax benefits enjoyed by us would reduce our net profit and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 
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Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, the new EIT Law also provides that dividends paid between “qualified resident enterprises” are exempt from enterprise income tax. Under the new EIT Law and its implementing rules, an enterprise established outside the PRC with its “de facto management body” within the PRC is considered a “resident enterprise” and will be subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its worldwide income. The “de facto management body” is defined as the organizational body that effectively exercises overall management and control over production and business operations, personnel, finance and accounting, and properties of the enterprise. It remains unclear how the PRC tax authorities will interpret such a broad definition. Substantially most of our management members or business operations are based in the PRC. If the PRC tax authorities subsequently determine that we should be classified as a resident enterprise, then it is possible that our worldwide income will be subject to income tax at a uniform rate of 25%.
 
In addition, under the new EIT law and its implementing rules, dividends paid by a foreign invested enterprise in the PRC to its foreign investor who is a non-resident enterprise will be subject to a 10% PRC withholding income tax (5% for a qualified Hong Kong beneficial owner), unless such tax is eliminated or reduced under an applicable tax treaty. Asia Standard Oil (“ASO” ) the 95% shareholder of Yongye Nongfeng, is incorporated in Hong Kong. Therefore, if ASO is considered a non-resident enterprise for purposes of the new EIT law, this new withholding income tax imposed on dividends paid to us by our PRC subsidiaries would reduce our net income in the event we decide to declare a dividend, which may have an adverse effect on our operating results.
 
It is unclear whether the dividends we receive from Yongye Nongfeng will constitute dividends between “qualified resident enterprises” and would therefore qualify for the tax exemption because it is unclear as to (i) the detailed qualification requirements for such exemption and (ii) whether dividend payments by our PRC subsidiary and investee company to us will meet such qualification requirements, even if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise for tax purposes.
 
Moreover, since ASO, the 95% shareholder of Yongye Nongfeng, is incorporated in Hong Kong, even if ASO is considered a non-resident enterprise, it is also unclear whether ASO should be considered as a Hong Kong beneficial owner. The beneficial owner means persons who possess ownership and right of control on their proceeds or rights or properties generated from such proceeds. The beneficial owner generally engages in substantive operation activities and may be individuals, companies or any other associations. Agents and companies for tax evasion purposes are not beneficial owner. If ASO is not considered Hong Kong beneficial owner, it will be subject to a 10% PRC withholding income tax.
 
Dividends payable to our non-PRC investors and any gain on the sale of our shares may be subject to taxes under PRC tax laws.
 
If our dividends payable to our shareholders are treated as income derived from sources within China, then those dividends, and any gain on the sale or transfer of our shares, may be subject to taxes under PRC tax laws.
 
Under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, a withholding income tax at the rate of 10% is applicable to dividends paid by us to our investors that are non-resident enterprises so long as (i) any such non-resident enterprise investor does not have an establishment or place of business in China, or (ii) despite the existence of an establishment or place of business in China, the relevant income is not effectively connected with such an establishment or place of business in China and (iii) such dividends are derived from sources within PRC. Similarly, any gain realized on the transfer of our shares by such investors is also subject to a 10% withholding income tax if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within China and we are considered a resident enterprise domiciled in China for tax purposes. If we are required under the EIT Law to withhold PRC income tax on our dividends paid to our foreign shareholders or investors who are nonresident enterprises, or if you are required to pay PRC income tax on the transfer of our shares under the circumstances mentioned above, the value of your investment in our shares may be materially and adversely affected.

 
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In January 2009, the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Provisional Measures for the Administration of Withholding of Enterprise Income Tax for Non-resident Enterprises (“Measures”). Entities which have the direct obligation to make the following types of payments to a non-resident enterprise will be the relevant tax withholders for such a non-resident enterprise: income from equity investment (including dividends and other return on investment), interest, rent, royalties, and income from assignment of property as well as other income subject to enterprise income taxes received by non-resident enterprises in China. Further, the Measures provide that in the case of an equity transfer between two non-resident enterprises outside of the PRC, the non-resident enterprise which receives the equity transfer payment shall file a tax declaration with the PRC tax authority located at the place of the PRC company whose equity has been transferred, and the PRC company whose equity has been transferred shall assist the tax authorities to collect taxes from the relevant non-resident enterprise. However, it is unclear whether the Measures cover equity transfers of a non-resident enterprise which is a direct or an indirect shareholder of a PRC company. Given these Measures, there is a possibility that we may have an obligation to withhold income tax in respect of the dividends paid to non-resident enterprise investors.
 
PRC regulation of direct investment and loans by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or limit our ability to use the proceeds of any offering of securities to make additional capital contributions or loans to our PRC operating business.
 
Any capital contributions or loans that we, as an offshore company, make to our PRC operating business, including from the proceeds of this offering, are subject to PRC regulations. For example, any of our loans to our PRC operating business cannot exceed the difference between the total amount of investment our PRC operating business are approved to make under relevant PRC laws and their respective registered capital, and must be registered with the local branch of SAFE as a procedural matter. In addition, our capital contributions to Yongye Nongfeng must be approved by the NDRC and MOFCOM or their local counterpart and registered with the SAIC or its local counterpart. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these approvals on a timely basis, or at all. If we fail to obtain such approvals, our ability to make equity contributions or provide loans to our PRC operating business or to fund its operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect its liquidity and its ability to fund its working capital and expansion projects and meet its obligations and commitments. Furthermore, SAFE promulgated a new circular in August 2008 with respect to the administration of conversion of foreign exchange capital contribution of foreign invested enterprises into RMB. Pursuant to this new circular, RMB converted from foreign exchange capital contribution can only be used for the activities within the approved business scope of such foreign invested enterprise and cannot be used for domestic equity investment or acquisition unless otherwise allowed by PRC laws or regulations. As a result, we may not be able to increase the capital contribution of our operating subsidiary or equity invested and subsequently convert such capital contribution into RMB for equity investment or acquisition in China.
 
PRC labor law restricts our ability to reduce our workforce in the PRC in the event of an economic downturn and may increase our labor costs.
 
In June 2007, the National People’s Congress of the PRC enacted the Labor Contract Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008. To clarify certain details in connection with the implementation of the Labor Contract Law, the State Council promulgated the Implementing Rules for the Labor Contract Law, or the implementing Rules, on September 18, 2008 which came into effect immediately. The Labor Contract Law provides various rules regarding employment contracts that will likely have a substantial impact on employment practices in China. The Labor Contract Law imposes severe penalties on employers that fail to timely enter into employment contracts with employees. The employer is required to pay a double salary to the employee if it does not enter into a written contract with the employee within one month of the employment, and a non-fixed-term contract is assumed if a written contract is not executed after one year of the employment. Additionally, the Labor Contract Law sets a limit of two fixed-term contracts regardless of the length of each term, after which the contract must be renewed on a non-fixed-term basis should the parties agree to a further renewal unless otherwise required by the respective employee. This requirement curtails the common practice of continuously renewing short-term employment contracts. The Implementing Rules appear to further tighten this rule by suggesting that an employee has the right to demand a non-fixed-term contract upon the completion of the second fixed term regardless of whether the employer agrees to a contract renewal. A non-fixed-term contract does not have a termination date and it is generally difficult to terminate such a contract because termination must be based on limited statutory grounds. The employer can no longer supplement such statutory grounds through an agreement with the employee. In addition, the Labor Contract Law requires the payment of statutory severance upon the termination of an employment contract in most circumstances, including the expiration of a fixed-term employment contract.

 
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Under the Labor Contract Law, employers can only impose a post-termination non-competition provision on employees who have access to their confidential information for a maximum period of two years. If an employer intends to maintain the enforceability of a post-termination non-competition provision, the employer has to pay the employee compensation on a monthly basis post-termination of the employment. Under the Labor Contract Law, a “mass layoff” is defined as termination of more than 20 employees or more than 10% of the workforce. The Labor Contract Law expands the circumstances under which a mass layoff can be conducted, such as when a company undertakes a restructuring pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Bankruptcy Law, suffers serious difficulties in business operations, changes its line of business, performs significant technology improvements, changes operating methods, or where there has been a material change in the objective economic circumstances relied upon by the parties at the time of the conclusion of the employment contract, thereby making the performance of such employment contract impractical. The employer must follow specific procedures in conducting a mass layoff. There is little guidance on what penalties an employer will suffer if it fails to follow the procedural requirements in conducting the mass layoff. Finally, the Labor Contract Law requires that the employer discuss the company’s internal rules and regulations that directly affect the employees’ material interests (such as employees’ salary, work hours, leave, benefits, and training, etc.) with all employees or employee representative assemblies and consult with the trade union or employee representatives on such matters before making a final decision.
 
All of our employees based exclusively within the PRC are covered by these laws. As there has been little guidance and precedents as to how the Labor Contract Law and its Implementing Rules shall be enforced by the relevant PRC authorities, there remains uncertainty as to their potential impact on our business and results of operations. The compliance with the Labor Contract Law and its implementing Rules may increase our operating expenses, in particular our personnel expenses and labor service expenses. If we want to maintain the enforceability of any of our employees’ post-termination non-competition provisions, the compensation and procedures required under the Labor Contract Law may add substantial costs and cause logistical burdens to us. Prior to the Labor Contract Law such compensation was often structured as part of the employee’s salary during employment, and was not an additional compensation cost. In the event that we decide to terminate employees or otherwise change our employment or labor practices, the Labor Contract Law and its Implementing Rules may also limit our ability to effect these changes in a manner that we believe to be cost-effective or desirable, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. In particular, our ability to adjust the size of our operations when necessary in periods of recession or less severe economic downturns such as the recent financial turmoil may be affected. In addition, during periods of economic decline when mass layoffs become more common, local regulations may tighten the procedures by, among other things, requiring the employer to obtain approval from the relevant local authority before conducting any mass layoff. Such regulations can be expected to exacerbate the adverse effect of the economic environment on our results of operations and financial condition.
 
Our failure to fully comply with PRC labor laws exposes us to potential liability.
 
Companies operating in China must comply with a variety of labor laws, including certain social insurance, housing fund and other staff welfare-oriented payment obligations. While we believe we have complied with such obligations, there exist uncertainties to the interpretation, implementation and enforcement of such obligations. If relevant governmental authorities determine that we have not complied fully with such obligations, we may be in violation of applicable PRC labor laws and we cannot assure you that PRC governmental authorities will not impose penalties on us for any failure to comply. In addition, in the event that any current or former employee files a complaint with relevant governmental authorities, we may be subject to making up such staff-welfare oriented obligations as well as paying administrative fines.
 
Risks Related to our Securities
 
Our common stock may be affected by limited trading volume and may fluctuate significantly.
 
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Although an active trading market has developed for our common stock, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for our common stock will be sustained. Failure to maintain an active trailing market for our common stock may adversely affect our shareholders’ ability to sell our common stock in short time periods, or at all. In addition, sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market could harm the market price of our common stock. Our common stock has experienced, and may experience in the future, significant price and volume fluctuations. Some of the factors that may materially affect the market price of our common stock are beyond our control, such as changes in financial estimates by industry and securities analysts, conditions or trends in the industry in which we operate or sales or our common stock. These factors may materially adversely affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our performance. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 
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Shares eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market price of our common stock, as the future sale of a substantial amount of our restricted stock in the public marketplace could reduce the price of our common stock.
 
From time to time, certain of our stockholders may be eligible to sell all or some of their shares of common stock by means of ordinary brokerage transactions in the open market pursuant to Rule 144, promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), subject to certain limitations. In general, pursuant to Rule 144, a stockholder (or stockholders whose shares are aggregated) who has satisfied a six-month holding period may, under certain circumstances, sell within any three-month period a number of securities which does not exceed the greater of 1% of the then outstanding shares of common stock or the average weekly trading-volume of the class during the four calendar weeks prior to such sale. Rule 144 also permits, under certain circumstances, the sale of securities, without any limitations, by a non-affiliate of our company that has satisfied a one-year holding period. We have granted MSPEA and any other holders of the convertible preferred stock certain registration rights with respect to the common stock underlying the convertible preferred stock and any other shares of common stock they may otherwise own or acquire in the future. Any substantial sale of common stock pursuant to Rule 144 or pursuant to any resale prospectus, including a resale prospectus used to register the common stock underlying the convertible preferred stock, may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.
 
There is a significant number of shares of common stock eligible for sale, which could depress the market price of such stock.
 
Following the effective date of the registration statement that registers the common stock underlying the convertible preferred stock we issued in June 2011, a large number of shares of our common stock have become become available for sale in the public market, which could harm the market price of the stock. Further, shares may be offered from time to time in the open market pursuant to Rule 144, and these sales may have a depressive effect as well. In general, a person who has held restricted shares for a period of six months may, upon filing a notification with the SEC on Form 144, sell common stock into the market in an amount equal to the greater of one percent of the outstanding shares or the average weekly trading volume during the last four weeks prior to such sale.
 
Your percentage ownership in us may be diluted by future issuances of capital stock and by the conversion of the convertible preferred stock, which could reduce your influence over matters on which stockholders vote.
 
Subject only to any applicable stockholder approval requirements imposed by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, our board of directors has the authority to issue all or any part of our authorized but unissued shares of common stock. Issuances of common stock would reduce your influence over matters on which our stockholders vote. The conversion of the convertible preferred stock will dilute your percentage ownership.
 
Stockholders should have no expectation of any dividends.
 
To date, we have not declared nor paid any cash dividends. The Board of Directors does not intend to declare any dividends on our common stock in the near future, but instead intends to retain all earnings, if any, for use in the operation and expansion of our business. If we decide to pay dividends, foreign exchange and other regulations in China may restrict our ability to distribute retained earnings from China or convert those payments from Renminbi into foreign currencies.

 
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Techniques employed by manipulative short sellers in Chinese small cap stocks may drive down the market price of our common stock.
 
Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has, supposedly, borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. As it is therefore in the short seller’s best interests for the price of the stock to decline, many short sellers (sometime known as “disclosed shorts”) publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a stock short. While traditionally these disclosed shorts were limited in their ability to access mainstream business media or to otherwise create negative market rumors, the rise of the Internet and technological advancements regarding document creation, videotaping and publication by weblog (“blogging”) have allowed many disclosed shorts to publicly attack a company’s credibility, strategy and veracity by means of so-called research reports that mimic the type of investment analysis performed by large Wall Street firm and independent research analysts. These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market, on occasion in large scale and broad base. Issuers with business operations based in China and who have limited trading volumes and are susceptible to higher volatility levels than U.S. domestic large-cap stock, can be particularly vulnerable to such short attacks.
 
These short seller publications are not regulated by any governmental, self-regulatory organization or other official authority in the U.S., are not subject to the certification requirements imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Regulation AC (Regulation Analyst Certification) and, accordingly, the opinions they express may be based on distortions of actual facts or, in some cases, fabrications of facts. In light of limited risks involved in publishing such information, and the enormous profit that can be made from running just one successful short attack, unless the short sellers become subject to significant penalties, it is more likely than not that disclosed shorts will continue to issue such reports.
 
While we intend to strongly defend our public filings against any such short seller attacks, often times we are constrained, either by principles of freedom of speech, applicable state law (often called “Anti-SLAPP statutes”), or issues of commercial confidentiality, in the manner in which we can proceed against the relevant short seller. You should be aware that in light of the relative freedom to operate that such persons enjoy — oftentimes blogging from outside the U.S. with little or no assets or identity requirements — should we be targeted for such an attack, our stock will likely suffer from a temporary, or possibly long term, decline in market price should the rumors created not be dismissed by market participants.
 
In February, March and May of 2011 there were reports published by the Seeking Alpha website, analysts, and other web-based publishers that contained misleading statements about us. Although we have responded to each of these reports in press releases dated February 7, 2011, March 24, 2011 and May 19, 2011, there are predictions that there will continue to be more short seller attacks against Chinese companies. As a result, the price of our stock remains vulnerable to any further attacks in this regard.
 
We are the subject of pending class action lawsuits, which could require us to pay substantial damages or could otherwise have a material adverse effect on us.
 
Following the publishing of certain reports on the Seeking Alpha website, analyst reports and other web-based articles, we and certain of our officers and directors were named in a number of class action lawsuits alleging, among other things, that we and such officers and directors issued false and misleading information to investors about our financial and business condition. While we believe the claims contained in these lawsuits to be without merit and intend to defend these cases vigorously, these efforts will be both expensive and time consuming and ultimately, due to the nature of the litigation, there can be no assurance that these efforts will be successful. In addition, our bylaws and our amended articles of incorporation and an agreement we entered into in favor of MSPEA’s director in connection with the Financing require us to indemnify our directors for breaches of fiduciary duties, subject to certain limited exceptions. As a result of these lawsuits, we are obligated to pay for certain costs and expenses of our directors and may be liable for substantial damages, costs and expenses if the lawsuits are successful. Such litigation could also divert the attention of our management and our resources in general front day-to-day operations.
 
An SEC investor bulletin regarding reverse mergers may drive down the market price of our common stock.
 
On June 9, 2011, the SEC issued an investor bulletin in which it explained the process by which a company becomes a public company by means of a reverse merger, described the potential risks of investing in a reverse merger company and detailed recent enforcement actions taken by it against certain reverse merger companies. In particular the investor bulletin raised specific concerns with respect to foreign companies that access the U.S. markets through the reverse merger process, as we did. The SEC investor bulletin could lead investors in our common stock to sell their shares and may cause other investors not to invest in us, thus driving down the market price of our common stock or making it more difficult for us to raise funds in the future.

 
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If our common stock were delisted and determined to be a “penny stock,” a broker-dealer may find it more difficult to trade our common stock and an investor may find it more difficult to acquire or dispose of our common stock in the secondary market.
 
If our common stock were removed from listing with the Nasdaq Global Select Market, it may be subject to the so-called “penny stock” rules. The SEC has adopted regulations that define a “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price per share of less than $5.00, subject to certain exceptions, such as any securities listed on a national securities exchange. For any transaction involving a “penny stock,” unless exempt, the rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers, subject to certain exceptions. If our common stock were delisted and determined to be a “penny stock,” a broker-dealer may find it more difficult to trade our common stock and an investor may find it more difficult to acquire or dispose of our common stock on the secondary market. Investors in penny stocks should be prepared for the possibility that they may lose their whole investment.
 
ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On October 10, 2011, the Company granted 1,166,333 restricted shares to management and independent directors of the Company in accordance with Yongye International, Inc.’s 2010 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan, as an incentive to such individuals to promote the success of the Company’s business. Shares vest on the twelve month anniversary of the date of grant.
 
ITEM 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
None.
 
ITEM 4.
(REMOVED AND RESERVED)
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
None.
 
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
 
Description
31.1
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
31.2
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 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.*
101
 
Interactive Data Files *
 

*  Filed Herewith

 
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SIGNATURES
 
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
Yongye International, Inc.
   
   
November 9, 2011
By:
/s/ Zishen Wu
   
Name:  Zishen Wu
   
Title:  Chief Executive Officer and President
   
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
     
 
By:
/s/ Sam Yu
   
Name:  Sam Yu
   
Title:  Chief Financial Offier
   
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 
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